US2256025A

US2256025A - Laminated railroad crossing

Info

Publication number: US2256025A
Application number: US355208A
Authority: US
Inventors: Percy E Hoak
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-09-03
Filing date: 1940-09-03
Publication date: 1941-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1958-09-16

Description

Sept. 16, 1941. P. E. HOAK l LAMINTED RAILROAD CROSSING Filed sept. :5, 1940 ATTORNEYS QNNQNS um SSM@ N INVENTOR.

*P6/Egg, @Jaa/a @uw KNSM,

w NQNMNN mllm Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITE srriss 'l` OFFIC 6 Claims.

My invention relates to crossings of the sort adapted to provide a roadway over railroad beds. Among the objects of my inventionis the provision of a new and improved crossing which is simple in construction, easy to install and capable of withstanding wear over a long period of time.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a new and improved laminated crossing for railroad tracks which is built in units sothat it can be installed unit by unit in such size as may be suitable for any given location, and which includes improved means for holding the parts of each laminated unit rmly in position.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a new and improved laminated railroad crossing built up of individual units which are positioned end to end alongside of and between the tracks, with a strap at the adjoining ends of adjacent units positioned so as to secure the ends of the units to the railroad tie and also to hold the laminated elements of each unit together.

Also among the objects of my invention is the provision of a new and improved highway structure which features a laminated unit plank construction for bridging the gap between railroad rails comprising a plurality of units placed side by side and secured to the ties by straps which underlie the rails to provide an anchor and which overlie the laminated elements comprising the unit so as to hold them down against the railroad tie and also to hold them in position side by side. The laminated structure is especially adapted to provide a certain amount of give so that even though portions are depressed while a train is passing on the track, there will be no distortion of the unit elements as such since all are bound together and likewise bound to the ties which support the rails.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Although the invention is susceptible of a variety of embodiments, it is unnecessary to fully describe and illustrate more than one in order to give a full understanding of the invention both from its structural and functional standpoints. Accordingly, I have illustrated a preferred and desirable embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawing, in which:

road crossing showing units positioned end to end ingroups of three across the right of way.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section drawn to a larger scale, taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section drawn to a larger scale, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of my invention showing its application to rails of a greater depth.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the straps used in the center portion of the crossing; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the straps used on the outside units of the crossing.

1n the building of railroad crossings which are ordinarily designed to carry a highway vacross a railroad right of way, one of the principal requirements is that the crossing have a certain amount of flexibility so that it will shift slightly as the track and ties give during the passing of a heavy train, but which will return to a firm even surface after the train has passed without causing any of the anchoring means to work loose, eventually causing disintegration or misalignrnent of the crossing. If a rigid structure were used it would not ordinarily follow the give of the ties, and although initially providing a firm smooth surface, the securing means of whatever sort might be selected, would eventually work loose and cause the crossing to deteriorate. By providing a laminated structure, each element is permitted a limited amount of temporary displacement without the necessity of shifting the entire crossing to conform with it. Likewise of advantage is the ability to make up crossing units at the mill so that they can be quickly installed at the crossing while trains are frequently passing without causing any interruption in the service.

In the drawing there is shown a railroad right of way indicated generally by the character ii) having tracks l2 and l supported by ties i6 which in turn rest upon a road bed i8 of gravel or cinders. The tracks l2 and I4 are spiked to the ties it by use of the usual railway spikes 20.

The laminated crossing consists of outside units indicated generally by the character 22 and inside units indicated generally by the character 2li.

The outside units are constructed of individual planks 26 set on edge, as shown particularly in Figure 3, extending along the outer ends of the ties i6. Ten of these planks are shown in the embodiment selected for the purpose of illustration placed side by side with the innermost plank Figure 1 is a plan View of my laminated rail- 55 adjacent the rail shortened so that the surface of the unit can be brought up snug against the rail while maintaining a smooth upper surface. The planks are normally spiked together, the spikes being shown in cross-section at 64 in Figure 2. In addition, there is provided a strap 28 bent to a U-shape so that a long leg 30 of the strap overlies the outermost side of the planks comprising the unit, and extends downwardly over the end of a tie to which it is secured by a lag screw 29, inserted in-the aperture 3|. A shorter leg B' overlies the innermost plank of theunit, thereby holding the planks in their position side by side with relation to each other.'A

Moreover, at the end of the shorter leg 30 there is a projection 33 which extends under the head and into contact'with the web of the-adjacent Y rail, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The straps are likewise provided with bolt holes 32 and through on edge on the ties and face to face with respect to the other planks in the unit, the planks being spiked together by spikes 64 to hold the planks together. The double L-shaped strap i] is positioned in a groove 66 so that the mid portion 54 overlies the outside surace of the plank immediately adjacent the rail. The lower portion 56 of the strap lies under the rail where it is'iree to shift slightly as the crossing is adjusted to its position. For strength and rigidity an auxiliary supporting rail 68 is placed with the base against the mid portion Eli of the double L-shaped strap and the top portion positioned against the web of rail lll, for example, on the right side as viewed in Figure 3, or the rail l2 on the left-hand side. A similar double L-shaped strap 5t is used for the unit on the opposite side of the center por- A tion of the right of way between the tracks and these holes are inserted lag screws 34 extending clear through the planks into the ties I6. As shown particularly in Figure .1, the unit at the lower left-hand end has an end 3S abutting an end of the middle unit at the lower side and it is to be noted that these ends 36 and 38 adjoin each other at the center line of a tie. The U- shaped strap 2B lies half over the end 36 and half over therend 33 so that lag screws inserted through the bolt holes extend downwardly past the ends of the units into the tie without necessarily being embedded completely within the planks of one unit or'another. At the other end of the unit 22, at the lower left of Figure 1, another strap 28 is attached a short distance inwardly from the free end and is positioned to bind the elements or the laminated structure together side by side as above described. In this case, the lag screws v34 pass through the bolt holes andV through the crack adjacent the planks and thence into the railroad tie. The lag screw here likewise provides a direct connection between the strap and the tie. without passing through the body of any of the planks even though not located opposite a free end of the unit.

At the iree end of the laminated unit 22,V at the lower left-hand-end of Figure 1, there is provided a beveled angle 40 which fits over the beveled end t2' of the laminated units completely sheathing them. Screws or lag screws 44 are Y used to attach the beveled angle to the ends of the planks. By providing such a beveled angle at the free ends, the likelihood of their being ripped up by objects carried by a railroad train is minimized since thek beveled surface of the angle has a tendency to ward ofi such objects and preserve the crossing intact. See also Figure 2 showing a crosssection at the ends of the units located between the rails.

It should be further noted that the straps 28 are positioned in recesses 66 so that the upper surfaces of the straps are substantially level with a top surface i8 of the units. The laminated units 2li are built up in widths somewhat less than one third of the distance between the rails, three units being placed side by side as shown in Figures `1 and 3.

For securing the units 2s to the railroad structure, therelis provided what maybe termed a double L-shaped strap 5D, the end of which is shownn Figure 5; The strap 50 has an upper Vportion 52 designed to overlie'the unit, a mid portion 5t and a lower portion 56. The upper portion is provided with bolt holes 58.

j Toinstall the units 24, one unit identied by the character 24', is positioned adjacent the rail i4. This unit consists of planks 26 positioned is secured in a similar manner. The center unit 24 is then putin place. Y In each case, lag screws 34 inserted through the bolt holes 58 pass the adjacent ends of the planks comprising the units, except the lag screws near the free ends which pass only between adjacent planks inwardly from the ends. The free ends 42 of the units 24 are beveled and sheathed with a beveled angle @D as described in connection with the units 22 and as shown at the left end of Figure 2.

' It is of consequence to note that the upper portions 52 of the double L-shaped straps are longer than the width of the units Z'so that they completely span the width of each unit adjacent the track and extend part way over the width of thel acting to displace another one of the straps as the/road 'bed'yields tothe passing of a heavy train. Y'

iIn the'modiedrform shown in Figure 4 railroad tracks I2Yand l are shown having a height Agreater thanV the rails shown in AFigure 3. VThis necessitates building the crossingY up so that its upper surface'fl lies flush with the top of the higher rails.- In order to accomplish this, shims 'I0 are positioned lengthwise with respect to the ties I5 and crosswise withY respect to the planks comprising the units. The shims kare made of a thickness sufficient to lift the upper edges of the planks to a plane level with'the tops of the rails l2 and 13. With this'construc- Vtion longer lag screws 35- are used sothat they shim combined.A In other respects the doublev LV- shaped straps;Av are the equivalent of those virst described. It should be noted that the shims 'I0 located between the rails have Aa length equal to the combined width of the three units positioned therebetween, butfthatshims -illloc'ated on the outside of the rails are somewhat shorter than the-width of the uni-ts 22 providing pockets ll to accommodate the edges of the rail base and the heads of the spikes which hold the rails in place. Rail spacers of equivalent size having webs E8 tov provide a trough for the anges of wheels rolling on the tracks are positioned between vthe webs I3 of the tracks and the flat side adjacent plank 26'. v

There has thus been provided a laminated railroad crossing capable of being built in units at the mill and quickly and efficiently installed unit by unit at the crossing to provide a roadway over the railroad right of way of whatever width may be desired and one which will maintain its unitary construction and a surface even with the tops of the track throughout long periods of use.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device wi-thout departing'from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A laminated highway structure for bridging railway ties and rails comprising a series of laminated units including planks free from interlocked engagement respectively with each other positioned face to face and resting edgewise on the ties with the long cross sectional dimension extending veritically, a row of said units being positioned endwise relative to each other in parallel rows covering portions of the ties between the rails, means for securing the ends of said uni-ts comprising a set of plates for each end each having an upper element extending over the full width adjacent the ends of said respective units lying next to the rails wherein the ends of the upper elements lie adjacent and spaced from each other, an intermediate portion of said plate overlying the flat vertical side of a plank adjacent the rail, and a lower leg positioned beneath the rail the plates having fasteners extending through said plates and ties respectively to hold the units in place.

2. A laminated highway structure for bridging railway ties and rails comprising a series of laminated units including planks fastened face to face resting edgewise on the ties, a row of said units located endwise with respect to each other extending over portions of the ties at the outside of the rails, means for securing the ends of said units in place comprising plates having a mid portion overlying the plank edges and ends engaging the outermost planks of each unit for binding them together and fasteners projecting through the plates extending into the ties securing said plates together with the adjacent plank ends to the ties, and a second plurality of plank units positioned endwise relative to each other in parallel rows covering portions of the ties between the rails, means for securing the ends of said units comprising a second set of plates for each end each having an upper element extending over the full width adjacent the ends of said respective units lying next to the rails wherein the ends of the upper elements lie adjacent and spaced from each other, an intermediate portion of said second plate overlying the vertical flat side of a plank adjacent the rail, and a lower leg positioned beneath the rail the plates having fasteners extending through said plates and ties respectively to hold the units in place.

3. A laminated highway structure for bridging railway ties and rails comprising a series 'of laminated units including planks fastened together face to face resting edgewise on the ties, a row of said units being located endwise with respect to each other covering portions of the ties at the outside of the rails, means for securing the ends of said units in place comprising plates having a mid portion overlying the plank edges and ends engaging the innermost and outermost planksof each unit for binding them together, recesses at the ends of the planks for reception of the mid portions of the plates and fasteners projecting thro-ugh the plates extending into the ties securing said plates, together with the adjacent plank ends, to the ties, and a second plurality of plank units positioned endwise relative to each other in parallel rows covering portions of the ties between the rails, means for securing the ends of said units comprising a second set of plates each having an upper element extending over the full width of the adjacent ends of units lying next tol the rails and over a portion of the width of other units intermediate rows of said last units wherein the ends of said upper elements lie adjacent and spaced from each other, an intermediate portion of each of said second plates overlying the vertical flat side of a plank adjacent the rail, and a lower leg of each of said second plates positioned beneath the rail, recesses at the ends of planks in said units adapted to receive the second plates, and fasteners extending through said plates and ties respectively to hold the units in place.

4. A laminated highway structure for bridging railway ties and rails comprising a series of laminated units including planks attached together face to face resting edgewise on the ties, a row of said units located endwise with respect to each other extending over portions of the ties from a point at the outside of the rails to the ends thereof, means for securing the ends of said units in place comprising substantially U-shaped plates, recesses at the ends of the planks for reception of the mid portions of the U-shaped plates, the legs of said U-shaped plates overlying the outermost innermost planks at each side and fasteners projecting through the plates past the ends of said planks extending into the ties securing said plates, together with the adjacent plank ends, to the ties, and a second plurality of plank units positioned endwise relative to each other in parallel rows covering portions of the ties between the rails, means for securing the ends of said units comprising substantially double L-shaped plates having an upper leg extending over the full width of the adjacent ends of said respective units lying next to the rails and over a portion of the width of other units intermediate rows of said last units, an intermediate vertical portion of each said L-shaped plates overlying the nat vertical side of a plank adjacent the rail, and a lower leg of each said double L-shaped plate positioned beneath the rail, a spacer positioned between said portion and the adjacent track rail, recesses at the ends of planks in said units adapted to receive the double L-shaped plates, and fasteners extending through said plates and ties respectively to hold the units in place.

5. A laminated highway structure for bridging railway ties and rails comprising a series of laminated units including planks attached together face to face resting edgewise on the ties, a row of said units being located endwise with respect to each other covering portions of the ties from aV pointat the o utsdeof` the rails to the ends thereof,71neans for securing the ends of wise Irelative, to veach other in parallel rows ex-A tending over portions of the tiesY between the rails, means for securing the ends of said units comprising substantially double L-shaped plates having an upper leg extending over the full width of the adjacent ends of Vsaid respective units lying next to the rails and over a portion of the width` of Aother units intermediate rows of said last units, an Yintermediate verticalYV portion of each said VL-shapedV plate overlying the vertical at side of a plank adjacent the rail, a spacer positioned between said portion and the adjacent track rail, anda lower leg of each said double L-shaped plate positioned beneath the rail and terminating beneath the side wall of the plank adjacent the rail `Von the opposite side thereof, recesses at the ends of planks in said units adapted to receive the double L-shaped-plates vto a depth ilush with the surface of said planks, and lag screws extending through said plates and ties respectively to hold the units in place.

6. A laminated highway structure for bridging railway ties and rails comprising a :series of laminated units including planks spiked together of said units being located endwise with respect to' eachother extending over portions ofthe ties from a pointatthe outside of the rails to the ends thereof, means for securing the ends of saidl units vin place 'comprising substantially U-shaped plates, recesses at the ends of the planks for reception of 4the mid portions of the U-shaped plates at a level flush with the surface of the plank, the legs of said U-shaped plates overlying the Voutermost lplanks at each side and lag'screws projecting through the plates extending into the ties securing said plates, together with the adjacent plank ends, to the ties, and a second plurality of plank units positioned endwise relative to each other in parallel rows covering portions of the ties between `the rails, means for securing the ends of said units comprising substantially double L-shaped plates having an upper leg extending over the full width adjacent the endsof said respective units lying next to the rails and over a portion of the width of other units intermediate said last units, a vertical intermediate portion of said L-shaped plate overlying the vertical at side of a plank adjacent the rail, a spacing rail positioned sidewise between said portion and the adjacent track rail, and a lower leg of said double L-shaped plate positioned beneath the rail, recesses'at the ends of planks in said units adapted to receive the double L-shaped plates to a depth flush with the surface of said planksplag screws extending through vsaid plates and tiesrespectively to hold the units in place, and angle plates independent of the ties in said Y road bed fastened only to said units and cover-v