US2473345A

US2473345A - Rail anchor

Info

Publication number: US2473345A
Application number: US566977A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick A Preston
Original assignee: Poor and Co
Current assignee: Poor and Co
Priority date: 1944-12-07
Filing date: 1944-12-07
Publication date: 1949-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 1966-06-14

Description

June 14, i949. F.' A. PRESTON 2,473,345

' RAIL ANCHOR Filed Dec. 7, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 14, 1949. F. A. :PRESTON I v 2,473,345

RAIL ANC y 2f l Q June14,1949.' F. AYP-RESTON n 2,473,345

RAIL ANCHOR l Filed nec. 7, 1944v s Sheng-sheets i www 4 IN VEN TOR.

Patented June 14, 1949 f RAIL ANCHOR '1' Frederick A.Preston, Lake Forest, Ill., assignor, byvmesne`v assignments, to Poor & Company,

Chicago, Ill., a corporation lof Delaware applricatiadnineeeniber 7, A1944,seria1No. 566,977 molaims. (Cl. 23S-327) This inventionl relates to 'certainfnew anduseful improvements in railanchors of the general type adapted to grip the base portion of a rallroad rail in a position to abut against a vertical face of a crosstie.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improved rail anchor of the above general type which includes a body having a horizontal web to provide rail gripping surfaces of a desired width and with a vertical flange which, in addition to providing the desired strength to effect a strong resilient grip on the rail base, also provides the anchor with a tie-abutting portion of large area adapted to engage a vertical face of the crosstie at a substantial distance belowY the bottom surface of the rail base.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rail anchor device of the above gen-eral type in which the cross-sectional configuration of the anchor is such that it can be readily formed either as a die-forging or may be made from pre-formed blanks by bending the'blank around a suitable die having the desired contour.

A further object is to provide ananchor of the above character in which the 'vertical ange of the anchor is relatively wide and is offset laterally relative to the horizontal web so that the said vertical ange. will be provided with an angular reinforcement which will resist the bending strains imposed on the said flange when its lower portion is pressed against a vertical face of the crosstie at a substantial distance belowthe bottom surface of the rail base. In this connection the invention also contemplates the provision of a vertical flange having such angular configuration in cross-section that theV flange, when the anchor is formed, provides al dished or rim-like reinforcement which extends around the hooked end of the anchor device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail anchor device having a cross-sectional configuration which will permit the anchor device to be made relatively light but which at the same time Will provide maximum strength. In this connection the invention contemplates a rail anchor device having such cross-sectional configuration that it can be readily formed by dieforging, or by a simplified methodin which it may be formed by bending a channel bar of the desired cross-section around the suitable die.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from-the detailed description of the specic devices/shown -in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Y y 1 .Fia 1 is a plan view; 0f aafragmentarportionof the rail base 2 of a railroad rail and its supporting structure, togetherv with a rail anchor device constructedin accordance with this invention applied to the basev portion of the rail.

Fig. 2 is a face view in elevation `of anchor device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view inv elevation illustrating the-construction of the jaw end of the anchor shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

'Fig 5 is a plan view illustrating a modified the rail form of anchor device; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view takerron'r line 6-'6 of Fig. 5 and looking lin the direction indi'- cated by the arrows.

Referring first to Figs. l to 4 inclusive ofv the drawings: A fragmentary base'portio'n ofthe railroad rail is designated by the reference number Ill. It is supported on a xed portion of the roadbed including an ordinary wooden tie II and preferably though not necessarily a tie-plate'IZ interposed between the top surface of thecrosstie and the bottom surface of the rail basel. The rail may be held in proper position; by any suitable means. For example, rail spikes I3. rI Jhe rail anchor device illustrated in said Figs. -1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings includes a body portion I4 which is preferably channel-shaped in crosssection. One end of the body lis provided with a hook portion designated generally by thel reference numeral I5, which overlies and bears against the inclined upper surface of one base flange of the rail. Preferably the space between the said hook I5 and the top face of the body I4 is such that these portions are spread apart slightly when the said hook is driven upon the rail base ange. The said hook portion I5 is also preferably so formed as to provide a substantial clearancedesignated I6 between the edge portion of the rail base andthe anchor device so that the engage*- ment of the said hook I5 with the top surfaceiof the rail base is confined to an area spaced inwardly from the edge of the rail base. Consequently, the pressure exerted by the said'hook I5-on the top surface of the rail base tendslto turn the anchor device about the point.l Il to force the anchor body into firm gripping contact with the bottom surface of the rail base.- The other end of the anchor body is formed preferably with an olfset portion I8 to Iprovide a; shoulder adapted to snap up over the lower corner portion to lock the anchor device onfthe The anchor device is of channel-shape in the cross-section and the vertical flanges of the channel are so shaped as to simplify the manufacture of the device and to also provide the additional strength and rigidity which is necessary to withstand the severe strains imposed on devices f this character when the tie-abutting portion of the device is so positioned as to engage a crosstie I l only at a substantial distance below the bottom surface of the rail base. According to the present invention, the portion of the anchor body which grips the bottom surface of the rail base isapproximately one inch in Width` and the tie-abutting portion of the device, to-Wit, a depending flange I9 of the channel, may be considerably Wider than the horizontal web. In-many situations it is necessary to provide theanchor; device with a relatively deep tie-abutting portion to insure proper engagement with the crosstie. For

example, when a tie-plate is interposed between u ,theztop surface of the tie and the bottomV surface of-the rail base or when a so-called ypoleitie, a

ltie having round corners, is used. In such -situations there is a pronounced tendencyfor the .relatively wide tie-abutting vflangetoeloendin a direction lengthwise of the rail as Va result of the will resist these pressures and which will also :possess the other advantages hereinafter 4re- -ferr-ed to in connection with thefmanufactllreof the device, the vertical ilanges of the channel Aanchor device herein shown are made of Aspecial shape. They are preferably spreadapartnear their outer ends so that each ofthe said flanges includes upper and lower perpendicular portions and 2l and an intervening incline portion :22.

:Each flange therefore has anangular configuration which will better resist the vsaid *bending lstrains and thereby prevent the rail engaging body yportion of the anchor from being crowded into :the space 23 intervening between the rail 'base andthe curved corner portion of the crosstie.

VThe special shape of the said `flanges I9-I9 also provide dished configurations 2li- 2li in the opposite faces of the hook portion. These configurations of the reinforcing flanges lll-i9, because of the incline portions Z2-212 thereof, provide I*highly effective resistance to any tendency which thepressures exerted on this anchor may have -to twist the upper and lower portions of the hook out of vertical alignment with each other .when

A fur- When channel bars having strains imposed on the outer portions of the Webs during the bending operation tends to force the webs laterally relative to thernain body ofthe channel bar. However, when the said channel `bar is initially formed with its vertical Webs olfset laterally as shown herein, the said webs .will 4vretain substantially their initial contour during the bending operation.

Referring now to the modied embodiment shown in'Figs. 5 and 6. The anchor device herein designated by the reference numeral 25, instead vof'being of channel configuration as shown in lFigs. A1 to 4 inclusive, has a cross-sectional con- -guration in the form of angle bar. The hori- -be formed from an initially formed angle bar by bending one end of the angle bar around a suitable die to form the hook-shaped jaw 28. The laterally offset configuration of the web 21, in the .-'modied embodiment, functions to rigidify the anchor device as a Whole and makes it practicableas previously described, to form the an- -chor device-by `bending one end of the angle bar vinto-the hook form. The opposite end of the bar may `Vbe ,offset to provide a locking shoulder l8a corresponding to the locking shoulder I8 of the previous embodiment. The other constructions shown in Figs. 5 and 6 corresponding to the similar. constructions of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive are identiedbyjthe same reference numerals with the AI claim:

1. A rail anchor comprising a body. portion providedat one end with .a hook, which hook and `said body portion cooperate to provide upper and lower `jawsforgripping the top and'bottom surfaces, respectively, of one base flange of a railroad railpthexsaid body portion including ahorizontal-Web which bears against the bottom sur- :face ofthe rail `and extends around the inner face ofthe'hooktoprovide the upper-j aw with a horizontal portion for gripping the top `surface of saidf-base flange and a rigidifying flange extending around said'hook to reinforce the hook and .depending from said horizontal web of thebody to provide abutting engagement with a rail sup- ;port1ng.structure; the said -rigidifying flange beingbentlaterally along its longitudinal center portion 5to offset the outer marginal portion of the flange relative to said horizontal Web, whereby a reinforcing dishedconguration `is formed-in .said rigidifying flange at the hook end ofthe anchor andthe vengagement of the anchor Awith fthe-rail supporting structure is confined'to the .offset marginal portion of said rigidifyingflange.

2. A rail anchor comprising a body portion lprovided atone endwith a hook, which hook .and .said bodyportioncooperate to provide upper andlower .jawsffor gripping the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of one base flange of a railroad rail; the said'body portion `yincluding a horizontal web which bears against the'bottom .surface of Vtherailand extendsaround the inner face-ofthe hook to provide theupper -jawwith a horizontal portion forfgripping the'top surface .of saidbase flange-and a-rigidifying flange extending around `said Vhook -to reinforce the hook andvdepending from said horizontal web v'of the lbody toprovide abutting engagement-Witharail Asupporting structure; Athe said rigidifying nange being i bent laterally along its longitudinal A center Aportion for the full length thereof to Yoffset the -`outeiwmarginal portion of Athe flange relative to said horizontal-web, whereby a reinforcing dished configuration` is formed in said rigidifying-flange .at the `hook vendof the'anchor and the Aengage- `ment of the anchor with the rail supporting structure is vconfined to the offset Ymarginal portion of said rigidifying flange.

3. A frail anchor comprising a body portion provided-at one-end with ahook, Vwhich hook and said body portion cooperate toV provide upper zontal web 26 thereof constitutes the body portion v'H5-and lower jaws for vgripping the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of one base flange of a railroad rail; the said body including a horizontal web which 'bears against the bottom surfaces of the rail and extends around the inner face of the hook to provide the upper jaw with a horizontal portion for gripping the top surface of said base ilange and a vertical rigidifying flange somewhat wider than said horizontal web extending around said hook to reinforce the same and depending from the horizontal web of the body for abutting engagement with a rail supporting structure; the said rigidifying flange being bent laterally throughout its full length along its longitudinal center portion to offset the outer marginal portion of the ange relative to said horizontal web, whereby a reinforcing dished configuration is formed in said rigidifying flange at the hook end of the anchor and the engagement of the anchor with the rail supporting structure is confined to the oiset marginal portion of said rigidifying flange.

4. A rail anchor comprising a body portion provided at one end with a hook, which hook and said body portion cooperate to provide upper and lower jaws for gripping the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of one base ange of a railroad rail; the said body portion being of inverted channel form including a, horizontal web for bearing against the bottom surfaces of the rail and extending around the inner face of the hook to provide the upper jaw with a horizontal web for gripping the top surface of the rail base ange and a pair of vertical flanges extending lengthwise of the body and around said hook and having their longitudinal center portions bent laterally to offset their outer marginal portions relative to the edges of said horizontal web, whereby each of said horizontal flanges is provided With a reinforcing dished conguration at the hook end of the anchor and the engagement of the anchor with the rail supporting structure is confined to the offset marginal portion of either vertical flange.

5. A rail anchor comprising a body portion provided at one end with a hook, which hook and said body portion cooperate to provide upper and lower jaws for gripping the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of one base flange of a railroad rail; the said body portion being of inverted channel form including a horizontal web extending the full length of the body for bearing against the bottom surface of the rail and extending around the inner face of the hook to provide the upper jaw with a horizontal web for gripping the top surface of the rail base :dange and a pair of vertical flanges extending the full 6 length of the body and around said hook and having their longitudinal center portions bent laterally throughout their length to offset their outer marginal portions relative to the edges of said horizontal web, whereby each of said horizontal flanges is provided with a reinforcing dished configuration at the hook end of the anchor and the engagement of the anchor with the rail supporting structure is confined to the offset marginal portion of either vertical flange.

6. A rail anchor formed from a blank of channel bar cross section having a horizontal web and spaced apart vertical flanges and bent at one end into hook form to provide upper and lower jaws for gripping the top and bottom surfaces of a base flange of a railroad rail at one side of the rail and having a locking means at the other end for engagement with the edge of the other base flange of the rail; the vertical flanges of the channel bar being somewhat wider than the horizontal web and being oifset outwardly along their longitudinal center portions, whereby the portion of the channel at the outer edges of the said vertical flanges is substantially wider than the portion of the channel which lies contiguous to the horizontal web.

7. A rail anchor formed from a blank of channel bar cross section having a horizontal web and spaced apart vertical flanges and bent at one end into hook form to provide upper and lower jaws for gripping the top and bottom surfaces of a base flange of a railroad rail at one side of the rail and having a locking means at the other end for engagement with the edge of the other base flange of the rail; the vertical flanges of the channel bar being somewhat wider than the horizontal web and having their outer edges spaced apart a greater distance than the width of the portion of the channel adjacent the horizontal web.

FREDERICK A. PRESTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,700,775 Sampson Feb. 5, 1929 1,749,558 Barilli Mar. 4, 1930 2,244,755 Warr June 10, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 178,151 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1935 437,689 Great Britain July 24, 1934