US2911154A - Rail connecting device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 3, 1959 v w. H. CUSHMAN 2,911,154

RAIL CONNECTING DEVICE Filed July 21 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 25 l 1 i i g4 75' 5 ll" i i I "7/6 I t I: H 1 i W I 4/ 96 -zfi ]NVENTOR.

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Filed July 21, 1955 Tlllll INVENTOR.

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2,911,154 ,RAIL CONNECTING DEVICE H. Cushm'an, Missoula, Mont. Application July '21, 1955, Serial No. 523,434 7'Claims. (Cl. ass-e121 'This'invention relates generally to railroads and more particularly to improvements in fastening steel rails to underlying tie supporting means. I

fThe time honored and conventional practice of constructing railroads is by joining steel rails'to an undersupporting wood tie system by the use of metal tie plates ]and spikes; the tie plates engaging and holding the flange or foot of the rails and the spikes being driven into the ties to hold the tie plates to the underlying wood ties. While such systems have been in use for many years, it has'long' been recognized that a more satisfactory means "of connecting tie-to-rail is needed, especially for high speed rail traffic which subjects the roadbed, ties and rails to a terrific pounding action resulting in their quick breakdown. The main difiiculty of the familiar tie and spike system of connection lies in the inability of the spike to maintain its embeddedgrip With the tie under the constant pounding and loosening action imposed thereon by rail tra'flic. One of the prime causes for the defects in the tie and spike system lies'in the inability to maintain a sound roadbed. It is readily understandable that under the pounding of rail trail-1c, the crushed rock and other ballast materials employed in forming a supporting bed for the tie system is subject to settling and spread action so that eventually high and low spots occur in the underlying support for the ties. When such an instance occurs, the rails are flexed upwardly and downwardly under the passage of rail trafiic and the tie connected thereto is subjected to high pounding action, resulting usually in its splitting and disintegration followed by the release of the tie plates and the spikes and thus the eventual breakdown of the railroad.

It is also true that after a'period of use the ballast becomes settled and presents a substantially steady support 'for the railroad. However, in accomplishing such settling period, the ties are subjected to splitting'action due largely to the use of the spikes, so that the need for periodic replacement of the ties is a constantmaintenance project. 'The m'ajor damaging factor in replacing the ties lies in the resulting disturbanceof the underlying support due largely to the use of the'spike system which requires sufiicient'distance or clearance beneath the tie to be removed to permit its 'detachment from the spikes, etc.

Thus'the removal of the ties under present practice requires the destruction of the settled ballast support therebeneath and recreates the initial 'problemof an unstable bed beneaththe replacing tie.

The pounding of the trafiic also tends to loosen the plate and spike connection, giving rise to increased noise 'and'vibration in the-passage of the rail trailic. This causes an unsteady and unstable ride and generally creates a system of uneven rails, that is, rails which do not align in true'paralleli-sm and are not maintained at uniform height alongthe bed. All of these factors deter from the passage of rail traffic athigh speeds and create an ever increasing'problem-of road maintenance. With the present day advent for high speed rail traflic, the need for an improved means of connecting ties to rails is even more 2 pronounced than in the past. As a consequence, I have devised an improved means of connecting the ties and rails whereby in general the above briefly outlined diiiiculties are overcome and eliminated and a uniformly supported rail essential for high speed and heavy traflic is made possible.

Briefly, the improved rail connecting means of this invention includes a wedgesupporting system capableof quick adjustment to regulate the elevation of the rails. A means for automatically or manually regulating the elevation of the rail to accommodate settling of the tie is also embodied in my connector means and a means for positively joining the rail to the tie in a manner to discourage their loosening is also provided. Of added consequence in my device is an improved means for interjoining the rail and'ties so that such may be readily disassembled for the replacement of worn ties. After disconnecting my improved connector device, tie replacement requires merely sliding the tie underneath the rails without necessarily disturbing the underlying support or ballast bed.

The main object of my invention is to provide a new and improved means for interconnecting railroad ties and rails so as to insure a uniformly supported rail system essential for high speed and heavy railroad traflic.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a new and improved means for interconnecting rails and railroad ties which eliminates the use of spike means as familiarly known.

Another important object ofthis invention is to-provide a new and improved interconnecting means for rails and railroad ties embodying means for automatically keeping the rail in constant positive connection with the underlying support tie, thereby reducing wear on the ties and decreasing traific noise.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved means for interconnecting railroad ties and rails which promotes a more constant and positive means of maintaining rail spacing and the uniform eleva tion of such rails above the track bed.

An additional object of this invention is to providea new and improved co'nnectormeans for joining rails and railroad ties so as to 'promoteeasyremoval of the ties without disturbing the roadbed thus to decrease main- 'tenance time and cost.

Still another object of'this -in'vention is to provide an inclined wedgeplane and yoke means for joining rails to railroadties and associating such m'eaiis so as to maintain automatically a positive connection between the tie'and the rail. V i

The above and further objects,- features and advantages of this invention will be recognized by those familiar and skilled in the art from the following detailed description of its features as found in'the preferredembodiment'and modified form illustrated-in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: a

Figure l is a view in side elevation looking endwise at a rail shown in the cross section and illustrating particularly the assembly and operating action of the improved rail connector means of this invention;

Figure 2 is atop plan view ofthe'assembly illustrated in Figure 1;

' Figure; 3' is a cross sectional view taken 'throughthe 'tie and yoke means of myinvention,substantially at line :sembly; and

Figure 6 is another perspective showing a 'secondmodi- 3 fied form of yoke connector, similar to the modified connector illustrated in Figure 5, and useful in the improved assembly of this invention.

Turning now specifically to the preferred embodiment of my connecting device as illustrated in Figures 1-4 of the drawings, it will be appreciated that while a single rail and connector is shown, two such combinations are present at each tie, one adjacent either end thereof to form a two rail system. Numeral represents a normal wood railroad tie to support a conventional steel rail 11; a plurality of such ties being spaced at intervals along the roadbed and extending transversely of the axis of a pair of parallel spaced rails according to convention.

Considering Figures 1, 2 and 3 in view of the exploded perspective shown in Figure 4, it will be understood that a flange portion 12 of the rail member 11 is embraced along one edge by a pair of hook elements or locking ears 13, 13 which are formed integrally with and extend upwardly from a cast metal tie plate member 15. The tie plate 15 also includes a platform portion 16 which immediately engages and presents a resting surface to the lower face of the flange portion 12. The gen eral body section 17 of the tie plate 15 is disposed in a plane inclined to the horizontal in its assembled relationship with the tie 10 while the platform portion 16 assumes a substantially horizontal position for supporting the flange of the'rail. The underside of the tie plate is fitted with a recessed area 18 bordered by two spaced longitudinally extending lip portions 19, 19 which depend from the plane of the under surface on the body portion 17. Such recessed portion is arranged to receive a metal or wooden wedge member 20 so that the latter slidingly engages the undersurface of the tie plate and is disposed between the depending lip portions 19, 19.

The wedge member 20 presents an inclined upper surface 21 to the recess portion 18 to ofiset the inclination of the tie plate body portion thereby to dispose the platform portion 16 horizontally for supporting the rail member 11. The wedge member 20 further is arranged to rest on the top or upper face of the tie member 10 and is suitably biased or urged away from the outer end of the tie as by means of a spring system designated generally at 22 which necessarily must provide a constant end thrust on the wedge member to insure a constant takeup of any space which occurs between the tie plate and the tie member 10.

As illustrated in particular in Figure 1, the spring system 22 shown includes a metal anchor block 23 suitably pinned or otherwise secured to the upper face of the tie member 10 as by pin means 24, received in one of several spaced holes (not shown) drilled in the tie. A

guide rod 22a extends from the anchor block 23 and v is disposed coaxially of a compression spring member 22b, such guide rod entering an opening in the adjacent end of the wedge member 20. The illustration of the spring means is extremely simple as presented and it will be understood that other spring systems readily will be suggested to those familiar with the art.

With further regard to the wedge member 20, it should be noted that the same bears a width substantially conforming to the width of the underlying tie so as to present a full support surface to the tie plate, the latter member of which is shown slightly wider than the wedge member such that the depending lip portions 19 thereon lie outwardly ofthe lateral edges of the wedge member and the surface 18 thereon thus lies coextensively with the surface it engages on the wedge member. In this manner full support of the tie is transmitted to the rail.

From the foregoing it will be understood that I have described thus far an instrumentality for supporting the railmember 11 along one side by engaging one edge thereof at its lower flange by means of the hook portions 13 of the tie plate. Note in this regard that the inside of such hook or ear portions is suitably inclined to wedge with the upper face of the rail flange 12. The provision of the spring urged wedge member 20 serves as a means for automatically adjusting the vertical dis placement of the rail and for taking up any play which occurs between the rail and the tie member.

To complete the connection of the rail to the tie additional means must be provided for holding the opposite edge of the flange portion 12 of the rail and such mechanism will now be described.

As illustrated best in Figures 1 and 4' of the drawings, the preferred mode of attaching or holding the rail and tie plates to the underlying tie comprises a substantially U-shaped lower yoke member 25 which is made of cast steel or the like and arranged to embrace the side and under walls of the tie member, substantially as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. In particular it will be noticed that the yoke member 25 comprises a pair of upright parallel spaced arm members 26, 26 each of which includes a rack portion 27 have serrated teeth 28 cut into its outer face. Each rack is adjoined to and, bordered along its lateral edges by a pair of metal guide rails 29, 29. A cross arm 30 interconnects the lower ends of the two upright arms 26 with such being arranged to lie beneath the tie 10 in assembly as best illustrated in Figure 3. Note also that a gusset portion 31 is formed substantially at the junction of the ends of the cross arm 30 and the upright arm member 26; such gussets being received in corner notches formed at the lower lateral edges of the tie member so asto lock the yoke member against displacement along the longitudinal axis of the tie.

To maintain the yoke member in a substantially upright position transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tie, a metal gage plate 35 having recessed portions 36, 36 at its opposite ends is adapted to embrace and extend between the upper ends of the yoke member 25 with such recessed portions accepting the upper ends of the rack portions 27.

The gage plate is located and held in a fixed position on the tie by means of a cut-out formed in the upper face of said tie; it being noted that the gage plate has a triangular cut-out 37 extending inwardly of one edge with the apex thereof substantially on the transverse axis of the gage plate. With regard particularly to the triangular cut-out 37, see Figure 2, wherein such is shown to match the corresponding recess formed in the upper face of tie member 10. This system locates the gage plate with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tie, maintains the upright position of the yoke member when the members 35 and 25 are assembled in embracing relationship with the tie member and further serves to regulate the gage of the track or space between rails.

An upper locking yoke member 40, shown best at the upper end of the exploded perspective view Figure 4, is designed to cooperate with the yoke member 25 to engage and hold down the other lateral edge of the flange 12 on the rail member. Particularly, the locking yoke 40 has two depending arm portions 41, 41 each of which is provided with serrated teeth 42, 42 on its inner face for engaging the teeth 28 on the lower yoke arm portions 27. It will be understood that the teeth 42 are directed generally upward while the teeth 28 are of the lower yoke are directed downward so that such two sets of teeth interlock with one another in assembly.

The arm portions 41 of the upper yoke are interconnected suitably at their upper ends by a cross arm portion 43; such upper yoke preferably being made of metal such as steel having sufficient resiliency to permit outward biasing movement of the two arm portions 41, 4 1 as the teeth 42 thereon override the teeth 28 during the assembly of the two yoke members 25 and 40. It will be appreciated that the upper yoke member 40 is interlocked with the lower yoke member 25 by suitably aligning the arm portions 41, 41 with end openings 45 formed in the lateral extremities of the tie plate 15, substantially as illusrated in Figure 4. By thrusting downwardly on the upper yoke member the arm portions 41 thereon are biased outwardly so that the teeth 42 thereon override the teeth 28 on the outer face of the lower yoke arm portions 26. When the upper yoke has thus descended to its desired position the teeth 42 and 28 engage and provide a successful interlock between such two members Note that gusset portions '46, 46 are formed substantially adjacent the upper ends of the arm portions 41 and their intersection with the cross arm member or portion 42; such gusset portions matching the openings 45 in the .tie plate so as topositively locate and lock the upper yoke member with the tie plate. Removal of the upper yoke is easily accomplished by biasing arms 41 outwardly after releasing and backing olf the wedge 20 so that teeth 42 and 28 may disengage.

A pair of locking ears 47, 47 are provided on the upper yoke and extend outwardly of the cross arm member 43 thereon. Such serve to engage the upper face of the rail flange portion 12 at portions opposed and c'erresponding to the locking ears i3, 13 of the tie plate. Thus when the upper yoke and lower yoke are assembled and the upper yoke thrust downwardly into the assembled condition, as shown best in Figure l, the ear portions 47, 47 of the yoke 40 and ear portions 13, '13 of the tie plate engage and hold the lateral extremities of the rail flangeportion 12 in looking the rail to the tie plate. By driving the wedge member 20 toward the rail and locating the spring system 22 at a position along the tie so that spring 26 exerts a sufficient force to maintain the wedge in a thrust imposing position on the tie plate and tie member the assembly tightly holds the railto the tie. It will be noticed, of course, that the thrust provided by the spring force at the end of the wedge member transmits a vertical upward force to the underside of the rail and downward thrust to the upper side of the tie; the spring 26 urging the Wedge into this thrust imposing position constantly thereby eliminating all slack and gap between the rail and the tie.

The provision of the plural serrated teeth on the two yoke members additionally provides vertical adjustment so that the rail may be raised or lowered according to the interregulation and engagement of the two yoke members and the position of the wedge member with respect thereto; the wedge member serving to bring the tie plate snugly against flange 12 of the rail and therail flange into tight compression with ears 13 and 47.

From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the art will recognize the unique wedging and interlock principles provided by the improved connecting device of this invention and will further appreciate the simple means provided thereby for'adjusting the vertical position of the rail with respect to the roadbed and underlying supporting tie. Also due to the positive location of the yoke members on the tie through the gusset system 31 on the lower yoke and the gage plate 35, it is obvious that the space between a pair of rails laid on top of the ties will be maintained constant to eliminate this vexatious maintainence problem.

While the unique connecting device described hereina condition of installation can be met by providing various size yokes, tie plate and gage plates to fit the dimension variations, but with a view toward conversion of present day roadbeds to the use of my present sys-' tem and device, resort to alternate attachment means illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 is thought best. v

Specifically, in Figure 5 I have shown connector post 50 which corresponds favorably and closely to the arm portions 26 of the lower yoke member 25 heretofore described. In each attaching situation two such connector posts will be employed, one on either side of the tie, for securing a rail. Member 50 includes a lower extending hook portion 51 having an upwardly projecting tooth 52 thereon and such may he slipped laterally onto the tie with the hook portion 51 extending beneath the tie with the tooth 52 biting into the underface thereof. Such hook portion 51 will then replace the arm 30 of lower yoke member 25 as shown in the assembly shown in Figure 1,for example, and will meet conditions wherein the time members vary in width. A gage block or plate 53, substantially of the order of plate 35 illustrated in Figure 4 and described heretofore is employed with-this type of connector. Such gage plate varies somewhat from the plate 35 in that it is closed at its endsso that the opening 54 which're- I ceives the upper end of the post member 50 is larger than such post member and provides sufficient leeway,

and clearance to accept variations in tie widths within tolerable limits. A locking member 55 having serrated teeth 55a on one face thereof is constructed to engage with serrated teeth (not shown) on the outer face 'ber 57 is then'utilized between the locking member 55 and the closed end wall portion 58 of the gage plate to tightly lock teeth 55a with the teeth (not shown) on the .postmember50. Thus the interlock of the assembledpos't and'locking member is carried out. In this regard it will be understood that the post 50 and locking member 55 replace the yoke members of the Figure 1 assembly and that the remaining members of that assembly function as before set forth. Since the connection of the rail to the tie when "using the assembly of Figure 5 is substantially according to the concepts first described, a repetition ofsuch operation will not be made herein, other'than to point out that the modified'gage plate 53 and post connectors of Figure 5 permit the adaptation of the principles of my improved connecting device to situations in which the tie members vary in width.

, In Figure 6 still another means forholding down the tie plate, the rail and the Wedge member 20 to the underlying tie is shown. In this particular modification a con nector post member 60 having a substantially square lengthwise opening :61 is provided with internal half thread members 62, 62 along two sides of such opening. This post member is further fitted with a half-moon shaped foot plate 63 along one face near its lower end which in turn is fitted withprojecting teeth 64. This type of post is fitted to a tie by providing a half-moon shape cutout in the side faces of the tie to receive the portion 63 of the connector post. The teeth portion 64-on the plate 63 are driven into the tie and the half-moon portion 63 registers in the socket or cutout provided in the tie. Thus the connector posts will be fitted on opposite sides of the tie and will replace the yoke means first described without passing beneath the tie and independently of the ties width. Such a pair of posts will afford the same type of vertical holding force given by the yoke assembly first described. A connector bolt 65, flattened on two sides and having an interrupted thread system 66 is then inserted centrally into the connector post 60 such that by rotating the bolt approximately at any position of its vertical insertion within the connector post, the teeth members 66 thereon will matingly engage and lock with the interrupted and opposed teeth 62 of the connector post.

type connectors.

wardly along the sides of the tie members so that its upper end, which is reduced and formed with shoulder portions 68, 68 is received in a gage block or plate member 53a, built and constructed substantially on the order of the gage block 53 shown in Figure 5. With two such connector posts 60 mounted on the sides of the tie, the connector bolts 65 are dropped into place and given a partial rotation appropriate to bring the ear portions 70 thereon int-o overhanging relation with flange 12 on the rail. By then driving the wedge beneath the tie plate 15, the necessary vertical interconnection of the rail with the tie member is accomplished. In this regard, 'it will be understood that the tie plate and wedge member'20 remain in the assembly to cooperate in the manner previously described and thus tightly lock the rail with the tie.

In the foregoing three described embodiments of my invention, it will be appreciated that the principles of operation and construction of the assembly are such as to utilize a wedge member to provide a variable means for constantly eliminating all gap and slack between the rail and the tie whenever such occurs. The basic concept in all the devices is to tightly hold the rail to the ties so that the two members float or move together. With this concept carried out, any movement created by the passage of the rail traflic will cause the entire rail and tie system to float on top of the ballast bed. With the lack of gap or play between rail and tie, much of the pounding and noise familiar in present rail systems is eliminated. Since the rail and tie move together as a unit at all times, very little pounding or slapping of the tie occurs as in the passage of the traflic, thus greatly enhancing the life expectancy of the ties. As there are no spikes or such type of penetrating connectors employed, the tie member will not be subject to the present splitting action caused by such spike Since the tie and the rail float as a unit atop of the ballast or roadbed, the roadbed will be depressed and settled evenly and any lowering of the roadbed will not result in the acute sinking of any individual tie, but a gradual sloping of an entire section while transmitting the load over a wider area or number of ties than is presently experienced. Therefore the problem of regrading or relaying the roadbed may assume the proportions of merely reballasting beneath the ties for which mechanized device are known.

It will thus be appreciated that I have provided a new and improved interconnecting means leading to remarkable results especially advantageous in constructing and maintaining railroads. Also by employing my improved connecting device the problem of maintaining uniformly level rails and a flat bed of ballast beneath the rail system is greatly minimized due principally to the elimination of the movement between tie and rail. Therefore it is believed that the present connector and its principles and teachings are particularly adapted to advancing railroading at higher speeds with heavier loads. 7

While I have herein illustrated and described the concepts of my invention as related to a preferred and two modified embodiments thereof, it is obvious that numerous changes, modifications, and substitutions of materials may be entered into therein without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention'disclosed. As a consequence, it is not my intention to be limited to the particular forms of my invention herein described and shown, except as may appear in the following appended claims.

I claim: 1. A connecting device of the class described for bolding a rail to a railroad tie, comprising, a U-shaped lower .yoke member arranged to embrace the bottom and side walls of the tie and having inwardly extending gusset portions, recess means being formed in the tie for anchoring reception of the said gusset portions on said lower yoke member, a gage plate mounted transversely of the longitudinal axis of the tie and 'socketed in an opening formed in the upper face of the latter, recessed end, means on said gage plate embracing the upper ends of said lower yoke member to hold the same against longitudinal displacement, a wedge block slidingly mounted on the upper face of the tie and passing over the said gage plate, a tie plate superposed on said wedge block and having guide means for preventing its displacement laterally of said wedge block, rail holding means on said tie plate for gripping one edge of the foot portion of the rail, a U- shaped upper yoke member having depending arm portions passing through the gage plate and including means interlocking with the arm portions of the lower yoke member, ear means on the upper yoke member for engaging the other edge of the rail foot portion, and spring means urging said wedge block in a direction appropriate to constantly bias the tie plate upwardly toward said ear means of the upper yoke member whereby the rail is securely held; the means for interlocking said yoke members permitting vertical adjustment of the upper yoke member for regulating the elevation of the rail means with respect to the tie.

2. A rail connective device for joining a rail transversely to a railroad support tie, comprising, tie plate means for underlyingly engaging the bottom flange of the rail, hook means on said tie plate means adapted to frictionally engage and hold one edge of the rail flange, wedge means disposed between said tie plate means and the underlying tie for sliding axial movement longitudinally of said tie plate means and transversely of the rail, first connector means extending along opposite sides and underneath the tie, means anchoring said first connector means against displacement longitudinally of the tie including interfitting projection and recess connective means therebetween, second connector means overlying said tie plate means and having depending portions adapted for interlocking connection with said first connector means, ear means formed on said second connector means for overhangingly engaging the other edge of the rail flange, and resilient means engaging one end of said wedge means for axially thrusting the latter toward the rail and beneath said tie plate means to thereby hold said ear means tightly engaged with the rail flange.

3. A connecting device for joining a rail substantially transversely to an underlying support tie in a railroad, comprising, a wedge block adapted to be mounted on the upper face of a tie for sliding movement transversely beneath a rail to be joined to the tie, a tie plate means overlying said wedge block and having sliding connection therewith, ear means formed on said tie plate means and connectively overlapping one lateral edge of the rail, lower yoke means adapted to be mounted on the tie for embracing the bottom and side Walls thereof and including arms having serrated means, upper yoke means opposing said lower yoke means and having depending arms provided with additional serrated means for detachable connection with the serrated means of said lower yoke means, said upper yoke means bridging the tie plate means and having its depending arm passing through openings formed therein, additional ear means formed on the upper yoke means for engaging the other lateral edge of the rail, gage plate means adapted to be disposed beneath the wedge block in a socket formed therefor in the upper face of the tie and including end portions connectively embracing the lower yoke member to hold the latter against movementlongitudinally of the tie, and spring means engaging one end of said wedge block to thrust the same towards the rail and beneath said tie plate to force the latter away from the tie and pull said additional ear means tightly against the said other edge or" the rail flange.

4. A connecting device for fastening a rail, having a widened foot flange, substantially transversely to an underlying support tie in a railroad, comprising a tie plate for undersupporting the foot flange of the rail and having projecting ear means on its upper face for overhanging engagement with one lateral edge of the foot flange, upper and lower substantially 'U-shaped yoke members having arms adapted to extend in superposed relation along opposite sides of the tie, said arms including opposed teeth for interlocking the upper and lower yoke members, said upper yoke member passing over said tie plate and said lower yoke member passing beneath the tie, additional ear means formed on said upper yoke member for overhanging engagement with the other lateral edge of the foot flange on the rail, wedge means adapted to slide between the tie plate and tie and move substantially transversely toward the rail for thrusting the tie plate upwardly away from the tie and thereby forcing the foot flange of the rail against said additional ear means on the upper yoke member, thrust imposing means resiliently engaging said wedge means to constantlyurge the same toward the rail, and gage plate means interlocking Withfi recess formed transversely of the tie and extending between and embracing the arms of said yoke members, the interlocking relationship of said recess and gage plate anchoring the latter against longitudinal and lateral displacement whereby the yoke members are likewise anchored.

5. A rail holding device of the class described, comprising a tie plate extending beneath a rail and having means overhanging and gripping one edge of a lower flange portion of the rail, a planar platform portion on said tie plate underlying said flange portion, a guide surface formed on the lower face of said tie plate and intersectingly related to the plane of said platform portion, a

,wedge block mounted between said tie plate and an underlying railroad tie with which the rail is to be joined and having an inclined surface cooperatively engageable with said guide surface to dispose said platform portion sub stantially parallel to the railroad tie, connector means extending beneath and along opposite sides of the tie and having ear means projecting over said-tie plate to grip the other edge of the rail flange portion, means projecting from said connector means and adapted to cooperate with mating recessed openings formed in the tie for joining the connector means to the tie, said connector means having axially movable portions including serrated means detachably interjoining the same whereby the connector means is selectivelyv extensible for regulating the distance above the tie at which the said ear means thereon engage the flange portion of the rail, recess openings formed in said tie plate for interlocking reception of'said connector means, and spring loaded means for driving said wedge block beneath said tie plate to maintain the block engaged with said guide surface, thereby forcing said tie plate against the overlying rail flange portion.

6. A rail holding device of the class described, comprising a tie plate extending beneath a rail and having means overhanging and gripping one edge of a lower flange portion of the rail, a planar platform portion on gaged with the rail flanges.

portion, a guide surface formed on the lower face of said form portion substantially parallel to the railroad tie,

connector means extending beneath and along opposite sides of the tie and having ear means projecting over said tie plate to grip the other edge of the rail flange portion, said connector means comprising a pair of post members each provided with projecting teeth means adjacent its lower end for engaging the tie and including a central axially opening having first serrated means therein for connective cooperation with a bolt member provided with second serrated means, the serrated means being lo'ckingly engaged in selected axial positions of said bolt member in said opening whereby such post and bolt members may be interlocked, wedge means for maintaining said bolt member in its selected positions, the selected axial positioning ofthe bolt member serving to regulate the distance above the tie at which the said ear means engage the flange portion of the rail, and spring loaded means for driving said wedge block beneath said tie plate to maintain the block tightly engaged with said guide surface, thereby forcing said tie plate against the overlying rail flange portion.

7.. A rail connective device for joining a rail transversely to a railroad support tie, comprising, tie plate means for underlyingly engaging the bottom flange of the rail, hook means on said tie plate means adapted to engage and hold one edge 'of the rail flange, wedge means disposed between said tie plate means and the underlying means overlying said tie plate means, means interconnecting said first and second connector means, ear means on said second connector means for overhangingly engaging the other edge of the rail flange, and resilient means for axially urging the said wedge means toward the rail and beneath said tie plate means to hold said ear means en- ,References Cited in the file of this patent t UNITED STATES PATENTS Burger Sept. 19, 1899 975,199 Ambrose Nov. 8, 1910 1,196,339 Cranney Aug. 20, 1916 2,626,108 Spencer Jan. 20, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 14, 1955

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