US2991727A - Bumping post - Google Patents

Description

July 11, 1961 w HAYES 2,991,727

BUMPING POST Filed Jan. 2, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 11, 1961 HAYES 2,991,727

BUMPING POST Filed Jan. 2, 1959 5 Sheets-Shet 2 W is July 11, 1961 Filed Jan. 2, 1959 -3- EEElLEF LEEL E mmwl wfiz I i m I J v 1mm m /1 4 July 11, 1961 Filed Jan. 2, 1959 S. W. HAYES BUMPING POST 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 S. W. HAYES July 11, 1961 BUMPING POST 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 2, 1959 INVENTQR.

mzuwx United States Patent G 2,991,727 BUMPING POST Stanley W. Hayes, Wayne Township, near Richmond,

Wayne County, Ind., assignor to Hayes Track Appliance Company, Richmond, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Jan. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 784,734 '10 Claims. (Cl. 104-254) The present invention relates to improvements in bumping posts and particularly bumping posts of the type in which a bumper head located substantially centrally between the rails is supported above the rail by tension and compression means. This application is a continuation-inpart of application Serial No. 431,978, filed May 24, 1954, which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 333,670, filed January 28, 1953 (now abandoned), both assigned to the assignee of this application.

The primary object of the present invention is the pro vision of a new and improved bumping post of a cushion type in which the forces of impact are transmitted in the main to the road bed in such manner that there is no damage to the car or lading or to the post itself.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved bumping post which is adapted easily to be mounted relative to the rails for longitudinal movement along them and which is provided with structure extending below the rails into abutting relation with the ties so that the forces of impact occurring when the bumping post is struck by a moving car or the like are transmitted to the road bed thereby to pro vide a cushion stop of the car.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bumping post so constructed and arranged that it will provide a cushioned stopping of a railway car striking it and which can be knocked out of the track so as to minimize damage to the track and which can be placed back upon the track with only minor repairs, if any, to the post.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bumping post of a construction such that it requires no drilling of rails or driving of spikes or tightening of nuts in its installation on a railroad track.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bumping post including a generally rectangular or quadrangular foundation or base frame having means at its front end engageable with the under side of associated rails and means at its rear engageable as with the upper side of a rail base flange whereby the bumping post is, in substance, not clamped to the rails in any way such as would cause it to bind relative to them and thus be damaged, or cause damage to the rails, under car impact.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bumping post of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph where the means associating the bumping post with the rails are constituted by rollers at each of four corners of the bumping post, the rollers at the front engaging the under side of associated rails and the rollers at the rear being adapted to engage the upper sides of the rail base flanges, the post being otherwise and primarily supported upon the cross ties.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved bumping post of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph in which the aforementioned rollers are detachably secured to the bumping post, whereby the post can be readily installed in place either initially or after having been knocked out of the track as by a heavy or several impacts.

In brief, the bumping post of the present invention includes a bumper head supported by tension and compression members of which the former extend downwardly,

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forwardly, and divergently outwardly from the bumper head toward the rails and the latter extend downwardly, outwardly and rearwardly from the head. The lower ends of the tension and compression members are connected, as by welding, to a generally quadrangular or rectangular base frame constituted by front and rear cross members and longitudinally extending side members. The frame is of heavy construction and additional strength and rigidity are provided by a diagonal bracing structure located within the base frame and interconnecting the corners thereof. In the main, the bumping post seats upon and is supported by a number of cross ties upon which the frame rests. In addition, it includes means at the front engaging the undersides of adjacent rail bases to prevent upward movement of the post under stopping impact. Downward movement of the rear of the post is prevented by other means adapted to engage upwardly facing surfaces of the rails, such as the inner flanges of the bases of the rails. The rail engaging means are preferably constituted by rollers movably secured to the frame, there being one roller at each corner and the rollers being deteachable to permit simple and easy installareference is had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bumping post construction in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the post of FIGURE 1 looking at it from the rear;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the post of the preceding figures shown installed upon the track, the rear rail removed better to illustrate details of the post;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the post, the asso ciated rails being shown in phantom;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the post;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged vertical cross-sectional views taken along lines 9-9 and 1010 of FIG. 8.

Referring now to the drawings and first particularly to FIGURES '1, 3 and 8, the bumping post of the present invention is indicated as a whole generally by the reference character 10. It comprises a bumper head 12 suprigid structure.

ported slightly off-center with respect to a pair of rails 14 which are suitably secured in conventional manner as by the spikes 16 upon the cross ties 18 in the ballast 20.

The bumper head is mounted at the upper ends of a pair of compression members 22, forming part of a compression unit indicated as a whole by the reference character 24, secured at their ends to a cross piece 26 forming part of a generally rectangular or quadrangular base frame constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention and indicated as a whole by reference character 30. The bumper head is supported also by a pair of tension members 32 forming part of a tension unit and having their lower ends secured to a cross piece 36 also forming part of the base unit 30. The compression members diverge outwardly, downwardly and rearwardly from the bumper head and the tension members diverge outwardly, downwardly and forwardly from the bumper head. The tension and compression members are secured to the bumper head to provide a strong and As far as the present invention is concorned the bumper head and tension and compression units and the manner in which they are secured to each other may follow known art, the present invention having to do with the base unit and its relation to the track structure and the compression and tension units by means of which the post as a Whole is slidably mounted relative to the rails.

The base frame or unit 30 includes also a pair of longitudinally extending side frame members 38 which like the cross members are formed of heavy channel structures and which are welded at their ends to the cross members and the lower ends of the tension and compression members. The primary connection of the lower ends of the compression and tension members is to the cross members 26 and 36, respectively, the lower ends being cut so as to overlie the upper sides of the cross members as best shown in FIGS. and 8. The corners of the bumping post are strengthened by the relatively heavy horizontal plates 40', there being one at each corner welded to the side and cross members and to an associated lower end of a tension or compression member. The lower ends of the compression members are also strengthened by vertical end plates 42, welded to the ends of the members and upper side of the cross member 26.

' Additional rigidity is given to the post by a heavy diagonal brace structure indicated as a whole by the reference character 44 comprising a first diagonal brace 46 and a second two-part diagonal brace 48, the two parts of which are indicated by reference characters A and B. The ends of the braces are secured to the plates 40 and the central parts are strengthened and joined to each other and to a horizontal generally octagonal brace 50.

The base frame of the post is of a size so that it seats upon the ties between the rails, as best shown in FIGURE 8. It is adapted to have a non-binding and slidable mounting relative to the rails, which mounting prevents upward movement of the front end of the post and a downward movement of the rear end of the post under stopping impact. The side frame members also maintain the post oriented so that it will move longitudinally of the track, also as illustrated in FIGURE 8. In general, the base unit may be considered as being in the plane of and between the rails.

The front end of the post is prevented from moving upwardly under car wheel impact by means engaging the undersides of the rail bases. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this means takes the form of rollers 52 which are supported upon a plurality of spaced apart forward extending plates 54 in removable manner by the cotter pins 56. The rear edges of plates 54 are welded to the front side of the cross member 36 and the front edges of interconnecting plates 59. The latter are welded to cross tie engaging abutment plates 58 and both the plates 58 and 59 are welded to the under sides of plates 40. The plates are secured to each other by Welding.

The rear end of the post is prevented from being depressed not only by the seating of the post upon the cross ties, but by the means constituted by rollers 60 detachably mounted by the cotter pins 62 on the plurality of plates 64 welded to the cross piece 26 and associated plates 40. The rollers are mounted so as to engage an upwardly facing surface of the track such as the upper inside surfaces of the rail flanges, also as best illustrated in FIGURE 8.

The stopping impact is transmitted to the ties and ballast to provide a cushion stop not only by abutment plate 58 at the front of the post but by additional plates 66 and vertical braces 68 welded to the horizontal plates 40 and the side frame members. The force of the impact is further-more transmitted at an intermediate point to intermediate tie. as by the plates 70 and associated strengthening braces "72 disposed substantially centrally of the bumping post.

It'will be observed from the foregoing detailed description that the bumping post may be installed without the drilling of rails or driving of spikes or tightening of nuts. The installation simple requires removal of the front rollers 52. Then the post is lifted as by a crane into place on the track with the base frame 30 seated upon the cross ties between the rails. When so installed, the rear rollers 60 are disposed above the rail base flanges. Thereafter, the front rollers 52 are disposed in place with the outer ends projecting under the rails, all as shown in FIGURE 8. The installation is such that it can readily be completed by two men in less than half an hour.

The installation is generally made so that there are some additional ties and ballasts to the rear of the post thereby to provide added resistance to movement under impact. The resistance to movement should be such that the post will not move very far under normal stopping impacts and such that under an extremely heavy impact the post will be moved along the track and knocked out of the track without any substantial damage to the post. The result is that the track only will be damaged and this damage can be repaired by track men in a very short time after which the bumping post can be reinstalled. In effect, the bumping post is actually a portable one.

An advantage of using the rollers as the track engaging means is that it decreases the binding between the post and the track. Even if the rollers did not roll with movement of the post, their circular configuration minimizes binding because of the line contact between them and the rails. Also the rolling of the rollers and movement of the post along the track under impact acts to prevent injury or breakage of the track as well as the parts of the post. It is possible to make the post without the rear rollers 60 or their equivalent and rely on a tie and ballast to prevent downward movement of the rear end of the post. This construction would not, however, be as satisfactory as that described.

As noted heretofore the bumping post is of Welded construction and the base frame 30 is sufiiciently strong, especially when strengthened by the cross piece structure 44, that the post moves as a unit and one part will not buckle under stopping impact.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described in connection with the details of a particular embodiment, it should be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A bumping post for installation on track rails, including in combination, divergent compression and tension members having their lower ends adjacent the rails, a bumper head supported by said members, a base frame located and slidably mounted between the rails and secured to and supporting the compression and tension members, said frame having thrust transmitting structure extending below the rails into engagement with rail supporting cross ties for transmitting the force of impact to the ties and ballast, and means at the front of the bumping post and connected to it for engaging the undersides the rail bases for preventing upward movement of the front end of the post, and means at the rear of the post and connected to it engaging upper surfaces of the rails for preventing downward movement of the rear end of the post.

2. A bumping post for. installation on track rails supported on cross ties, including in combination, divergent compression and tension members having their lower ends adjacent the rails, a bumper head supported by said members, a base frame slidably mounted on the ties between the rails and secured to and supporting the compression and tension members, said frame having thrust transmitting structure extending below the rails into engagement with rail supporting cross ties for transmitting the force of impact to the ties and ballast, and means at the front of the bumping post and connected to its for engaging the undersides of the rail bases for preventing upward movement of the front end of the post, and means at the rear of the post and connected to it engaging upper surfaces of the rails for preventing downward movement of the rear end of the post.

3. A bumping post for installation on track rails, including in combination, a bumper head, means including compression and tension members mounting said bumper head, a slidably mounted supporting base frame including longitudinal and cross members located generally in the plane of and between the rails and having its cross members secured to the compression and tension members, said frame including thrust transmitting structure extending below the rails into engagement with rail supporting cross ties for transmitting the force of impact to the ties and ballast, and means connected to the post for preventing upward movement of the front end of the post and for preventing downward movement of the rear end of the post.

4. A bumping post for installation on track rails, including in combination, divergent compression and tension members having their lower ends adjacent the rails, a bumper head supported by said members, a base frame located generally in the plane of the rails and seated upon the ties between the rails and having cross members secured to the compression and tension members, said frame including thrust transmitting structure extending below the rails into engagement with rail supporting cross ties for transmitting the force of impact to the ties and ballast, and means connected to the post for preventing upward movement of the front end of the post and for preventing downward movement of the rear end of the post.

5. A bumping post for installation on track rails, including in combination, divergent compression and tension members having their lower ends adjacent the rails, a bumper head supported by said members, a base frame located generally in the plane of the rails and seated upon the ties between the rails and having cross members se cured to the compression and tension members, said frame including thrust transmitting structure adjacent its front and rear ends, extending below the rails into engagement with rail supporting cross ties for transmitting the force of impact to the ties and ballast, and means connected to the post for preventing upward movement of the front end of the post.

6. A bumping post for installation on track rails, including in combination, divergent compression and tension members having their lower ends adjacent the rails, a bumper head supported by said members, a quadrangular base frame located generally in the plane of and between the rails and having cross members secured to the compression and tension members, said frame including thrust transmitting structure extending below the rails into engagement with rail supporting cross ties for transmitting the force of impact to the ties and ballast, heavy diagonal cross bracing connecting the corners of the frame, and means connected to the post for preventing upward movement of the front end of the post and for preventing downward movement of the rear end of the post.

7. A bumping post as claimed in claim 3 in which the means for preventing upward movement of the front end of the post are constituted by individual detachable structures adapted to extend outwardly underneath the rails from an adjacent side of the frame.

8. A bumping post as claimed in claim 3 in which the means for preventing downward movement of the rear end of the post are constituted by individual detachable structures adapted to extend outwardly from an adjacent side of the frame to overlie an upwardly facing surface of a rail.

9. A bumping post as claimed in claim 7 in which said structures are constituted by rollers.

10. A bumping post as claimed in claim 8 in which said structures are constituted by rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,387,561 Scott Aug. 16, 1921 1,614,208 Rawie Jan. 11, 1927 1,746,007 Miller Feb. 4, 1930 2,019,135 Jaeger Oct. 29, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 650,806 Germany Oct. 1, 1937

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