US3145929A - Track spike with angularly related neck webs - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 25, 1964 c. H. sANDBERc 3,145,929

TRACK sPTKE WITH ANGULARLY RELATED NECK wEBs Filed Jan. 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tll.

Q INVENTOR.

CLIFFORD H. Samar-:rae

HTTOENE Y Aug. 25, 1964 C, H SANDBERG 3,145,929

E TRACK sPIxEwITH ANGULAELY RELATED NECK wEBs Filed Jan. 9. 1962 1 5 sheets-sheet s w MWL-Z fm?"WWK INVENTOR, CLU-Foren H. Sn-NDBEEG -I- I l HTTENEY Aug 25, 1964 c. H. sANDBl-:RG 3,145,929

TRACK SPIKE WITH ANGULARLY RELATED NECK wEBs Filed Jan. 9, 1962 S sheets-sheet 4 TAEEE.

' INVBNTOR CLIFFORD H. SQNDBERQ FPTTOENEY United States Patent O 3,145,929 TRACK SPIKE WITH ANGULARLY RELATED NECK WEBS Clifford H. Sandberg, 5000 West Hills Drive, Topeka, Kans. Filed Jan. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 165,174 13 Claims. (Cl. 23S-371) The invention relates in general to railroad track equipment, and more particularly to improved railroad sp1kes.

The invention constitutes an improvement over railroad spikes such as shown in Sandberg Patent 2,401,967, dated June ll, 1946, and in Godfrey Patent 2,650,032, dated August 25, 1953. The prior spikes have aiseries of deformable rejections on the throat or neck to insure a tight lit between the spike and tie plate hole in spite of tolerance variations in spike and hole.

The Godfrey spike, sometimes referred to as a Racor stud, has gone into extensive commercial use, especially as a so-callecl anchor spike, that is, a spike passmg through a tie plate hole remote from the rail. In general, it has performed most satisfactorily its intended function of providing a tight bond between the spike and the tie plate. The Godfrey spike maintains its tight lit in tie plate hole and holds the tie plate against all horizontal movement on the wooden tie caused by passage of trains and other causes. Use of the spike has eliminated throat cutting of the spike and spike killing of the wooden tie.

However, the Racor stud has certain drawbacks in that it is not adapted for use in line position, that is, adjacent the rail, and in that it requires certain amount of care to manufacture it, with attendant cost.

Objects of the present invention are to overcome the above drawbacks; to provide spikes that can be used in both anchor and line positions and which will become tightly bonded in the tie plate holes; and to produce spikes requiring less care to manufacture and at lower costs.

In general, the objects of the invention are accomplished by making use of standard steel sections, such as angle irons or channel irons. For example, when using an angle iron, the angle iron forms the main body or shank of the spike. The lower end of the shank is pointed. The neck of the spike is formed by flaring the Webs to an angle greater than 90. The head of the spike is formed by flaring the webs to an angle greater than the neck flare.

In the case of a channel iron, for example, the channel iron forms the main body or shank of the spike. Its lower end is pointed. The neck of the spike is formed by daring the side webs, and in some cases also the back web, to dimensions larger than the corresponding dimensions of the tie plate hole. The head of the spike is formed by bending the back web to form a suitable flange or by bending both back web and side webs to form suitable abutments corresponding to the under sides of the head of a standard conventional cut spike.

When these spikes, formed from standard steel sections, are driven through a tie plate hole into a tie, the expanded webs at the neck engage the opposite walls of the tie plate hole and are held in a state of elastic compression by the walls of the hole. Thus the spike is bonded to the tie plate and holds the tie plate against movement both lengthwise and transversely of the rail.

The angle form is intended for use primarily in anchor position while the channel forms may be used in either anchor position or line position.

Other objects and features of the invention will be more apparent from the following description when considered with the following drawings in which:

3,145,929; Patented Aug. 25, 1964 FIGS. 1-6 illustrate steps in the manufacture of one form of angle spike according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is an end view of an angle iron from which the angle spike is made.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the angle iron showing its lower end cut to form a point.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views, corresponding to FIGS. l and 2, showing the blank of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the upper ends of the webs bent outwardly.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views, corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4, illustrating how the upper end of the blank is further flared to form the head of the finished spike.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the finished angle spike of FIGS. 1-6, looking at the open side of the angle, to better illustrate the neck flare and the head flare, and the fit in a tie plate square hole, section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 20.

FIG. 7(a) is a side elevation of a modified angle spike having notches for engagement by a spike puller, showing the fit in a tie plate square hole.

FIGS. 8 to 19 illustrate the steps to making a spike from a channel iron.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the channel iron, with the lower end pointed and the upper end slitted to form a back strip and side wings, and with the upper ends of the side wings cut off.

FIG. 9 is a top view of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side View of the blank shown in FIG. 8, showing the back strip (in dot and dash lines) bent outwardly.

FIG. l1 is a side elevation of the blank after the side wings have been bent outwardly and then inwardly to form head shoulders.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of FIG. 11, showing the back strip in its outwardly bent position.

FIG. 13 is a side elevation of FIG. 1l, strip in outwardly bent position.

FIG. 14 illustrates the blank of FIGS. 11 to 13 after the side webs at the neck have been liared.

FIG. l5 is a top plan View, and FIG. 16 is a side elevation, of the blank shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a front elevation of the finished spike.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view, and FIG. 19 is a side elevation, of the finished spike, after the back strip has been bent back to form a head shoulder.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of an assembly of a rail, tie plate and tie, showing an angle spike and one form of channel spike in anchor position and another form of channel spike in line position.

FIG. 2l is a side elevation showing back of the assembly of FIG. 20. FIG. 22 is a plan section, on the line 22-22 of FIG. 2l, illustrating the elastic compression lit of an angle spike neck in the tie plate hole.

FIG. 23 is a section on the line 23-23 of FIG. 21, illustrating the elastic compression lit of a channel spike neck in the tie plate hole.

FIG. 24 is an elevational section, taken on the line 24-24 of FIG. 23, illustrating the lit of a channel spike in the tie plate hole.

FIG. 25 is a side elevation of a further modified channel spike whose neck is flared on three sides.

FIG. 26 is an end elevation of the spike shown in FIG. 25, looking at the open end of the channel.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of the spike of FIGS. 25 and 26, showing the flanged head.

FIG. 28 is a horizontal section through the spike of FIGS. 25 to 27, showing a t of the neck in a tie plate square hole.

FIG. 29 is a side elevation of the further form of channel spike in which entire length of the channel is ared.

FIG. 30 is an end elevation view of the spike of FIG. 29, looking into the open end of the channel.

FIG. 31 is a plan section illustrating the fit of a channel spike neck in a tie plate round hole.

FIG. 32 is a plan section illustrating the fit of an angle spike neck in a tie plate round hole.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings and description forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. and 21, a conventional rail 1t) is shown supported by a conventional tie plate 11 which in turn rests upon a conventional wooden tie 12. An angle spike 13 and one form of channel spike 19, according to present invention, is shown in another position. Another form of channel spike 14, according to the present invention, is shown in line position. It will be understood that channel spikes according to the present invention may be used in both line and anchor positions but, at the present time, it is intended to use the angle spikes in anchor position only.

The tie plate 11 may have the usual seat 15 with ribs or shoulders, one of which is denoted by 16, extending lengthwise of the rail. The plate, as shown, has four square holes on each side of the rail; the two line holes one of which is indicated by 1'7 pass through the shoulders 16 and the two anchor holes one of which is indicated by 18 are spaced outwardly therefrom. All holes are of the same nominal size, for example UG x UAG inch.

As shown in FIG. 7, opposite walls of the holes 17 and 18 are parallel from the bottom up to a point part way their length, from which point they flare slightly upwardly, as at 23. This flare is caused by the punching operation during manufacture.

The rail may be a standard T-rail having head 20, web 21 and base llange 22. The tie 12 is the conventional wooden tie which may be of either so-called hard wood or soft wood, with the grain usually running the length of the tie. The tie may be pre-bored for spikes, in accordance with conventional practice, or it may not be pre-bored.

Referring now to FIGS. l to 7, the angle spike 13 will now be described. It comprises a shank 25, a point 26, a neck 27, and head 28. The construction of the angle spike may be better understood by considering one method of making it.

The spike may be made from an angle iron as shown in FIGS. l and 2. This iron may be a standard rolled section whose webs 30 are disposed at an angle of 90; or the iron may be fabricated from plate bent to form the webs 30.

The lower end of the spike is cut to form the point 26. The neck 27 is formed by flaring the webs 30 to an angle greater than 90, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The head 28 is formed by ilaring the webs 30 to an angle still greater than the angle of llare at the neck.

The dimensions of the spike may be varied to suit the size of the tie plate hole. As an example of one form of spike which has been successfully tested, the square anchor hole of the tie plate had a nominal size of 11/16 x 11/16 inch. The angle iron stock had a size x Aa inch; the material was Vs inch thick; the head 2S of the spike was 3%: inch long; the neck 27 was 11A inches long; the shank including point 26 was 4 inches long.

The angle spike 13 may be driven in substantially the same manner as conventional cut spikes. The tie 12 may be pre-bored, or it may not be pre-bored. As the spike is driven through the square tie plate hole and into the 4 tie, the shank 25 passes loosely through the tie plate hole 13. Until the neck 27 reaches the tie plate hole, the driving force will be resisted only by the wooden tie. The shank forms a tight llt with the wood of the tie.

As the flared webs 30 of the neck 27 Contact the walls of its square tie plate hole 13 (FIGS. 7, 21 and 22) the flared webs are forced back toward their normal position of to each other. The remote edges of the angle iron tightly and rigidly engage diagonally opposite corners of the tie plate hole 18, as shown especially in FIG. 22, and is held in elastically compressed condition.

The spike will be driven until the neck 27 engages the walls of the hole 18 with sufficient compression to bond it tightly to the tie plate; this can be ascertained by the force required to drive the spike home. In any event, the driving will be discontinued when the head 28 engages the hole.

In this manner the spike becomes bonded to the tie plate and effectively anchors the tie plate 11 both lengthwise of the rail and transversely of the rail. The llare or spead of the neck 27 is sufficient to take care of all tolerance variations in both the spike itself and in the tie plate hole 1S.

The flare of the head 28 will be sufficient to provide an abutment for the ordinary claw bar which is inserted under the head for pulling the spike. The head 23 will withstand the blows of the ordinary maul used for driving the spike.

Referring to FIG. 7(a), the spike here shown is made similarly to the spike of FIGS. 1-7, except that the head 2S has the same flare as neck 27. Neck 27 and head 28 have the flare shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The head 28' is provided with notches 31 to facilitate engagement with the spike puller.

Referring now to FIGS. 17-19, one form of channel spike will now be described. Spike 14 comprises a shank 35, a point 36, a neck 37 and a head 38. The flared webs at the neck engage walls of the tie plate hole 17 and are held in a state of elastic compression by the walls of the hole, thus bonding the spike to the tie plate.

The construction of the channel spike 14 may be better understood by considering one method by which it may be made.

Referring to FIGS. 8-10, the channel spike 14 is made from a channel iron having back web 39 and side Webs 40 as shown. This channel iron may be a standard rolled section, or it may be fabricated from plate bent to form the channel. The lower end of the spike is cut to form the chisel point 36. The neck and head are formed as follows:

The fillets of the upper end are cut to provide slits 41 forming side wings 42 and a back strip 43. The upper ends of the side wings 42 are cut olf, the cut olf pieces being indicated by 44. The pieces 44 are discarded. The back strip 43 is then bent backwardly. The side wings 42 are then bent outwardly and then inwardly to form opposed flanges, forming part of head 38, as shown in FIGS. 11-13.

The side wings 42 at the neck are then bent outwardly to form angles greater than 90 with respect to the back Web 39 as shown in FIGS. 14-16. The back strip 43 is then bent outwardly and then inwardly to form a llange overlying the opposed flanges of side wings 42 to complete the head 38 as shown in FIGS. 17-19.

It will thus be seen that the assembly of overlying flanges provides a head 38; back strip 43 is used to overlie the base flange 22 of the rail when the spike is used in line position. The side wings 42 form shoulders under which a conventional claw bar may be engaged for pulling the spike.

The dimensions of the channel spikes may be varied to suit the size of the tie plate hole. For example, the following dimensions apply to a spike for use in a square line hole of a tie plate having a nominal size of 11/16 x 11/16 inch. The channel iron stock had a nominal size of 5/8 X 5/8 inch; the material wasls inch thick. The head 3S of the spike was 7/16 inch long lengthwise of the spike, the neck 37 was 1% inches long, the shank 35 including point Was 41%@ inches long.

This channel spike of FIGS. 8-19 may be used in both line and in anchor position. In either case, it is driven home in substantially the same manner as conventional cut spikes. As the spike is driven through the tie plate square hole, and into the tie, the shank passes loosely through the tie plate hole until the neck 37 reaches the tie plate hole.

As the flared webs of the neck 37 contact the walls of the square tie plate hole, the flared side webs 40 are forced back toward their normal position of 90 to the back web 39. The spike is held by the tie plate in elastically compressed condition. The spike thus becomes bonded to the tie plate and eifectively anchors the tie plate. The spike is bonded to the tie plate lengthwise of the rail by elastic compression of side webs 40 against the adjoining walls 45 (FIG. 23) of the tie plate hole, and transversely of the rail by friction of side webs 40 against walls 45.

The flare or Spread of the neck is suicient to take care of all tolerance variations in both the spike itself and in the tie plate hole.

It will be understood that, when using the channel spike 14, or, in fact any spikes in line position, the head is not driven down tight against the base ange of the rail. As shown in FIG. 21, a small space of perhaps l is left between the head 38 and the rail ange 22.

It will be understood that the passage of car wheels over the rail 10 impresses a series of wave motions on the rail. One of the wave motions is of such nature as to raise the spike slightly when the head 38 is driven down tight against the base ilange 22. It is for this reason that the spike is left in slightly raised position.

Although the gripping action between the spike and the tie plate hole is not sufficient to prevent raising the spike when its head is driven down tight against the base flange, the bonding action is suicient to prevent further rising of the spike out of the tie plate hole when once the small clearance between head 38 and rail base flange 22 is established.

Referring now to FIGS. 25-28, a further form of channel spike will now be described. In this form the shank is denoted by 55, chisel point by 56, neck by 57 and head by 58. v

The neck and head of the spike 19 is formed as follows:

The upper end of the channel is slitted at 65 at the llets (FIG. 28) to separate the side webs 60 from the back web 59. Both the back web 59 and side webs 6i) are bent outwardly to form flared portions 61 and 62 at the neck 57 of the spike. The longer back strip 62 is then bent outwardly to form back wing 63. The tops of the side webs 61 are then bent outwardly to form wings 64.

The head 53 is thus formed by the back strip 63 and the side wings 64. The back wing 63 of the head is adapted to overlie the base flange of the rail when the spike is used in line position. The side wings 64 of the head form shoulders under which a spike puller may be engaged for pulling the spike.

It will be understood that the neck 37 of the channel spike shown in FIGS. 8-19 may also be formed by extending the slits 41 the length of the neck 37 and flaring the back web outwardly as well as the side webs, as in the construction of FIGS. 25-27. Likewise, the neck 57 of FIGS. 25-27 may be formed by leaving the fillets at the neck unslitted and flaring only the side webs 60 following the teachings of FIGS. 8-ll9.

The channel spike of FIGS. 25-28 may be used in both anchor and line positions. It is driven in substantially the same manner as the conventional cut spike. As the spike is driven through the tie plate square hole 18,

6 and into the tie 12, the shank 55 passes loosely through the tie plate hole until the ared neck 57 reaches the tie plate hole.

As the flared side and back webs 61, 62 of the neck contact the four walls of the square tie plate hole 18, the flared webs of the channel are forced back toward their normal position, as shown in FIG. 28. The spike 19 is thus held in elastically compressed condition by the four walls of the tie plate hole and thus becomes elastically bonded to the tie plate 11, both lengthwise of the rail and transversely of the rail.

Referring now to FIGS. 29 and 30, a further form of channel spike is shown. Here the head is denoted by 70, neck by 71, shank by 72, and chisel point by 73. In this form the side webs 74 are cut olf at the top leaving a projecting back web which is bent over to form a back wing 75 adapted to overlie the base flange 22 of the rail when used in line position.

In FIGS. 29 and 30 the side webs 74 are shown as flared or bent outwardly from their normal position with respect to the backweb 76 for the entire length of the spike. When driving such a spike,` the shank will bind against the walls of the tie plate hole as it passes therethrough but, the liare will be suflicient that the neck 71 will be held in the state of elastic compression by the walls of the tie plate hole. Thus the neck 71 of the spike is bonded to the tie plate and the spike holds the tie plate against movement lengthwise of the rail and transversely of the rail.

Both angle spike and channel spike have been described above as engaging in the tie plate square holes. It will be understood that these spikes may also be used with tie plate round holes, particularly in anchor position.

Referring to FIG. 31, it will be noted that the ared webs at the neck 79 of the channel spike are compressed by the walls of the round hole 80. As shown in FIG. 32, the webs at the neck 81 of the angle spike are compressed bythe walls of the round hole 82. In both FIGS. 3l and 32 the compression of the neck effectively bonds the spike to the tie plate hole and holds the tie plate against movement both lengthwise and transverse of the rail.

With the round hole, it is not necessary for the webs of standard angle or channel sections to be expanded from normal 90 position before insertion of the spike in the hole. It is only necessary that the unstressed position of the webs occupy a greater space than the round hole permits, so that the Webs must he compressed from unstressed position to drive them into the hole.

In fact, as shown in FIG. 32, it is desirable in sorne cases to have the angle iron of such size, with respect to the hole, that the webs must be compressed to an angle less than normal 90 to enter the hole. In such construction the edges of the webs engage the hole wall on the opposite side of the hole diameter 83 from the apex of the angle, thus providing more effective anchoring action.

Thus improved spikes are provided, having many advantages over prior spikes. The spikes may be made at less cost. They are lighter in weight and require less costly fabrication than either the conventional cut spikes or the Racor studs above referred to. They may be made from standard rolled sections and fabricated on a stamping machine.

These advantages are obtained while retaining the advantages of the Racor stud, of tight bonding to the tie plate, reduced throat cutting of the spike, and reduced spike killing of the wooden tie. The improved spikes may be driven by conventional maul or by machine; they may be pulled by conventional claw bar or by machine.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed herein, and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that, in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents, various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railroad track assembly, a wooden tie, a metal tie plate resting on said tie, said tie plate having a hole, a spike disposed in said hole and in said tie, said spike comprising a shank, a neck, and a head, the neck of said spike having a cross section of angularly related webs, the thickness of said webs being less than their width, said webs defining an open space therebetween, said webs tending to occupy an angular relation greater lthan that permitted by the size of the hole, said neck being held in a state of elastic compression by the walls of said hole, the compression causing said webs to ilex angularly Ithus bonding the spike to the tie plate.

2. In the assembly of claim 1, said neck having a cross section corresponding to an angle section of but two webs.

3. In the assembly of claim 2, the head having a cross section of angularly related webs, the webs of said head occupying a larger angle than the angle between webs of said neck.

4. In the assembly of claim 2, the cross section of said tie plate hole being rectangular, the remote edges of the webs at said neck being elastically held in diagonally opposite corners of said tie plate hole.

5. In the assembly of claim 2, said shank having a cross section corresponding to an angle section of but two webs, said head having an enlarged portion for engagement by a spike-removing tool.

6. In the assembly of claim l, said neck having a cross section corresponding yto a channel section.

7. In the assembly of claim 6, the cross section of said tie plate hole being rectangular, the side 'webs of said channel section elastically engaging opposite walls of said hole. 4 8. In the assembly of claim 7, the corners connecting the back and side Webs of said channel section having slits running lengthwise of the channel section, said webs elastically engaging all four walls of said hole.

9. A railroad track spike for use with a metal tie plate resting on a wooden tie for the purpose of minimizing sliding movement of the tie plate on the tie under the action of railroad traic, said tie plate having a hole; said spike comprising a shank, a neck and a head, said spike being made from an angle section of uniform cross section, said angle section having but two angularly related Webs, the neck webs being bent to make the angle between the neck webs greater than the angle between the shank webs to enable the neck to elastically bond in said tie plate hole.

10. The spike of claim 9, the head webs being bent to make the angle between the head webs greater than the angle between the neck webs to facilitate engagement by a spike-removing tool.

11. A railroad track spike for use with a metal tie plate resting on a wooden tie for the purpose of minimizing lsliding movement of the tie plate on the tie under the action of railroad traffic, said tie plate having a hole; said spike comprising a shank, a neck and a head, said spike being made from a channel section of uniform cross section, the channel section having angularly related back and side webs, said neck webs being bent outwardly to greater dimension than the shank websto elastically bond in said tie plate hole, said head having slits at the corners between its back web and side webs to form back and side wings, said head back wing being bent outwardly to overlie the flange of a railroad rail, said head side wings being bent outwardly to form shoulders under which a spike-removing tool may be engaged.

12. The spike of claim 11, said neck having slits coextensive with said head slits.

13. A railroad track spike for use with a metal tie plate resting on a wooden tie for the purpose of minimizing sliding movement of the tie plate on the tie under the action of railroad traiic, said tie plate having a hole; s aidspike comprising a shank, a neck and a head, said spike being made from a section of uniform cross section, said section having angularly related webs, said neck webs being bent outwardly to greater dimension than the shank webs to elastically bond in the tie plate hole, said head webs being bent outwardly beyond the neck webs to facilitate engagement with a spike-removing tool.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 141,810 Nichols Aug. 12, 1873 2,650,032 Godfrey Aug. 25, 1953 2,777,642 Spencer Ian. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 192,492 Great Britain Feb. 5, 1923 920,221 Germany Nov. 15, 1954

Claims (1)

11. A RAILROAD TRACK SPIKE FOR USE WITH A METAL TIE PLATE RESTING ON A WOODEN TIE FOR THE PURPOSE OF MINIMIZING SLIDING MOVEMENT OF THE TIE PLATE ON THE TIE UNDER THE ACTION OF RAILROAD TRAFFIC, SAID TIE PLATE HAVING A HOLE; SAID SPIKE COMPRISING A SHANK, A NECK AND A HEAD, SAID SPIKE BEING MADE FROM A CHANNEL SECTION OF UNIFORM CROSS SECTION, THE CHANNEL SECTION HAVING ANGULARLY RELATED BACK AND SIDE WEBS, SAID NECK WEBS BEING BENT OUTWARDLY TO GREATER DIMENSION THAN THE SHANK WEBS TO ELASTICALLY BOND IN SAID TIE PLATE HOLE, SAID HEAD HAVING SLITS AT THE CORNERS BETWEEN ITS BACK WEB AND SIDE WEBS TO FORM BACK AND SIDE

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