US3173611A - Anchor rail shims - Google Patents

Description

March 16, 1965 P. c. MARIMEN 3,173,611

AAAAAAAA IL SHIMS Filed Oct. 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PETER C. M AAAA EN TTTTTT EY March 16, 1965 P. c. MARIMEN 3,173,611

ANCHOR RAIL SHIMS Filed Oct. 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

fill-9 6 BY PETER C. MARINE W WWW ATT RNEY 3,173,611 ANCHOR RAIL SHIMS Peter C. Marimen, 3886 Grant St, Gary, Ind. Filed (let. 3!), 1961, Ser. No. 149,486 3 Claims. (Cl. 238 327) The subject application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 87,296, filed February 6, 1961.

This invention relates to railroad rail anchor means and more particularly .to supplemental means for renovating and making more effective worn out anchor means.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a shim that can be readily inserted between a rail and a partially worn or damaged anchor to renew or reestablish a firm clamping action between the rail and anchor.

A significant object of the invention is to provide a shim preferably of metal adapted for insertion between an anchor and a rail in a manner whereby to compensate for any loss or distortion of the material of the anchor resulting from excessive wear.

An important object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive shim preferably constructed of resiliently flexible sheet metal which is adapted to be inserted between the anchor and the rail, when the holding or locking action of the anchor is no longer effective, thereby eliminating the necessity of replacing a rather expensive anchor per se.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a shim or anti-rattle device which is clamped or locked in position by applying a force or forces to the anchor in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rail to which the anchor is detachably connected.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a shim which is preferably constructed of sheet material having a hardness which is preferably substantially equivalent to or slightly less than that of the anchor.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a novel method of applying a shim and anchor therefor to a rail.

Additional attributes of the invention reside in providing a shim and an organization which offers advantages with respect to efliciency in operation, durability, installation, and economy as to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent after the description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing two conventional anchor plates mounted on a rail and provided with my improved metal shims;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of a rail with one of my improved shims in place between the rail and an anchor;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of a pair of corresponding shims;

FIGURE 4 is a partial vertical section of a rail showing the manner in which the shim is first manually applied to a flange of the rail;

FIGURE 5 is a partial vertical section of a rail depicting a step of a mode of applying an anchor to the rail to force the shim onto the flange;

FIGURE 6 is a partial vertical section of a rail showing the anchor in its normal connected relation with the rail, with the shim locked in an operative position;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 7-7 of FIGURE 7 showing the areas or lines of contact between the shim, rail flange and anchor; and

FIGURE 8 is a partial vertical section of a rail illustrating the use of a shim constructed from sheet material which has a cross-sectional dimension somewhat less than that of the shim shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 5 generally designates a portion of a conventional rail having the usual head 6, intermediate web 7 and a base 8.

The rail 5 is supported upon a plurality of conventional stationary ties including the tie 9. A pair of corresponding elongate anchors or members generally designated 10 are detachably connected to the base 8 in longitudinally spaced transverse parallel positions along the length of the rail in straddling abutting relationship with respect to the vertical sides of the tie in a manner whereby to assist in stabilizing the normal upright position of the rail and substantially preventing longitudinal creepage or shifting thereof in a direction transverse to the ties.

Due to the constant travel of many trains over rails and the vibrations caused thereby, each of the anchors eventually wears, especially at the internal area or location designated by the numeral 11, and as a result it becomes loose and rattles and no longer serves its intended purpose. Factor-s with respect to replacing worn anchors with new ones add to the overall cost of maintaining the rail system in proper condition.

The subject invention avoids replacement of a worn out anchor while still maintaining the same as effective or more effective than if it were new. To this end, I provide a shim generally designated 12, as exemplified in FIGURE 3, which may be readily manually installed between the base 8 and the Worn out area or areas 11 in an anchor, thus providing a firm grip or clamp of the shim and anchor on the rail, as shown in FIGURE 1.

As exemplified in the drawing, each shim has a short upper inclined planar portion or member 13, a lower horizontal planar portion or member 14 somewhat longer than the portion 13, and a vertical planar portion or member 15 constituting a bridge joining the upper and lower portions. As evidenced in FIGURE 4, the shim is readily manually applied to one of a pair of opposed flanges 16 and 17 of the rail with the free end or edge of the upper pontion of the shim engaging an upper inclined surface 18 of the flange 16 and the major surface area of the lower portion engaging the under surface of this flange or base. It will be noted that the bridge portion 15 is spaced from the edge of the flange 16. The shims are preferably constructed from resiliently flexible sheet metal strip stock having a hardness which is preferably substantially the same or somewhat softer than the hardness of the anchors so that they will flexibly conform or accommodate themselves to the flange and Worn area 11. The area 11 is generally scalloped or concave and in some instances this area may be generally regular or irregular in shape.

Various forms of anchors are utilized but each of those disclosed herein preferably includes a jaw 19 for receiving the flange 16, a jaw 20 for receiving a flange 17 corresponding to the flange 16, and an elongate curvilinear bridge generally designated 21 connecting the jaws. The jaws are each substantially U-shaped in cross-section and the jaw 20 is preferably provided with a continuation forming a projection or abutment 22 which is adapted to be forcibly engaged by an elongate special lever, operably by an individual, which is utilized to selectively remove each anchor from a rail. Each of the anchors is resiliently flexible in character substantially throughout its length and may be referred to as a clamp. The jaws may also be referred to as being clamps due to their resiliently flexible gripping structure. The bridge 21 preferable includes a relatively large depending substantially U-shaped spring or portion 23 which promotes the flexibility of the anchor and offers a relatively large curved surface area for engaging the side of a tie to assist in stabilizing the position of the anchor and rail. It will be observed that the depending portion 23 on each anchor has a lower rounded extremity which is preferably somewhat wider in cross-section than at its upper extremity where legs or sides of the portion joinlower portions ,24,.

of the jaws. The portions .24 are preferably inclined to assist inimparting strength to the anchor and provide' clearance so thatcorrespondingconvex; surfaces 25 and 26 of each anchor willrespectively engage, the lowerportion 14 of a shim and the under surface of the flange 17 as exemplifieddn FIGURELI.

Attention is directed to the factthat-while FIGURES)" 5 and 6 only'showthe jaw 19 as .beingprovided with" an internal worn area 11, 1 it is recognized that the inter-= ml area of the jaw 20 and the edgesaof the flanges 16',

and17 of-the-railmay also wear to some extent.

Each of theanchors shown in FIGURE 1 is preferably applied and fastened to the railby placing the anchor thereunderso-that the jaw 19 receives the-shim and the flange 16. A special-lever (not shown) provided'with a head isthen conneetedtothe anchor and engagesthe'jaw 19 and, spring 23'for forcing the anchor ina direction transverse to the length of the rail to-cause the jaw 19 to press; the shim onto the'flange 16 tothe position substantially depicted in FIGURES 2 and 5, whereupon-application ofadditional force in'a generally upward direcpositively locking the'anchor and. shim in their respective tion on the jaw 20 will cause this jaw to snap intoem- 1 bracing clamping relationship, withthe flange 17, thereby operative positions withrespect to one another andthe rail.-- The-abutment 22. is provided 'with a'surface which serves'to cam or pilotthe jaw 22 intoproper connecting relation to the rail. When the jaw 20 is being forced onto-the flange 17 and finally secured thereto the material of'the shim between its upper portion13 and vertical portion 15 and'forming a corner portion-ispressured into conforming relationship withthe area' 11 and atleast about the upper portionof the edge ofthe flange 16 as depicted in FIGURE 6. It will be noted thatwhen the anchor isfirmly secured in placethrough the agency of the shinnth'at the free end of the upper portion 13' of the shim may take 'an inclined spaced position relative tothe'in-- clined surface 18 of the flange and that aportionof-the lower portion 14of the shimmaytake an inclined-spacedposition relative to the under surface of the flange. It will be manifest that the shi'm is; disposed substantiallywithin the confines of'the anchor for substantial concealment and engages the area-11 and'the surface 25 over parallel longitudinal extending areas ofv contact or engage-' ment at diiferentlocationsand elevations. Otherwise expressed, the shim engages the area 11' and the-flange 16* over an'upper longitudinal area and between-the,surface-- 25 and under surfacexof-the flange over: a lower longi tudinal area. The areas of contact established have proven' very efficient'and durable inspractice.

It is to be understood that the shims may be made ofdifferentthickness es of metal or other suitable material to accommodate anchor wear of diiferent' degrees.

example, where the wear in the jaw 19of the anchor 10'- is 'great,*a shim of greater thickness may be nsedJWhere as if the wear is less than that shown, a shim' of; less thickness, such as 26 as shown in FIGURE 8, may be used."

Fromthe foregoing it is believed that the construction."

and operation of 'my invention may be readily understood by those skilled'in the art, audit is apparent thatcha'nges may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention'as expressed in the fole lowing; claims.

Iclaim: 1. A'method of applying an elongate resiliently flexible clamping member provided with a jaw atone end havingan internal worn area and locking means at its opposite end'and a substantially U-shaped resiliently flexible shimv having a distortable' corner portion to a rail having a head,

web'and a pairof base flanges in which eachflange has an. upper longitudinally extending edge portion of a configuration different from that. of said distortable corner portion of said shim, which comprises applying the shim to one of the flanges ina direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of .thelrailto yieldably' receive said flange,

placing the clamping member under the rail so that said jaw-receives *said one fla'nge and substantiallylreceives said shim withinits confines, and then applying a force to said member in. a,direction transverseto said axis to cause said holding meansto fconnect with the other flange to' hold the member to the rail andithereby distort said distortable corner portion of said shim out of its orig inal shape into conforming relationshipiwith said edge portion offsaid'one flange and said worn area of said 1' jaw.

clamp, .in which the rail includes a head, web anda pair of base flanges with each flange-having" an inclined upper. surface, a bottom surface and a substantially verticalsurface defines in cornbination'with saidupper surface alongitudinally extending upper edge portion, the clamp has a jaw at one cndprovided with an internal worn area for location opposite said edge portion and holding means atis opposite end,,and the shim is substantially U-shaped, and, resiliently flexible and comprises an'inclined upper planar leg, alower planar leg-arid a bridge forming in combination with f'said upper leg a corner portion, said" shim' being adapted for manual disposition in receiving relation "with one. of saidflanges so that when said clampv is applied to said rail to cause its jaw to receive said one flange and said shim-and its holding means the other of said-flanges, said corner portion of saidshim' will'be distorted into conforming relationship with said edge portion 3 ofsaid one flange and said 'w'orn area of'said jaw.

3. In combination: a railroad rail }comprising a head,

web and a pair. of internally extending flangesaat least oneof which has an upper inclined planar surface, a-lower horizontal surface and a substantially vertical surface, .de-

fining in combinationiwith said inclined surface anupper longitudinally extending edge portion, .an.elongate clamping member extending transversely under said rail and having ajaw at one endreceiving said one rail flangeand means at itsloppositeend connected to the'other flange,

said jaw: having an internal worn area located directly opposite said upper edgerportion, a substantially Uwshaped resiliently flexible thin shimdisposed substantially within the confines. of saidjawand; receiving said .one. flange comprising a lower horizontal planar leg, anupper planar leg and a bridge forming in combination with said upper.

leg an upper corner portion, said clamping member exerting forces serving to distort said corner portion of said out of its original. shapeintoconformingrelationship with said edge portion. of said one, flange and said wornarea-of said one jaw .forfirmly holding said memberto said rail. 7 7 7 References Cited by the Examiner JAMES S. SHANK, LEO QUACKENBUSH,

' Examiners:-

2. A shiml for use witharailroad railandan elongate.v

Claims (1)

1. 3. IN COMBINATION: A RAILROAD RAIL COMPRISING A HEAD, WEB AND A PAIR OF INTERNALLY EXTENDING FLANGES AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH HAS AN UPPER INCLINED PLANAR SURFACE, A LOWER HORIZONTAL SURFACE AND A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL SURFACE DEFINING IN COMBINATION WITH SAID INCLINED SURFACE AN UPPER LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING EDGE PORTION, AN ELONGATE CLAMPING MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY UNDER SAID RAIL AND HAVING A JAW AT ONE END RECEIVING SAID ONE RAIL FLANGE AND MEANS AT ITS OPPOSITE END CONNECTED TO THE OTHER FLANGE, SAID JAW HAVING AN INTERNAL WORN AREA LOCATED DIRECTELY OPPOSITE SAID UPPER EDGE PORTION, A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE THIN SLIM SHIM DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID JAWS AND RECEIVING SAID ONE FLANGE COMPRISING A LOWER HORIZONTAL PLANAR, LEG, AN UPPER PLANAR LEG AND A BRIDGE FORMING IN COMBINATION WITH SAID UPPER LEG AN UPPER CORNER PORTION, SAID CLAMPING MEMBER EXERTING FORCES SERVING TO DISTORT SAID CORNER PORTION OF SAID SHIM OUT OF ITS ORIGINAL SHAPE INTO CONFORMING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID EDGE PORTION OF SAID ONE FLANGE AND SAID WORN AREA OF SAID ONE JAW FOR FIRMLY HOLDING SAID MEMBER TO SAID RAIL.

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