US3697747A - Frog - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved frog including movable wedge means for closing the gap between the frog point and the wing rail.

Description

United States Patent Edeling et a]. 51 Oct. 10, 1972 1 FROG [56] References Cited v [72] Inventors: Curt Edeling, Essen-Rellinghausen; UNITED STATES PATENTS h Eisennmnn M h, both f 23 umc 584,530 6/1897 Strom ..246/47 0 1,146,888 7/1915 Lowe ..246/382 7 Awgm E Berk", 345,733 7/1886 Sailliez ..246/470 "many 329,098 10/1885 I Strorn ..246/470 [22] Filed: June 29, 1970 2,385,248 9/1945 Akel's ..238/ 17 528,776 11/1894 Horrie ..246/275 [2]] App! 569,653 10/1896 McCann ..246/385 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch July 2, 1969 Germany ..P 19 33 451.1 Anomekhmes Bryan [52] U.S.Cl ..246/468 246/382 511 1111. C1. .3501 7/10 [57] ABSHACT [58] Field of Search ..246/468-472, 458, This invention relates to an improved frog including movable wedge means for closing the gap between the frog point and the wing rail.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FROG This invention relates to a frog in which the gap between the frog point and the wing rail is closed by means of wedges corresponding to the direction of travel.

On rapid transit lines and on rail sections where there is heavy traffic, the increasing speeds of rail vehicles and the axle loads thereof produce difficulties in connection with the construction of frogs for the switches. Between the frog and the wing rail the wheel is not guided but the guide thereof is imparted thereto by the wheel mounted on the opposite end of the axle with the aid of a guard or check rail. Moreover, the placing of the wheel upon the frog generally occurs in a sort of impulse. At speeds higher than 160 kilometers per hour, an impact in a transverse direction and, when rolling over the frog, also in the vertical direction is therefore unavoidable and leads to wear and tear. As the speed increases, this wear and tear also increases and ultimately results in a decrease in riding comfort. A particularly significant wear and tear resulting in costly maintenance results at axle loads greater than tons in the area of the frog when the frog gap is rolled over.

One solution to this problem which is known to the prior art consists in a frog having a pivotal point but the disadvantage of this construction is that a great amount of force is required in order to bend the rigid frog during the change-over into the desired direction of travel. Particularly undesirable is the stretching shock or impact required in one of the two connecting rails in case of a smaller radius. The length variations of the movable frog point due to the influence of temperature have an adverse effect upon the guiding properties of the frog and the wing rail.

it is also known in the art to cause the branch to lead or extend into the side-track in a bridge-like manner over a track of the main line, if main lines are involved whose junction into a secondary direction of travel is required only rarely. While this method allows for riding or driving on the main rail without reducing the speed and ensures a good guide of the vehicle, it has the disadvantage that the branch or junction can be passed or travelled on at only little better than walking speed inasmuch as the wheel must execute several vertical movements within a short path.

The present invention obviates the disadvantages and drawbacks described above by means of an improved construction of the frog.

in accordance with the present invention, the guideless point of the frog between the frog point and the wing rail is closed by means of specifically designed wedges which are displaceable in the longitudinal direction. The wedges are maintained in position in the vertical and horizontal directions by means of recesses in the bottom of the frog and by means of machining in the lower side of the rail head. The upper edges of the wedges are positioned at the same height as the wing rails; the frog point is lowered in the forward portion thereof. The wedges are moved on an oblique plane whose inclination may be so selected that the wedges act in a self-locking manner. For purposes of satisfying safety regulations and the rules concerning signaling techniques, the displacement of the wedges may be linked to that of the tongues electrically, hydraulically, mechanically, or in any other manner. For example, the assumption of the end position of the wedge is controlled with the aid of electrical contacts. These contacts are connected in series with those which serve for checking the end position of the switch tongue.

Analogously to the closing of the gap between the frog point and the wing rail in the main rail or track, the gap in the branching-off rail is equally closable in accordance with the present invention. It is also possible in this manner to drive onto the branching-off rail also at full speed.

The advantage of the present invention is that the frog remains a closed unit in contrast to the known constructions of frogs with movable wing rails or frog points, and, if necessary, the frog according to the present invention may be travelled on as a normal frog. Additional advantages of the present invention are that the wedges are laterally well supported by means of the wing rails in the direction in which the greatest guide forces are effective, that the frog with the movable parts thereof may be installed in an existing rail system, and the wedges can be easily replaced in case of wear and tear thereon.

The invention will be further illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rail including the improved frog of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section taken on line A-A of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

FIG. 3 is a view in cross-section taken on line BB of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the wedges 1 and 1' may be slid by meansof the hydraulic cylinders 2 and 2' into the gap between the frog point 3 and the wing rails 4 and 4 thus locking the path of travel in the lateral direction. With the aid of the specifically designed guides, the wedges 1 and 1' are maintained in the position thereof in the horizontal and vertical directions. The drive of the wedges also may be effected by means of a spindle or other mechanical and/or electrical devices suitable for the purpose. The end position of the wedges in the operative position is assured by means of stop members but the wedges also may be maintained in the end position thereof by means of a special construction of the hydraulic cylinders and/or appropriate mechanical devices.

A specific shaping of the surfaces of the wedges 1 and 1' is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, the wedge l' is shown slightly higher than the frog point 3, whereas in FIG. 3, the wedge l is lower than the wing rail4.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

What is claimed is:

1. In a frog having a frog point and wing rail, the improvement comprising longitudinally movable wedge means for closing the gap between the frog point and the wing rail, said means being vertically displaced when moved longitudinally.

2. A frog according to claim 1 in which the wedge means comprises a 'pair of wedges connected to hydraulic cylinder means.

3. A frog according to claim 1 including means for locking the wedge means in the end position thereof.

4. A frog according to claim 1 in which the wedge means are inclined and act in self-locking manner.

5. A frog according to claim 1 including means for varying the end position of the wedge means.

a aaa a 5

Claims (5)

1. In a frog having a frog point and wing rail, the improvement comprising longitudinally movable wedge means for closing the gap between the frog point and the wing rail, said means being vertically displaced when moved longitudinally.

2. A frog according to claim 1 in which the wedge means comprises a pair of wedges connected to hydraulic cylinder means.

3. A frog according to claim 1 including means for locking the wedge means in the end position thereof.

4. A frog according to claim 1 in which the wedge means are inclined and act in self-locking manner.

5. A frog according to claim 1 including means for varying the end position of the wedge means.

Images