US642867A - Railway-frog. - Google Patents

Description

No. 642,867. Patented Feb. 6, I900. D. MAGPHERSUN.

RAILWAY FROG. (Application filed June 10, 1898.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets8heet I.

(inventor 'm: Nomus PETERS co, morauwo wnSHmC-You u c No. 642,867. Patented Feb. 6, I900.

D. MACPHERSON.

RAILWAY FROG.

(Application filed June 10, 189 8.)

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2,

n4: NORRIS PETERS cu, rnotoumu, wxsnmcvon. n. c.

7v s m M u m w 6 m 1 b e m F s 4 w m e l C n M c a a m D. MACPHE BSON. RAILWAY FROG.

(Apphcatlon filed June 10 1898 TNE Norms PETERS o0. PHOTO LTNO.. WASHIN N (N 0 Model.)

witnesses No. 642,867. Patented Feb. 6, I900. D. MAGPHERSOM RAILWAY FROG.

(Application filed June 10, 1898.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

THE- nonms PETERS co. momu'mou WASHINGTON, u. c,

DUNCAN MAOPHERSON, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

RAILWAY-FROG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,867, dated February 6, 1900.

Application filed June 10, 1898.

T 60% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUNCAN MACPHERSON, of the city of Montreal, in the district of Montreal and Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention may be said, briefly, to relate to the long and short frog-rails of a switch of the class illustrated and described by me in Letters Patent of the United States No. 465,531, of December 22, 1891; No. 524,332, of August 24, 1894, andNo. 552,916, of January 14, 1896, and t0 the means for actuating said switch; and the object of the invention is to produce a stronger and more effective switch than has been possible heretofore.

For full comprehension of the invention reference must be' had to the accompanying drawings, in which like symbols indicate the same parts, and wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch constructed according to my invention and set for the main line. Fig. 2 is a similar view,

' but with the switch set for a siding; Fig. 3,

a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, an enlarged detail sectional view of the frog, taken also on line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 5, an enlarged detail side elevation of a portion of the inside of the long frograil, illustrating means for preventing the canting of the frog; Fig. 6, a transverse vertical sectional view thereof, taken on line 6 6, Fig. Fig. 7, a plan view drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 2 of the long and short fro rails set for a siding and with one of the mainline rails shown in chain lines; Fig. 8, a side elevation of the long fro -rail; Fig. 9, a side elevation of the shortfrog-rail; Fig. 10, a similar view to Fig. 5, but illustrating a modified means for preventing the canting of the long frog-rail; Fig. 11, a transverse vertical sectional view thereof, taken on line 11 11, Fig. Fig. 12, an enlarged detail side elevation of the spring for retaining the parts in their normal position; Fig. 13, a plan view thereof. Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional detail showing method of strengthening hinge connection between stationary and movable rails.

My invention is illustrated as applied to a double-track system, although the improve- Serial No. 683,144. (No model.)

ments in the frog embodied therein are applicable with equal ad vantage to sin gle-track systems.

The main-line rails 5 5 are unbroken, and the rails of the switch and my improved frog are arranged in a similar position relatively to the said main-line rails as in the abovementioned Letters Patent.

7 indicates that portion of an inner broken turnout-rail which rests between the main rails and is fully spiked, so as to securely hold it in position.

8 indicates that portion of the inner broken turnout-rail which rests on the outside of the main-track rails and is also fully spiked, and 9 indicates the inner member of my improved frog, which is hinged in an improved manner (to be presently described) to the heel of rail 7 and is mounted upon plates 11, spiked to the sleepers or ties, so that it will rest sufficiently high to enable the flanges of wheels passing it to clear the main rail 5. This frog member 9 may be and preferably is for the sake of economy formed of a piece of ordinary steel rail, and by reason of its being mounted upon the plates 11 it is adapted to overlap the rail 5, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and conduct the wheels of a train across the same. The said member 9 is bent horizontally, as at 12 and 13, in order that its central portion will set parallel to the main rail 5 when it is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 7, and

its free end will rest away from the rail 5 and not ofier an obstruction to the passage of the wheels of a train traveling in the direction in* dicated by arrow in Fig. 2, and the said end is beveled, as indicated at 14, while the portion 15 of this frog member 9, extending from this beveled end to the horizontal bend 13, is also bent vertically downward and set down or planed off to a short distance beyond the bend 13, so that it will not be struck by worn flanges nor be caught by anything hanging from a passing train.

16 indicates the outer frog member, which is hinged also in an improved manner (to be presently described) to the end of the turnout-rail 8 and is mounted similarly to the member 9 upon plates 11, spiked to the ties, so as to enable it also to overlap the main rails, as clearly shown in Figs 3 and 4. This member 16, like the inner member 9, may be and preferably is formed of a piece of steel rail, but is bent vertically downward, as at 21, and upward, as at 22, to make it parallel to the main length and laterally or horizontally, as at 23, and it preferably has the inner side of its head or free end planed off, as indicated at 18, so as to permit the wheels to pass from the member 9 onto it without knocking against or damaging it and without jolting, and also has the upper side of its head beveled at its free end, as indicated at 19, so as to enable the flanges of the wheels to better engage it as they pass off of the member 9, and, furthermore, has the point of its free end recessed, as at 20, to prevent it being struck.

When my improved frog is in the position shown in Fig. 1, (or out of operation,) it will be observed that both members 9 and 16 rest at such a distance from the main rail 5 that they will not be touched, and consequently will not be damaged by the wheels of fast trains passing over the main-track rails,which are the chief factors in damaging and destroying frogs, and it will also be observed that by virtue of the main rail being unbroken and continuous and the frog members resting at a considerable distance from the same there can be no possibility of loose or wide-gage wheels taking the wrong side of the frog-point. It will also be observed that when the frog is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 7 or set for a siding it is just as strong as a fixed frog and is just as reliable, if not more so, and, furthermore, when set for a siding my improved frog will permit the wheels of a train moving on main track in the direction indicated by arrow in Fig. 2 to pass through without any rise or jolt, the flanges of the wheels pressing against the frog member 9, while the outer sides of the wheels press against the member 16, forcing it outward sufliciently to shear the pin 48 (to be presently fully described) and allow the spring connection to work, and it will thus be seen that the strain on the parts of the frog is equally distributed, and consequently neither the members 9 16 nor any of the parts connected therewith will be szrained out of shape or otherwise damage My improved frog may be used to advantage in conjunction with various kinds of switches and may be operated through the medium of any suitable mechanism. I prefer, however, to use the frog in conjunction with the switch disclosed in my said United States patents and operate it through the medium of improved mechanism, which is designed to be connected with improved switchoperating mechanism, (to be presently described,) both switch and frog being operated in concert in the ordinary manner from a single switch-stand. (Not shown.)

The frog-operating mechanism comprises a connecting-plate 25,which is connected with the frog member 9 by bolts 26, a plate 27, connected with the frog member 16 by bolts 28, the T-lever 29, and the rods 30, which are pivotally connected to the ends of the opposite arms of the levers 29 and are pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the respective plates 25 and 27. This construction, as is obvious, will enable the frog members 9 and 16 to be moved simultaneously in opposite directions toward or from the main rail 5, according to the direction in which the lever 29 is rocked.

A red 32 is pivotally connected to the arm 33 of the lever 29 at one end and connected also pivotally at its other end to one arm 34 of a compensating lever, this rod being preferably broken in order to include a yieldin g device, to be presently described. To the other arm 35 of the compensating lever one end of a rod 36 is pivotally connected, the other end of such latter rod being pivotally connected to one arm187 of a bell-crank lever, preferably fulcrumed, as at 38, to a plate 39, while the other arm thereof is pivotally connected, as at 40, to the slide-bar 41 of the switch-operating mechanism. For doubletrack roads or where the switch-stand is located on the same side as the stub-rail this slide-bar 41 is operatively connected at one end to the switch-stand, (which may be of any approved construction and is not shown,) while its other end 42 takes through an opening in the vertical offset portion of a vertically and horizontally offset end 43 of a short bar 44, connected by a sliding connection consisting, preferably, of a pair of staplelike brackets 45 45 to a bar 46. This bar 46 has (like the bar 44) one end vertically and horizontally offset, as at 47, the verticallyoffset portion being perforated to take over the bar 41, to which it is connected by means of a pin 48, sufficiently strong to resist pressure under normal conditions, but adapted to break or be sheared by a passing train, as before mentioned, in the event of the switch being set wrong, and a nut 49, the pin 48 and this nut 49 being located, respectively, on opposite sides of said vertically-offset portion, the pin being on the side adjacent to the switch-stand,while the horizontally-offset portion carries an eye 49, to be further alluded to presently. This bar-46 is connected in any desired manner to the turnout-rails of the switch, and the horizontally-offset portion of the bar 44 is perforated, as at 58, to allow of the free passage therethrough of the screwthreaded stem 56 of an eye 57. The stem 56, the end 42 (which is screw-threaded) of the bar 41, and the short bar 44 are adjustably localized relatively to one another by means of the pairs of nuts 57 57 and 58 58, adapted to take upon the said stem 56 and the end of the bar 41, respectively, said nuts being located on opposite sides of said offset portion 43 of the bar 44, while a coiled spring 60, having its ends hooked, as at 61, is connected, by means of said hooked ends, to the eyes 49 and 57.

Heretofore when a train of cars passed over an adjustable frog it has been found that the lateral strain would be at times entirely upon the bolts of the hinges connecting the frograils with the lead-rails, which proved at times to be a serious defect, owing to the liability of said bolts to breakage or to become loose. To obviate this defect is the object of myimprovements to the switch-hinges. I will only describe in detail the application thereof to the hinge connecting the outer frog member 16 to the turnout-rail 8. The hinge- plates 64 and 65 are connected, as usual, to the webs 66 67, respectively, of said rails 16 and 8 by bolts and nuts 68; but I prefer to arrange a pair of bracing-plates 69 and '70 on the opposite side of said webs. The plate 69 is set with its end a short distance back from the end of the web 67, while the adjacent end 71 of the plate is adapted to project a short distance beyond the end of the web 66, said plates being held in place by the bolts 68. A further defect that is sometimes evident in adjustable frogs having an overhanging rail, such as 9, is that such rail is liable to turn on its base or cant when the wheels are passing over it. To obviate this defect, I provide supporting means carried by said rail 9 and adapted to permanently establish the distance between the under side of the overhanging portion and the upper surface of the portion of the main rail it overhangs. To this end Isecure a steel strap 75, recessed on one side, as at '76, to partially inclose one edge of the head of the rail 9, to which it is secured by rivets '77, this strap being of sufficient vertical thickness to rest upon the surface of the main-rail head when the frog is set for a siding, or a series of blocks 80, having screw-threaded projections adapted to take into screw-threaded perforations in the rail-head 81, can be substituted for the strap 75 with practically the same results.

What I claim is as follows:

1. The short frog-rail for railway-switches having a horizontal bend and also bent vertically at two points, thus presenting two parallel portions 011 different levels with an inclined portion between, the head being planed off at an angle near its free end and recessed on one side of such end portion, for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination'with an unbroken main rail and portions of a broken turnout-rail arranged upon opposite sides of the main rail, a frog comprising a short frog-rail having a horizontal bend and also bent vertically at two points thus presenting two parallel portions on different levels with an inclined portion between, the head being planed off at an angle near its free end and recessed on one side of such end portion, and a long frog-rail having two horizontal bends and a vertical bend having the effect of downwardly inclining both the upper and lower sides of the forward portion of the rail and the upper side being also planed to an oblique angle substantially as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with a frog-rail adapted to overlap a main rail, detachable means carried by the frog-rail for preventing canting of the latter when in working position and borne upon, as set forth.

4. In combination with a frog-rail adapted to overlap a main rail; detachable means consistin g of a projection carried by the frog-rail and adapted to rest upon the main rail to prevent canting of the frog-rail when in working position and borne upon as set forth.

5. In combination with a frog-rail adapted to overlap a main rail; means consisting of rivets projecting from the under side of the frog-rail and adapted to rest upon the main rail to prevent canting of such frog-rail when in working position and borne upon as set forth.

6. In combination with the stationary and movable portions of a frog-rail, hinge-plates located on one side of the rails and bracingplates on the opposite side of the rails With suitable connecting-bolts; one of said bracing-plates being set with its inner end a short distance back from the hinge end of thestationary rail and the other bracing-plate projecting beyond the hinge end of the movable rail to overlap the stationary rail for the purpose set forth.

- '7. A connection easily changed from rigid to flexible for connecting together certain of the parts of switch-operating mechanism and consisting of a pair of bars each having an integral offset end, a sliding connection between the main portions of said bars, a yielding connection between the offset portions thereof, a frangible rigid connection between said ofiset portions, and said bars being con nected respectively to the switch-stand and switch, for the purpose set forth.

8. A connection easily changed from rigid to flexible for connecting together certain of the parts of switch-operating mechanism and consisting of a pair of bars each having an integral offset end, a sliding connection be tween the main portions of said bars, a coiled spring connecting the ofiset portions thereof, means for varying the tension of said spring, a frangible rigid connection between said 0&- set portions, and said bars being connected respectively to the switch-stand and switch, for the purpose set forth.

9. A connection easily changed from rigid to flexible for connecting together certain of the parts of switch-operating mechanism and consisting of a pair of offset bars a sliding connection between the main portions of said bars, a coiled spring connecting the offset portions thereof; a screw-threaded rod connected through intermediaries to the switch-stand and taking freely through perforations in said offset portions; a pair of nuts taking upon said rod and located one on each side of the ofiset portion of one of said bars; a nut taking upon said rod and located at one side of the offset portion of the other of said bars and a pin taking through said rod adjacent to the IIO other side thereof; this last-mentioned bar being connected through intermediaries to the switch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In combination with an unbroken main rail and portions of a broken turnout-rail ar ranged upon opposite sides of the main rail, a frog comprising a member connected in a hinged manner with the end of the inner turnout-rail portion, and bent so that when it is adjusted against said main rail and its free end rest away from same, detachable means carried by said member adapted to prevent the canting of same, and a second member connected in a hinged manner with the end of the outer turnoutrail portion and adapted to be adjusted against the opposite side of the main rail with respect to the first-mentioned member, and means for adjusting said members substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In combination with an unbroken main rail and portions of a broken turnout-rail arranged upon opposite sides of the main rail, a frog comprising a member connected in a hinged manner with the end of the inner turnout-rail portion, and bent so that when it is adjusted against said main rail, its central portion will set parallel to the main rail and its free end rest away from same, detachable means carried by said member adapted to prevent the canting of same, and a second member connected in a hinged manner with the end of the outer turnoutrail portion and adapted to be adjusted against the opposite side of the main rail with respect to the firstmentioned member, said second member having the portion thereof that comes in contact with the main rail upwardly offset in an inclined plane and bent horizontally, and means for adjusting said members, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In combination with an unbroken main rail and portions of a broken turnout-rail arranged upon opposite sides of the main rail, a frog comprising a member connected in a hinged manner with the end of the inner turnout-rail portion, and bent so that when it is adjusted against its main rail, its central portion will set parallel to the main rail and its free end rest away from said main rail, detachable means adapted to prevent the canting of same, consisting of a device carried rigidly by said member and adapted to rest upon the main rail; and a second member connected in a hinged manner with the end of the outer turnout-rail and adapted to be adjusted against the opposite side of the main rail with respect to the first-mentioned member, and means for adjusting said members, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In combination with an unbroken main rail and portions of a broken turnout-rail arranged upon opposite sides of the main rail, a frog comprising a member connected in a hinged manner with the end of the innerturnout-rail portion, and bent so that when it is adjusted against said main rail, its central portion will set parallel to the main rail and its free end rest away from said main rail, means adapted to prevent the canting of said member, and a second member connected in a hinged manner with the end of the outer turnout-rail portion and adapted to be adjusted against the opposite side of the main rail with respect to the first-mentioned member, said hinges consisting of hinge- plates 64 and 65 connected to the webs of the turnoutrails and frog-rails respectively having plates 69 and 70, 69 being secured to one of said webs and set with its end a short distance back from the end of said web and 70 being secured to the other of said webs and set with its end, '71, projecting beyond the web to overlap the adjacent end of said first-mentioned web; and means for adjusting said members, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DUNCAN MAOPIIERSON.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM: P. MoFEAT, FRED J. SEARS.

Images