US692829A - Continuous-rail frog. - Google Patents

Description

Patenfd Feb. Il, I'L COLLINS.

CUNTINUDUS RAIL FROG. (Application med my 21, 1901.)

ZSheets-Sheet I.r4

(Nu Model.)

ML: N, Q m M,

.No. 692,829. Patented Feb. Il, |902.

H. R. COLLINS.

CONTINUOUS RAIL FROG.

. 4 (Application filed May 21, 1901.)

y (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

* /N VENTOR UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY RAYMOND COLLINS, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO R. PAUL STOUT, OF BETHLEI-IEM, PENN- sYLvANIA.

CONTINUOUS-.RAIL FROG.

S-PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 692,829, dated February 1.1, 1902.

Application filed May 21, 190]..

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY RAvMoNDCoL` L'INS, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Continuous-Rail Frogs; and I do hereby declare thefoliowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will`en' able others .skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to railway-frogs, and more particularly to the class known as movable rail-frogs.A

The ordinary solid and spring frogs now in common use in connection with railwayswitches, besides often causing derail'ment of the cars by reason of stones or other foreign bodies .becoming lodged or wedged in the channels for the guidance of the wheel-` tlanges, are more or less expensive to maintain on account of the hard blows received from the wheels passing .overthem and consequent wear on the frog-points, and, further, cause heavy jarring and jolting of the rolling-stock and consequent wear of the journals, wheel-trucks, and other running-gear.

The primary object of -my invention is to produce a simple, inexpensive, and substantial movable rail-frog for the point of intersection of the rails of two or more diverging tracks, whereby a continuous or unbroken rail bearing is provided for the Wheelsof. a car moving on either line or trackythus overcoming the danger of derailment, obviating all jarring and jolting, and consequently reducing to a minimum the wear both of the track and the rolling-stock.

A further object is to provide means for connecting the frog with the switch-operating mechanism and for moving and locking thesame in position simultaneously withthe operation of the switch from the switchboard or signal-tower.

vOther objects are to properly guide and limit the movements of the movable rail and lto secure perfect alinement thereof with the rail of the main track or line over which the cars are passing, to strengthen and reinforce said movable rail, so as to render the same stable, immovable, and free from spreading serial Nt. 61.294-, (No man.)

or bending under the pressure of the rolling"- stock, to reduce friction and insure easy manipulation of said rail, and to improve generally on devices ot'. this same general char# acter. f e

With these and other objects in view the invention will first be hereinafter` more par* ticularly described with reference to the ac-` the switch-pointsfrom the switch-stand or signal-tower. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the frog. Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is an -end elevation. v section on line V V of Fig. 3, Figs. 2 to 5,

inclusive, being taken on a larger scale than Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view showing a preferred form of locking mechanism, and Fig. 7 isa similar view showing the same in a different position.

The letters lA and A in the drawings denote the rails ofV a main track or railway, and

B and-B the rails of a diverging or side track.-

Fig. l5 is a vertical C denotes the movable switch-points, and D f the switch-bar connectedto thelatter and to the lever E at the switch-stand for operating the switch,xall of which parts'may be of the `usual or any desired construction.v

At the point of intersection of the two inner rails A and B of the diverging railways the said rails terminate a suitable an'd an equal distance away from said point on both sidesl thereof, preferably in the usual stub ends, and a short rail-section -F of a length substantially equal to thedistance between the terminals of each rail A and B is pivotally supported at said point of intersection and may be moved or turned to connect the said terminals or toes of either of said rails, so as to secure a continuous or unbroken rail- Ico i bearing for the wheels of a car passing along either track. rlhe said movable or pivotal rail F is preferably supported upon a bedplatc G, having suitable apertures g for the insertion of spikes or other fastenings into the railtics, and provided with a central bore y to receive the pivot orjou rnalf of said rail, which pivot may be secured to the under side of the rail by means of rivets f', passing throughsuitableapertnresinthe pivot orjournal and in the lower flanges of the rail or in any desired manner. The bore g is preferably formed in an enlarged or thickened portion or boss g2 of the bed-plate, which provides a sufficient `bearing for the journal and also raises the rail, which maybe further supported at its ends and intermediate portions upon suitable slides or curved projections g3 on the top of the bed-plate, the contacting surfaces of the rail and bed-plate being thus reduced, thereby diminishing friction, preventingr obstruction frorn the accumulation of dirt or other substances, and insuring free pivotal movement of the rail.

To prevent spreading, bending, or overturning under lateral pressure from the carvwheels, the rail F is preferably provided at cach side with rein forcing pieces or bars I-I, closely fitted between the head and base or upper and lower flanges of the rail (see Fig. 5) and securely fastened together by bolts and lock-nuts or in any suitable manner, and said bars or reinforcing pieces are provided at suitable intervals with outwardly-projecting arms or slides 7L, curved from the axis or pivot of the rail and slidably fitted in guides or yokes I, firmly riveted or otherwise secured to the bed-plate, and it will be observed that besides,

the functions noted the said arms in connection with the collars or yokes I serve to anchor the movable rail to the `bed-plate and prevent displacement or upward movement of either end thereof and also to guide and steady the said rail in its pivotal movements. The said collars or sleeves I also serve as stops or abutments for the rail, being so disposed and of such formation as to limit the movement of the rail in exact alinement with the main rail over which the car is passino".

As a further means of securing exact alinemeut of the main rails and movable or pivotal rail and to hold the former firmly in position the ends of said main rails A and B may be supported and rigidly fastened in proper position upon the bed-plate, and preferably said rails are inserted and bolted or otherwise secured in pockets or chairs J, upstanding at each end of the bed-plate. Said pockets, which are of suitable shape to fit closely about the rail, (see Fig. 4,) may be cast integrally with the bed-plate, as shown, or formed separately and riveted or secured thereto iu any suitable manner.

'lo connect the frog with the switch-operating mechanism, the rail F may be provided at one side with a lug K, to which is pivoted one member of an adjustable or extensible rod L, (see Fig. 1,) the two members of therod being oppositely screw-threaded at their adjacent ends and connected by a turnbuckle 7o Z- or other suitable adjusting device. The other end of the rod L may be connected to one arm or member of a bell-crank lever M, the other arm of which is connected by means of a rod O to a second bell-crank lever N,

which is in turn connected by its remaining arm to the switch-bar D, the arrangement being such that the movements of the adj ust able rod L and the rail F are made to con form to the movements of the switch-bar and 8o the switch-points C, respectively. The bellcranklevers M and N may be pivotally motilited upon plates m and n, respectively, or other supports suitably secured to the rail-ties at the side of the main track. rail F being fixed to stand normally in alinement with the rail A of the main track, it will be observed that whenthe switch is operated to shunt the cars to the diverging or side track The movable the said rail F will simultaneously move into '9o alinement with the rail B of said diverging line, and when the switch is closed the said rail will be simultaneously moved back into the normal position.

In either closed or open position of the switch the movable rail-section will of course be retained in its corresponding side-track or 1nain-track position by virtue of the rigid connections between the two, or any suitable means may be employed for locking the railico section F from a nearby point in either its normal position (shown in Figs. l and or its adjusted or side-track position, (shown in Fig. 7,) the switch being correspondingly retained in position by virtue of the aforesaid rigid connectionsasuch latter arrangement being preferable because the rail is thereby held immovable, and all liability of ils being jal'red or thrown out of true alinement by rolling-stock is entirely obviated.

In Figs. 6 and '7 are illustrated a preferred means whereby the frog is locked automatically in either position into which it may be moved by operating the switch, the connec- IIO tion between the rod O and the movable rail- I 15 section F being slightly modified to embody said locking devices. In the construction re ferred to the adjustable rod L may be dispensed with, and the connection between the said rod O and the movable rail-section F is izo preferably effected by means of two parallel bars or rods P and Q, Inovably secured together in such manner that one of said bars I), which is suitably secured, as by a pivotand-slot couuection,'to the bellcrank leverl 125 M, is capable of a certain amount of independent endwise motion both before and after imparting movement tothe bar Q, which latter bar is suitably secured to the movable railsection F or the lug K thereof, and may slide 13o in suitable guides or yokes q and q', the latter of which guides may consist of an opening in the web of the rail A', as indicated. The bar P, which may be referred to as the the rail is in its normal position, Fig.'6', or in;

may be imparted to the bar Q after` the y bar P has moved a certain distance in either direction, said springs serving to impart a gradual pressure from the bar P to the bar Q and permitting an independent motion of the bar; P bothvbefore and after imparting motion tot the bar Q. i j

The lock for the movable rail-section F may consist ofv a lock-pin T, which enters a suit-l ableaperture in the yoke or collar Vqfand aj registering a erture t ort inthe bar when its adjusted or side-track position, Fig.V 7, re-i spectively, the said aperture'in the yoke qf and the apertures t and 1f' beingindicated byl dotted lines. The lock-pin T may be 'suitably connected to abellfcrank lever U`,Vpr'ef erably to the longer arm thereof, and 'thro'ugh` the medium of a link V, the other orshorten` arm of said bell-'crank lever being suitablyj connected to one end of a bar or' rod W',the; other end of which'is connected toa'lever X,f pivotally su pported at one end, vas at w, upo'n one of the rail-ties or other support. Whenl the level` X is Inoved'or rockedin one direc-v tion or the other, the bell-crank'lever will 'off course be correspondingly operated toinsert, or' withdraw the lock-pin T. To actnate the' said lever X automatically when thejswitch,1 is operated, the free end of said lever may be formed or provided' with a suitable n`otch,`a`sf at x', which is adaptedto be engaged at a proper time by a lugor teat x2 on the'bar'P,

and a second lever Y, so connected to the lever X as to move, the same in al direction op-j posite to its own motion, may 'be provided with a similarly-notched end, as at ftj, adapted;

to be engaged at a different'periodby a second lug or teat y2, carried by the barjP at aj point nearer the rail-section F than the lug m2. As here shown, thelever. Yislpivoted at an intermediate portion thereof, as at y, upon the rail-tie at a pointnearer' the frog" than the pivot of the lever X, being connected to said' lever X by a link Z,Vconnected A'to its shortl arm, and the free notched, endlotjsaid leverl Y is curved or bent under thecorresponding end'oi` the lever X, so that'it willbe 'engaged bythe'lug y2 only at the proper time; but

these details of arrangement and construe tion may, however,4 be variously modified as found necessary or desirable under different conditions ot' use.

The parts are preferably so Varran'f gfed'that' when the movable rail-section stands .in itsi 'parting from its scope. t y

Having thus fully described my invention,`

lnormalposition, Fig. i6, the lock-'pinT being ofcourse inserted through iheapert'ure tithe spring S, which is nearerthe' frog, is'heldpby the lug p under a suitable compression, while the'other spring is under less or no compres-` Ision.

Now'when the switch is operated to shunt the ca rs to the' side track the" rod O, rocking the bell-'crank lever M, draws'or moves the bar P, and the teat orlug m2 thereof engages and rock'sthe lever. X in 'such manner as to operate the bell-crank leverU to withdraw the lock-.pin T, the'm'ove'mevnts of the parts'being indicated `by dotted lines in FigpG." The motion ofthe bar P continu-v ing, the springs S both come to an equal de-` gree of compression, and by virtue ofthe bearing or abutment of the spring which is farther from the frog against tlieend of the bracket R the bar Q is gradually and easily mfoved luntil the movable railesection Fis in its adjusted position, Fig. 7. The'teat orlug m2 having passed'of `from the notched endzof the lever X, the'bar P continues itsfmotion', compressing said farther spring, andthe tea't or lug y? now reaches and engages the notched p end ofthejleverY, rocking the saine, Where'-v upon the lever X is'of course rocked in an opposite direction, thus operating the bellV V second aperture t of the'rbar Q. When the switch isolose'd `or `oper'atedfto bring themain track vinto useA again, Athe lug crank lever U to insert the lock-pin inthe y2carries the lever Y back, serving ina manner vnow understood Vto withdraw the lock:-

pin, and the spring :S Ynearer the frog bearing` against the bracketR again moves the )Inovable rail-section F into its' normalV position,

Fig. 6, whereupon the lgt/2 having leftthe leverYv the lug x2 engages the lever X and rocks the same inthe directionV to insert the lockV-pin in the aperture t, and thereby effectually lock the `movablerail-'section F in place.V

I thus provide a very simple,'inexpensi`ve,

and efficient device' whereby the various ob.-

jections experienced withthe'ordinary spring and solid frogs nowin use are'overcomed.

a safe Aand smooth unbroken bearing maybe had for the wheels of a train moving along either track. It willof course be 'understood thatlan'y suitable means maybe vemployed to establish connection between the 'frog' and IOO IIO

switch, or any suitable locking means may be Y employed, and that the invention is alsona-l pable 'of various "modiic'ations without dewhat'Ielaim as new, and' desire tosecureby' Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is- 1. A Vmovable rail-frog consisting of a railsevcti'on centrallyA pivoted between Athe termi-Q nals of 'two adjacent track-rails sofas to i'll the intervening gapand form a continuous line otrailsat such point; said rail-section havin gy lateralbracing and guiding arms riga idlyseoured to'eacli side` thereof on opposite,

sides of its pivot, and guides in which said arms are slidably fitted, substantially as described.

2. A movable rail-frog consisting of a railsection centrally pivoted between the terminals of two adjacent track-rails so as to fill the intervening gap and form a continuous line of rails at such point; said rail-section having lateral bracingand guiding arms rigidly secured to each side thereof on opposite sides of its pivot, guides in which said arms are slidably fitted, and means for shifting said rail-section so as to connect the terminals of the adjacent side-track rails intersecting said first-mentioned line of rails.

A movable rail-frog consisting of a railsection centrally pivoted between the terminals of two adjacent track-rails so as to fill the intervening gap and form a continuous line of rails at such point; said rail-section having lateral bracing and guiding arms rigidly secured to each side thereof on opposite sides of its pivot, guides in which said arms are slidably fitted, means for shift-ing said rail-section,and means for automatically locking the same in a fixed position, substantially as described.

4. In a railway-frog, the combination with the diverging tracks and the switch, the inner or intersecting rail of said tracks each terminating at each side of the point of intersection, of the movable rail for connecting the terminals of said intersecting rails pivotally supported at said point of intersection, an extensible rod pivoted at one end to said movable rail-section and at the other end to a bell-crank lever, a rod connecting said bellcrank lever with a second bell-crank lever which is in turn connected with the switchbar, whereby said movable rail-section may be turned to effect the desired connection simultaneously with the operation of the switch, substantially as described.

5. In a railway-frog, the combination with the diverging stationary rails each terminating at each side of their point of intersection, of a bed-plate having a bore at said point of intersection, a movable rail-section for connecting the terminals of either of the stationary rails having apivot journaled in said bore, and guiding arms or slides secured to the sides of said rail-section, guides on the bed-plate in which said arms are fitted, said guides also forming abutments for limiting the movements of said rail-section to secure alinement thereof with the stationary rails,substantially as described.

6. In a railway-frog, the combination with the diverging stationary rails each terminating at each side of the point of intersection, of a bed-plate having a raised portion or boss provided with a bore at said point of intersection, a movable rail-section for effecting connection with one of said stationary rails having a pivot journaled in said bore, and circular bearings or slides formed on the bedplatc concentric with and at cach side of said pivot to support said movable rail, substantially as described.

7. In a railway-frog, the combination with the diverging stationary rails terminating away from their point of intersection, of the movable rail-section pivoted at said point of intersection, anda support therefor, said movable rail-section having projections or slides at the sides thereof, and guides on the support in which said slides are fitted, substantially as described.

8. In a railway-frog, the combination with the diverging stationary rails terminating away from their point of intersection, of the movable rail-section pivotally supported at said point of intersection and having at each side reinforcing-bars provided with curved arms or projections on opposite sides of the pivot, and guides or yokes in which said arms are fitted, whereby said movable rail is held in place and its movements properly guided, substantially as described.

9. In a railway-frog, the combination with the diverging stationary rails each terminating away from their point of intersection, of' the movable rail-section pivotally supported at said point of intersection and having arms or projections at the sides thereof, and guides for said arms whereby the movable rail is held in place, said guides also forming stops or abutments for the rail-section so as to properly limit the movements of the same to aline with the stationary rails, substantially as described.

10. In a railway-frog, the combination with the diverging rails each terminating away from the point of intersection, of the bedplate having pockets or inclosures conforming tothe shape of the rail upstanding at each end thereof and in each of which the end of one of said rails is fitted and bolted, a bore in said bed-plate at the point of intersection of the rails, and a movable rail-section having a pivot journaled in said bore, substantially as described. 1 11. In a movable railway-frog, the combination with the fixed rails, and the bed-plate having a bore, of the movable rail foi-connecting the terminals of the fixed rails having a pivot on its under side journaled in said bore, said pivot being secured to said movable rail by means of rivets passing therethrough and through the lower fianges of the rail, substantially as described.

l2. In a movable railway-frog, the combination with the fixed rails, and the bed plate or support, of the movable rail pivotally supported at the point of intersection of the lfixed rails, said movable rail having secured to its sides the reinforcement-bars provided with the curved arms or projections, substantially as and for the purposes described.

13. In combination with the switch andthe movable rail-frog for connecting the adjacent terminals of the main-track rail and adjacent terminals of the side-track rail, the two parallel members movably secured together, ono

lcg

of said members being connected with the switch and one with the frog, a lock for the latter member, and means for actuating said lock by the independent movements. of the otherl member, substantially as described.

14. In combination with the switch, and the movable frog, a shift-bar connected t-o the frog, a lock therefor, an actuator-bar operatively connected with the switch and movably vIO connected with the shift-bar so as to impart movement thereto andto have independent motion before and after imparting such Inovement, a lever connected with the lock so as tounloek and lock the same when rocked in opposite directions, and connections with the actuator-bar for eecting` movement of the lever to unlock `the lock during therst independent motion of said bar, andv thelopposite movement of the lever during thesecond independent motion of said bar, substantially as described. 15. In combination with the switch, and the movable frog, a shiftbar connected to the frog, a lock therefor, an lactuator-bar operaf tively connected with the switch and movably connected with the shift-bar so as to impart movement .thereto` and to haveindependent motion before and after imparting 'such movement, a lock-actuating lever adapted to un-` lock when moved in one direction and to lock' when moved in the opposite direction, a second lever connected to the said locklactuating lever in such manner as to rock the same opposite] y to its own movement, the actuatorbar being adapted to engage the lock-actuating lever during its first independent motion, and to engage the second lever duringits second independent motion, thereby automatically unlocking and locking the p lock` before and after the shifting of the'frog, substantially as described.

16. in Combination with 'the switch and 'the movable frog, a `shift-barA connected tothe frog, a second bar operatively connected with the switch so as to be moved simultaneously therewith, a lock for the shift-bar, and means for actuating said lockdirectly by the other bar; one of said bars being movably' secured to the other throughV guides carriedl {by} the latter, a lug carried by one bar between said guides and ak spring interposed between each of said guides and lug, said springsthus serv- Y ing to ,impart gradual pressure rtothe shiftbar when the other bar is moved so` asto lpermitan independent motion ofthe latter bar ing the shift-bar.

lo actuate the lock both before and-after movfin presence of twowitnesses.

HARRY RAYMOND'COLLINS.-

.In testimony whereof I-affix my signature Y Witnesses:

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