US1682370A - Rail anchor - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,370

F. w. CVOOPER" RAIL ANCHOR Filed Feb. l, 1926 Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES FRANCIS W. COOPER, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO STEAD RAIL ANCHORS, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RAIL ANCHOR.

Application filed February This invention relates broadly to improvements in rail anchors and moreparticularly to improvements in rail anchors of the type shown in United States Patent No. 1,366,558,

issued the 25th January 1921, to Cooper and Steadworthy, and in my Patent 1,618,576, granted February 22, 1927, in both of which a. rail is gripped at the edges of its base flanges between a U-shaped clamp and a hooked spring clip.

The object of the resent invention is to provide an improved form of spring clip which will have efficiency at least equal to the clips formerly disclosed but capable of application to and removal from a rail with greater ease and with less danger of strain in application.

A further object is to provide a form of clip which may be manufactured with ease and accuracy and to provide a method of manufacturing the same which will overcome difliculties now experienced.

Various other objects and the advantages of the invention may be ascertained from the following description and the drawings relating thereto.

In the patents already referred to, the clamp is formed of flat bar metal, bent to a flat-bottomed U-shape and notched in the edges of its arms for reception of the base flange of a rail, the notches being so located that when the clamp is applied to a rail the flat central portion is disposed almost entirely beneath the flange from which it depends and in a plane inclined thereto and converging toward the opposite'base flange. In the present invention the clamp is of substantially the same form as disclosed in the first mentioned patent, while the spring clip follows more the form shown in Figure 4 of my patent already identified. In that form, the clip is a spring member adapted to underlie the rail base transversely thereof, hooked at one end to engage one flange of the base and looped at the other end to be engaged in compression between the underside of the rail base and the inclined central portion or seat of the clamp, the intermediate portion of the clip being spaced from the rail and being engaged from beneath when in operation by the upturned or hooked extremity of the bar from which the member is formed.

REISSUED It has been found in the course of manufacture of clips as just described that some variation occurs in the length of strips or blanks cut from stock for formation of the clips, the variation usually taking the form of excessive length. The extra length might perhaps be absorbed in the loop of the clip but, with the methods of manufacture presently followed, the surplus length appears at one end or the other and causes the hook at such end to be excessively long with the result that the clip is difficult to apply and is subjected to unnecessary stresses, which frequently develop strains operating to lower the etficiency of the anchor. On the other hand, if the blank is of insuflicient length, the deficiency is concentrated in one of the end hooks and the clip is defective in rail gripping power or may be useless. According to this invention, such inaccuracy in the length of the blank is automatically compensated for in a manner to enable. the clip to be made with exactitude and, at the same time, a series of advantages are realized both 1. 1926. Serial No. 85.356.

in the clip itself and in the production thereof, as will be hereinafter fully explained.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an anchor in operative position on a rail and exhibiting at the loop end the structural peculiarities embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2is aside elevation of the spring of Figure 1, in the relaxed form assumed when detached from a rail.

. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, depicting the embodiment of the invention at the hook end of the clip.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates the flanges of a rail base to one of which a clamp 12, of substantially the form disclosed in the patent and application aforesaid, is designed for attachment as shown, so as to locate its central or seatportion 13 beneath that flange of the rail base to which the clamp attaches and in a plane inclining toward the opposite base flange.

The clip, designated as a wholeby the numeral 14, is of the general looped form already disclosed, particularly in my patent aforesaid, and includes a shank or long arm 15 terminating at one end in an upwardly or outwardly turned hook l6 and at the other end in a loop 17, the tail portion 18 of which (on occasion referred to as the short arm) inclines toward the central part of the shank and terminates in an upwardly or inwardly turned hook 19 adapted to have substantially end abutting relation with the shank at approximately the medial point thereof. The shank or long arm is bent or curved downwardly or inwardly between its ends, so as to be spaced, in its central portion, below a rail base when applied thereto. This central portion of the shank merges into the loop 17 through a substantially flat or slightly reversely curved portion 20. A gradual reverse curvature between the hook 16 and .loop 17, somewhat as shown in Figure 1 of my patent, is now preferred, for reasons of stresss distribution, to the definitely flat portion adjacent the loop and comparatively sharp bend into the downwardly curved portio'n as shown in Figure 4 of the said patent.

Familiarity with the action of the spring clip in application to and removal from a rail and also in service is essential to thorough comprehension of the improvements herein dealt with and of the importance thereof.

The clamp is first driven firmly on one base flange of a rail and the clip then passed hook end first through the tapering opening between the clamp seat and rail. When the hook 16 has advanced an appreciable part of the distance across the base, both it and the shank adjacent the-loop are pressed up against the rail base by engagement of the loop tail with the upper end of the clamp seatas shown in broken lines. Figure 1. Further advance of the clip can be attained only by application of force, usually by striking with a hammer on the loop. As this forcible advance continues, the short arm or loop tail 18 travels up the inclined clamp seat and the space 21 which exists between the end of the hook 19 and the arm 15 when .the clip is relaxed (see Figure 2) is first closed up by flexion of the loop and arms.

Upon further advance of the clip, the upward movement of the hook 19, due to the inclination of the clamp seat, causes the same to thrust upwardly against the shank with straightening tendency and usually with resulting flexion sufiicient to substantially straighten the shank. On completion of the driving, the book 16 passes the edge of the rail base and is forced up to the position shown in Figure 1 by the tensioned shank, thus partially relieving the tension of the shank which tends to resume its original curvature and provide the clearance 22 between itself and the rail base, but without re-establishing the clearance at 21. It will be noted that the curvature of the shank is less when on the rail than when off the rail and relaxed, thus indicating considerable tension of the shank with, however, a large remaining resilient capacity to absorb vibration and maintain the grip of the anchor on the rail in the manner fully explained in the Cooper &- Steadworthy patent.

The amount of flexion of the shank both during application and in service depends upon the lengths of the hooks 16 and 19. If either hook is improperly long, the shank is subjected to excess flexion in application, which excess may be suflicient to completely straighten the shank or even bend it in the opposite direction. unnecessarily stresses the shank and, if the temper of the steel is low, will cause a strain producing a weak sluggish clip with poor gripping power or very little reserve resiliency. If the temper is too high breakage will probably result. In either case, the clip will be unnecessarily hard to drive and will exhibit a very marked tendency to recoil if not fully driven in one blow. If the hook 19 is too long, there will be in addition to the foregoing an excessive flattening of the shank in service, which reduces the flexibility of the clip and causes premature fatigue of the metal inviting strain or breakage. If the hook 16 is too short or is improperly formed by reason of insufficient metal avail.- able for satisfactory bending, the hook is liable to slip under the rail base and release the clip; while if the book 19 is too short an effective tension is not realized and the anchor has very little holding capability. It will be seen from the foregoing that the lengthof the hooks is a very important factor in the proper functioning of the clip.

The term length as applied to the hooks is the effective length and may be defined as the projection of a hook beyond the general Such excess curvature plane of the arm carrying it; thus the length of the hook 19 in Figures 1 and 2 is the projection inward from the plane of the adjacent surface or face of the loop tail 18, which plane is, for convenience of observation, indicated through the hook by the line 23 and hereafter referred to as the face plane of the tail. site surface may be termed the back plane. It will be seen by comparison of Figures 2 and 3 that the length or effective length of the corresponding hooks is the same, whereas the actual length of the hook 19 in Figure 2 is greater than its effective length and greater than the actual length of the corresponding hook in Figure 3.

In manufacture of the clips, as now practised, the first step after shearing of the blank is the simultaneous formation of the hooks 16' and 19, In this operation one end of the blank is butted against a stop or gauge, with the result that the hook formed at this end will be usually of proper length, whereas the other will have concentrated in The plane of the oppo-' it any inaccuracy in the length of the blank. Preferably the hook 19 is formed at the gauge end of the blank, so that any error in length, plus or minus, is found in the hook 16.

In order to compensate for error in length of the blanks and in the lengths of the hooks, the blanks are cut slightly longer than would be necessary for formation of square hooks, such as 16 in Figure 2 and 19 in F igure 3. The blank is then bent to shape with either or both hooks of actual len th intentionally greater than the desired effective length and the excess length disposed of by pressure on the end of the hook in the direction of hook length and toward the arm, which is unsupported in the line of such pressure but is supported at a point close to the hook, so that bending of the arm results at the point 24, the bending being of such extent that the hook is driven bodily to- 'ward the arm until the hook end is the proper distance from the plane of the adjacent surface or face of the arm as indicated by the line 23, Figure 3, and hereinafter referred to as the face plane of the arm.

The plane of the opposite surface may be termed the back plane. Thus the desired effective length is attained. This applies equally to the hook 19 of Figures 1 and 2 and to the hook 16 of Figure 3, or to both hooks if it is desired to form both hooks in this fashion. While the error ,in blank length is usually an excess of length, it is found desirable to deliberately provide an excess of len h in order to cope with blanks which have een cut short, the intentional excess serving to counteract the shortage and yield a blank which will form a clip with little or no bend or bends 24.

In the bending of hooks, such as the hook 16 of Figures 1 and 2 or the hook 19 of Figure 3,it is diflicult to establish a proper angular relation between the hook and the arm, because of variations in the resistance of the metal to bending or because of the shortness of the hook. Any such difficulty is overcome when hooks are formed as herein described, so that perfection in this respect, as well as in length, results. Clips which have been manufactured by other processes and which are imperfect by reason of malformed or overlong hooks may be perfected by reforming the hooks thereof to the shape herein disclosed.

A very material advantage which has been found to flow from the novel method of forming and from the form of hooks is-the possibility of forminghooks of very short effective length. In commercial manufacture, it is practically impossible to bend a hook the length of which is less than the thickness of the material being bent. Usually, the shortest hook that can be bent is slightly. longer than the thickness of the material. By utilizing the method herein described, a hook may be produced much less in effective length than could be otherwise bent. This is of considerable importance in case of the hook 16. It is found that for rail gripping purposes the hook, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is unnecessarily long, but is the shortest that can be bent from the material. The unnecessary length is objectionable in that it increases the flexion of the shank 15 in driving the clip and renders the driving more diflicult. Therefore, a hook initially formed like the hook 16 in Figures 1 or 2, for example, may be reformed to reduce the effective length thereof as indicated by the dotted line 25 in Figure 3, or may be initially formed with the same very short efiective length. Such very short hooks 16 are -essential in clips designed for narrow rail bases, where the projection of the shank 15 beyond the hook 19 is proportionately much less than shown in the drawings. It will therefore be understood that a clip may be provided with a hook 19 setback to form a recoil stop and v may also have the hook 16 similarly formed to absorb excess length of the blank and/or to reduce the effective length thereof for greater ease of driving and for reduction of stress on the shank in such driving. In short, the clip may be made with either hook or both hooks so formed according as circumstances may render it desirable or necessary. I

In my patent, already referred to, the long arm hooks of clips are shown in Figures 2, 3 and 1 as of formation very similar to that herein produced, the objects being (among others) to facilitate bending of the hooks and to remove the point of upward pressure against a rail base from the extreme edge thereof. Obviously the same result is obtained with the novel form of hooks herein disclosed as regards the point of pressure against the rail base.

It has been stated previously herein that under certain conditions the clip has a tendency to recoil during driving. condition manifests itself when the hook 16 is struck down'below the rail base for removal of the anchor. Frequently, the clip will fly out of the clamp when released and be lost in a ditch or river. or in snow, or may even strike an incautious workman with suilicient violence to out or bruise. When the hook 19 is formed, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, there results, on the under or outer side of the tail 18, a projection 26 beyond the plane of the tail. This projection passes over the clamp seat during the earlier stages of driving in the clip and before the tension or straightening of the shank has reached its maximum. When this projection has passed the clamp seat, there is ordinarily no further increase of shank The same tension from this cause, since the bottom of the projection is normally in a substantially horizontal plane, as will be clearly seen in Figure 1. All further increase in shank tension will be due to travel of the inclined loop tail over the clamp seat up to the moment the hook 16 is forced up into place. If the 'clip exhibits any tendency to recoil during the final driving, the projection 26 will constitute a stop to check such recoil and to hold the clip against escape from the clamp. The same applies in the operation of removing the anchor. lVhen the hook 16 is knocked down and below the rail base, there is just enough inherent backing out or recoil effect to draw the hook edge under the rail base but ordinarily not enough to overcome the friction of drawing the horizontal port-ion of the projection 26 over the end of the clamp seat. lVhen the clip is unhookcd from the rail, the clamp may be loosened and the complete anchor removed easily and withoutdanger of losing the clip.

As a further feature of improvement, it has beenfound desirable to trim off the outer corners of the clamp arms. as shown in Figure 1, the former shape being indicated by dotted lines. The trimming starts from a point 28 in the outer edge of each clamp arm, about in line with the lower edge 29 of the rail' flange receiving notch 30, and produces an edge 27 lying at an angle of about to the side and top edges of the clam arms and also produces a corner at 28 W iich' in operative position lies about on a level with the bottom of the rail base. These corners 28, which are lower than cor ners trimmed ofi, are the points at which the clamp is struck in driving it on a rail and the results obtained when striking the clamp at these corners are better than when striking at the higher corners which arenow eliminated. It has also been found that formerly the existence of the clamp corners constituted what may be described as a mental hazard during driving in the clip and that when the corners are removed the clip may be more readily driven.

In formingthe .notches 30 of the clamp arms, it is preferred to make the angle between the lower and upper edges 29 and 31, respectively, slightly less than the angle between the upper and lower surfaces of the rail base flange for which the clamp is designed, usually about one degree less. This causes the clainp to bite most tightly on the flange at the open ends of the notches, which condition ensures the greatest degree of rigidity and stability.

From all the foregoing, it will be seen that in developing the original conception of a certain form of hook disclosed in a prior application for the purpose of overcoming a serious difficulty, there results, by fortunate coincidence, a series of effluent advantages which may be regarded as of importance almost equal to the perfection initially sought.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a rail anchor, a resilient clip member including a substantially straight portion, a hook portion and a reversely curved portion connecting the hook portion and the strai ht portion whereby the length of the hook portion projecting beyond the face plane of the straight portion is less than the actual length of the hook portion.

2. In a rail anchor, a resilient clip member including a long arm and a short arm connected together side by side, the short arm being turnedv adjacent its extremity away from the long arm and further turned between the first turn and the extremity and close to the first turn but to a greater extent toward the long arm thereby forming aninwardly turned hook part of the length of which is located between the face and back planes of the arm carrying it whereby the length of hook projecting inwardly of the face plane of the arm is less than the total length of the hook.

3. In a rail anchor, a resilient clip member including a long arm and a short arm connected together side by side, the long arm being turned adjacent its extremity toward the short arm and further turned between the first turn and the extremity and close to the first turn but to a greater ex- .tent away from the short arm, thereby forming an outwardly turned hook, part of the length of which is located between the face and back planes of the arm carrying it, whereby the length of hook projecting out wardly of the face plane of the arm is less than the total length of the hook.

l. In a rail anchor, a resilient clip member including a long arm, a short arm inclined thereto and a curved portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms, and portions at the free end of the short arm projecting respectively inwardly and outward- 1y of the arm.

5. In a rail anchor, a resilient clip member including a. long arm, a short arm inclined thereto and a curved portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms, and portions at the free end of the long arm projecting respectively inwardly and outwardly of the arm.

6. In a rail anchor, a resilient clip member including a long arm, a short arm inclined thereto, and a curved portion connecting the divergent ends of the arms, and portions at the free ends of the arms projecting inwardly and outwardly of each arm.

7. In a rail anchor, a resilient clip formed by bending a strip of metal and including a laterally turned hook at one extremity of the strip, the actual len h of which hook is in excess of the require effective length, the strlp being bent oppositely to the hook at a point close to the root of the hook whereby a part of the length of the hook is located between the face and back planes of the strip, relative to the hook, leaving the length of that portion projecting beyond the face plane of the strip of the required effective length.

8. In a rail anchor, a resilient clip formed by bending a strip of metal and including a laterally turned hook, the length of which projecting beyond the face plane of the strip, relative to the hook. is less than the length of strip which can be held and bent to form the hook. the root portion of the hook being located between the face and back planes of the strip and the strip including a portion adjacent the hook bent outwardly of the back plane of the strip to the opposite side thereof from the hook and reversely bent into alignment with the book.

9. A rail anchor including a clamp for attachment to one flange of a rail base and formed to present a seat portion beneath such flange inclining toward the opposite flange of the base, and a spring clip comprising a strip of material so bent that passage of the same between the converging surfaces of the flange bottom and the underlying clamp seat to move the leading end of the strip past the edge of the opposite flange will cause upward pressure of said leading end against the flange bottom and partial straightening of the clip, said clip including a hook at its leading end formed by bending the metal of the clip, the length of said hook projecting from. the face plane of the adjacent clip portion being only sufficient, when engaged with the flange ed e, to securely hold the clip a ainst retreat y reason of its spring action between the converging rail and clamp surfaces; thereby to minimize straightening of the clip, and being less in length than the length ofstrip which can be held andbent to form the hook. the root portion of the hook being located between the face and back planes of the adjacent strip portion and the strip including a portion close to the root of the hook bent outwardly of theback plane of the strip to the opposite side thereof from the hook and reversely bent into alignment with the hook whereby the necessary length of material is obtained in the hook for bending the same. i

10. A Irail anchor including a clamp for attachment to one flange of a rail base and adapted to present a seat portion beneath such flange inclining toward the opposite flange of the base. and a spring clip'comprismg a strip of material formed at one end into a hook and so bent that passage of the. same between the converging surfaces of the flange bottom and the underlying clamp seat to move the hooked end into hooking engagement with the edge of the opposite flange will cause flexion of the clip with tendency to retreat by reason of its spring action between the converging rail and clamp surfaces, said clip inclndin a projection therefrom position to pass t e clamp prior to engagement of the hooked end of the clip with the edge of the base flange and to hold the clip against retreat through the clamp.

11. A rail anchor including a clamp for attachment to one flange of a rail base and adapted to present'a seat portion beneath such flange inclining toward the opposite flange of the base, and a spring clip comprising a strip of metal bent to provide long and short arms converging toward their free ends and forming a normally open loop adapted for compression by forcible introduction between the rail base and clamp seat with the long arm engaging the rail adjacent the edges of its flanges and the short arm engaging the clamp seat, said long arm being curved to space the same from the rail base between the points of engagement, a hook on the end of the long arm to engage the flange edge opposite'the clamp, and a hook on the end of the short arm to press against the long arm at approximately the point of maximum spacing from the rail base with straightening effect in the long arm, the short arm being bent adjacent its hook away from the long arm to locate a portion of the length of the hook between the face and back planes of the arm for absorption of excess hook length and to obtain a predetermined efi'ective hook length such as will avoid undesirable straightening of the long arm.

12. Arail anchor including a clamp for attachment to one flange of a rail base and adapted to present a seat portion beneath such flange inclining toward the opposite flange of the base, and a spring clip c0mprising a strip of metal bent to provide long and short-arms converging toward their free ends and forming a normally open loop adapted for compression byforcible introduction between the rail base and clamp seat with the longarm engaging the rail adjacent the edges of its flanges and the short arm engaging the clam seat, said long am being curved to space t e same from the rail base between the points of engagement, a hook on the end of the long arm to engage the flange edge opposite the clamp. and a hook on the end of the short arm to press against the long arm at approximately the point of maximum spacing from the rail base with straightening effect in the long arm, the short arm being bent adjacent its hook away from the long arm to form a projection outward of the back plane of the short arm positioned to pass the clamp prior to hooking engagement of the flange edge by the hook of the long arm, said projection forming a stop serving to hold the clip against retreat through the clamp due to expansive action of the compressed loop.

13. A rail anchor including a clamp for attachment to one flange of a rail base and adapted to present a seat portion beneath such flange inclining toward the opposite flange of the base, and a spring clip comprising a strip of metal bent to provide long and short arms converging toward their free ends and forming a normally open loop adapted for compression by forcible introduction between the rail base and clamp seat with the long arm engaging the rail adjacent the edges of its flanges and the short arm engaging the clamp seat, said long arm being curved to space the same from the rail base between the oints of engagement, a hook on the end 0% the long arm to engage the flange edge opposite the clamp and a hook on the end of the short arm to press against the long arm at approximately the point of maximum spacing from the rail base with straightening effect in the long arm, the short arm being bent adjacent its hook away from the long arm to locate a portion of the length of the hook between the face and back planes of the arm for absorption of excess hook length and to obtain a predetermined effective hook length such as will avoid undesirable straightening of the long arm and to form a projection outward of the back plane of the short arm positioned to pass the clamp prior to hooking engagement of the flange edge by the hook of the long arm, said projection forming a stop serving to hold the clip against retreat through the clamp due to expansive action of the compressed loop.

14. In a rail anchor, a resilient cli member comprising a strip of material ent at one end to form a hook and bent intermediate its ends to form a loop and bent into a hookat the second end, the length of said last mentioned hook being in excess of a predetermined maximum, said strip of metal being further bent adjacent the last mentioned hook and in the opposite direction to the bend of the hook, the amount of last mentioned bend being suflicient to set the hook back a distance equal to any excessive length whereby the projection of the hook beyond the strip is not more than the said maximum.

15. In a rail anchor, a resilient clip mem- 'ber comprisinga strip of material bent at one end to form a hook and bent at a point materially spaced from the hook and in the opposite direction to said hook to form a loop and two arms, and bent at the remaining end to form on the second arm a hook projecting toward the first arm between the one end to form a hook and bent at a material distance from the hook and in the same direction to form a loop and two arms, the second arm extending across the end of the hook, and further bent at the end of the second arm and oppositely to the loop bend to form a second book, the length of said second hook being in excess of a predetermined maximum, the second arm being bent adjacent the second hook and in the opposite direction an amount suflicient to set the hook back a distance equal to any excessive length thereof whereby the projection of the hook beyond the second arm is not more than the said maximum.

17. In a rail anchor, a resilient clip member comprising a strip of material bent intermediate its ends to form a pair of arms lying side by side and also bent at its extremities to form hooks, the actual lengths of which are in excess of predetermined maxi mum, the arms being bent adjacent the hooks but in the opposite direction to the respective hooks an amount suflicient to set the hooks back each through a distance equal to the excess length thereof, whereby the projection of each hook beyond the arm carrying it is not more than the said maximum.

18. In a rail anchor, a clamp comprising a member notched in one edge to embrace one flange of a rail base and to be positioned at an incline, the member having its edge opposite the notch formed to provide a corner approximately in line with that edge of the notch designed for engagement with the bottom of the rail base, which corner is adapted to project farther laterally from a rail to which the clamp is attached than any other part of the clamp, and a cli member adapted to co-operate with the clhmp and a rail to hold the clamp to the rail.

19. In a rail anchor, a clip member having one end bent laterally to form a hook, the clip member adjaeentthe hooked end bein reversely bent so that the effective length 0 the hook is less than its actual length.

20. In a rail anchor, a clip member including a hooked end projecting at one side of the clip, the clip adjacent the hook being bent back in the direction opposite to that in which the hooked end pro'ects, whereb the effective length of the hoo is decrease 21. In a rail anchor, a clip member including a substantially straight portion to Inn engage a rail base, having one end bent laterally to form a hook to engage the rail base edge, the clip member adjacent the hooked end being bent away from the rail base so that the effective rail-engaging portion of the hook is less than its actual length.

22. In a rail anchor, a clamp member formed from a rectangular metal plate notched at one edge to embrace one rail base flange and so that the plate will incline inwardly beneath the rail base, the upper outer corner of the plate being removed whereby the remaining portion of the ,plate which projects farthest laterally from the rail is substantially in line with the bottom of the rail base.

23. Ina rail anchor, a clamp member formed from a rectangular metal plate bent into a U-shape, with the two legs of the bent plate notched at an angle to engage one flange of a rail with the looped portion of the plate projecting beneath the rail base, the upper outercorners of the legs being removed whereby the portions of the plate which project farthest laterally from the rail are substantially in the plane of the bottom of the rail base.

24. In a rail anchor, a clamp member for attachment to one edge of a rail base, a resilient clip member to be compressed at one end between said clamp member and the base of a rail carrying the clamp member, said clip member being adapted at its other end to engage the edgeof a rail base opposite the clamp member, and a projecting portion on oneof said members to engage the other member and hold the two against separation due to recoil of the clip member during application to a rail.

25. In a rail anchor, a clamp member for attachment to one edge of a rail base and presenting a clip engaging surface beneath a rail base, a resilient clip member hooked at one end to engage that edge of a rail base opposite the clamp member and including a resilient looped portion presenting a clamp engaging surface, the said loop being designed to be compressed bet-ween the rail base and clamp with retroactive effect to hold its hooked end against the edge of the rail base, and a projection from one of said mutually engaging .member surfaces engageable with the other member to hold the members against separation due to the retroactive or recoil efl'ect of the loop when the clip is out of hooking engagement with a rail base.

26. In a rail anchor, a'clamp member to engage one edge of a rail base and including a clip seat to be disposed beneath the rail, a

clip member hooked at one end to engage that edge of a rail base opposite the clamp member and including a resilient loop to rest upon the seat portion of the clamp member and to be compressed between said seat and a rail base, said clamp seat and clip loop presenting shoulders for mutual engagement to check recoil movement of the clip due to expansive action of its loop.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set In hand.

y FRANCIS W. COOPER.

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