US2462771A - Rail fastener - Google Patents

Description

C. PHILIPS RAIL FASTENER Feb. 22, 1949.

Filed Aug. 2, v1945 Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE RAIL FASTENER Calvin Philips, Seattle, Wash.

Appiication August 2, 1945, Serial No. 608,528

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rail fastener and more particularly to the construction of the cross ties that support the rails of the track and to the means for securing the rails to the cross tie.

It has been customary heretofore to use wooden cross ties for supporting the rails of a railroad track, and securing the rails thereto by spikes driven into the cross tie with flanged heads overlying the base anges of the rails to hold the rails in place. It is well-known that such wooden ties wear in service, allowing loosening of the spikes, and have to be replaced at frequent intervals because the rails are not maintained in secure supported position in the trackway. While it has been proposed heretofore to construct such cross ties of metal, this has not been commercially practicable either because of the construction of the cross ties or the manner provided for securing the rails thereto.

The object of this invention is to simplify and improve the tie construction while forming the tie of metal or other suitable forming material, to provide a rigid support for the rails which will be retained in place securely during a long period of use.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of the rail fastening which secures the rails to the cross ties, to make it practical to use a metal cross tie for supporting the rails and to anchor securely the rails in place theron without serious danger of loosening in service.

'Ihese objects are accomplished in a track f construction which is built according to one embodiment of this invention by forming the cross tie of heavy sheet metal or other suitable sheet forming material provided with spaced seats thereon for receiving the rails, and having provision for securing the rails in place on the tie by clips that are slidably mounted on the upper surface of the tie and may be forced into frictional engagement with the base flanges of the rails. The clips are so constructed as to be driven into place and yet Will be retained securely against danger of slipping from their supported positions, and will maintain a secure fastening of the rail base at each end of the cross tie in service.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a section of track showing an application of the invention thereto;

Eig. 2 is a cross section through the track substantially on the `line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a'perspective view of the cross tie detached from the rail; and

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a cross tie showing a modification.

The invention is shown as applied to a railroad track of conventional form in which a pair of rails, designated generally by the numeral I, are held in spaced relation in the trackway for supporting a train passing thereover. Each of the rails I has a pair of laterally extending base iianges 2 thereon for securing the rails in place in the trackway. The rails I are customarily mounted upon cross ties spaced at intervals therealong which support the rails and anchor the track to the road bed.

These cross ties, according to this invention, are designated generally by the numeral 3. Each tie comprises an elongated inverted channel having a top 4, and down-turned opposite sides 5, an'd is open at opposite ends. These parts are formed preferably of heavy sheet metal or other ysuitable material adapted for fabrication of the cross tie therefrom and to be bent into a rigid secure structure having the characteristics described.

The sides 5 may be provided with out-turned anges 6, if desired, especially for main line track, to engage in the ballast and prevent the tie from slipping across the road bed. The opposite sides 5 that carry the major part of the weight of the rails may be stiiened by upturned lower edges l which reinforce said sides. These anges 6 and upturned edges 'l may be used if desired, or omitted, if not required.

The top A of the cross tie is provided with rail seats 8 adjacent opposite ends thereof formed by depressing the top wall and adjacent portions of the side walls 5 suiiiciently to form depressed seats of a depth substantially equal to the rail flanges 2 and to accommodate the flanges therein throughout a width substantially equal to the width of the ilanges. This provides a secure seat for each rail which will hold the rail against transverse slipping relative to the tie.

The rails are secured in place on the seats S by clips 5i which are driven transversely of the rail flanges 2, beneath transverse guides or straps H formed integral with the top wall 5 of the cross tie and bent upward from the horizontal plane of said top wall to form these transverse straps. The straps E!) form loops on the tie with an opening in the tie beneath the straps l0, as

shown. The clips 9 are substantially Z-shaped with a shoulder H therein, and are driven through the loops formed by the guides lil with their inner ends overlapping the upper surfaces of the rail anges 2 against the web of the rail, as shown in Fig. 2. The shoulder Il will be driven into and under the loops formed by the guide l0 with the shoulder H in engagement with the edge of said opening. As the metal of the strap il! ordinarily will notl have sufficient resiliency to spring back into place after the clips have been driven in, it will probably be found desirable to secure these clips in place. by pound'- ing down the cross straps I0 which will rrnly'lock the clips 9 sufciently to prevent themfrom slipping out of place.

This construction makes it possible to yform the cross ties of metal or other suitable fabricating material which will support the rails securely'and to which the rails may be anchored eiectively in avery simple manner. Thefastening of the rails on the crossftiefis accomplished merely by the act of driving in the clips and if necessary depressing the straps tohold these securely in place. This will-anchor the rails securely to the cross tie and maintain the fastening thereof during. a long-period fof service.

AtY the same time, the cross tie is so constructed as to form a rigid structure, and will be held securely in the ballast of the road bed.

The clip fastenings are not readily removed and, therefore, do not lend themselves' to unauthorized removal and loosening of the rails.

This invention is particularly useful in preventing train wrecks due to spreading of the rails.

I claim:

1. A rail fastening comprising an all metal pressed cross tie for a railroad rail having a base, said cross tie having a body portion with atop side provided with a stamped recess with spaced shoulders in position to receive and abut the edges of the base of said rail, and a transverse strap forming a loop aixed to the top side oi said tie adjacent said recess, said strap being formed by stamping out the metal of the top side of said tie thereby forming an opening therein under said strap, a clip extending inwardly through said loop and bridging said opening in position for wedging relation with the base of said rail and adapted to secure the rail positively to the tie, and a shoulder on said clip abutting a side of said opening under the strap, whereby said clip is positively locked against lateral moveinent away from the rail, Said clip being a substantially flat plate member.

2. A railv fastening comprising an all metal pressed cross tie for a railroad rail having a base, said cross tie having a body portion with a 'top side provided with a stamped recess with spaced shoulders in position to receive and abut the edges of the base of said rail, and a transverse strap forming-a loop afxedto the top side of said tie adjacent said recess, said tie having an opening therein under said strap, a clip extending .inwardly through said loopz and bridging said opening in position for wedging relation with the base ci said rail and adapted to secure the rail posit-iveiy tothe tie, a shoulder on said clip abutting a side oi said opening under the strap, whereby .said clip is positively locked against later@ .movement away from the raii, said clip being a substantially iiat plate member.

CALVIN PHILIPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Eile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 678,463 Fitzsirnrnons July 16, 1901 966,284 Williamson Aug. 2, 1910 1,010,452 Pierce Bec. 5, 1911i Y 1,031,994 Frank July 9, 1912 "1,086,411 Spencer Feb. l0, 1914 1,331,412 Brown Feb. 1'?, 1920 1,863,145 Young June 14, 1932 2,265,745 Roscoe Dec. v9, 1941 FORETGN PATENTS Number Country Date 599,049 France Oct. 12, 1925

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