US2667100A - Track bolt tightener - Google Patents

Description

Jan- 26, 1954 D. c. NICHOLS TRACK BOLT TIGHTENER Filed NOV. 2, 1950 r M H e U In.

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Patented Jan. 26, 1954 TRACK BOLT TIGHTENER Dan C. Nichols, Houston, Tex., assignor of onethird to Ralph L. Moss and one-third to R. H. Russell, both of Johnson City, Tenn.

Application November 2, 1950, Serial No. 193,589

2 Claims. l

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lock washers, nuts and the like and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a track bolt tightener.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a device for retaining rail bars firmly against a rail to keep the abutting ends of rails aligned and on the same level in order to reduce rail-wear and wear on wheels of rolling stock.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a track bolt tightener that is quickly and readily applied to or removed from the track bolts of a rail to retain rail bars pressed irmly against the sides oi a rail and thereby reduce the battering effect on ties and road bed.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a track Ibolt tightener that is extremely simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, convenient to install and service, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the outer plate removed and the housing niember in section and taken in the plane of section line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3 3 of Figure l; and,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the housing member forming part of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numerals 50 and 52 represent inner and outer dat carbon steel plates. 50 and 52 are provided with central key shaped slots 56 to accommodate the head of a rail bolt 56 and thereby permit the device to be used on either end of the bolt.

The downwardly and inwardly tapering grooves 58 in the inner face of the plate 56 register with similar grooves 60 in the inner face of the plate 52 and the registering grooves receive Wedge pins or tapered strips 62.

An elongated housing member 64 is mounted on the upper edge of the plate 50 and includes an open bottom into which the upper major ends of the pins 62 project. An elongated spring 66 in the housing member 64 overlies the pins 62 and its ends contact the upper ends of the pins 62.

2 A partition 68 in the housing member 64 engages and depresses the central portion of the spring 66 and causes the spring to iiex and urge the pins 62 into the grooves 58, 60. The upper ends l0 of the pins 62 are rounded to reduce friction between the spring and the pins.

The housing member 64 may obviously be formed with the plate 50 or 52. The member 64 is disposed at an angle of approximately ve degrees with the plates 50, 52.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. For use with track bolts that secure rail bars upon a track rail, a self tightening lock washer comprising a pair of juxtapositioned plates having central registering openings for receiving a bolt, said plates including inner vertical faces, the inner face of each plate having a pair of elongated tapered vertical grooves therein, the grooves in one plate being in registry with the grooves in the other plate, a wedge pin received in each registering pair of grooves, an elongated housing member iixed to the upper edge of one of said plates and overlying both pins, an elongated spring in the member engaging both pins, and a partition in the member engaging the central portion of the spring to flex the latter.

2. For use with track bolts that secure rail bars upon a track rail, a self tightening lock washer comprising a pair of juxtapositioned plates having central registering openings for receiving a bolt, said plates including inner vertical faces, the inner face of each plate having a pair of elongated tapered vertical grooves therein, the grooves in one plate being in registry with the grooves in the other plate, a wedge pin received in each registering pair of grooves, an elongated open bottomed housing member xed to the upper edge of one of the plates and overlying the upper edges of both plates, a leaf spring housed in the member, said pins having upper ends extending upwardly into the member through the open bottom thereof, the ends of the spring engaging the upper ends of the pins, and a partition iixed in said member engaging and depressing the central portion of the spring and forcing the ends of the spring against the upper ends of the pins.

DAN C. NICHOLS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 430,404 Pritschau June 17, 1890 846,440 Adams Mar. 12, 1907 1,205,254 Pearson Nov. 21, 1916 1,234,020 Harp July 17, 1917 1,614,221 Westbrook Jan. 1l, 1927 2,144,327 Campion Jan, 17, 1939

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