US2242773A - Rail cushioning and fastening means - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2, 1959 R& Y m Md Wm m6 R W 7 .I. S 2 5 d Z Z m 2 D/ m May 20, 1941. w. s. BOYCE 2,242,773

RAIL, cusmoume AND FASTENING MEANS Filed Sept. 2], 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS May 20, 1941. w. s. BOYCE 2,242,773

RAIL CUSHIONING AND FASTENING MEANS Filed Sept. 2, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 5 ME T? XAQ ZZA ATTO RN EY5 Patented May 20, 1941 RAIL CUSHIONING AND FASTENING S William S. Boyce, Denver, Colo., assignor to The Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation, a corporation Application September 2, 1939, Serial No. 293,174

19 Claims.

This invention relates to rail fastenlngs and more particularly to a novel cushioned assembly for retaining a rail in its operative position on a tie-plate with a spring action through the medium of a means which for-ms a constituent part of the assembly and secures the rail and tie-plate to the tie.

One feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel rail fastening including a spring lock for the rail disposed in an opening in the tie-plate, and a tie-penetrating means, such as a spike, also disposed in the opening in engagement with the lock and serving the dual function of holding the rail and plate on the tie and maintaining the lock in a cramped position wherein it exerts a spring action on the rail base urging the rail against the plate. A rail fastening made in accordance with the invention comprises a tie-plate having a rail seat and an undercut opening in an end portion of the plate beyond the edge of the seat. Mounted on the tie-plate in the opening is a resilient rail lock held pivotally in operative position and lying wholly above the bottom surface of the plate,

the lock having a lower part disposed in the undercut and an upper part which extends inwardly over the rail base. The upper part of the lock is in the form of a leaf spring integral with the body of the lock and engages the top of the rail base so as to hold the rail yieldingly against the tie plate. The median portion of the rail lock between the pivotal bearing and the leaf spring is preferably formed to provide a vertical area of contact with the spike from the pivotal point upwardly substantially above the base of the rail.

In the preferred construction, the spike and the lock are wedged in the opening with a tapered part of the spike engaging an outer face of the lock and holding the leaf spring of the lock against the rail base with an appreciable force. The leaf spring is thus initially distorted and stressed, whereby it not only exerts a downward force on the rail base at all times, but also produces a reaction tending to fulcrum the body of the lock on its mounting. Also, by initially stressing the leaf spring of the lock under the wedging action of the spike, the spring automatically takes up any slack which might otherwise develop between the tie-plate and lock \or the lock and spike, due to vibration of the late. i y

p Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel assembly including a tie plate having an opening disposed outwardly from the rail seat andprovided with opposed vertical buttress surfaces between which are disposed in juxtaposed relation a rail retaining member adapted to engage the rail with a spring action and limit its upward movement from the plate, and a spike or other tie-penetrating member engaging the outer buttress of the plate opening and wedging the rail retaining member in the opening and also serving as a hold-down means for drawing the rail, the tie-plate and the tie together. In one form of the invention, the plate opening is T-shaped and the stem of the T positions the spike or tie-penetrating member centrally ,fof the aperture and lock and prevents movement of the tie plate transversely of the tie. At the outer end of the T stem the bearing area for the tie-penetrating member is preferably raised above the surface of the plate, and the sides of the stem adjoining the spike may also 'be raised above the surface of the plate, thus securing a substantially increased bearing area of a height equal to the thickness of the plate plus the height of the raised portions outwardly and laterally of the tie securing member. The opposed vertical buttress surfaces act to preventdriving of the spike in an angular position either laterally or transversely of the plate. The plate opening and buttress surfaces may be formed in a single punching operation disclosed in an application of M. L. Cantrell and O. A. Hed, Serial No. 295,204, filed September 16, 1939. When a canted plate is employed, the undercut of the opening in the thick end of the plate is preferably made of a greater vertical depth than the undercut of the opening in the gage end of the plate, so as to allow the same lock to be used on either rail flange and secure uniformity of spring pressure on the rail.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a resilient rail fastening of novel construction which, co-acting with an appropriately shaped spike, is pivotally locked within the body of the tie-plate above the plane of the plate bottom in such a manner as to reduce or eliminate loos-eness between the contiguous parts and lessen the effect of the lateral thrust of the fastening incident to passing wheel loads, and which may be made in a single standard form adapted for use with different standard rail sections. The fastening may be produced at low cost by more or less conventional rolling-and forming practices and may be installed economically without special preparation.

An additional feature of the invention is in the provision of a rail fastening comprising a novel base and the seat.

spring lock which remains properly seated on the tie-plate at all times, even when the fastening is being assembled, and which may be made at low cost. The spring lock, in one form of the invention, is made from a strip of spring metal, preferably bent back on itself and formed at one end with an angular extension adapted to pivotally engage and project into the undercut opening in the plate. In order to position the lock properly in the tie-plate opening, the lock may be provided on opposite sides with shoulders adapted to seat on the tie-plate at the sides of the opening. With this construction, the shoulders locate the lock in its proper position while the spike is driven.

These and other features of the invention may be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one form of the new rail fastening;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fastening shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view-of part of the plate showing an aperture with the spike and the rail lock removed therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

,Fig. 5 is a cross-sectionalview of another of the fastening;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 68 in Fig. 5;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views of modified forms of the new fastening;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line ill-l0 in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of still another form of the fastening, and

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the fastening shown in Fig. 11 with the head of the spike removed.

The assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a conventional double shoulder tie-plate 20 seated on a tie 2| and provided with transverse ribs 22 embedded in the tie. On its top surface, the tie-plate is formed with a canted rail seat supporting the base of the rail 23, a resilient insert 24 being preferably interposed between the rail The insert 24, as shown, is made of a resilient material, such as rubber, or the like, and may be provided on its bottom surface with recesses 25 which may-be circular in form Normally, an annulus projects from the marginal portion of each recess but the annulus is compressed against the plate by the rail when the fastening is assembled, as pointed out in greater detail hereinafter. At the sides of the rail seat are vertical, transverse rail abutment shoulders 26 integral with the plate and spaced slightly from the side of the rail base. From the tops of the shoulders 26, the upper surface of form the plate slopes outwardly and gradually downwardly to the end portions of the plate, as she by the'dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The tie-plate is formed outwardly from each shoulder 26 with a T-shaped opening 21 extendingthrough the plate, the opening being preferably undercut as shown at 28, and the top of the plate adjacent the inner edge of each opening is built up to form a projection or seat 29 which slopes gradually downwardly and outwardly. The seats 29 may be formed in any desired manner, but are preferably formed by moving toward the top of the plate the metal displaced from the undercut portions 28 during the operation of punching the openings 21, as fully described in an application of William H. Bailey,

Serial No. 144,331, filed May 24, 1937. On the side of each opening 21 opposite the projection 29 is an upwardly projecting abutment or buttress 30, and extending inwardly from the buttress 30 along opposite sides of the opening are abutments 30a.

In each opening 21 is a rail lock 32 which, as shown, is made up of a strip of spring metal bent at one end to form an angular projection 33 disposed in the undercut 28. From the projection 33, the lock extends vertically upwardly and then curves inwardly over the rail base where it is bent back upon itself, the lower leaf 34 of the bent portion engaging the top of the rail base near the edge thereof. Prior to installation of the lock, the upper and lower leafs are expanded relatively, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, but the lock is held in a cramped position in the opening by a tie-penetrating member, such as a spike 35 having a substantially vertical lock engaging surface, driven between the abutments 30a outside the lock. Thus, when the fastening is completely installed, as shown at the right in Fig. 1, the lock is held under stress by the spike 35 and exerts a spring action on the rail base a which urges the rail against its seat.

In assembling the new fastening, the lock 32 is inserted in the opening 21 with the angular projection 33 pivotally engaged in the undercut, and then the spike is inserted in the opening between the lock and the buttress 30 and driven into the tie, causing the leaf 34 to assume an initial cramping action on the rail flange, as

. shown at the left in Fig. 1. The vertical face of the lock adjacent the spike and the vertical surfaces provided by the buttress 30, the plate, and abutments 30a guide the spike vertically as it rides down centrally of the face of the lock during the driving operation and effectively prevent canting or tilting of the spike under the impact of the driving tool. As the spike is driven into the tie, a thickened and tapered portion 36 near the head of the spike engages the outer face of the lock, tending to cramp the lock against the rail with increasing force until the wedging action of the spike between the lock and the buttress 33 resists or retards its further penetration into the tie. The spike and lock automatically take up any looseness which might otherwise be present between the lock and the tie-plate or between the lock and the spike, and are adapted, by reason of adequate taper 36 on the back of the spike 35, to offset any loose condition arising from inequalities of production or wear. Preferably, the parts are so proportioned that when the wedging action obtained by driving the spike is sufficient and the spike' is in its effective operative position, the throat underlying the outward extension of the spike head is spaced above the buttress 30.

The buttress 30 is preferably formed by displacing upwardly and outwardlytoward the top of the plate a quantity of metal from the opening 21. Thus, in the finished form of the plate, the buttress 30 gives additional support to the spike in that it materially increases the area of contact between the spike and the tie-plate, as will be readily apparent by reference to Fig. 4. The spike, therefore, is braced from the bottom level of the plate to the top of the buttress Ill. Because of this enlarged area of contact between the spike and the plate, the tendency for the ening the spike relative to the plate is retarded or prevented. The abutments 30a, which may i be formed from metal displaced from opening 21, serve to prevent outward displacement or weakening of buttress 30 incident to the wedging action of the spike. Since the abutments 30m are conjoined and/integral with buttress 30, they afford increased strength to the buttress and greater lateral support for the spike above the top surface of plate. Also, since the buttress 30 and abutments 30a are formed from metal removed from the opening 21, and not by-indenting the plate bottom, the spike is backed and supported laterally by buttress areas extending from the plate bottom to the top of buttress 30 and abutments 30a.

In the new assembly, the spike 35 performs the dual function of holding the tie-plate and the rail on the .tie and wedging the lock 32 into a cramped position wherein the leaf 34 presses the rail downwardly. The lock is pivotally wedged in the opening 21 by the spike against the fulcrum edge of the overhanging part of the undercut 28, and, accordingly, the vertical part of this lock adjacent the spike may adjust itself during the driving of the spike and on upward movement of the rail from its seat. Since the lower leaf 34 of the lock exerts a spring action on the rail base, it yieldingly resists upward movement of the rail from its seat incident to the passage of wheel loads over the rail and opposes longitudinal creeping of the rail. In addition, the lock acts to dampen the rail vibrations of relatively high frequency common to track structures, because each lock is adapted to be vibrated itself by the source of vibrations but with a lower amplitude as compared with the rail, thereby producing vibratory overtones which, being out of step with the frequency and amplitude of the rail vibrations, tend to break up the rhythm of the latter and reduce the amplitude. The dampening of these vibrations is also effected by the opposition of the spring locks to the upward or rebound movement of the vibrating rail. By thus dampening the vibrations, the spring locks tend to reduce harmful molecular oscillation in the rail and thereby prolong the life of the assembly.

The resilient insert 24 serves to offset the surface irregularities of both the rail and tie-plate and insures a more uniform distribution of the rail load upon the plate. When the rail is mounted on the insert, the reinforcing annulus around each recess 25 is compressed, and since the coeflicient of friction between the insert and the plate and the insert and the rail is relatively high, the insert is held in place at all times. When the lock 32 is applied and pressed against the rail by action of the spike, a further pressure is transmitted to the insert 24, which is thus additionally compressed. 'Under the impact of passing loads, a vacuum is created in each of the cupped-shaped recesses 25, 'with the result that the insert tends to adhere to the plate by suction. Thus, the insert 24 supplements the action of the spring lock 32 in resisting longitudinal movement of the rail" and cushions the vertical movement of the rail so as to reduce the shock. Also, the recesses 25 provide for a uniform internal displacement of the resilient material when the insert is subjected to the additional compressive force due to passing wheel loads. If desired, the plate may be provided with openings 31 at the opposite edges of the rail seat to receive spikes, or the like, for temporarily holdto the tie in case of damage to the lock. Also, openings 38 may be provided in the plate outwardly from the opening 31 to receive supplemental spikes or other means for resisting lateral displacement of the plate under severe track and traflic conditions. v

The rail fastening shown in Fig. 5 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that a different form of rail'lock is employed. The rail lock 40, as shown, is made froma strip of spring metal bent back on itself to form a loop 4| overlying the base of the rail 23 and having on its lower leaf a flat portion 42 engaging the rail base. From the fiat portion 42, the lower leaf curves upwardly and outwardly and then downwardly to a vertical leg 43 which engages the fulcrum edge of the overhanging surface of the undercut 28. The lower end of the leg 43 is bent in- -wardly, as shown at 44, and is disposed in the undercut 28 above the bottom surface of the tie-plate. The upper leaf of the loop 4| extends outwardly and gradually downwardly so as to form a cam face 4| and terminates in a vertical leg 45 parallel to the leg 43. When the lock 40 is installed on the tie-plate, the leg 45 is held against the leg 43 by the spike 35 driven through the narrow part of the T-shaped opening between the abutments 30a and wedged between the lock and the outer edge of the opening. Preferably, the leg 45 is formed at opposite sides with shoulders 46 which seat against the top" of the tieplate, thereby determining the position of the lock and holding it stable at all times. The shoulders 46 may be formed by indenting the leg 45 to provide a generally H-shaped recess 41 in the inner face of the leg and causing. the displaced metal to fiow outwardly as indicated in Fig. 6. If desired, the inner leg 43 may be indented, as shown at 48, and the displaced metal caused to fiow into the recess 41, thereby locking the legs together to prevent vertical movement of one relative to the other.

When the spike 35 is driven, the spike head wedges the lock 40 inwardly and forces the part 42 down against the top of the rail base, so that when the spike is in its final position the lock is maintained under stress and normally urges the rail against its seat. When the rail base moves upwardly incident to the normal wave motion of the rail, the lock 40 yields but opposes the upward movement and increases the pressure between the part 42 and the rail base. The lock, being pivotally mounted in the plate opening, is adapted to fulcrum and thereby translates upward movement of the rail into a lateral thrust on the spike. By reason of the upwardly curved portion of the loop 4i between the flat portion 42 and leg 43, breakage of the lock due to vertical displacement of the rail is prevented, since upward movement of the inner end of the loop does not substantially increase the tension in the lower leaf thereof.

In the assembly illustrated in Fig. 7, the lock 50 comprises a body provided with an inwardly extending finger 5| which extends into the undercut portion 28 of the plate opening, the bot tom of the finger being above the bottom surface of the plate. The body of' the lock is also provided near the top with an inwardly extending part 52 engaging the seat 29 and fitted accurately thereto. The part 52 terminates in a finger or abutment 53 overlying the top of the rail base in spaced relation thereto, the end of the finger 53 being disposed only slightly ining the rail to the plate and securing the plate wardly from the side edge of the rail. Below 5| and 52 form an expansible jaw which clamps against the undercut portion of the plate and the seat 29. When the spike 35 is driven into the tie, it wedges the body of the lock 58 toward the rail. In the final position of the spike the leaf spring 54 is distorted upwardly and stressed so that it normally subjects the rail base to a spring action.

When the rail moves upwardly incident to its wave motion, the upward movement is opposed by the leaf spring 54 with an increasing force and when the rail rises a sufficient distance to engage the relatively rigid finger 53, further upward movement is opposed by a much greater and more positive force. In the event that the leaf spring is accidentally broken, the finger 53 provides a positive hold-down medium for the rail while permitting a limited upward movement thereof.

In Fig. 8, we have shown an assembly similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 except that a different form of rail lock is employed. As shown in Fig. 8, the lock 55 is made up of a strip of springmetal bent back on itself and is disposed in the plate opening 21 with the ends of the spring strip extending inwardly over the rail base. The lower leaf of the lock is engaged at its end portion 51 with the top of the rail basenear the rail web and is turned slightly upwardly, as shown. The upper leaf of the lock is substantially parallel to and engages the lower leaf and from its inner end extends outwardly and gradually downwardly to a vertical portion 58. At the bottom of the lock, where the spring strip is bent back on itself, is an angular extension 58 fitted closely in the undercut 28 of the opening, the lock being held in the opening against the fulcrum edge of the undercut by the spike 35.

In the assembly shown in Fig. 9, the tie-plate is provided with a pair of spaced lugs'ii on the top of the plate between the rail abutment shoulder 28 and the opening 21, these lugs being preferably formed from metal displaced during the operation of indenting the undercut 28. A

'rail lock 82 is mounted-in the opening 21 and ,7 is made from a heavy strip of spring metal, one

end of which is bent to form an angular projection 83 disposed in the undercut 28. From the projection 53, the spring strip extends upwardly and then inwardly to a loop 84, the lower leaf of which engages the top of the rail base near the side edge thereof. The end 85 of the lower leaf extends beyond the rail edge and fits closely between the lugs 6| which brace the lock against strains caused by the tendency of the rail to move lengthwise under the action of passing wheel loads. The spike 35 wedges the lock 52 inwardly so that it exerts a spring action on the top of the rail base.

A modified form of the rail lockis illustrated of a strip of spring metal formed at its inner end with a portion 88 free from cutting edges which engages the top of the rail base and is preferably turned upwardly. From the rail engaging part 58, the lock curves upwardly and outwardly and then extends downwardly to a vertical portion 88 located in the tie-plate opening 21. At its lower end, the portion 58 is formed with an inwardly turned projection III extending into the undercut 28. Projecting outwardly from the vertical part 68 are two arms H disposed on opposite sides of the part 89.

In installing the look, it is placed in the plate opening 21 with the projection 10 slightly engaging the lip over the undercut 28, the arms 1! engaging the sloping top of the tie plate, and the rail engaging portion 88 engaging the rail. The entrance of the chisel point of the spike 35 into the opening 21 between the outer buttress 30 and the vertical part 59 of the lock forces the rail engaging member 88 and arms ll upwardly and inwardly towards the rail, and the projection 18 is drawn downwardly and inwardly towards the rail, thereby transmitting through the member 88 a pressure upon the base of rail 23. With the full body of the spike 35 interposed between the buttress 30 and the vertical part 69 of the rail look, any retro-sliding action of the lock 61 or tendency to reduce the pressure transmitted to the rail is prevented, and irrespective of the degree of penetration of the spike 35 into the tie, it securely retains the lock 51 in its operative position to maintain a uniform pressure on the rail. The oppositely disposed arms 1| coacting with the spike 35 resist any tendency of the lock to become loosened.

The rail locks may be easily installed and are interchangeable or usable on either side of the rail to transmit thereto equal pressures, because of the different depths of the undercut 28 in plates having differentshoulder thicknesses. The downward pressure exerted by the lock against the rail is substantially independent of the depth to which the spike is driven but is dependent principally on the wedging action of the spike .between the lock and the outer buttress 3'). Accordingly, the workman installing the lock may under-drive the spike without appreciably affecting operation of the assembly, and the desired downward pressure of the lock may be closely predetermined in the manufacture of the parts. Also, the tendency of the tie-plate to sink into the tie does not change the downward force of the lock on the rail, because the lock moves downwardly with the plate and continues to be wedged by the spike. Each of the' locks acts to oppose longitudinal movement of the rail and to dampen the usual high frequency vibration of the rail, and in no instance does the lock project below the bottom of the plate. Since each lock contacts the rail base over a substantial area, considerable friction is developed which resists lengthwise shifting of the rail. The locks are adapted for manufacture at low cost, are easy to install, and co-act with the buttress 38 and abutments 30a to guide the spike 35 and hold it in a vertical position during the driving operation. Moreover, the spike 35 co-acting with abutments 30a, buttress 30 and the rail lock prevents movement of the tie plate longitudinally and transversely of the tie, thereby reducing destructive mechanical wear of the tie and the contiguous parts,of the assembly. In installing the locks, the projection at the bottom adapted to pivot on said portion against the spike may be readily inserted in the undercut 28 and serves to locate the lock in the plate opening.

I claim:

1. In a rail assembly, the combination with a tie of a tie-plate having a rail seat and an undercut opening adjacent the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a rail lock disposed in the opening and having a part pivotally locked in the undercut portion of the opening with the lower edge of said part above the bottom of the plate, the lock also having a flexible part integral therewith extending inwardly over said seat and engaging the top of the rail base, said flexible part being distorted upwardly and normally exerting a downward force on the rail, and a member disposed in the opening and secured to the tiev in parallel engagement with the outer face of the lock, for holding said pivotal part of the lock against the overhanging part of the undercut of the opening.

2. In a rail assembly, the combination of a tie-plate having a rail seat, an undercut opening adjacent the rail seat and apad projecting above the rail seat between the seat and said opening, a rail mounted on the rail seat, a rail lock mounted on the pad and having a portion pivotally locked in the undercut part of the opening and an integral spring part engaging the top of the rail base and urging the rail against its seat, the spring part being operable to yieldingly resist upward movement of the rail, the lock also having an. integral part overlying the railbase in spaced relation thereto for more positively resisting upward movement of the rail, and a spike extending through the tie-plate adjacent the lock with the spike head engaging the outer face of the lock, the lock being adapted to pivot on said portion under the reaction of the spring part to maintain the spike under stress.

3. In a rail assembly, the combination of a tie-plate having a rail seat and an undercut opening adjacent the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a rail lock disposed in the opening and having a portion pivotally locked in the undercut of the opening with the lower edge of said portion above the bottom of the plate, the lock having an integral spring part engaging the top of the rail base and urging the rail against its seat, the lock also having an integral part overlying the rail base in spaced relation thereto for more positively resisting upward movement of I the rail, and a spike extending through the tieplate adjacent the lock and biased laterally by the reaction of said spring part resulting from its action on the rail, the lock being adapted to pivot on said portion to accommodate driving of the spikeand to maintain the spike under stress. 4. In a rail assembly, the combination of a tie-plate having a rail seat and an undercut opening adjacent the seat, and a rail lock located in said opening and having a portion pivotally clocked in the undercut part of the opening with the lower edge of said portion above the bottom of the plate, the lock also having a spring part integral therewith extending inwardly over said seat and adapted to engage the base of arail located on the seat and normally urge the rail I downwardly against the seat, a rigid abutment integral with the lock and adapted to overlie the top of the rail base in spaced relation thereto for resisting upward movement of the rail base after the latter has moved upwardly a predetermined amount. and a spike extending through the tie plate adjacent the lock with the spike head enunder .the action of the rail on said spring part or on the abutment and thereby stress the spike and absorb some of the force incident to upward movement of the rail.

5. A lock for rail assemblies which comprises a body portion having near its lower end a substantially rigid, laterally extending finger for anchoring the lock, and above said finger an integral, rail-retaining leaf spring and a supplemental rail-retaining part located between said spring and finger and extending generally in the same direction as said finger.

6. A lock for rail assemblies which comprises a body portion having at its lower end an extension adapted to project into an undercut portion of a tie-plate opening, the intermediate part of the body having a substantially rigid finger extending laterally-and generally parallel to said extension and adapted to overlie the base of a rail on the tie-plate in spaced relation thereto, and the upper part of the body having a leaf spring extending generally in the same direction as said finger and adapted to engage the top of said rail base.

"I. In a rail assembly, the combination of a tieplate having a rail seat and an undercut opening adjacent the seat and a shoulder between the seat and opening, a rail mountedon the seat, a rail lock located in said opening and having an integral spring part extending inwardly over the rail base for limiting upward movement of the rail from its seat, said lock having a spring jaw facing the rail seat, and the plate shoulder and the overhanging part of the undercut opening being gripped by the spring jaw, the lower section of the jaw being pivotally locked in the undercut part of said opening, and a spike extending through the tie-plate adjacent the lock in engagement with the outer face of the lock, and the spike urging the lock against said shoulder and overhanging part to spread the spring jaw, the lock being adapted to pivot on said lower section of the jaw under the action of the spring part to maintainthe spike under stress.

8. A look for rail assemblies which comprises a body having at its intermediate portion a substantially rigid, laterally extending finger adapted to overlie the base of a rail in spaced relation thereto, an integral leaf spring on the upper part of the lock extending generally in the same direction as said finger and adapted to engage the top of the rafl base, means for anchoring the lock to the rail support, and a cam surface on the side of the lock opposite said finger and sloping generally downwardly and outwardly away from the finger.

9. In a rail assembly, the combination of a tieplate having a rail seat and an undercut opening adjacent the seat, a rail lock in said opening having a spring part integral therewith extending inwardly over said seat and adapted to engage the base of a rail located onthe seat, said lock -including a strip of spring metal bent back on itself and having an end portion pivotally locked in the undercut part of said opening and lying wholly above the bottom of the plate, and a spike extending through the tie plate adjacent the lock and biased laterally by the reaction of said spring part resulting from its action on the rail, the lock being adapted to pivot on. said end portion to accommodate driving of the spike and to maintain the spike under stress.

10. In a rail assembly, the combination of a gaging h Outer face of the lock, the lock being tie-plate having a rail seat and an undercut opening adjacent the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a rail lock disposed in the opening and including a strip of spring metal bent back on itself with a part of the strip pivotally locked in the undercut part of said opening and another part of the strip engaging the top of the rail base and urging the rail against its seat, the outer section of the strip having a cam face extending generally downwardly and outwardly from the rail, and a spike extending through said opening with its head engaging the cam face and normally biased laterally by the reaction of the lock resulting from its action on the rail base, the lock being adapted to pivot about said first part of the strip under the action of said second part to maintain the spike under stress.

11. In a rail assembly, the combination of a tie-plate having a rail seat and an undercut opening adjacent the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a rail lock disposed in the opening and having a part pivotally locked in the undercut portion of the opening with the lower edge of said part above the bottom of the plate, the lock also having a flexible part extending inwardly over the seat and engaging the base of the rail and normally distorted upwardly by the rail base, and a spike extending through the opening and wedging the lock inwardly against the edge of the overhanging part of the undercut of said opening about which the lock is adapted to fulcrum, the spike engaging the outer face of the lock above the level of said fulcrum edge, whereby the lock translates upward movement of the rail against the lock into a lateral thrust against the spike.

12. For use in a rail assembly comprising a tieplate having a rail seat and an opening on one side of the seat, a spike extending through the opening, and a rail on the seat, a rail lock including a strip of spring metal having a leg adapted to flt in the opening between the spike shank and the rail and having a forwardly extending generally horizontal part adapted to engage the top of the rail base, the lock also having a pair of arms projecting rearwardly from the leg and adapted to extend along opposite sides of the spike and rest on the top of the plate, and means on the leg for coacting with the plate in said opening to anchor the lock to the plate.

13. For use in a rail assembly comprising a tieplate having a rail seat and an undercut opening on one side of the seat, a spike extending through the opening, and a rail on the seat, a rail lock including a strip of spring metal having a leg adapted to fit in the opening between the spike and the rail, and a forwardly extending projection at the lower end of the leg adapted to hook in the undercut part of the opening, the lock also having a forwardly extending, generally horizontal part for engaging the top of the rail base, and a pair of arms projecting rearwardly from the leg and adapted to extend along opposite sides of the spike and rest on the top of the plate.

14. For use in a rail assembly comprising a tieplate having a rail seat and an opening on one side of the seat, a spike extending through the opening, and a rail on the seat, a rail lock including a strip of spring metal bent into a U-shape, the end portion of one of the legs being bent outwardly and adapted to engage the top of the rail base, and the end portion of the other leg being bent outwardly in the opposite direction and adapted to seat on the top of the plate, said last end portion being formed with a slot terminating near the adjacent leg of the U-shaped part and through which the spike is adapted to extend and an additional leg on the lock at the end of said slot, said last leg extending downwardly and being adapted to lie between the spike and the inner edge of the opening and to coact with the plate in said opening to-anchor the lock.

15. In a rail assembly, the combination of a tie-plate having a rail seat and a conflgurated, undercut opening disposed outwardly from the seat, a rail on the seat, a rail lock in the opening having a downwardly and inwardly extending part contacting in pivotal relation the upper margin of the undercut portion of the opening and disposed above the bottom of the plate, the lock also having a flexible part integral therewith extending inwardly over the rail seat and engaging the top of the rail base, the flexible part being deflected upwardly and normally exerting a downward force on the rail, the lock also having a cam surface on the outer face thereof sloping generally downwardly and outwardly from the rail base, and an independent tie penetrating means in the opening having its upper portion projecting above the opening and providing a superficial area engaging said cam face of the lock and urging the lock toward the rail, said means exerting a turning moment on the lock tending to pivot the lock about said margin of the undercut portion, the lock being pivotal on said margin under the action of said flexible part to maintain the tie-penetrating means under stress.

16. In combination, a tie-plate having a rail seat and an opening on one side ofthe seat and a buttress on top of the plate at the outer edge of the opening, a rail mounted on the seat, a resilient cantilever member having its free end engaging the top of the rail base near its outer margin and extending inwardly therefrom with an increasing space between the member and the top of the base to a point near the lower portion of the rail web and then extending upwardly, outwardly and downwardly into said opening, the lower portion of the member being pivotally locked within the body of the opening and above the plane of the plate bottom, and an independent tie-penetrating means extending through the opening adjacent the outer face of said member, the member and tie-penetrating means being wedged in the opening with said means forced against the buttress.

17. In a rail assembly, the combination of a tieplate having a rail seat and an opening adjacent the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a rail lock disposed in the opening and having an integral spring arm engaging the top of the rail base and urging the rail against its seat, a spike extending through the opening in substantially parallel engagement with a vertical outer face of the lock and wedging the lock toward the rail to urge said arm against the rail base, an upwardly extending projection on the tie-plate on the side of the spike opposite said lock and engaging the shank of the spike near the head thereof, and abutments on the top of the plate integral with said projection and extending inwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the spike to reinforce the projection, said vertical face, projection and abutments being operable to guide the spike as it is driven and maintain it in a substantially vertical position.

18. In a rail assembly, the combination with a tie of a tie-plate having a rail seat and an undercut opening adjacent the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a rail lock disposed in the opening and having a part pivotally locked in the undercut portion of the opening with the lower edge of said part above the bottom of the plate, the look also having a flexible part integral therewith extending inwardly over said seat and engaging the top of the rail base, said flexible part being distorted upwardly and normally exerting a downward force on the rail, a member disposed in the opening and secured to the tie in parallel engagement with the outer face of the lock for holding said pivotal part of the lockagainst the overhanging part of the undercut of the opening, and a resilient pad interposed between the rail and seat and against which the rail is pressed by said flexible part to maintain the pad under compression.

19. In a rail assembly, the combination of a tie-plate having a rail seat and an undercut opening adjacent the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a rail lock disposed in the opening and comprising a strip of spring metal extending through said opening and having its lower end bent into and pivotally locked in the undercut portion of the opening with the lower edge of the strip above the bottom of the plate, the strip extending vertically upwardly from the tie plate and inwardly over the base of the'rail and then downwardly and outwardly into contact with the rail base, said rail contacting part being distorted upwardly and normally exerting a downward force on the rail, and a tie-penetrating member wedged in the opening between the lock and the outer edge of the opening in parallel engagement with the outer face of the spring strip for holding said pivotal end of the strip against the overhanging 15 part of the undercut of the opening.

WILLIAM S. BOYCE.

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