Cleveland Track Material, Inc.

Cleveland Track Materials, Inc.

Karl E Axthelm

James A Remington

Phillip R Merrifield

Daniel Voelkerding

Joseph A Martin

The invention may be described as a rail bridge joint, associated guard plate assembly, and a bridge assembly incorporating same.

Movable bridge joint, associated support and rail bridge panel containing same

The invention is a guarded rail section for a movable bridge rail joint, the arrangement comprising: (a) a gage side guard plate having a gage side guard plate interior surface, (b) a field side guard plate having a field side guard plate interior surface, the gage side guard plate and field side guard plate defining a rail channel; and (c) a rail portion disposed in the rail channel, wherein the gage side guard plate interior surface defines an insert channel along its top portion, and there is provided a top portion insert removably attached into the insert channel.

Movable bridge joint guard arrangement with replaceable guard plate insert

A rail brace assembly is adapted to buttress the head of a stock rail selected from one of two different stock rail groups mounted on the top surface of a brace plate. The assembly includes a stop block assembly also is affixed to the brace plate top surface. A rail brace moveable between a first brace position in which it buttresses the head of a rail from a first stock rail group and a second brace position in which it buttresses the head of a rail from a second stock rail group, has a pair of spaced side walls, a upwardly facing top surface, first rail group head and base fishing surface contact areas, second rail group head and base fishing surface contact areas, a first rail group brace plate contact surface and a second rail group brace plate contact surface. An elastic fastener cooperates with a clip housing to clamp the rail brace against the stock rail.

Rail brace assembly

A rail brace assembly is adapted to buttress the head of a stock rail selected from one of two different stock rail groups mounted on the top surface of a brace plate. The assembly includes a stop block assembly also is affixed to the brace plate top surface. A rail brace moveable between a first brace position in which it buttresses the head of a rail from a first stock rail group and a second brace position in which it buttresses the head of a rail from a second stock rail group, has a pair of spaced side walls, a upwardly facing top surface, first rail group head and base fishing surface contact areas, second rail group head and base fishing surface contact areas, a first rail group brace plate contact surface and a second rail group brace plate contact surface. An elastic fastener cooperates with a clip housing to clamp the rail brace against the stock rail. When the rail brace is in the first brace position the first rail group head and base fishing surface contact areas engage the rail head and base fishing surface areas, the first rail group brace plate contact surface contacts the brace plate and the second rail group head fishing surface contact area engages the stop block assembly. When the rail brace is in the second brace position the second rail group head and base fishing surface contact areas engage the head and base fishing surfaces of the stock rail, the second rail group brace plate contact surface contacts the brace plate and the first rail group head fishing surface contact area engages the stop block assembly.

An adjustable gage plate assembly having a pair of gage plate ends each with rail seats that are connected at their inner ends to swivel slide plates of an adjustment assembly which enables the gage plate ends to be moved laterally and angularily relative to each other such that the gage plate assembly may be adjusted to a specified lateral distance and angle between the gage plate end rail seats.

Adjustable gage plate assembly

A rail brace assembly provides positive support for a stock rail mounted on a switch brace plate. The assembly includes a rail brace having a generally central opening that it is installed over a fixed clip housing attached to the brace plate. The clip housing accepts a resilient clip that secures the rail brace in position on the brace plate and against the stock rail. The resilient clip provides spring force directly to the rail brace in both a vertically downward direction and a lateral direction. The rail brace has a lug to prevent the clip from being removed from the clip housing due to vibration. The clip housing prevents the brace from moving laterally even if the clip breaks or becomes disengaged. The brace assembly includes a stop that is secured to the brace plate and a tapered wedge that is disposed between the stop and the rail brace. Upon driving the wedge longitudinally of the rail, lateral force is applied to the rail brace and the rail. The stop and the wedge employ a longitudinally extending tongue and groove to prevent relative vertical movement therebetween. The junction between the wedge and the rail brace is defined by mating convex-concave surfaces. A shear member such as a cotter pin prevents the wedge from being retracted once the wedge has been driven to a desired longitudinal position. Because the wedge cannot be moved inadvertently, lateral force will be applied continuously to the rail brace by the wedge.

Growing community of inventors

Chagrin Falls, OH, United States of America

Karl E Axthelm