in Car and Engine Replacing Frogs
Year: 1887

page_text: BURT E. TILDEN, Citizen of the United States of America, residing at Youngs-
town in the County of Mahoning and State of Ohio, by vocation a Railroad Man,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in Car and Engine Replacing Frogs, and
comprises various details of construction as hereinafter described. This invention
relates to those devices which are temporarily adjusted to railroad rails, for the purpose
of restoring cars, locomotives, coaches &c. after they have been derailed, and my Car
Replacing Frogs consist of a pair of Frogs, in shape as obliquely detached parts or
segments of circles, having thicknesses which are hollowed, with the exception of
several nearly perpendicular partitions, extending at nearly right angles, with sides,
for the purpose of strengthening. A handle in middle running from side to side, to
carry by, all made in one piece of cast metal (cast Steel preferred). They are used
with circle upwards, the inner side being lower than the outer, so that the upper
surface inclines toward their respective rails from end to end. They are used laying
lengthways, adjacent to bottom of their respective rails, on same ties, if the ties are at
right angles with the rails.
The sides of frog forming obtuse angles with botton of frogs, always next to rails,
the car wheel is to be launched upon. The botton of frogs bevel so to give tops
about one-third pitch to rails. The tops of frogs and middle line of sides are at about

page_text: right angles, therefore may lean against top of rails, throwing heafth on rails there,
as well as by nose-piece at bottom. The entire width of bevel bottom at ends standing
on the cross-ties, leaving a space of about one. inch between obtuse edge of frogs
and bottom of adjacent rails, clinching to cross-ties by several retaining spurs or dogs
at each end and sides of frog. These frogs are designated respectively, as the Inner
and Outer frog. The inner frog at top nearest the rail, is somewhat lower at the
middle than the rail, thereby causing the flange of car wheel which rolls upon this
longitudinal curved top, pitched to side of rail to launch against rail, (Tread being
above rail) as soon as wheel on other end of axle is raised by other frog above opposite
rail to admit of it. The outer frog at the top nearest the rails, is somewhat higher at
its center than the rail, (otherwise substantially same as inner frog), thereby causing
the tread of car wheels which rolls upon this longitudinal curved top, pitched to the
nearly right angle edge of frogs which stand about one inch above top of rails to
launch toward the center of track, as soon as the required parts of wheels are above
the rails, they will slide to their proper places on the rails, the frogs being opposite
on the same ties, at the same side of the two rails. Gravity causing the wheels to
slide, they must go on the rails simultaneously. Tops of frogs should be covered
with oil or grease before using. The whole outer arched tops are slightly crowning
in all directions, for the purpose of strength. The sides are a trifle out of right angles,
with top also, owing to frogs being moulded in sand, therefore must be larger at
opening, to draw from sand, and partitions may be out of perpendicular.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing,
forming part of this specification, in which :-
Figure 1 is a prospective view, showing a pair of frogs in position to replace a
railroad car or locomotive that has become derailed.
Figure 2 is a tranverse sectional view, showing a pair of car wheels being launched
upon the railroad rails or track.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section view.
Figure 4 is a bottom view.
Similar letters refer to similar parts, throughout the several views.
Cross-ties A and rails B. & C. represent a railroad track.
Inner-frog I, and
Outer-frog O shows how they may be placed to launch cars or locomotives upon the
track. Spurs or dogs s and s¹ show that frogs clinging to cross-ties, the weight of
a car or locomotive will sink spurs s and s¹ into any wood cross-ties.
Fig. 2 by wheels J. & K. shows the location on frogs where they must slide to
rails B. & C. Tops D. are hard and smooth surface. Bottoms E. are a trifle lower at
the middle of sides or cords. Ends F. & G. making shorter curve than top of arch.
Handles H. are round rod shaped, and run from side to side, admitting of a man
carrying one in each hand. Nose-piece L. throws weight on bottom part of rail, and
keeps the rail and ties together. Bottom part of side or cord at M. that comes down
about to point of dogs, extending only between dogs, nearest to middle on side or
cord. Equalizer N. a wing extending from end to end on inside to make metal and
strength equal on low side to high side of frog. The partitions P, are for strength
and to keep sides from springing. Middle cord in inner frog W. to hold middle up,
it being wider and lower than outer-frog.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The Car and Engine Replacing Frogs, made of cast metal with arched top
smooth hard surface, the inner sides being lower than the outer, so that the upper
surface inclines toward rails from end to end, for the purpose of restoring cars,
locomotives, &c., substantially as set forth.
2nd. In Car Replacing Frogs made in one piece, hollowed and thoroughly braced
by partitions P. and carrying handles H., with several side as well as end retaining
spurs, s and s¹ on each side and end. Top forming nearly right angles with pitched
sides, substantially as described.

page_text: 3rd. The manner of supporting against rails bracing and clinging to the ties, shape
and construction, giving the greatest strength with the least weight, to the frogs,
retaining spurs being important to strength. Arched top D. being crowning from
end to end. Bottom portion M., equalizer N., middle cord W., for inner frog,
nose-piece L., all substantially as illustrated and set forth, for the purposes specified.
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1 D
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