Improvements in Railway Switch Frogs.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 1st Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Mar.. 1895
Improvements in Railway Switch Frogs.
I RUSSEL THOMAS WALDREP of Tifton Berrien County, Georgia United-
States of America Railway Trackman 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in railway switch-frogs and it consists in
certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.
The essential feature of the said invention is the certain novel arrangement.
hereinafter described, by which a train may be either allowed to remain on the
main line or be switched off on a siding without the necessity of breaking the main
line rails and thereby subjecting them to the great wear incident to the ordinary
arrangement of switch frogs.
My invention will be better understood after reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the
several views.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a portion of the track and siding, the switch
being set for the main line.
Fig. 2 represents a section along the line y y of Fig. 1, and looking towards the
top of the figure.
Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the improved. switch-frog, in which the switch
is set for the siding.
Fig. 4 represents a section along the line x x of Fig. 3 and looking to
the left.
Fig. 5 represents an inverted perspective view of the wing-rail, and
Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of the chair plate as detached from
the rail.
A and A represent the rails of the main line.
B and B' represent the rails of the siding, the rail B, being connected to
the continuation B2 thereof, by means of the short rail B³, frog C, and the
switch-plate D.
.
The rails B and B are mounted at an incline on the blocks b, as shown in
Fig. 2, while the upper end of the rail B³ rests on the block b¹ to which the frog
rail D is pivotally attached.
The short rail B³ is connected to the rail B in the usual way, and has its opposite
end tapering as shown, the web of the said tapering end engaging in the groove c

page_text: beneath the overhanging lip c', and the vertical face co of the chair plate C, the
cut away edge of the rail fitting suugly against the edge of this vertical wall co, as
shewn most clearly in Fig. 1.
The inside of the chair plate is curved as at and c³ to fit snugly against the
side of the main line rail A. The outside of the chair plate is provided with a
flange or rib chaving bolt holes c for securing the same to the cross-ties.
It will thus be seen that the chair plate C forms a strong and secure support for
the end of the short rail B³,
The frog rail D is provided with a straight face d, which forms a continuation of
the edge of the siding rail, when the switch is set for the siding, which edge is
bent outwards as at d¹ near the free end of the frog rail and is finally curved
outwards as at d², so as to avoid the possibility of being an obstruction when set for
the main line.
The said frog rail is in the form of a rail near its pivoted end, which is cut
away in an inclined direction as shewn at d³ in Fig. 5, which inclined portion
fits snugly against the rail A' when the switch is set for the siding.
The free end of the frog rail is broad and flat as shewn at Fig. 5, and is provided
with a lug d to which the end of the rod F is pivotally connected.
The frog rail is also provided with lugs d' and do which slide along the tops
of the blocks E' and E, and which rest on the said blocks when the switch is
set for the siding. The inner end of the frog rail rests on the blocks 6 and E²,
all of which blocks are firmly secured to the tops of the ties. The block E is
cut away as at e to allow the flanges of the car wheels to pass when the switch is
set for the main line.
The rod is operated by the crank on the shaft H, which shaft is revolved.
by a connection with any suitable switch stand or other apparatus designed for the
purpose.
It will be noticed that when the switch is set for the main line, the main line is
not broken, and hence with the hereindescribed switch, there is no necessity for
breaking the main line.
When the switch is set for the siding, as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, the frog rail D
rests on top of the main rail A¹ and is also supported by the blocks E, E', E'
and b', while the edge d' is braced against the rail B³, and the edge d³ is braced
against the rail A¹.
Moreover, the novel construction of the chair plate C gives a firm support to the
tapered end of the rails B³.
Thus it will be seen that the hereindescribed device affords adequate protection
and support to those parts of the frog rail and the siding rail that are generally
broken or injured in frogs of somewhat similar construction.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is':
1. The railway switch-frog, substantially as hereindescribed and shewn in the
drawings hereunto annexed.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereindescribed
and shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed.
3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with one of the
main line rails and the blocks E and E', of a pivoted frog rail adapted to swing
partly over said main line rail and provided with a straight edge d sloping
outwards as at d¹, curved as at d and provided with flat lugs d and de adapted
to rest on said blocks and give an enlarged supporting surface; a siding rail
cut away at an angle and projecting above the level of said main line rail; and
adapted to bear against the sloping edge of the frog-rail; and a chair-plate C
approximately triangular in form having the projection fitting snugly against
the web of the main line rail, with a groove dove-tailed at c' adapted to receive

page_text: the flange of the cut away siding rail; a vertical face c adapted to support the
cut away side of the siding rail, and a flange c with means for securing said flange
to the cross-ties, substantially as described.
Dated the First day of February 1895.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London,
For the Applicant.