An Improvement in Railway Car Wheels and Tracks.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Railway Car Wheels and Tracks.
We, JONAS PRINTZ, Carpenter, CARL FRAD ANDERSON, Moulder, VICTOR
HJALMAR STROMBERG, Moulder, residing respectively at cor. 29 Street and
Castala, and the last two at 2927 Dupont Street, Omaha, Douglas County,
Nebraska, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly descubed and
ascertained in and by the following statement.―
This invention has relation to a new and useful improvement in railway car
wheels and tracks the object being to provide a simple means whereby the cars cau
be more readily propelled up an incline. In a great many cities where car line
grades are, of necessity, very steep, much time is lost and power expended in
carrying cars up the incline. During moist or icy weather a great many cars
alinest become stalled by the wheels revolving upon the track without moving
forward. This slipping of the wheels is, of course, prevented on a degree by
scattering sand on the rails, but as the riding surface of the rail is narrow the sand
soon works off. To provide a means whereby the cars cau be more readily
propelled up an incline is the object of our device.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure one shows a view, with the rails partly in section, of car wheels and tracks
embodying our invention.
Figure two shows a large detail of one of the tracks, while Figure three shows
the side view thereof.
A, represents an axle of the usual size and conformation, with the two wheels, B, B,
which are, as usual, fixed to the axle, A. These wheels are provided with the
usual diving and guiding flanges. The guiding flange. C, in this instance, however,
extends at an angle to the wheel, B, proper, and comprises the guide flange, 2, and
the friction flauge proper, 3. This flange, 3, of course forms an integral part of the
wheel proper. To further insure the efficiency of this flange, 3, we provide the
same with a number of corrugations or depressions, 5, distributed about this flange, 3.
The track upon which this wheel is adapted to run comprises the main portion, D,
having the usual riding sui face, 6, and being provided below with the approximately
circular seating, 7. Within this seating, 7, the detachable friction rail, E, is
removably held by means of the connecting bolts, F. The rail E, is provided with
the central opening, 9, through which the bolt, F, passes. This detachable friction
rail is the shape of a flattened ramid and is provided with the two rounded
edges, 10, 10. The tail, D, is also provided, upon the inside, with the angular
senting, 12, adapted to accommodate the angular portion of the friction rail, E.
This friction rail is also corrugated or scalloped, having the depressions, 15, within
which those of the wheel readily work. Now, these two part rails, E, D, are
supposed to be placed within the system at all points where grades are encountered.
As soon as a car equipped with om truck strikes this track the trucks leave the
riding surface of this rail, D, and are guided upon the friction rails, E, as shown in
Figure one, so that these flanges support the whole weight of the car. By means
of the bolts, F, these flanges may be given adjustment. As the upper edge of the
friction rail, E, wears off and out the Hange section, C, is simply reversed so as to
present the lower surface of this flange, so as to make the same reversible aud
interchangeable It is, of course, understood that this flange, C, could be without
the corrugations or scallops, as shown in Figure one, where the friction Range
of one of the wheels has been left perfectly smooth, as has also the friction rail. It

page_text: is also understood that, if desired, the rail, D, could be cast with an upwardly
extending friction rail, E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. The combination with a car axle and wheels, said wheels being provided
with an angular outwardly extending friction flange, of a two part rail comprising
an upwardly extending adjustable friction rail, adapted to engage the friction
flange of said car wheels, so that said car wheels will be supported by said
upwardly extending friction flange, all substantially as and for the purpose
Bet forth.
Second The combination with a car axle having suitable wheels, said wheels
being provided with outwardly extending friction flauges, said friction flanges being
scalloped, of a two part tail comprising a main supporting section in combination
with a friction rail, transversely in the shape of an isoscelesed triangle, the base
of said friction rail being positioned vertically, and being reversibly and adjustably
secured to the main part of said rail, the angular sides of said fiction rail being
adapted to engage the friction flauges of said wheels, to support the same, all
substantially as and for the purpose set forth
Third. The combination with the car axle, A, provided with the wheels, B,
baving the fiction flanges, C, provided with the corrugations, 3, of the two part
rail comprising the section, D, having the angular seating, 12, and the lower
circular seating, 7, of the friction rail, E, provided with the two cucular
edges, 10, 10, said friction rail being in cross section in the form of an isoscelesed
triangle, and provided with the transverse opening, 9, and the supporting
spokes, F, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated thin 4th day of October 1901
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.