Improvements in Tramway-frogs and other like Track-pieces.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1894-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tramway-frogs and other like Track-pieces.
A communication from abroad by THE LEWIS & FOWLER GIRDER-RAIL
COMPANY, of 28, Sandford Street, Brooklyn, in the State of New York,
United States of America, Manufacturers.
OTHER LIKE
I, JOIN CORRY FELL, of the Firm of Fell and Wilding, of 1 Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAY-FROGS AND
TRACK-PIECES," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
The term "track-pieces" as herein employed is confined to "frogs" in general,
"open-points" and "mates," for tramways, as hereinafter described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings, in each of which an individual rail-tread or track-
groove is crossed entered or left by one or more, usually one other, tread or groove,
at a more or less oblique angle, and all parts of the track-piece are rigidly united
with each other; and the term "piece" is intended to mean an individual frog or
open-point or mate.
The present invention does not include what are distinctively known in the
art as "crossings " in which two or more tracks, substantially at right angles, are
carried or extended as a whole across each other at grade by a structure common
to all. Improvements in such crossings constitute the subject-matter of a Specifi-
cation of an application No. 514, dated January 9th 1894.
The present invention consists primarily in tramway frogs and other like track-
pieces as above, constructed mainly of box girder-rail, rolled from suitable steel or
iron, such rail being preferably of the peculiar construction set forth and claimed in
a previous Specification under Letters Patent No. 20973 of A.D. 1890, and of the
particular pattern or section represented by Figure 7 of the drawings accompanying
said previous Specification. The invention further consists in certain novel parts
of such track-pieces, and in certain novel combinations of parts, as hereinafter set
forth and claimed.
The principal objects of the invention are to render such track-pieces at once
light, in proportion to the required stiffness and strength, and of symmetrical and
efficient forms, including in the preferred form deep grooves with high guards
adapted to coact perfectly with the flanges of tram-car wheels passing in either
direction; to connect the rails with each other by means of partly detached portions
of the web-metal of one rail, without extraneous fish-plates angle-irons and the
like to reinforce and preserve the angle or angles of the crotch or crotches, and
at the same time to fill the same up to convenient paving widths; to adapt special
chairs to the rails of such track-pieces at bottom, and at the same time, preferably,
to clamp each chair to the rail or rails in the manner set forth and claimed in said
previous Specification, as regards the coaction of the elastic webs of the box-rail
and its laterally projecting flanges with wedging clamps, and of such clamps with
chair-projections and clamping bolts below the rail; and to further provide for
doubly reinforcing the intersections of tramway-tracks at frogs, and for carrying
the tram-cars over the intersections on the wheel-flanges, if desired.
The manner in which the invention is performed is illustrated by four sheets of
drawings hereto annexed as part of this Specification.
On Sheet 1 of these drawings Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatic plan views of
portions of tramway-tracks illustrating the frogs and other like track-pieces to
which the present invention relates.
On Sheet 2, Figure 3 is a plan view, enlarged from Figure 1, of the open-point
and mate shown at the upper left-hand corner of Sheet 1; Figures 34 and 3B are

page_text: side views projected from Figure 3, with appended cross-sections, showing the
respective rail-pieces, or rails as they are herein termed, which constitute the main
parts of the said open-point; and Figures 3° and 3" are side views projected from
Figure 3, with appended cross-sections, showing the respective rails of which the
said mate is mainly composed.
On Sheet 3, Figures 4 to 8 inclusive are detail views of a characteristic frog, on
the same scale as Figure 3; Figure 4 being a plan view of the frog, Figures 5
and 6 side and top views respectively, with an appended cross-section, of its under-
rail, and Figures 7 and 8 side and top views respectively, with an appended cross-
section, of its top-rail.
On Sheet 4, Figure 9 represents a cross-section on the line 9-9 Figure 4, showing.
one of the "intermediate chairs" hereinafter described, this and the succeeding
figures being enlarged three diameters from Figures 3 and 4; Figure 10 is a
fragmentary elevation projected from Figure 9; Figure 11 represents a cross-section
on the line 11-11 Figure 4; Figure 12 is a fragmentary elevation projected from
Figure 11 Figure 13 is a plan view of the special "frog-chair" shown at the
groove-intersection in Figure 4; Figures 14 and 15 are respectively side and end
views of this chair, Figure 13; and Figure 16 represents a section through a
"crotch-chair" for open-points and mates, on the line 16-16 Figure 3.
Like letters and numbers refer to like parts in all the figures.
"
In said Figures 1 and 2, on Sheet 1: F, F2 and F3 represent what are herein
termed "frogs," of different kinds; O represents an 66 open-point"; and MM M
represent "mates"; which constitute the "track-pieces" to which the present
invention is confined as aforesaid. SSS represent " tongue-switches," which may
be of any ordinary or improved construction or constructions. The dotted lines
and outlines at T, and like lines and outlines, represent cross-ties as arranged to
support said track-pieces; the other dotted lines represent rails which may in
practice be the running rails of the respective tracks; and the full lines connecting
and leading from certain of the track-pieces represent rails which are preferably
of the same section as those of said track-pieces.
All said track-pieces are preferably constructed in the main part as aforesaid of
box girder-rail of one and the same section, viz.: the said section represented by
Figure 7 of the drawings accompanying said previous Specification under Letters
Patent No. 20973 of A.D. 1890, and are so shown throughout in the drawings
hereto annexed.
Referring to Figure 16, it may here be pointed out that a rail of such section
comprises a high guard 17, opposed to the tread 18 of the rail so as to form a deep
and well-guarded groove 19, and has when uncut a pair of elastic webs 20, flaring
downwardly in the unclamped rail, and provided at bottom with laterally projecting
flanges 21, bevelled on top; said flanges, in the figure and preferably, as in said
patented clamping system, engaging with wedging clamps 22, which in turn engage
with lateral chair-projections 23, opposed to the rail-flanges; each pair of said
clamps being drawn towards each other, and the elastic webs of the rail sprung
inward to vertical planes, by a horizontal through bolt 24, or two or more such
bolts, below the rail.
The construction common to said frogs F F2 F3 and to said open-points O and
mates M, Figures 1 and 2, is illustrated by Figures 3 to 16 inclusive, and may be
described as follows: Each piece is composed of at least two rails 2 or l
one of which, or r³, has or may have a top which is continuous except a shallow
intersection notch or notches 25 25* or 26 26*; and the two rails are connected
with each other at their intersection by means of a flap or flaps 27 or 28 of the
web-metal of one of the rails, attached by rivets to the adjoining web of the other
rail. Within each crotch, a wedge w, preferably of cast iron, is inserted above
the rail flanges, with its rougheued top surface flush with the rail-treads; and the
rails are united at each crotch by horizontal bolts 6, extending through the inner
webs or through the inner webs and one outer web of the respective rails, and
through the wedge, so as to support the wedge, and at the same time draw the

page_text: rails tightly against its sides. Each wedge is made long enough to fill the crotch
to a convenient paving width. To provide if desired for carrying the tram-cars
across the intersections on the wheel-flanges, the rail-grooves in common are
partly filled by means of "filling-up strips "s s³, of bar-steel, tightly fitted to such
grooves, and riveted fast through the top of the rail, as in Figure 11. Finally, a
"joint-chair" C or a compromise joint-chair C is clamped to each rail-end of
the track-piece, and a sufficient number of "intermediate chairs C³, with or
without supplemental single chairs C', are clamped to the track-pieces at proper
points to rest on the cross-ties T, to which they are spiked or otherwise attached in
customary manner to fasten the piece in its working position.
66
"
"
Said joint-chairs C and said single chairs C are intended to be in practice steel
chairs of substantially the construction represented by Figures 23 and 10 of the
drawings accompanying said previous Specification. The compromise chairs C³
have chair-castings fitted at one end to the rail used in the construction of the
track-piece as above, and at the other end to rails of other sections. As shown in
the accompanying drawings they are fitted at their outer ends to a different section
of box-rail of the same construction, as for example the section represented by
Figure 1 of said drawings accompanying said previous Specification, or the groove-
rail represented by Figure 8 of said drawings accompanying said previous Specifi-
cation. The outer ends of the chairs are intended to be fitted to whatever pattern of
rails may lead up to the track-piece, whether they be box-rails, or T-rails, or rails
having a like form of base, which may be clamped in the same manner as said box-
rails as illustrated in Figures 14 to 16 inclusive of said drawings accompanying
said previous Specification; and it will be understood that such chairs are to be
used only where a different pattern of rail adjoins the track-piece. Each com-
promise-chair is preferably provided, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, with a distinct
pair of said clamps 22 Figure 16 for each of its four bolts, so that any pair may be
tightened without affecting the others; and a feature preferably common to all the
joint-chairs C C is the support of each box-rail immediately beneath its head, as
set forth in said previous Specification, and as represented by the rail-seat a in
Figure 16 of the drawings hereto annexed. The intermediate chairs C³, common
to two converging or diverging rails, throughout the improved track-pieces, are all
substantially of the peculiar construction shown at C³ in Figures 9 and 10; that is
to say each chair has at top a flat surface or floor 29 at midwidth to engage with
the sole or soles of the inner web or webs of the united rails, as in Figure 9,
square shoulders 30 to engage with the outermost rail-webs of the track-piece in
like manner, and vertical projections 31 to engage internally with said outermost
webs of the respective rails, and in the wider chairs a central upright 32 supports
the floor of the chair at midwidth. In addition to these peculiar features, each of
the said intermediate chairs, in common with the other chairs, has clamp-engaging
projections 23, bevelled at bottom, and is provided with clamps 22 and through
bolts 24 as before described with reference to Figure 16; said shoulders 3) being
formed by the tops of said projections 23.
An open-point O or a mate M of the improved construction above in part
described, as illustrated in common by said Figures 3 and 16, is composed of a
through-rail Figure 3A or Figure 3" of a suitable length, which may be the full
length of a rail as received from the rolling mill, a short lateral rail Figure 3B
or Figure 3º, a joint-chair C or a compromise joint-chair C2 as above at each of the
three rail-ends, a sufficient number of intermediate chairs C³, and, (in the case of
open-points,) of supplemental single chairs C4 as above, and a crotch-chair C
(Figure 16) supporting the through rail at the end of the lateral rail r², where
an ordinary chair would interfere with the joint-chair at the outer end of said
lateral rail, together with a complement of clamps and bolts, 22 and 24 Figure 16,
as indicated in Figure 3; the peculiarity of said crotch-chair being a base 33
Figure 16 projecting at the outer side only. Said through rail r has one of its
flanges 21 Figure 16 cut away from the web which adjoins the lateral rail 2 where
the two come in contact, as shown at 27* in Figure 3A and Figure 3º. The lateral

page_text: rail is cut off at the proper angle for the intersection; terminating in a rail-web
flap 27, which is attached to the adjoining web of the other rail, where the two
come in contact as above, by means of rivets. The location of such rivets is
indicated by the rivet-holes at 27 and 27x in Figures 3A 3B 3" and 3". The crotch
between the rails is filled flush with their treads by a wedge , and the rails are
united at this point by short bolts extending through said wedge and through the
adjoining inner webs of the respective rails as above. The bolt-holes in the rails
are represented at in said Figures 3A 3B 3" 3". The grooves of both rails are
provided in Figure 3 with filling-up strips s and s² as above; the through rail r is
provided with a notch 25 in line with the groove of the lateral rail ², such notch
extending downward to the level of said filling-up strips if these be employed or to
the bottom of the grooves if such strips be omitted; and, where the guard 17,
Figure 16, of either rail, is crossed by the line of an intersecting tread, 18
Figure 16, such guard is notched to the level of the tread, as shown at 25*
in Figures 3, 3 and 3º.
Each of the several frogs shown at F in Figure 1 has one rail, which may be the
rail as above described, forming part of a straight through track, and a second
rail, which may be the rail as above, forming part of a turnout curve; each of
those represented at F2 in Figure 2 is composed of two similar rails,, either of
which may in practice be the rail, forming parts of two transfer tracks; and each
of the triple frogs represented at F³ in Figure 2 comprises a rail ³, forming part of
a through track, crossing a second rail and a third rail, which in turn cross
each other, forming parts of the same transfer tracks.
દ
A frog of the simple form common to all said frogs F, and which may illustrate
the construction common to such frogs in general, is shown in detail by said
Figures 4 to 15 inclusive, and will now be particularly described. Said rail of a
frog is termed its top rail," and is cut away at bottom at the intersection of the
rails up to the bottom of the top of the rail, as shown at 34, Figures 7 and 8; the
web-metal being detached only at top and at one end on each side of the rail, so as
to form two oppositely projecting flaps 28, which are bent outward at the angle of
the frog, shortened if unnecessarily long, and provided with rivet-holes, as shown.
The rail, termed the "under-rail," is correspondingly cut away at top to the
bottom of the top of the rail as shown at 35 Figures 5 and 6; its guard being
further cut away to the level of its tread, as shown at 35*, so as to clear the tread
of the top-rail; and its web-flanges are removed, as shown at 36, so as to form flat
seats for the flaps 28, which are ultimately riveted fast to the rail-webs of the
under-rail at these points, as in Figure 4 and Figures 11 and 12. The crotch-
filling wedges w, which may next be inserted, coact in the frog with short and long
bolts, the latter extending conveniently through a web of each rail at one side
of the frog. The filling-up strips and Figure 4, when these are employed, are
riveted fast within the grooves of both rails, being continuous in the top-rail, and
in two pieces in the groove of the under-rail. Joint-chairs C, as above described,
are clamped to each rail-end which is to connect with another of the improved
track-pieces as in Figures 1 and 2, or with a curve-rail or other rail of the same
section of box-rail, a compromise-chair C2 on each rail-end which is to connect with
a rail of a different section, an intermediate chair C³ at midlength of each wedge,
and the said "frog-chair" C at the intersection of the two rails. Said intermediate
chairs are of the special construction hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 9 and 10, and the said frog-chair is of the special construction shown by
Figures 13 to 15, as regards its chair-casting or the chair proper. This chair
is fitted to the under-rail at bottom by means of a pair of shoulders 30 like those
of the intermediate chairs C³, separated by an inter-web projection 37; its base 38
is preferably circular to facilitate arranging it with the rail-seat at any required angle,
and its clamp-engaging projections 23 are slotted at 39 for two through bolts 24,
which are provided with separate pairs of clamps 22 as in Figure 4, so as to provide
for clamping the frog on both sides of the middle line of the intersection of
the rails.

page_text: In a triple frog F³, Figure 2, one of said frog-chairs C5 may be used at each
intersection of the three rails; the rails and are internotched where they
cross, and one or both of them may be provided with supplemental rail-web
flaps (28) as above. After interlocking the said rails" and with each other, the
top rail is superposed, and the frog is completed in the manner above set forth
with reference to Figures 4 to 8 inclusive, and Figures 9 to 15 inclusive.
When the filling-up strips s s are omitted the notches 25 26 in line with the
grooves of the respective rails are cut as deep as the grooves, and the wheels run
over the intersections on the practically continuous treads of the rails. Other like
modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.
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. A tramway "
frog" constructed mainly of box-girder-rail, substantially as
herein before described with reference to Figures 4 to 8 inclusive and Figures 9
to 15 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
2. An "open-point" track-piece for tramways constructed mainly of box girder-
rail in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 3 34 and 3 and Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.
3. A "mate" track-piece for tramways constructed mainly of box girder-rail in
the manner and for the purposes herein before described with reference to
Figures 3 3 and 3" and Figure 16.
4. The rail portions of such tramway-frogs open-points and mates, substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 3A 3B 3° 3D, Figures 456
7 and 8 and Figures 9 to 12; each being composed of a rail continuous at top
excepting a shallow intersection notch or notches and an adjoining rail connected
with the rail first named at the intersection by means of a flap or flaps of the web-
metal of one of the rails attached by rivets to the adjoining web of the other
rail.
5. The combination with said rail portions of the wedges to interposed between
the rails within the crotches, and horizontal bolts uniting the wedges and rails,
substantially as hereinbefore specified with reference to Figures 34 9 and 10.
6. The intermediate chairs C³ constructed and adapted for use substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 4 9 and 10.
7. The frog-chair C constructed and adapted for use substantially as herein before
described with reference to Figures 4 13 14 and 15.
8. In a tramway-frog constructed mainly of box girder-rail having elastic webs
provided with laterally projecting flanges at bottom, the combination of a top-rail
continuous at top excepting shallow intersection-notches but cut away at bottom at
the intersection of the rails up to the bottom of the top of the rail, an under-rail
cut away at top to the bottom of the top of the rail, a chair fitted to the under-rail
at bottom and having laterally projecting flanges opposed to the outermost
rail-flanges of the piece, wedging clamps embracing said outermost flanges and the
chair-flanges on both sides of the middle line of the intersection, and horizontal
through bolts uniting each pair of clamps below the rails, substantially as hereinbefore
specified.
9. In a tramway-frog constructed mainly of box-girder-rail, the combination of
a top-rail continuous at top excepting a shallow intersection notch or notches with
an adjoining rail, the two rails being connected at their intersection by means of a
portion of the web of one of the rails detached at top and at one end on each side
of the rail, so as to form oppositely-projecting flaps, and attached to the adjoining
web of the other rail, substantially as hereinbefore specified.
10. In a tramway frog or other like track-piece comprising two box-rails each
formed with a high guard opposed to the tread of the rail so as to form a deep and
well-guarded groove, the combination of a rail continuous at top excepting an
intersection notch or notches with an adjoining rail, the two rails being connected

page_text: with each other at their intersection, and filling-up strips secured in the grooves of
the said rails, substantially as hereinbefore specified.
Dated this 2nd day of January AD 1894
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.