Patents by Inventor Earl E. Frank
Earl E. Frank has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 4637578Abstract: A railroad frog has either a cast or rail-built point, resting on a baseplate which is fastened to ties. A pair of heel rails are attached to the point, to the ties and to traffic rails. A pair of movable wing rails extend from the toe of the frog to a location adjacent the point of the frog. At the frog point an open wing rail forms a flangeway with the point, while the other, closed wing rail cooperates with the point to form a continuous tread surface through the frog. The wing rails are alternately thrown between the open and closed positions by an actuator. A series of stops define the open wing rail position and act to hold down the open wing rail. The wing rails have hinges which allow them to move. The wing rails have a full rail base at the hinges. Adaptor plates allow use of the frog on concrete ties.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1983Date of Patent: January 20, 1987Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 4624428Abstract: A railroad spring frog assembly for trackwork installations includes a rigid rail and a flexible spring wing rail. The flexible spring wing rail is rigidly affixed between one end which engages a wing point rail and the other end which connects to a closure rail at the toe end of the frog support means. When a rail car enters the frog and a wheel flange engages the spring wing rail to pass between it and the long point rail the spring wing rail bends away from the long point rail to define a flangeway therebetweeen.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1984Date of Patent: November 25, 1986Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 4428552Abstract: A high-speed switch machine for actuating railroad switch points. The machine has an electric motor which drives a hydraulic pump. The pump supplies pressure fluid to a hydraulic cylinder adapted to move the switch points from an initial to a second limit position. A four-way, two-position hydraulic control valve directs fluid to the cylinder such that the cylinder automatically operates in an extension and retraction cycle. The uni-directional motor and two-position control valve minimize response times of the actuating components so that the switch points are thrown in a short time period.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1981Date of Patent: January 31, 1984Assignee: Abex CorporationInventors: Earl E. Frank, Bing S. Yee
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Patent number: 4409902Abstract: A pair of air-operated hammers for driving railroad spikes are guided by separate yokes, raised and lowered by trunnion-mounted cylinders; a cross frame in a vertical plane is supported between the hammers and clamps join upright guides to the crossframe, the clamps enabling the hammers to be laterally adjusted on a main frame.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1981Date of Patent: October 18, 1983Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 4362282Abstract: Railbound frogs for track work installation and so constructed as to strengthen the heel extension, to resist movement of the running rails away from the heel end of the frog and to prevent damage due to what is known as a "false flange" on the car wheel.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1979Date of Patent: December 7, 1982Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 4346751Abstract: Hand patching of recesses in the side walls of a sand mold, intended to receive a core, is avoided by filling the recess, after the core is emplaced with a complemental pre-molded cover.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1977Date of Patent: August 31, 1982Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 4346785Abstract: A rail lubricator system for applying lubricant to the flange of a railroad car wheel riding on the head of a rail. The system has a lubricant reservoir with pumps therein for supplying lubricant to a delivery assembly attached to a rail. The pumps are mounted on a support which is connected to the reservoir cover. The lubricant delivery assembly clamps to a rail without the need for bolts or bolt holes extending through the rail web.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1980Date of Patent: August 31, 1982Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 4251042Abstract: A double tongue switch comprises a pair of identical and interchangeable switch assemblies, each of which has a rectangular body with vertical outer walls. Each switch tongue includes a pair of full-width railheads of increased thickness. Each body includes a continuous central support wall beneath the traffic-carrying tongue railhead. The inner end and side walls are ramped to facilitate removal of debris. The tongues are positively locked in extreme positions and are mounted on the bodies by an improved attachment device.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1979Date of Patent: February 17, 1981Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 4245719Abstract: A lubricator (which may be of rail form, tilted on its side) for applying lubricant to a railroad wheel characterized by deep, elongated slots so arranged that lubricant is spread on the wheel in spaced segments during one half the wheel turn and also during the next half turn; the lubricant first applied to the wheel is re-transferred during the second full turn.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1978Date of Patent: January 20, 1981Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 4177837Abstract: An accumulator comprising a cylinder and piston in which the front end of the piston is characterized by two spherical zones separated by a chordal zone while the opposed end wall of the cylinder is concave having a slope substantially the same as said chordal zone; the piston seal is an elastomeric ring supported on each side.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1977Date of Patent: December 11, 1979Assignee: Abex CorporationInventors: Earl E. Frank, Bing S. Yee
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Patent number: 4114844Abstract: Tongue switch positioning is monitored by circuitry to indicate the switch is obstructed.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 1978Date of Patent: September 19, 1978Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 4113621Abstract: A hydraulic system having a plurality of motor driven pumps in parallel legs, at least one being active and one in reserve, so combined with sensors to sense pump efficiency and filter efficiency that a condition deemed pump failure or filter failure results in activating the reserve leg and deactivating the inefficient leg. Other sensors detect flow meter failure and establish warnings of conditions deemed near-failure. The system may be duplicated both on the pressure side and return side of the pumps.The system reservoir is characterized by a tank for return fluid to be cleaned and a separate tank for the fluid to be delivered under pressure; so constructed as to (a) remove turbulence, (b) prevent vortex overlap, (c) remove silt fines and (d) maintain a proper pumping level.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1976Date of Patent: September 12, 1978Assignee: Abex CorporationInventors: Earl E. Frank, Bing S. Yee
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Patent number: 4098374Abstract: A system for exchanging hydraulic fluid between a pump, a retarder and a reservoir in a railroad classification yard in which a pump housing and a control unit housing are supported independently outboard of opposite sides of the classification track with conduits reduced to a minimum and connected to the housings by hoses.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1977Date of Patent: July 4, 1978Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 4081162Abstract: Wheel loads on the running surfaces of a frog point and its (cast) integral wings are distributed to the ties by a bottom wall boxing in the side walls which support those running surfaces and by strategically located center ribs.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1977Date of Patent: March 28, 1978Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 4034677Abstract: Two car retarders and an interposed means to push the cars are installed on a storage track. The upstream retarder slows the cars. The downstream retarder collects the cars released from the upstream retarder. The cars, coupled as a block, are pushed from the downstream retarder.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1975Date of Patent: July 12, 1977Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 4027595Abstract: A hydraulic system having a plurality of motor driven pumps in parallel legs, at least one being active and one in reserve, so combined with sensors to sense pump efficiency and filter efficiency that a condition deemed pump failure or filter failure results in activating the reserve leg and deactivating the inefficient leg. Other sensors detect flow meter failure and establish warnings of conditions deemed near-failure. The system may be duplicated both on the pressure side and return side of the pumps. The system reservoir is characterized by a tank for return fluid to be cleaned and a separate tank for the fluid to be delivered under pressure; so constructed as to (a) remove turbulence, (b) prevent vortex overlap, (c) remove silt fines and (d) maintain a proper pumping level.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1975Date of Patent: June 7, 1977Assignee: Abex CorporationInventors: Earl E. Frank, Bing S. Yee
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Patent number: 4005839Abstract: A railroad turnout including a switch having runoff plates with stop lugs spaced farther apart than the width of the switch point base so that flexure of the switch points downstream of the heel spread is permitted. Floating heel blocks are affixed to the stock rails at the heel point to maintain the conventional heel spread. A smooth ride through the turnout is further assured by additional switch rods, uniform risers in the switch and guard rails associated with the frog of the turnout.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1975Date of Patent: February 1, 1977Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank
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Patent number: 3964679Abstract: A guard rail assembly for supporting a guard rail adjacent to and higher than a traffic rail. Brace means are provided on the outer side of the guard rail away from the traffic rail. An upper portion of the brace means engages the outer face of the guard rail head, and a lower portion engages the web of the guard rail. A shim plate supports the base of the guard and has an inner upwardly extending lip in engagement with an inner face of the guard rail base. A tie plate underlies and supports the rails, brace means and shim plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1974Date of Patent: June 22, 1976Assignee: Abex CorporationInventor: Earl E. Frank