Derails Patents (Class 246/163)
  • Patent number: 11332171
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for derailing a vehicle from a track are provided. In one embodiment, a device is provided that includes a directional derail block extending from a base and including a wheel deflecting surface arranged at an angle less than or equal to about 13 degrees with regard to a longitudinal axis of the track and designed to deflect the wheel away from the track. The length of the device is greater than or equal to about 53 centimeters (cm) (21 inches (in)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Jarred Michael Pollock
  • Patent number: 11001280
    Abstract: A rail track derailer is comprised of a box assembly which includes a pair of parallel, spaced guide plates supported vertically on a horizontal base mounting plate configured for attachment on the gage of a rail to the top sides of a pair of spaced rail ties. The spaced guide plates may be transversely locked to the gage side of a rail. A pivotal arm is slidably attached between the guide plates. The arm includes a derailer shoe along the top of a rail. An arrangement of guide surfaces and followers that connect the box assembly and arm effect positioning of the shoe on and off the rail. The mounting plate may be attached to ties by spikes and to concrete or steel ties by plates on the underside of such toes bolted to the box assembly mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin D. Hertel, Austin C. Hertel
  • Patent number: 8262033
    Abstract: This invention relates to a derail assembly used in the railroad industry for derailing a wheel of an undesirably moving railed vehicle. The invention particularly relates to derailing a moving locomotive having a pilot at the front of the locomotive. The derail may be a single ended derail or a double ended derail. The derail includes a rigid derail plate which is in direct contact with the upper surface of the rail. An upright derail bar is securely mounted on the derail plate and the derail bar is angled outwardly for engaging a wheel of the locomotive or other railway car when moving undesirably for causing a desired derailment. The second derail bar may be provided in the case of a double ended derail. The derail includes longitudinally spaced rigid hooks at opposite ends of the derail to secure one side of the derail to the rail. The opposite side has a clamp mounted on the derail for securing the derail to the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald G. Pease
  • Publication number: 20120097802
    Abstract: This invention relates to a derail assembly used in the railroad industry for derailing a wheel of an undesirably moving railed vehicle. The invention particularly relates to derailing a moving locomotive having a pilot at the front of the locomotive. The derail may be a single ended derail or a double ended derail. The derail includes a rigid derail plate which is in direct contact with the upper surface of the rail. An upright derail bar is securely mounted on the derail plate and the derail bar is angled outwardly for engaging a wheel of the locomotive or other railway car when moving undesirably for causing a desired derailment. The second derail bar may be provided in the case of a double ended derail. The derail includes longitudinally spaced rigid hooks at opposite ends of the derail to secure one side of the derail to the rail. The opposite side has a clamp mounted on the derail for securing the derail to the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: Westem-Cullen-Hayes, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald G. Pease
  • Publication number: 20110198448
    Abstract: An improved linkage assembly for operatively connecting a derail to a blue flag assembly to cause the blue flag assembly to be raised from a horizontal position between train track rails to a vertical position substantially perpendicular to the train track when the derail is manipulated into an operative mode for derailing a train, train car or similar type wheeled vehicle, and further provided with a stop device to inhibit accidental raising of the blue flag assembly until it is desired to do so. The linkage assembly is constructed having a support plate also mountable on adjacent cross ties, and further includes a blue flag mounting assembly to permit the blue flag signal to pivot between horizontal and vertical positions. The linkage assembly further including a spring loaded tensioning device attached at one end to the blue flag mounting assembly and attached at its opposite end to a cam assembly also mounted on the support plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: Mark T. Allement
  • Patent number: 7909293
    Abstract: This invention relates to a derail assembly used in the railroad industry for derailing the wheel of an undesirably moving railed vehicle and, in particular, relates to derailing a moving locomotive having a pilot at the front of the locomotive. The derail assembly includes a full rigid derail plate which is in direct contact with the entire upper surface of the rail. An upright derail bar is securely mounted on the derail plate and the derail bar is angled outwardly for engaging a wheel of the locomotive when moving undesirably for causing a desired derailment. The derail includes longitudinally spaced rigid hooks at opposite ends of the derail. The hooks secure one side of the derail assembly to the rail. On the opposite side of the rail, a clamp assembly is provided on the derail shoe from the hooks. The hooks and the clamp cooperate to secure the derail assembly to the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald G. Pease
  • Patent number: 7753317
    Abstract: This invention relates to a portable low profile derail which is releasably securable to a railroad rail for derailing from the rail a flanged wheel of railroad equipment. The derail has a monolithic body including a flat rider plate and an integral elongated holding channel. At least three field side fasteners are mounted on the holding channel and connectable with the rail. A substantially straight rub bar is fixed to the derail body and is set at an angle to the rail when the derail is secured to the rail. The derail includes a securing assembly which is selectively connectable to the rail for securing the derail onto the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Aldon Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Schirmer
  • Patent number: 7735783
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an improved safety device for use in the railroad industry. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to an above ground lock extension for train derails. Train derails are used in the railroad industry for derailing and therefore effectively stopping trains or unattended rolling stocks which rolls over said derail. The lock extension device comprises a locking device allowing an individual to lock said lock extension device to a derail while standing in an upright position, thereby diminishing injuries that may occur with prior art locking devices that are at ground level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Railcar Services Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Haney, Jaime Carr, James Reid
  • Publication number: 20100051757
    Abstract: This invention relates to a derail assembly used in the railroad industry for derailing the wheel of an undesirably moving railed vehicle and, in particular, relates to derailing a moving locomotive having a pilot at the front of the locomotive. The derail assembly includes a full rigid derail plate which is in direct contact with the entire upper surface of the rail. An upright derail bar is securely mounted on the derail plate and the derail bar is angled outwardly for engaging a wheel of the locomotive when moving undesirably for causing a desired derailment. The derail includes longitudinally spaced rigid hooks at opposite ends of the derail. The hooks secure one side of the derail assembly to the rail. On the opposite side of the rail, a clamp assembly is provided on the derail shoe from the hooks. The hooks and the clamp cooperate to secure the derail assembly to the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Pease
  • Publication number: 20090256030
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an improved safety device for use in the railroad industry. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to an above ground lock extension for train derails. Train derails are used in the railroad industry for derailing and therefore effectively stopping trains or unattended rolling stocks which rolls over said derail. The lock extension device comprises a locking device allowing an individual to lock said lock extension device to a derail while standing in an upright position, thereby diminishing injuries that may occur with prior art locking devices that are at ground level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Haney, Jaime Carr, James Reid
  • Patent number: 7549611
    Abstract: This invention relates to hinged derail assemblies used in the railroad industry for derailing a wheel of an undesirably moving railed vehicle. The hinged derail assembly includes a base that is positioned adjacent one rail of a pair of railroad rails. A derail shoe is pivotally mounted on the derail base and is moveable between a derailing position and an inoperative position. In the present invention a biasing member, such as a torsion spring, is secured to both the base of the hinged derail assembly and the derail shoe. The spring provides upward lifting force whether the derail shoe is in the inoperative position or in the derailing position. This lifting force assists the worker in the manual lifting of the derail shoe. The invention also relates to a method of constructing the hinged derail wherein the torsion spring is installed when the derail shoe is generally upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Hertel
  • Publication number: 20080023592
    Abstract: This invention relates to hinged derail assemblies used in the railroad industry for derailing a wheel of an undesirably moving railed vehicle. The hinged derail assembly includes a base that is positioned adjacent one rail of a pair of railroad rails. A derail shoe is pivotally mounted on the derail base and is moveable between a derailing position and an inoperative position. In the present invention a biasing member, such as a torsion spring, is secured to both the base of the hinged derail assembly and the derail shoe. The spring provides upward lifting force whether the derail shoe is in the inoperative position or in the derailing position. This lifting force assists the worker in the manual lifting of the derail shoe. The invention also relates to a method of constructing the hinged derail wherein the torsion spring is installed when the derail shoe is generally upright.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Hertel
  • Patent number: 6202564
    Abstract: A bi-directional derail is provided with an improved construction which reduces the thrust load imparted by a rail vehicle wheel against the derail, while maintaining the weight and material cost of the derail within practical limits. In a preferred embodiment, the derail is provided with a derail shoe having deflector bars which are reinforced with deflector rail support flanges for increased strength and which have an extended length and gradual deflection angle, preferably no more than 15 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Western-Cullen-Hayes Inc.
    Inventors: Lonnie Lee Hart, Ronald Pease
  • Patent number: 6178893
    Abstract: A hinged derail is provided with an adjustment assembly for adjusting the position of the hinge pin relative to the rail. The hinged derail is adjustable to provide for proper alignment of the deflecting block with the top surface of a rail for a variety of rail heights. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment assembly includes a pair of rotatable adjustment flanges which support the hinge pin in an eccentric fashion. Rotation of the adjustment flanges changes the vertical position of the hinge pin. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an actuating assembly is provided for operatively associating a power actuator with the derail shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Pease
  • Patent number: 6105906
    Abstract: Improved lightweight and ultra-lightweight portable derails are disclosed. A portable derail for installation on railway track to prevent a railcar or locomotive from passing beyond a fixed point, thereby protecting workmen and equipment against accidents, the derail being very lightweight and portable so a workman can easily carry it from one location to another, and yet being designed to function effectively under severe loading conditions and resist any tendency to slide along the rail when subjected to impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Pease, Kevin Hertel
  • Patent number: 4165060
    Abstract: A portable derail for installation on railway track to prevent a railcar or locomotive from passing beyond a fixed point, thereby protecting workmen and equipment against accidents, the derail being lightweight and portable so a workman can carry it from one location to another, and yet being designed to function effectively under severe loading conditions and resist any tendency to slide along the rail when subjected to impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1979
    Assignee: Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Joe Meyer
  • Patent number: 3944174
    Abstract: A wheel crowder for mounting on a rail opposite a conventional derail for cooperation with the latter whereby the wheel crowder engages a wheel of a railcar or locomotive and forces the same toward the derail thereby assuring that the opposite wheel will move into the throat or entering toe of the derail and permit proper operation of the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1976
    Assignee: Federal Sign and Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Leo E. Flinn