Swinging Rail Patents (Class 246/389)
  • Patent number: 7377471
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for opening and securing a railroad frog. The system is provided with a body member and a plurality of attachment members, which are selectively securable with the body member. The attachment members are structurally configured to secure to different structural features along spring wing rails and fixed structures positioned opposite the spring wing rail. Manual actuation of a tensioning mechanism that is coupled with the body member advances opposing first and second attachment members toward one another, moving the spring wing rail into an open position. Wedge members, coated in a non-slip material are provided as an additional means for securing the spring wing rail in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventors: Harry L. Compton, Jeffery E. Cole
  • Patent number: 6286791
    Abstract: An improved railroad trackwork spring wing frog assembly having a selectively releasable hold-open subassembly for the spring wing rail is provided with a combined compressible shock absorber and compression spring that are functionally connected to the assembly spring wing rail and to the assembly base plate, and that function to generate an opposing force in connection with opening movement of the spring wing rail and an augmented force in connection with closing movement of the spring wing rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: ABC-NACO Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Young, Stephen R. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 6164602
    Abstract: A railroad frog assembly is provided with a spring wing rail multi-position holdback subassembly that continuously retains the spring wing rail in each spring wing rail open position when activated by the wheels of a railcar traversing the frog assembly, and that automatically deactivates the multi-position holdback subassembly and releases the spring wing rail from retention in an open condition and for complete closing after the last railcar wheel has passed through the frog assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: ABC Rail Products Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen R. Kuhn, Keith Young, Ilia Petkov
  • Patent number: 6158697
    Abstract: A railroad frog assembly is provided with a spring wing rail latch holdback subassembly that continuously retains the spring wing rail in a spring wing rail fully open position when activated by the wheels of a railcar traversing the frog assembly, and that automatically deactivates the latch holdback subassembly and releases the spring wing rail from retention in an open condition and for complete closing after the last railcar wheel has passed through the frog assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: ABC Rail Products Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Young, Stephen R. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 4953814
    Abstract: In a railway switch comprising a frog having a movable main and auxiliary point, the main and auxiliary point are formed by using thick-web standard rail sections and asymmetric tongue profiles of smaller height as compared with the thick-web standard rail sections which are arranged as outer wing rails. The difference in height between the height of the main and auxiliary points and the height of the outer wing rails is greater than the height of the rail feet of the main and auxiliary points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Maschinenbau Gesellshaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Johannes R. Oswald, Eduard Guggenberger
  • Patent number: 4948073
    Abstract: A model railroad turnout assembly includes a roadbed element having an entry track thereon. The entry track includes a pair of spaced apart entry rails. Plural, branching discharge tracks are mounted on the roadbed element, each discharge track including a pair of spaced apart discharge rails. The adjacent rails of the discharge track terminate with ends intermediate the other rails of the discharge tracks. A switch element is provided and has a pair of blades at one end thereof. A frog extends from the discharge track ends over the switch. The frog is shiftable, with the switch element, such that the frog contacts an element blade to provide a continuous rail segment between a selected entry track rail and a selected discharge track rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Kadee Metal Products, Co.
    Inventors: Clarence K. Edwards, Lawrence D. Edwards