Patents by Inventor Frank Howard Coats

Frank Howard Coats 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).

  • Patent number: 11634872
    Abstract: A railroad fastening system that includes a see-thru (transparent or translucent) rail seat assembly which allows for immediate visual feedback to assess whether that a sufficient amount of adhesive material has been applied to a crosstie during the installation of a rail seat assembly on a crosstie to ensure a long-lasting bond and a proper cant, flatness and height of a rail seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventors: Frank Howard Coats, Pelle Nghi Duong
  • Patent number: 11155967
    Abstract: A swing railroad turnout that includes a railroad track with a mobile portion and actuators that are used to selectively bend the mobile portion between a first and a second position. In the first position, connection is made to a first track. In the second position, connection is made to a second track. The tracks are formed of rails that are supported on ties or other fixed foundations. The rails are either bent with respect to the ties, or the ties themselves are moved generally transversely to bend the rails. Connecting mechanisms are provided for selective connection of the rail ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats
  • Patent number: 10815623
    Abstract: In a railroad system a track includes ties positioned at predetermined intervals and supporting a pair of rails. Shoulders are disposed in pairs adjacent to the sides of each rail and are partially imbedded in the ties to limit the lateral movement of the rails and define the track gauge. Over time, friction between the insulators and the shoulders may cause excessive wear and a gap therebetween. This wear is compensated by a shim attached to the shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventors: Frank Howard Coats, Scott Tripple, Todd Finley, Dillon Alves Benros
  • Publication number: 20200102706
    Abstract: A railroad fastening system that includes a see-thru (transparent or translucent) rail seat assembly which allows for immediate visual feedback to assess whether that a sufficient amount of adhesive material has been applied to a crosstie during the installation of a rail seat assembly on a crosstie to ensure a long-lasting bond and a proper cant, flatness and height of a rail seat assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Frank Howard COATS, Pelle Nghi DUONG
  • Patent number: 10519608
    Abstract: A plate assembly for securing a rail to a tie that includes a clip and a shoulder with an orifice. At least one of the clip and the shoulder are modified by changing their respective shape to form a positive interference fit therebetween. The modification is provided to ensure that the clip is maintained with its leg partially inserted into the shoulder orifice during staging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventors: Frank Howard Coats, David Tigue, Pelle Duong
  • Patent number: 10422085
    Abstract: Typically, a tie plate assembly for supporting a rail on a tie includes a tie plate and a spike that is driven through the plate into the tie to secure the tie plate to the point. A sleeve is provided on the plate that is inserted into a tie to prevent the deflection of the spike with respect to the ties wheels of a train pass over the tie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats
  • Publication number: 20190127921
    Abstract: A swing railroad turnout that includes a railroad track with a mobile portion and actuators that are used to selectively bend the mobile portion between a first and a second position. In the first position, connection is made to a first track. In the second position, connection is made to a second track. The tracks are formed of rails that are supported on ties or other fixed foundations. The rails are either bent with respect to the ties, or the ties themselves are moved generally transversely to bend the rails. Connecting mechanisms are provided for selective connection of the rail ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventor: Frank Howard COATS
  • Publication number: 20190017227
    Abstract: In a railroad system a track includes ties positioned at predetermined intervals and supporting a pair of rails. Shoulders are disposed in pairs adjacent to the sides of each rail and are partially imbedded in the ties to limit the lateral movement of the rails and define the track gauge. Over time, friction between the insulators and the shoulders may cause excessive wear and a gap therebetween. This wear is compensated by a shim attached to the shoulders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Frank Howard COATS, Scott Tripple, Todd Finley, Dillon Alves Benros
  • Publication number: 20180127924
    Abstract: A plate assembly for securing a rail to a tie that includes a clip and a shoulder with an orifice. At least one of the clip and the shoulder are modified by changing their respective shape to form a positive interference fit therebetween. The modification is provided to ensure that the clip is maintained with its leg partially inserted into the shoulder orifice during staging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Frank Howard COATS, David TIGUE, Pelle DUONG
  • Publication number: 20180058012
    Abstract: Typically, a tie plate assembly for supporting a rail on a tie includes a tie plate and a spike that is driven through the plate into the tie to secure the tie plate to the point. A sleeve is provided on the plate that is inserted into a tie to prevent the deflection of the spike with respect to the ties wheels of a train pass over the tie.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventor: Frank Howard COATS
  • Patent number: 9702091
    Abstract: A tie plate is formed with a profile defining two parallel protrusions with bores for receiving the respective ends of two clips. The two clips engage the flange of a rail to secure the rail to the plate, and therefore, to tie disposed below the plate. Since the protrusions are made integrally with the the plate, the resulting tie plate is able to support the rail securely even in the presence of large forces and/or twisting moments on the rail resulting from a train passing over the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: PANDROL LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats
  • Publication number: 20160305073
    Abstract: A tie plate is formed with a profile defining two parallel protrusions with bores for receiving the respective ends of two clips. The two clips engage the flange of a rail to secure the rail to the plate, and therefore, to tie disposed below the plate. Since the protrusions are made integrally with the the plate, the resulting tie plate is able to support the rail securely even in the presence of large forces and/or twisting moments on the rail resulting from a train passing over the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats
  • Patent number: 9228297
    Abstract: A rail support assembly for mounting and supporting the rail of a railroad system, the assembly including a plate disposed under the rail and including a shoulder hole, a shoulder arranged and constructed to fit in said shoulder hole without rotation with respect to the plate, and a clip having an end received by said shoulder and arranged to bias the rail toward the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats
  • Publication number: 20140144999
    Abstract: A rail support assembly for mounting and supporting the rail of a railroad system, the assembly including a plate disposed under the rail and including a shoulder hole, a shoulder arranged and constructed to fit in said shoulder hole without rotation with respect to the plate, and a clip having an end received by said shoulder and arranged to bias the rail toward the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventor: Frank Howard COATS
  • Patent number: 7690584
    Abstract: A fastener for supporting a rail on a railroad tie using clips, includes an abrasion plate having an upper surface, and being constructed and arranged to fit on the railroad tie; a rail pad having a lower surface and being constructed and arranged to fit on said abrasion plate with said lower surface facing and contacting said upper surface and to support the rail; a pair of insulators disposed on said rail pad, said insulators being configured to receive the clips when the fastener is installed and to insulate said fastener from said clips; and coupling means integrally formed on one of said abrasion plate and said rail pad to hold said pair of insulators prior to the installation of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: William Hugo Geissele, Frank Howard Coats
  • Publication number: 20090090790
    Abstract: In a railroad system a track is formed of ties positioned at predetermined intervals along the right of way, and supporting a pair of rails. Shoulders are disposed in pairs adjacent to the sides of each rail and are partially imbedded in the ties to limit the lateral movement of the rails and define the track gauge. Between each pair of shoulders there is provided a pad disposed under the respective rail. Insulators are provided between the sides of the pad and a respective shoulder. Over time, friction between the insulators and the shoulders may cause excessive wear. This wear is compensated by one or more shims attached to the shoulders by a strong adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats
  • Patent number: 7080791
    Abstract: An assembly for supporting a railroad rail on a tie includes an abrasion plate arranged to be positioned on a tie, and a pad disposed on the abrasion plate and adapted to receive the rail. The pad and plate have mating depressions and buttons arranged in complementary patterns that provides means of interlocking the two components to resist migration in both longitudinal and lateral directions. Preferably the depressions are larger than the buttons to allow some play. The two elements may be attached to each other prior to transportation by a combination of a projection on one and a capturing hole in the other. The projection may be a stake having an enlarged head. The plate may be secured to the tie by an epoxy and may have irregularities on the bottom to be gripped by the epoxy. A seal may also be provided around the supports for the rail clips to keep sand and other extraneous matter from the interface between the plate and the tie. The seal may be provided on the plate or the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: William Hugo Geissele, Frank Howard Coats
  • Publication number: 20040113133
    Abstract: An assembly for supporting a railroad rail on a tie includes an abrasion plate arranged to be positioned on a tie, and a pad disposed on the abrasion plate and adapted to receive the rail. The pad and plate have mating depressions and buttons arranged in complementary patterns that provides means of interlocking the two components to resist migration in both longitudinal and lateral directions. Preferably the depressions are larger than the buttons to allow some play. The two elements may be attached to each other prior to transportation by a combination of a projection on one and a capturing hole in the other. The projection may be a stake having an enlarged head. The plate may be secured to the tie by an epoxy and may have irregularities on the bottom to be gripped by the epoxy. A seal may also be provided around the supports for the rail clips to keep sand and other extraneous matter from the interface between the plate and the tie. The seal may be provided on the plate or the pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: William Hugo Geissele, Frank Howard Coats
  • Patent number: D736609
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats