US2258315A - Rail fastening - Google Patents

Description

Oct. `7, 1941. w. s, BoYcE RAIL FASTENING 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1940 INVENTOR /BMM .l l mm ATTORNE)I l W. S. BOYCE RAIL FASTENING Oct, 7, 1941.

Filed May 18', 1940 2 sheets-shee't 2 Patented Oct. 7, 1941 2,258,315 RAIL FASTENING William S. Boyce, Denver, Colo., assignor to The Colorado Fuel and Iron tion Corporation, a corpora- Application May1a194o, serial No. 335,879

claims.' (o1. 23S-349)' This invention relates to rail fastenings of the type "which employs a" resilient lock for holding the rail against its seat with a spring action and is concerned more particularly with a novel fastening `olf thistype'n .Which the spring lockis held in its operative position on atie plate by its action on a self-locking retainer. The new fastening may be" installed quickly `and easily, requires little or no servicing," and may be manufactured at low cost.

This application is a Ycontinuation-in-partY of l my copending application Serial No. 293,174, filed September 2, 1939. In my copending application, I have disclosed a rail fastening including a resilient rail lock pivotally mounted in an opening in the tie plate, and a spike disposed in the same opening in engagement with the outer face of the lock and serving the dual function of holding the plate on the tie and maintaining the lock in a cramped position so that it exerts a spring action on the rail to urge the rail against its seat. In such a fastening, the spring lock normally exerts a reaction on the lspike in the form Aof an outward thrust, and the lock is adapted to fulcrum on its pivotal mounting because of the spring reaction so as to take up automatically any looseness which might other-.

wise developbetween the parts due to wear, corrosion, etc. It has been found in practice that rail fastenings of thisconstruction prevent longitudinal movement of the rail, reduce lateral play andvertical movement of the rail due to passing rail loads,` and eliminate much of the noise and vibration incident to such loads. Also, the fastening is easily installed and permits handling of the track in the same manner as with conventional fastenings, and its cost is comparable with that of present standard fastenings.

The proper functioning of this fastening, however, is dependent upon its correct installation and adequate maintenance. More particularly, unless the spikes adjacent the spring locks are driven carefully and uniformly, the locks will normally exert different pressures on the rail, which is objectionable. Also, when the track is faulty due, for example, to looseness of the ties on the bed, splitting or deterioration of the ties,

or improper seating of the tie plates on the ties,`

there is a tendency for the spikes adjacent the locks to work out of the ties. This is so because each of these spikes is wedged in the plate by the spring lock with a greater force than the holding power of the tie so that when the plate moves upwardly from the tie under the action of passing rail loads, the spike tends to move with the plate out Y,of the tieuinstead of the plate,v moving along'the spike. Additionally, thereis a greater wedging of the spike in the plate during upward movement ofthe plate than during downward movement, and,

draw it out 'of the tie.

The present invention, therefore, is directed to? the provision of a novel rail .fastening ,which does not require a high'standard of track maintenance and which, in addition, provides a more uniform pressure between the spring and the rail.

rThese advantages are. obtained in the new fastening by reason of its inclusion ofa novel retainer which is aoted'uponV by the spring to lock the latter in its operative. position without intertering with the pivotal action ofthe spring. According to the invention, the tie platevisformed on one side ofthe rail seatwith an under-cut opening.` in `which the. .spring lock ,is `pivotally mounted. At its` lower end, the lock is provided with a flngernprojecting inwardly into the undercut to preventupward movement of the lock, and from the linger the lock extends -upwardly out ofV the opening and then inwardly into contact with the railbase.` The lock is adapted to fulcrum transversely of the rail 0n a part of the inner wall of rthe plate opening` as a pivot and is held against the lpivot by a retaining member wedged between the `outer face-of the lock and retainer. Accordingly, the inter-engaging surfaces ofthe lock and retainer aremaintained under-considerablelateral pressure by the spring reaction Vofthe lock, `and accidental withdrawal M of these parts is effectively prevented.

` In the preferred construction, the retainer is formed with la head for limiting its `downward movement into the plate, and the greatest thickness of the shank of the retainer is a substantial distance below the head. This increased thickness ofthe shank maybe provided by a protrusion on the side of the'shank remote from the spring lock and is such that the shank in the regionA of the protrusion will just Vlit between the lock and the outer wall of `the plate opening when the lock is fulcrumed inwardly against the railas far as possible. Thus, in the installation accordingly, the plate may move downwardly along the spike butin its reverse movement it tends to .grip the spikeY and outward reactive force on the of the fastening, the retainer can be driven home only when the lock is forced inwardly substantially the maximum distance, and when the retainer is in its final position, the reactive force of the lock tilts the retainer and the adjacent part of the lock outwardly on the protrusion as a pivot so that the thickened part of the shank forms inr effect an expanded cotter key for preventing accidental withdrawal of the retainer. With this construction, the spring lock can be withdrawn only by removing the retainer, and

the retainer can be removed only by forcing the 'with the result that the reversely turned portion spring lock back toward its fully distortedposi-A tion. l

It will be observed that the new fastening is of simple construction and is easily installed. The retainer cannot work loose during the life of the assembly, and the only maintenance service required is in connectionV with the usual spikes or lagscrews for holding the tie plate on the tie..

The pressure exerted by thelock springs 0n the rail is notfaifected bythe driving 'of the spikes or thelag screws, 'and because of the retaining members a uniform spring action is provided along"v thefrail even though-the fastenings are installed' by unskilled labor.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 isa sectional view of one form of the new fastening;

Fig. 2 isa plan view'of the fastening shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views of part of the fastening shown in Figs. 1 and2, illustrating different steps of the installation, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a part of a modified form of the fastening.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2the fastening there shown comprises a .tie plate I mounted on a tie II and provided on the bottom with spaced transverseribs I2 embedded in the tie to resist Vlongitudinal movement ofthe plate. Preferably, the bottom of the plate is formed with spaced longitudinal recesses I3 to prevent. shifting of the' plate .transversely on the tie, as described in United States Letters Patent'. No.V 2,018,658 of William VSi. Boyce. On the top of the plate is a canted rail seat I4 on which a rail I5 is mounted between a pairyof abutment shoulders IB vadjacent the edges of the rail base.

The tie plate is formed on one side of the rail seat with an opening I8 which, as shown, is recf tangular and receives a spring lock I9 for urging the rail against the seat. The lock may be made of a heavy strip of spring metal and is formed at its lower end with a finger 2E! projecting inwardlyinto anundercut portion 2| of the opening. Ther-lock is adapted to fulcrum transversely of the rail on the corner `22 at the outer edge of the under-cut portion as a pivot. From the pivot 22, the lock extends upwardly through the opening and then curves inwardly over the railbase whereit is provided uwith a reversely turned portion -2j3 engaging thetop of the rail base..

The lock` is wedged inthe plate opening by a retainer 24 which, as shown, is in the form of aV headed member having a shank provided with a protrusion ,25 a substantial distance belowthe head. Preferably,rthe inner face 26 of theA shank isjiiatv and. fits-closely against the outer face of the lock, while the outerface ofthe shankr diverges` downwardly to the protrusion and then curvesfinwardly to Pthe lowerend Of thetretainer. Thepart of the retainer directly below the head may be backed by an abutment 21 which is ntegral with the plate and is preferably formed in accordance with the method described in an application of Marvin L. Cantrell and Oscar A. Hed, Serial No. 295,204 filed September 16, 1939. 'I'he abutment 2'I extends transversely of the tie plate and is joined at its ends with similar abutments 21 extending lengthwise of the plate along-the sides of the opening I8. l i

Because of the wedging action of the retainer .24, the spring lock I9 is biased on the pivot 22 in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1,

23 is urged downwardly against the top of the rail `base and the lockis'distorted. This distortion of the lock produces fa reactive force which exerts l .itself in an outward thrust against the retainer V2li above the level of the protrusion 25, whereby the retainer is tilted outwardly against the adjacent wall of the plate opening on the protrusion as a pivot. Thus', the inter-engaging surfacesof the retainer andthe lock `are inclined tothe vertical soV that vthe shank of the retainer in the region'of. the protrusion 25 forms 'in effect an expanded cotter `key which positively locksthe retainer in theV plate opening. :The vdownward thrust of the lock against the .top of the rail base serves to' retard the vertical `movementof the'rail incident to passing trainY loads, 'dampens vibration, and opposes longitudinal movement of the railon the plates due to traiiic conditions or to thermal expansion of the rail itself.. By reason of the lateral reactive force of the lock: on the retainer, any loosenesswhich Ymightotherwise develop between the parts in the plate opening andthe 'walls oflthe opening due to wearand corrosion is automatically taken up by movement of the lock in a clockwisedirection on the pivot The tie plate l'may be'secured, to theV tie in any suitable manner, as,for example, by means of spikes` 30 driven through the lplate adjacent` the railbase.l Theheads of the spikes, as shown, engage the rail .base and supplement the action of the lock in holding the rail against its seat. If desired, a lock |90l similar to therlock. I9 may bearranged on .the opposite side of the rail seat to increase the spring action on the rail, and

-. additionalspikes 3-I may b-e driven th'roughftlie` plate a ,substantialfdistance outwardlyfrom the' spikes 3l) to supplement the latter.

In the installation. of .the Anew rail fastening, the clipi 9 .is insertedin the opening "l'with' the finger 2e extending into. the under-cut portion ofthe opening.

Inthe initial position ofthe lock, the end ofk the-reversely.turnedportion23 engages the top ofthe rail .base .and holds the main body of the lock in anoutward Vposition so thatthe part .extending upwardly through the ope-ning is inclined to the lvertical at an angle A, as shown in Fig.l 3. -To-insert the retainer 24, it is necessary to force the lock counter-clockwise on its pivot 22, as by means of asuitable tool,.so

that the part ofv th-elock extending through the opening is substantially. vertical, as. shown in. Fig. 4,.. Iny thisy fully distorted positionof v.the.lock, the thickened portion 25 fofV the retainer will just nt betweenthe outer face of theV lock and the outer wall of the opening'. .Ininse'rting the rethe .headvv engages the. top ofA the vabutment Z'I. 1 When-thespring.. lock is released bythetool which deflected it, the reactive force produced by distortion of the part 23 tilts the retainer and the adjacent part of the lock outwardly through an langle B, as shown inFig. 5, until theouter face of the retainer shank above the thickened portion 25 lies dat against the outer Wall of the plate opening. In this position of the lock, the angle B between the vertical and the part of the lock projecting through the opening is `considerably smaller than the angle A shown in Fig. 3. Thus, while `the lock in its final position is not fully distorted, it is distorted a substantial amount so that it normally exerts on the rail a downward force of considerable magnitude.

Since the opposed abutments 21' join the projection 21 to the rail abutting shoulder I6, they serve to brace or reinforce this projection which is subjected to a constant pressure from the retainer under the action of the spring lock. Moreover, the abutments 21' increase the strength of the plate and with the projection 21 and shoulder i6 form a housing for the rail lock and retainer located above the surface of the tie plate, thereby reducing the penetration to these members of corrosive or other destructive elements tending to weaken the structure. The lock is in resisting longitudinal movement of the rail is` subjected to torsional stresses tending to impair the Contact relation between the lock and retainer, and the abutments 21 and 21', in addition, serve to hold these members securely in their proper relation. Since the top surfaces of the abutments 21 and 21 are coplanar with the top of the rail abutting shoulder I6, the removal of any burrs formed around the periphery of the opening incident to the punching of the plate is facilitated, thereby reducing the cost of the plate.

The modiiied form of the fastening shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, except that a dierent form of retainer is employed. As shown in Fig. 6, the retainer 33 is provided with a head engaging the top of the abutment 21, and a shank extending downwardly from the head into the opening I8. lI'he inner face of the shank near the bottom is provided with an inwardly extending lug 34 which engages the lower inclined surface of the finger 2i) on the spring lock, and the front face of the lock curves inwardly toward the lug 34. In installing the retainer, the lock I9 is forced counter-clockwise` on its pivot until the part projecting through the plate opening is substantially vertical. The retainer may then move down into `the opening from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6, and when the retainer is in its lowermost position, the reactive force of the lock tilts it clockwise tothe position shown in full lines wherein the lug 34 is under the finger 20 on the lock and prevents removal of the retainer.

It Ywill be apparent that in both forms of the fastening illustrated, the retainer can be withdrawn from the plate opening only by forcing the spring lock inwardly on its pivot until the part of the lock adjacent the retainer is substantially vertical, and the lock can be withdrawn only after removing the retainer. The force required to deiiect the lock preparatory to removing the retainer is considerable and may be as much as from 2,000 to 4,000 pounds, depending on the strength of the lock and the proportioning of the parts. Accordingly, in the use of the fastening, it is impossible for the retainer or the lock to work out of the opening in the absence of actual breakage. By making `the retainers of form regardless of irregularities in the seating of the tie plates or in the driving of the spikes. While I have described the installation of the fastening by the use of a tool for forcing the lock to its fully distorted position, it will be understood that the installation may be effected without the tool by inserting the end of the retainer in the space between the lock and the outer wall of the opening and then driving the retainer home. the curved outer face of the retainer near the bottom ofthe shank acts as a cam on the adjacent wall of the opening and forces the lock to its fully distorted position. When the thickened portion of the shank enters the opening (Fig. 4), it is impossible for the lock to pivot outwardly until the thickened portion moves below the line of the resultant reactive force of the lock againstthe retainer.

In the rail fastenings illustrated, `the outer wall of the plate opening and the inner, lock-engaging face of the retainer are not parallel but converge upwardly. If desired, these surfaces may be parallel to facilitate insertion or withdrawal of the retainer, inrwhich case the shank of the retainer may be of uniform thickness and is held in position by the frictional resistance between the retainer and theV lock and between the retainer and the outer wall of the opening. This friotional resistance is of considerable magnitude due to the laterel reactive force of the lock on the retainer. However, the fastenings shown in the drawings are preferred .because Awith the slight degree of angularity between the inner and outer faces of the retainer the frictional resistance is augmented by action of the protrudingpart of the retainer shank. While the plate opening I8 is shown as rectangular, it may be of any other, desired shape. For example, it may be T-shaped as shown in my copending application Serial No. 293,174, in which case the retainer may be considerably narrower than the lock so that it will nt in the stem of the opening.

fclaim:

1. In` combination, a tie plate having a rail seat and an opening on one side of the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a spring lock in the` opening including a laterally extending finger underlying part of the plate for resisting upward movement of the lock, the lock also including a flexible part extending inwardly over the rail base into engagement with the top of the base, the plate having a pivotal mounting for the lock in said opening on which the lock is pivotable transversely of the rail, and a retainer disposed wholly above the bottom of the plate and wedged in the opening between the outer face of the lock and the outer wall of the opening to bias thelock inwardlyon its pivot and thereby urge the iiexible part against the rail base and distort said part, the retainer having a part in the opening increasing in thickness toward its lower end and the lock exerting a lateral reactive force on the retainer to urge the same against the outer face of said opening and thereby secure the retainer against accidental Yremoval from the opening.

2. In combination, `a tie plate having a rail seat and an opening on one side ofthe seat, a railmounted on the seat, a spring'lock in the opening including a laterally extending finger 5 underlying part of the plate for resisting upward,

standard size, the wedging of the lock and therefore the spring pressure on the rail will be uni-3 During the driving operation,

the cotter key movement; ofethe lock, .the lock also vincluding a flexible part extending inwardly .over the rail base'into engagement with Vthe top of the base, the -plateln'aving ay pivotal mounting for the lock inf'saidopening on which the lock is pivotable transversely off-therail,and a retainer wedged inthe vopening between the outer face of the lock and-the outer wall of' -theopening to bias the lock inwardly' ony its. pivot and thereby urge the flexiblepart againstthe rail base and-distort said part, the retainer having a part in the openingfincreasing in thicknessltoward its lower-end and the'interengaging faces of the retainer and thedock beinginclined upwardly and outwardly from `the rail underfthe reactive force of the lock on the retainer to "secure Vthe retainer against accidental removalfro'm the opening.

3.-Incombination-atie plate-having a rail seat and anundercut opening onone-side ofthe seat, a-rail `mounted o'n the seat,-a^=springlock in the opening including a laterally vextending nger projecting into the -undercutffor resisting upwardfmovementfof the lock, thelock also including auflexible"V part extending inwardly ov-er therailf base-1 intoeng-agement with the top of the base, the -plate having -aY pivotal 4mounting for `the lock in-saidlopening on which the lock is pivotab-le transversely of the rail', and a `retainer wedged in thev opening between the outer face of the-lock and-lthe'outerwall of the opening to biasJ-thelock inwardly on its pivot and thereby urge-the flexible part against the rail-base and distort said part,- Ithe retainer having apart in the opening.- increasing in thickness toward its lower end andthe lock exerting a lateral `reactive force 'on the retainertending'totilt 'the interengaging faces of--the retainer and the lock outwardly and secure-the retainer against accidental vremoval fro'mthe opening.

4.- In-:combina-tion, a tie plate having a rail seatandan opening on one side of the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a spring lock in the openingincludingl a laterally extending finger underlying part' ofv `the Aplate for resisting upward .movement of the lock, the lock also including a exible part-extending inwardly over the rail base into engagement with the top of the base,.the plate` `having avpivotal mounting for thelock in saidopening on which Athe-lock is pivotabletransversely of the rail, and a retainer wedged in the vopeningv between the outer face of'the lock and the outer wall of the opening to biasthelock'inwardly on its pivot and thereby urg'e the flexible part against the rail base Aand distort said part, the retainer having a part in the:

movement ofl the-lock, the-lock also including aV exible part extending'inwardly-over the rail base vinto `engagement with the 'top' of" the base,- the plate having a-pivotal mounting for" thewlock'fin said opening on A'which the lock is movable transversely of `=-the railpand af retainer-wedged inf-the opening between-t1f1e` outer-face of thelockandlthe outer. wall ofthe opening tobiasV the lockinwardly on its pivot and thereby urge the flexible `part against the railbase and-distort said part, the retainer including a-shank portion'having its greatest thick-g ness -below the line of the resultant reactive force vof the lock on:the retainer, and the retainerfbeing tilted outwardly on its thickened portionunder said reactive force whereby the interengaging 'surfaces of the retainer and lock and the outer faceof the opening converge upwardly and prevent accidental removal of the retainer from the.- opening.

6. In lcombination a tie plate having a rail I seat and an opening on one side of the seat, a rail mounted on theV seat, a spring lock in the opening including a laterally extending finger underlying part ofthe plate for resisting upward movement ofthe lock, the lock also including 'a flexible part extending' inwardly over the railbase linto engagement with the top of the base, the plate having a pivotal mounting for the lock insaid opening on which the lock is movable transversely of the rail, and a retainer l wedged in the opening between the outer face of the lock and the outer wall of the opening to bias the lock inwardly on its pivot and thereby urge the flexible part-against the rail base and distort said part. the-retainer including a shank portion having its greatest thickness below the line of the resultant reactive force of the lock on the retainer and-also including a head on the shank for limiting -the downward vmovement of the' retainer in said: opening,` the 'retainer being tilted outwardly,` onl its thickened portion under said reactive force whereby the interengaging surfaces of the retainer and lock and the outer fac-e ofl the opening convergeupvvardly and prevent accidental: removal of the retainer from the opening.

'7. In combination, a tie plate having a rail seat, an opening cn yone side of the seat, and a raised abutment along the outer edge of the opening, a rail mounted on the seat, a spring lock in the opening including a laterally extending iinger underlying part of the plate for resisting `upward movement of the lock, the lock also includngia flexible part extending -inwardly over the rail base into engagement with the top of i the base', the plate= having a pivotal mounting for the lock in said opening on which the lock is movableY transversely of the rail, and a retainer wedged in the opening between the outer face ofthe lock and the outer wall of the opening to bias the lock inwardly on its pivot and thereby urge the exible part against the rail base and distortsaid part, the retainer including afshank'fportion backed by said abutment and having its greatest thickness below the line of the resultant reactive force of the lock on the retainer, the* retainer also including a head on theshank engaging the top of said abutment for limiting `the downward movement of the retainer in the opening, the retainer being tilted outwardly on the thickened portion under said reactive force: whereby the interengaging sur-v faces of the retainer and lockandthe outer face of the openingconverge upwardly and prevent accidental -removalofv the retainerfrom the opening.

8'. Inv combination?, ar'tie' platev having a rail seat and an-undercut opening onone side of the seat, -a rail mounted on the seat, a spring lock inf the 'Y openingincluding -a laterally extending fingerprojectingfintoftheundercut for resisting cluding a flexible'part extending inwardly over the rail base into` engagement with the outer edge ofthe undercut portion forming a pivot for fthe lock on which thelock is pivotable transversely of the rail, the `lock and the adjacent wall of the opening diverging upwardly from the pivot, and a retainer wedged in the opening between theouter face ofthe lock vand the outer `wall of the plate opening to bias the lock inwardly on the pivot `and thereby urge the flexible part against the rail base and distort said part, the retainer having a part in the opening increasing in thickness toward its lower end and the lock exerting a lateral reactive force on the retainer to secure the retainer from accidental removal from the opening and being movable inwardly on its pivot against the spring action of said exible part to release the retainer.

9. For use in a rail fastening including a tie plate having a rail seat and an opening on one side of the seat, a rail on the seat, and a spring lock in the opening engaging the rail base, a retainer insertible in the opening to wedge the lock against the rail base and including a shank having a substantially iiat face engageable with the lock, the opposite face being engageable with the outer wall of the plate opening and diverging downwardly from the plane of said rst face, and a head on the shank projecting outwardly from said diverging face.

10. In combination, a tie plate having a rail seat and an opening on one side of the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a spring lock in the opening including a laterally extending finger underlying part of the plate for resisting ubward movement of the lock, the lock also including a flexible part extending inwardly over the rail base into engagement with the top of the base, the plate having a pivotal mounting for the lock in said opening on which the lock Is movable transversely of the rail, and a retainer Wedging the opening between the outer face of the lock and the outer wall of the opening t bias the lock inwardly on its pivot and thereby urge the flexible part against the rail base and distort said part, the retainer including a shank portion having a lug on the inner face thereof projecting inwardly under the lock, the lock exerting a lateral reactive force on the retainer to tilt the retainer outwardly and prevent accidental removal of the retainer from the opening.

1l. For use in a rail fastening including a tie plate having a rail seat and an opening on one side of the seat, a rail on the seat, and a spring lock in the opening engaging the rail base and having means underlying a portion of the tie plate, a retainer insertible in the opening to wedge Ithe lock against the rail base and including a shank having a substantially flat face engageable with the lock and a convex, rounded face engageable with the outer wall of the plate opening, a head on the shank projecting outwardly from the convex face, and a lug on the flat face projecting outwardly from the plane thereof and adapted to underlie part of the lock.

12. In combination, a tie plate having a rail seat and an opening on one side of the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a spring lock in the opening including a laterally extending nger underlying part of the plate for resisting upward movement of the lock, the lock also in- `cluding a flexible part extending inwardly over the rail base into engagement with the top of the base, the plate having a pivotal mounting for the lookin said opening on which the lock is movable transversely of the rail, and a retainer wedged in theopening between the outer .face of the lock and the outer wall of the opening and having a pivotalmounting against said outer wall, the retainer having a part in .the opening increasing in thickness toward its lower end and biasing the .lock inwardly on the pivotal mounting for the lock to urge the flexible `part against the rail base and distort said part,

the lock exerting a lateral reactive forceon the retainer tending to tilt Vthe same on -said pivotal mounting for the retainer whereby the interengaging faces of the retainer and the lock are inclined upwardly and outwardly from the rail to vsecure the retainer against accidental removal from the opening.

13. In combination, a tie plate having a rail seat and an opening on one side of the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a spring lock in the opening including a laterally extending nnger underlying part of the plate for resisting up- Ward movement of the lock, the lock also including a flexible part extending inwardly Over the rail base into engagement with the top of the base, the plate having a pivotal mounting for the lock in said opening on which the lock is movable transversely of the rail, and a retainer wedged in the opening between the outer face of the lock and the outer wall of the opening and having a pivotal mounting against said outer wall, the retainer having a part in the opening increasing in thickness toward its lower end and biasing the look inwardly on th-e pivotal mounting for the lock to urge the iiexible part against the rail base and distort said part, the lock exerting a lateral reactive force on the retainer tending to tilt the same on said pivotal mounting for the retainer whereby the interengaging faces of the retainer and the lock are inclined upwardly and outwardly from the rail to secure the retainer against accidental removal from the opening, said second pivotal mounting being disposed below the resultant reactive force of the lock on the retainer.

14. In combination, a tie plate having arail seat and an opening on one side of the seat, a rail mounted on the seat, a spring lock in the opening including a laterally extending iinger underlying part of the plate for resisting upward movement of the lock, the plate also including a flexible part extending inwardly over the rail base into engagement with the top of the base, the plate having a pivotal mounting for the lock in sai-d opening on which the lock is movable transversely of the rail, a retainer wedged in the opening between the outer face of the lock and the outer wall of the opening and having a pivotal mounting against said outer wall, the retainer biasing the lock inwardly on the pivotal mounting for the lock to urge the flexible part against the rail base and distort said part, an upwardly extending projection on the tie plate on the side of the retainer opposite the lock and engaging the retainer near the top thereof, the retainer having a part in the opening increasing in thickness toward its 10W- er end and the lock exerting a lateral reactive force on the retainer tending to tilt the same on its pivotal mounting against said projection whereby the interengaging faces of the retainer and the 4lock are inclinedwupwardly andwoutwardlyr-from-lthe Y rail to securei the retainer against accidental removaLrom-the opening, and abutments on they top of the plate integral With said projectionr andextendingI inwardly therefromon opposite sides of :the retainer to reinforce `the projection and ymaintain-the `look and retainerfin operative relation;

Y15. -Incombination; a tie "platehaving a rail seat and an 4openingen one side of .the seat, a :rail mounted' on the seat, a spring lock in the opening. including a part .underlying a portion of the plate ifor resisting upward movement of the lock, :the n lockt also inoluding .at flexible part gagement--fwith'the topof the base,-the,p1ate having a pivotal` *mounting for the lock on `which the lock is pivotabletransversely of the rail, and a retainer-wedged in .the opening `between the outer face of the. lock andthe outer Wall of the opening to bias the lock inwardly on its pivotal mounting and :thereby urgev the iiexiblemart against the rail base and distort said part, the retainer abeing tilted outwardly `under Vthe reactive force of the spring lock and having means operable in the tilted position-of the retainer to secure the retainer against accidental removal from the. open-ing.`

WILLIAM S. BOYCE.

extending inwardly over'the railbase into en- 15`

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