US2015317A - Cattle guard - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 2 4, 1935. E. c. ROGERS 2,015,317

CATTLE GUARD Filed March 6, 1934' 5 Sheets-Sheet l Iriventor E. C. ROGERS Sept. 24, 1935.

CATTLE GUARD Filed March 6, 1.934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Sept. 24, 1935. E. c. ROGERS CATTLE GUARD Filed March 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved cattle guard for use in connection with the rails of a conventional railroad track.

Needless to say the art to which the invention relates is already well developed and characterized by numerous types and forms of so-called cattle guards. Therefore, the need for a cattle guard is well'recognized and established, but so far as I have been able to ascertain from research and observation the prior structures now proposedfor this task fail to measure up to the explicit standards and requirements for equipment of this classification.

' Without attempting to give a general survey of the presest state of the art I merely desire to introduce my invention as one-possessed of certain appreciable refinements and comparative structural differences such as, it is believed, will enable it to transcend in efiiciency and performance those structures with which I am at pres- 'The principal improvement is predicated upon the particular construction of the barrier and the way in which it is suspended for swinging or shiftable movement on fixtures or devices attaching the several barriers to the rail so that there will be one between the rails and two complemental ones on the outside of the rails.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the general or complete ensemble showing the three grids in relative operative relationship in respect to the rails and illustrating other features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken approximately on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4 and are transverse sectional views taken on the planes of the lines 33, 4--4 and 55 of Figure 1 respectively.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of certain of the parts, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing one of the attaching and hanger units or devices.

Referring now to Figure 1 it will be observed that the conventional rails are denoted by the numerals 8 and that there are three grid-like .Tbarriers or open work grates associated therewith. The two outside grates are denoted by the numerals 9 and the inside or intermediate ones by the numeral I0. The latter grate is located between the rails and the two grates 9 are located on the outer sides of the rails or tracks. Each 5 grate construction is the same and a description of one will sufiice for all. With this thought in mind it will be observed that each device includes a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal side members or runners ll between which are de- 10- tachably mounted triangular cross pieces or treads l2. The members [2 are preferably separably bolted to the side runners so as to permit replacement whenever necessary or desired. The parts may be of wood, if found suitable. It is also noted that the pointed apex portions of the cross pieces l2 are disposed upwardly so as to present a knife-like edge not calculated to induce walking of cattle thereon.

The principal novelty of the invention is predicated not so much upon the particular construction of the devices 9 and II] as upon the means whereby these devices are movably attached to and suspended in elevated relationship with respect to the cross ties I 3 and the track rails. It is important to note that while these devices 9 and H] are disposed in horizontal planes they must be supported at points elevated upon the road bed and ties so as to insure proper clearance for longitudinal swinging and to guard against retarding the movement of these devices such as is intentional to induce animals not to attempt to walk thereon because of the unreliable footing assured.

I will describe first the units of adapters I4 (see Figure 7) used for operatively attaching the swingable grate l 0 between the rails 8. This unit is made from strap iron or metal having a substantially U-shaped portion wherein the vertical part l5 thereof is bolted or otherwise fastened to the web of the rail and the lower arm Ifi extended down against thebase flange of the rail to function as a. stabilizing portion. The upper portion or arm ll of this U-shaped part is provided with an upstanding extension l8 which may bedescribed as an upright and this is provided at its top with a hanger loop or link IS with which a depending suspension member 20 is pivotally connected. This suspension member is in turn pivotally connected at its lower end between a pair of attaching ears 2| on a connecting bolt 22 which is connected with the adjacent runner of the swingable guard or grate. By using a set of four or more of these attaching and hanger units l4 it is obvious that the guard can be suspended swingably between the track rails and hung in an elevated position above the cross ties to provide the requisite clearance and to at the same time promote unobstructed oscillatory or swinging motion of the guard such as is calculated to frustrate an attempt of cattle to walk thereon.

The two outer guards or grates 9 are suspended in very much the same manner. For sake of clearness, however, I desire to describe these attaching and hanger devices separately. Each device is denoted and differentiated by the numeral 23 and comprises an elongated metal strap 24 having its outer end bent up to provide an upright 25 and having its inner end bent up to form a similar upright 26 with the last named end portion shaped to correspond to the features l5, l6 and I! of the device shown in Figure '7 whereby to facilitate bolting to the web of the track rail. These uprights 25 and 26 are pro-' vided with hanger loops H! with which the parts 20 and 22 cooperate in the manner already described.

The principal idea is in the provision of metal strap like adapter units constructed for rigid connection with the Web. portions of the rail and including hanger means terminating in planes below the ball or tread of the track rails so as to insure proper wheel flange clearance, together with the suspension members 20 and bolts 22 for completing the assembly and operative relationship of parts.

I call attention at this time to the numerals 2'! which designate what may be conveniently denoted as two-way equipment lifting devices. These are in the form of substantially semicylindrical hollow metal shells of appropriate height bolted to theties by attaching ears 28 and located at opposite ends of the guard or grate In. The crown portions of these lifting devices 2'! are disposed in a plane slightly above the plane of the guard itself and the purpose is to pick up any hanging equipment such as might be carried by the rolling stock, irrespective of the direction of movement of the train, so as to prevent damaging the guard or allowing said hanging devices to get caught in the guard. Obviously should a beam or the like be hanging from one of the cars as it passes over the guard it will be picked up by either one of the lifting devices 27 and the speed of movement of the train will act to throw the beam up for a period sufficiently long to cause it to clear the guard, which in the average case is eight to ten feet in length.

Generically stated the principal novelty of the invention is predicated upon the provision of a grid-like guard or open work grate which is utilized between or on opposite sides, or both of the track rails, and to provide means attachable to the web portions of the track rails for connecting the guard by movable suspension elements and to allow the guards to swing back and forth between the rails at points spaced above the cross ties. Thus, in a sense I have evolved and produced a movable barrier which is itself constructed to guard against stepping of cattle thereon and which because of its automatic shifting movement tends to frustrate the stepping of cattle thereon. This is due to the fact that it provides insecure footing and causes the animal to be shy and withdraw when once he finds that it is not safe to walk on the guard. Considering the triple assembly of guards it will be observed that one is mounted rnovablybebelieved to be found in the structure depicted in the drawings accompanying this application.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connectionwith the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a structure of the class described, in combination, a pair of spaced parallel track rails, pairs of opposed duplicate brackets secured solely to said rails and including inwardly offset uprights having hangers mounted thereon, a guard of open work construction located between the rails, and suspension links pivotally connected with said hangers and guards whereby to movably suspend the guard between the rails.

2. An attaching unit for movably supporting a guard between track rails comprising a metal strap including a U-shaped portion, a part thereof being adapted to be bolted to the web of the rail with the lower portion adapted to rest on the base flange of the rails, the upper portion being provided with an upright, a loop like member attached to the upright and constituting a hanger, a suspension member pivotally connected to and depending from said hanger, a bolt for attachment to a guard, said bolt including spaced ears pivotally and detachably connectable with the lower end of said suspension member.

3. In a structure of the class described, a pair of longitudinally spaced guard supporting devices, each device embodying a strap adapted to extend at right angles to the track rail, the outer end thereof being bent upwardly to define an upright, the inner end being bent for attachment to the Web of the rail and including an upright, loop like hanger devices connected to the upper ends of said uprights, suspension members pivotally connected to and depending from said hanger devices, and an open work grid-like guard attachable at its opposite end to said depending suspension members in the manner and for the purposes described.

4. The combination with a railroad track embodying a pair of spaced parallel track rails of no less than three cattle guard gratings, at least one grating positionedoutside of each track rail and at least one other grating between the track rails, and swingable suspension means connecting the gratings solely with the track rails adapted for rocking the gratings under the weight of vagrant cattle.

5. The combination with a railroad track embodying a pair of spaced parallel track rails of no less than three complementary rectangular cattle guard gratings, at least one grating posi-' tioned outside of each track rail and at least one other grating between the track rails, said grat- 75,;

ings being spaced from the track rails to provide clearance for vehicle wheels running on the track rails, supporting brackets solely connected with the track rails. and swinging arms pivotally connecting the gratings with the brackets to impart a rocking movement to the gratings under the weight of vagrant cattle.

6. The combination with a railroad track embodying a pair of spaced parallel rails of a cattle guard grating, and swingable suspension means rockably connecting the grating solely with one of the track rails whereby the grating may expand 5 and contract with the rail.

EDWARD C. ROGERS.

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