Derail wheel crowder

A wheel crowder for use in combination with a derail for mounting on a rail opposite the derail to assist in operation of the latter, said wheel crowder comprising, in combination, a crowder bar located along the inside of a first rail opposite a second rail on which a derail is mounted, said crowder bar having an upper surface approximately coplanar with an upper surface of said first rail, said crowder bar being movable between an operative position where it engages the inside of said first rail and an inoperative position where it is spaced inwardly from said first rail, said crowder bar having a narrow tapered end portion which lies against the inside of an upper portion of said first rail when in its operative position thereby functioning as a wedge so as to enter between said upper rail portion and the flange on a wheel rolling on said first rail to force the wheel toward said second rail and thereby force the opposite wheel into the entering point of said derail, a raiser bar fixed to the top of said crowder bar for supporting and elevating said wheel as the latter rolls off said first rail during a derailing operation, and actuating means for moving said crowder bar between its operative and inoperative positions, said actuating means being responsive to actuation of said derail between its operative and inoperative positions.

A wheel crowder for use in combination with a derail for mounting on a rail opposite the derail to assist in operation of the latter, said wheel crowder comprising, in combination, a crowder bar located along the inside of a first rail opposite a second rail on which a derail is mounted, said crowder bar being movable between an operative position where it engages the inside of said first rail and an inoperative position where it is spaced inwardly form said first rail, said crowder bar having a narrow tapered end portion which lies against the inside of an upper portion of said first rail when in its operative position thereby functioning as a wedge so as to enter between said upper rail portion and the flange on a wheel rolling on said first rail to force the wheel toward said second rail and thereby force the opposite wheel into the entering point of said derail, and actuating means for moving said crowder bar between its operative and inoperative positions, said actuating means being responsive to actuation of said derail between its operative and inoperative positions, said actuating means including yieldable means to permit said crowder bar to be cammed out of its operative position when engaged by the flange on a wheel rolling on said first rail from a direction opposite to said narrow tapered end portion.

A wheel crowder for use in combination with a sliding derail for mounting on a rail opposite the sliding derail to assist in operation of the latter, said wheel crowder comprising, in combination, a crowder bar located along the inside of a first rail opposite a second rail on which a derail is mounted, said crowder bar being movable between an operative position where it engages the inside of said first rail and an inoperative position where it is spaced inwardly from said first rail, said crowder bar having a narrow tapered end portion which lies against the inside of an upper portion of said first rail when in its operative position thereby functioning as a wedge so as to enter between said upper rail portion and the flange on a wheel rolling on said first rail to force the wheel toward said second rail and thereby force the opposite wheel into the entering point of said derail, and actuating means for moving said crowder bar between its operative and inoperative positions, said actuating means including bellcrank means connected through yieldable means to said crowder bar, and means connecting said bellcrank means with said sliding derail, whereby said actuating means is responsive to actuation of said sliding derail between its operative and inoperative positions.

A wheel crowder for use in combination with a hinged-type derail for mounting on a rail opposite the hinged-type derail to assist in operation of the latter, said wheel crowder comprising, in combination, a crowder bar located along the inside of a first rail opposite a second rail on which a derail is mounted, said crowder bar being movable between an operative position where it engages the inside of said first rail and an inoperative position where it is spaced inwardly from said first rail, said crowder bar having a narrow tapered end portion which lies against the inside of an upper portion of said first rail when in its operative position thereby functioning as a wedge so as to enter between said upper rail portion and the flange on a wheel rolling on said first rail to force the wheel toward said second rail and thereby force the opposite wheel into the entering point of said derail, and actuating means for moving said crowder bar between its operative and inoperative positions, said actuating means including bellcrank means connected through yieldable means to said crowder bar, and means connecting said bellcrank means with a pivotable portion of said hinged-type derail, whereby said actuating means is responsive to actuation of said hinged-type derail between its operative and inoperative positions.