Lightweight and ultra-lightweight portable derails
AssigneeWestern-Cullen-Hayes, Inc.
InventorsRonald Pease, Kevin Hertel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Improved lightweight and ultra-lightweight portable derails are disclosed. A portable derail for installation on railway track to prevent a railcar or locomotive from passing beyond a fixed point, thereby protecting workmen and equipment against accidents, the derail being very lightweight and portable so a workman can easily carry it from one location to another, and yet being designed to function effectively under severe loading conditions and resist any tendency to slide along the rail when subjected to impact.
Claims11
A portable derail which is releasably secured to a rail for derailing a train, said train having a rail wheel and a train weight, said portable derail having a portable derail weight, said portable derail comprising:
- a. a shoe plate which is in direct contact with and rests upon the rail;
- b. a deflecting flange which forces said rail wheel off to one side of the rail;
- c. two or fewer set screw hook block assemblies which couple the portable derail to the rail;
- and
- d. a clamp assembly which applies force directly to the rail to securely fasten the portable derail to the rail,
- whereby the portable derail weight is less than approximately 44 pounds.
A portable derail which is releasably secured to a rail for derailing a train, said train having a rail wheel and a train weight, said portable derail having a portable derail weight, said portable derail comprising:
- a. two or fewer set screw hook block assemblies which couple the portable derail to the rail, said two or fewer set screw hook block assemblies carried on one side of the derail for engagement under the rail on the field side thereof;
- b. a clamp assembly carried on the other side of the derail for engagement adjacent the gage side of the rail, said clamp assembly including a clamp plate having a head member, a rotatable screw for moving said clamp plate to a clamped position, said clamp plate head member being mounted on said rotatable screw,
- c. a manually operable handle for rotating said rotatable screw;
- d. a releasable locking mechanism which in its locked position prevents rotation of said screw;
- e. a shoe plate which overlies the rail;
- f. a deflecting flange which forces said rail wheel off to one side of the rail;
- and
- g. a vertical support member connected to the underside of said shoe member so as to project downwardly from the gage side thereof and having a toothed lower edge inclined downwardly toward the entry end of the derail to resist horizontal movement of said derail along the rail,
- whereby the portable derail weight is less than approximately 44 pounds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.