United States Patent (19) [11] 3,861,591

Rector (45) Jan. 21, 1975

(54) RAILROAD CROSSING CONSTRUCTION Each plate is positioned substantially horizontally so
76 Inventor: Roger F. Rector, 1720 Birchcrest as to provide a flat surface for automobile traffic.
Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43221 Crosswise of the rails in one embodiment there are
(22 Filed. May 21, 1973 four main plates and two auxiliary plates. Each of the
main plates has a downwardly extending flange on the
(21) Appl. No.: 361,972 sides of the plates which are parallel to the rails. Two
of the main plates extend inwardly from each associ
ated rail and their downwardly extending inner flanges
52 U.S. C. .................................................... 238/8 rest on associated ties at approximately the central
151 Int. Cl. .............................................. E01c 9/02 portion of the tie. The said inner flanges are secured
58) Field of Search........................ 238/8, 2, 1, 7, 9 to each other but are insulated from each other
56 References Cited
against the passage of electricity. Each of these plates
contacts one of the rails at the adjacent end and rests
UNITED STATES PATENTS on the flanges of the rail. On the opposite side of each
1493,406 5/1924 Van Doren et al..................... 238/8 rail is a similar plate which extends outwardly and has
l,565,787 12/1925 Burton.................................... 238/8 its downwardly extending flange secured to the outer
1,885,244 1 1/1932 Ferneding et al....................... 238/9 end of the associated tie. Pivoted to each of these out
2,471,167 5/1949 Oxenrider................. r 238/8 wardly extending plates is a hinged plate which nor
mally rests upon a fixed support adjacent the sides of
Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. the right of way. Should the rails, ties and ballast be
Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch forced downward by the weight of the train, truck or
other vehicle passing over the crossing or should the
57 ABSTRACT crossing settle by reason of time or weather, the
A railroad crossing construction. The construction in hinged outer plates pivot to accommodate for the
cludes the conventional rails and ties. In addition movement of the rails and ties.
there are provided a plurality of flat, traffic plates
which may be steel or other appropriate material. 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures

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 3,861,591
1.
RAILROAD CROSSING CONSTRUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Much difficulty at railroad crossings has been en
countered due to the movement up and down of rail
road tracks because of the weight of trains and other
vehicles passing over the tracks, especially at the rail
road crossings. The problem of replacing heavily trav
elled grade crossings is difficult, and the expense and
inconvenience of replacing such crossings is consider
able. As a crossing settles due to heavy traffic, the
crossing becomes rough and vehicles going over the
rough crossings are damaged and often loads are par
tially dumped at such times. The cost of maintenance
of such crossings also has been quite high. It is reported
that at one crossing at the Baltimore works of the West
ern Electric Company, equipment suffered mechanical
damage, tires blew out on vehicles, and reels of wire
were dumped from their carriers because of such dam
age to the crossing. Traditionally, grade crossings are
a challenge to the ingenuity of engineers and the night
mare of maintenance departments, charged with the
responsibility of installing and maintaining them.
Crossing damages cost individuals and plants thousands
of dollars a year. Many attempts have been made to
solve this problem but no attempt has solved it to the
satisfaction of the public, the users, the plant owners,
the railroads and others.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Some of these attempts to solve this problem have
been patented. The four Muchnic U.S. Pat. Nos.
1,154,534, 1,551,165, 1,725,410 and 1,725,411, show
intermediate plates between the two rails which rest
upon the flanges of the rails and mainly show approach
plates which rest partly on the rail flanges and partly on
the concrete roadway at either side of the track. Many
other patents disclose metallic plates interposed be
tween the rails of the track and the opposite sides of the
right of way at a railroad crossing. Such plates are also
disclosed in Jensen U.S. Pat. No. 1,557,950, reissue
No. 17,201, Pearson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 1,710,030,
Mulvihill U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,691,078 and 1,743,829, Dai
ley et al. U.S. Pat. No. 1,758,935, Myers U.S. Pat. No.
1,827,823, Ferneding et al. U.S. Pat. No. 1,885,244,
Greely U.S. Pat. No. 2,076,338 and Oxenrider U.S.
Pat. No. 2,471,167.
Many of the patentee inventors recognize the prob
lem which has been stated substantially as follows:
Track rails and railroad beds tip, rise, and fall due to
weather and traffic. It is therefore very difficult to keep
railway and highway junctions in such condition as to
provide a level crossing surface for long periods of
time. It is, of course, very desirable that the plates inter
mediate the rails and on the sides remain even with the
top of the rails. Otherwise excessive wear and damage
are caused to engines, trains and other vehicles travel
ling over the crossing. This flush or even surface is lost
often shortly after the construction of a crossing. The
crossing becomes rough and uneven because of shifting
of the track rails or settling of the road bed. Heavy
cargo carrying road vehicles may also cause crossings
to become rough and uneven. Continued maintenance
service is thus required. This causes great expense to
railroad and highway authorities.
2
Attempts to relieve these difficulties and expense
have been attempted by providing surfaces which are
directly supported on the track rails and are thus free
to move up and down with changes in the road bed.
These types of crossings are generally of metal con
struction and although they contract and expand with
changes in temperature, they are relatively inflexible
and not only tend to buckle upon expansion and loosen
upon contraction, but also fail to maintain proper align
10 ment with the sides of the roadway.
None of the prior art patents appear to have any sug
gestion of a hinged structure excepting only the
Pearson et al. U.S. Pat No. 1,710,030. The pivot in the
center of the tracks shown in this patent does not solve
15 the problem. It was apparently only provided for ease
of installation. In my construction the whole inner con
struction of the crossing is allowed to float as it were,
and the hinge action at the outer edges retains substan
tially perfect alignment with the roadway regardless of
20 age, track conditions or vehicle road conditions. It per
mits normal vertical changes of level due to passinglo
comotives and rail cars. It prevents damage to locomo
tives and rail cars and lading due to bouncing over solid
type crossings. The crossing construction may easily be
25 removed for rail or tie replacement or inspection and
replaced without damage. It may even be removed and
installed at a different location. It is constructed in in
terlocking sections and thus provides for easy handling,
30
shipping, stowing and is adaptable to any size crossing
and even on ordinary curves. Practically no mainte
nance is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In this invention there is provided a railroad crossing
35
including a plurality of railroad ties, a pair of rails se
cured to the ties and a plurality of main inner plates
resting partially on the rails and secured to or resting
on the ties. In addition to the plurality of main inner
plates there are a pair of auxiliary outer plates pivoted
40
to the main plates and resting upon solid foundations
at the sides of the right of way.
My railroad crossing construction comprises a plural
ity of railroad ties, a pair of rails secured to said ties, a
pair of main plates for each rail, each such plate con
45
tacting one of said rails on one side of the rail, resting
on the flange of the rail, and extending away from the
rail in a direction opposite to the other plate so that
there is an inwardly extending main plate and an out
wardly extending main plate, having in the preferred
50
embodiment, means for securing the outer portion of
each of said outwardly extending plates to the outer
portion of some or all of the associated ties, together in
combination with an outwardly extending auxiliary
55 plate hingedly connected to an outer portion of each of
the outwardly extending main plates and resting upon
a support at its outer end slidingly so that the ties, rails,
main plates may tip, or move up and down while at the
same time the outer portions (the auxiliary plates) lead
60 smoothly from the roadway to the main plates which
are flush with the rails and are secured to the ties, and
can move up and down with the floating of the tie and
rail construction.
One of the objects of this invention is to provide a
65 railway crossing construction.
Another object is to provide a railway crossing struc
ture which is economical in installation and mainte
nance and is efficient.
 3,861,591
3 4
A further object of the invention is to provide a safe, FIG. 1 is a view in section of a preferred embodiment
smooth economical railroad crossing for rail and vehic of a railway crossing, constructed according to my in
ular traffic. vention, the section being taken laterally through the
A further object of the invention is to obtain a rails and longitudinally of the ties;
smooth railroad crossing in which the hinge action re FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in section of one side of
tains reasonable alignment regardless of age, track con an alternative embodiment of the crossing showing sup
dition, or vehicle road condition and permits normal ports consisting of shortened outer plates or brackets
vertical changes of level of the rails due to highway which do not rest on the ties and showing the position
trucks passing over the crossing or due to passing loco of the hinged plate as the construction is installed with
motive and rail cars, and in which damage to locomo 0 the main plates and the auxiliary hinged plates horizon
tives and rail cars and lading and to highway vehicles tal and in alignment with each other as they are shown
due to bouncing over solid type crossings is minimized in FIG. 1;
or prevented. FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of one side of the con
A further object of the invention is to provide an eco struction of FIG. i but showing the position of the
nomical railroad crossing which can be installed in 15 hinged auxiliary plate relative to the main plates when
hours instead of days and with a much smaller crew, the rails, ties and main plates have been lowered due
which may be removed for rail or tie replacement or either to settling over a long period of time or due to
inspection and replaced without damage, which may be pressure from the top for a short period when heavy
removed and installed at another location, and which train or other vehicle is passing over the rails or the
is constructed with interlocking sections and provides 20 crossing;
for easy handling, shipping, stowing and is adaptable to FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the align
any size crossing even on ordinary curves. ment of the main plate with the auxiliary hinged plate
A further object of the invention is improvement in at a time when the ties, rails and main plates have been
public relations by eliminating damage to highway ve 25 raised from any cause including have been raised by the
hicles, their occupants and ladings of citizens who drive supply 5ofisadditional ballast; and
over a railroad crossing inasmuch as the average public theFIG. a view in plan of a crossing looking down on
contact with a railroad now (since curtailment of pas somestructures shown in FIG. 1 wherein a portion of
of the plates have been removed in order to show
senger trains) is at a grade crossing.
Further objects of the invention are to provide a rail 30 the construction below the plates.
road crossing which stays in perfect alignment with the DETAILED DESCRIPTION
track, requires practically no maintenance, has excel A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE
lent drainage and wherein the rail or tie inspection is INVENTION
easy and the spikes are locked in place.
I have found that the above and other objects of the 35 Referring now especially to FIGS. 1 and 5 of the
invention can be attained by a railroad crossing con drawings for a more detailed description of embodi
struction comprising a plurality of railroad ties, a pair ment illustrated, it may be seen that I have shown a plu
of rails secured to said ties, a pair of main plates for may rality of railroad ties such as 11, 12, 13 and 14, which
each such rail, each such plate contacting its associated rest upon ballast 19 which is usually placed upon
rail on the side of said rail opposite to the other associ 40 and covers the earth of the right of way at the highway
ated plate and each such plate extending away from crossing and elsewhere (or such ties may even at times
said rail in a direction opposite to the other associated are rest directly on the earth). Tie plates such as 21 and 22
plate so that there is for each rail an inwardly extending shown secured to the ties as for example, to the tie 11 as
main plate and an outwardly extending main plate to 22 respectively in FIG. 1. Resting upon such tie plates 21 and
gether with means for securing the inwardly extending 45 Supported are a pair of railroad rails 23 and 24.
plates to each other adjacent to the center of the ties by the ties such as tiesby11,
partially the rails 23 and 24 and partially
and with means for securing the outwardly extending of main inner traffic plates12,such 13, 14, etc. are a plurality
portion of each said main outwardly extending plate to 35 and a plurality of main outer astraffic 31, 32, 33, 34 and
an outer portion of some of the ties and in combination 50 36, 37,38 and 39, etc. Hinged to the mainplates outer
such as
plates
a pair of outwardly extending auxiliary plates hingedly are a plurality of hinged auxiliary traffic plates such as
connected to the outer portion of each of the outwardly 41, 42, 43,44 and 45, etc. such hinged auxiliary plates
extending plates and a support for the outer ends of being pivoted on pins such as 48 and 49 which extend
said auxiliary plates, through bores such as 51 and 52 through the outer
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 55 main plates and through the hinged plates.
In order that my invention may be more fully dis andEach each
of the rails have base flanges such as 55 and 56
of the main traffic plates have a pair of down
closed, reference is had to the accompanying drawings wardly extending flanges which rest either on one of
which illustrate forms of apparatus embodying the fore the rail flanges or on one or more of the ties. Thus for
going and such other principles, advantages or capabili 60 example, in FIG. 1 the main inner traffic plate 31 has
ties as may be pointed out herein or as are inherent in flanges 61 and 62. The flange 61 is shaped so that its
the invention. For purposes of clarity and explanation, outer end nests in the portion of the rail 23 between the
the following description is explicit and the accompa rail base flange 55 and the upper bearing surface of the
nying drawings are detailed but it is to be distinctly un rail and thus contacts the narrow vertical portion of the
derstood that such exposition is illustrative only and rail. The extreme outer end of the flange 61 rests upon
that my invention is not restricted to the particular de 65 the base flange 55 of the rail 23. The flange 62 is
tails recited in the specification or shown in the draw shaped somewhat like a reversed L and has its lower
ings wherein: portion resting upon the tie 11. Similarly the main inner
 3,861,591
5 6
traffic plate 32 has a flange 63 substantially identical
with (but reversed as to) the flange 61. It also has a
flange 64 which is substantially identical with the flange
62 but is reversed relative thereto. The main outer traf
fic plate 36 has a flange 65 which is also substantially
reversed L-shaped and extends downward from the
pivot point about pin 48 and at its lower end rests upon
the outer end of the tie 11. At its inner end the traffic
plate 36 has a flange 66 somewhat like the flange 61
but having a T-shaped portion which extends into the
space between the rail base flange 55 and the rail head
of rail 23. The main outer traffic plate 37 has a flange
67 corresponding substantially to the flange 65 but re
versed relative thereto and a flange 68 corresponding
substantially to the flange 66 but reversed relative
thereto. The flanges 62 and 64 have an insulation strip
69 interposed between them, such strip being a non
conductor of electricity. A bolt 71 passing through the
flanges 62 and 64 and through the insulation strip 69
secures the two flanges and the insulation strip to
gether. The bolt itself may be made of a material which
is a non-conductor of electricity or may be a metal bolt
with an insulating bushing which is a non-conductor of
electricity and thus the traffic plates 31 and 32 are insu
lated electrically from each other in the usual manner.
Spikes such as 75 and 76 secure the flanges 65 and
67 to the tie 11 at points near the outer end of the tie
and spikes such as 77, 77a, 78, and 78a secure the tie
plates 21 and 22 to the tie at points inward from the
spikes 75 and 76. Flanges 62 and 64 may be secured by
spikes to the tie 11 if desired. Many if not all of the
spikes (e.g., see spike 78) secure not only the associ
ated tie plate but also the rail itself to some of the ties.
The outer ends of the pivoted plates 41 and 42 rest
upon slabs 81 and 82 which may be of concrete or any
other suitable material. The slabs may extend all of the
way across the roadway or each may be shorter (each
extending part of the way across) and there may be sev
eral so that they in effect extend all of the way across.
The roadway outside of the railroad right of way is indi
cated by numerals 83 and 84.
In FIG. 1 the pivoted traffic plates such as 41 and 42
are shown in a normal position they might assume when
the structure is installed. It will be noticed that the piv 45
oted traffic plate 42 is in substantial horizontal align
ment with the main traffic plates 31, 32, 36 and 37 and
also with the pivoted traffic plate 41. However, should
either the earth or the ballast of the foundation or the
ties sink for any reason to a position such as is shown 50 in which the two inner flanges of the two inwardly ex
in FIG. 3, the auxiliary traffic plate 42 will pivot about
the pin 49 (or auxiliary traffic plate 41 about pin 48).
Then though the auxiliary plate 42 will not be in exact
alignment with main traffic plates 31, 32,36 and 37 nor
in exact alignment with the auxiliary traffic plate 41, its 55
angle relative thereto will be slight and a road vehicle
passing along the roadway, across the railroad will not
encounter the shocks now so often received at such
crossings. On the other hand should the earth or the
ballast be raised for any reason and should the ties such 60 a pair of rails secured to said ties;
as 11 be raised, the auxiliary traffic plate 42 will again
pivot about the pivot pin 49 as shown in FIG. 4. Then
although the hinged traffic plate 42 will not be exactly
in line with the plates 31, 32 and 41, the angle will not
be great and vehicles passing along the roadway cross
ing the rails will not feel appreciably jarred due to the
raising of the rails and/or of the construction support
ing the rails. - wardly extending main plates;
In FIG. 2, there is shown an alternative construction.
Therein the rail 124 is supported by tie plate 122 which
is in turn supported by tie 111 and ballast 119. The
inner main traffic plate 132 nests between the base
flange and head of rail 124, and rests at one end on the
base flange of rail 124. At its opposite end, the con
struction of main flange is identical with inner main
traffic plate 32. However, the support 137 differs from
O main outer traffic plate 37 in that it has no outer flange
bearing on the tie 111. The auxiliary traffic plate 142
is pivoted on a pivot bolt 149 which extends through .
the support 137.
While only one pair of rails are shown and described
15 and while usually there are a pair or more of tracks,
each track consisting of a pair of rails, my invention can
of course be applied to such multiple track installations
inasmuch as the structure may obviously be duplicated
for each pair of rails.
It is to be understood that the above described em
bodiments of my invention are for purposes of illustra
tion only and that various changes may be made therein
without departing from the spirit and scope of the in
vention as defined in the following claims.
25 I claim:
1. A railroad crossing construction comprising:
a plurality of railroad ties;
a pair of rails secured to said ties;
a main traffic plate for each rail, such plate contact
30
ing one of said rails on one side of the rail and rest
ing on the flange of said rail and extending away
from such rail in a direction toward the other rail
so that there is an inwardly extending main plate;
an outwardly extending support for each rail;
35
an outwardly extending auxiliary hinged plate pivot
ally connected to a portion of each of the out
wardly extending supports, and
roadway supports for the outer ends of said out
40 wardly extending auxiliary plates
in which each outwardly extending support is an out
wardly extending main traffic plate;
in which there is also provided means for securing the
outer portion of each of said outwardly extending
main traffic plates to an outer portion of one of the
associated ties; . .
in which each of the main traffic plates is formed with
a downwardly extending flange at each end;
tending plates are separated from each other by a
spacing strip which is not a conductor of electric
ity; and
in which the flanges at the outer ends of the out
wardly extending main traffic plates are secured to
the outer end of the associated tie by a railroad
spike.
2. A railroad crossing construction comprising:
a plurality of railroad ties;
-
a plurality of pairs of main plates for each such rail,
each such plate contacting its associated rail on the
side of said rail opposite to the other associated
plate and each such plate extending away from said
65 rail in a direction opposite to the other associated
plate so that there is for each rail a plurality of in
wardly extending main plates and a plurality of out
 3,861,591
7 8
means for securing the inwardly extending plates to each such plate contacting its associated rail on the
each other adjacent to the center of the associated side of said rail opposite to the other associated
ties; plate and each such plate extending away from said
means for securing the outwardly extending portion rail in a direction opposite to the other associated
of each of said main outwardly extending plates to 5 plate so that there is for each rail a plurality of in
an outer portion of the associated ties; wardly extending main plates and a plurality of out
a pair of outwardly extending hinged auxiliary plates wardly extending main plates;
pivotally connected to an outer portion of each of means for securing the inwardly extending plates to
the outwardly extending plates; and each other adjacent to the center of the associated
roadway supports for the outer ends of said auxiliary () ties;
plates.
3. The structure of claim 2, means for securing the outwardly extending portion
in which the ties are supported by the earth and by of each of said main outwardly extending plates to
ballast but are free to rise and fall with passage of an outer portion of the associated ties;
engines and cars. 15 a pair of outwardly extending hinged auxiliary plates
4. The structure of claim 3, pivotally connected to an outer portion of each of
in which the outer ends of the outwardly extending the outwardly extending plates; and
main plates, as well as each of the rails are secured roadway supports for the outer ends of said auxiliary
to the ties by spikes. plates;
5. The structure of claim 4, 20 in which each of the main plates is provided at each
in which the outer ends of the auxiliary hinged plates of its ends with a downwardly extending flange;
are supported by supports associated with the high in which each rail is clamped between the down
way. wardly extending flanges of the two main plates as
6. The structure of claim 2, sociated therewith and in which the flanges at the
in which the surface of the crossing and track, includ- 25 inner end of the two inwardly extending plates are
ing the ties, rails, and plates may move up and secured to each other adjacent the center of the tie
down if the earth or the ballast is raised or settles. by bolts extending through the downwardly extend
7. The structure of claim 2, ing flanges of said inwardly extending plates and
in which each of the main plates is provided at each through a resilient packing interposed between said
of its ends with a downwardly extending flange. 30 flanges of said inwardly extending main plates.
8. A railroad crossing comprising: 9. The structure of claim 8,
a plurality of railroad ties; in which the packing is of a material which is a non
a pair of rails secured to said ties; conductor of electricity,
a plurality of pairs of main plates for each such rail, xk is : k sk
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