CROSSING FROG BOLT TENSION TESTS

This investigation was made for the purpose of determining the relative characteristics of spring washers required for the economical maintenance of adequate bolt tension in crossing and turnout frog bolts. Tests were conducted to determine the loss of bolt tension as related to the rate of wear of the crossing assembly during a five year period under service conditions on six crossing frogs including the bolted-rail manganese insert, and solid managanese types and one railbound manganese turnout frog. Dynamic measurements were made of the change in bolt tension and impact in the main bolts of a main track bolted crossing in high-speed territory. Service tests involved the measurements of bolt tension loss, pull-in of the frog assembly, and nut back-off, all requiring specially designed gages. The advantage of heat-treated nuts and hardened flat plate washers as bearing surfaces for the spring washers was investigated. Results included: 1) In the bolted-rail and manganese insert types of crossings, the No. 1 position bolts lost greatest amount of tension. 2) The use of hardened parts next to single-coil spring washers was beneficial in retarding the rate of loss in bolt tension for the medium reaction washers, but not for high reaction washers.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1955

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 752-818
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 56
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bolts; Frogs (Railroads)
• Subject Areas: Materials; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052408
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1974 12:00AM