Importance

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Abstract

This invention relates to hinged derail assemblies used in the railroad industry for derailing a wheel of an undesirably moving railed vehicle. The hinged derail assembly includes a base that is positioned adjacent one rail of a pair of railroad rails. A derail shoe is pivotally mounted on the derail base and is moveable between a derailing position and an inoperative position. In the present invention a biasing member, such as a torsion spring, is secured to both the base of the hinged derail assembly and the derail shoe. The spring provides upward lifting force whether the derail shoe is in the inoperative position or in the derailing position. This lifting force assists the worker in the manual lifting of the derail shoe. The invention also relates to a method of constructing the hinged derail wherein the torsion spring is installed when the derail shoe is generally upright.

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First Claim