US1506953A - Tracklaying machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 2 1924'.

R. E. sTuBBs TRAGKLAYING MACHINE Filed Kay 5, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet i Sept. 2, 1924. 1,506,953

R. E. STUBBS TRACKLAYING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1924 7 Shets-Sheet z. N

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R. E. STUBBS "TRACKLAYING MACHINE Filed Kay 3, 1924 I Sheets-Shee't L [1C Jill/11);,

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Sept. 2. 1924. 1,506,953

R. E. STUBBS 'TRAGKLAYING MACHINE 1mm Kay 5', 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet "r To all whom it may concern:

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,506,953 PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. STUIBBS, DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

TRACKLAYING MACHINE.

Application filed May 3,

Be it known that 1, ROBERT E. STUBBS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county ofSt. Louis and Stateof Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lracklaying Machines, of which the following is a spec1fica-- tion.

This invention relates to railway track laying machines and particularly to a machine designed to lay both the ties and the .rails in their proper spacedrelation ready for the usualspiking operation.

An object of the invention resides in providing a track laying machine including a core mounting a mainframe, carrying a plurality of supplemental drive shafts for driving a conveyor mounted in the central portion of the main frame, and at the lower end thereof, for conveying ties from one end of the car to the other and also for driving a pair of conveyors positioned at the outer sides of the track conveyor for conveying rails which are positioned thereon from a rack carried'by the main frame, the rails and ties being delivered to asupplemental frame, provided with suitable conveyors, and means for delivering and successively positioning the ties in proper spaced relation beyond the end of the laid track, on which the car rides, for positioning the rails in proper relation beyond the ends of the laid tracks on the ties, ready to be fastened thereto.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a track laying machine wherein a car adapted. to move on laid track is provided with a special frame having a side conveyor and a rack for rails, means being also provided in the frame for moving the rails onto the rail conveyors, so that both of the sides of the rails may be subsequently delivered to a supplemental frame extending from one end of the car, which are provided with s ecial tie positioning means for successive y placing the ties in proper spaced relation for a predetermined distance, equal, at least, to the length of the rails to be laid, and which is also provided with rail positioning means cooperating with the tie positioning means for accurately positioning the rails on the ties ready for spiking.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a track laying means including a car having a frame mounted on trucks adapted for travel on the laid portion of the 1924. Serial No. 710,894.

track, and adapted to carry and convey ties and rails to the forward end of the frame, to a supplemental frame, movably carried and supported by the forward end of the car frame, and adjustable relative thereto, so that the supplemental frame may be moved to position the track being laid at the proper angle to the track already laid, as well as being adjustable in a vertical plane to vary the relation of the bottom portion of the supplemental frame,

with respect to the road bed, means being provided on the main car frame for operating-and controlling the adjustment of the supplemental frame relative thereto, while the supplemental frame is provided with means for properly positioning the ties and rails beyond the end of a laid section of track in proper alignment therewith, ready for spiking to complete another section of said track.

The invention also includes a number of other objects and numerous improvements in the details of construction and association of the parts for carrying out the operation of laying the ties and the tracks,.which are more particularly described and pointed out in the following detailed description and claims, which are directed to a preferred form of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the specificconstruction and arrangement of these parts for carrying out the desired results without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as described and claimed.

In the drawings, forming a part of this application Figure 1 is a side elevation of the car of the track laying machine, also showing a portion of the supplemental frame carried. thereby, the said machine being in position for laying a section of track.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the supplemental frame carried by the car, showing the manner in which the machine positions the ties, and which is readable with Figure 1, to show the complete machine, by placing the sheet containing Figure 2, at the left hand and of the sheet containing Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan viewlof thecore portion of the track laying machine, as shown in Fi re 1.

igure 4 is a plan view of the up er portion of the supplemental frame of t e track laying machine, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the forward end of the supplemental frame, illustrating the manner in which the ties are guided and positioned on the road bed,

FigureG is vertical longitudinal sectional view, through the forward end of the car,

and a portion of the. supplemental frame,

showing the manner of mounting the frame thereon. and also the manner of transferring the ties and rails from the car frame to the supplemental frame.

F igure 7 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 77 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 88 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line S)9 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a detall perspective View of the gate for closing the tie guide.

Figure 11 is a detail view of the receivmg conveyor.

Figure 12 is a plan view of a portion of the main car frame showing the driving and controlling mechanism.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on line 1313 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a detail 'view of one of the drums on the supplemental power shafts showing the manner of operating the drums in the rotation of the shafts.

A section of laid track includes spaced tie's 1 and track rails 2, and on which is adapted to ride the car 3, of the track laying machine, which includes a main frame indicated generally at 4, which is mounted on trucks 5, of any desired and ordinary construction. The main car frame includes a base frame formed of inner side bars 6 and outer side bars 7 (Figures 3 and 8), which are arranged in spaced relation to the inner side bars and are of angular cross section. A plurality of uprights and brace members,

indicated at S, extend upwardly from the outer side bars 7, for supporting a top frame 9, at the upper ends thereof. The side bars of the brace frame are connected together in spaced relation, in any suitable and desired manner, by end bars and the like. A plurality of spaced inverted U- shaped frames 10 (Figures 1 and 6), are secured to the inner side bars 6, so that the central horizontal portions thereof are mounted above the base frame, in spaced relation, and which cooperates to form a rail supporting rack. Conveyor drive shafts 11 and 12, are rotatably mounted in the forward and rear ends of the base frame of the adapted to engage and convey ties from the between the side bars 6, as indicated at 15,

secured to the end bars of the base frame, and certain of which are positioned under the upperiflights of the conveyor chain 13, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 8. A tie receiving conveyor is indicated at 16, which includes a pair of spaced parallel side members pivotally connected, at one end, to the drive shaft 12, of the conveyor 13, and which supports an idler shaft at the outer free end thereof, for carrying a pair of spaced endless conveyor belts or chains,having a plurality of spaced projections, adapted in the rotation of the shaft to receive and convey ties from the track rails 2, to the conveyor belt 13, so that the may be fed to the forward end of the car rame.

The top frame 9 carries a track beam 17 which movably mounts a carrier 18, for a hoist, at the rear end of the car, in order that rails may be hoisted for positioning into the rail rack in the car. A plurality of supplemental drive shafts are indicated at 19 as shown in Figure 1, the rearmost one of which is provided with drums for receiving and operating cables 20 extending to the traveller 18, for moving the same along the track beam 17. In this way, it will be seen that rails may be hoisted from beyond the rear end of the car and carried by the traveller for positioning on the rail rack formed by the frames 10. In this operation, the control of the rearmost shaft 19 governs the movement of the traveller on the track beam. The next adjacent supplemental power shaft is provided with suitable drive connections 21, with the shaft 12, and shaft 22, which is an idler shaft having a drive connection 23 with the shaft 11, for positively driving the shafts 11 and'12, and consequently the conveyor belts or chains 13, so that ties will be conveyed from the rear to the forward ends to the main frame of the car.

The base portion of the main frame is provided with a cross beam 24, Figure 8, which mounts a pivot bar 25, Figures 6 and 8, which has secured thereto, the pivoted cross piece 26 carried at the rear end of a supplemental frame indicated generally at 27 in Figure 2, the base frame 28 of which is pivotally connected to said cross beam 26, as indicated at 29, to permit of the vertical movement of the base frame, relative to the car. The supplemental frame 27 includes a supporting or top frame 30, pivotally connected to uprights carried by the forward end of the base frame 28, and at the opposite end to a transverse bar member 31, Figures 3 and 6, which is pivotally connected in the lOl) central portion to a pivot bar 32, carried by a cross beam 33, secured in -the top frame 9 of the car. The top frame 30 includes a pair of pivotally'connected link sections 34 and 35, adjacent the transverse bar 31, the section 34 being pivotally connected to the end of said bar, so that when it is desired to lift the base frame 128 above the horizontal level, or plane of the base-portion of the main frame of the car, the link sections will pivot relative to one another for permitting this movement. A tackle construction including pulleys 36 carried by the forward end of the top frame 30, and the central portionof the transverse bar 31, are adapted to receive a cable 37, which is anchored at one end to the portion of the top frame which carries two pulleys 36 and which is passed over both of the pulleys 36, and the other end of which is extended to a drum on one of the power shafts 19, so that it may be operated and controlled through the operation of said shaft. The base frame 28 of the supplemental frame, includes inner side bars 38, and outer side bars 39, arranged in spaced relation in the same manner as the side bars 6 and 7 of the base frame of the car, and which are in substantial alignment therewith. A shaft 40 Figures 6 and 8, which is an idler shaft, is mounted for rotation between the rear ends of the inner side bars 38 of the supplemental frame, and receives a conveyor member 41, which is driven by the shaft 11, in the main frame, and'which operates to convey the ties from the forward end of the main frame, onto the'rear end of the supplemental frame. A plurality of bars 42, are mounted transversely of the supplemental frame, in spaced relation, and secured between the inner side bars 38, the rear bar 42 in said frame, being provided with a pair of guide strips 43, for receiving and supporting, as well as guiding the ties bein delivered by the conveyor 41, onto the suppimental frame. Guide members 44 for the ties are formed of substantially U- shaped bars, and mounted in spaced relation on the cross bars 42,- as clearly illustrated in Figures 5 and 8, the guide members on adjacent bars being in longitudinal alignment and cooperating to form guide ways 45, for

guiding and positioning loose ties 46, con.- veyed through the main frame of the car, and the supplemental frame for successive positioning by the guide frame, in proper relation on the bed for the track way.

plurality of shafts 47 are rotatably mounted in the inner side bars 38 of the supplemental frame, and correspond in number to the cross bars 42, there being one shaft mounted immediately in the rear of and adjacent each of these cross bars. Each shaft is provided with a pair of arm members 48 having guide arms 49 Figures 5 and 10 arranged in angular relation to operating or tie engaging arms 50. The operating arms are of a ength less than. the distance between a pair of the bars 42, but sufliciently long to bar 42,the guide arm being sufficiently long to span the distance between-the cross bars, so that the following tie will not be permitted to pass into the guide way which just received a tie, but will be forced or guided toward the front end of the supplemental frame, to the next adjacent guide way. The

ends 49 are notched as at 49' to fit the edges of the adjacent cross bars 42 to form secure bridge for the passage of the following ties. In this way, it will be seen that a plurality of ties are successively delivered to the guide ways, in the supplemental frame, for positloning in proper spaced relation on the road bed, and in a manner that only one tie will be admitted to each guide way. The shafts 47 are provided at one end with crank arms 51, to which is secured a flexible cable 52 Flgures 2 and 10, which extends rearwardly along the side of the supplemental frame, and is connected to all of said crank arms, the rear end of the flexible cable extending to the car frame 3, into a position 1n convenient reach of the operator of the machine, for controlling the operation of the shaft and returning them to their nor mal position for permitting the delivery of ties successively to the guide ways. A tie pusher device is mounted on the supplemental frame, and includes a pair of shaft members53 and 54, which mount sprockets for receiving an endless pusher chain 55,

provided with a plurality of projections 56 formin pusher elements for engagement with ties delivered to the supplemental frame, and pushing them along the base portion 28 of the frame, over the guide members 44 and the guide arms 49. A drive connection 57 is provided between the idler shaft 22 carried at the forward end of the top frame 9, and driven by the connection 21, for driving the pusher device, so that the ties will be moved forwardly in the supplemental frame, and delivered thereto.

A plurality of rollers indicated at 58, are rotatably mounted between the inner and outer side bars 38 and 39 respectively, and

are adapted to convey track rails along the" supplemental frame at opposite sides of the tie conveyor thereof. These rollers 58, which form rail conveyors in the supplemental frame, are in alignment with track rail conveyors in the main frame mounted between the side bars 6 and 7 respectively,

and which include endless conveyor belts 519, which are mounted on sprockets carried by the drive shafts 11 and 12 respectively.

' Drums 60 are shafts 19, WhlCh areiadapted to operate.

rovided on one of the power conveyor belt 59, so that a pair of rails may be delivered to the conveyor rollers 58, carried by the supplemental frame for positioning-on the ties laid, in the manner above described, on the road bed. After the railslongitudinal alignment with the car and the main frame thereof,-so that where a slight turn in the track is desired, the supplemental frame may be turned to. the correspondcar, and onto the conveyor chain 13, to be conveyed under therail rack, to the forformed with a return bend v having thew:

are delivered to the supplemental frame, the ward-end of the car, and delivered to the hoist 62 carried in thecentral portion of the supplemental, frame b a the auxiliary contop frame 30, and by uprights 63 secured to veyor 41, onto the gui e plates 43, at which the base frame 28, has cables extending to time they will be picked up by the pusher one of said supplemental power shafts, for conveyor belt 45, and pushed along the supoperation, in connection therewith, so that plemental fi'ame, for successive depositing the rails may be lifted from the rollers 58,' in successive guide ways 45, so that the foland dischar ed or lowered-beyond the outer .lowing ties Wlll slide over the guideways to side rails o the base portion 28 of the supwhich ties have been delivered on the guide plemental frame, onto rail positioning arms 49 to the next guide way for. delivery. guides 64, a plurality of which are mounted After a predetermined number of ties are in spaced relation along the sides of the base delivered and positioned on the road bed,

frame 28, in a manner as clearly shown in in advance of the laid' section of the track Figures 2 and 7. These rail positioning 2, in a manner clearly illustrated, particuguides include bar members, which are larly in Figures 1, 2, and 5 of the drawings, rail will'cbe delivered to the rail conveyor free ends secured to the inner side bars of I elt 59, at each side of the main frame, from the base frame 28, and the outer ends of a pile of rails carried by the rail rack formed which are extendeddownwardly and inclined by the frames 10, which have been previousinwardly as indicated at 66,, under the sides of 1y piled thereon through the use of the travthe base frame 28, and the terminals of which, eller 18 and. the hoist carried thereby for at the lower end, terminate in a parallel delivery to the supplemental frame, at oppospaced relation, outside of the tie guiding site sides thereof, on the rollers 58. The members 44, as indicated at 67, and are hoists 61 are brought into play for deliverspaced from the tie guiding or positioning ing the rails from the rail rack to the con,-

members a distance eqnal to the width of the veyors 59 while the hoists 62 are used for base flange of the track rails. From this lifting the rails from the rollers '58, to deconstruction, it will be seen that the rail liver them downwardly onto the ties which positioning guides, and the tie positioning are laid on the road bed, and in which deguides cooperate for guiding the rails lowlivery the rails are guided by the positionered by said hoist 61, onto the ties, in proper ing guides 64. It will thus be seen that the spaced relation, and at a proper gauge, in reds are properly positioned beyond the alignment with the track rails 2, on the laid ends of the laid section of the track indiportion of the track. When the rails are cated at 2, for proper connection thereto, to

positioned by the cooperative guiding action form another section of laid track, upon the of the rail positioning guides 64 and the tie spiking of the rails to the ties and the conpositioning guides 44, they are then ready nections with the ends of the rails 2. If, for for connection with the ends of the track any reason, it is desired to raise the supplerails 2, and for spiking to the ties, in the mental frame, from the position shown in 'usual and well known'manner, for completthe drawing, the operation of the proper ing the laying of the track section covered and supplemental power shaft 19, for operby the supplemental frame. atlng the cable 37 Wlll operate the tackle A pair of brackets 68 are mounted in opcarried by the top frame 30, for lifting the posite ends of the cross bar 26, supporting base frame 28 upwardly at which time the the base frame 28 of the supplemental link sections 34 and 35 will have a relative frame, from the main car frande, and cables pivotal movement. The operation of an- 69 are connected thereto, at each side of the other of said supplemental power shafts 19 main frame, and passed over suitable pulfor operating the cable 69, Wlll effect a pivleys 70, and upwardly to'one of the suppleotal movement of the supplemental frame, mental power shafts, for control by the opon the pivot bars 25 and 32 respectivel for erator of the machine, to position the supswinging the frame to an angular re ation plemental frame at a desired angle, or in with .respect to the main frame of the car,

lllh

in order that the proper curvature desired, in layin a predetermined section of track will be had. v

Figures 12 to 14 show more particularly the power generating and control means-for distributing the power for operating the supplemental power shafts 19. The top portion of the main frame of the car carries a platform 71, on which is mounted a power generated means, which may be 1n the form of an internal combustion engine, as mdicated at 72, said power generating means being connected to the several supp emental power shafts by suitable chain and sprocket drives 73, or in any other suitable manner found desirable. The operator of the machine stands on the platform 71, and con trols a plurality of levers 74 having a suitable connection designated generally at 75, for operating friction clutch elements 76, mounted on the supplemental power shaft, for frictional engagement under operation, by the respective lever, to cause a rotation of the respective drum with which 1t cooperates for operating a desired part of the apparatus.

It will be seen therefore, that a traclc laying machine has been provided, whlch 1s operable from a single control point, 1n order that one operator may effectively control the operation of the whole machine, in the laying of the ties in the track, 1n a manneras above described.

From this construction, it will therefore be seen that a substantially simple, yet efficient track laying machine has been provided, for laying both ties and tracl &, in proper spaced relation, ready for spiking and connection with a laid section of track.

What is claimed is:

1. A track laying machine comprising a car having a main frame carried by wheeled trucks, a supplemental frame mounted on the forward end of said car, a plurality of tie guiding members carried by said sup-' plemental frame, having means in cooperation therewith, for guiding and successively placing ties in proper spaced relation on a road bed, in advance of the car, means for feeding ties along said supplemental frame, rail conveyors carried by the supplemental frame, rail positioning members carried by the supplemental frame, and adapted for positioning track rails on the ties, operating means carried by the main car frame and connected with the tie feeding means of the supplemental frame, for operating said means, tie and rail conveying means mounted in the main frame for delivering ties and rails to said supplemental frame, and means for controlling the operation of the tie and rail feeding means and the tie and rail positioning means of the supplemental frame.

2. A track laying machine comprising a car having a wheel carried frame, a supplemental frame mounted for horizontal swinging movement on one endof the main car frame, means for swinging and controlling the swinging movement of said supplemental frame, said supplemental frame being also mounted for a pivotal movement in a vertical plane, means carried by the main car frame for effecting and controlling the vertical pivotal movement of said supplemental frame, a series of tie positioning guides carried by said supplemental frame, for positioning a plurality of guides in proper spaced relation on a road bed, means for seating and controlling the delivery of t1es to said tie guide, rail conveying means carried by the supplemental frame, rail posltionmg means carried by said supplemental frame, for positioning the rails of said ties, and means for feeding and controlling the feed of ties and rails to said supplemental frame, and the operation of the tie positlomng means.

3. A track laying machine comprising a car having a frame carried by wheeled trucks, supplemental frames mounted on one end of and projecting forwardly of said car frame, a plurality 0 tie positioning guides mounted in said supplemental frame, for pos tiomng ties in predetermined spaced relat on on a road bed, a plurality of rail positiomn guides mounted on said supplemental ame, for cooperation with the track positioning guides, to position rails on the laid ties, and means for feeding and dellverlng ties and rails to said tie positionmg guides and rail positioning guides, to be laid in track forming cooperation. 4. In a track laying machine, a car havmg a wheel carried main frame, a supplemental frame mounted on and projecting from one end of the wheel carried frame, a plurality of guide members arranged in aligned spaced relation for cooperation to provide tie guide ways for receiving and positioning t1es.in proper spaced relation on a roadbed, a plurality of movable members cooperating with the tie guide way and operable to permit the delivery of a single tie to each guide way and to prevent the subsequent delivery of ties thereto, means for returning the movable members to a position for permitting the subsequent delivery of ties to the guide way, and means for conveying ties to the supplemental frame over the guide ways for positioning on the road bed thereby.

5. A track laying machine including a wheel carried main frame, a supplemental frame mounted on and projecting from one end of the wheel carried main frame, a plurality of tie guide members mounted in aligned spaced relation in the supplemental frame, to form tie guide ways, a plurality of movable members having operating arms normally positioned across the guide ways,

said members also having guide arms, and

means for feeding and delivering ties from the main frame to the supplemental frame, and the guide ways, whereby the ties Wlll be successively delivered and spaced in proper spaced relation on a track bed by sald guide ways controlled by said movable member, the-ties successively operating the operating arms of the movable members for pos1t1oning the guide arms across said guide ways for preventing more than one tie from being delivered to a guide way.

6. A track laying machine mcluding a truck carried main frame, a supplemental frame projecting from and mounting on one end of said main frame, a plurality of tie guiding members formed of bars arranged in inverted U-form and mounted in aligned spaced relation in said supplemental frame, for cooperation to form tie guldeways, means carried by said supplemental frame and associated with each of said guide ways for controlling the delivery of ties thereto, to permit only one tie to be delivered to a guideway, and means for feed1ng and delivering ties from the main frame to sa d supplemental frame for delivery by sald guide ways and positionlng thereby on a road bed.

7. A track laying machine including a truck carried main frame, a supplemental frame mounted on and projecting from one end of said main frame, a plurality of tie receiving. and guiding members mounted in said supplemental frame for guiding and positioning ties delivered to said frame, in proper spaced relationpn a roadbed, means for controlling the dellvery of said ties, by said guide members, an endless pusher conveyor mounted in said supplemental frame, above said guide ways, and adapted for operation to feed and push ties through the supplemental frame, for delivery to said guide members, operating means earned by the main frame, for the endless conveyor in the supplemental frame, rail conveying and positioning means carried by the supplemental frame, for dehverlng and positioning rails in proper spaced relatlon on the laid ties. and means for delivering ties and rails from the main frame to the supplemental frame. I

8. A track laying machine comprising a car including a frame carried by wheels of trucks, a tie conveyor mounted in the lower ortion of said frame for conveying ties .rom one end of the car to the other, rail conveyors mounted at the sides of the tie conveyors, a rail rack mounted in the frame above the tie conveyor, and a supplemental frame mounted on one end of the car and movable relative thereto, including a plurality of tie positioning elements, means operable in the delivery of ties for permitting the successive delivery and positioning of a tie to each element, rail conveyors carried by a supplemental frame, rail positioning elements on the frame for positioning the rails on the ties, and operating and controlling means on the car frame, for controlling the conveying and delivery of ties and rails to the supplemental frame, and the positioning thereof in track forming relation from said supplemental frame.

9. A track laying machine comprising a car including a wheel carried main frame having a base portion and a top portion, a tie conveyor mounted in the main frame for conveying ties from one end of said frame to the other, rail conveyors mounted at the sides of said tie conveyor in the main frame, for conveying rails through said main frame, a rail rack carried upon the tie and rail conveyors and mounted over said tie conveyor, hoisting means carried by the top portion of said main frame, for hoisting rails and positioning them on the rail rack, other hoisting means for delivering rails from the rail rack to the rail conveyors and auxiliary tie delivery conveyors for delivering ties from the rear ends of the car to the tie conveyor in the main frame, a supplemental frame mounted on the forward end of the car for a relative horizontal or vertical swinging movement, means carried by the main car frame for moving and controlling the movement of the supplemental frame, a plurality of tie positioning means carried by the supplemental frames for successively positioning ties in proper spaced relation on a road bed, conveyor means carried by the supplemental frame for cooperation with the tie conveyor of the main" frame for receiving and feeding ties along the supplemental frame to the tie positioning means, rail conveyors arranged in aligned relation in said su plemental frame with 'the rail conveyors of the main frame,

for receiving rails therefrom, rail positiona ing' means carried by the supplemental frame for positioning railsin track forming relation on the ties delivered to the road bed, and operating means for operating and controlling the conveyors in the main frame, the conveyor in the supplemental frame, and the tie and rail positioning means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

ROBERT E. STUBBS.

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