US2640435A - Side release table for servicing railroad vehicles and the like - Google Patents

Description

June 2, 1953 c. c. GRIFFITHS sIDE RELEASE TABLE FOR SERVICING RAILROAD VEHICLES AND THE LIKE 3 sheetsqsheet 1 Filed April 13, 1950 7 I I v l'llll v ZNVENTOR.

cams 0. Grimm ATTORN EY J n 1953 c. c. GRIFFITHS 2,540,435

SIDE RELEASE TABLE FOR SERVICING RAILROAD VEHICLES AND THE LIKE Filed April 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 F! G 4 I INVENTOR.

Clyde 0. Griffifhs 'ATTORNEY Patented June 2, 1 953 SIDE RELEASE TABLE FOR SERVICING RAILROAD VEHICLES AND THE LIKE Clyde 0. Griifiths, Harvey, 11]., assignor to Whiting Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application April 13, 1950, Serial No. 155,659

8 Claims.

This invention is directed to apparatus for servicing the running gear of railway vehicles and the like.

In large railway shops it is customary to install drop table devices for use in removing trucks, axle assemblies, and similar sub-assemblies from railway vehicles. In most instances such installations require the construction of a relatively deep pit extending transversely to railway vehicle tracks and the provision of heavy, relatively expensive drop table apparatus for operation in the pit. Experience has shown that drop table installations are highly efficient and that their expense is well justified in a relatively large railway vehicle repair shop, provided of course that the soil conditions are such as to permit the construction of a deep pit.

There is a need, however, for simple, inexpensive, and easily installed apparatus for performing the same function, but particularly adapted for use in smaller shops, or in areas where soil conditions do not permit utilization of deep pits. I

One of the important objects of my 1nvention is the provision of an easily installed, eflicient, and inexpensive apparatus of the type described, which is particularly useful in connection with fixed body supports for servicing the running gear of railway vehicles and the like. More specifically, the objects of this invention include the provision of a side release table of the shallow pit type particularly adapted to operate in conjunction with fixed body supports and incorporating means on the table movable transversely with respect to the table for lifting the vehicle body by the application of force to the vehicle jacking pads on the body; and means cooperating with the lifting means, the vehicle body, and the body support devices for releasing the lifting means after the support device has been moved into engagement with the vehicle bod Oiher important objects of this invention, as well as many of its outstanding advantages will be disclosed in the course of the following description and in the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned elevation of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially broken away plan view of my side release table;

Fig. 3 is a partially broken away, partial side elevation of this device;

Fig. 4 is a partially sectioned elevation of a jack suitable for use with my device;

Fig. 5 is a partially broken away elevation of a stirrup adapted for engagement with the top of a jack; and r Fig. 6 is a cross section taken along the lines 66 of Fig. 5.

In brief, this apparatus includes a relatively light wheeled table, usually of rectangular shape, adapted for movement along rails disposed in the bottom of a shallow pit, usually constructed in the floor of a railway repair shop and extending transversely to the vehicle tracks on the floor. Rail sections are carried by the table for alignment with the tracks in such manner as to bridge the pit and permit passage of a vehicle when desired. Near the point at which the pit and vehicle tracks intersect, I provide body support devices, preferably extending over the pit and adapted to support a railway vehicle body, or the like, in elevated position.

On the table I provide a pair of telescoping jacks which extend upwardly through the table and are provided with bases, which are normally held by resilient means out of engagement with the floor of the pit. As a load is applied to the jacks, as by engagement with the vehicle body, the resilient means yield sufficiently to permit the base of each of the two jacks to come into contact with the pit floor, thus relieving the table of a major portion of the load. The jacks are movably mounted on support means extending parallel to the direction of movement of the table, thus permitting servicing of vehicles which have jacking pads in various locations. Means are also provided for moving the table while the jacks are in engagement with the vehicle body, thereby permitting transverse adjustment or movement of a truck or axle assembly in position on the table. To permit release of the jacks, stirrups are provided, each having a wall opening for engagement with the movable head of the jack and a side opening for engagement with the support arms slidably mounted in the vehicle support girders. Thus the jacks are utilized to raise the vehicle body until the arms can be moved inwardly into engagement with the stirrups, the jacks thereafter lowered and the side release table carrying the released truck or axle assembly moved transversely from beneath the vehicle.

As illustrated in greater detail by the drawings, the table, generally designated Ill, includes a pair of parallel, relatively heavy I-beams ll extending laterally across the table It] and spaced to receive rail sections l2 in proper position for alignment with vehicle tracks 13. The beams II are conwith a bevel pinion 36.

3 nected at each end by parallel tranverse channel members I4, which are in turn connected at their extremities by channel members l5. If desired, a floor I! may be provided extending over the tops of the members I4 and i8.

Rail wheels i8 are secured to axles 19, which are in. turn journaled in the parallel channel members somewhat inwardly from the end channel members 16 and are spaced for movement along rails 21 mounted in the floor of a shallow pit 22, which extends transversely with respect to the rails I3. Approximately at the transverse center line of the table In, I provide spaced channel-shaped jack support members 23 extending laterally between the I-beams H and the end channel members I6. Jacks, generally designated 24, are provided with heavy bases 26, which extend downwardly between the members 23 for engagement with the floor of the pit 22 whena load is applied to the jacks 25.

The jacks are two in number; and at least one,'and preferably both, are mounted for transverse movement. Each of the jacks includes a rigid'housing'Z'l, which extends upwardly through the floor I1 and is provided with an internal plate or guide 28, which engages a lifting bar 29, the

latter being polygonal in cross section and extending through an opening of corresponding shape formed in the plate 28. A telescoping jack head His fitted slidably into the upper end of the housing 27 and engages the lifting bar 29 in such manner as to 'move upwardly and downing formed in a bevel gear 33 supported in the housing 21 by suitable bearings 34 and meshing The pinion 36 is secured to a pinion shaft 31 journaled in the housing 2'! and secured at its outer end to a universal joint 3 8, the opposite end of the joint engaging a splined shaft 39, which is in turn secured at its opposite end to auniversal joint 4|. The joint El is also connected to a shaft 42 extending transversely [of the table H] to a gear box 43, which is driven by a suitable motor 44 mounted on the frame of the table II).

j The base '28 extends downwardly between the 5501: support? members 23 and is resiliently sup- .ported thereon in such manner that under normal conditionswthe base 26 is held in raised position away from .the floor of the pit 22. The

support. members 23. Wheels 48 are journaled to the outer end of the arms it and engage the jack support members 23.

Springs .49 engage the housing 2! and rods the opposite ends of which. are. secured to. the arms 46. The strength. .of. these springsis adjusted in such manner that -..the bases 26 of. the jacks 24 .are normally held .upwardly. away from-the pit floor andbetween the axles l9 and the channel members 16. V

A nut 52 is securedto the table In and receives transversely extending threaded screw 53, one

end of which preferably projects transversely belyond the channel member IS. The opposite end 'bf'the'screwbs is rotatably secured to the base 26 in such manner that rotation of the screw'53 Will move the table ID transve'rseiyaiong its" "rails 4 2| when the jack 24 is loaded and the base 26 is in engagement with the floor of the pit 22.

In many instances the table 10 may be moved manually along the rails 2|, or by utilization of a lever and ratchet mechanism acting on the axles It. However, if the contemplated loads are large and the distance to be traversed is relatively great, power means may be employed. For example, a spring-tensioned electric cable reel 54 may be mounted on the table l0 and receives a cable 56, one end of which may be connected to a suitable source of electric power. The cable 58 suppliescurrent to the motor 44 and to a second motor 57 carried by the table to and connected to a gear box 58. The output shaft of the gear box 58 drives a sprocket and chain assembly 59 secured to one of the axles IS, the latter also being connected by a suitable sprocket and chain assembly 6!. A motor control device 62 is mounted on the tablev and connected in suitable manner for control of the motors 44 and 51, both of which should be reversible. v

Four pillars 63 resting on the floor on either side of the pit 22 support longitudinal parallel girders 64 on opposite sides of the track l3. The girders 64 extend across the pit Z2 and slidably support transversely extending arms 65, which may suitably be generally cylindrical in shape, but provided with a fiat upper surface to prevent rotation of the arms inthe girders. The arms 66 extend inwardly towards the body lof a vehicle 61 at a predetermined height selected to support the body of the vehicle 61 in, the position desired for the removalof trucks 2 8, which in operation would be disposed upon the rail sections 12. The vehicle 61 is provided on its body structure with jacking pads 69, usually of heavy cross section and disposed for engagement with lifting devices. To permit disengagement of the jack head 3| from the vehicle and atitlre same time to permit lifting of the vehicle by engagement withthe packing pads '69, I provide stirrups H having a flat top surface '12 and an,

opening 13 in the wall of, the stirrup ll opposite the flat surface 12, said opening 13 being shaped to engage'the boss 32. Atransverse opening 14,. is also formed in the'stirrup in the 'shapeto receive the projecting inner endfof the arms 65.

When it is desired to remove the trucks or axle assemblies from a vehicle, thelatteris moved along the tracks 13 until thetruck for aX1 .-s-.

sembly 68 is positioned on the rail sections 1101. the table H). Jacking pads 69 are aligned by movement of the vehicle vI5] with thebody sup-. port arms 66. The jacks 24 may be adjustedin, position relative to the table II! in such manner that the jack heads 3| are in alignment with the jackingpads 69, this beingpossibleregardless of variations in width encountered in vehicles fabricated by diiferent manufacturers,

Before actuating the jacks 24, stirrups fll are placed on each of the jack heads 31 withthe boss 32 engaging the opening 13 in the stirrup.

tion with the opening 14 of the stirrups in line with the arms 66, the latter are moved inwardly into the openings 14 and the jack heads 3| lowered by reverse operation of the motor 44. The jacks 24 are of such dimension that in their collapsed position they can pass beneath the girders 64, the stirrups ll remaining in engagement with the jacking pad 69, and the arms 66 thus supporting the vehicle.

When the jacks 24 have been collapsed, the table II), with the jacks 24 and the truck or axle assembly 68, may be moved transversely from beneath the vehicle 61 into alignment with arelease track, where the truck 68 is'dischar ed for repair and a repaired truck moved on to the table. By reverse operation the, new truckis moved beneath the vehicle body and the jacks 24 actuated to bring the jack head 3| and the boss 32 into engagement with the stirrups H. While in this position, it is sometimesnecessary to vary transversely the position of the truck 68 with respect to the body of the vehicle 61. This may be accomplished without difficulty by rotation of the screw 53,- which allows the jacks 24-to remain stationary, but will move the table lfl in either direction, as desired. Lateral alignment is, of course, attained by movement of the although the form illustrated has proven highly efiicient and satisfactory in use. Other variations of a minor nature will be apparent to those skilled in the art and I do not therefore specifically bind myself to the precise details illustrated except insofar as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in servicing railway vehicles and the like, as by removal of trucks and axle assemblies, and adapted for use in a structure having vehicle tracks extending along a floor, a shallow transverse pit intersecting the tracks, and body support means near the point of intersection of the tracks and pit for a vehicle comprising two pairs of wheels movable on rails extending longitudinally along the floor of a pit, a table mounted on the wheels and supporting laterally disposed parallel rail sections for transverse movement with the table into alignment with one of the tracks, a pair of jacks carried by the table and extending upwardly therefrom for lifting engagement with a vehicle body, and means on the table for actuating said jacks.

2. Apparatus for us in servicing railway vehicles and the like, as by removal of trucks and axle assemblies, and adapted for use in a structure having vehicle tracks extending along a floor, a shallow transverse pit intersecting the tracks, and body support means near the point of intersection of the tracks and pit for a vehicle comprising two pairs of wheels movable on rails extending longitudinally along the floor of a pit, a table mounted on the wheels and supporting laterally disposed parallel rail sections for transverse movement with the table into alignment with one of the tracks, a pair of jacks carried by the table and extending upwardly therefrom prising two pairs of. wheels movable on rails extending longitudinally along the floor of a pit, a

table mounted on the wheels and supporting laterally disposed parallel rail sections for transverse movement with the table into alignment with one of the tracks, a pair of transversely extending jack-supporting members carried by the table, two transversely spaced jacksmovably carried by; said members and extending upwardly throughthe tablefor lifting engagementwith the vehicle body, and means on the table for actuatin said jacks. l t. l 4. Apparatus for use in servicing railway vehicles and the like, as by removal of trucks and axle assemblies, and adaptedfor use in-a structure having vehicle tracks extendingqalon -a floor, a shallow transverse pit intersecting the tracks, and body support means near the point of intersection of the tracks and pit for a vehicle comprising two pairs of wheels movable on rails extending longitudinally along the floor of a pit, a table mounted on the wheels and supporting laterally disposed parallel rail sections for transverse movement with the table into alignment with one of the tracks, a pair of spaced transversely extending jack support members on the table and a pair 0f jacks movable transversely along the jack support members, said jacks extending upwardly through the table for lifting engagement with the vehicle body, each of said jacks including a base disposed below the table for engagement with the bottom of the pit and resilient support means between the jack and the jack support members for maintaining said base out of contact with the pit floor except when a load is applied to the jack.

5. In an apparatus for use in servicing railway vehicles and the like on a track intersected by a shallow transverse pit, the combination of a pair of body support girders extending over the pit on opposite sides of th track, vehicle support arms movable inwardly from th girders for supporting a vehicle body, a wheeled table movable alon rails in a pit and supporting rai1 sections for alignment with the track, a pair of jacks carried by the table each having a minimum height selected to permit movement of the table and jacks beneath said body support girders, and stirrups for removably engaging the upper extremities of said jacks, each of said stirrups having an opening transverse to said jacks for receiving said body support arms and an upper surface for engagement with the vehicle body.

6. Apparatus for use in elevating a railway vehicle and the like, of the type having jacking pads on the body thereof, into supporting engagement with generally h0rizonta1 support arms movable inwardly from fixed support girders comprising a stirrup having a fiat external wall for engagement with a jacking pad on the vehrcle, a first opening in the external wall of the stirrup opposite the flat surface and shaped for releasable engagement with the upper end of a jack and a second opening transverse to the first opening for receiving the vehicle support arms.

7. In an apparatus for use in servicing railway vehicles and the like on a track intersected by a shallow transverse pit, the combination of a pair of support girders spanning the pit, inwardly extending retractable support arms carried by the girders, a wheeled table movable along rails in the bottom of the pit and supporting rail sections for alignment with the track between the girders, a pair of transversely extending jack support members on the table, a pair of collapsible jacks extending upwardly through the table,

each having a collapsed height less than the height of the lower portion of said girder, each of said jacks having a base for engagement with the pit floor, arms pivoted at one end to the jack and at their opposite end to wheels engaging the jack supporting members, and resilient means between said arms and the jack for maintaining the base out of contact with the pit floor in the absence of load on the jacks, stirrups for removably engaging the upper ends of the jacks, each of said stirrups having a fiat surface for engagement with the vehicle body, and transverse openings 'for engagement with'said supporting arms, and means for moving at least one of the jacks transversely with respect to the table.

ing the vehicle, the collapsed height of the jacks being less than the minimum height of the support means, and a detachable member for each jack, said members each being shaped for interposition between the upper portion of the jack and the vehicle and for engagement with the arms of said support means.

CLYDE C. GRIFFITHS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 304,562 Ramsey Sept. 2, 1884 366,302 Cameron July 12, 1887 2,454,225 Skinner Nov. 16, 1948 2,520,969 Holdeman Sept. 5, 1950

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