GB600130A - A transportable mobile power unit for moving railroad or railway freight cars and wagons and other vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

600,130. Tractors. HERSCOVITCH, W. Sept. 27, 1945, No. 25158. Convention date, Sept. 27, 1944. [Classes 79 (i), 79 (ii) and 79 (iv)] A mobile power unit for moving railway trucks or other vehicles comprises a frame mounted upon at least two transport wheels which are arranged in longitudinal alignment, lifting mechanism, the base of which is rigidly secured to the frame at a point between the transport wheels and which is adapted to lift a truck or other vehicle, in order to increase adhesion pressure of the transport wheels, and means for driving at least one of the transport wheels. As shown, the unit comprises a frame 2, supported at one end by a driving wheel 16 and at the other end by a second wheel 32. A jack 36, enclosed within a housing 34, is mounted rearwardly of the axis of the wheel 16 so that the weight of the lifted truck increases the adhesion pressure between the wheel and the rail. The driving wheel 16 derives its power from a petrol engine 57, through a gear-box 48 and chain and sprocket drives. The axle 15 of the driving wheel is driven at one of two speeds through sprockets 25, 23, which are free to revolve on the axle. A pair of sliding dog-clutch elements 22, 24 on the sprockets 23, 25, adjustable by levers 82, 83, enable the operator to engage that sprocket corresponding to the speed of drive he desires. The engine is connected to the gear-box by a friction clutch 67, 68 which is controlled by a grip 77 on the handlebar 8. The throttle control 64 is mounted on the handlebar 9. In operation, the jack is made to lift one corner of a railway truck, thereby transferring weight to the wheel 16 to prevent slip, low gear being engaged until the truck is moving sufficiently fast to engage high gear. As an alternative to moving trucks in this manner, the unit may be anchored to the rail with the wheel 16 clear of the rail. The freight is then hauled by cable wound on a drum 18, which drum is continuously driven by the axle 15 of the driving wheel 16. An outrigger, Fig. 4, comprising members 92, a wheel 16, driving shaft 93 and a jack 36 may be attached at the front and to one side of the unit. The shaft 93 has a coupling 94 by which the shaft 93 and axle 15 may be connected.