US1325021A - Railway-roundhouses and track lay-outs therefor - Google Patents

Description

G. E. LEMMERICH.

RAILWAY ROUNDHOUSES AND TRACK LAY OUTS THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1919..

1 ,325,021 Patented Dec. 16, 1919,

@ 5 Gmsfarc Clem/mar z GUSTAVE E. LEMMERICH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

RAILWAY-ROUNDI-IOUSES AND TRACK LAY-OUTS THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

Application filed March 25, 1919. Serial No. 285,046.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GUSTAVE E. LEMMER- ICH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Ouyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railway -Round-v houses and Track- Lay-Outs Therefor, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein eX- plainecl and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

An arrangement frequently observed in the construction of engine terminals, including roundhouse facilities, has'been to locate the roundhouse syrmnetrical with respect to the main line of approach to the terminal, with a turn table at the center of the are upon which such roundhouse is laid out. The machine shop, with other essential accessories, is then placed to the rear of such roundhouse, usually midway between its respective ends or on a continuation of the main axis of the roundhouse corresponding with the line of approach to the latter. Various objectionable features are involved in the prevailing type of layout and roundhouse just described, among which may be mentioned limitation of capacity; in other words, the roundhouse accommodations cannot be enlarged to advantage; the location of the machine shop is inconvenient as it does not permit of the bringing of locomotives therein for the purpose of repair to any large extent; and the handling of parts between the machine shop and roundhouse is inconvenient and roundabout.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing objections and is characterized, generally speaking by the provision of two turn tables symmetrically located with respect to the line of approach, and twin roundhouses arranged to be served by said turn tables respectively, the machine shop being located between such round houses and in alinement therewith.

These general features involved in my pointed out in the claims, the'annexed drawing and the following descriptionsettingforth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means con stituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said. annexed drawing Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic plan of my improved layout for an engine terminal, with twin roundhouse facilities; and Fig. 2 is a transverse'section, likewise diagrammatic in character, of one such roundhouse, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 22, Fig. 1.

The track layout in my improved terminal comprises a plurality of parallel tracks on the line of approach, eight such tracks being shown inthe illustrative layout I of Fig. 1; Of these tracks the right-hand track l'constitutes what may be called a through track, passing, by means presently to be described, through and beyond the one roundhouse 2 and the machine shop 3 that lies between and connects such roundhouse 2 with the companion or twin roundhouse 4. The remaining seven tracks comprise a cen tral or main track 5 designed to carry trafli c in both directions. such track branching as it passes between the turn tables 6 and 7 that serve the roundhouses 2 and 4 respectively. The branches 5 of track 5, shown as five in number, terminate in the machine-shop 3. Of the'three tracks which lie immediately adjacent track 5 on each side thereof, the first two, viz. tracks 8 and '9. and tracks 10 and 11, are designed primarily for inbound traffic, as. indicated by the arrow heads, while the outer tracks 12 and 13 are designed primarily for outbound traflic. Cinders will ordinarily be dropped from the engine while on one or the other of the inbound tracks 8, 9, 10 and 11, ash-pits 14 and 15 being provided to receive such cinders. ,In conjunction with the central track 5 there are provided cranerails 16 upon which a suitable crane,(not shown) travels, adapted to collect the ashes from su h pits and transfer them-to a car on said track 5.

Switches 17 serve; to interconnect the tracks 8 to13 in-lusive so that an engine may be readily transferred from one track to the other without the use of the turn tables 6 and 7. Of the latter the first-. named. 6. is adapted to connect'any one of tracks 8, 9 and 12 with any one of a series of radiating tracks 18 in roundhouse 2, while the other turn table 7 is similarly adapted to connect any one of tracks 10, 11 and 13: with radiating tracks-19- in roundhouse- 4. The maximum number of such radiating tracks in either roundhouse is dependent upon the diameter of theturn table serving the same, and in any event there will be room for extra tracks 20 served by said turn tables at various points between the main tracks and the radiating tracks 18 and 19. The roundhouses, moreover, need not extend for the full one hundred and eighty degrees, but may stop short, as shown in full lines, their maximum extent being indicated by dotted outline. hen the roundhouses are made of maximum capacity, the completed structurehas a general oval effect, being interrupted on one of the longer sides of the oval where the main tracks enter the terminal. I

"The cross-sectional design of the roundhouse may varyto suit the size and type of locomotive which it is designed .to accommodate. However, as shown in Fig. 2, such cross-section preferably includes. provision for a traveling craneQl, the rails 22 for which, asshown'in dotted outline in Fig- 1, are concentric with the side walls of the corresponding:roundhouse. {Such rails terminate at the respective ends ofthe machine shop so as'to permit of the ready transfer of parts carried by; cranestraveling on'such rails to the heavier crane '(not shown-l which travels'on rails 23 extending longitudinally of said shop. iThe latter crane may be designed to be sufliciently heavy to 'liftiup a locomotive if desired.

*By reason of, the provision of such heavy crane; service in; the machinev shop, it is not necessary to provide,drop pits in the roundhouses proper except for emergency use, for which 'purposepit's, as indicated at 23. and 24, may be provided in connection with two tracks 18 and 19 respectively.

A layout of the type described above is I capable ofhandling from one, hundred and fifty to three hundred engines per day. The arrangement of the twin turn tables. makes a very flexible and efficient layout possible; while by utilizing the extension of the centertrack 5*and so-called clearing track is H created in case both tables should be out of commission at the same time. Where the full capacity o'f'the two turntables andcorresponding roundhouses is not immediately required, one such .turn table and roundhouse may be installed-with the machine shop located in proper relation thereto so that the second turn tableand corresponding roundhouse may be" later added when the increased facilities thus afforded are required; Not only is a maximum amount of space secured for the area occupied by the terminal buildings, but the layoutof tracks and-the manner in which they are interconnected provides. for the reception ofan engine; its transfer to the desired stall, and return to desired outgoing track, without confusion or trouble.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. The combination of two roundhouses facing each other in. symmetrical relation to the line of approach; turntablesservingsaid roundhouses, respectively; and a machine shop located between and connecting juxtaposed endsof said roundhouses.

2. The combination of two. roundhouses facing each other in symmetrical relation to the line of approach; turntables serving said roundhouses, respectively; a machine shop located between and connecting, juxtaposed ends of said roundhouses; and interconnected tracks on suchline of approach leading to said turntables, respectively.

3. The combination of two roundhouses facingeach other in symmetrical relationto the line of approach; turn-tables serving said roundhouses,respectively; a machine shop. located between and connecting juxtaposed ends of said roundhouses; tracks on such line of approach leading to said turntables, respectively; and another track passing between said turntables to, said shop, all of said tracks being interconnected.

4. The combination of two roundhouses facing each other in symmetrical relation to the line of approach; turn-tables serving said roundhouses, respectively; a machine shop located between and connecting juxtaposed ends of said roundhouses; interconnected tracks on such line of approach leading to, said turntables, respectively; and another track passing over one of said turntables through the corresponding roundhouse. and beyond. a

5. The combination of two roundhouses facing each other in symmetrical relationto the line of approach; turntables serving said roundhouses, respectively; a machine shop located between and connectingjuxtaposed ends. of said roundhouses; tracks on such lineof approach leading to said turntables, respectively; anothertrack passing between said turntables and having branches entering said shop, all the foregoing tracks being interconnected; and yet another track passing over one of said turntablesthrough the corresponding roundhouse and beyond.

6. The combinationof two roundhouses approximately semi circular in. extent and facing each otherin symmetrical relation to the line of approach; turntables serving said roundhouses, respectively; a machine shop located between and connecting two of the juxtaposed ends of said roundhouses; a central track on such line of approach passing between said turntables and having branches entering said shop; and a plurality of tracks on each side of and interconnected with said central track leading to said turntables, respectively.

7. The combination of two roundhouses approximately semi-circular in extent and facing each other in symmetrical relation to the line of approach; turntables serving said roundhouses, respectively; a machine shop located between and connecting two of r the juxtaposed ends of said roundhouses; a

central track on such line of approach passing between said turntables and having branches entering said shop; a plurality of tracks on each side of and interconnected with said central track leading to said turntables, respectively; and another track on one side of the foregoing tracks passing over one of said turntables through the corresponding roundhouse and beyond.

8. The combination of a roundhouse approximately semi-circular in extent lying to one side of the line of approach; a turntable serving such roundhouse; and a machine shop connected with one end of said roundhouse and closing such line of approach. v

Signed by me, this 24th day of March, 1919.

GUSTAVE E. LEMIMERICH.

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