US1325336A - And thomas spencer miller - Google Patents

Description

J. R. SLATTERY AND I. S. MILLER.

TRACK LAYER FOR CABLEWA'Y APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.20.1917.

Patented Dec. 16,1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET L m S wmmm 8144x14 6 ozs' witweooa -J. R. SLATTERYAND T. S. MILLER. TRACK LAYER FOR CABLEWAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man FEB. 20. 191.1.

J. R. SLATTERY AND T. S. MILLER.

TRACK LAYER FOR CABLEWAY APPARATUS.

I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20.191].

' J. R. SLATTERY AND T. s. MILLER.

TRACK LAYER FOR CABLEWAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20. I917.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PAlENT OFFICE. I

JOHN R. SLATTERY, on VICKSBURG, iv rssrssi rnnnp ncnns srnnonn MILLER, or O H QRA G new mast r- TRAGK-LAYER FOR oAB nwA APPnRAT- s.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. '16, 1919.

Application filed February 20, ,1917. SerialzNo. 149;760.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, Jo N R. SLATTERY and THOMAS SPENCER MI L R, citizens of the United States, residing at Vicksburg, in the county of Warren and State of Mississippi, and at South Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, respectively, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Track-Layers -for Cableway Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to new and useful improvements in cableways, and inc-reparticularly of that type embodying stowers or supports between which the cableway is suspend-ed and operates, and in which one or both of the towers is mounted upon a wheeled base or structure adapted to travel upon railway tracks so that the towenmaybe moved when it is desired to shift the lield of operation of the cableway. In practically all of such systems of which we are aware. the structure supporting the tower travels on a temporary track or tracks made up of sections which are successively --removed from the rear of the machine and progressively laid in advance of the .machine in order that the latter may travel in the desired direction. These track sections are employed in order to facilitate and en'- pedite the laying of the track to providethe machine with the proper foundation, and to obviate the necessity of building a tem porary or permanent track of sufficient length to cover the proposed field of .operation of the cableway.

The means employed prior to our present invention for shifting the track sections from in rear of the tower to points in advance thereof have been objectionable because a large amount of time and labor is consumed in carrying out the operation. The shifting of the track section was usually performed by shifting apparatus wholly mounted on the tower support, .whichshifting apparatus, due to its location andconstruction. necessarily was limited in its extent of movement so thatit could only pick up a comparatively small number of .sections from the rear of the tower, and transport them to the front of the tower, which meant that the shifting operation would have. to stop until the tower had been advanced beforcthe shifting apparatus could again be "brought into operation. This nieans a considerable loss in labor, because it necessitated aga-n'gof men being available practically continuously in order to attend to the track shifting, so thattrackwa-y would always :be available to receive the tower whenevenit Wasnecessary to advance the latis because lfi ientt ack ay co ld o be laid in order to accommodate any considerablcentent of movement of the tower.

of our invention is, therefore, to provide a track-shifting means adapted to pickup acOB'SidcI'ablenumber of track sections from the rear of the tower and transfcr-them-to a point in advance of the ower, eps-ra on o sa d ea being available atgany time to advance any part, orall of the track sections which may be in rear-of theitower so that a considerable amount of traclrmaybe laid in advance of the rtoyver, the operation .of said track-laying means being limited only by the numberiof -track sections to be laid. To these ends we provide a track-way between the twoor more trackways which may carry the tower support, and located beneath the towersupport, and provide means adapted to travel on said intermediate trackway, which nieans will have provision for liftthe tower-supporting trackway sections and transporting them beneath the support from a point in rear. of the latter 1 to a-point in advance thereof, which means will be operableat alltimes to transfer allof the track sectionsexcept those-upon which the tower support directly rests, or any part thereof ,.vvitl 1out phindra-nce on the part of the towersupport. By this means we are enabled to accomplish a great saving 111 time and also inlabor, because it will only be necessary to employ a gang-of men long enough vtopick up all of the track sections in rear of the tower and transport them to a point in-advance thereof, whereupon the use of said labor may be discontinued, or employedfor.other purposes until the tower support shall have traversed all'the track sections in advance thereof.

Ourwinvention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts .to be more f lly described hereinafter and the novelty OfWlllCll will be particularly pointed out anddistinctly claimed.

W e havefully and clearly illustrated our invention in the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of this specification, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a tower support for a cableway showing the wheeled trucks for supporting the same on parallel trackways, said trucks and trackways being shown in end elevation, and the track-transporting means constituting our invention being shown in end elevation beneath the tower support and between the trackways for supporting the same.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the track-transporting means constituting our invention.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the tracktransporting means.

4e. and are enlarged views, partly in section, of the track-t-ransporting means, the latter being shown generally in elevation.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the tower support or platform, the traclrways for supporting the same, the intermediate trackway for the tracit-transporting means, and the transportingmeans in position to pick up the tower platform track sections, the

transporting apparatus being also'shown in one position in dotted lines after it has picked up the tower-supporting sections.

7 is a iew similar to Fig. 6 but showing the track-transporting means after picking up the tower support track sections, and in position to pick up its own track section and then transport ail said track sections from a. point in rear of the machine to a point in. advance of the machine.

Fig. 8 is a view sin r to Fig. 7 but showing the track-supp rting means in position after having transported the tower support track sections, and its own track section, to a point in advance of the tower platform, and in position to drop its own section into operative position.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the transporting means swung to placethe tower platform track sections in position to form eontinuations of the platform track ways in advance of the platform.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 1 designates the base or platform support for one of the supporting towers of a cableway for instance, the head tower, the members of the said tower being designated generally at 2, 3. The platform or base 1 is supported on wheeled trucks 4, 5, respectively, arranged and adapted to travel on trackways 6, 7, respectively, arranged parallel to each other. The platform 1 not only supports the tower, but may also support the steam generator 8 and the hoisting engine 9 by means of which the various operating ropes of the cableway are controlled. The construction of the platform, the tower and the hoisting means, forms no part of our present invention and we desire it understood that the structure thereof may be varied within wide limits without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

The trackways 6, T, are arranged parallel to each other and transversely of the line of direction of the cableway and are made up of a plurality of sections each including cross-ties l0 and the rails 11, which sections are adapted to be placed on the ground end to end so as to form a continuous track along which the support or base 1 may travel. In apparatus of this character the general mode of operation is to pick up the track sections in rear of the tower and shift them to a point in advance of the tower, and in line with the section or sections upon which the tower rests, so that the tower may be advanced on the newly laid track as the work done by the cableway progresses.

Vie will now proceed to describe the means constituting our invention for transporting the track sections from points in rear of the tower or cableway apparatus to points in advance thereof for the purpose just described. Anan ed between the trackways 6, T. and extending parallel therewith, eneath the tower platform, is a trackwz 12, preterably made up of a plurality of sections of suitable length arranged end to end, and adapted to be progressivel picked up and transported in a. manner to be presently described. Adapted to travel on this trackway 12 is a wheel truck 13 supporting a turntable base let having a circular trackway l5, and a center bearing 16. Rotata'bly arranged on the turntable base 1 1 is a turntable 17 having center bearing 18 turning on the said center bearing 16 by virtue of a kingbolt 19 and also having running wheels 20 arranged to travel on the circular track 15, heretofore described. Projecting in opposite directions from the turntable 17 and in longitudinal alinement with each other are supporting member, preferably in the torn: or" arms consisting of parallel side members 21 held in parallel arrangement and braced by cross-members 22, 23, which may be of any suitable construction and arrangement to maintain said side members in rigid position relative to each other. The members or arms 21 are of such length as to bridge the space between the trackways (3, '7, and to have the outer ends of said arms take position over said trackways when the turntable is swung to have said members or arms extend transversely and at right angles to the trackway 12.

' Carried by the outer ends of each of the members 21, is means for lifting a track section ed the ground and maintaining it in suspended position for transportation, a1 d also for lowering the track section into position on the ground when said section reaches the desired location. This means may take a number of forms without departing from our invention, but we will describe one embodiment which will efficiently accomplish the purpose, but to which we do not desire to be limited: Mounted in the ends of the members 21 are transverse pulley shafts 24, 24*, arranged parallel to each other and turning in suitable bearings 25 in said members 21, 21. Each of these shafts bears a pair of grooved pulleys or wheels 26, 26?

arranged respectively adjacent the ends of the shaft and between the members 21, 21. These shafts 24, 24, and the pulleys 26, 26 are so arranged that, when the members 21 take position over the platform trackways 6 or 7, said pulleys on the respective shafts 24, 24*, will be located approximately over the rails of the trackway as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Passing over the pulleys 26 are hoisting chains 27, the free ends of which depend from said pulleys and carry grip-hooks 28 adapted to catch under the tread of one of the rails of a section of the trackway 6 or 7. From the pulleys 26, the said chains 27 pass rearward lengthwise of the arms 21, and are connected to an eye 29 on the end of a rigid connecting member 30, the opposite end of which is provided with an eye 31 connected by a short chain section 32 to a winding shaft 33, turning in bearings 34 in the said side frames or arms 21, 21. The

shaft 24' is also provided with grooved pulley wheels 26, over which pass chains 35 depending at one end beneath the shaft 24 and having grip-hooks 28 to engage the tread of the other rail of the track section opposite to that engaged by the hooks 28. The opposite ends of these chain sections 35 are connected to the eyes 29, heretofore described, so that, when the shaft 33 is rotated to wind the chain sections 32 thereon, both pairs of the grip-hooks 28*, 28 will be lifted to raise the track section from the ground so that it will be suspended from the ends of the arms 21, whereby it may be transported. The pulleys 26 on the shaft 24 are preferably made wide enough to not only serve as guides for the chains 35%bearing the hooks 28 but also as guides for the chain sections 27, heretofore described. The rigid members are employed in order to prevent slack in the hoist- 7 ing chains between the pulleys and the winding shaft 33. The winding shaft 33 may be operated in any suitable manner, as from a power shaft 36, mounted in suitable bearings 37 in the side arms21, said shaft 36 carrying a pinion 36, meshing with a gear 33 on the winding shaft. The shaft 36 is provided on its end with a ratchet 38 adapted to be engaged by a pawl 39 on an operating lever 40, whereby said shaft may be rotated to wind the chain sections thereon. The shaft 36 may also be provided with a brake wheel 41, with which cooperates a band brake 42 operable by a hand-lever 43, to retard rotation of the shaft during the periods when the ratchet lever is being operated and the pawl is out of engagement with the teeth, and also to hold the shaft against rotation while the turntable is transporting the track sections. It will be understood that the track section lifting, holding and lowering means, just described, is preferably the same at the ends of both of the arms 21 and, therefore, the description of that at one end applies to both and need not be repeated.

In addition to the means for lifting the track section upon which the tower platform truck travels, the members 21 are also provided at oneend with means for lifting and transporting the track section upon which the turntable truck travels, so that the track shifting apparatus will not only serve to shift and lay the track for the tower platform, but may also be used to simultaneously shift the trackway for said turntable appa ratus. This means preferably consists of a transverse shaft 44 having bearing in the side members 21, as at 45, and carrying grooved pulleys 46 over which pass chains 47, each carrying at its lower end a griphook 48 to grip the treads of the rails on the track sections for the transporting apparatus. The ends of these chain'sections 47 opposite that bearing the hooks 48 are connected in any suitable manner, as at 49, to rigid connecting bars 50, the opposite ends of which bars are connected as at 51 to chain sections which are in turn connected to a winding shaft 53 to be wound thereon or unwound therefrom in order to take up or pay out chain sections 47. Connected to the winding shaft and also adapted to be wound thereon are chain sections 54, bearing'grip hooks 55, and adapted to be wound on, and unwound from, the said winding shaft 53 simultaneously with the winding or the unwinding of the said chains 47. This shaft 53 is driven from a driving shaft 56 having journals 57 in the side frames21 and bearing at one end a ratchet wheel 58 with which coiiperates a pawl 59 on an operating lever 60 by means of which the shaft may be rotated.

The shaft 56 is provided with a pinion 61 meshing with a gear 62 on said shaft 53 whereby the latter may be rotated to take up the chains 47 and 54 to lift the track section for the transporting apparatus. The shaft 56 may be provided with a brake wheel 63 with which cotiperates a band brake 64 operable by a hand-lever 65 to control the rotation of said shaft 56 and the winding shaft. 53. We desire it understood that we prefer to employ but one means for lifting the track sections for the transporting apparatus, but it will be understood that the opposite end of the members 21that is, that portion on the opposite side of the of the preferred embodiment being as above described, the operation thereof is as follows, referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3, and the diagrammatic Flgs. 6, 7, 8 and 9:

The shifting or transporting apparatus.

for the track sections is moved along its trackway to a point in rear of the tower support or base until the truck 13 rests upon the end-most section of the center trackway, whereupon the turntable is rotated to bring the ends of the arms or members 21 over the end-most sections of the trackways G and 7, as shown in full lines in Fig. 6. The winding shafts 33, 53, for the chains 27 and 35 are then operated to pay out said chains so that the hooks 28, 28, carried by the ends of said chains respectively, are in position to be engaged with the threads of the rails of the track sections. After the hooks 28. 28 have been engaged with the treads or the tracl; sections, the chains 27 and are taken up so as to lift the track section clear of the ground. The track sections, being of substantially the same weight, serve to balance each other, whereby the turntable and arms 21 may be readily rotated by hand to bring the turn-- table and an 21 substantially to the 1)0Sl tion shown in 7 of the drawings, with the longitudinal axis of the track transporting means extending lengthwise of the central track section upon which the transporting means travels. The transporting means being in the position shown in Fig. 4', the hooks 48 and 55 are then engaged with the treads of the rails of the end-most section of the center traclrway and the chains 41-7 and 54: are taken up to lift said end-most track section clear of the ground. The transportingmeans, supporting at its ends the track sections from the trackways for the tower support or base, and also supporting the end-most track section of the central trackway, may then be propelled or moved along the center tracltway by any suitable means so as to carry the said suspended track sections to a point in advance of the tower support or base. Any suitable means may be employed for moving or propellin the shifting or transporting means, but I prefer to employ a winding drum 6% mounted on the platform 1 and having wound thereon one end portion of a hauling line which line passes over an outboard sheave 66, and has its opposite end connected in any suitable manner. as at 67, to the transporting device. For this purpose 1 provide the turntable of the transporting device with a central stud or pin. as shown at 67 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, so that the power is applied directly to the truck without danger of swinging the turntable and the arms 21 during transit.

The transporting apparatus is moved in advance of the platform 1 to a point where the track section for the said apparatus, which section is suspended from the latter, will take position over the ground or other supporting surface beyond the advance end of the central trackway so that, when lowered, said section will be in position to form a continuation of said central trackway. The trackway section for the central trackway is then lowered into place, whereupon the transporting means is again propelled until its truck takes )osition on its track section which has just een transported and laid. The turntable of the transporting apparatus is then rotated to bring the track sections for the platform trackway in po sition to form continuations of said trachways, as shown in Fig. 9, whereupon said sections are lowered into place and suitably secured. The turntable may then be rotated to extend longitudinally of the center trackway, and returned to a point in rear of the platform 1 to pick up additional track sections and transport them to the points in advance of the platform in the manner just described. The transporting apparatus may be returned to its initial position-that is, to the position shown in Fig. 6, by means of the same line 65 and drum 64:, heretofore described, it only being necessary to transfer the block 66 or employ another block at the position shown at 66.

The operation may be continued until all of the track sections in rear of the platform have been transported to, and laid at a point or points in advance of the platform, and this operation is entirely independent of any operation of the tower platform or base, and is in no way handicapped thereby.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a cableway apparatus, a trackwa-y upon which said apparatus travels, a. second trackway extending alongside said first-named traclnvay, a truck on said second trackway, a turntable on the truck having means for suspending a member of said first-named trackway, and means carried by said apparatus for propelling said turntable truck.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a. sectional trackway adapted to support a cableway apparatus, a sectional trackway extending alongside said first-named traclm'ay, a turntable truck movable on the second trackway and having a member adapted to take position over the first-named trackway, and means carried by said member for lifting and transporting the sections of said first-named trackway.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a sectional trackway adapted to support a cableway apparatus, a sectional trackway extending alongside said first-named trackway, a turntable truck movable on the second trackway and having a member adapted to take position over the first-named trackway, means carried by said member for lifting and transporting the sections of said firstnamed trackway, and means on said truck for lifting and transporting the sections of said second trackway.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a sectional trackway adapted to support a cableway apparatus, a sectional trackway extending alongside said first-named trackway, a turntable truck movable on the second trackway and having a member adapted to take position over the first-named trackway, means carried by said member for lifting and transporting the sections of said first-named trackway, and means on said truck for transporting the sections of said second trackway simultaneously with the transporting of the sections of the first-named trackway.

In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, parallel trackways, a cableway platform having wheels to travel on said trackways, an intermediate trackway, a turntable truck to travel on said intermediate trackway and pass beneath said platform, said turntable having oppositely disposed members provided with means adapted to take position over the platform trackways and to simultaneously lift and support a member of the said platform trackways, and means operable from the platform for moving said turntable truck along said intermediate trackway.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a cableway appa ratus, a trackway upon which said apparatus travels, a second trackway extending alongside said firstnamed trackway, a truck on said. trackway, a turntable on the truck having means for sustaining a member of said first-named trackway, an outboard pulley, a drum on said apparatus, and a line wound on said drum and extending over said pulley and connected to said truck whereby said truck is propelled.

7. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, in combination, a truck, a turntable mounted thereon and having oppositely disposed members provided at their ends with pairs of pulleys, the pulleys of each of said pairs being revoluble on an axis transverse of said members, and said pairs being spaced from each other lengthwise of said members, flexible track-lifting devices traveling over said pulleys, and a common winding means for raising and lowering said flexible means.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a truck, a turntable mounted thereon, and having oppositely disposed members provided. at their ends with pairs of pulleys, 'the pulleys of each pair being revoluble on an axis transverse of said members, and said pairs being spaced from each other lengthwise of said members, flexible track-lifting devices extending over said pulleys respectively, a common winding means for operating said flexible means, pairs of spaced pulleys arranged on one of said members between said first named pairs of pulleys and the pivot of the turntable, the pulleys of each of said second pairs being also revoluble on an axis transverse of said members, and said second pairs being also spaced apart from each other lengthwise of said member, and flexible track-lifting devices extending over said second pairs of pulleys and a common winding means for operating the same.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

JOHN R. SLATTERY. THOMAS SPENCER MILLER.

IVitnesses to the signature of John R. Slattery:

WILLIAM ,Vrn-inrox Itoor, ALEXANDER MILLER TODD.

IVitnesses to the signature of Thomas Spencer Miller:

EnNnsr PULsroRD, HERBERT THOMSON.

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