US2082594A - Machine for digging ballast - Google Patents

Description

June 1, 1937. F. H. PHILBRICK MACHINE FOR DIGGING BALLAST Filed NOV. 18, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1, 1937. F. H. PHlLBRlCK MACHINE FOR DIGGING BALLAST 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1935 I k|||| I E III lllll a iZhvaJZQ Emmi 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. H. PHILBRIC K MACHINE FOR DIGGING BALLAST Filed NOV. 18, 1935 June 1, 1937.

June 1, 1937. F. H. PHILBRICK MACHINE FOR DIGGICNG BALLAST 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 18, 1955 June 1, 1937. F. H. PHILBRICK umcnmn FOR meeme BALLAST Filed Nov. 18, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A ffzms'rdzk June 1, 1937. F. H. PHILBRICK MACHINE FOR DIGGING BALLAST 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 18, 1935 A v; qm u F $9 Mlf" y fr WM June 1, 1937. F. H. PHlLBRlCK MACHINE FOR DIGGING BALLAST Filed Nov. 18, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 NEW. kh

Patented June 1, 1931' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR DIGGING BALLAST Frank H. Philbrick, Evanston, Ill.

Application November 18, 1935, Serial No. 50,374

22 Claims. (01. 37-104) The invention relates to machines for working or digging ballast from railway road-beds.

The objects of the invention are to provide: a machine of this class which includes a vertically reciprocable gang of digger-tools which are pivoted to swing transversely and means for positively swinging the tools laterally during their digging strokes; a machine in which the diggers, during the ends of their pivotal movement, are m cushioned; a machine which includes a guideframe for the cross-head and cushioning means between the cross-head and the frame operative at the ends of the drop-strokes; a machine in which the cross-head is vertically guided by cushli ioning means between the cross-head and the frame; a machine for this purpose which includes a guide-frame for the head, which is adapted to bear on the track-rails and is cushioned to reduce the impact resulting from the drop-strokes of 20 the tools and cross-head; a machine which includes pivoted digger-tools and means for retaining some of the tools in extended position during part of the up-strokes of the tools; a machine in which the guide-frame for the cross-head is carried in the truck-frame so it can tilt transversely when the ballast is uneven at the sides of the track; a machine which includes cushioned means for lifting and dropping the head; and other objects which will appear from the detailed 30 description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter. set forth and are more particularly defined'by claims at the con- M clusion hereof. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan, the motor being removed,

40 and the guide-frame shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the drop-head and illustrating the lifting mechanism therefor;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section illustrating the cross-head and the digging tools in raised position;

Fig. 6 is a similar view, illustrating the diggers 50 in lowered position;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the drop-head and guide-frame, the frame being shown in section and the drop-head being shown in raised position;

55 Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through the drop-head in lowered position, and the guideframe;

Fig. 9 is a view, partly in front elevation and partly in section, illustrating the cross-head and the device for sliding one of the tools in its extended position;

Fig. 10 is a section on line l0lll of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective of the bracket on the cross-head which is engaged by the lifting chain.

The invention is exemplified in connection with a truck adapted to travel on the track-rails equipped with a motor for propelling the truck and for intermittently lifting the digging tools. A suitable truck frame a is provided with wheels b adapted to run on the rails of the track. An internal combustion motor 0, with the usual accessories, and a transmission d, controlled by a lever 42', are mounted on the truck-frame. A longitudinal propeller shaft e under the truckframe is adapted to be driven from the transmission d by a pulley e, belts e and a grooved pulley e on said shaft. Shaft e drives a pinion f through reversible gearing f to drive a gear I on the axle b of the rear wheels b to propel the truck in either direction along the track. Wheels 9, mounted on longitudinal shafts g under the truck-frame, are provided to transport the truck onto and off the track transversely thereto. Suitable jacks h are provided at the front and rear of the truck, having shoes adapted to engage the heads of the rails to lift the truck off the track so that transverse rails may be laid under the wheels 9. The mechanism thus far described may be of any suitable construction adapted for supporting and transporting the digging mechanism hereinafter set forth.

The picking or digging mechanism comprises a series of tools I, Z. l and 1 adapted to displace the ballast in the cribs between the ties transversely to one side of the track and a similar oppositely acting series of tools m, m, m m which are adapted to displace the ballast transversely to the other side of the track. These tools are pivoted at their upper ends on pins which are supported in a vertically movable cross-head t which is built up of a pair of spaced plates 2! between which the tools are hung. Plates 2| are fixedly secured together in fixed spaced relation by a central block 22 and blocks 23 between the plates. The cross-head is reciprocable vertically so it can be lifted and dropped by mechanism hereinafter described to lift the lower ends of the tools above the ties (Fig. 5) and to lower them into the ballast (Fig. 6). The cross-head is guided and works vertically in a vertical guideframe s. Heretofore it has been proposed, as exemplified in Patent No. 1,556,605, to depend upon the lowering of the points of the tools into ballast and its resistance to swing the tools transversely of the track for displacing the ballast. The present invention provides for positively swinging the tools transversely during the drop movements of the cross-head to more effectively and efliciently displace the ballast transversely. For this purpose, an upstanding arm 24 rigid with the tool Z of one series and a similar arm 25 is integrally formed or rigid with the tool m of the oppositely acting series. The upper ends of arms 24, 25 carry rollers 26, for engaging, respectively, during the reciprocations of the crosshead, a pair of downwardly divergent cams El which are carried by the cross-head. The tool I is provided with a cam or abutment 29 which is adapted to engage an abutment 28 on the tool 1, and similar abutment cams are provided on tools I and l of the series. When the arm 28 engages the cam 21, with which it is associated, during the drop of the cross-head, the first lever Z of the series will be positively swung and, through abutments 28, 29, the other tools will be positively swung transversely to one side of the track. The oppositely acting set of tools m, m, m and m are provided with similar abutments 28, 29, so that they will be positively and simultaneously swung in the opposite direction as the arm 25 is lowered. The tools of each set are transversely arranged to progressively move the ballast from the central portion of the track to one side thereof. The upper ends of the tools of one series overlap those of the other and this permits them to be mounted to swing to an effective angle for lateral displacement of the ballast. The tools I, Z and Z and m, m and m are adapted to work in the crib between the rails to displace the ballast outwardly under the rails. The tools I and m extend over the rails and to the sides thereof, respectively, for moving the ballast beyond the ends of the ties. During the lift of the cross-head, the weight of the tools which operate between and under the track rails will swing downwardly by gravity under the control of the tools I and m, which are controlled by the arms 24, 25 and the earns 21. In order to retain the outer tools Z and m in the extreme outward position in which they swing and prevent the ballast displaced thereby from moving inwardly, devices are provided for retaining said tools in such position until the cross-head has been raised sufficiently for the tools to clear the ballast. Each of these devices (Figs. 9 and 10) comprises a roller 30 journaled in open bearings 3| fixed to one of the plates ill of the cross-head, and a leafspring 32 bearing against the roller to press it into the path of the tool Z or 172 When the cross-head reaches its lowermost position, the roller 30 will snap under the tool and retain it in its extended position until the cross-head is raised sufficiently to cause the tool to strike the truck-frame at 33, which will force the tool below the roller 30 and permit the tool to swing into position shown in Fig. 5.

In some instances, it is desirable to vary the transverse displacement of the ballast. For this purpose the earns 21 are pivotally connected at 80 to brackets 8| which are fixed to the bulkhead 48 of the truck. Springs 82 are applied to normally hold the cams 21 into abutting relation with blocks 8 I. Cams 2! are provided with downwardly extending arms 83. A shaft 84 which is mounted in bearings 85 in the lower ends of brackets 8| is provided with cams 86, which engage the arms 83 to swing the cams 21 on their pivots 80 to vary the stroke of the arms 24, 25 which operate the tools as hereinbefore described. Shaft 84 may be adjusted by any suitable means such as an arm 81 and a link 88. This exemplifies means for varying the positive swinging movement of the tools as it is effected by the cams 21 during the drop-stroke of the .cross-head and tools.

Spacer-blocks 23 of the cross-head are each provided with a bumper or buffer 34 of rubber, which serves to hold the tools Z m respectively, to cushion the blows between tools Z m and the cross-head at the end of the drop of the crosshead. Guide-rollers 35 serve to swing the tools Z m transversely and so that the rollers 30 will snap under themv This exemplifies a reciprocable cross-head with pivoted digging tools and means for positively swinging the tools transversely of the track, so they will efficiently and quickly displace the ballast to the opposite sides of the track.

The cross-head t is mounted for vertical movement in guide-frame s which is vertically movable in the truck and is adapted to be supported directly by the rails during the lifting strokes of the cross-head. Frame s comprises standards 31, rigidly cross-connected by beams 38 and a plate 39 at their upper ends, and spaced apart to receive the cross-head between them. The standards 31 at either side are connected by brackets 48 (Fig. 8.) Flanged shoes 4i, adapted to engage the track-rails, are carried by brackets 40. Elastic blocks or buffers 42 are interposed between shoes 4| and brackets to form a cushion between the frame s and the rails. These devices constitute cushioned feet between the guide-frame and the rails. Frame s is movable vertically so the shoes 4| can be lifted off the rails when the truck is to be propelled any considerable distance along the track. For this purpose, a lifting jack 43, of the pneumatic or bydraulic type, is mounted on a beam 44 which is fixedly supported on the truck-frame to engage a bracket 45 on the guide-frame 8. Through the operation of the jack 43, the frame s may be raised and lowered so it will be supported by the truck or directly by the track-rails.

Springs I04 are applied between the truck-frame and the brackets 40 at the lower ends of the standards 31 of the frame s. These springs are of sufficient force to lift the guide-frame or relieve, in considerable measure, its pressure on the track-rails during the lifting strokes of the crosshead and diggers, at which time their weight is carried by the lifting mechanism for the crosshead hereinafter described. During the lifting strokes of the cross-head and diggers the shoes 4! will be lifted off the rails or the pressure thereon will be relieved by the springs I04 sufficiently to permit the truck to be propelled to bring the digging tools into the diiferent portions of a crib between the ties or between the cribs. These springs make it unnecessary to operate the liftlug-jacks 43 to lift the guide-frame 3 off the track during the short movements of the truck necessary to bring the tools into different positions in a crib or between the cribs.

The end of the drop-stroke of the cross-head and the tools carried thereby is cushioned by shock-absorbing devices between the cross-head and the guide-frame. For this purpose rods 64 have their lower ends pivotally connected at 65 to the cross-head and their upper ends provided with stop or abutment collars 66. Rods 64 pass through wedge-shoes 61, respectively. Each wedge-shoe 61 is held between a pair of wedgeblocks 68 which are slidably guided on .a plate 63 which is fixed to the top of the frame 8. Springs 10 coiled around rods H, which extend loosely through the wedge-blocks 6B normally force the blocks together in abutting relation. When the cross-head reaches the end of its dropstroke the collars 66 will strike the wedges 61, which will force the blocks 68 apart against the force of springs 10 to cushion without recoil the cross-head and the tools carried thereby, the energy being dissipated through friction between the wedges and blocks. These devices also serve to limit the drop of the cross-head in the guideframe. The shocks imparted to the guide-frame s cause its feet to bear solidly on the track-rails. The shocks thus imparted to said frame are measurably absorbed by the cushion-blocks 42 in the feet of the standards of the guide-frame. A rigid bulk-head 4B and side-plates 49 are rigidly secured to the truck-frame. The guide-frame s is confined against fore and aft movement in an opening in the truck-frame.

Mechanism is provided for alternately lifting and dropping the cross-head which carries the tools, so that the tools will be released for hammer-blows against the ballast. This mechanism comprises a transverse shaft 46, which is journaled in bearings 47 secured on bulkhead 48 and to braces 5|. A pair of sprocket-wheels 52, fixed to shaft 46, drive the pair of vertically extending sprocket-chains 53, the forward and vertical reaches of which are parallel and close to the rear of the cross-head t. The lower loops of these chains pass around idler-sprockets 54 which are journaled in levers 55, to which the springs 56 are applied to keep the sprocket-chains taut. Each of the chains 53 carries a pair of laterally projecting lifting rollers 51. Guides 58 are fixed to the cross-head and the guides are spaced so one of the chains 53 can pass between them. Brackets 59 are slidably confined in guides 58.

, The rollers 57 on the chains 53 are adapted to pass between guides 58 and engage rearwardly projecting lugs on these brackets 59 to lift the cross-head. As the rollers 51' pass around the top of sprockets 52 they will pass rearwardly and away from the brackets to release them so the cross-head, with the tools thereon, will drop. In order to avoid shock resulting from the impact of the lifting mechanism against the cross-head, at the commencement of each upward stroke of the I cross-head, brackets 59 are slidably mounted in guides 58 which are fixed to the rear plate 2| of the cross-head. A pair of springs 6| bear against the top of each bracket 59 and each of these springs is coiled around a rod 62, which is fixed in one of the brackets 58. When the rollers 57 strike the brackets 59, the springs will absorb the shock to avoid subjecting the cross-head to excessive impact blows. This exemplifies means for reciprocating the cross-head which carries the tools for drop-hammer blows in which the intermittent impact of the operating mechanism at the commencement of each up-stroke will be cushtioned to prevent wear and tear of the parts. Shaft 46 is driven by a sprocket 63 fixed to said shaft, a sprocket-chain 64 and suitable speed reducing mechanism 1' of the worm-gear type which is driven from the engine driven shaft e through a clutch 0 under control of a lever 22.

In practice it sometimes occurs, for example on curves, that the ballast at one side of the track is considerably higher than that at the other side, with the result that the tool or tools at the high side will initially receive the entire force of the blow resulting from the drop of the cross-head. This, unless compensated for, would have atendency to subject the truck to severe impact. To prevent this, the cross-head is free to tilt transversely slightly in the guide-frame s, the rods 64 having sufficient play in the wedges 61 to permit them to swing laterally. The cross-head is guided vertically in the frame s by rubber cushioned blocks l0!) which are fixed by. means of angle irons llll to the cross-head and are provided with metal liners I02 engaged by the standards 3'! of the frame which carries the head. These cushion-blocks absorb the shock between the crosshead and said frame resulting from engagement of the diggers at the high side of the ballast. The frame s is held against transverse movement by the depending rail engaging flanges on the shoes 4| and the cushion-blocks 42 between the shoes and brackets 40 at the lower ends of the standards 3'! cushion the impact imparted to the frame through the wedges 61. Said frame is free to yield upwardly at either side slightly in the event of unusual height of ballast at one side of the truck. The rubber blocks 42 also cushion the impact of the digger-tools Z 111 against the rollers 35 during the drop-stroke of the cross-head. During the drop-strokes of the cross-head, the cross-head 111 is entirely disconnected from the lifting chains 53 so that the blows received by it during its drop strokes will not be imparted to its lifting mechanism or to the truck. The frame for carrying the cross-head is cushioned and supported upon the track-rails independently of the truck-frame so that the blows imparted to the frame will not be transmitted to the truck-frame.

When the machine is being transported from place to place, it is necessary to secure the crosshead and tools carried thereby in raised position. For this purpose, a pair of latches 12, which are pivotally held at their upper ends, are provided with hooks 13 at their lower ends to enter slotted plates I4 which are rigid with and project upwardly from the cross-head. A lever 15 fixed to a shaft 16 is connected to conjointly shift the latches 12 through arms 'I'l fixed to said shafts and spring-pressed rod-connections 18 between the arms and the latches. When the lever 15 is swung downwardly, arms 71, through spring-rods 18, will swing the latches 12 so they will enter the slots in plates 14 at the end of the up-stroke of the cross-head when the cross-head is lifted by its operating mechanism. The pivot-pins for latches 12 are held in elastic blocks 19 in openended hearings to yieldingly carry the cross-head from its carrying frame.

The operation will be as follows: During the transporting of the truck, the frame in which the cross-head and tools are mounted will be held in raised position by the jack 43 and the cross-head will be locked in its raised position by latches 13. The truck will be propelled along the track to bring the cross-head and diggingtools over one of the cribs between the ties. The jack 43 will then be operated to lower the guideframe 3 so the shoes 40 at the lower ends of the standards 31 will be close to or bear slightly on the rails of the track. The operator will then release the latches 12 so the cross-head and tools can drop. The mechanism for driving shaft 46 will then be started to cause the rollers 51 on chains 53 to intermittently lift the cross-head and release it so it will drop. During the drop of the cross-head, arms 24 and 25 will engage cams 21 so that all of the tools will be positively swung laterally to eifect the displacement of the ballast to the outer sides of the rails. At the end of the down-stroke, the tools 1 m will be latched in extended position by spring-pressed rollers 30 and retained thereby until the cross-head is lifted sufllciently to disengage said tools from the rollers. The cross-head and tools carried thereby will be arrested at the end of drop-stroke by wedges 61 ging or picking ballast and displacing it to the outer sides of the rails, which is efiicient in operation and in which the several mechanisms are cushioned to prevent wear and tear.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat .ent is:

IJTn a machine of the class described, the combination of a railway truck, a vertically reciprocable drop head thereon, a series of digger-tools pivotally mounted on the head to swing transversely of the track, power-means for lifting the head with the tools and dropping them to impact the tools against ballast and means for positively swinging the tools during their downward strokes.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a railway truck, a vertically reciprocable drop head thereon, a series of digger-tools mounted on the head to move transversely of the track, power-means for lifting the head with the tools and dropping them to impact the tools against ballast and means for positively shifting the tools relatively to one another during their downward strokes.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a railway truck, a vertically reciprocable drop head thereon, a series of digger-tools pivotally mounted on the head to swing in opposite directions transversely of the track, powermeans for lifting the head with the tools and dropping them to impact the tools against ballast and means for positively swinging the tools during their downward strokes.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a railway truck, a vertically reciprocable drop head thereon, a series of digger-tools pivotally mounted on the head to swing transversely of the track, power-means for lifting the head with the tools and dropping them to impact the tools against ballast and means for positively swinging the tools during their downward strokes,

said means being adjustable to vary the swing of the tools.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a railway truck, a vertically reciprocable head thereon, a series of digger-tools pivotally mounted on the head to swing transversely of the track, means for positively swinging one of the tools during its downward stroke, and means for transmitting pivotal movement from said tool to the other tools.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a railway truck, a vertically reciprocable head thereon, a series of digger-tools pivotally mounted on the head to swing transversely of the track, means for positively swinging one of the tools during its downward stroke, and cams for transmitting pivotal movement from said tool to the other tools.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a railway truck, a vertically reciprocable head thereon, series of digger tools pivotally mounted on the head to swing in opposite directions transversely of the track, means for positively swinging one tool of each series during its downward stroke, and means for transmitting pivotal movement from said tools to the other tools of each series respectively.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a railway truck, a vertically reciprocable head thereon, a series of digger-tools pivotally mounted on the head to swing transversely of the track, including a plurality of tools positioned to dig into the road-bed between the rails and a tool positioned to move over one of the rails, and means for positively swinging all of said tools during their down-strokes.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a railway truck, a vertically reciprocable head thereon, a series of digger tools pivotally mounted on the head to swing transversely of the track, including a plurality of tools positloned to dig into the road-bed between the rails and a tool positioned to move over one of the rails, cam-means for positively swinging one of said tools during its down-stroke, and cams between the tools for swinging the other tools.

10. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a railway truck, a vertically reciprocable head thereon, a series of digger-tools pivotally mounted on the head to swing transversely of the track, means for lifting and dropping the head, means for swinging the tools during their down-strokes, and cushion-means for limiting the swing of the tools.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a railway truck, a vertically reciprocable drop head thereon, a series of diggertools pivotally mounted on the head to swing transversely of the track, power-means for lifting the head with the tools and dropping them to impact the tools against ballast, means for swinging one of the tools during its downward stroke, and means for retaining said tool in its shifted position during a portion of the upstroke thoreof.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a railway truck, a vertically reciprocable drop head thereon, series of diggertools pivotally mounted on the head to swing in opposite directions transversely of the track, power-means for lifting the head with the tools and dropping them to impact the tools against ballast, means for swinging the tools during their downward strokes, and means for retaining one tool of each series in its shifted position during a, portion of the upstroke thereof.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a wheeled railway truck, a vertical guide-frame carried by and movable vertically in the truck and provided with means for hearing on the track-rails, a head vertically reciprocable in the frame, a series of digger-tools mounted on the cross-head, means carried by the truck for lifting and dropping the head, and cushioning-means between the head and'the frame operative at the ends of the drop-strokes of the head.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a wheeled railway truck, a vertical guide-frame carried by the truck and provided with means for hearing on the track-rails, a vertically reciprocable head mounted in the guide-frame, a series of digger-tools on the head, means carried by the truck for lifting and dropping the head, and means between the frame and the head for arresting the drop of the head, comprising a wedge and spring-pressed blocks shiftable by the wedge.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a wheeled railway truck, a vertically extending guide-frame carried by and movable vertically in the truck and provided with feet for bearing on the track-rails, a head vertically reciprocable in the frame, a series of diggertools mounted on the cross-head, means carried by the truck for lifting and dropping the head, and means for cushioning the frame on the rails.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a wheeled railway truck, a vertically extending guide-frame carried by and movable vertically in the truck and provided with feet for bearingon the track-rails, a head vertically reciprocable in the frame, a series of diggertools mounted on the cross-head, means carried by the truck for lifting and dropping the head, cushioning-means between the head and the frame operative at the ends of the drop-strokes of the head, and means for cushioning the frame on the rails.

1'7. In a machine of the class described, th combination of a wheeled railway truck, a vertically reciprocable guide-frame carried by the truck and provided with feet for bearing on the track-rails, a vertically reciprocable head mounted in the guide-frame, a series of pivoted diggertools on the head, means on the truck for lifting and dropping the head, and cushioned vertical guide-means between the head and the frame to permit transverse tilting of the cross-head in the frame.

18. In a maehine-of-the class described, the combination of a wheeled railway truck, a vertically reciprocable guide-frame carried by and transversely tiltable in the truck and provided with feet for hearing on the track-rails, a vertically reciprocable head mounted in the guideframe, digger-tools on the head, means carried by the truck for lifting and dropping the head, cushioned vertical guide-means between the head and the guide-frame, and cushioning-means between the frame and the track-rails.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a wheeled railway truck, a vertically reciprocable guide-frame carried by the truck provided with feet for bearing on the track-rails, a vertically reciprocable head mounted in the guide-frame, a series of digger-tools on the head, means carried by the truck for lifting and dropping the head, spring-means applied to relieve the pressure of the guide-frame on the rails while the head is being lifted and supported by the lifting mechanism, and means between the head and the frame for arresting the head at the end of a drop-stroke, whereby the frame will be forced downwardly on the rails at the end of the drop-stroke.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a wheeled railway truck, a vertically reciprocable guide-frame carried by the truck provided with feet for bearing on the trackrails, a vertically reciprocable head mounted in the guide-frame, a series of digger-tools on the head, means carried by the truck for lifting and dropping the head, spring-means applied to relieve the pressure of the guide-frame on the rails while the head is being lifted and sup-- ported by the lifting mechanism, and cushioned means between the head and the frame for arresting the head at the end of a drop stroke, whereby the frame will be forced downwardly on the railsat the end of the drop-stroke.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a wheeled railway truck, a vertically reciprocable guide-frame carried by the truck and provided with feet for hearing on the track-rails, a vertically reciprocable head mounted in the guide-frame, a series of digger-tools on the head, means carried by the truck for lifting and dropping the head, means for lifting the guide-frame upwardly to disengage it from the rails, and latch means between the frame and the cross-head for locking the latter in its raised position.

22. In a'machine of the classdescrlbed, the combination of a wheeled railway truck, a vertically reciprocable guide-frame carried by the truck and provided with feet for bearing on the track-rails, a vertically reciprocable head mounted in the guide-frame, a series of digger-tools on the head, means carried by the truck for lifting and dropping the head, means for lifting the guide-frame upwardly to disengage it from the rails, and cushioned latch-means between the frame and the cross-head for locking the latter in its raised position.

FRANK H. PHILBRICK;

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