US2158352A - Rail-car set-off apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 16, 1939. H. s BRQWN 2,158,352

RAIL-CAR SET-OFF APPARATUS Filed Feb. 6, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 16, 1939. H. s. BROWN l RAIL-GAR SET-OFF APPARATUS Filed Feb. 6, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l [27@/7/5 rOw/Z,

May 16, 1939,. H. s. BROWN RAIL-CAR SET-OFF APPARATUS Filed Feb. 6, 1936- s sheetssheet 5 v I ,V- gh Brow/W,

Patented May 16, 193g UNTED STTES RAIL-CAR SET-OFF APPARATUS Hugh S. Brown, Harvey, Ill., assigner to The Hubron Company, Inc., Somerville, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 6, 1936, Serial No. 62,627

29 Claims.

This invention relates to rail cars and, more particularly, to a set-off device for facilitating the removal of motor driven section cars or other small but heavy rail equipment. In its illustrated form, the invention comprises a pair of extendable lattice-works normally forming `guard rails on the car (see Fig. l), but which, when extended, raise the car (see Fig. 3) and at the same time form a bridge or conveyor for the car eX- tending away from the rails, so that one man can push the car along the extended lattice-work ridge to a position clear of the tracks.

In recent years the hand cars of former days have become motorized. Although this has many l5 obvious advantages, it has resulted in a vast increase of weight, with the result that many of the small work cars now weigh a thousand pounds even considerably more. Obviously, this weight requires the strength of several men to lift and remove it, and even then the labor of removing it and returning it to the tracks is so great that it has been the practice to run it from the site of the work to the nearest highway crossing and then lift it 01T onto the level road where the car could be rolled instead of having to be dragged and lifted over the rails. This obviously involved a great loss of time, since it would be neccssary for several members of the crew to go from the site of the work to the nearest crossing with back, assuming the car is not to be used in the work. Later the crew must walk back to the crossing to replace the car on the rails. Of

course if the car is going to be used, they can :5 wait for the train to pass, but they should have the car oii the track long before the train is due, so that even without walking back and forth there is costly delay. Furthermore, when there is snow on the ground, removal is very diicult even at the highways. Furthermore, it has often been impractical for two or three men alone to use such a section car, since its weight was so great that they could not remove it; or, if they could, they could not do so without great labor 45 and danger of injury to themselves and to the car.

Another important consideration from the safety standpoint is that even if there is not much time before a train is due, the crew will often try to get to a crossing to take the car off. If they dont quite get there, a dangerous accident is very likely to occur. Often a work car has had to be tipped off in an effort to get it off the tracks in. a hurry.

According to the present invention, one man the section car to get it off the tracks, and walk can remove the work car from the tracks in an amazingly short time, such as two minutes or less, and he can do so even though the ground may slope away from the tracks rather steeply; and with equal ease he can replace it on the tracks. Of course two men can remove the section car even more quickly, say in thirty seconds.

Another feature of this invention is that the set-off mechanism does not take up any extra space, since when not in use as a set-off it merely takes the place or and serves as the xed guard railings formerly used, and yet it is always in place and ready for operation.

Other advantages and objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description, taken with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a motor car embodying the form of my invention chosen for illustration.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. l, showing the set-ofi apparatus drawn to one side as in the rst step of the set-off operation.

Fig. 3 is a corresponding view showing the apparatus after the next step of they operation, in which the lattice-'Work is extended, thus raising the car enough for the flanges to clear the rails, and showing a subsequent position of the car in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a corresponding View showing the lattice-work again collapsed while the motor car is supported in a safe position partly by one end of the lattice-work structure and partly by special rear legs.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views taken along the lines 5 in Fig. 4.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary detail views of the jack for the special rear legs, after and before operation in raising the car.

Figs. 9 and l0 are fragmentary detail views of the locking mechanism for the rear legs of the lattice-work. f

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary detail view of the locking mechanism for the front legs of the lattice-work.

Although the set-off apparatus of this invention may take numerous forms, only one has been chosen for illustration. This form has been illustrated on a motor section car which may be considered as conventional, since the set-off apparatus could be applied to any motor car which is intended to be removed from the rails by the crew. The motor car usually includes a frame structure indicated as a whole by the reference 5 and rl-5 respectively numeral H, a running board and wheel guard i3 on which the workmen may stand, and a seat deck l5 on which the workmen may sit, and under which is located the motor and other apparatus of the motor car. Such cars vary in weight, often weighing a thousand pounds or more. This weight is, of course, much too heavy for even two or three men to simply liit from the rails and carry off.

As previously stated, the practice of handling such cars by taking them, together with a crew of men, from the site of the work back to a highway crossing where it is practical for a small number of men to remove them safely, has been very wasteful. It should also be noted that it has been the practice to provide guard rails at the two ends of the car, with a central longitudinal hand rail connecting them. According to the present invention the set-off apparatus, which may be operated by one man, takes the place of these guard rails and performs their function when the section car is in use, thus requiring no extra space.

In most patents the structure is described rst and operation later. This is usually satisfactory because the reader already has a general idea of the operation because of knowledge of prior similar inventions. In this instance, however, the invention is so new that a reversal of the usual order is believed best, since the operation can be understood with reference to the drawings, and the structure will be more clear after the operation is understood.

General operation To explain the operation, it may rst be assumed that a motor driven section car, weighing perhaps a thousand pounds, and equipped with the set-oi apparatus of this invention, is to be removed from the tracks, perhaps at an outlying spot where the ground slopes away from the track bed. As previously stated, the removal may be accomplished in a very short time by one man.

Very briefly, the operation comprises four general steps. 'Ihe rst is to shift the apparatus from its normal position shown in Fig. 1, to the position of use shown in Fig. 2. The second step is to stretch the lattice-works (one at each end of the car) to the position shown in Fig. 3, thus not only forming a structure which for convenience may be called a bridge, but also raising the car from the rails to the height at which it may pass along this bridge. The third step is to roll the car along this bridge formed by the apparatus, to the position shown in Fig. 4; and the nal step is to collapse the lattice-work to the position shown in Fig. 4, out 0I" the way of passing trains.

Details of operation In order to shift the apparatus from its normal position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2, where its real operation begins, it is merely necessary to unhook the hooks il and pull on the bar 5l. The rollers 23 roll easily in the channel members 2l on opposite ends of the car, until the movement is terminated by engagement of a back post il with stop 8i on the frame of the car. The latches S, one on each of the back posts di, are then flipped from the lower position shown in Fig. l to the upper position shown in Fig. 9. This permits the legs 4l to drop, as indicated by arrow l in Fig. 2, and rest on the ties; and in this upper position the latch locks the legs. The position of the legs after being lowered is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In the next step the lattice-works are released so that they may be expanded. As indicated by the arrow 2, this release is accomplished by raising the pipes iii to release the hooks 63 from the pins E5. The operator now grasps the bar 5l and draws out the two posts 33 and hence simultaneously expands both of the lattice-works. The result of this step is shown in Fig. 3. Inasmuch as the end pins 2l' are stationary by virtue of being secured to the posts iii which are locked with respect to the legs il?, it is clear from a comparison of Figs. 2 and 3 that the wheels 23, and hence the section car also, are raised by expansion of the lattice-work. The section car is raised approximately to the position shown in Fig. 3. It may be explained in this connection that stop 8i is positioned to stop the post il at a position such that the weight of the lattice-work when expanded will bring the car suiiciently into balance about the legs (il acting as a fulcrum so as to raise the rar side of the car as well as the near side, though the far side need not be raised as much as the near side at this time.

As the lattice-work reaches the desired degree o expansion, the pipe t3 passes under the latches Cf-l so that the vertical faces of these latches bear on the pipe S, thus locking the lattice-work in its expanded position.

he next step of the operation, as indicated by the arrow il, is to provide a support for the extended end of the lattice-work bridge by lowering the pipes 5l, having enlarged feet 58, to the position shown in Fig. 3, and to lock these feet in this position with the pins 59, as shown in Fig. 11. It should be noted that the pipes 57, to which the feet 58 are secured, are quite long so that these feet may be lowered to the ground even though the ground slopes down from the track fairly steeply. The legs 5l should oi course be adjusted to position the lattice-work substantially level.

Following this step the motor car is rolled along the wheels 23 as indicated by the arrow 5. At the end of this operation the motor car is in the position shown in Fig. 4. It should be explained that by virtue of the fact that the channel member 2i is provided for rolling on the rollers 23, and since the rollers 23 roll freely within said channel member, this step in the operation is quite easy.

The next step, indicated by arrow is to lower 88 passing through holes in the legs 36 below 'i.

collar 89 in its upper position. The car is then raised slightly by operation of the jack lever 90 which, as seen best in Figs. 7 and 8, is pivoted to bracket 9i secured to the car and through which the leg i slides, and to the link Q2. rIhis jack is self-locking when it passes dead center. The jack may be omitted, but its purpose is to take part or all of the weight or the car oiT the legs il so that they may be more easily released and raised.

This raising of legs il is the next step of the operation. The latch 58 is rst shifted to its lower position and then the adjustable legs il may be raised, as indicated by the arrow 7, so that they will clear the rails of the tracks. The latch 56 automatically operates to hold the legs rIhe latches 6@ are now released by raising the pipes 6l as indicated by the arrow 8 in Fig. 4; and the iinal step is that indicated by arrow 9 in Fig. 4, in which the latticework is again collapsed by shifting the posts ll to the left, from the position shown in dotted lines to the position shown in full lines in this gure. The weight of the motor car is supported during this step and until after the lattice-work has again been expanded, by the feet 53 and 8l.

In replacing the motor car onto the track, the foregoing operations are reversed. ln other words the lattice-work is expanded by moving the posts il to the right, and is locked in expanded position by latches iid. By shifting latches 5e, the legs :il are dropped to rest on the ties and support the lattice-work bridge. The legs are drawn up, the motor car is rolled along the wheels to its position over the rails, the legs El are drawn up, and the lattice-work is collapsed to lower the motor car onto the rails. Afterwards the legs il are drawn up, and the lattice-work is hooked with hooks l l in its normal position, the lattice-work and the pipes Si forming excellent end guards for the car to protect the workers thereon from falling oil, and the pipes 5S forming a very convenient hand rail and back rest for the men ridingon the car.

Description of structure The set-cfr apparatus includes two hanged channel bars 2l, one secured at each end of the motor car and with suiiicient strength to raise the car, preferably located at approximately the height shown. They may be conveniently secured to the frame structure of the seat deck l as by brackets 22. The movable part oi the setoiT mechanism is normally supported by these channel members 2l by means of rollers or 'wheels 23 extending within said channel mechanism as shown best in Fig. 5. When not in use as a setoiT device the equipment is held against movement by any suitable means such as the hooks il which may be of the type used on screen doors.

The movable part of the set-ofi mechanism includes the two lattice-work structures, one at each end of the car. Each lattice-work is made up of the various steel diagonals 25 which are parallel with one another in two groups, as shown. Except for the end bars which are shorter, as illustrated, all of these bars may be identical. One size found suitable for these diagonals 25 is T5@ inch by 11/4 inches, with the hole centers nine inches apart. These diagonale are pivoted together with the upper rivets 25, the upper intermediate rivets El, the lower rivets 2B and the pins 29, in the lower intermediate positions on which are rotatably secured the wheels 23 which operate in the channel members 2l as previously mentioned.

The shorter end diagonals 3l and 32 are pivotably secured by the pin 2l to a post 33 which is preferably C-shaped in cross section and may be made up, for example, by spot welding two channel bars Se to a side plate 35. The post 33 is maintained in a vertical position by a sliding connection between the end diagonal 25 and the post 33. rIhis sliding connection may conveniently be provided by means of rollers 3l (Fig. 1l) secured to the end diagonal 25 as by suitable shaft Se, the rollers Si rolling smoothly within the channel members Sil. Fig. 6 shows a detail of a similar arrangement which is found at the other end oi each lattice-work where posts li are similarly secured. In this instance, however, the diagcnals extend beyond the post since the last one of the wheels 23 is located beyond the post, as seen best in Fig. 2. This roller, or its pin 29, is supported by diagonals 43 and 44, the latter of which extends downwardly to shaft 39, and the former of which is pivoted to post 4l by a pin 2l.

slidably secured to each of the posts lli, as by straps e6, is an adjustable post el. All of the posts il and il may be formed of channel meinbers spaced apart by spacing pipes or wood llers 45 located in positions which will not interfere with operations. Bolts or rivets may be passed through the channel member and spacers to secure the posts together. The ends of the twoposts l may be provided with large feet or preferably are connected with a bar 49 extending between them, and which may be secured to the wood fillers by screws. As previously described, the adjustable legs il are lowered until the bar 'i9 rests on the ties of the track. The spring-urged latch 5i) in the upper position (Fig. 9) locks leg lll down, and in the lower position locks the leg el up.

The two end posts 33 are connected together at the level of the running board i3 with a bar 5I and approximately at their bottoms with the bar 52. It may be mentioned that by the simple expedient of making the bars 49, 5l and 52 of wood, 0

the set-off equipment may be furnished without the manufacturer having to t it to specic cars, since the wooden bars lli?, 5i and 52 may easily be cut to the proper length at the time of installation, while all of the rest ofthe structure may be the same for all cars.

Secured to the posts 33 are brackets 56 through which slide the pipes 5l at the bottom of which are provided the enlarged feet 58. The pipes 57 may be secured in any desiredv position by pins 59 passing through holes in the pipes 51, or in any other manner desired. The pins may be put above the brackets to hold the pipes up, or below the brackets to hold the pipes extended downwardly. Of course, any other means for securing any of the legs in the desired positions may be employed.

To secure the lattice-work in the collapsed position and later to secure it in the expanded position, pipes or rods 5I are provided. Each of these pipes ESI is pivoted to a back post H and is provided at its free end with a hook 63, and near its free end it may also be provided with a latch 5i! beveled on its back side. The hook t3 normally engages pins @E in the front posts 33. However, when the lattice-work has been expanded, latches ed slip over and lock against the pipe 63 which, as seen in Fig. 1, is normally positioned to serve as a back rest and hand rail for the workmen. The pipe 63 is preferably secured by brackets 'll which, as seen best in Figs. 2 and 3, are provided with slots 'l2 slidably engaging an extension 'i3 on one of the upper rivets 2d. The lower end or" the bracket 'll is secured to one of the pins 2d. This manner of mounting the bar 68 keeps it at the desired level with respect to the motor car in spite of the vertical contractions of the latticework.

One possible construction for the latch 5t has been shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In this contruction the latch arms, to one of which the number el) is applied, are keyed on a common spindle journalled in the post 4|, and carry a latch bar 'l5 which fits into grooves 'i6 cut in the adjustable leg 4l. A spring 'Il extending between the end of one of the latch levers 50 and an extension on one of the strips lli urges the'latch toward the post in either the upper or lower position, to whichever the latch is shifted. From inspection of Fig. 9 it is apparent that when the latch is in Cil the upper position the leg Il cannot move upwardly relatively to the leg 4|, the notches l5 being deep enough to prevent forcing the latch out against the movement of the leg but the leg can be moved downwardly, the latch automatically moving with the leg to permit this. When the latch is in the lower position the leg can be moved upwardly but not downwardly.

In place of the latch shown, it will probably be preferred in practice to use a latch having the same ultimate result as that shown, but which is automatically operated when the leg 4l hits the stop 3l. A simple device for tripping the lever 50 from the lower to the upper position would accomplish this, perhaps an extension on the inner lever 5G, Although this improvement would make it unnecessary for the operator to go to the far side of the car to release the latch, the illustrated arrangement is quite easily operated, since it is not necessary to operate both latches 5B or both legs lil at the same time.

The construction of the jacks for` legs B is clearly shown in Figs. 'l and 8. The pipe bracket 9| is secured to the frame of the car Il in any suitable manner, as by screws, the jack lever Sil is pivoted to the bracket 9i, or to a lug welded thereto, and the link Q2 is pivoted to the jack lever 9B' and to the collar Si?. When the leg is to be lowered, the handle Sii is raised to raise the collar Si), the pin 88 is removed from the upper position shown in dotted lines, allowing the leg 86 to drop to the ground, and is inserted in a hole immediately below the collar 89, which should be raised at the time by handle 9G. The handle Sil is then pushed down, perhaps with the operators foot, to spread the bracket 9i and collar 89 apart. Since the collar 89 can no longer move downwardly, being held up by the leg 85 and the pin 88, the bracket 9|, and with it the section car, are raised. When the jack lever 93 and the link 92 pass the dead center or alined position, the extension 94 on the link 92 prevents further movement of the lever 96 and link 92, and hence they are self-locking in this position, as seen in Fig. 7.

The description of the operation of the apparatus as a whole having preceded the description of the structure appearing immediately above, it is believed that the entire invention will now be perfectly clear. Not only does the apparatus serve as a remarkably convenient means for removing the heavy section car from the rails and replacing it, but it also serves as a guard rail for the ends of the section car without taking up any useful space other than was previously taken up by said guard rails.

rlhe apparatus already disclosed is inherently capable oi another mode of operation. The lattice works may be shifted and extended prior to dropping the inner or rear legs 4l. If this is done the rigid lattice work is used as a lever to tilt the car up on its far wheels and hold it there while one of the crew lowers legs 4l. This variation in the operation would be difficult or impossible for one man but might be easiest, or at least quickest, for several men.

0n those rare occasions when for some reason it may be necessary or preferred to drag the car across the rails, as in the past, the bottom bars 52 and 9 will serve as skid rails, thus making unnecessary the provision of special skid rails as in the past. These bars will not be used as skid rails very often, since it will nearly always be possible and much more convenient to operate the set-ofi mechanism. As brought out by the previous description, this set-o mechanism operates so easily that one man can move a car which weighs over a thousand pounds without difficulty, and two men can remove the car from the rails almost as quickly as it could be removed from the rails by a large gang of men in an emergency. The result is much greater safety for the men and for the car, and a great saving of time as compared to the old practice of taking the car to a highway crossing for removal.

Although but one embodiment of my invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereby, but is to be limited only by the prior art. The following claims are intended to point out some of the features now recognized as new, rather than to limit the invention to these features. Obviously the set-off device may be applied to any equipment for which it will be useful.

I claim:

1. The combination of a rail car, means secured to said car and adapted to rest on the ground, and including means extendable in a direction away from the tracks and means cooperating with said extendable means and said car when said extendable means rests on the ground to raise the car when the extendable means is so extended, and forming a conveyor on which said car may be shifted away from the tracks.

2. Means for removing rail cars from the tracks, including a pair of extendable latticeworks, means adapted to rest on the ground for supporting said lattice-works from the ground, said lattice-works having points thereon which are rased as said lattice-works are extended, and means for connecting a rail car to said latticeworks at said points for raising at least one part of the rail car from the tracks as such latticeworks are extended.

3. The combination of a rail car and means for removing rail cars from the tracks including a pair of extendable lattice-works, means adapted to rest on the ground for supporting said lattice-works from the ground at a point near the side of the car facing in the direction said lattice-works are extended, said lattice-works having points thereon which are raised as said lattice-works are extended, and means for connecting a rail car to said lattice-works at said points for raising at least one part of the rail car from the track as suclLlattice-works are extended, said car being at least approximately balanced by the extended lattice-works so that it may be moved from the rails by one man.

4i. Means for removing rail cars from the tracks, including a pair of extendable lattice-works, means adapted to rest on the ground for supporting said lattice-works from the ground, said lattice-works having points thereon which are raised as said lattice-works are extended, and

means for connecting a rail car to said latticeworks at said points for raising at least one part of the rail car from the tracks as such latticeworks are extended, said means for supporting the car including rollers supported at said various points whereby the car may be rolled along said lattice-works and away from the track.

5. Means for removing rail cars from the tracks, including a pair of extendable lattice-works, front and back adjustable legs adapted to rest on the ground for supporting said lattice-works from the ground, said lattice-works having points thereon which are raised as said lattice-works are extended, and means for connecting a rail car to said lattice-works at said points for raising at least one part of the rail car from the tracks as such lattice-works are extended, said means I'or supporting the car including rollers supported at said Various points whereby the car may be rolled along said lattice-works and away from the track.

6. The combination of a rail car and means secured to said rail car for raising at least part of it from the tracks and forming a stationary conveyor on which a force of only a small fraction of the weight of the car can move said car away from the tracks, said means being collapsible substantially to the lateral confines of the car during portage and collapsibly removable trom the rails while supporting the rail car removed from the rails.

'7. The combination of a rail car having a platform means forming a safety railing at the ends of said car above the platform thereof, said means including parts which are shiftably secured to the car, and which, when so shifted, form extensions secured to the car and adapted to facilitate the removal of the car from the tracks.

8. Means for moving rail cars from the tracks, including a pair of extendable lattice-works, means adapted to engage the ground for supporting said lattice-works from the ground, at which time said lattice-works form a bridge, said car being movable along said bridge to a position away from the tracks, and means for supporting the rear sid-e of said car independently of said lattice-works to remove a part of the weight of said car from the track end of said lattice-works whereby the same may be removed easily from said tracks.

9. Means for moving rail oars from the tracks, including a pair of extendable lattice-works, means adapted to engage the ground for supporting said lattice-works from the ground, at which time said lattice-works form a bridge, said car being movable along said bridge to a position away from the tracks, and means for supporting the rear side or" said car independently of said lattice-works and for jacking up said end of the car to remove a part of the weight of said car from the track end of said lattice-works whereby the same may be removed easily from said tracks.

1G. An extendable bridge including two spaced pairs ci spaced pests, and a separate vertically rigid extendable connecting structure extending bet leen each pair of posts and supported thereby, and a separate set of rollers supported solely by each of said connecting structures and adapted to vlafrllitate the movement on said connecting structure of a conveyed structure from one end of said connecting structure to the other.

l1. The combination of a rail car and a bridge normally collapsed and carried by said car but adapted to be extended transversely of the rails to carry said car, rear support means for holding the rear portion of said bridge high enough to enable said car to clear the rails, and means, at least part of which is effective for supporting the front extended portion ci? said bridge while the car moves thereto, effective, with the car thereon, independently oi said rear supportmeans, said bridge then being collapsible away from the track, said combination including means to support the car and bridge adequately while the bridge is collapsed.

lil. The combination of a car normally running on rals, a bri ge comprising a collapsible structure each end oi the car having a permanent reliable engagement therewith and having suiiicient vertical strength when extended to support said car, adjustable inner support means for supporting the portion of said bridge above said rails high enough to enable the car to clear the and adjustable outer support means, at least part of which cooperates with the inner support means to support the extended port-ion ci the bridge to permit the car to be rolled along the bridge away from said rails said outer support means supporting the car in said position independently of said inner support means.

1 3. The combination of a car normally running rails, a bridge comprising a collapsible structure at each end of the car having a permanent roilable engagement therewith and having suiilcient vertical strength when extended to support said car, adjustable inner support means supporting the portion of said bridge above said rails high enough to enable the car to clear the rails, and adjustable outer support means, at least part of which cooperates with the inner support means to support the extended portion ci the to permit the car to be rolled along the bidge away from said rails said outer support supporting the car in said position inde endently of said inner support means, said 'then beine collapsible away from said s. The combination oi a car normally rung on rails, a bridge comprising a collapsible ucture at each. end of the car having a per- Tient reliable engagement therewith and havsuoient vertical strength when extended to port said car, adjustable inner support means to enable the car to clear the rails, and adjustouter support means, at least part of which n Urates with the inner sup-port means to suport the extended portion of the bridge to permit the car to be rolled along the bridge away from said rails outer support means supporting the car in said position independently of said inso port means, said inner support means beadapted to rest on ties between the rails. l5. The combination oi a car normally running .mi rails, a bridge comprising aV collapsible t each end or" the car having a permanent ro.,.ab1e engagement therewith and having sufficient vertical strength when extended to support car, adjustable inner support means to enable the to clear the rails, and adjustable cuter support means, at least part of which cowith the inner support means to suprart the extended portion. or" the bridge to permit car to be rolled along the bridge away yfrom ils outer support means supporting car said position independently vof said insupport means, said inner support means c adapted to rest on ties between the rails g positioned closer to the outer rail whereby extended 'bidge will act as a counterweight in to raise the far side of the c r oilc the rail.

. Set-ofi" for removing a car lat- -v from track comprising rails and ties, ing; bridge comprising two spaced collapsistruc'rures each adapted to be secured to the .er to be extendable laterally-of the to it the car to be shifted along d me lns adapted to rest between said i. to support the bridge, substantially inatlv or other support, at a height suitybling car to clear said rails, and me" s which at least part is effective for supthc extended portion oi said bridge at a h ht to permit the oar to be shifted thereto and therefrom easily, said means rendering the supc+ en iid port of the car and bridge independent of the tie engaging means, the portion of said bridge adjacent said rails being removable from the path-of a train on said rails when the car is at its o-set position.

17. Set on apparatus for removing a car laterally :from a track comprising rails and ties, including; a bridge comprising two spaced collapsible structures each adapted to be secured to the car in a manner to be extendable laterally of the track and to permit the car to be shifted along said bridge, means adapted to rest between said rails and to support the bridge, substantially independently of other support, in such manner that the car may be raised by manipulation of said bridge to clear said rails, and means of which at least part is eiective for supporting the extended portion of said bridge at a height to permit the car to be shifted thereto and therefrom easily, said means rendering the support of the car and bridge independent of the tie engaging means, the portion of said bridge adjacent said rails being removable from the path o a train on said rails when the car is at its off-set position.

18. A rail car including a set-ofi apparatus carried thereby and secured thereto and while secured thereto operative to assist in removing said car from the rails; said set-off apparatus including means adapted to be lowered with respect to said car and adapted to rest on the roadway, extendable means adapted to be supported in part thereby and in part by at least part of additional support means laterally removed from the roadway orming a bridge along which said car can be shifted transversely of said rails, said additional support means including means for engaging the ground to support the car and bridge from at least three widely spaced points and being then effective to permit collapsing of said extendable means away from said rails.

19. Means for removing rail cars from the tracks, including a pair of extendable latticeworks each including two sets of parallel bars pivoted to one another at at least three points on each bar, means adapted to rest on the ground for supporting both ends of each of said latticeworks from the ground, said lattice-works having points thereon which are raised as said latticeworks are extended, and means for connecting a rail car to said lattice-works at said points for raising at least one part of the rail car from the tracks as such lattice-Works are extended.

26. The combination of a car normally running on rails and a portable adjustable bridge carried by the car including means adapted to support the car movably on the bridge and ground-engaging means, said bridge being adapted to be manipulated by manual force applied directly thereto to raise the car and to cooperate with said means to form a substantially horizontal bridge therefor at a height suflicient to enable the car to clear the rails, and adjustable means for supporting at least a portion of the bridge remote from the rails.

The combination of a car normally running on rails and a portable adjustabie bridge carried by the car and adapted to be manipulated wit-heut being completely removed from the car tc a position extending laterally from the rails at a height suitable for enabling the car to clear the rails, said bridge including ground-engaging means for supporting the bridge at said height and means for supporting the car movably on the bridge.

22. In combination with a rail-car, support means adapted to rest on the trackway, an extendable lattice-work device having means to support the car and adapted to be extended and by extension to aid in the removal of the car from the rails by raising the car with respect to the support means, and a lock bar adapted to engage one point of the lattice-work device when it is in its collapsed position and another point thereof when in its extended position to prevent its coliapse under the inuence of the weight of the car.

23. In combination with a rail-car, an extendable lattice-work structure at each end thereof adapted to in the removal of the car from the rails, a rod extending between the lattice-work structures and secured thereto at an intermediate point in their length7 and a lock bar normally substantialiy spanning the length of one latticework structure and secured at each end thereto to hold the lattice-work structure in its collapsed pos' ion, releasicle from one end thereof and thereby supported by the rod and upon a desired amount ci expansion of said lattice-work struce engaging said rod to lock the lattice-work Hotwire in open position.

ai. in combination with a rail-car, a bridge s uct-ure carried thereby and shiftable with res3 t thereto to a position adapted to convey the 1 for one side of the car adapted to cooperate with the outer support means of the bridge and supporting the car and the bridge independently ci the inner suppe-rt means or the bridge when the car has been removed from the rails so as to permit collapsing of the bridge away from the rails. Y

26. Means for removing rail-cars from the tracks including a collapsible bridge structure on which the car may be rolled transversely of the tracks and havine support means at its track end and its outer end, and independent support means for one side oi the car adapted to cooperate with the outer support oi the bridge and supporting the car the bridge independently of the inner support means of the bridge when the car has been removed from the rails so as to permit collapsing of the bridge away from the rails, the independent support means including a leg adjustable to compensate for variations in contour of the ground and a quick acting jack associated with the leg for extending the leg after its initial adjustment to remove the load from the track end of the bridge.

27. The combination of a rail car and set-off means secured said car comprising groundengaging means, a structure movable with respect to said car for forming a bridge extending away from the rails and being or" suilcient length to carry the car clear of the track; means for supporting said structure en the car and at times supporting the car movably on said structure, said struct-ure being so constructed and associated with the car that when so moved it cooperates with the ground-engaging means to automatically raise said car to a level at which it may pass along said bridge.

28. The combination of a car normally running on rails and a portable adjusting bridge carried by the car and adapted to be manipulated to extend outwardly from the car and when extended being vertically rigid, means substantially securing the extended bridge against pivoting with respect to the car and adapted to support the car on the bridge, and means for supporting the inner end of the bridge from the trackway at a position outwardly of and remote from the inner rail whereby manipulation of the bridge can initially raise the outer portion of the car and thereafter said car may be rocked about said support point to raise the inner portion of the car from the inner rail to permit the car to be moved along said bridge to a point remote from both rails.

29. The combination of a rail car and set-o means secured to said car comprising groundengaging means, a structure movable with respect to said car for forming a bridge resting on the ground-engaging means, extending away from the rails, of sufficient length to carry the car clear of the track and operable in cooperation with the ground-engaging means to raise said car to a level at which it may pass along said bridge, said set-ofi means when in its normal position forming a guard rail at each end of said rail car.

HUGH S. BROWN.

GERTLFICATE oF CORRECTION; l

Patent No. v2,158,552, n may 16, 1959.

'HUGH s. BRowm .It 1S herein]l certified that error appears in the printed specification 'of thevabove numbered patent requiring oorrecti'on'as follows:r Page 5, second column, lines 8, 25, 59, and 5h, claims 12, 15, 1h., and 15 respectively', after the'word "rails" insert a semicolon; page 6, first column, line 60, claim 20,l strike-out` the words "to raise the car and" and-insert the `same afterm`ean" in line 61 same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this (torrent-ion therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Office. signedand' sealed m1515151; day or August, Aj, D'. 1959.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents'.

Images