US286655A - Machine for straightening railroad-rails - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

8 P. H. TREAT. E y v MAGHJNB'FOR STRAIGHTE'NING RAILROAD RAILS.

Patented Oct. 16, 1888.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Moda l P. H. TREAT. MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTBNING RAILROAD RAILS. No. 286.655. Patented Oct. 16, 1883.

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(No Model.) l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.4

, F. H. TREAT.

MAGHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING RAILROAD RALS. No. 286,655. Patented Oct. 16, 1%883..

. .AL a@ l l. d l I 7 f/ "d a l -m- /g either 'end of a rail.

UNirnn S'rnrns Vnrniv'r Prion.

FRANCIS H. TREAT, OFJOLIET, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING RAILROAD-RAILS.

'srnorrronrron forming para of Letters Patent No. 286,655, dated october 1e, 1883.

Application med Januaryie, 18st. (No model.)

To all whom/i5 may concern:

i Be it known that I, Farmers H. TREAT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Joliet, in the county of lill and State 'of Illinois, have" invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Straightening Railroad-Rails and other Similar Articles;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the in vention, such as -will .enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to vmachines for straightening railway-rails, which operate -on the rails with sets of alternating rolle`rs. Hereltoi'ore the practice has been to journal the rollers in stationary bearings, so that the lateral thrust of the rollers, due to the resistance of `the rail passing through between them, was borne by their" journals and bearings. This is very objectionable for many reasons, chief among which are the following: In order to sustain the great strain `due to the power required for overcoming the elastic limit of an ordinary steel rail and producing a permanent set, as must be done in order to straighten a crook or bend thereof, the rollers and the journals so mounted must be made of inordinately large diameter', in consequence of which the points at which they act on the rail are thrown so far apart as to greatly detract -from the eectiveness of the rollers, both as regards concentrated action and capacity of straightening crooks and bends at or' near rIlhe journals and bearings of rollers so mounted are subject to rapid and uneven wear. ,The friction incident to the operation of such a machine is very great and absorbs an undue proportion of power.

The object oi my invention is to overcome the above-recited objections and others.

To this end it consists, in the main, of a machine in which the 4straightening-rollers are mounted on a traveling carriage and roll along fixed guides, the arrangement of the parts being such that the lat-eral thrust of the rollers is sustained by said guides.

Inorder that my invention may be clearly understood, I have illustrated 'in the annexed drawings, and will proceed to describe, the form of my invention in which I have embodied it in a fullsized practical machine.

section ofthe carriage on lines 5 6 7 8 of Fig.

8', and of the bedl on line 9 and 19 of Figs. L and 7. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on lines 1112 of Figs. 3, 5, and 6, illustrating a machine with rollers for operating on the side of Fig. 4L is a sectional e a rail. Fig. 8 is a plan or top view of the carriage minus the bevel-wheels on the roller-shafts. Fig. 9 is a detail' view of a roller adapted for, straightening rails in lateral directions. Figs. 8, 4,5, 6, 7, and 8 are drawn to a scale one and one-half time as large as the scale to which Figs. and `2 are drawn, and Fig. 9 is drawn to a scale three times as large.

The same letters of reference indicate identical parts in all the figures.

In practice I propose to usey two machines, one for straightening rails in vertical direov tions, and the other for straightening rails in laterabdirections. The machines will be eX- actly alike, except that one is constructed with smooth straightening-rollers, the other with grooved straightening-rollers.

` The bed of the machine is very massive, and

consists of the parallel girders A A and the cross-beams A2, the latter being sunk low enough to leave a clear longitudinal depression between the girders throughout the entire length of the bed. The girders of the bed constitute the guides which sustain the thrust of the straightening-rollers, due to the passage of a crooked rail through between them. The inner side of the girders are clad with straight steel plates or ways BB', on

which the straightening-rollers move and roll. These ways are accuratelyy paralleled to each other, so as to compel the straightening-rollers to travel. in straight parallel lines asthey are rolled along them by the traveling carriage. Vay B is rigidlybolted to` girder A by means of bolts af. Vay B is adjustably connected to girdcr A in such a manner that it may be readily movcd toward or away vfrom way B for pun i assess? poses of adjustment and taking up wear, without disturbing the parallelism of the ways. To

-this end I arrange a wedge, D, between 'girder A and way B, a counter-wedge, B2, being bolted to the back of said way by bolts a,

which pass through a central longitudinal f bolts a.

, pass throughlongitudinal slots Z of the wedge,

` the-outer end of the wedge.

so that the latter may be moved endwise with-A out interference. A stiff compressed spiral spring,va, is placed on each bolt c2, between the metal of the girder and a nut-on the outer endof the bolt. These springs hold the counter-wedgeof way B in firm but yielding contact with the wedge B3. The kwedge is operated by means of a screw, B", which is swiveled in the outer end of a projecting' sleeve, A3, Aof the bed, and engages a nut formed -on In the machine which I'have'built the incline of the wedge'is oneeighthof an inch to the foot, and the screw has one inch pitch, so that each turn of the screw will effect a lateral adjustment of the way -B'equal to one ninety-sixth of an inch, which I have found to be sufficiently delicate for practical purposes.

The carriage C, 011 which the straighteningrollers are mounted, is provided with carwheels c at each end, whereby it is supported ontrack-rails C, laid on the girders of the bed. In the machine illustrated four alternating straightening-rollers are used, arranged in such manner that two will operate on each side ofthe rail. All the rollers are powerdriven. I donot desire to limit myself to the use of this number. More may be used, and the additional rollers may also be powerdriven, although I deem it sufficient to drive four for-the proper operation of themachine. The straightening-rollers of the machine for operating on the head and foot of the rail are smooth cylinders, while those of a machine which operates on the sides of the rail are grooved cylinders, such as shown in Figs. 7

`and 9. No further description will be given of the-latter, it being understood that they are ymountedand operated in all respects like the straightening rollers of the machine for straightening-.rails in their vertical directions, which willnowbe explained in detail.

` The two straightening-rollers vD D roll on way-B, the other two, D D, on way B. Each straightening-roller D is keyed, respectively, to thelower tapering end of an independent vertical shaft, E, which is journaled-in a vertical sleeve-bearing, E, of a bracket,- E, supported at its base in cross-guides E2 of the carriage. n .Each straightening roller D is any position of the latter on the bed. several straightening-rollers are all of the same occupiedby the rollers.

keyed, respectively, to the lower tapering end of ah independent vertical shaft, F, which is journaled in a vertical sleeve-bearing, F3, of a bracket, F', supported at its base in crossguides FZ of the carriage. Thus each straightening-roller is free to move laterally with its bearing on the carriage independently of every other straightening-roller. The travel of the carriage on therails C is to be effected by the rotation of the straightening-rollers. In order that there may be sui'iicient 'friction for that purpose between them and their ways at times when there is no rail between the-rollers, the brackets of the rollers I) are separated from the brackets of the rollers Dby stiff compressed springs E, supported' ou rods, as shown. These separating-springs, whose tension may be readily adjusted by shifting the nuts on their supporting-rods, also serve to cause the rollers D to follow the adjustments of ways B. All the straightening-rollers are bellow the frame of the carriage, and they are 'k arranged vertically, in order that scalegpeel- Z ing from the rail Vmay readily fall clear of the i rollers, and thus be prevented from accumulating to clog or otherwise impair the action 1 of the machine.

To the upper ends of shafts E E .are -keyed bevel-wheels E5 E5, which are driven by bevelpinions E E on one end of transverse horivzontal shafts E7 E7, journaled in sleeve-bearings on fixed standards of the carriage.

To the upper-ends of shafts F F are keyed bevel-wheels F4 F", which are driven by Vbevel-pinions F5 F on one end of transverse horizontal shafts F FG, journaled in sleeve-bearings on fixed standards of the carriage. The

' outer ends of shafts F7 ET are provided with l fast pulleys E8 E, and the outer ends of shafts 'F6 Fi with fast pulleys F F7. are driven from a pulley, H, on the trans- The pulleys E verse horizontal driving-shaft G of the machine, through the medium of a belt, H,

while the pulleys F7 are driven from a pulley, I, on saiddriving-shaft, through the medium of abelt, I. Thedriving-shaft Grismounted on suitable stands acrossl one end of the machine, andthe belts II andIpass around idl'e or. guide pulleys (marked-IFI2 and I2, respectively) at the other end of the machine and stationary with lrespect to the traveling carriage.

Thus the belts will drive thepulleys of the carriage in The diameter, and the pulleys and wheels for driving them are soproportioned that the rollers turn with equal speed. It will be readily understood that sincethe travel of the carriage @is caused by the progressive rolling of the straightening-rollers on their ways or guides, and corresponds exactly with kthe speed with which the rollers draw a rail throughbetween them, therefore, the travel of the carriage must ICO IIO

y of the driving-'shaft G, and consequently that of the straightening-rollers, as well as the `travel of the carriage, are automatically reversed. The following are the 'means for accomplishing such reversals: The drivingshaft carries two loose pulleys, K and K2, one of which is to be driven by a straight belt and the other by a crossed. belt from suitable pulleys on a counter or line shaft, so as to be revolved in opposite directions. In the adjacent sides of these loose pulleys female 'cones the machine is at rest or is to be brought to a standstill.

The feathers k k are connected by a collar, It', secured to the feathers, but loose on the shaft. On one side of this collar a lever-arm, L5, is mounted loosely on the shaft, and on the other side of the colla-r a similar lever-arm, L, is loosely fitted on the shaft. The inner Yfaces ofthe hubs of these lever-arms are flat and bear on the opposite sides of the collar k', while their outer faces are provided with similar but reverse cams, which bear, respectively, on cams on theadjacent faces oflever-'arms If and L8, the cam-hub of the former of which., LT, occupies the space between the cam-hub of lever-arm L5 and loose pulley K2,

Y rig.

l. arm by connecting-rod L4.

rock-shaft, M, operates the crotch through an transmit its motion to the other.

while the cam-hub ofthe latter, LS, occupies the spacebetween the cam-hub of lever-arm L6 and a Washer or cap, Z, on the shaft, all as shown in Lever-arms L5 L are connected to the slotted arm L2, fixed on one end of a'rockshaft, L, by the connecting-rod L, and leverarms L LE are connected to the same slotted To the other end of the rock-shaft Lf is xed a crotch, L', by means of which the shaft is rocked in one direction or the other and to therequired extent for shifting the male-cone pulley as far as may be necessary. A tappeti-arm, in, of a anti-friction roller mounted on a laterallyprojecting stud of said tappet-arm. An upright lever, Mi, is lined on rock-shaft M, and a similar upright lever, M3, is fulerumed on a bracket at the end of the machine remote from that where lever M is located. Similar arms of these levers M2 and M3 are connected by taut wire ropes m and m2, so that one will Near 'each end of wire rope m. a tappet, vmi, is secured to it. The carriage C strikes one of these tappets as it approaches either end of its track, and oseillates levers Mnl and M, causing the tappet-arm m on lever M2 to turn thecrotch L in one direction or the other, as the case may be, whereby the double-cone pulley K is shifted through the described intermediate mechanism yfrom one female cone to the other and its rotation reversed.

I do not limitl myself to the use of thelbefore-described reversing mechanism, because other Vsuitable known reversing` mechanisms may be. used in lieu of it, and though I believe this particular reversing mechanism to be new and patentable, yet I shall make no claim for it in this patent, since I intend' to make it the subject of a separate patent.

In order that the travel of the carriage may be reversed at any point on its track for the purpose of passing the straighteniiig-rollers` both to reverse the travel of the carriage and to stop the operation ofthe mechanism altogether,

by shifting the double-cone pulley to a middleA position between the driving-pulleys.

Suitable spring-buffers, N, are mounted on the bed at each end, adapted toeheck the progressive motion ofthe carriage in case of any derangement in the reversing mechanism, and

,to prevent the carriage from passing beyond and falling from its track.

A number of rollers, O, are mounted on the bed beneath the traveling carriage, and about midway between the straightening-rollers D D on the one hand and the straighteningrollers D D on the other. These rollers O serve to support and in a measure guide the rail as it is being drawn through between the straightening-rollers.

The screw for moving the wedge of the adjustable way B may be operated by any convenient or suitable mechanism. I have illustrated one practicable means of operating it from the driving-shaftG of the machine. A pulley ,l?, is keyed to said shaft, to drive through a belt, p, either one of three pulleys, Q QF Q". lPulley Q turns loosely on shaft Q. .Pulley Q2 is keyed to one end of said shaft, near the other end of which a bevelpiniou, R2, iskeyed. Pulley Q is keyed to the sleeve of a bevel-pinion, It",which turns loosely on shaft Q. Bevelpinions R2 and It mesh into bevel-wheel R' on diametrically-opposite sides thereof, so that they may drive it in opposite directions. Bevel-wheel It is keyed to one end of shaft It, to the other end of which a spur-pinion, CB, is keyed, adapted to drive a spurwheel, B5, keyed to the end of screw Bi. Normally belt p will run on pulley Q. By shifting it onto either ofthe pulleys Q? or Q3, the screw B4 may be turned in one direction or the other, and the wedge properlymoved to adj ust way B.

y rlhe detailsof the machine are susceptible of various modifications, and, therefore, I do not limit myself as to some of the ensuing claims to any details of construction. W'hile I have described the `machine as more especially designed fer straightening railroad-rails, it will be obvious that the invention is equally ap- IOO IIO

IZO

plicable to the straightening of iron and steel beams, channel-irons, and the like,such changes being made in the form of the straightening-4 rollers and dimensions ofthe parts as circumstances may require.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of a traveling carriage, a series of alternatin g straightening-rollers mounted th ereon, and stationary guides or Ways along which said rollers roll, and which sustain the thrust thereof.

2. The combination, substantially asbefore the carriage automatically at either end of its track, or by hand at any point.

4. The combination, substantiallyas before set forth, of a traveling carriage, aseries of alternating straightening-rollers mounted thereon, stationary guides or ways along which said rollers roll, and which receive the thrust thereof, and rollers for supporting and guiding the rail or other article in its passage through the machine.

5. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of a traveling carriage, a series of alternating straightening-rollers mounted thereon, stationary guides or Ways along which said rollers roll, and which sustain the thrust thereof, an independent sliding bearing for each roller, and springs separating opposed rollerb earin gs to force the rollers into frictional contact with their Ways. y

In-testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS H. TREAT.

Witnesses:

Guo. J. MUNRon, 5S. O. SIMoNDs.

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