US56571A - Improved turn-table - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. KELLY, OF KENDALLVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPRQVED TU RN-TABLE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,571, dated July 24, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. KELLY, of Kendallville, in the county of Noble and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Turn-Table for Railroads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompa-nying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a top view of the new turn-table. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the turn-table.

. Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of the rollers or wheels upon which the table turns. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in the several gures.

This invention relates to a novel mode of constructing railroad turn-tables by which locomotive-engines are turned around upon a track or switched from one. track to another, the object of which invention is to avoid friction and the sliding of the wheels upon the tracks as much as possible, and thereby ob'- tain an easy-running table, as will be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

The bed or foundation A may be constructed of timbers framed together in the usual manner of constructing such foundations, or it may be made of masonry and the circular railtracks spiked down upon it in any suitable manner. The two concentric rail-tracks, B and G, are constructed with their upper surfaces beveled outward, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

This bevel or inclined plane should, if extend. ed inward, intersect a point which is in a plane coinciding with the axes of the several wheels C C D D, upon which the circular table E is mounted.

The turn-table E may be constructed of timbers suitably framed together and braced, so that the table will sustain very heavy loads upon it without sagging. On the bottom side of this table are secured two concentric rails, B C2, which correspond in diameter and in every other particular to the two supportingrails B and C. This tableE is supported ceni trally upon a post, E', which proceeds up from the foundation A, and which is immovably xed thereto. The upper end of said post may be fitted into a socket, and a reduced centraly stem or pivot may project from the upper end ofthe post and pass through the turntable, receiving upon its upper end a nut, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4.

The wheels CZ and D (eight or more in number) are applied loosely upon the ends of radial shafts C3 D', which project horizontally from a ring, G, that is concentric to the axis of the post E. The wheels C', which roll upon the outer rail, are applied to the ends of the longest shafts G3, and those wheels D which are appliedto the inner rail are on the shorter shafts D. These radial shafts are arranged at regular intervals apart around the ring G, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to afford a uniform bearing to the turntable E.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 that the wheels C and D are flanged, and also that the flanges a b are inside of their respective rails. These wheels are the frusta of cones the apices of which proceed from a common center.

By thus constructing the wheels they will be prevented from binding as they are rolled upon their rails. Their conical shape is adapted to the inclined surfaces of the rails between which th ey roll, and their flanges prevent them from moving outward. Consequently it will not be necessary to apply nuts or anything of the kind to the outer ends of the axles or shafts of these rollers or wheels.

If desirable, three or more circular tracks maybe applied to the foundation A and table E and the number of conical wheels increased; but for all ordinary purposes two rails above and below will answer.

While my invention is especially applicable to railroad turn-tables, it is also applicable as ananti-friction bearing or center support for swinging bridges, to heavy derricks, and to longer than the other set and both sets yoked 2. The conical anged Wheels and beveled together-have ever been used in connection rails, in combination with the central ring, G, with a turn-table. Therefore I do not claim fixed center post, E', and a turning table, E, conical toothed and hanged rollers; but substantially as described.

What l do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The yoking-ring G, in combination with conical rollers and a concentric rail or rails, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

JAMES B. KELLY..

Witnesses JAMES CoLEGRovE, S. E. GOODWIN.

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