US735005A

US735005A - Apparatus for unloading and distributing steel rails.

Info

Publication number: US735005A
Application number: US14954303A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry Ware
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1903-03-25
Filing date: 1903-03-25
Publication date: 1903-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 1920-07-28

Description

No. 735,005. PATENTED JULY 28, T903. H. WARE. APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING AND DISTRIBUTING STEEL RAILS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1903.

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v H. WARE. APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING AND DISTRIBUTING STEEL RAILS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 25. 1903.

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APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING AND DISTRIBUTING STEEL RAILS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented uly 28, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY l/VARE, OF SPRINGVILLE, NElV YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 735,005, dated. July 28, 1903.

Application filed March 25, 1903- To (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WARE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springville, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Unloading and Distributing Steel Rails from Trains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for unloadingand distributing steel rails from trains when it is desired to repair or replace a section of a railroad; and it has for its object the provision of improved means for hoisting the rails from the bottom of the car and placing them on a suitable incline or skid, which will deliver them to the railroad-track.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for attaching and detaching my improved hoisting apparatus to and from a car containing steel rails.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and its novel features will be set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a car having my improvements attached thereto. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section, the uprights and pneumatic hoists being shown in elevation. Fig. 4 is a section of an adjustable stake-pocket for retaining an upright in position. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 6 is a View showingamodified construction of stake-pocket. Fig. 7 is a detail View of a clamp for holding the lower end of a brace-rod. Fig. 8 is an under plan view of the clamp shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a modified form of stakepocket adapted for application to an iron car. Fig. 10 is a view of the same, taken at right angles to Fig. 9. Fig. 11 shows a modified construction of clamp for the lower end of the brace-rod adapted for application to an iron car. Fig. 12 shows an adjustable clamp for the upper ends of the brace-rods. Fig. 13 shows a modification of my invention adapted for hoisting rails into a car. Fig. 14 is a side and front view of a stirrup used in connection with the pneumatic hoists. Fig. 15 shows a modified construction of skid. Fig. 16 is a detail side view of the lower end of a Serial No. 149.543. (N0 modeLI modified construction of skid. Fig. 17 is a View showing my improvement applied to a fiat-car. Fig. 18 is a detailview ofan inverted-T iron for use in attaching the lower ends of the brace-rods to a fiat-car. Fig. 19 is a detail view of an upright for supporting ona flat-car the cross-bar to which the upper ends of the skids are hooked. Fig. 20 is a detail view of. the cross-bar.

Like reference characters indicate like parts in the different views.

At the rolling-mills where steel rails are manufactured it is customary to load the rails into deep car s, such as are usually employed for carrying coal. The rails are shipped in these coal-cars to the point at which they are to be used.

When it is desired to repair or renew a section of a railroad-track, the steel rails are unloaded from the coal-cars and placed upon flat-cars by men. The fiat-cars are then run along the section of road which is to be repaired and the rails are unloaded therefrom at the desired point by hand. By reason of their extreme weight and size this method of handling steel rails is difficult and eXpen sive.

If flat-cars are not employed for transferring the rails to the point 'at which they are to be nsed,it is necessary to run the coalcar to such point and throw the steel rails from the top of said car to the ground by hand. This method, however, is seldom employed by reason of the fact that injury to the rails is likely to result.

By my invention I am enabled to easily and quickly unload the rails from the car in which they are originally placed and deliver them to the portion of the track at which they are to be used.'

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating a convenient embodiment of my invention, the reference character 1 indicates a railroadcar of the kind usually employed in shipping steel rails. An upright 2 is secured to each side of the car 1. Brace-rods 3, having turnbuckles 35, are provided to strengthen the uprights 2. At their upper ends the uprights 2 are connected by a cross-bar 3,, which fits at each end in an elongated groove 4 at the upper end of each upright 2. The cross-bar 3' is provided with a plurality of apertures at each end through which extend bolts 5 in the uprights 2. By providing a plurality of apertures or bolt-holes at each end of the cross-bar 3 said cross-bar is adapted to fit cars of varying widths.

A plurality of vertically-disposed holes 5 is provided in the upper end of each upright 2, by means of which the cross-bar 3' may be adjusted vertically in the slot or groove 4. This vertical adjustment of the cross-bar is necessary when the caris working on a curved portion of the track where one rail is disposed in a higher plane than the other. In such case it is necessary to adjust one end of the cross-bar higher up on its upright than the other in order to maintain the cross-bar in a horizontal position.

' Suspended from the cross-bar 3' is a plurality of air-cylinders or pneumatic hoists 6, connected by flexible air-pipes 7 with the airbrake system of the train. Suitable notches may be provided in the cross-bar 3 to maintain the hoists in proper position. At its lower end each of the cylinders 6 has connected therewith a suitable hook or clamp 8, by means of which a steel rail may be firmly gripped and raised by said air-cylinder.

At the rear end of the earl is provided a plurality of skids or inclines 9, one being provided for each air-hoist. Each of said skids is attached at its upper end by a hook 10 to the rear end of the car. At their lower ends the skids 9 are connected by a cross-beam 9, and a plurality of rollers 11 are provided, which run upon the railroad-track and support the lower ends of said skids. Each of the skids 9 at its upper end is provided with a roller 12, which is adapted to receive a steel rail and facilitate its delivery from the car 1 to the track or road-bed.

A cross-beam 13, provided on its upper surface with a plurality of rollers 14, is provided to support the steel rails after they have been lifted above the upper edge of the car 1. The cross-beam 13 is loosely placed across the car 1, so that it may be readily removed while the rails are being hoisted and be placed in position beneath the rails after they are hoisted. The rails are then lowered upon the rollers 14 of the cross-beam 13 and the rollers 12 at the upper end of the skids 9. It will be observed that the rollers 14 upon the cross-beam 13 are in a higher plane than the rollers 12 at the upper ends of the skids 9, so that a rail resting upon said rollers will have a tendency to slide toward the rear of the'car and pass down one of the skids 9 to the road-bed. This operation may be aided by hand, if desired. p

The cars which are usually employed for transporting steel rails are often not provided with stake-pockets or other means by which the uprights 2 may be fastened to the car. In order tofacilitate the attachment of my improved-rail-hoisting device to any form of car, I have devised a stake-pocket. (Illustrated-in Fig. 4 of the drawings.) This stake pocket comprises a body portion 15, adapted to receive one of the uprights 2, and a wedgeshaped portion 16, adapted to fit over the upper edge of the wooden car containing the rails. Awedge 17is then driveninto the wedge portion 16 of the stake-pocket to firmly hold said stake-pocket upon the car 1. A lug 18 is provided on each stake-pocket for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

When the stake-pocket is to be applied to a car made of iron or steel which is provided at its upper end with a flange, as shown in Fig. 9, a piece of timber or other material is first placed against the car side below the flange thereon, and the stake-pocket 15 is wedged thereupon, as previously described. In this latter case it is preferable to employ clamps 18, engaging the lugs or projections 18 on the stake-pocket, for holding the stakepocket in position.

A modified form of stake-pocket is illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. In this construction instead of the wedge 17 a screw 19, provided with a roughened head 20, is provided. The screw 19 is rotatable independent of its head 20, so that said head20 may be readily adjusted against the side of the car to clamp the pocket 15 firmly thereupon.

It will be seen that the forms of pocket which I have described are adapted for ready application to any form of railway-car.

When an adjustable stake-pocket 15 is employed, it is necessary to provide adjustable means for attaching the brace-rods 3 to the side of the car. An adjustable means of attaching the brace-rods 3 is shown in Fig. f the drawings, consisting of a clamp 21, provided with a screw 22, having a roughened head 23, the screw 22 being rotatable independently of the head 23. The clamp 21 is provided at its upper end with an eyebolt 24, into which the lower end of the brace-rod 3 is hooked. A toothed edge 25 may be provided on the clamp 21 to grip the timber from which the car is made and hold the clamp 21 more firmlyin position. A member 26, which is provided with two eyebolts 27 and is adjustable on the upright 2 in any desired manner, is provided to receive the upper ends of the brace-rods 3.

In Fig. 15 of the drawings I have illustrated a modified construction of the lower end of the skid 9. In this construction the rollers 11 are dispensed with, and upon the wooden cross-beam 9, which is attached to the lower ends of the skids 9 by L-irons 9", fitting intogrooves in the cross-beam, are provided angle-irons 11, which fit against the insides of the railroad-tracks and hold the skids in position.

As previously explained, in unloading a car a rail is elevated by the pneumatic hoists 6 and one end thereof is guided by hand onto the roller 12 at the upper end of one of the skids 9. The cross-beam 13 is then arranged across the car beneath the suspended rail, and the rail is lowered upon the roller 14 thereof, and the clamp 8 of the pneumatic hoist 6 is detached from the rail, which can then be guided down the skid 9 by hand. In place of the cross-beam 13 I may, if desired, provide a stirrup 28, Fig. 14, having at its lower end rollers 29 and at its upper end an eye 30. In using the stirrup 28 a rail is first hoisted sufficiently above the bottom of the car by the grip or clamp 8 to permit the stirrup to be passed over the end thereof by hand and moved along toits central portion. The rail is then lowered again to the car-floor and the pneumatic hoist is detached from the grip or clamp S and attached to the eye of the stirrup 28. It is now only necessary to hoist the rail in the stirrup, place one end thereof on the roller at the upper end of one of the skids, and shove said rail through the stirrup and down the incline by hand.

In Fig. 13 of the drawings I have illustrated a means of loading steel rails onto the car 1. In this construction the uprights 2 are placed at the end of the car 1, adjacent to the skid 9, and only one brace-rod 3 on each side of the car is employed. The rails are hoisted or drawn up the skid or incline and hoisted into the car by means of the pneumatic hoists 6, as will be readily understood.

In Fig. 12 of the drawings I have illustrated a form of adjustable clamp for securing the upper ends of the brace-rods 3 to the uprights 2. This clamp consists of a divided sleeve provided with lugs. passed through the lugs of said sleeve by means of which they may be drawn together to cause the clamp to firmly grip the upright 2.

As previously stated, the air for actuating the pneumatic hoists 6 is supplied by the 10- comotive through the air-brake system of the train. For this reason no large degree of expense is incurred in operating the pneumatic hoists.

In order to provide means for conveniently supplying air to two hoists, as shown in Fig. 3, I have provided the double air-hose connection 36, which is hooked to the bottom of the car, as shown. This double connection is in communication with the air system of the train and supplies air to the two pipes '7.

In Fig. 17 of the drawings I have illustrated my improvements applied to a flat-car. The uprights are supported in the stake-pockets of the car, and the brace-rods are attached at their lower ends to the eyes 37 of inverted- T irons 38, which are passed upwardly through holes in the flat-car. A cross-rod 39, adjustably mounted, as shown, on supports 40, is provided at the rear end of the car to receive the hooks of the skids 9. The operation of this construction is similar to that described.

While my improvements are particularly adapted for unloading rails from moving trains, I desire it understood that they may also be employed to unload rails from a train while not in motion, though in this case An adjustable bolt is' more time and labor will be consumed in removing the rails from the skids.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a car, a pneumatic hoist suspended therefrom, means for operating said hoist from the air-brake system of the train, and a skid attached to one end of said car.

2. The combination of a car, a pneumatic hoist removably suspended therefrom, means for operating said hoist from the air-brake system of the train, and a skid attached to one end of said car.

3. The combination of a car, a plurality of pneumatic hoists "suspended therefrom, means for operating said hoists from the airbrake system of the train, and a plurality of skids attached to said car.

4. The combination of a car, a plurality of pneumatic hoists removably suspended therefrom, flexible tubing for operating said hoists from the air-brake system of the train, and a plurality of skids removably attached to said car.

5. The combination with a car; of a plurality of skids attached to one end thereof, a plurality of adjustable stake-pockets secured to said car, an upright in each of said stakepookets, a plurality of adjustable clamps on said car, a plurality of brace-rods connecting said uprights and said adjustable clamps, and a plurality of hoisting devices supported by said uprights.

6. The combination with a car; of a plurality of skids attached to one end thereof, an adjustable stake-pocket secured to each side of said car, an upright in each of said stakepockets, an adjustable clamp provided with eyebolts on each of said uprights, a plurality of adjustable clamps on said car, each provided with an eyebolt, a plurality of brace-rods connecting the eyebolts on the clamps of said uprights and the 'eyebolts on the clamps attached to said' car, a cross-bar connecting said uprights, a plurality of hoisting devices supported by said cross-bar, and means for temporarily supporting a rail that has been elevated by said hoists.

7. The combination with a car; of a skid attached to one end thereof, a plurality of rollers on said skid, an adjustable stakepocket on each side'of said car, an upright in each of said stake-pockets, each of said uprights having a groove in its upper end, a cross-bar fitting in the grooves of said up rights, said cross-bar having a plurality of bolt-holes at each end, a bolt in the upper end of each upright, said boltpassing through one of the bolt-holes in said cross-bar, a plurality of pneumatic hoists attached to said cross-bar, means for supplying pneumatic energy to each of said hoists, a cross-beam adapted to be placed across the car, and a plurality of rollers upon said cross-beam.

8. The combination with a car, a plurality a cr0ss-r0d removably attached to the rear of uprights on said car, a plurality of hoistend of said car, and a plurality of skids ating devices supported by said uprights, a tached to said cross-rods; plurality of adjustable elements on said car, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 5 a pluralityof brace-rods connecting said upmy hand in presence of two subscribing wit- I 5 rights and said adjustable elements, and a nesses. plurality of skids attached to said car.

9. The combination with a car, of a plu- Witnesses: rality of uprights on said car, a plurality of L. S. WARE, IO hoisting devices supported by said uprights, WM. E. BENSLEY.

HENRY WARE.