US737530A - Spike-puller. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED AUGJ25, 19,03.

C. P. TILLBERG. SPIKE FULLER.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 25, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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Iatented August 25, 1963.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. TILLBERe, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPIKE-FULLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,530, dated August 25, 1903.

Application filed June 25, 1903. Serial No. 163,067. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern/.

Beit known that LCHARLEs F.TILLBEEG,a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Spike-Pullers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in spike-pullers, and has for its object to provide an appliance whereby spikes may be withdrawn or pulled upward in a straight line without bending the same; and a further object of my invention is to provide a machine of this character which will be extremely simple in construction, durable and efficient in action, and may be manufactured at a comparatively small cost.

With these ends in View this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the machine; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section through the same; Fig. 3, a rear elevation of the upper portion of the machine; Fig. 4, a section on line 4: a of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

The body of the machine consists of the two vertical side pieces A, which are joined together near the lower end by the cross-pieces A and at the upper end by the handle B. These side pieces are bent at right angles on their forward edge, as shown at A and extend toward one another. A slight distance rearward of these lips A are secured the ratchet-bars C, which are fastened to the inside of the side pieces A. The space between these ratchet bars and lips A provides a guideway for the vertical sliding plate D. This plate D has a projection E, which extends forward from the same between the lips A and these projections consist of a stud E,

rounded on its upper edge, as shown in Fig. 5, and a housing E extending from the forward face of the stud up and over the same at a slight distance therefrom and joins with the plate D.

F represents theclaw, which is adapted to grip the spike, and this claw consists of two members F, pivoted together at their central portion,and both ends are exactly alike. One end of the claw is adapted to straddle the stud E and hang upon the same. By pressing together the upper ends of the claw above the stud the lower ends of the claw may be separated and opened, and these ends being brought upon each side of the spike will grip said spike when the plate D is forced upward because of the fact that the rounded surface of the stud E will cause the upper ends of the members F to separate and therefore cause the lower ends of the members F to bite into or grip the spike upon each side. This claw may be changed end for end whenever desiredas, forinstance, when one end becomes damaged it could be reversed.

G represents two pawls pivoted to the rearward face of the plate D, and these pawls are adapted to be held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-bars O by means of the spring H. These pawls G extend above the pivotal points, so as to form the heel ends G.

I is a small hand-lever pivoted to the upper end of the plate D- and provided with a downwardly-dependi11g Wedge-shaped lug I, adapted to enter between the heel ends G of the pawls and force the pawls out of engagement with the teeth when the lever I is depressed.

J represents ears extending rearward from the plate D, and pivoted between these cars is a link K, the other end of which is pivoted to the end of the hand-lever L. This handlever L is provided with a stud M, which extends from each side of the lever and is adapted to engage the notches N, formed in the rearward edge of the side pieces A. The lower ends of the side pieces A are cut away, as represented at A so as to fit over the tread of a railroad-rail.

The operation of the device is as follows: In drawing railroad-spikes the device isallowed to rest on top of the railroad-rail, and the longer legs A will come downward in contact with the flange of the rail. here a guard-rail is close to the rail, these legs A might not have room to lie in between. There fore the apparatus could be made 'withshort front legs, the same as the rear and beveled, as indicated at A in Fig. 2. The claw is then lowered by depressing the lever I and placing the studs M in the last notch. Then by opening the lower ends of the claw and placing the same upon each side of the spike and by depressing the lever L the slide will be raised, and in raising the jaws of the claw will close upon the spike and raise the same the distance that the slide has been raised, and the pawl-and-ratchet bar will hold the slide in this raised position. Then by placing the studs M in the next notch above and again depressing the handle the spike will be pulled still farther out, and in very long spikes it might be necessary to again remove the stud and place it in the topmost notch. Thus the spike will be pulled directly upward in a vertical line without bending. In removing wharf-spikes the device would then necessarily have to rest upon a beam, and in such cases 'I would make the rear legs the same length as the forward legs, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. I

It will be understood that this device can be made any length desired and any number of notches could be used, so as to draw spikes of any length.

The advantages of this device are that spikes may be removed in such a condition as to be used again without any labor in starting. Besides it is a well-known fact that spikes as removed to-day with crowbars and other spike-pullers are more or less bent when withdrawn, and it is either necessary to throw the spikes away or have the same straightened before they can again be used. This occasioned considerable outlay on the part of the railroads.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as slight modifications could be made without departing from-the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. Ina spike-puller, a body portion adapted to rest upon a rail or other surface, a sliding bar adapted to slide vertically in the body portion, a claw carried by the sliding portion adapted to engage the spike and automatically close upon the same when the slide is raised, ratchetbars carried by the body portion, spring-paw1s pivoted to'the slide and adapted to normally engage the ratchet-bars so as to normally prevent the downward movement of the slide, means for disengaging the pawls from the ratchet-bars, a hand-lever pivoted to the slide, a fulcrum-stud protruding from each side of the lever, and a series of fulcrumbearings, one above the other, formed in the body, in which the fulcrum-stud is adapted to be placed successively for the raising of the slide, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a spike-puller, a body portion cut away at its lower end so as to fit the tread of a rail, avertical guideway provided in the body portion,a slide adapted to slide in said guideway, ratchet-bars carried by the body, spring-pawls pivoted to the slide and adapted to engage said ratchet-bars so as to normally allow the upward but prevent the downward movement of the slide, means for disengaging the pawls from the ratchet-bar, a claw consisting of two members pivoted together at their central portion, a stud protruding from the slide, said stud being rounded upon its upper portion, the upper ends of thetwo members of the claw adapted to straddle the stud and hang upon the same,the lower ends of the two members adapted to grip the spike upon each side, a link pivoted to the rearward side of the slide, a hand-lever to which the other end of the link is pivoted, a stud protruding from each side of the hand-lever, a series of notches formed in the body portion, one above the other, in which the stud is adapted to rest for the raising of the slide, as and for the *purpose specified.

3. In a spike-puller, a body portion consisting of two vertical side pieces secured together by a cross-strip at its lower end, a handle securing together the upper ends of the side pieces, a vertical guideway provided in each of the side pieces, a slide adapted to slide within said guideway, a stud rounded upon its upper side formed with the slide and protrudin g forward of the side pieces, a claw consisting of two members pivoted together at the center, the upper ends of the two members adapted to straddle the stud and hang upon the same so that the lower ends of the two members will be brought toward one an- I other as the slide is raised, and the upper ends of the two members separated by the rounding surface of the stud, the lower ends of the claw adapted to grasp the spike upon each side, a ratchet-bar carried upon the inside surface of each side piece, spring-pawls pivoted to the slide and adapted to engage the ratchet-bars so as to normally prevent the downward movement of the slide, means for disengaging the pawls from the ratchet-bars, a link pivoted at its upper end to the slide, a hand-lever pivoted at its inner end to the other end of the link, a stud protruding from.

each side of the hand-lever, a series of notches provided in the rearward edge of each of the side pieces, said notches being one above the other and adapted to form a bearing for the stud, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- CHARLES F. TILLBERG.

Witnesses:

F. J. KING, REINHOLD SCHMIDT.

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