US889370A - Normal-surface turn-table. - Google Patents

Description

EATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

o. G. EAWLEY. NORMAL sUEEAcE TURN TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 889,870.. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

` '0. G. HAWLBY.

NORMAL SURFACE TURN TABLEl l.lLIPLIOATlOl FILED SEPT. 24,1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v PATRNTRD JNR 2, 1908. 0. G. HAWLRY. NORMAL SURFACE TURN TABLE'.

APPLIQATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1906.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 3.

'UNITED 'STATES PATENT oEEioE.

CHARLES GILBER-'l` HAWLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDEICK A. GALE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

NORMAL-SURFACE TURN-TABLE.

Patented June 2, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it .known that I, CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Normal- Surface Turn-Table, vof which the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, such as will enable others skilled in the-art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in railroad turn tables, and has special reference to im rovements in normalsurface turn tables, t at is,such as are so constructed as not to require a pit.

The object of my invention is to provide a railroad turn table which shall be supported by and adapted to turn upon a surface which is either level or substantially 'level with the surface of the surrounding railroad yard, a primary urpose of the invention being to obviate t e construction and use ofthe usual turn table pit.

Other objects of the invention are to simplify the construction and to lessen the cost of turn tables.

.Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

My invention consists generally in a plurality of circular tracks or rails laid in or on the surface of the yard, in combination with a suitable fixed center post or pin, a turn table comprising longitudinal stringers and cross bearers, the latter corresponding to said circular tracks, and a plurality of balls or rollers interposed between said tracks and cross bearers and supporting said table.

^ Further my invention consists in a structure ofthe foregoing description wherein ball guides or retainers, substantially co-extensive with said circular tracks, are attached to the turn table.

My invention also consists in novel means for operating turn tables, of the .character briefly described.

Further my invention consists in various details of construction and in combination of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described.`

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wliich form a part of this specification, and in which;

Figure 1, is a plan view of a turn table embodying my invention; Fig.' 2, is an enlarged vertica section of substantially one-half of the turn table on the line XX ofFig. 1 Fig. 3, is a still further enlarged transverse vertical section on the irregular line Y-Y of Fig. l viewed in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4, is a longitudinal vertical section showing the parts on the same scale as Fig. 3, as

they appear on the line Z-Z of Figs. 1 and 3. Y

Fig. 5, 1s an enlarged vertical section on the line U-U of Fig. 1, showing the mechanism which I employ for rotating the table; Fig.

-6, is a top view of one of the cross bearers or transverse members of the turn table; and Fig. 7, shows the same member inverted.

A turn table of the construction herein shown is ordinarily not less than fifty feet in length, and many tables approximate ninety feet in length. The space appropriated to such a table is a circular area of corresponding diameter. The incoming and outgoing tracks to be served by the table approach the latter at different angles and terminate at the edge of the circular surface. The surface of the yard adjacent to the turn table is usually carefully leveled. The incoming and outgoing tracks are laid on the surface, their ties being sunk therein. The turn table surface is usually flush or level withthe yard surface and as stated is defined by the swing of the table. It is further dened by a circular rail or track laid in the surface and having its top either flush with orl slightly above the yard surface. There are provided a suitable number of such tracks, of different diameters concentrically arranged, their number depending upon the length of the table and their spacing being determined by various factors, amonfr which is the size or strength of the channel members or stringers, which support the turn table rails. Said circular tracks are designated 1, 1, in the drawings.

The rails. are preferably inade of wrought metal and each com rises a flat base portion 1, and two upturne iianges. The rails are mounted on circular foundation walls, 3, that rise to or through the turn table surface. order lthat said surface may be kept free of mud and water, it is preferably covered with a layer of cement or concrete, 4, up to the bases of the tracks, 1, 1, and for draining the surface, the annular divisions or portions thereof are concavedor depressed, and from tracks, 13.

low points, 4', therein, ducts, 5, lead to a sewer or basin, 6. l

A primary `pur ose of my 1nvent1on 1s to make the turn tab e as low as possible, so that the tops of its rails will be level with the tops of the yard rails. It is for this reason, and with a view to reducing the friction, that I em loy com aratively small roller bearings or balls. here balls are used, I providey .annular grooved ball-races, 8, and mount them in the respective rails, 1, 1. Said ball races may be-of either wrought or cast metal, and preferably case-hardened. The balls, 9, are laid in the ball-race grooves, preferably in contact, so that they form unbroken rings of balls. l The turn table, designated as a whole by reference character,r2, com rises in its construction, a pair of flange channel members or stringere, rigidly and solidly connected together, a ser1es of transverse bearers which rest upon the balls, ,a suitably braced platform carrying the driving mechanism, and a center-pin bearmg.

The stringere, 10, are referably continuous from'end to end of t e table, and support in'theirA bottoms the two rails, 12, that receive the cars or locomotives from the yard Said rails are secured to the stringere preferably by riveting.

The cross bearers, 14 and 15, are disposed above the respective tracks, 1, and squarely across the turn table, exce ting the central cross bearers hereinafter escribed. Each cross bearer, 14, consists of a heavy integral castin comprising a flanged web, provided with epressions or recesses, 16, for the reception of the stringere, 10, and formed in its lower side with an arcuate longitudinal ball-bearing groove, 17, which conforms to the curvature of the circular rail or bearing upon which it moves. 'Said groove, 17, isf formed in the top of a wider groove, having inclined sides, 18. These inclined sides lie close to the inner and outer sides of the rail, and extend nearly to the basethereof, thus excluding dust or obstructions from-that por' tion-of the ball-race covered by the crossbearer. The upper surface of the ball bearing groove, 17 is slightly inclined upwardly towardits end to facilitate its movements upon the balls. The cross bearers, 14, are provided with upper lateral flanges, 19, and with lower lateral flanges, 20; also with end flanges, 21. The stringere, 10, are provided with side flanges, 2'2, and are secured to the cross bearers, 14, 15, by rivets passing through said flanges, 23, and through the top flanges, 19, of the cross bearers. Said top flanges are conformed to the Stringer-recesses, 16, as shown.

The channel stringere are reinforced by longitudinal auxiliary stringere or I beams, 24, which are held in contact with the under A convenient and sim the sides of the cross bearers, and their ends rest upon the heavy bottom cross bearer flanges, 20. The u per end corners of beams 24, are cut away to et the ends of said beams abut the lateral faces or Webs of the cross bearers, 14. Thus the portions of stringere,

10, that lie between cross bearers will be relieved or reinforced, when the load comes upon them.

The cross bearers are further rigidly connected longitudinally of the table, by channel or other bars, 26, which are riveted to the end flanges, 21, andy may be in separate lengths connecting the cross bearers, or may be continuous, like the channel stringere, 10. The lower flanges of bars, 26, rest upon shoulders or lugs, 27, upon the ends of the cross bearers, or in other words, the ends of the cross bearers are cut away to receive said bars. The cross bearers may be further braced and interconnected by diagonal members, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

To protect and retain the balls, 9, Within their grooves, where not covered by the cross bearers of the table, l have provided the table with a proximately semicircular ball-retainers. and) protectors, 28; two for each of the circular rails or ball-races. One of these parts is shown in cross section in Fig. 5, at which vpoint it supports the operators platform, 29. Ae shown, it comprises a flat top or web, 28, and a flanges, 28', which almost touch the edges of the rail; the top or web, 28, having a plane under surface resting on the balls, 9. The ends of the ball-retainers, 28 which lieat the platform side of the turn table are preferably rigidly secured to the'ends of respective cross bearers, 14. Those at the other side of the table, however, are so attached to the cross bearers that they may be lifted from off the balls, to permit inspection, or cleaning of the ball-races and also to permit the balls to be laced in their grooves and removed thererom af-ter the turn table has been installed. le way to permit the lifting of the ball retamers is to pivot their ends, as shown, in Figs. 1 and 3, they are provided with hinge lugs 30, connected by pins, '31, to hinge-lugs, 32, riveted to or cast integral with the cross bearers, 14.

The stringere, 10, and the cross bearers are suitably braced, as by top plates, or braces. As shown, a longitudinal plate, 34, extending the length of the table, is riveted to the top cross bearer flanges, 19. This plate rovides a footway for persons croselng t e turn table; Above the inner and smaller track, 1, it is better construction to employ a circular cross bearer as 15 than two straight cross bearers, forthe stringere, 10. A circular pair of depending cross bearer is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in plan and section respectively. It is provlded with depressed recesses to receive the stringers, 10, and is riveted to their fianges, 19, like the straight cross bearers, 14. It is of course provided with ball bearing grooves and with flanges which cover the sides ofthe circular track thereunder.

Two of the ball retaining arcs, 28, support the operators platform, 29, which carries either a motor, 38, or a hand-power gear for turning the table. The motor or crank is geared by cog wheels, 39-40, to a radial shaft, 41, held in bearings, 42-43. On the end of shaft, 41, is a bevel driving pinion, 44,

The driving impulse is transmitted from the platform, 29, to the ends of the turn table by t1e rods, 46, connecting the outer portions of the former to the latter. The platform is further braced and held in position by suitable bars such as the arrangement of three bars, 47, shown, with their inner ends connected to three of the cross bearers, and converging toward the platform to which their outer ends are secured. As stated, the platform is supported by two of the varcuate members, 28, which rest upon the roller bearings. The axis of rotation is provided by a center-pin, 36, or, its equivalent, either fixed in the turn table surface or secured to the turn table itself. As shown, the pin, 36, is held by a sunken block or casting 37, and the center-pinbearing, 35, is suitably secured to, or made integral with, the center cross bearer, 1-5. The center-pin serves not only as a ful.- crum, but receives the end thrust upon the turn tableiwhen rolling stock is moved there over. Anysuitable means iforlaccurately.

registering and locking the turn table in line with any track, 13, may be employed.

It will be obvious that I may locate the channel-like stringersupon the tops of the cross bearers and thereby avoid notching the latter; butin such cases the table rails are somewhat above the yard tracks, and it is necessary to incline or rase the adjacent ends of the yard rails or tracks. This plan or construction. possesses an advantage arising from the fact that rolling stock cannot readily be driven on to the turn table surface; as the inclined ends of the yard rails tend to stop the approach of cars or engines to the turn table.

As various other modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to 'one skilled in the art, I do not limit the invention to the specific construction herein described.

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

1. A railroad turn table comprising a straight track-supporting structure, in combination with a motor platform at the side of the platform and rigidly connected thereto, and circular bearings for said structure and platform; substantially as described.

2. A railroad turn-table comprising` a straight track-supporting structure, in combination with circular track and roller bearings for said structure, a circular rack fixed below said structure and concentric with said bearings, a motor platform at the side of and rigidly connected to said structure, and gearing comprising a drive pinion meshing with said circular rack; substantially as described.

3. A railroad turn-table comprising a straight track-supporting structure, in combination with circular roller bearings therefor, a circular rack iXed belowsaid structure and concentric with said bearings, a motor platform rigidly connected to said structure and supported by said bearings, and gearing comprlslng a drive pinion meshing with said rack; substantially as described.

4. The combination with a turn-table mounted on roller bearings, vof upwardly movable retainers and protectors concentric with and covering said bearings and carried by the turn-table; substantially as described.

5. A straight track-supporting structure in combination with circular roller bearings therefor and a'rcuate roll retainers and protectors carried by said structure and covering those portions of the bearings not covered by the track-sup orting structure; substantially as described).

6. A railroad turn-table comprising a plurality of metal cross bearers, each rovided with two depressed portions, in com ination with a pair of channeled track-supporting stringers resting upon and secured to sai cross bearers within said depressed portions; substantially as described.

7. A railroad turn-table comprisinga plurality of metal cross bearers, each provided with two depressed portions, in` combination with a pair of channeled track-supporting stringers resting upon and secured to said cross bearers within said depressed portions, and longitudinal members .for reinforcing said stringers; substantially as described.

8. A railroad turn-table comprising a plu.- rality of metal cross bearers, each provlded with two depressed portions, in combination with a pair of channeled track-supportin stringers resting upon and'secured to sai cross bearers within said depressed ortions, and continuous longitudinal mem ers secured to the ends of said cross bearers and reinforcing said stringers; substantially as described.

9. A railroad turn-table comprising a plurality of metal cross bearers, each provided with two depressed portions, a pair o ianged channel stringers resting upon and secured to said cross bearers within said depressed portions, and auxiliary stringers underlying the flanges of said channel stringers and secured to the cross bearers; substantially asl described.

10. In a normal surface turn table, a metal cross bearer comprising a body or web having transverse recesses to receive channel stringers, and having top and bottom longitudinal flanges for attachment to said stringers and other members; substantially as described.

11. In a normal surface turn table, a metal cross bearer comprising a body or web having transverse recesses to receive channel stringers, and having top and bottom longitudinal fianges and end flanges for attachment to saidstringers and other members; substantially as described.

12. A normal surface turn table comprising a straight track supporting structure provided with metal cross earers each hav- 1n a body or web and a longitudinal, curved, ro ler bearing way or race in its lower side; substantially as described.

13. A normal surface turn table comprising a plurality of metal cross bearers, and having longitudinal, curved, roller bearing recesses in their under sides,.in combination with a pair of channel stringers secured to and resting on said cross bearers, and rails laid in the channels of said'stringers; substantailly as described. 1

14. A-normal surface turn table comprising a pair or rail supporting channel stringers and centrally disposed annular cross bearings thereunder, and a plurality of spaced, straight cross bearers, all the cross bearers being rigidly secured to said stringers and having curved roller bearing grooves in their lower sides; substantially as described.

15. A normal surface turn table comprising a pair of rail supporting channel stringers and a centrally disposed annular cross bearer thereunder, a center pin bearing, a center in, and a plurality of spaced, straight cross bearers, all the cross bearers being rigidly secured to said stringers and having curved roller bearing grooves in their lower sides; substantially as described.

16. A normal surface turn table comprising a plurality of metal cross bearers, a pair of channeled rail supporting stringers resting on and secured to said cross bearers, and a longitudinal plate riveted upon said cross bearers-and extending between said stringers; substantially as described.

17. A normal surface turn table comprising a plurality of metal cross bearers having top and bottom longitudinal anges, in combination with a pair of flan ed channel stringers resting on and secure to said top flanges, and auxiliary stringers underlying the fianges of the channel stringers to reinforce the same and having their ends secured to said cross bearers substantially as described.

18. A plurality of spaced concentric tracks provided with roller bearings, in combination with a turn table comprislng a plurality of metal cross bearers alined with said tracks,

said cross bearers having curved roller bear I mg grooves, a pair of flanged channel stringers resting on and secured to said cross bearers, lateral continuous bars secured to and connecting the ends of the cross bearers, and reinforcing members supporting the anges of said stringers, said'reinforcing members being supported by the cross bearers; substantially as described. A

19. The combination of a circular roller bearing track, rollers mounted thereon, and a turn table comprising a cross bearer alined with said track, said cross bearer having a track groove of the same curvature as the track and sufficiently dee to overhang the same, the up er portion o said groove 4being provided wit a roller bearing surface; substantially as described.

20. The combination of a circular roller bearing track, rollers mounted thereon, and a turn table comprising metal cross bearers alined with said track, each cross bearer having a track groove of the same curvature as the track and sufliciently deep to overhang the same, a ortion of said groove being deepened to crm a roller bearing groove;-

bearing, resting on said-rollers, and carried by the turn tab e; substantially as described.

22. The combination with a turn table and a circular roller bearin track therefor, of rollers held by said track and a semicircular retainer and protector conforming to the bearing, restin on said rollers, and carried by the turn tab e; substantially as described.

23. The combination of a plurality of concentric roller bearing tracks, a turn table, and a platform upon said tracks, table drivin mechanism on said platform, and arc shape bearing protectors and retainers carried by the turn table, said platform being sup orted by one or more of said retainers, su stantially as described.

24. A circular rail of channeled section disdrive pinion driven by the motor and engag'- l Eosed with the channel upward, and a ball in the rack; substantiallf as described.

n te

olding rin vund an annular rack held within stimony whereof, have hereunto set the charme of seid rail; substantially as demy hand, this 30th day of August, 1906,' 1n

s scribed. the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

25. A circular rail having two 11p-turned CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY. flanges, a ball holding ring, and 'an annular Witnesses: rack held between said flanges, a turn table, JOHN R. LEFEVRE, i

a motor platform, a. motor thereon, and a F. G. KNIGHT,

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