US893505A

US893505A - Tie-tamping apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US893505A
Application number: US41765508A
Authority: US
Inventors: John Iliff
Original assignee: EDWARD J ILIFF
Current assignee: EDWARD J ILIFF
Priority date: 1908-02-25
Filing date: 1908-02-25
Publication date: 1908-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 1925-07-14

Description

PATENTED JULY14, 1908.

J. ILIFF. TIE TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.25, 1908.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3141.)?" OZ Jo/m 12" J/Vi ha oozes No. 893,505. PATENTED JULY 14, 1908. J. ILIFF. TIE TAMPING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1908.

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PATENTBD JULY14, 1908.

. J. ILIFF.

' TIE TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1908.

No. 893,505. v PATENTED JULY 14, 1908.

J. ILIFF. TIE TAMPING-APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 25, 1908.

6 SHEETSSHBET 5.

31100 nl'oz witnesses {uz ly/iffiehft'ci-s' Quorum No. 893,505. PATENTED JULY '14, 1908. J. ILIFF.

TIE TAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.25,1908.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

mwntoz UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

JOHN ILIFF, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWARD J. ILIFF, OF

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

TIE-TAMPING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Application filed February 25, 1908. Serial No. 417,655.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ILIFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tie-Tamping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tie tamping apparatus of that type comprising one or more tamping mechanisms mounted on a car which, when in operation, is sustained on the'rails of the track, the ties of which are to be tamped by the apparatus, the car being moved step by step for permitting the ties to be successively tamped so that a new track can be constructed or the ties of an old track tamped in a simple, expeditious and inexpensive manner.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of tie tamping machines of this character so as to be comparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, highly effective in operation, and requiring a minimum number of hands to carry on track construction or repairs.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus including a-plurality of= tamping sections relatively adjustable so that tampers of each section can be brought into proper relation with the ties to be tamped, in combination with suitable driving connec tions whereby power can be obtained from a single motor.

Another object is the employment of a plurality of tampers mounted on a carriage movable transversely to the car so as to tamp the earth or ballast under the entire length of the ties.

A further object is to provide a plurality of pairs of tampers which are actuated on their striking or tamping strokes by coiled springs, the springs permitting the strokes of the tampers to vary, as for instance, when any tamper strikes an obstruction. In this case, its spring will yield and when the obstruction is removed the tamper will resume its normal stroke.

A still further object is the provision of a tie tamping machine in which; the carriage is alternately moved in opposite directions to a change speed mechanism controlled automatically, so that when the carriage has finished its movement to the left for the tamping of one tie, it can be-automatically reversed and moved to the right when the machine" is adjusted to the succeeding tie to be tamped, this back and forth movementof the carriage being accomplished automatically so that the only attention required on the part of the operator is to adjust the tampers to the successive ties.

An additional object is to provide means for elevating the tampers to a suitable height so that they, will not be in the path of obstructions along the track, as when it is required to move the apparatus from one place to another.

Another object is to provide an adjusting means so as to adjust the tampers to operate simultaneously on opposite sides of ties of different widths.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described.

hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one of the-embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a side View of a tie tamping apparatus of that type comprising a plurality ofltarnping sections or mechanisms mounted on'a single car. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the car showing one of the tamping 1nechanisms or sections in front elevation and drawn on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the tie tamping mechanisms. Figs. 4 and 5 are end views thereof viewed from opposite sides of the car. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section on line 66, Fig. 3, of the carriage,reversing mechanism. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the cams and shifting levers for alternately throwing the reversing element of the reversing device. Fig. 811s a detail view of one of the pairs of tampers. Fig. 9 is a section on line 99, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a plan view, with parts in section, of the engine shaft and driving connection between the same and adjacent tie tamping mechanism designed to permit relative adjustment of the latter toward or away from the engine. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of the gearing between the line shaft of the apparatus and the driving shaft of each tamping mechanism. w

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

- In the present instance, I have elected to illustrate the invention in the form of a tie tamping apparatus consisting of a car with a plurality of tie tamping mechanisms or sections mounted thereon, but it is to be understood that the invention contemplates the use of merely one section if preferred.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1, A designates a car of any suitable construction which is adapted to rest on the rails l of the track being laid for originally tamping the ties thereof or for re-tamping the ties of an old track in the repair thereof. In the present instance, the car consists of a central section 2 having a platform or body 3 mounted on a truck 4 that is provided with Wheels 5 bearing on the rails 1, and hingedly connected at 6 to the central section are end sections 7 of suitable length that have their outer ends supported on wheels 8 that run on the rails 1, the sections being jointed at 6 so that the car can pass over any uneven and untamped portion of the track without undue strain. Mounted on the central section 2 of the car is an explosive engine B or motor of any suitable type which serves to supply power to the various tamping mechanisms and also for moving the car progressively over the track during the tamping operation or for propelling it from place to place. On the sections 7 of the car are mounted the several tamping mechanisms designated generally by C, and included in each mechanism is a shaft section 10 mounted in suitable bearings, and between the shaft sections of adjacent mechanisms and between the engine and the two innermost mechanisms are connections 11 which permit of the carriages of the several mechanisms C being reciprocated in a plane transverse to the car, each connection, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, consisting of universal joints 12 and an extension or slip v joint 13, which latter serves to permit the sections to be adjusted longitudinally of the car for bringing the tampers into pro er relation to the ties to be tamped. T e slip joints 13 comprise telescoping parts 14 and 15 of non-circular cross section for the urpose of transmitting rotary movement rom the crank shaft 16 to the engine. It may be found desirable to employ clutches between the engine shaft 16 and the line of shafting extending therefrom to the tamping mechanisms, so that certain of the sections can' be thrown out of operation when desired. For this purpose, the crank shaft, as shown in Fig. 10, may be provided with a clutch of any improved ty e such as a hollow cone 17 on the crank shaft and a cone 18 arranged to cooperate therewith, the second cone being thrown into and out of engagement by a suit-,

able operating lever 19. Any suitable drivin mechanism may be employed for prope ling the car from the engine, and one way of accomplishing this consists in providing a gear wheel 20 on the crank shaft which meshes with a gear 21 mounted on the stub shaft 22, and on this shaft is a hollow cone 23 with which cooperates a cone 24. The cone 24 is thrown into and out of engagement by a suitable operating lever 25, and the cone element 24 is provided with a sprocket wheel 26 which, through a sprocket chain 27, Fig. 1, drives a shaft 28 on the truck 4 which shaft has gears 29 that mesh with miter gears 30 on-the axles of the truck so as to propel the car. When the apparatus is used for tamp: ing, the clutch element 24 will, of course, be disengaged so that the car will remain stationary and when it is desired to shift the car to tamp the succeeding ties, the clutch 24 will be thrown into operation to move the car the desired distance, after which the clutch will be thrown out of operation. During the propulsion of the car, the tie tamping mechanisms can be rendered inoperative by disconnecting the clutch elements 18 so as to permit the engine to operate independently.

The several tie tamping mechanisms are of duplicate construction so that a description of one will suflice. The tie tamping mechanism comprises a carriage D which consists of a pair of horizontal

rectangular frames

27 and 28 and corner uprights29 connected at their ends to the said frames. The carriage is mounted for movement in a plane transverse to the length of the car and also for movement longitudinally of the car. For this purpose, the frame 29 has its side members 30 resting on rollers 31 which support the carriage so as to move laterally. The rollers 31 are mounted in standards 32 on runners 33. The ends of the runners are formed with slots 34 as clearly shown in Fig. 2, for receiving the side members or beams 35 of the sections 7 of the car, whereby the runners can slide longitudinally of the said side members. The runners are formed with extensions 36 that constitute bearings for the pinion-carrying shaft 37 extending transversely to the car and having pinions 38 that mesh with the teeth of racks 39 on the side members 35 of the car sections 7. Each shaft 37 has on one or both ends a crank 40 for turning the shafts for the purpose of adjusting each tie tamping mechanism back and forth in a direction longitudinally of the car so as to bring the tampers of the respective mechanisms into proper relation to the ties to be tamped.

Each mechanism 0 is provided with a plurality of pairs of tampers 41 that are formed into rod-like extensions or shanks 42 that pass through apertures 43 in the

plates

44 and 45 disposed res ectively above and below the frame 28. etween the tampers of each pair is a vertically-extending post 46 that is mounted to the carriage with its lower end projecting below the body of the a car and its upper end projecting above the carriage. Pivotally connected at the lower end of each post 46 on the transversely-extending rod 47 are oppositely-extending links 48 that have their outer ends pivotally connected at 49 to the adjacent tampers 41. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, each post 46 has provided in its opposite faces longitudinal guideways 50 that are undercut, and movable longitudinally of each guideway is a slide 51, and the slides are individually connected with a tamper 41 by a link 52 for the purpose of lifting the latter. On the shank of each tamper is a collar 53 on which bears the lower end of a compression spring 54 which operates to move the tamper on its striking stroke. The upper ends of the springs 54 bear on the under plates 44 which form fixed abutments therefor. The shanks of the tampers are provided with apertures 55, Fig. 4, for permitting a pin to be inserted when the tamper is fully raised so that the pins will rest on the top plates 45 and thus hold. the tamper in inoperative position in case it is not required. For the purpose of lifting the tampers, the slides 51 are provided with horizontally extending lugs or projections 56 with which cobperate earns 57 mounted on the horizontal shaft'58 extending transversely to the car and mounted at its ends in the frame 27. The cams are arranged in pairs and those of each pair are spaced so as to be disposed at opposite sides of the adjacent post 46 so as to be in the path of the projections or lugs 56 extending from opposite sides of the said post, thus as the shaft 58 rotates, the cams will engage under the respective lugs 56 and thereby raise the slides 51 which operate through the links 52 to raise the tampers, and as soon as the cams pass from under the said lugs, the springs 54 suddenly expand so as to force the tampers downwardly on the tainping strokes. On each cam shaft is a miter gear 59 that meshes with a miter gear 60 on a short countershaft 61 mounted in suitable bearings on the carriage, and on the shaft 61 is a gear wheel 62 meshing with the gear wheel 63 on the section 10 of the line shaft driven by the motor.

In order to adjust the tampers to operate on ties of different widths, the several pairs of tampers can be simultaneously moved apart or drawn nearer together. This is accomplished by moving the

members

44 and 45 inwardly or outwardly of the frame 28 for the purpose of tilting the tampers on the pivots 49. Each pair of

adjacent members

44 and 45 thus constitutes a shifting device for varying the set of the tampers, and these shifting devices are moved by means of arms 64 depending from horizontal rock shafts 65 that are mounted in cross pieces 66 on the upper ends of certain of the posts 46. The lower ends of the arms 64 loosely engage in openings 67 of the members 45 as clearly shown in Fig. 3 so that as the rock shafts are actuated, the tamper shifting devices will be thrown inwardly or outwardly simultaneously. One shaft 65 is provided with upwardly-extending crank arms 68, while the other rock shaft is provided with depending crank arms 69 and the extremities of the crank arms of one shaft are connected with the extremities of the crank arms of the other shaft by links 70 so that the shafts will rock in unison. One extremity of the rock shaft-having the depending crank arms extends through a bracket 71, Fig. 5, on the carriage and is equipped with a lever 72 for enabling the operator to turn the rock shafts, and adjacent the lever and mounted on the rock shaft is a toothed wheel 73 with which cooperates a pawl 74 for the purpose of hold ing the rock shafts in adjusted position. The rock shafts are held in the bearings on the cross pieces 66 by keepers 7 5, Figs. 3 and 4, that are pivoted on the said cross pieces at 76, and these keepers are held in locked position by pins 77 that pass through the cross pieces. The outward movement of the tamper-setting or shifting devices is limited by upwardly-projecting stops 78, Fig. 4, on the frame 28 of the carriage, and extending across the carriage and mounted in these stops are guide-bars 79 that pass through the flanges 80 of the upper members 45 of the tamper setting or shifting devices.

When the car is to be transported from place to place, it is necessary to elevate the tampers so as to be out of the way of obstructions along the track. The elevating mech anism employed for this purpose consists of a plurality of vertically-extending lifting members 81 that have their lower ends bent hori zontally at 82 to extend under the slides 51 so as to raise the latter, the lower ends of the posts or standards 46 being slotted to permit the extremity of each member 81 to en gage under both slides of each standard for lifting them simultaneously. The upper ends of the lifting members 81 are hingedly connected at 83 with crank arms 84 mounted on a horizontal shaft 85 journaled in the u per ends of the posts 46. The outermost li ting members 81 are disposed beyond the ends of the .carriage D on which latter are fixed end uprights 86 that are provided with slots 87 for receiving the lower extremities 82 of the two outermost lifting members. The shaft 85 is provided with arms or levers 88 whereby the operator can turn the shaft to elevate the tam ers, and the said arms are connected by a ro 89 whereby the operator can readily operate the shaft when standing in the middle of the car, it being understood that the car is provided with suitable platforms on which the various operators can stand while managing the machine. ers in elevated position, a toothed sector 90 is arranged on the carriage, and on one of the arms 88 is a pawl 91 cooperating with To hold the tamp- I p the toothed structure to lock the parts in raised position.

During the tamping opera-tion, the carriage is adapted to move automatically back and forth in a plane transverse to the car so that the tampers will progressively move along the sides of the ties to tarnp the earth at all points under the latter. In the present instance, preferably a power-transmitting device is employed whereby the power can be taken from the cam shaft .58, which device includes automatically operated reversing means so as to return the carriage at the end of each stroke. The carriage is provided withv a pair of parallel screws 92 mounted in suitable bearings and carrying intermeshing gear wheels 98, whereby both screws operate together and in opposite directions, the threads of the screws being similar. On one screw is a sprocket wheel 94 over which passes a sprocket chain 95 that meshes with a sprocket wheel 96 on the camcarrying shaft 58 so that the screws will operate simultaneously with the latter. Mounted on one of the runners 33 is a standard 97, Figs. 2 and 6, which has its upper end formed into bifurcations 98, to receive a rod 99 that is supported at its ends by passing through the two adjacent posts 4.6, Fig. 2. Mounted on the rod 99 is a reversible V-shaped driving element 100 that has in the opposed faces of the bars semi-cylindrical recesses 101 that are threaded to engage the screws 92, the arms being arranged at such angle with respect to each other that when one arm is in engagement with one screw, the other arm is out of engagement with the second screw. The element 100 is disposed between the bifurcations 98 so that it is prevented from moving with the carriage and, therefore, as the screws rotate, the carriage will be propelled in one direction or the other. On the frame 28 of the carriage, as shown in Fig. 6, are inwardly-extending brackets 102 on each of which is mounted a cam plate 103. On the extremities of the arms of the element 100 are fingers 104 that are provided with rollers 105 that travel around the perforations of the said cam plates. When one roller is riding over the top edge of one cam plate, the other roller is riding under the bottom edge of the opposite cam plate. These cam plates serve to hold the element 100 in engagement with one of the screws until the carriage has reached the end of its stroke in one direction, and then by suitable shifting means the element 100 is oscillated so as to engage the other screw for effecting the return stroke of the carriage. For shifting the element 100, each cam plate has oscillated with it a shifting lever 106 pivoted at 107 at'a point below the bottom edge of the cam plate, as shown in Fig. 7, and the free end of the lever is connected with a retractile spring 108 anchored on a suitable part of the carriage. The shifting lever 106 serves to alternately engage one threaded arm of the 'element 100 with its respective screw and simultaneously disengage the other threaded arm from its screw, and this shifting operation takes place after either roller 105 has passed from under the bottom edge of its respective cam plate, when it is free to be raised to the top edge thereof. The path of the roller is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7, and when the roller passes under the cam plate, it engages the lever and moves it gradually downwardly and at the same time expands the spring 108, thereby energizing the spring to cause the lever to shift the element 100 at the end of the stroke of the carriage. It will thus be seen that the carriage can be reversed automatically so that after the earth is tamped under the tie by the carriage moving in one direction, the earth can be retamped by the carriage moving in the opposite direction until the earth is sufficiently firm under the ties.

In practice, the track, the ties of which are to be tamped, is laid and the required amount of earth or ballast applied between the ties, after which the car is brought into position for tamping the ties. Each tamping mechanism is then adjusted by the operator in charge thereof so as to bring the tampers 41 into proper relation to the tie to be tamped by such mechanism, and after thus positioning the mechanism, the tampers are set in accordance with the width of the tie. After the several mechanisms have been thus adjusted, the clutches can be thrown in so as to operate the tampers and as the latter are operated, the carriages move gradually in a lateral direction until the end of the stroke is reached, when the reversing mechanism is automatically shifted so as to effect the return stroke. After the various mechanisms have finished tamping their respective ties, the engine is unclutched from the tamping mechanisms and clutched to the propelling mechanism of the car so as to move the latter one step forwardly to bring the tampers into tamping relation to the next ties, at which oint the car is stopped by unclutching t e engine. The several tamping mechanisms are then adjusted to the new ties and the tamping thereof proceeded with. In this manner, the ties can be quickly and uniformly tamped and with a minimum of labor and expense.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily a parent to those skilled in the art to whic the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the a paratus shown is merely illustrative, an that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a car, a carriage mounted thereon, tie tamping elements on the carriage, power means for operating the elements, means for shifting the carriage longitudinally and transversely with respect to the track.

2. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a car, a plurality of tie tamping mechanisms, and means for independently adjusting the mechanisms with respect to the ties to be tamped, said mechanisms each comprising oppositely-disposed tamping ele ments for operating on both sides of a tie at once, and means for operating the elements.

8. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a car, a tie tamping mechanism mounted for movement, a motor on the car, and a flexible driving connection between the motor and mechanism, said mechanisms each comprising oppositely-disposed tampe ing elements for operating on both sides of a tie at once, and means for operating the elements.

4. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a car, a tamping mechanism mounted thereon, means for moving the mechanism laterally, means for moving the mechanism longitudinally of the car, a motor on the car, and a flexible driving connection between the motor and mechanism, said connection including a pair of universal joints, and a telescopic joint between the universal joints.

5. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a car, a motor thereon, means for driving the car from the motor and including a clutch, a tie tamping mechanism movable transversely to and mounted on the car, a slip joint between the motor and mechanism and means for clutching the mechanism to the motor.

6. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a car, a motor mounted thereon, a tamping mechanism including'a shaft, means for moving the mechanism transversely and longitudinally with respect to the car, and aflexible connection between the motor and said shaft, said connection including universal joints and a slip joint.

7. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a car including side members, runners mounted on the said members, means for moving the runners together in a direction longitudinally of the car, a carriage movable transversely to the runners and carried by the latter, and tamping elements mounted on the carriage.

8. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combie nation of a car, runners movably mounted thereon, means for simultaneously moving the runners, a carriage supported on the runners, tie tamping elements on the carriage, means for actuating the elements, and a device deriving power from thesaid means for feeding the carriage during the tamping operation.

9. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a car, runners mounted thereon, a rack and pinion device for moving the runners, a carriage movably mounted on the runners, and tamping elements on the carriage.

10. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a car, means movable longitudinally thereof, rollers carried bythe said means, a carriage resting on the rollers, tie tamping elements on the carriage, means for feeding the carriage during the tamping operation, and means for actuating the tamping elements.

11. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a car, a plurality of tie tamping mechanisms mounted on the car, means for independently moving the mechanisms, a motor, controllable driving connections between the motor and mechanism, and a line shafting between the motor and mechanism and including flexible joints for permitting the mechanisms to be moved back and forth during the tamping operation.

12. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a carriage, tic tamping elements mounted thereon, means for adjusting the elements to ties of different widths, means for actuating the elements together during the up strokes, and yielding means for operating the element independently on the down stroke.

13. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a frame, oppositely disposed tamp ing elements, means for simultaneously raising the elements, and springs for actuating the elements on the tamping strokes.

14. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of'a supporting frame, oppositely disposed tamping elements, links to which the lower portions of the elements are connected, means for raising the elements, separate means for moving the elements on their tamping strokes, and means for setting the velements for ties of different widths.

15. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a supporting frame, a pair of oppositely disposed tamping elements, a pair of slides for movably supporting the lower ends of the elements, a member engaging both slides for raising the elements simultaneously, and devices on the elements for moving the latter independently during the down stroke, and means engaging the upper ends for setting the elements for ties of different widths.

16. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combi-' nation of a plurality of pairs of oppositely disposed tamping elements, a spring operatively connected with each element for actuating the same during the down stroke, means for movably supporting the same, a

' mechanism for actuating the elements, and

means for simultaneously adjusting the elements for ties of different widths. 17. In a tie tam ing apparatus, the combination of a plura ity of pairs of oppositely disposed tamping elements, means for movably supporting the same, a mechanism for actuating the elements, means for simultaneously adjusting the elements for ties of different widths, means for simultaneously elevating the elements, a cam-carrying shaft for raising all the elements, and means on each element for moving the latter downwardly on the tamping stroke.

18. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a pair of oppositely disposed tamping elements, means for movably mounting the elements for simultaneous vertical adjustment, movably supported slides, separate connections between the slides and elements, and means for operating through the slides for adjusting the elements for ties of varying widths, means for positively raising the elements, and means for yieldingly forcing the elements downwardly on the tamping strokes.

19. Ina tie tamping apparatus, the com-v bination of a supporting frame, a guide, slides mounted thereon, oppositely disposed i tie tamping elements, links connecting the elements with the guide, additional links connecting the elements with the slides, means for operating through the slides for raising the elements, and devices for moving the ele- Z ments downwardly on the striking strokes.

20. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a supporting frame, a guide, slides mounted thereon, o positely disposed tie tamping elements, linlis connecting the elements with the guide, additional links connecting the elements with the slides, means for operating through the slides for raising the elements, devices for moving the elements downwardly on the striking strokes, and a spring on the elements for moving the latter on their striking strokes.

21. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a supporting frame, a guide, slides mounted thereon, o positely disposed I tie tamping elements, lin rs connecting the elements with the guide, additional links connecting the elements with the slides, means for operating through the slides for raising the elements, devices for moving the elei ments downwardly on the striking strokes, a

spring on the elements for moving the latter on their striking strokes, and a device engaging the slides for vertically adjusting the elements and for holding the same in raised posltion.

ments downwardly on the striking strokes, a 7

spring on the elements for moving the latter on their striking strokes, and means for adjusting the elements for ties of difierent widths.

23. In a tie tamping apparatus, the com bination of a supporting frame, a guide, slides mounted thereon, o positely disposed tie tamping elements, linlis connecting the elements with the guide, additional links connecting the elements with the slides, means for operating through the slides for raising the elements, devices for moving the elements downwardly on the striking strokes, a spring on the elements for moving the latter on their striking strokes, means for adjusting the elements for ties of different widths, and means for vertically adjusting the elements.

24. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a plurality of vertically disposed guides, a pair of slides on each guide, .tie tamping elements at opposite sides of each post, means for movably mounting the elements on the guides, connections between the slides and elements, and means for simul' taneously adjusting the elements to ties of different widths.

25. In a tie tamping apparatus, the com bination of a plurality of tamping elements, means for periodically raising the same,

springs for moving the elements on the tampj ing strokes, a rock shaft, connections between the rock shaft and elements for vertically adjusting the latter, andv a locking de vice for holding the elements in vertically adjusted position. I

26. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination. of a plurality of spring-actuated tamping elements, cam-actuated means for moving the elements in one direction, means for simultaneously adjusting the elements in a vertical direction, and a locking device for holding the elements in adjusted position.

27. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of tamping elements, a driving shaft raising the latter, a carriage on which the elements are mounted, and a reversible feeding mechanism driven by the shaft for reciprocating the carriage.

29. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a plurality of spring-actuated tamping elements, a cam-carrying shaft, means between the shaft and elements for raising the latter, a carriage on which the elements are mounted, a reversible feeding mechanism driven by the shaft for reciprocating the carriage, means for adjusting the tamping elements for ties of different widths, and means for vertically adjusting the elements.

30. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a plurality of tamping elements, a driving shaft, means between the shaft and elements for actuating the latter, slidably mounted members for adjusting the elements to ties of different widths, and means for simultaneously actuating the members.

31. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a plurality of tamping elements, a driving shaft, means between the shaft and elements for actuating the latter, slidably mounted members for adjusting the elements to ties of different widths, a pair of rock shafts, arms on the rock shafts engaging the members for moving the same, and means for actuating the rock shafts in unison.

32. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination. of a carriage, tamping elements mounted thereon, means for actuating the elements, a feeding device including a pair of screws on the carriage, and a relatively fixed device periodically engaged with one screw and disengaged from the other for reversing the carriage.

33. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a movable carriageftamping elements carried thereby, means for actuating the elements, a pair of simultaneously rotated screws mounted on the carriage, a device alternately engaging the screws for reversing the carriage, means for holding the device in engagement with each screw during the travel of the carriage, and spring-actuated shifting elements for disengaging the device from one screw and engaging it with the other at the end of each stroke.

34. In a tie tamping apparatus, the combination of a carriage, tie tamping elements mounted thereon, a shaft for actuating the elements, a pair of screws mounted on the carriage, a driving connection between the shaft and one of the screws, a relatively fixed device arranged to engage one screw at a time for feeding the carriage by the rotation of the screws, cams for holding said device in engagement with either screw, and means for shifting the device at the end of each stroke of the carriage.

35. In a tie tamping apparatus, the com bination of a carriage, tie tamping elements, means for adjusting the elements, a camcarrying shaft for actuating the elements, a pair of parallel screws, meshing gears on the screws, a driving connection between the said shaft and one of the screws, a pivotally mounted device arranged to engage one screw at a time for reciprocating the carriage by the rotation of the screws, and means for automatically engaging the device with one screw and disengaging it from the other end of each stroke of the carriage.

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

JOHN ILIFF.

Witnesses H. O. MCCORMICK, A. J. HEATH.