US978858A

US978858A - Track-shifting machine.

Info

Publication number: US978858A
Application number: US43153208A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry T Devitt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1908-05-07
Filing date: 1908-05-07
Publication date: 1910-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 1927-12-20

Description

H. T. DEVITT. TRACK SHIFTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 190a. 9'7 8,858.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Patented M020, 1910.

H. T. DEVITT.' v TRAGK SHIFTI NG MAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED MA 7, 1908.

HENBY T. DEVI-T1, OF ST. REGIS, MQNTANA Specification of Letters Patent. Application filedMay Z, 1908. Serial no. 4e1 qsa.

'mAoK-smr'rme Macrame.

Patented nee. so, 1910-,

- To all whom it. may concern: I

Be it known that I, HENRY T. Dnvrrrr, a

citizen of the United States, residin at St. Regis, in the county of Missoula and gtate of Montana, have invented a new and useful Track-Shifting Machine, of which the following is a specification. My'invention relates to track shifting machinery, particularly designed for railway construction work, although not necessarily limited thereto. 4

The primary object of the invention is to providea relatively simple/portable, easily operating machine, movingninder its own power upon the track, which it is designed to shift, and so constructed that it will raise the track, shift it and lower it to a new position, the machine still remaining in place upon the shifted track so that it may be immediately moved to a new place of operation.

Another object is to provide means as above described which will shift the track without having to disconnect the rails at the joints at spaced intervals, as is usual with constructions ordinarily used for this purpose. I

A-further object is to rovide a machine in which the power shall e most effectively upon the operating mechanism.

WhatI regard as, the best embodiment of my mechanism is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein v Figure 1 is a plan view thereof. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a section on the line XX of Fig. .1. Fi 4 is a transverse section on the line ZZ 0 Fig. 2, and Fig. '5 is a detail fcrosssectionof the means engaging the jack-screw.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to these figuresit will be seen that my track shifting apparatus is mounted upon a truck or car A, consistin of two rectangular frames 1 and 2 s ace from each other,.but rigidly connecte by the connecting members E, located near to, but on either side of the longitudinal axis of the truck A.

Each of the frames is supported on wheels .which are adapted to move along the track a.

s i til g sleeves are rotated in one direction propelled along the track by any suitable motive power. Supported on one of the frames, as for instance, the frame 1, is the floor 4;, upon which the operator stan s, an upon wh ch the operating mechanism for p the track is mounted.

rotatably mounted in

bearings

5, 6,, 7 and 8 are the oppositely disppsed' parallel rockshaftst) and 10.- The middle of each rockshaft is enlarged as at 11 and 12 to form a head for the support of the internally threaded sleeves 13' and 14;. These sleeves constitute in effect nuts which engage the Supported upon the

frames

1 and 2, andscrew-threaded jack-screws, as will be laterdescribed. 'Each sleeve has a flange 15 on 1ts lower end, and a collar 16 pinned or otherwise attached to its up er end, each collar 16 bei-n formed with' epre'ssions on its outer surface for engagement with a-- cha n 79 as will he laterde'scribed, whereby the

sleeves

13 and 14 are rotated. p In order to bodily lift the truck and the track, I have provided two vertical legs or standards, and machinery on the truck for raisin the truck so that it shall be supporte entirely upon the legs,- these legs having rocklng enga ement with the roadbed, so that they may e tilted to one side'or the other, means being also provided on the truck engaging with the legs for controlling said tilting movement. Though I do not wish to be limited to the construction illustrated in the drawin s, and now to be described, the legs have re erably the form of j ack-sc'rews designate 18 in the drawings, with which the screw-threaded sleeves "13 and l'engage so that as the the will move upward on the screw-threaded legs and in the other direction they will move (lQWIl thereon to raise and lower the truck relative to the legs.

The lower end of each leg "or jack-screw is formed or provided with a base-plate 20,

while on its upper end is attached a crossbar 21. Parallel rods 22 connect the crossbar 21 and the base-plate and pass through the

heads

11 and 12 on the rock-shafts 9 and .10, thus the jack-screws are held. from an rotative movement, while the heads, inclu ing the sleeves, 13 may move up or down i upon the jack-screws. Attached to the under side of .each plate 20 are the oppositely ,disposed foot-plates 24 which are hinged to the base-plate 23. By this means the legs are given a relatively large supporting area at their base. By reason of the foot-plates ,being hinged they may be readily withdrawn from mudd ground in which they would otherwise be liable to stick.

As a means for tilting or canting the legs 18 so as to shift the truck and track laterally, I provide means for rocking the

shafts

9 and 10 as follows :The ends of the

shafts

9 and 10 are each turned downward to form arms 25 and 26. These arms are connected to operating

levers

27 and 28 by connecting rods These levers 27 and 28 are pivoted upon sectors 30 having the usual arcuate.

racks thereon, the

levers

27 and 28 being each provided with spring-latches engaging with the sector racks as is common and wellknown in constructions of this character. By this means the

levers

27 and 28 may be turned to any desired angle and held in this position, it being obvious that the turning of the levers will cause the turning movement of the

shafts

9 and 10, which in turn will cant the legs or jack-screws tosuch position as that shown in Fig 3 forinstance. It will be obvious that. there maybe some unevenness, or some other reason, which will render it necessary that the legs shall not have the same angle and hence I have provided the independent means for canting the legs.

As a means for engaging the rails of the track so that the track may be raised when the truck is elevated I have provided track gripping members which are loosely connected to the

shafts

9 and 10 and which at their lower ends are provided with jaws adapted to be closed upon the track. In detail and in its preferable form the construction consists of the U-shaped saddles 31which embrace the

shafts

9 and 10 on each side of the

heads

11 and 12 of these shaft-s, these U- shaped members depending from the shafts and being open at their lower ends. Passing over and supported upon each saddle is a strap 32, the ends of which are pivotally connected as at 33 to the oppositely disposed rail grips 34 which extend downward, and are inwardly turned at their lower ends as at 35 to form gripping jaws adapted to engage beneath the head of the rail a. It is to be noted that each of the rail grips 34 increases laterally in size. toward the jaws 35 so that the outer faces of the rail grips are upwardly and inwardly inclined. Embracing each pair of rail grips, and movable vertically thereon is the collar 36, each collar being provided with the upwardly extending link 37 pivoted thereto, which link at its upper end is pivoted to the outwardly turned arms 39 of

rockshafts

40 and 41 which are carried in bearings 42 upon the frames 2 and The ends of these shaft-s 40 and 41 are formed with sector gears 43which engage with each other as shown clearly in F ig.. 1. One of the shafts, as for instance, the shaft 40, is provided with an upwardly projecting arm 44 which is connected to an operating lever 45 by a link 46, the operating lever being pivoted to a toothed or notched sector 47, and the operating lever 45 being provided with a catch which engages with the teeth of the sector so as to hold the operating lever set in anydesired position. By operating lever 45 it will be obvious that the rock-shaft 40 will be rocked, which in turn, through the gears 43, will rock-the shaft 41 so that the arms 39 will all be raised, or all be lowered simul-' taneously. There are of course, four arms 39, one for each of the four rail gripping devices. WVhen the

shafts

40 and 41 are operated the collars 36 will be raised or lowered, each of the rail grips 34 being provided wit-h projecting lugs 48, as best seen in Fig. 3, which will limit the upward movement of these collars. When the collars are moved upward upon the rail grips the spring 49 will force the rail grips apart and thus the jaws will be disengaged from the rails a. WVhen the collars 36 are forced downward they will contract the grips 34 and force the jaws positively into engagement with the rail and while in this position will positively prevent the jaws from opening and becoming disengaged from the rail,a very important point when the weight of the track structure and of the truck is remembered. In addition to this function of the lugs or stops 48, they have-another function. The lugs are placed upon the rail grips so that when the collar 36 is raised into contact with the lugs, the "collar will raise the rail grips above the top of the rails so'that when the car is moving the grips will not touch any obstruction which may happen to be on the road-bed at Y the side of the rail.

In addition to the rail gripping devices just described, which are carried on either side of the middle of the truck, I provide additional rail-gripping devices located at. each end of the truck, whereby the wheels 63 of the truck may be prevented from leaving the track when the rails are shifted, and thus will be maintained in engagement with the track throughout the shifting and lowering of the same, thus obviating the necessity of replacing the truck upon the track after the shifting operation has been concluded.

WVhile I might use various means for this purpose I prefer the construction now to be described, which includes the oppositely disposed parallel rock-

shafts

50 and 51 mounted in the bearings 42. These rock-shafts extend over the framesl and 2, and each rock shaft is provided with the outwardly projecting. arms 52.

Mounted on the upper faces of the journal boxes 53 of each truck (which, through the springs 54 support the frames 1 and 2) are the U-shaped members 55, these members be ing. pivotally mounted upon each of the journalg boxes and extend downward and inward, and are provided at their lower ends with a connecting rod or cross-bar 56,

which retains the two arms of the U-shaped members in rigid relation. The lower ends of these arms 55, below the connecting member 56 are each provided with rotatable disks 57 which are so shaped as to engage beneath the head of the adjacent rail, these disks beby means of sector gears so that they will be simultaneously rotated in the same manner as are the

shafts

40 and 41 previously described. The extremity of either one of the

shafts

50 or 51, as for example the shaft 50, is provided with an upwardly extending arm 59 which is connected by a rod 61 to a lever pivoted to a notched sector 62 and provided 'with a spring latch engaging the notches of the sector, as usual in this class of devices, whereby the lever may be held in any desired adjusted position. It will be obvious that by moving the lever 60 in one direction, the disks 57 will be forced beneath the head of the rail, and by moving the lever in the other direction, the disks 57 will be withdrawn from the head of the rail. After the rail has been gripped by means of the grips 34, previously described, the ends of the truck are connected to the rails by means of the

rail engaging devices

55 and 57, and

thus the truck along practically its whole extent is engaged with the rails. The disks 57 which form the rail gripping means at the ends of the truck are at all times in engagement with the track when the car-is in service, shifting track, the disks having a rotating engagement with the track. In addition to forming the rail engaging means for the purpose previously described, these end rail engaging devices keep the wheels in contact with the rails when moving over the track that is being shifted. Very often on uneven ground, one rail of the track will have an elevation of from ten tothirty-five degrees and the disks are provided to keep the wheels on the track. These disks 35 are spaced apart sufliciently so that in the fish plates at the joints of the rails, one disk will be under the ball or head of the rail, while the other is passing the connecting fish plate. It will seen that the use assing of these disks is very important as by that means the car may proceed over track which has been partly shlfted and which is tilted at such an angle to the horizontal that the car would otherwise be liable to be derailed.

upon the frame 1 is the transversely extend- 111 power shaft 64 which. is mounted'atits en s in bearin s65, and which is connected by a belt or 0t ier power transmitting mechanism to an engine or motor 81 of any suitable or desired description. At each end of :the shaft 64 are provided a pair of chain drums 66 which are loose u on the shaft 64. The drums of each pair of ruins are spaced from each other by means of a sleeve...67 which is preferably pinned upon the shaft 64.

Mountedupon each end of the shaft 64 is a pair of friction clutches 68 designed to engage with one or the other of the drums 66 at that end of the shaft. These clutches 68 are connected to each other by a U-sha d connector 69 so that when one of the clutc es 68 is moved into engagement with the adjacent drum 66 the other clutch will be moved out of engagement and vice versa. The con.- nectors of both drums are slidably mounted on supports 70, and the connectors of both drums are respectively connected to levers 71 and 72 by connecting

rods

73 and 74. These shipper levers 71 and 72 bein mounted on toothed sectors 7 5 and 76, t e levers being provided with latches for engaging the teeth of said sectors, whereby the levers may be held in any adjustedposition. It will thus be seen that both ofthe sleeves 13 and l4 may be caused to rotate with each other, yet either one of the sleeves may be rotated independently of the other, thus ro-' vidin 1 ing evices in case 0 unevenness ofthe ground or inclination in the roadbed.

Mounted upon the truck structure adjacent to the lower sides of each chain drum and the drum ulleys are idlers 78. Chains 7 9 pass around the

sleeves

13 and 14 thence pass over the loose drums 66 and thence over the ulleys v78. It will be seen that power applied to the shaft 64 will cause one or the other of the pulleys 66 (depending upon the position-of the clutch 68) to rotate, thereby drawing the chains 79 in one direction or for a proper adjustment of the iftthe other and thus rotating'the-sleeves 13 5 and 14in one direction or the other.

In order to transmit power to the car axle .85 from the power shaft 64, Ihave provided a sprocket chain 82 which passes over a sprocket wheel 83 looseon the shaft 64 and which passes over a sprocket 84 on said axle sition.

This sprocket wheel 83 bears on one side against the collar 86 fast on the shaft 64, while on the other side is a clutch 87*, by which the sprocket 83 may be pressed in en gagement with the shaft 64:, this clutch being operated by a lever 87 moving over a sector 88 and engaged therewith in any suitable manner.

The operation of my device will be obvious from what has gone before. The truck is raised to a proper position upon the track, the legs being, of course, in an elevated polVhen the truck is properly positioned upon the track, the rail gripping devices 34 are engaged with the rails as are the rail engaging disks 57. Power is then applied to one of each pair of drums 66 which will act through the chain 7 9 to rotate the sleeves 13 and 141 in one direction. As these sleeves are rotated they will move the jack-screws 18 19 downward until the bases of the jack-screws contact with the ground. As soon as this occurs, the sleeves in their rotation will raise the truck and this in turn will raise'the track until the track is suspended upon the jack-

screws

18 and 19 at any desired distance above the ground. When the desired elevation has been obtained the

levers

26 and 27 are moved so as to rock the

shafts

9 and 10 and can't the

screws

18 and 19 to the desired inclination. As the screws are canted they will, of course, swing the car and track laterally, the U- shaped

members

31 and 32 acting as slings upon which the truck and track are supported. If it is desired to shift the track to a great distance, it is only necessary to lower the track once more, raise the jackscrews, bring them to a vertical position and repeat the operation. After that particular section of the track has been shifted, the jack-screws are raised as before described, and the truck under its own power moves to a new portion of the track and the same op-- eration is repeated.

I have referred above to the rock shafts as being the means whereby the jack screws or legs may be tilted, and the supporting legs canted so as to shift the car and track. I may also, however, use one pair of the supporting legs as a means for shifting or tilt ing the legs so as to shift the track. Thus if the car and track are to be shifted to the right, shown in the drawings, the legs on the left side of the car would be set at more of an angle than that on the right side of the car, and this pushing against the road-bed would push the track and car laterally after it has been raised. It will thus be seen that great power may be secured not only for elevating the track and car, but for forcing the track and car laterally and canting the legs.

By means -of the construction heretofore described, it will be seen that I provide an apparatus which will successfully and economically shift railroad construction, and with relatively great rapidity, as no joints have to be loosened in order to shift the track. Furthermore, it is pointed out that by the use of the jack-screws as legs, I have a construction which when in operation, relieves the operating mechanism, as the drums or engine from any strain, except such as is necessary in order to rotate the

sleeves

13 and 14. WVhen the track is suspended there is absolutely no strain upon the engine or the operating mechanism, the entire weight of the track structure being borne upon the

legs

18 and 19, the screwthreaded engagement between said legs and the sleeves being amply sufficient to prevent the sleeves stripping the threads of the legs. It will be seen that inasmuch as the legs are raised and lowered entirely by machinery they may be as large as necessary in order to give them extreme rigidity and stiffness,

which could not be the case, were the legs operated by hand.

- While I have shown what I believe to be the best form of my invention, and most effective for the general purposes for which it is designed, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction as shown, as it is obvious that many changes might be made in the embodiment of the principles of the invention, as well as in the detailed construction and the arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. I do not wish to be limited either to the means whereby a canting motion is given to the legs, nor to the means whereby power is transmitted to the sleeves 13, nor to. the special type of rail engaging devices illustrated, as it is obvious that all of these parts might be modified in many ways to suit special circumstances of operation.

What I claim is:

1. A track moving machine, comprising a car, means for gripping the rails and means for raising and shifting and lowering both the car, and track simultaneously.

2. A track moving machine, comprising a car, means for gripping the rails, means for actuating said gripping means, and means for shifting the track.

3. A track moving machine, comprising a car, rail gripping means, means for engaging and disengaging said gripping means with the rails, disk shaped elements adapted to engage the inner flange of the rails adja-' cent the car wheels, means for actuating said elements, and means for shifting the car and track simultaneously.

4. A track moving machine, comprising a car, rail gripping means depending therefrom, means for holding the car firmly on the rails, and means for raising, shifting and lowering the car and track simultaneously.

5. In a track moving machine consisting of a wheel supported frame, means for holding the wheels thereof in engagement with the rails forming a part of the track, means intermediate said wheels for gripping said rails and means for raising, shifting andlowering both the wheel supporting frame pending from said car ada ,ted to grip. said taneously, and means-for setting 3.0

rails, means for locking sai gripping means to the rails, and threaded means carried intermediate said gripping means for moving both the car and track simultaneously.

8. A track moving machine comprising a car, means for. propelling said car, rail grip; ping means depending from said car, means for locking said means, means adapted toengage the rails to firmly hold the car thereon, means for actuating said means, means intermediate said gripping means for raisin shifting or lowering the car and track and locking said last mentioned means at any desiredangle.

9. A track shifting machine including a support, track engaging means mounted on the support, means for raising and lowering the track engaging means relative to. the support, and means for canting said sup.- port. 7

10. A track shifting mechanism including a pair of supporting legs, track engaging means supported on the legs, means for raising and lowering the track enga ing means relative tothe legs and means or canting said legs. I

11. A track shifting mechanism including a supporting leg, track engaging means sup: ported by the leg but freely depending therefrom, means engaging with the leg for raising and lowering the track engaging means relative thereto,'and means for canting the leg to swing said track and track engagin means laterally after they have been raise v12. A track shifting mechanism including a wheeled truck, track gripping means on the truck, approximately vertical legs carried upon the truck and adapted to be moved against the roadbed, means engaging the legs for raising and lowering the truck relative thereto, and means for canting said 1 s.

13. A track shifting mechanism inc riding a wheeled truck, legs pivotally mounted on the truck having lateral tilting movement, means on the truck for gripping the track, means for elevating the truck and track on said legs, and means for tilting said legs.

14. A track shifting mechanism including a platform, means on the platform for gri ping. the traclrqto. be shifted, downwar y extending legs ..-carried by said platform, means for rai ing and lowering the platform and track relative to the legs, and means'for canting said legs.

1.5. A trackshifting mechanism including supporting legs, means on the legs for gripp ng the track tobe shifted, means engaging the legs for raising the gripping means and track relatively thereto, and means for I canting. the legs.

16. A track shifting mechanism including a Wheeled truck, oppositely disposed supporting legs pivotally mounted on the truck having lateral tilting movement, means on the truck for gripping the track rails, means for elevati'ng'the truck and track rails on said support, rock-shafts for tilting said legs, and handles extending. from said shafts whereby the shafts maybe adjustably rotated. i

18. A track shifting mechanism including a wheeled truck, means at the opposite ends ofthe truck for holding the rails of the pending from-the middle of the truck and adapted to engage the rails of the track, oppositely disposed legs pivotally mounted on each side of the car, means engaging said legs for raising and lowering the truck and track, and. means for canting said legs.

19. A track shifting mechanism including a wheeled truck, track engaging means located atithe opposite ends of the truck and adapted to. hold the wheels thereof in firm engagement with the track, oppositely disposed" shafts mounted on the truck and extending longitudinally thereof, oppositely disposed legs mounted on said shafts on eac side of the truck, means engaging with the legs for raising or lowering the truck rela- 91 truck to a, car, track gripping means detive to the legs, means freely de-ending from the shafts for gripping the mi of the track, and means for rotating said shafts to cant said legs.

20. A track shifting mechanism including aframe, wheels at the opposite ends thereof,

means adjacent to the wheels for gripping the rails of a, track and holding the wheels firmly to the track, longitudinally extending shafts mounted on opposite sides of the truck at th}: mgdglle thareolf, said shafts eatlrh having a. ea orme t ereon o posite y disposed legs passing through sai d heads,

vertically movable with relation to the head but rotatably moved with said heads and shafts, means on the truck engaging said legs to raise or lower the truck with relation thereto, means on the truck for rotating said shafts and canting the legs, and means freely depending from the shafts for gripping the rails of the track.

21. A track shifting mechanism, a wheeled truck, approximately vertical legs mounted on the truck. track gripping means extending downward from the truck, amotor on the truck, elevating means supported on the legs and connected to the truck to support the latter, a driving shaft on the car, and means operated by the driving shaft engaging the elevating means to operate the latter from the former, and means for canting the legs after the ear and track have been raised.

22. In a track shifting mechanism, a wheeled truck. means on the truck for engaging the rails of a track, track gripping means supported on the truck and depending freely therefrom, oppositely disposed rotatable lifting members rotatably supported on the truck, a motor on the truck, means operated by the motor for depressing the lifting members relative to the truck, and'thereby raising'the latter, and means on the truck engaging the lifting members to cant. them laterally.

23. A track shifting mechanism including a wheeled truck, means on the truck for gripping the rails of a track, oppositely disposed screw-threaded approximately vertical supporting members on either side of said truck, screw-threaded heads mounted on the truck through which said supporting members pass, means on the truck for rotat ing said supporting members, and thereby raising or lowering the truck and track,

, shafts engaging with the supporting members to cant the same laterally, and means for operating said shafts.

24;. In a track shifting mechanism, a wheeled truck, means on the truck for gripping the rails of a track, oppositely disposed screw-threaded supporting members pivotally mounted on each side'of the truck and depending from the same, interiorly screwthreaded rotatable members connected to the truck and engaging said screw-threaded supporting members, a motor on the truck, means operatively connecting the motor 'and the rotatable members. and means for tilting said supporting members and for holding them in any adjusted position.

25. In a track shifting mechanism, a wheeled truck, means on the truck for gripping the rails of a track, oppositely disposed screw-threaded legs on either side of said truck, shafts pivotally mounted in bearings on the truck and having enlarged heads, rotatable members interiorly screw-threaded and mounted in said heads, said rotatable members engaging the legs, a motor on the truck, and means for operatively connecting the motor with the screw-threaded members.

26. In a track shifting mechanism, a wheeled truck, means depending from the truck for gripping the rails of a track, op-

positely disposed rock shafts mounted in bearings on the truck, means for rocking said shafts and holding them in any adjusted position, each of said shafts having an enlarged head, internally screw-threaded members rotatably mounted in the heads of the shafts, screw-threaded legs extending through said rotatable members and engaged thereby, means for preventing the rotation of said legs, a driving shaft on the truck, and means for operatively engaging the rotataole members with said driving shaft.

27. In a track shifting mechanism, a truck, wheels on opposite ends of the truck, track engaging mechanism in opposing ends of the truck for holding the wheels in engagement with the track, oppositely disposed rock shafts mounted on the truck and extending longitudinally thereof and rotated between said wheels, each of said rock shafts having an enlarged middle portion, interiorly screw-threaded rotatable members mounted in said enlarged portions, screwthreaded legs passing through said rotatable members and engaged thereby, track gripping mechanism freely depending from the said shafts on each side of the enlarged middle portion thereof, a driving shaft, and means operatively connecting the driving shaft with the rotatable members to rotate the latter from the former.

28. In a track shifting mechanism, a truck having wheels at opposite ends thereof, means at opposite ends of the truck for engaging the rails of a track and holding the wheels-thereto, parallel inwardly extending rock-shafts mounted in the middle of the truck, freely depending rail gripping means mounted on said rock-shafts, each of said rock-shafts having a middle enlargement, an interiorly screw-threaded rotatable member mounted in each of the enlargements of the shafts, screw-threaded legs passing through said rotatable members and engaged thereby, means for preventing the rotation of said legs, means for rocking said rockshafts and holding them in any adjusted position, a driving shaft, drums operatively connected with the driving shafts, and chains passing over the drums and around said rotatable members.

29. In a track shifting mechanism, a truck, wheels at opposite ends of the truck, rail engaging devices on the ends of the truck, oppositely disposed parallel rockshafts at the middle of the truck, each shaft shafts, "interio rlv screw-threaded rotatable members mounted [in the enlarged portions of the rock-shafts,screw-threaded legs passing through said members and engaged thereby, operating levers mounted on the truck and engaging said rock-shafts to independently operatethem, means for operatively connect-ingfthe driving shaft with the j rotatable members' and means on the truck for independentlypperating the track engaging device at the ends 'of the truck, and the rail gripping means at the middle of the truclr.

30. In a '1 track shifting mechanism, a truck, wheels at the pposite ends thereof, arms pivotally mounted 011 the truck at the ends thereoffand carrying rail engaging members at their lower ends, means for moving said arms-to bring the rail engaging members beneath the head of a rail. parallel rock-shaftscarried at the middle of the truck, and ,on, opposite sides thereof, U- shaped hangers extending over the rockshafts on-eit-herside of the middle portion, rail gripping jaws pivotally mounted on said supports, means for forcing said jaws toward each otherito grip a rall between the interiorly screw-threaded rotatable members, mounted on the rock-shafts, screwthreaded legs passing through said rotatable members andengaged thereby. means for preventingthe rotation of said legs, levers mounted on the truck for rocking said rockshafts to, tilt the legs, oppositely disposed independentchain drums mounted on the truck. chamspassing thereover and engaging the rotatable members, a motor. and

means connecting the motor with the chain drums and connecting the motor axle of the truck wheels. I

31. Inv a track shifting mechanism, a

with the truck having wheels at opposite ends thereof, rail engaging means mounted on the ends' of the truck adjacent to the wheels, oppositely disposed longitudinally extendng rock-shafts supported in bearings on the truck, each of said rock-shafts having an enlarged middle portion. track, gripping means suspended from said rock-shafts on either side of'the enlarged middle thereof, a rotatable. member mounted in each of the enlarged portions of the rock-shafts and interiorlv screw-threaded, screw-threaded legs passing through and engaged by said rotatable members, means for preventing the rotation of said legs, crank-arms on the rock-shafts, operating levers connected to said crank-arms, and means forlocking said operating levers in parallelism, a driving shaft, oppositely disposed pairs of chain drums loose on said driving shaft. grooves for each pairrof chain drums andadapted to connect one of the drums with the shaft and disconnect the other from the shaft, idler pulleys, chains passing around the chain ing shaft, and connections between the motor and the axle of the drum for driving "the latter. In a track shifting, mechanism. a platform. rock-shafts mounted on the platform, interiorl v screw-threaded members on the rock shafts. screw threaded legs passing through said members, means for relatively rotating the legs and screw-threaded members, and to relatively raise or lower the same, track gripping devices on the truck, aird means for canting said legs. i

33. A track shifting device including a wheeled truck. elevating legs'mounted on said truck and depending therefrom, track gripping means depending from the truck,

means for elevating or lowering the truck relative to the said legs, and means for laterall v canting the legs. I j i B4. In a track shifting mechanism a wheeled truck, oppositely disposed parallel roch-sha'fts carried by the truck, interiorlv screwthreaded rotatable members carried on therock-shafts, screw-threaded legs passing through said rotatable members, said legs having cross-bars at their upper and lower ends, longitudinal tie-rods engaging said cross-bars and passing through the said rock-shafts, means on the truck for rotating said rotatable members and to raise or lower a the truck, and means on the truckfor gripping the track. v

35. A. track shifting mechanismincluding two rectangular frames connected to each other at. their middle, wheelsat oppcsite ends of the frame for supporting the same and engaging with the track, means atthe ends of the truck for holding the wheels in engagement with the track, opposltelv d1sposed parallel rock-shafts located on each side of the middle portion of the truck in the space between the two frames and pivotally supported thereon at each end, each ofsaid shafts having an enlarged middle portion, U-shaped members resting on said shafts on each side of their upper portions thereof,

gripping jaws pivotally mounted on said supporting members and dependmg therefrom, said gripping aws having an enlarged lower portion. sliding collars on the gripping jaws for closing the jaws, means on the truck for raising and lowering said sliding collars, interiorly screw-threaded rotatable members mounted one in each enlarged portion of 'each rock-shaft. screw-threaded legs passing through the rotatable members, means for preventing the rotation of said legs, means on the truck for rocking said rock-shafts for tilting the legs. motor operated means on the truck for rotating the rotatable members.

36. In a track shifting mechanism of the character described, oppositely disposed rail gripping means comprising downwardly extruck, and means shiftable along the jaws for closing them in one direction or for lifting the jawsvertically upward.

38. In a track shifting mechanism, a wheeled truck, longitudinally extending sup porting members mounted on the wheeled truck, U-shaped members extending over the supporting members and freely rotatable thereon, downwardly extending oppositely disposed jaws on the U-shaped members. adapted to engage the rails of the track, means for opening the jaws, and means shiftable vertically along the jaws for closing the jaws against the rail or for lifting the jaws and U-shaped supporting members vertically above the rail.

39. In a track shifting mechanism, a wheeled truck, oppositely disposed track engaging jaws pivotally supported at their upper ends and having free vertical movement, each of said aws having thelr .outer .faces outwardly and downwardly inclined,

stops projecting from the jaws, a vertically shiftable collar embracing the jaws, and means for shifting the collar in either direction to close the aws against the track or to engage said stops and lift the jaws bodily above the track.

- 40. In a track shifting mechanism, a

ovasss wheeled truck, means on the truck engaging with the road-bed for raising, shifting and lowering the truck, and rail engaging devices vmounted on the ends of the truck adjacent to the wheels thereof and comprising arms having rotatable rail engaging elements at their lower ends engageable beneath the head of a rail.

41. In a track shifting mechanism, a truck, oppositely placed wheels at the ends of the truck, and rail engaging devices mounted upon the truck adjacent to each wheel, each of said rail engaging devices comprising a U-shaped member pivotally supported upon the truck exterior to the adjacent wheel and extending downward and inward to the interior faces of the wheel, the extremities of the U-shaped members being provided each with a rotatable member engageable with the head of a rail, and means for moving said U-shaped members to force the rotatable members thereon into engagement with the head of the'rail or out of engagement therewith.

42. In a track' shifting mechanism, a Wheeled truck, means on the truck for gripping the rails of a track to hold the wheels in engagement with said rails, oppositely disposed supporting members rotatably mounted upon the truck, means for elevating the truck upon the supporting members, and means for independently canting said supporting members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to the specification in the presence of subscribing witnesses.

' HENRY T. DEVITT.

\Vitnesses:

I. S. DAVIS, B. F. BERKSTRASSEN, A. W. Ross.