US2042614A - Railway track gauge - Google Patents

Description

June 2, 1936.

A. MAUZIN RAILWAY TRACK GAUGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1935 June 2, 1936. A, E, MAUZIN I 2,042,614

RAILWAY TRACK GAUGE Filed Jan. 19, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTUR" Indra 512:.52 flz gz y/ Arm/way A. E. MAUZIN RAILWAY TRACK GAUGE Filed Jan. 19, 19:55

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A7TORNEY Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES RAILWAY TRACK GAUGE Andi- Ernest Mauzin, Paris, France Application January 19, 1933, Serial No. 652,576

- In France November 28, 1932 a '7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for measuring the gauge of railway track and the out-of-line of the rails in a horizontal plane by a position of contact with the rail when for any reason the shoe has slipped over the rail toward the exterior.

Fig. 3a is a perspective view of the shoe which is brought into contact with the rail.

Fig. 3b is a similar View of a shoe positioned in its support in which it may be oscillated.

Fig. 3c is another corresponding view of the shoe and its support positioned on a carriage.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification which provides for the oscillation of the shoe and the bringing of the same out of contact with the rail.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic arrangement of apparatus for measuring the gauge of the rails.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic arrangement of apparatus for measuring the out of line of a rail of a railway track.

Each shoe comprises a rail-contacting element I (Fig. 1) which is light and of small Width, and is carried by a carriage 3 (Fig. 1) movable in a direction at right angles to the rail on a frame 5 (Fig. 1) fixed to the frame of the vehicle carrying the apparatus. A spring 6 (Fig. 1) pulls the carriage towards the rail.

As shown in Fig. 2, means are provided for moving the carriage 3 in a direction toward the right after it has been moved to its extreme lefthand position. Movement of the carriage to the right of Fig. 2 is efiected by means of a chain 111. or other transmission element which connects the carriage with the movable element of a shifting mechanism contained in the housing h. The shifting mechanism may consist of an electromagnetic device or of a piston movable in a cylinder by compressed air, the flow of which is electrically controlled. In either event, control of the shifting mechanism is efiected electrically by means of the electrical circuit including the contact 32 and the shiftable rodb.

The frame 5 is electrically connected by conductor k with one terminal of the shifting mechanism in housing It and the other terminal is connected by conductor i, battery g and conductor f with one end of the sliding rod b. The other end of the rod b carries a contact e which is adapted to be moved into engagement with the contact point 32 mounted on frame 5, thereby completing the circuit. Movement of the rod 1) is effected by engagement of a projection a car--v ried on the carriage 3 with projections c and (1 formed on the rod b. In operation, upon the carriage 3 being moved to its extreme left position by means of the'spring 6, the projection a on carriage 3 engages the projection c on the rod b and moves the latter to bring contact point e into conductive engagement with the contact point 32. Upon thus completing the control circuit, the shifting mechanism is actuated to cause the carriage 3 to be moved to its extreme righthand position. When the carriage 3 is moved to its extreme right-hand position, the projection a. on the carriage engages the projection d on the rod b and shifts the rod bto its righthand position, breaking the connection between contact points e and 32. Upon thus breaking the circuit, the shifting mechanism is deenergized and the spring 6 will draw the carriage 3 to a position whereby the shoe I will again en e the side of the rail. In passing over the rail, the rail-contacting shoe pivots about a horizontal pin 8 (Fig. 1) provided for this purpose and passes above the rail. The rail-contacting element then descends again and bears against a stop 10 (Fig. 1).

In addition to this possible displacement of. the rail-contacting element, a displacement of the said element in the vertical plane is also provided, so that if the necessity arises,. it may be withdrawn within the clearance limit prescribed on railways, that is to say, to a predetermined distance above the plane of the rollingsurface of the rails. The said displacement may-be effected by means of a displacement of the rail-contacting element relatively to' the carriage or of the carriage relatively to the frame of the car.

In the case where the rail-contacting element is displaced relative to the carriage, the railcontacting element carries two pins l2, l3 (Fig. 30.) serving to support it within a casing M (Fig. 3b), where it is held in its lower position by means of springs l5, I6 (Fig. 3b).

Inv the first place, it will be seen that in order to move the rail-contacting element out of its normal vertical position, it is necessary to apply a certain minimum effort thereon which will overcome the force exerted by the springs l5 and I6 and that, secondly, if the said effort is exceeded,

Bracing rods and 88 impart rigidity to The ends of members 2| connected the frame. to the pins l1 and I8 are enlarged and provided with bores which serve as bearings to receive said pins. It will be noted from Fig. 3c that 'at the joint connecting the joined ends of 'members 2|, j there is provided an enlargement having a bore.

22 therein. As shown in Fig. 6, a guiderod 82 passes through the bore 22 for guiding the carriage in its travel. In addition, it will be noted that the pins l1 and I8 serve as axles for pulleys 23 and 24, respectively, which roll one pair of rails 83', clearly shown in Fig. 6.

In order to maintain the rail-contacting element in a vertical position, a stop linkage is provided. As shown in Fig. 30, this linkage con-, I9 carried by a rod. I8 which, in turn, is supported by the carriage {members 2|. A second link 28 is supported by sists of a vertical link a rod 20' which is also carried by the members 2| of the carriage. The lower free ends of the. links H) and 28 are connected by a link 84, one end of which is adapted to engage the casing M of the rail-contacting member. *A spring 85 has one end connected to a rod 86 supported by the members. 2i and has its other end connected to a pin 8'! 'carriedb'y the link 84. The rod 86 and pin 81 are so positioned that the spring tends to shift the link 84 to the lef of Fig. 3a.. In order.

to prevent link 84 under the action of spring 85 from shifting the casing |4 toward the left of Fig. 3c beyond a vertical position, link 281s pro-.

vided with a projection 88 which cooperatesrwith -':an extension 84 of link 84. By engagement of the projection 88 with projection 84 the shifting.

of bar 34 toward the left of Fig. under the action of spring 85 is limited. However, the shifting of link 84 to the right of Fig. 3c is not limited; and is resisted by the action of spring 85.

for any reason, during the operation of the device the rail-contacting element is shifted to the right, the stop linkage will give under the action of spring 85 and permit shifting to the right. The spring 85, however, normally exerts a sufficient force to maintain the rail-contacting element in a vertical position.

j'In' the case where the carriage is moved relatively to the frame of the car, the rail-contacting element carries two rods 55 and56 which are the axles oftwo pulleys 51 and 58 (Fig. 4).

framework constituted by four rods 55, so, 6 I, and 62 (Fig. 4) The said framework is guided verti- -cally at both ends by supports 80 fixed to the frame 8| of the vehicle and 'is urged downwardly I mtcon-tacting element is held in the vertical position by means of a stop linkage 18, 1| similar to that shown in Fig. 3. V

' 'A'fiexible tube (notfshown) carries oil between the rail-contacting element and the rail and en-' 75* sures continuous lubrication.

The' said two pulleys are adapted torun within a.

The measurement of the gauge or distance between the rails is effected as follows (see Fig. 5)

Two shoes running on one and the same frame at right angles to the axis of the track rub against each rail. The variation in the distance between the rails is given by the variation in the distance between the shoes.

In the case in which the frame supporting the shoes undergoes a relative displacement with respect to the recording apparatus recording the gauge of the track (for example, in the case in which the shoes are mounted on the frame of the bogie or truck and the recording apparatus is mounted on the body of the vehicle), the following device may be employed.

A cable connects the two carriages and passes over the pulleys 25, 26, 21, 28, 29, 30. A spring fixed to the body of the vehicle urges the pulley 21 and draws the carriages towards the exterior of the track by means of the cable.

The pulleys 25, 26, 28, 30. are fixed to the frame supporting the carriage, while the pulley 28 is held at an invariable vertical distance from the recording apparatus by means of a bar fixed by one end to the recording apparatus by means of a universal joint, and sliding by the other endv in a guide fixed to the frame of the apparatus proper.

The vertical displacement of the pulley 21 relatively to the body of the vehicle gives half the variation in the distance between the rails.

,The recording of the out-of-line of the rails in the horizontal plane is effected as follows (see. Fig. 6):

Three shoes rub on one and the samerail. A

cable starting from the shoe 4| passes over the pulleys 50, 5| and is fixed to one end 44 of'a; lever. A cable starting from the shoe 42 passes over the pulleys 54, 55 and is fixed to the other end 46 of the same lever. A cable 43' starting from the shoe 43 passes over the pulleys 52, 53, traverses the same lever at the point 45, passes inside a Bowden sheath 48 and is finally drawn by a spring. 49. The stylus S is carried by cable 43 which serves to shift the same over the record sheet to trace a curve thereon.

The ratio of the distance between the points 44, 46 to the distance between thepoints 45, 46 is equal to the ratio of the distance between the shoes 4|, 42 to the distance between the shoes 42, 43.

The Bowden sheath is connected at one end to the lever at the point 45 and at the other end to a fixed point on the recording apparatus. Since the fixed end of ,the sheath 48 is on the record support, relative movement between the cable 43' and sheath will cause stylus S to move over the record sheet. The end of sheath 48 attached to lever 4446 is free to move with. said lever.

With this arrangement, movement of all shoes 4|, 42, and 43 in the same direction will produce a movement of lever 44-46, but so long as there is no relative out-of-line movement between the shoes the stylus S will not be moved.

The entire structure is mounted on the platform 89 of a car. 7 7

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is: V v

1. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-'of-line of a railway rail and transmitting the indication to a recordingstation,comprising side of the rail and adapted tobe shifted laterally by defects in the alignment of the rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes to two ends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connected to the fulcrum of the lever, and a wire passing through said sheath having one end connected to the central shoe and the other end attached to an anchored spring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its point of connection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath being connected to a record-support over which said stylus moves.

2. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-of-line of a railway rail and transmitting the indication to a recording station, comprising three spaced shoes supported in contact with one side of the rail and adapted to be shifted laterally by defects in the alignment of the rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes totwo ends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connected to the fulcrum of the lever, a wire passing through said sheath having one end connected to the central shoe and the other end attached to an anchored spring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its point of connection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath being connected to a record support over which said stylus moves, resilient means urging said shoes against the side of the rail, and means operable upon slipping of a shoe over the rail for returning it to its operative position.

3. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-of-line of a railway rail and transmitting the indication to a recording station, comprising three spaced shoes supported in contact with one side of the rail and adapted to be shifted laterally by defects in the alignment of the rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes to two ends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connected to the fulcrum of the lever, a wire passing through said sheath having one end connected to the central shoe and the other end attached to an anchored spring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its point of connection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath being connected to a record support over which said stylus moves, each of said shoes being vertically slidably mounted in swinging supports mounted on laterally movable carriages, and resilient means urging said shoes downward relative to said supports.

4. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-of-line of a railway rail and transmitting the indication to a recording station, comprising three spaced shoes supported in contact with one side of the rail and adapted to be shifted laterally by defects in the alignment of the rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes to two ends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connected to the fulcrum of the lever, and a wire passing through said sheath having one end connected to the central shoe and the other end attached to an anchored spring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its point of connection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath being connected to a record support over which said stylus moves, each of said shoes being laterally slidably mounted in carriages positioned for vertical oscillation.

5. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-of-line of a railway rail and transmitting the indication to a recording station, comprising three spaced shoes supported in contact with one side of the rail and adapted to be shifted laterally by defects in the alignment of the rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes to two ends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connected to the fulcrum of the lever, a wire passing through said sheath having one end connected to the central shoe and the other end attached to an anchoredspring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its point of connection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath being connected to a record support over which said stylus moves, a laterally movable carriage supporting each shoe, resilient means urging the carriage to a position to bring the shoe into contact with one side of the rail, and means operable upon slipping of the shoe over the rail for energizing a motor for returning the carriage to its operative position.

6. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-of-line of a railway rail and transmitting the indication to a recording station, comprising three spaced shoes supported in contact with one side of the rail and adapted to be shifted laterally by defects in the alignment of the rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes to two ends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connected to the fulcrum of the lever, a wire passing through said sheath having one end connected to the central shoe and the other end attached to an anchored spring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its point of connection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath being connected to a record support over which said stylus moves, a laterally movable carriage supporting each shoe, resilient means urging the carriage to a position to bring the shoe into contact with one side of the rail, means operable upon slipping of the shoe over the rail for completing an electric circuit to effect movement of the carriage against the resilient means, and means operable upon moving of the carriage to an extreme position for breaking the electrical circuit and thereby permitting the carriage to be returned by the resilient means to its operative position.

'7. An apparatus for obtaining an indication of the out-of-line of a railway rail and transmitting the indication to a recording station, comprising three spaced shoes supported in contact with one side of the rail and adapted to be shifted laterally by defects in the alignment of the rail, means for transmitting movement of the two outside shoes to two ends of a floating lever, a Bowden sheath having one end connected to the fulcrum of the lever, a wire passing through said sheath having one end connected to the central shoe and the other end attached to an anchored spring, a stylus attached to said wire adjacent its point of connection to the spring, the other end of said Bowden sheath being connected to a record support over which said stylus moves, a vertically movable carriage for each shoe having laterally extending tracks formed thereon, a frame for supporting a shoe, and means for movably mounting said shoe supporting frame for lateral movement on the tracks of said carriage.

ANDRE ERNEST MAUZIN.

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