US2070260A - Method and apparatus for repairing railway track - Google Patents

Description

Feb.. 9, 1937. w. P. DAY 2,070,260

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPAIRING RAILWAY TRACK Filed sept. 1s, 1935 2 Sgam-sheet 1 M NKWNOWQWN MM ATTORNEY.

Feb. 9, i937. 2,070,260

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPAIRING RAILWAY TRACK W. P. DAY

Filed Sept. 13, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENTOR.

K? MW,

Patented Feb. 9, 1937 Unirse STATES PATENT GFFIQE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR`REPAIRING RAILWAY TRACK Application september 1s, 1935, seria1N0.40,462

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of repairing and leveling railway track and to a machine for practicing the method.

It is a well known fact that the ties of a railway track become center-bound, that is to say the stone or ballast supporting the ties settles and moves away from the ends of the ties, leaving the ties supported principally in the center. The movement of trains or heavy loads over such a track tends to displace the ties and to move the rails out cf proper alignment. This fact has been recognized for a long time and it has been quite expensive to keep the track in proper repair. v

I have devised a method and apparatus for treating or repairing railway track which has become defective for reasons hereinbefore mentioned which will elfectively replace the ballast or loose stone or other material which has settled or moved away from the ends of the ties. My improved method consists essentially in depositing about the ties a mass of ballast, loose stone, grout, or other suitable material and then applying rapid and violent vibrations to the central portions of the ties for a surcient period of time to cause the loose stone or other material to move under the ends of the ties and to support them in the proper position.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for repairing or leveling railway track which will electively level the ties and rails and which can be practiced with a minimum amount of labor and equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and dependable machine or vibrator which may be readily attached to and removed from the ties and which will practice the meth od hereinbefore describe-d.

Further and more limited objectsof the invention will appear as the description proceeds and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a sectional View showing my vibrating unit attached to a railroad tie; Fig. 2 is Va horizontalsectional view `on the line 2--2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is an end view of thevibrating unit as seen from the right in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a detail View of one of the locking dogs.

It is` quite easy for a practicedworkman to de* termine the condition of a railroad track and whether the rails are misaligned by a more or less casual inspection of the ties and rails. When ,the ties become center-bound, one of therails is p `usually higher or lower than the other. .This .is

`because of the fact that the ballast, stone or other material supporting the ties has settled or moved away from the ends of the ties. Heretofore, it has been quite difficult to replace this ballast or loose stone beneath the ties and it Vfrequently is necessary to remove the whole tie and provide a new foundation therefor. According to my method the workman quickly sees that a tie is center-bound or that the ballast or stone has moved away from the ends thereof. The workman then elevates one or both ends of the tie until the opposite rails are level, this being done by means of a jack or by means of a suitable wedge, .depending upon the condition of the track. A suitable amount of loose stone, ballast, grout or other suitable material is then deposited adjacent one or both ends of the ties. The vibrating unit is then secured preferably to the central portion of the tie and operated to impart Very rapid and violent vibrations to the tie. This vibration of the tie causes the loose stone, ballast, grout or other material to move under the tie for the reason that the stone tends to move toward the part being vibrated. This operation is repeated on the adjacent ties or on any tie that has become center-bound or otherwise dislodged.

In Fig. l I have disclosed a sectional view of three wooden railroad ties which are identified by the reference characters l, 2 and 3. These ties are supported on a stone foundation and secured thereto are a pair of rails, one of which is shown in the drawings. The reference character 4 designates generally the vibrating unit which will be described in detail hereinafter'. This vibrating unit is secured to the central portion of a tie and is operate-d preferably by means of an electric motor although when desired a different type of motor may be used. The three ties have been leveled by means of wedges 5, E and l, shown in dotted lines. It is of course to be understood that a suitable jack may be used instead of wedges. The vibrator is secured to the tie after it has been leveled. In Fig. 1 the tie I has already been vibrated and the loose stone, ballast, grout or other material has been caused to move under the tie to properly support it. The loose stone, ballast, grout or other material is preferably deposited adjacent the end or ends of the tie before the vibrator is started. This material may be loose ballast, dry stone, slag screenings, grout or any other suitable material. In case grout is used, it should have suffis cient water to render it flowable or workable. If desired, this material which" is to be moved under the tie may contain some suitable material which will act as a preservative for a wooden tie or it may contain material which would tend to repel water. It is of course to be understood that in many cases it may be necessary to vibrate only a few of the ties which have become displaced or center-bound. The amount of vibration applied to any tie depends largely upon the condition of the track and the tie. In some cases it may be desirable to entirely replace a tie which has become defective, in which case the vibrator unit may be used successfully to cause the ballast or other supporting material to move under the tie. My method and apparatus is intende-d and adapted for use on both steel and wooden ties.

Referring now to the drawings, I will now describe in detail my improved vibrating unit. However, it is to be understood that the particular form of vibrating unit herein disclosed is not necessary to successfully practice my method as other forms of vibrators of course may be used. The particular unit disclosed consists essentially of a base plate il preferably formed of metal and to which is secured a pair of basel blocks or supports 9 and I which are preferably formed of a pair of channels secured together and which are shaped in section, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. Disposed at one side of the base plate is a locking clamp II which is pivotally mounted as shown at I2. The lower end of the locking clamp is shaped to provide a nose portion the surface of which is serrated so as to enable it to more rmly grip a wooden tie. The upper end of the locking clamp II is bifurcated and pivotally mounted therein is a member I 4 having a threaded opening therein and through which extends a threaded pin or screw I5 the inner end of which is rotatably connected with an upstanding portion provided on the base plate. The outer end of the pin I5 is shaped to provide a tool engaging portion I by means of which the pin may be actuated through the medium of a suitable tool. Adjustably mounted in each of the base blocks 5 and IIl are a pair of locking jaws or dogs Il' and IS which are movable along the base blocks and one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 4. Each or the base blocks is provided with an upper and a lower row of openings indicated by the reference characters I9 and 20, the openings in the lower row being disposed substantially midway of the openings in the upper row. Each of the locking jaws is also provided with a double row of openings 2| and 22 which are arranged in substantially the same manner. The jaws II and I8 are adjustably secured within the base blocks by means of pins 23 and 24 which extend through the openings in the base blocks and also through the openings in the locking jaws so that the locking jaws may be adjusted and secured in the desired position with respect to the base blocks 9 and I Carried by the base plate are a pair of bearing blocks 25 and 2S which are secured thereto in any suitable manner and in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 2'! to the outer end of which is secured a pulley 28. The bearing blocks 25 and 26 are provided with circular flanges 29 and 30. Disposed between the anges 29 and 30 and non-rotatably secured to the shaft 21 is an eccentrically mounted weight 3l which is preferably adjustable with respect to the shaft so that the weight may be moved radially with respect to the shaft.

Carried by the base blocks 9 and Il) and secured thereto in any suitable manner are four plates 33, 34, 35 and 36 which receive and support shackle bolts 3l, 38, 39 and 4i). Secured to the shackle bolts 36 and 3l' and extending upwardly therefrom is a spring member il which is preferably made up of a plurality of sections or leaves. Secured to the shackle bolts S8 and E@ is a spring member l2 which is also preferably made up of a plurality of sections or leaves. t will be Seen that these spring members 4I and G2 are pivotally secured to the shackle bolts at their lower ends. Secured to the upper portions of the spring members 6I and G2 is a motor supporting plate 43 which is held in place by means of bolts lili which extend through the spring members 4I and 42. Surrounding the bolts id are sleeves i5 which receive thereon the motor supporting plate which is secured against displacement by means of nuts 36. Carried by the motor supporting plate is an electric motor Iii from which projects a shaft 58 which carries a pulley 59. Extending about the motor are a pair of bands 50 and 5i which are provided with flanges and 53 which are secured to the motor supporting plate by means of suitable bolts 55s and Connecting the pulleys 23 and it are a pair of flexible belts 55 and 57. Also carried by the motor supporting plate is a handle 58 by means of which the vibrating unit may be moved and which is secured thereto in any suitable manner. Suitable electrical connections are provided for connecting the electric motor with a source of cua'- rent supply and it is to be understood that such connections include a switch or circuit breaker for controlling the motor.

It will now be clear that the shaft El cperated from the motor shaft 28 through the medium of the iieXible belts 56 and 5?. The motor is supported on the spring members i and 42 and the vibrations of the eccentric weight are not transmitted to the motor. The motor is preferably an electric motor which may be operated at a speed of from 2400 to 3000 revolutions per minute. When the motor is operated, the eccentrically mounted weight SI on the shaft 28 serves to impart rapid and violent vibrations to the ties. It is of course to be understood that I may make use of a motor of the internal combustion engine type, if desired.

When the vibrating unit is applied to a tie, it is placed upon the tie in about the position shown in Fig. l. The locking dogs Vi and ES are moved into engagement with the tie and secured in place by means of the pins 23 and A suitable tool is then applied to the portion of the screw I5 and the locking clamp ii moved into firm gripping engagement with the tie. It will therefore be clear that the vibrating unit is rrnly and rigidly secured to the central portion of the tie. The vibrations imparted to the tie will cause the loose ballast, stone, grout or other material to flow or move beneath the tie. It is also to be understood that my vibrating unit may be applied to either wooden or metal ties.

It will now be clear that I have provided a method of repairing or leveling railway track and an apparatus for practicing the method which will accomplish the objects of the invention as hereinbefore stated. It is also to be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is merely illustrative and is not to be considered in a limiting sense as the invention is limited only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The method of leveling railway track which consists in elevating the ends of the ties on which the rails are supported, placing loose stone adjacent the ends of the ties and applying rapid and violent vibrations directly to the ties to cause the loose stone to mo-ve under the elevated ends of the ties.V

2. The method of leveling railway track which consists in raising the ends of the ties until the track is level, depositing loose stone or grout adjacent the ends of the ties and applying rapid and violent vibrations directly to the ties intermediate the ends thereof to cause the loose stone or grout to move under the elevated ends of the ties.

3. The method ofv leveling railway track in which the rails are supported upon ties, which consists in adjusting the positions of the ends or the ties until the track is level, then depositing loose stone or the like adjacent the ends of the ties and applying vibrations to the central portions of the ties.

4. The method of repairing railway track in which the rails have become misaligned because of displacement of the supporting ties which consists in elevating the ends of the ties which have become displaced, depositing suitable ballast about the ends of the ties and applying rapid and violent Vibrations directly to the ties intermediate the ends thereof.

5. An apparatus for repairing railway track comprising a vibrator unit, means for rigidly securing said vibrator unit directly to the ties of a railway track, said vibrator unit including a motor and an eccentrically mounted weight operatively connectedtherewith, and means resiliently supporting said motor whereby to reduce the amount of Vibration imparted to the motor.

6. A vibrator unit for Vibrating railway ties comprising a base member, adjustable means for rigidly and detachably securing said base member directly to a railway tie intermediate the ends thereof, a motor supported by said base member and spring means resiliently supporting said motor whereby to reduce the amount of vibration imparted thereto.

7. A vibrator unit for vibrating railway ties comprising a base member, means for rigidly securing said base member to a railway tie, a motor supported by said base member and spring means resiliently supporting said motor whereby to reduce the amount of vibration imparted thereto, said securing means including a plurality of clamps adjustably mounted with respect to the base plate whereby to adapt the unit for attachment to different size ties.

8. In a Vibrator unit of the character described,

the combination of a base member, adjustably mounted clamping members carried by said base member for securing the same to diiferent size ties, a Shaft rotatably carried by said base member, an eccentric weight carried by said shaft, a motor carried by said base member and operatively connected with said shaft, and means resiliently supporting said motor with respect to said base plate whereby to reduce the amount of vibration imparted thereto.

9. In a vibrator unit for railway ties, the combination of a base member, adjustably mounted clamping members carried by said base member for securing the same to different size ties, a shaft rotatably mounted on said base member, an eccentric weight carried by said shaft, a motor carried by said base member and operatively connected with said shaft, means resiliently supporting said motor with respect to said base member whereby to reduce the amount of vibration imparted thereto, and means for securing said vibrator unit to ties including a plurality of adjustably mounted clamping members adapted to move into rigid engagement with the ties whereby the unit may be secured to different width ties.

10. An apparatus for vibrating railway ties comprising a base member, a shaft carried by said base member, an eccentrically mounted weight carried by said shaft, a pair of springs having their opposite ends pivotally secured by said base I' member, a motor suspended by said springs and operatively connected with said shaft, and means for detachably securing said apparatus to a railway tie.

11. An apparatus for vibrating railway ties f comprising a base member, a shaft carried by said base member, an eccentrically mounted weight carried by said shaft, a pair of springs having their opposite ends pivotally secured by said base member, a motor suspended by said springs and operatively connected with said shaft, and means for securing said base member to a railway tie including a plurality of clamping members adjustably mounted with respect to said base member.

12. A vibrating unit comprising a base member, a shaft carried by said base member, an eccentrically mounted weight carried by said shaft, a plurality of springs having their opposite ends pivotally secured to said base member, a motor carried by said springs and operatively connected with said shaft, and means for attaching said Vibrating unit to the object to which it is desired to impart vibration.

WILLIAM P. DAY.

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