USRE14506E - Wrecxing-teuck - Google Patents

Description

J. EGAN.

'WRECKING TRUCK.

APPLICATION HLED DEC.22, 191 7. Reissued Aug. 20, 1918. 14,506.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- J. EGAN.

WRECKING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED nc.22. 1912.

Reissued Aug. 20, 1918. 14,506.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

J. EGAN.

WRECKING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED umzz. 1911.

' RGiSSilGd Aug. 20, 1918. 14,506

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

JAM'Es EGAN, or cnroaeo, ILLrnoIs, assrenon T EGAN WRECKING TRUCK COMPANY, A CORPORATION or rumors.

WRECKING-TRUGK.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Reissued Aug, 20, 1918.

Original No. 1,116,579, dated November 10, 1914-, Serial No. 771,576, filed June 4, 1913. Application for reissue filed December '22, 1917. Serial No. 208,503.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES EGAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the citv of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrecking- Trucks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

An adequate wrecking device adapted to travel over the highways has been a practical necessity with the recent wide and extensive use of automobiles. Hcrctofore. in the event of an accident to an automobile, causing a whole or partial demolition of the running gear, the wrecked vehicle has usually been mounted upon skids and dragged to a convenient place for repair or the disabled vehicle is sometimes hauled bodily onto a wagon by means of a Windlass. and then carried to any place desired. In either case, such removal of the wrecked vehicle requires a greatloss of time and in many cases such type of wagons are not available.

This invention relates to a self-propelled wrcckii'ig dcvicc adapted to carry therewith an auxiliary running gear adapted to receive l'iractically any type of vehicle upon such running; gear whcrclly said vehicle may be rapidly transferred to a place oi repair in tow of the self-propelled wrecking means.

It is an object of this invention to provide a wrecking dcvicc equipped with suitable elevating mechanism and provided with an auxiliary running gear adapted to be attached beneath either end of a wrecked vchicle.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an elevating mechanism for a device of the class described wherein such elevating mechanism may be suitably braced by adjustable means contacting:- the ground but limited in its movement. and guyed in position by a. chain or cable. connected to the frame of the wrecking device.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a device equipped with elevating mechanism and auxiliary running gear adapted to be placed beneath a wrecked vehicle, and means for suitably connecting said running gear to the disabled vehicle and to provide in combination with a wrecking vehicle, an auxiliary running gear which may be connected thereto by means of a drawbar e ther rigidly connected to the auxiliary running gear or pivotally connected therewith to steer thewheels thereof.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a self-propelled wrecking device equipped with a pivotally mounted A-frame adapted to be braced at its base by suitable detachable means adapted to bear against the ground, as well as a chain or cable or other means connected to the frame of the vehicle.

it is also an object of this invention to use in. connection with a sclt'propclled \VPGGlil'lg' vehicle, a plurality of auxiliary running gears adapted to be connected be heath either or both ends of a wrecked vehicle, and a plurality of drawbars adapted to be connected to the wrecked vehicle and to one of said auxiliary running gears, and to the wrecking vehicle to tow the wrecked vehicle to a place of repair.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a drawbar which may be pivotally connected to an auxiliary running gear to suitably steer the same in towing, and means for rigidly connecting said drawbar to said auxiliary running gear and towed to a placedesired in a. short space of time. I

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrecking vehicle towing a disabled automobile, the rear end of the latter being mounted upon ll l n of the wrecking vehicle conlml thereto to raise the same in the posion slunvn full lines for the isertion of liarfl'unning gear there eneath. El is a fragmentary top plan view of "ur'xiliary running gear for the front and d of a wrecked vehicle, and the rela- .to of theelevating l'nechanism for t 1e wrecked vehicle upon said auxil uiii'ig gear. r 1 -?l is a central longitudinal section ah the frontaxle of the auxiliary r. a similar section taken through the rear auxiliary running gear. a :liragmentary sectional detail U-bolt means for connecting a m the front axle of a disabled. ve-

is a fragmentary sectional detail airing the means of rigidly looking a i v connected drawbar to the axle of rry running gear.

i a is a front elevation illustrating the blc sui'mort for the base of the rating mechanism.

.s detail of the bracket for a l the oar on the rear of the wrecking ve- Jill is a transverse section taken the axle of the auxiliary truck and of the disabled vehicle mounted in, mowing a manner in which they be connected. i

l an in the drawings:

re reference nun'leral 1. indicates a selfhlled vehicle, although not necessarily across the side sill frame members 2 of i is rigidly'bolled or otherwise secured a ti IliEEVlYI'H-e anchor member 3, through ich extends a bolt 4. AnA-frame boom lljr'fll'tllly mounted in any suitable man n tar,

h ll

i'lisabled, and with the elevatingtion, the nut bearing against the lower end of said tube members 9. The to Aframe boom 5, is connected to said bolt 1, by means. of a flexible cable or chain 12, which may be adjustable to" limit the out ward movement of said A-frame boom 5, about its pivot shaft (3-, but for convenience of illustration such adjusting means has been omitted, as obviously any conventional type of pawl and ratchet gtwern-ed Windlass mechanism may he used for the purpose.

A block and tackle 13, and 14, is swung from the upper endof said A-frame boom 5, for the purpose of attachment to either end ofthe disabled automobile to raise said respective end from the groui'nl for a purpose hereinafter described. Conveniently mounted beneath the frame of said wrecking vehicle 1, at the rear thereof, is a bracket 15, which isa iiertm'ed to receive theretln'o ugl1 a king bolt 16, whereby a drawbar may be pivotallyconnected thereto. The purpose of elevating one or .both ends of a disabled vehicle as the case may be, to permit insertion .therebeneath of an auxiliary running gear, an independent gear being provided .Wheels of the same are out of commission.

The uxiliary running gear for the front end of the disabled vehicle comprises an-inverted channel 16, having a timber 1.7, fitted therewithin and centrally apertured to receive the bolt 18. and taper pin 1.), therethrough and through adrawbar "provided with suitable aywrtures toregister therewith. As shown, the drawba r rests upon the upper portion of said inverted channel 1(3.'so that if desired, a. retaining nut such as B, shown upon the bolt 16, in Fig. *9; may be dispensed with, gravity serving to maintain the axle and drawbar suitably connected by means of said bolt and taper pin. The purpose of providing the taper pin 19. is to prevent pivotal movement of the'drawlmr relative tothe axle, if desired.

Bolted in the ends of the axle all'orded by said members 16 and 17, are steering knuckle brackets 20, and connected on the bolts securing the same to said axle members is a truss rod 21, thus affording a very substantial axle col'istructnm capable of supporting great weight. The axle for the reamauxiliary rlun'iing gear is constructed in a like manner except that tapered axle stud shafts 22, are bolteihin the ends of the axle in place of the steering knuckle brackets. Each of said axles is of a length to alt'ord a wheel gage. greater than the ordinary type of stamlard construction in order, if necessary, to cradle the end ot the d1sabled vehicle upon the auxiliary axle, without necessitatof the ning gears, one being denotedby a reference numeral 23, for towing the automobile when the front running gear is demolished, and the rear gear practically uninjured. Another towing drawbar 24, is provided having a plurality of apertures to receive therein a U-member 25, which extends around and over theregular automobile axle 26, to bind the drawbar rigidly thereto. The drawbar 23, used in connection with the-front auxiliary axle of the running gear, has connected :thereto the rods 27, of the steering mecha nism,'such that when the pivotal construction between said drawbar and axle is used a turning movement of the wrecking vehicle ahead of the vehicle being towed, will cause amovement of the steering knuckle to turn the wheels on the axle, thus enabling a short turn to be. made, which greatly facilitates the towing.

A third drawbar 24*, is provided to connect the front and rear running gears to-- gether when both the front and rear wheels of the automobile are damaged and in this case the towing drawbar 23, is used with the pivotal connection already described.

The operation is as follows: .As'shown in Figs. land 2, the disabled automobile is denoted by the reference nu Inera-l 28, and, as shown in Fig. 1, the rear running gear of the same has been demolished, and an auxiliary gear substituted there-for, elevation of the rear end of the automobile for such purpose having been effected by means of the elevating mechanism on the wrecking vehicle already de scribed. The drawbar 24, is shown connected between the front axle of the automobile, and the rear of the wrecking vehicle, whereby the same may be easily towed to a place of repair. In Fig. 2, the dotted line osition represents an automobile with. the ront running gear thereof demolished and the. elevating mechanism upon the wrecking vehicle in operation to raise the automobile into the position shown in full lines in the aforesaid figure. When the automobile has been'elevated to the proper-height, the auxiliary front running gear, which is shown rolled beneath the rear end. of the wrecking vehicle, this being a convenient position for the same during the elevation of the frontend of the disabled automobile, is then rolled outwardly beneath the front end of the disabled automobile, and the automobile low ered thereon. In this case, the pivotal con nection for the drawbar 23, is used, such that the wheels of said auxiliary front running gear may properly follow the path of the wrecking vehicle, as the disabled automobile is towed.

The drawbar 24*, together with the towing drawbar 23, is used when the entire running gear of the automobile has been injured and both sets of auxiliary gears are used,

inwardly and forwardly of the wrecking vehicle into a convenient position.

It is to be noted that the top surface of the axles of the auxiliary running gears are relatively flat, thereby permitting the dis ablcd vehicle t b easily supported thereon, the disabled v .ie axle resting upon the auxili; running gear axle, and'the two being ind together by a suitable chain 29, as illust. ated in Fig. 10.

I am aware that the details of construction may be varied through a wide range, .without departing from the principleshof this invention. I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a. self-propelled wrecking vehicle, an auxiliary running gear normally towed at the rear of said wrecking vehicle, said auxiliary run ning gear adapted to be rolled from beneath the wrecking vehicle to a position beneath a disabled vehicle elevated by said wrecking vehicle, and a pivotally mounted drawbar connecting said running gear w'th the wrecking vehicle.

2 In a device of the class described, an overhanging wrecking vehicle, front and rear auxiliary gears normally towed at the rear of said overhanging vehicle adapted to be rolled from beneath said wrecking vehicle into position beneath a disabled vehicle, means connecting said front and rear running gears, and a pivotal steering connection between said front running gear and said wrecking vehicle.

3. In'a device of the class described, the combination with a wrecking vehicle, of an auxiliary running gear adapted to be rolled beneath a disabled vehicle, means securing said running gear to said disabled vehicle, a bracket mounted on the wrecking vehicle, and a drawbar pivoted to said bracket connecting said running gear with said wrecking "vehicle.

4. The combination with a wrecking vehicle having an elevating mechanism monnt- -ed thereon, of an auxiliary gear adapted to be normally towed at the rear of said wrecking veli'icle, said auxiliary gear adapted to ;be rolled to a position beneath an elevated disabled vehicle, means for connecting said auxiliary gear with the disabled vehicle,

and means afi'ording a connection between the disabled vehicle andsaid Wrecking vehicle so as to tow the former by the latter. 5. In a device of the class described, a wrecking vehicle, an auxiliary gear, said Wrecking vehicle so col'istrueted as to permit said auxiliary gear to be disposed therebeneath and adapted to be rolled beneath an elevated disabled vehicle, and a pivotal steer: ing connection between said auxiliary gear and said Wrecking vehicle.

6. In a device of the class described," a hoisting vehicle, an'auxiliary gear, said vehicle constructed to permit said gear to be normally towed at the rear of the frame to be rolled into position beneath a-disabled vehicle when the same hoisted, and a pivotal drawbar connection between 'saidhoisting vehicle and said running gearto steer thelatter to permit short turning of the combined vehicle and auxiliary gear.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in'the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES EGAN.

Witnesses: A

QCI-IARLES W. I-IiLLs, J12,

EARL M. HAmnNE.

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