US626039A - robertson - Google Patents

Description

No. 626.039. Patented May 30, I899. J. H. ROBERTSON.

MACHINE FOB SCRAPING, SWEEPING, AND SANDING TRACKS.

(Application filed Max. 16. 1897.) v (No Model.) 2 beets-Sheet I.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented May 30, I899.

J. H. worsemscm.v MACHINE FOR SCRAPING, SWEEPING, AND SANDING TRACKS.

(Applicatior filed Mar. 16, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

EN0 Model.)

INVENTOR wnmzsses:

ATTORNEYS m: norms versus co. wnom4.11'no.. WASHINGTON. a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFnicE.

JOHN H. ROBERTSOhL OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FORSCRAPING, SWE'EPING, AND SANDING TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,039, dated May 30', 1899.

Application filed March 16, 1897. Serial No. 627,830. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Scraping, Sweeping, and Sanding Tracks, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to an improvement in machines for scraping, sweeping, and sanding thoroughly sweeping the track, comprising rotary brushes driven by the advance movements of the machine and guards for receiving the dirt as it is brushed from the track and deflecting it therefrom.

A further object is to provide certain embodiments in the means for bringing the several parts into and out of engagement with the track-rails and also to so construct the machine that it may be used for treating the rails when driven in either direction.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents aside view, partially in section, of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the truck and lower portion of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the means for raising and lowering the free end of the frame which carries the rotarybrushanditsdriving mechanism. Fig. 4 is a partial top plan view of a portion ofthe lower part of the machine, showing a modi fied form of brush-driving mechanismi and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail cross-section showing the means for guiding the upward and downward movement of the scraper-carrying arm.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my machine in connection with a suitable supporting-platform mounted upon the axles of two pairs of traction-wheels arranged to travel along the track-rails. The platform is denoted as a whole by A, and it may bemade of any desired length and width to suit the purposes to which it is to be used. It is provided with suitable trucks at, by means of which it is'supported upon a pair of ax-lesB B", which axles have mounted thereon suitable traction-wheels b.' The machine may be provided with any suitable brake mechanism O.

Proceeding to describe the track -railscraping mechanism, a suitable rock-shaftD extends transversely across the machine near its end and is mounted in suitable bearings form A to reciprocate vertically over each of tracks, and more particularly to means for the track-rails, the guides for the said up- ?rights being located near the rock-shaft D.

The rock-shaft D is provided with av sectorrack 01 opposite each of the scraper-supporting uprights'E in position to engage the same, whereby as the shaft D is rocked the said uprights E are positively slid up and down.

- The upper portion of the upright E, which passes through the upper guide e, is preferably screw-threaded and is provided with a hand-nut e for positively adjusting the limit of the downward movement of the said upright and also serving to positively hold the said upright awayfrom the track when so desired. The said upright E is permitted a limited lateral movement in its lower guide 6 for permitting the scraper which it carries to retain its position within the groove of the rail when the machine is passing around curves in the track. i

The scraperis denoted by F, and it is hinged to the upright E, so as to swing upwardly and backwardly, a spring f,- extending between an abutment e on the upright and the scraper, tending to yieldingl'y hold the scraper at the limit of its forward movement. The scraper F may be provided with a suitable scrapingpoint f, which is adapted to enter the groove in the track-rail, which scraping-point is readily renewed. The scraping-point f may be a portion of' a wire cable, if so desired. The rock-shaft-operatin g lever (1 may be provided with a suitable hook d which is adapted to be engaged with the dashboard a when the lever is swung forwardly in position to lift the upright E and the scraper F awayflfrom the track.-

There are two sets of scraper mechanisms, one at each end of the machine, each set consistin g of'a single rook-shaft and lever, two Vertically-reciprocating uprights and scrapers, and two sector-racks for connecting the rockshaft with the uprights.

Proceeding to describe the sweeping mechanism, a rotary brush G is mounted upon each side of the machine in position to engage a track-rail, the said rotary brush being mounted at or near the free end of a swinging frame H, hinged on the axle B or B of the running-gear. The rotary brush G is driven in a reverse direction to the direct-ion in which the machine is going by a suitable connection with the axle upon which its supporting-frame is hinged.

Proceeding to describe the driving mechanism shown in Fig. 2, the axle g of the brush G has a bevel-gear connection g with one end of a shaft I, extending along within the frame, the other end of the shaft having a geared connection 1' with the axle B.

The mechanism for driving the rotary brush G (shown in Fig. 4) is as follows: The axle g of the brush G is provided with a suitable sprocket giwhich is connected with a sprocketwheel 9 mounted near the axle B, by a suitable chain g, the axle of the sprocket-wheel being provided with a suitable gear 9 intermeshing with a gear I) on the axle B. It will thus be seen that the free end of the frame H may be raised and lowered without interfering with the driving of the rotary brush G when the machine is in motion. The free end of each of the swinging frames II is positively raised and lowered for moving the rotary brushes G away from and into en gagement with the track-rail by means of a suitable rod J, having its lower end connected with the free end of the frame II, as at h, preferably by means of a connecting-rod The upper end of the barJ is screw-threaded, which screw-threaded portion is engaged by a suitable operating hand-wheel K, mounted to rotate in a suitable support 7;, carried by the platform A, whereby the rotation of the wheel K in one direction will raise the frame ll and in the other direction will positively lower the same. These two frames H in the present instance are shown as the one hinged upon one axle B and the other upon the other axle B, the free ends of the said frames being opposite each other, so that the rotary brushes G will engage the track-rails between the wheels I).

Proceeding to describe the sanding device, hoppers L are supported by the platform A and are provided with pipes l for directing the sand within the hoppers down onto the track-rails near each of the traction-wheels b. Each of these hoppers L is provided with a suitable valve 1, which may be opened and closed mechanically for permitting the sand to escape into the sand-pipe Z or to shut off the escape of sand, as is desired. The mechanism shown herein consists of an upwardlyextended valve stem which extends up through the top Z and is there connected to the short arm m of a lever M, pivoted at m. The long arm m of the lever being capable of being clamped to a sector m by means of a suitable clamping device m, the amount of sand which it may be desired to permit to escape may thus be very accurately determined by opening and closing the valve Z to the required degree and then clamping the lever M to the sector 111 A guard O is secured to the platform Aadjacent to each of the rotary brushes G, the said guard being provided with wings 0 for receiving the dirt as it is brushed from the track and deflecting it, so that it will fall in a pile along the side of the track. This guard is very desirable where the rotary brushes are mounted to rotate in a line with the trackrail, but would not be used where the brushes rotate at an angle thereto.

The operation of myinvention is as follows: Supposing that the machine is to be moving in the direction indicated by the arrow upon Fig. 1,the scraping device at the front of the machine is lowered down into engagement with the track-rails, the front sand-hoppers are closed, the rear sand-hoppers are open, and the rear scraping mechanism is raised out of engagement with the track-rails. As the machine is driven the scrapers will effectually remove all foreign matter from the rail-grooves. The rotary brushes will then clean off the rails, and the rear sanding device will then sprinkle on the required amount of sand, thus leaving the rails in proper condition fortrafiic. If the scrapers should strike any obstruction which would tend to break them, they will yield and pass over the same.

Because of the limited lateral movement which the scraper is permitted to haye its point will not be removed from the groove in the rail when the machine is passed around curves in the track.

It will be seen that the pressure of the scraper may be accurately adjusted, the engagement of the rotary brushes with the track may be also accurately adjusted, and the desired amount of sand may be distributed, thereby enabling the machine to accomplish all desired results.

It is evident that slight changes may be resorted to in the construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth; but

\Vhat I claim is- A track-rail-treating machine, comprising a suitable support mounted upon the traction-wheels, rotary brushes mounted in position to engage the track between the tractionwheels, the axis of rotation of the said brushes being at right angles to the track and guards secured to the support adjacent to the rotary brushes, each of the said guards being provided with wings to the front and rear of the rotary brush for receiving the dirt as it is brushed from the track and deflectingit therefrom when the brush is rotated in either direction, substantially as set forth.

JOHN H. ROBERTSON.

\Vitnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, EDWARD V IESER.

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