Improvements in Machines for Sawing and Drilling Railway Rails, Metal Bars, Beams, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 17th May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Sawing and Drilling Railway Rails,
Metal Bars, Beams, and the like.
I, EBEN NEALLEY HIGLEY, residing at Number 308 West 116th Street, in the City,
County, and State of New York, United States of America, Machinist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in machines for sawing and drilling
railway rails, metal bars, beams, &c., and has for its object to improve the construction
of machines of this character, whereby they are rendered more convenient for use,
and at the same time enabled to perform their work in a more rapid and effective
manner than heretofore; and to this end my invention consists in certain novel com-
binations of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter fully set forth and
specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine for sawing and drilling
railway rails, metal bars, beams, &c.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section through a portion of the saw, its driving wheels,
and parts immediately adjacent thereto.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of my improved machine.
Figure 4 is a sectional detail, enlarged, representing a portion of the saw feeding
mechanism.
Figure 5 is an end view of the same, enlarged.
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of the same, on the linear of Fig. 4.
Figure 7 is a plan of the same enlarged.
Figure 8 is a vertical section, enlarged of a portion of the machine on the line y y
of Fig. 3.
Figure 9 is a sectional detail on the line zz of Fig. 3.
Figures 10 and 11 details, representing the method of attaching the seat to the
framework of the machine.
Figure 12 is a vertical section, representing the drill or boring tool and parts
immediately connected therewith.
Figure 13 is a horizontal section on the line as a³ of Fig. 3.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of a machine for sawing railway rails, metal bars,
beams, &c., embodying modifications of my invention.
Figure 15 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the saw feeding
mechanism of the machine represented in Figure 14.
Figures 16 and 17 details, illustrating other modifications of my invention, to be
hereinafter referred to.
Figure 18 is a view illustrating another modification of my invention to be
referred to.
In the drawings, A represents the framework of the machine, the lower portion of
which is bifurcated to enable it to be placed over the railway rail B, or metal bar or
beam which is to be sawed, and to which it is firmly secured by set screws & bearing
against blocks cc, which are clamped by said screws firmly against the web or sides of
the rail, bar, or beam, as seen in Fig. 12. E is a seat for the operator, said seat having
a vertical post d, and a base e, which rests on the ground. To the post d is secured a
long arm f, the inner end of which is bifurcated and embraces a stud, or projection g
on the frame A; as seen in Fig. 11; said stud having a threaded aperture in which
fits a screw bolt h, the head of which fits over the bifurcated end of the armƒ and
bolds it firmly in place; and thus when the operator is upon the seat, the arm facts
as a brace to hold and steady the machine, which is an important advantage, especially
when short pieces of rails, bars, &c., are being sawed.

page_text: To the upper portion of the frame A is pivoted by means of a suitable bolt i, a
swinging frame C, composed of a single piece, of the form seen in Figs. 1 and 3, and
in this frame is mounted a circular saw D, preferably of greater thickness at the
periphery than at the centre to avoid liability of binding as it passes through the
metal being sawed. To the lower end of the swinging frame C is jointed at 15, a
yoke G which embraces the saw as seen in Fig. 13, and extends out at or nearly at a
right angle from the lower end of the frame C. To the outer end of this yoke G is
immovably secured the feed screw H, the outer end of which passes through an
aperture, Fig. 4, in the end of an arm I, projecting from the framework A. The
aperture k is of greater diameter than the feed screw H to allow the latter to pass
freely through it as it is inclined more or less in accordance with the movement of the
swinging frame with which it is connected. The bearings for the horizontal shaft
or arbor upon which the saw D rotates, are formed at the lower ends of two vertical
rods or shafts m, which pass up through vertical apertures bored in the portions n n
of the frame C, where they are securely held by means of set screws p, their upper
ends projecting above the portions n n of the frame C as seen in Fig. 8, for a purpose
to be hereafter described. Between lugs at the outer end of the arm I, as seen in
Fig. 7, is pivoted a frame F, within a suitable aperture in which is fitted a hub pro-
jecting from one side of a worm gear K, the interior of which is cut away for the
reception of a feed nut 7, through which the feed screw passes, and by means of
which the latter is moved in the direction of its length as the nut is rotated by the
worm gear, the said feed nut and gear rotating together. The feed nut q is formed
in two parts which are arranged to slide in suitable guides in the worm gear K
toward and from each other, whereby the feed nut can be engaged with or disengaged
from the food screw, thus enabling the latter to be quickly carried back as becomes
necessary when the saw is to commence a new cut, and avoiding the necessity of
rotating the nut backward on the feed screw, as would be required if it was made in
a single piece. The outer toothless portion 10 of the worm gear K is surrounded by
a casting held in place by slots and screws, and having cam slots s in its front face,
within which fit pins projecting from the two portions of the feed nut q, whereby
when the casing is turned in one direction by means of its handle u, the two
portions of the nut will be caused to recede from each other to disengage them from
the feed screw, and when the said casing is turned in the opposite direction, the
two portions of the nut will approach each other to cause them to engage with the
feed screw, when the saw is again ready to be put in operation.
The frame F which carries the worm gear and feed nut is pivoted to the arm 1
as described, in order to allow the feed nut to adjust itself to the varying inclination
of the feed screw Has the latter moves with the frame (.
The worm gear K is rotated by a worm L on the end of a shaft v which is
supported in bearings in the outer end of the pivoted frame F, said shaft v carry-
ing at its outer end two chain wheels wa¹ of different diameters, which revolve
loosely upon the end of said shaft, and are provided with a coupling device, whereby
either one may be coupled to the shaft while the other runs loosely thereon.
This coupling device consists of a bolt 4, which slides within the tubular end of
the shaft v, and is provided with a square pin or projection c¹, which slides in a
slot d in the upper side of said shaft, and is adapted to enter a recess in the hub
of either one of the chain wheels w a', which it may be desired to couple with said
shaft v.
These chain wheels are connected by chains el f' with two chain wheels g³ /¹
of different diameters, which are immovably secured to a sleeve rotating on a
tubular stud projecting from the framework, and held in place by the head of the
bolt . To the sleeve is secured a gear k¹, which meshes with a gear 11 on
the main driving or crank shaft M, which is supported in suitable bearings in the
swinging frame C, and has attached to each of its opposite ends a crank m', and thus
through the connections described, as the crank shaft M is rotated, the feed mechanism
will be operated, and the saw fed forward as required to cause it to cut through the
rail B or other piece of metal.
It will be seen that the chain el passes over the small chain wheel w and the large

page_text: chain wheel gl, while the chain f¹ passes over the large chain wheel a¹ and the
small chain wheel h¹, and as by means of the coupling device above described,
either one of the chain wheels to or a¹ can be coupled to the shaft v, (the other
revolving loosely thereon), it will be obvious that a fast or slow feed can be produced
in accordance with the nature of the work being done.
As the shaft of the worm L is on one side of the pivot on which the frame F
rocks, it follows that the chain wheels wa¹ will rise and fall as the frame F is inoved
by the change in position of the feed screw H; hence the chains e¹f would
become slack and slip on the chain wheels if some provision was not made to prevent
such an occurrence. I therefore employ a spring arm n¹, which is attached to the
arm I, and carries at its outer end a flanged roll p', which bears constantly against
the under side of the said chains and serves to automatically take up any slack in a
manner similar to a belt tightener.
The saw Dis supported near its periphery, and prevented from springing or
chattering, and also held firmly in its central position on the commencement of the
cut, by six guides, consisting of screws q', having inserted within their ends, blocks »
of wood or other suitable material, which are brought by means of the screws 9
firmly in contact with the opposite sides of the saw as seen in Figs. 2 and 13.
Two of these guide screws pass through opposite sides of the yoke G, as seen in
Fig. 13, while the remaining four pass through opposite sides of the swinging
frame at the corners thereof, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
I will now proceed to describe the manner in which the power is applied to the
saw for the purpose of slowly rotating the same to cause it to cut the rail or other
piece of metal.
N, N, are a pair of horizontal bevel gears, which are arranged upon opposite
sides of the saw D, and in contact therewith upon the ends of the two vertical
shafts m, which project sufficiently for this purpose, as seen in Fig. 8, above the
portions of the frame C through which they pass as previously described. These
bevel gears mesh with bevel gears Q, Q, upon a shaft R, which runs in bearings in
the frame Cand is connected by gears s with the main driving shaft M, as seen
in Fig. 1. The bevel gears N, N, are provided on their peripheries with pins or
projections u¹ and recesses v¹, alternating with each other, the pins a passing through
apertures to formed in the side of the saw D near its periphery, whereby as the
gears or driving wheels N N are revolved, a positive rotary motion will be
communicated therefrom to the saw.
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The arrangement of the driving wheels N N upon opposite sides of the saw is
saw, will
such that each of the pins u¹ after it passes through an aperture wol in the
enter one of the recesses v¹, in the opposite wheel, thus insuring a better and firmer
hold upon the saw than would be the case if the pins merely passed through the saw
and did not enter recesses in the opposite wheel.
By mounting the saw driving wheels N, N, upon the projecting ends of the
vertical shafts in, as seen in Fig. 8, which are inserted from beneath and pushed up
through vertical apertures in the frame (as described, it is obvious that when-
ever it is desired to remove the saw, it is merely necessary to loosen the
set screws p and draw the shafts m downward until the wheels NN are released,
when the latter can be moved sufficiently to clear their pins from the apertures in
the saw, which can then be taken out of the frame as desired; the operation thus
being made much easier than with the old construction, which required the taking
to pieces of the frame ().
The saw D is lubricated by means of an oil cup or lubricator ¹, which is attached
to the frame C, and is provided with a stop cock 16, and a discharge tube 18, the
lower end of the latter extending nearly down to the periphery of the saw, and
directly in line therewith, whereby the oil is caused to drop directly onto the teeth
of the saw as the latter revolves.
T, Fig. 12, represents the drill, the supporting frame S of which is secured to the
"lower portion of the frame A by means of a nut 20, said drill being adapted to bore

page_text: holes in the web of the rail B, or metal bar, or beam, at suitable distances from its
end. The drill T slides with a spline within a sleeve 2 by which it is rotated, the
front end of the sleeve sliding within a bushing c² fitted within a horizontal aperture
in the side of the frame A. The sleeve 2 is rotated by a gear e², which meshes with
an intermediate gear d, which in turn meshes with a gear f2 on a crank shaft g2,
provided with a crank 2, and thus as the shaft g2 is rotated, its motion is communi-
cated to the drill T. The sleeve 6 slides through the gear e² and is provided with a
spline-key, which permits the sleeve to pass through the gear and be rotated thereby,
the gear being prevented from moving laterally by portions of the frame S between
which it is placed. The drill T is also provided with a spline-key, which slides in a
groove on the interior of the sleeve 62, whereby the drill can be withdrawn when
required. Over the rear end of the sleeve 2 is fitted another sliding sleeve 12,
provided on the inside with a pin or plug 2, which projects into the sleeve b², and
bears against the rear end of the drill T, the pin k being made adjustable within the
end of the sleeve 2 by means of a set screw 12. The inner end of the sleeve is
provided with an external screw thread, over which fits an internally threaded ratchet
wheel m², the outer side of which bears against a portion of the drill supporting
frame S, and thus as the ratchet wheel m² is rotated, by mechanism to be presently
described, the sleeve 2 is advanced or propelled in the direction of its length, causing
the pin 2 to press against the rear end of the drill T and feed it forward as required.
The ratchet wheel m² is actuated by a pawl p* pivoted to the lower end of a lever q³,
the upper arm of which is acted upon by a cam on the crank shaft g2, and thus as
the latter is rotated to revolve the drill, the ratchet wheel is moved to feed the drill
forward as required.
In Fig. 14 is illustrated a machine embodying certain modifications of my
invention, and in which the arrangement of the parts is somewhat different from that
above described, the said machine being adapted to be driven by power. In this
machine, the swinging saw frame is pivoted to the framework Å by means of the
driving shaft M, which carries at its outer end a drum or pulley A', over which
passes a belt B1, by means of which power is applied to the machine to operate it.
To the driving shaft is secured a pinion 35, which meshes with a bevel gear 6
secured to the upper end of a shaft c³, which rotates in an elongated bearing d³
formed integral with the saw frame, and carries at its lower end a bevel wheel D¹,
arranged on one side of the saw and in contact therewith, the axis of the shaft of
the wheel D' being directed to the centre of the saw and inclined to its plane.
The teeth of the bevel wheel D¹ mesh or engage with the apertures w¹ formed in
the side of the saw D near its periphery, whereby as the wheel D' is revolved,
through the connections described, a positive rotary motion will be communicated
therefrom to the saw D in a manner similar to that previously described, where two
wheels N N, provided with pins are employed, and arranged upon opposite sides of
The side of the saw opposite to that on which the wheel D' bears, is
supported above the line of the apertures w by a suitable plate e³, secured to the
saw frame C as shown in Fig. 17, the outer portion of the saw as it rotates, passing
between said plate and the wheel D'.
the saw.
Within the worm gear K around the feed screw H is formed a chamber or recess f³,
as shown in Fig. 15, within which is placed a short spiral spring E', which bears at
one end on the inner wall of the chamber f³, and at the other end on a plate g³
interposed between said spring and the two portions of the feed nut q. This spring E'
is normally compressed within the chamber f³ when the machine is in operation,
its outward thrust acting on the feed nut 9, and tending to draw or move the feed
screw Hin the direction of the arrrow Fig. 15, whereby the circular saw D is held
up to the work with an elastic or yielding pressure, so that if the periphery of the saw
should, from wear or other cause, not be perfectly circular, its teeth will be kept
constantly in contact with the work by reason of the tendency of the spring E' to
draw the saw forward as above described, whereas if the spring E' was not employed,
the positive and regular action of the feed nut q and screw H alone would not keep

page_text: the teeth of the saw, if not perfectly circular, constantly in contact with the work, and
the operation of the machine would thus be impaired.
The worm gear K is rotated by a worm L on the end of a shart ", which is
supported in a bearing ³, formed integral with the portion 3 of the frame A through
which the feed screw H passes, said shaft carrying at one end a cone pulley G',
which is rotated by a belt 3 passing over a cone pulley H₁ on a short shaft
supported in bearings in the framework A, and carrying at its outer end a gear m³,
which meshes with a gear n³ on the driving shaft. By shifting the belt ³ onto
different portions of the cone pulleys G, H, it will be obvious that a fast or slow
feed can be produced.in accordance with the nature of the work being done.
Instead of employing a belt passing over cone pulleys, as described, for transmitting
the power from the driving shaft to the shaft which carries the worm L of the saw
feeding mechanism, the friction device shown in Fig. 18 may be used if preferred. In
this device the shaft » which carries the worm L, and the shaft from which the power
is transmitted to said shaft v, are provided at their outer ends with disks 48 and 50.
Against these disks run two friction wheels 51, 52, mounted upon opposite ends of a
shaft 53 extending from one disk to the other, and sliding longitudinally within a
supporting arm or bearing 54, said shaft 53 being moved in the direction of its length
by a cam 55 or other suitable device to cause the friction wheels to be moved toward
or from the centres of the disks, the arrangement being such that when the wheel 51
is at the centre of the disk 48, the wheel 52 will be at the periphery of the disk 50
and vice-versa, and in this manner the power is transmitted from one shaft to the
other through the medium of the friction wheels 51, 52, and shaft 53 with any desired
variations of speed, the adjustments being easily made to produce a fast or slow feed
of the saw to suit the nature of the work in hand.
Upon a stud p³ projecting from the swinging saw frame C, is pivoted a curved
lever q, to the lower end of which is secured by a screw 3, a removable brush s³
composed of stiff bristles or other suitable material, and adapted to be vibrated across
and in contact with the teeth of the saw D for the purpose of clearing or removing
therefrom the chips and dirt, which, by reason of the lubricating material used,
adhere to the saw, and if not removed, are liable to clog or obstruct the work. The
upper end of the brush lever q³ is provided with a downwardly extending fork or
bifurcated portion 3, which fits over the edge of a fluted can-wheel u³, which is
secured to the driving shaft, and serves, as it revolves, to vibrate the brush lever q³,
and cause the brush s to move rapidly across and in contact with the teeth of the
saw, and keep the same free from chips and dirt as desired.
Instead of the vibrating brush above described, a rotating brush may be employed,
as shown in Fig. 16. In this case a circular brush is attached to the lower end of a
shaft 3, supported in suitable bearings on the swinging saw frame C, the upper end
of said shaft being provided with a bevel gear 103, which meshes with a bevel
gear y³ on the end of the driving shaft, whereby the brush is rotated in contact with
the teeth of the saw D, and serves to remove the chips and dirt therefrom in the same
manner as the vibrating brush first described.
If desired a stationary brush may he employed to remove the chips and dirt from
the teeth of the saw Din lieu of either a vibrating or rotating brush, as shown in
Fig. 17, in which the brush is secured to a stationary arm a', projecting from the
saw frame (, and is so arranged as to be held by said arm permanently in contact
with the teeth of the saw which pass through the brush as the saw revolves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
-
1. The combination of the swinging frame, the yoke jointed to said frame and
carrying the feed screw H, the worm gear K and the feed nat 7 carried thereby, the
worm and its shaft having a series of chain wheels of varying diameters mounted
loosely thereon, a device for coupling either of said chain wheels to the worm shaft,
and a series of chains passing over said chain wheels, and over a corresponding series

page_text: of chain wheels connected with and driven by the main shaft, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
2. The combination with the swinging saw frame, the yoke and the feed screw
carried thereby, of the feed nut and worm gear, the latter mounted on a pivoted or
rocking frame, whereby the feed nut is permitted to adjust itself to the varying
inclination of the feed screw produced by the movement of the swinging frame,
substantially as described.
3. The combination with the worm shaft having its outer end made tubular, and
a series of chain wheels mounted loosely thereon, of the coupling device consisting of
a bolt & sliding within the tubular end of the shaft v, and having a projection c¹
extending up through a longitudinal slot therein, said projection being adapted to
engage with recesses in the hubs of the chain wheels to couple the same to the shaft,
substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with the feed screw, the worm and its shaft, and the worm
gear and feed nut mounted on and carried by the pivoted frame F, and the chain
wheels and chains, of the chain tightener, consisting of a spring arm n² carrying a
roll p' adapted to bear against the chains and take up the slack of the same produced
by the rocking of the frame F on its pivots, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with the yoke G and feed screw H, of the worm gear K
mounted on the pivoted frame F, and provided on its outer side with a casing r
having the cam slots s, and the feed nut q composed of two portions sliding toward
and from each other in guides in said gear, and having pins t fitting within the cam
all operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
slots s,
6. The combination with the saw D, and its swinging frame C, of the guide
screws passing through the corners of the frame C upon opposite sides of the same,
substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with the frame A, of the detachable seat E, provided with a
base e, post d, and connecting arm f, extending from the post to the frame and
removably secured thereto, said arm f forming a brace to hold and steady the machine,
substantially as set forth.
8. The combination with the saw having openings near its periphery, of a toothed
wheel, meshing with said openings, the axis of the shaft of the toothed wheel being
directed to the centre of the saw and inclined to its plane, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with the saw feeding mechanism of a friction power trans-
mitting device, consisting of a pair of disks secured, one to the actuating shaft of the
feeding mechanism, and the other to the shaft from which the power is transmitted, a
longitudinally-sliding shaft extending from one disk to the other and provided with
friction wheels bearing against said disks, and means for operating the sliding shaft,
whereby the speed of the feed mechanism may be varied, substantially as set forth.
10. In a machine for sawing railway rails, metal bars, beams &c., the combination
with a circular saw, of a brush adapted to clear or remove the chips from the teeth of
the saw as it is rotated, substantially as described.
11. In a machine for sawing railway rails, metal bars, beams, &c., the combination
with a circular saw, of a brush adapted to be moved in contact with the teeth of the
saw to clear or remove the chips from the same, and means for moving said brush,
substantially as set forth.
12. In a machine for sawing railway rails, metal bars, beams &c., the combination
with a circular saw, of the brush s³, secured to the lever q³, and adapted to be moved
across and in contact with the teeth of the saw, and the cam wheel u³ for actuating
the brush lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.