Year: 1889

page_text: Figure 4, is a bottom end view.
Figure 5, is a vertical cross-section of part of the gripping device, and
Figure 6, is a perspective view of the same, with one of the knife-edges removed.
Figures 7 and 8, are cross-sections taken respectively, in the planes of lines, x-x,
and, y-y, of Figure 2.
The letter, a, designates a tubular staff of suitable dimensions and strength. In one
end is fitted a crotch, b, appropriately shaped to engage the end of a railway-car. As
shown, this crotch is provided with a forked and shouldered shank to enter the tubular
staff and is secured therein by screws, b², 61. In the other end of this staff, whose
walls may be made flat, for this purpose, (see Figures 2 and 7) is arranged a sprocket-
wheel, c. This sprocket-wheel turns with its shaft, d; and this shaft extends outside
the staff and receives on squared journals the halves, e, e, of the gripping device or
gripper, f, which halves are attached to the said shaft by nuts, d, or in other secure
manner. Each part, e, has a hub, y, which fits in an opening, h, in the staff, such
openings in opposite sides of the staff (see Figure 7) thus forming bearings for the
bubs. a. and indirectly for the shaft. d.

page_text: The gripper has a series of fingers, e¹, extending rather tangentially, and provided
with knives or biting surfaces, e³, of steel or other hard metal, bolted, riveted or other-
wise fastened to the fingers. As shown, the halves of the gripper are made as rights
and lefts, and are dished so as to spread or flare out from each other, the more effectu-
ally to wedgo and bite upon the rail, as indicated in Figures 2 and 4. The fingers of
the gripper subserve an additional purpose in that they enable the mover to be used by
running the gripper on the ground or a board instead of confining its use to the rails
of the track. By making the gripper in two parts, it is much more economically
manufactured, much more easily repaired, and much more easily got at for repairs
than is the case with those structures heretofore designed where the gripper is solid
and the staff is divided or forked to receive it.
A second sprocket-wheel, i, is fixed to turn with a squared shaft, j, which is supported
in bearings in the staff, a, and one end of this shaft, j, is provided with a crank-
handle,, whereby the shaft, j, and sprocket-wheel, i, may be rotated. The shaft, j, or
handle,, may have a circular boss, ¹, to fit as a journal in an opening, k³, in the staff,
and the other end of this shaft has a circular nib änding a bearing in the other side of
the staff. The sprocket-wheels, i, and, c, are connected by a chain or link belt, l,
for transmitting the motion of the former to the latter, and thereby rotating the
gripper.
When the device is arranged as in Figure 1, by keeping the gripper hard on the
rail, and turning the crank the gripper will bite and advance upon tlie rail finger by
finger, and so propel the car.
One man can readily move a loaded car with one of my devices.
If so desired, a bandle may be placed on each end of shaft, j, so as to permit two
mon to operate the device, but the gearing will suffice to enable one man to readily
move a loaded car, with the device constructed as shown.
The staff is hollow so as to conceal the gearing and protect it from dust, the weather,
and other sources of injury, but it is within my invention to employ a solid staff with
the gearing arranged thereon.
As indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3, a train of gears may be interposed
between the shafts, d, and, j, in order to augment the power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is―
First. A car mover composed of a staff, a, a crotch b, in one end of such staff to
engage a car, a gripper, f, supported upon a shaft which is borne by the other end of
said staff, said gripper being composed of dished halves, e, provided with hubs to
receive the shaft, and with fingers, el, having biting edges, e, thereon, which halves
are independently and detachably fixed to the shaft, and gearing for imparting rotary
motion to said gripper, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Second. A rotary gripper composed of dished halves, e, provided with hubs, g, and
having the fingers, e', with knives, e³, fastened thereon, combined with a hollow staff
having openings in its sides formning bearings for said hubs, a shaft to which said
halves are independently and detachably fixed, and operating gearing for imparting
rotary motion to said gripper, substantially as described.