Improvements in Railroad Track Lifting Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1893—Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railroad Track Lifting Machines.
I, WILLIAM LAWSON WHITFIELD, of Ocala, in the County of Marion, and
State of Florida, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 that class of track lifters in which the lifting mechanism
is supported on a truck frame, and it has for its object to provide a track lifter of
this kind, simple and inexpensive in its construction, easily manipulated, and very
effective for its desired purpose.
The invention consists in the peculiar combination and novel arrangement of
parts, all of which will hereinafter be fully described and claimed, reference being
had to the accompanying drawing in which:
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved track lifter.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section partly in elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is an end view thereof with the cap plate removable, and
Fig. 4 is a detail view hereinafter referred to.
Referring to the accompanying drawing, A indicates the axle upon which are
loosely journaled the track wheels B, B, and centrally thereof is keyed a spur-
gear C. D indicates square boxes loosely held on the axle on the outside of
the wheels, in the outer face of which are formed depressions d, in which are
held rack bars E and F, one of which E, Iterm the jack bar and the other F,
the lifting bar. It will be noticed by reference to Fig. 2, that the rack faces
of such bars are held in mesh with the gear G, fixedly held on the outer end
of the axle, while the rear faces of such bars are guided by four friction
rollers d', d', held in the box D which, as well as the rack bars E and F are held
in place by a cap plate H.
Upon the lower end of the rack bar E is removably held a foot or rest member I,
the construction and means of connection being most clearly shown in Fig. 4.
J, J, indicate clamp hooks pivotally connected with the lower end of the lifting
bar F, and K indicates a pawl on the upper end of the box D adapted to engage
the lifting rack bar to hold it to any of its elevated positions.
Lindicates the operating lever, the inner end of which has forked ends L' L'
which embrace the spur-wheel C and are loosely mounted on the axle as shown in
Fig. 2.
Upon the lever L is pivoted a pawl M which engages the spur-wheel C and with
which is connected a rod m, for throwing the pawl M out of operative position.
O indicates balanced levels mounted on the axle and B a coupling link secured
to the front end of the lever L for connecting the machine to the back of a car
when it is desired to move the machine along the road.
From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be
readily seen that as the lever L is moved down, the wheel G, the axle and the
gears G will be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figs. 1 and 3,
and as the gears G are thus rotated, they bear on and form a fulcrum on the jack
bar E and travel up on the same and move the lifter bar F up with it, and thereby
raise the tie track and the truck.
By connecting the shoe to the bottom of the jack bar as shown, it is capable of
adjustment to different positions relatively to the ties.

page_text: 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
1. An improved track lifter, comprising an axle, truck wheels loosely mounted
thereon, a toothed wheel fixedly held on such axle, an operating lever loosely
journaled on the axle and engaging the toothed wheel, rack bars arranged in pairs
and connections between such bars and the axle, substantially as shown whereby a
reciprocating movement is imparted to such bars by the rotary movement of the
axle, as and for the purpose described.
2. The combination with the axle A, the truck wheels loosely journaled thereon,
the toothed wheel C fixedly secured to such axle, and the lever and pawl for
operating such wheel C, of a guide frame held on the axle, rack bars held therein,
one to each side of the axle, one of such bars having a foot portion and the other
a lifting arm, a cog wheel on the axle engaging such rack bars, all substantially as
and for the purpose described.
3. The combination with the truck wheels B, the axle A loosely journaled
therein, its ends projecting beyond the same and having fixed cog wheels G and the
toothed wheel C fixedly held thereon, of the frames D loosely held on the projecting
portions of the axle, the rack bars E and F guided therein and engaging the cog
wheels G, one of said bars having a foot portion and the other a lifting member,
the lever M loosely hung on the axle and having a dog engaging the wheel C all
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 8th day of September 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.