IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND LOWERING RAILS, SLEEPERS, GIRDERS AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1884

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I HENRY JAMES ROWLAND JOHNSTONE, Engineer of N° 11 Rue Pasquier, Paris
in the Republic of France do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND LOWERING RAILS, SLEEPERS, GIRDERS
AND OTHER ARTICLES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an apparatus for lifting and lowering rails, sleepers,
girders and other articles, by the use of which great economy in time and labour
can be effected and additional safety ensured in comparison with the methods
ordinarily employed. In order that this invention be clearly understood and easily
put in practice, I will describe the same in detail conjointly with the 7 figures of
the accompanying drawing in which A is a strong metal frame of suitable section,
attached to two feet. From the centre of the upper part of this frame is suspended
a screw B, to which an ascending or descending inovement may be given by means
of the handles C, C, the central portion of which forms a nut. The lower part of
this nut is of hemi-spherical shape and fits into the hollow of a hard metal bush D,
firmly fixed in the frame A, in such a manner as to allow considerable lateral
motion in all directions, the object of which will be explained hereafter. The
lower end of the screw forms a cross head to which are attached two short
chains E E. connected with the upper ends of a pair of hooks F F so jointed and
arranged that any upward movement of the screw tends to draw together their
lower extremities. Two light chains H, H are fastened to the lower ends of the
hooks and suitably attached to the upper part of the framing so as to allow of the
jaws being readily drawn apart without the operator having to stoop. On the top
of the screw is placed a head G, the end of the screw being rounded where the head
bears on it, while the cavity in the head which receives the screw-end is bored
slightly taper so as to permit a certain rolling motion in all directions.
The apparatus is used in the following manner:
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The frame being placed across the rail to be lifted (as shewn in the drawing);
with the hooks about over the centre of the rail, by pulling on the two chains H, H;
the jaws are opened and dropped over the rail, which they immediately close upon
and grip, and by turning the handles C, C, the rail is raised to the required height.
When sufficiently raised, the rail remains suspended and all the operators can
proceed to pack up the sleepers or perform other necessary work. To detach the
I Prins S21

page_text: jack, it is only needful to give the handles about half a turn in the contrary
direction when the hooks loosen and by pulling on the small chains H, H the jaws
are opened and, owing to the free motion in all directions, afforded by the
suspension chains E E, can be simultaneously swung clear of the rail, the jack
being then removed. The movement of the screw is thus practically reduced to
the amount actually required for lifting or levelling the rail.
The object of the hemi-spherical bearing at D is this:
It may frequently happen that the apparatus cannot be placed perfectly level or
directly over the centre of the rail, in which cases, owing to the universal motion of
this bearing, however the jack may be placed, the screw centres itself and thus,
within very considerable limits, all side strains on it are avoided.
'
By means of the head G, the apparatus can also be used as an ordinary lifting
jack specially suited for raising trucks or carriages when off the line, etc.; the head
being also, within reasonable limits, self-centring, as before described.
The same apparatus, made of rather larger dimensions than those shewn on
the drawing, is intended to be employed for lifting and levelling new lines,
sidings etc., etc.; the jack being placed between the sleepers which are gripped by
the jaws in the middle between the two rails. This larger apparatus is constructed
and used in exactly the same way as the smaller one, and by it the two rails and
the sleepers can be raised simultaneously, as high as required, over a considerable
length, remaining suspended till the necessary work is completed.
The movement of the screw can also be obtained by means of pair of bevel-wheels
and a vertical handle fig. 4, or by means of a worm and a worm-wheel on the screw
fig. 5. Another plan is the use of a ratchet brace, see fig. 6, and another the use of
an bydraulic cylinder, fig. 7. The arrangement shown on the drawing is, however,
that which I consider the best.
The advantages claimed for my invention are these:
1° By its use, the same amount of work can be done by two or (at most) three
men, as is now done by five, with the ordinary handspike, and in lifting or
levelling new lines, the economy of labour would be still greater.
2° The apparatus can be put more readily into work, especially in frosty weather,
when the handspike is liable to slip and cause accidents. Owing moreover, to the
self-centring of the screw, it is unnecessary either to place it exactly over the
centre of the rail or sleeper to be lifted, or to bevel it in any way, if placed on
uneven ground.
3° Its use obviates all necessity for removing ballast from under the rails or
sleepers, before putting the apparatus in action. Even in the case of the larger
jack, should the sleepers be filled in to the top, all that need be done is to remove
enough ballast to enable the jaws of the hooks to grip the sleepers.
4° It can be detached froin rails or sleepers and removed with the greatest
facility, this being an important point, should a train approach; it is also easily
carried about.
:
5° The apparatus wholly does away with the necessity for part of the staff
being occupied in holding up the rail or sleeper to the required height during
the operation, as the rail or sleeper, once raised, remains suspended without
requiring any attention, thus enabling the entire staff to be otherwise employed.
6° The apparatus is simple, strong and durable, easily repaired and handled by
unskilled workmen; and, from the formation of the jaws, they cannot slip when
once the grip is obtained.
7 The apparatus can be used as an ordinary lifting jack, especially for carriages
and waggons when off the rails, and would therefore be very serviceable at
stations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The mode of lifting from above, the object to be raised, in such a manner
that by the method of construction of the bush D and of the central part of the

page_text: handles C, C, the lifting strain is invariably in a right line, which is an important
point in railway work.
Second. The chains E E for suspending and working the hooks F F, conjointly
with the cross head of the screw B.
Third. The chains H, H, one extremity of which is fixed to the frame A and the
other to the jaws F.
Fourth. The arrangement and mode of attachment of the head G on the
Screw B.
Fifth. The methods of operating the screw B in this improved apparatus, either
by means, of the bevel gears, as shown in fig. 4; of the worm and worm-wheel as
shown in fig. 5; of the ratchet wheel and brace, as shown in fig. 6; or of hydraulic
pressure as shown in fig. 7, in which latter case, the screw is replaced by a plain
rod provided with a piston working in a cylinder, as usually practiced.
"Dated this 25th day of January 1884."