Improvements in Machines for Sawing and Drilling Railway Rails.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Sawing and Drilling Railway Rails.
1, EBEN NEALLEY HIGLEY, of Somersworth, New Hampshire, 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, and has for its object to apply the power to the circular saw or milling
tool in a more effective and economical manner than heretofore, whereby a more
steady and uniform motion of the cutting tool is insured and the power required to
drive it, reduced to a minimum; and to this end my invention consists in certain
combinations of mechanical devices 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 a machine for sawing and drilling railway rails,
constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section through a portion of the saw or milling tool and
its driving wheels.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of my improved machine.
Figure 4 is a detail representing a portion of the saw feeding mechanism.
Figure 5 is a vertical section representing the drill or boring tool and parts
immediately connected therewith.
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of a portion of the saw feeding mechanism.
Figure 7 is an end view of the same.
Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the line xx of Figure 3.
Figure 9 is a modification 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 rail B to be sawed, to which
it is firmly secured by a set screw bearing against a block c which is clamped by
said screw firmly against the web of the rail as seen in Figure 5. To the upper

page_text: portion of the frame A is pivoted by means of a suitable bolt a, a swinging frame C
of the form seen in Figures 1 and 3, and in this frame is mounted a circular saw or
milling tool D, preferably of greater thickness at the periphery than at the centro
to avoid liability of binding as it passes through the rail. To the lower end of the
swinging frame () is jointed at 12 a yoke G which embraces the saw as seen in
Figure 8, 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 e, Figure 6, in the end of an
arm I projecting from the framework A. The aperture e is of greater diameter than
that of 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 C with which it
is connected. Within a recess in the outer end of the armi I is fitted a hub projecting
from the inner end of a worm gear K, the interior of which is made hollow, forming
a rectangular box or recess within which is placed a feed nut g through which the
feed screw H 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 nut is of the same width as
the recess, whereby it is caused to be rotated by the worm gear K, but the size of
the recess is such that a space is left above and below the nut, as
seen in
Figures 6 and 7, whereby the latter is allowed to move vertically within the box or
recess within which it is confined by a screw cap screwed to the outside of the
hub of the worm gear K. The inner and outer ends of the nut g are made convex in
order to allow it to adjust itself within the box to the varying inclination of the
feed screw H as the latter moves with the frame C. The worm gear K is rotated
by a worm L, Figures 1 and 4, on the end of a shaft & which is supported in bearings
in the outer end of the arm I and is provided at its outer end with a chain wheel m
connected by a chain n with the double chain wheel p secured to and revolving upon
the end of the bolt a at the upper end of the frame A. The chain wheel is con-
nected by a chain 7 with a chain wheel on the main driving or crank shaft M which
is supported in suitable bearings in the framework A, and has attached to each of
its opposite ends a crank s, and thus through the connections described, as the crank
shaft M is rotated, the feed mechanism will be operated and the saw or milling tool
fed forward as required to cause it to ent through the rail.
The saw or milling tool D is supported near its periphery and prevented from
springing or chattering, and also held firmly in its central position on the commence-
ment of the cut, by means of two guides consisting of screws ii passing through the
opposite sides of the yoke G and having inserted within their ends, blocks of wood
or other suitable material which are brought by means of the screws firmly in contact
with the opposite sides of the saw as seen in Figure 8.
I will now proceed to describe the manner in which the power is applied to the
saw or milling tool D for the purpose of slowly rotating the same to cause it to cut
the rail. N, N, are a pair of horizontal bevel gears which are arranged on opposite
sides of the saw D, and in contact therewith upon vertical studs projecting from the
framework A, and mesh with bevel gears QQ upon the crank shaft M as seen in
Figure 1. These bevel gears N N are provided on their peripheries with pins or
projections t, and recesses u, alternating with each other; the pins & passing through
apertures e formed in the side of the saw or milling tool 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 or milling tool. The arrangement of the driving
wheels N N upon opposite sides of the saw is such that each of the pins after it passes
through an aperture in the saw, will enter one of the recesses 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. Instead of two driving wheels NN arranged as shown, a single driving
wheel provided with pins may be placed upon one side of the saw or milling tool and
a plain supporting roll or wheel, preferably provided with recesses to receive the ends
of the pins of the driving wheel, be placed opposite thereto on the other side of the
saw as seen in Figure 9: I prefer however, to employ two driving wheels as first

page_text: described. The advantage of driving the saw or milling tool by applying the power
near the periphery is, that it gives a steady and uniform motion to the tool, and
requires much less power to rotate it than where the force is applied to its arbor or
shaft as heretofore.
T, Figure 5, is a drill which is connected with the lower portion of the frame A
and is adapted to drill holes in the web of the rail B at suitable distances from its end.
This drill T slides with a spline within a sleeve w by which it is rotated, the front end
of the sleeve sliding within a bushing a¹, fitted within a horizontal aperture in the side
of the frame A. The sleeve wis rotated by a gear which meshes with an
intermediate-gear c', which in turn meshes with a gear d'on a crank shaft e', provided
with a crank, and thus as the shaft e¹ is rotated, its motion is communicated to the
drill T. The sleeve w slides through the gear 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 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 w, whereby the drill can be withdrawn when required. Over the rear
end of the sleeve w is fitted another sliding sleeve gl provided on the inside with a pin
or plug h¹ which projects into the sleeve w and bears against the rear end of the
drill T, the pin being made adjustable within the end of the sleeve g¹ by means of
a net screw it. The inner end of the sleeve g is provided with an external screw
thread 15 over which fits an internally threaded ratchet wheel A¹, the outer side of
which bears against the end of a supporting frame 1, and thus, as the ratchet wheel k¹
is rotated by mechanism to be presently described, the sleeve g¹ is advanced or
propelled in the direction of its length, causing the pin ¹ to press against the rear
end of the drill T and feed it forward as required. The ratchet wheel is actuated
by a pawl m pivoted to the lower end of a lever n', the upper arm of which is acted
upon by a cam p¹ on the crank shaft e¹, and thus as the latter is rotated to revolve the
drill, the ratchet wheel is moved as required; the amount of feed being varied by means
of a suitable stop, not shown, which can be adjusted to limit the backward.motion of
the lever after it has been moved forward by the cam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a rail sawing machine, a circular saw mounted in a suitable frame or bolder
and provided with apertures in its side near its periphery, in combination with a
driving wheel having pins or projections adapted to enter said apertures, whereby the
saw is rotated positively by the driving wheel, substantially as set forth.
2. In a rail sawing machine, the combination with the main frame and a
movable or swinging frame attached thereto, of a circular saw mounted in said
movable frame and provided with side apertures near its periphery, a pair of driving
wheels applied to the said saw on opposite sides of the same, and having pins or
projections adapted to enter said apertures, and the mechanism for feeding the saw,
all operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
3. In a rail sawing machine, the combination with a saw D, provided with side
apertures near its periphery, of a pair of driving wheels N N arranged upon opposite
sides of the saw, and each provided with pins and recesses u, alternating with cach
other; the driving wheels being so arranged with respect to each other that the pins
of each wheel after passing through the apertures in the saw, will engage the recessos
in the opposite wheel, substantially as set forth.
4. In a rail sawing machine, the combination of the main frame adapted to be
secured to the rail, a swinging frame C pivoted thereto, a circular saw D inounted in
said movable frame, and having apertures in its side near the periphery, a pair of
horizontal driving wheels N N connected with and driven by the main shaft and
provided with pins or projections t adapted to enter the apertures in the saw, and
positively rotate the same, and a device for feeding the saw, all operating substantially
as described.

page_text: 5. In a rail sawing machine, the combination of the main frame, a swinging frame C
pivoted thereto, a circular saw D mounted in said movable frame, and having
apertures in its side near the periphery, the horizontal driving wheels N N provided
with pins or projections adapted to enter said apertures, and the feeding device
for the saw, consisting of the yoke G jointed to the frame C and carrying the feed
screw H, the worm gear K, and feed nut y carried thereby, the pulleys or chain
wheels m, p, r, chains n, 7, and the driving shaft M, all operating substantially in the
manner and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a rail sawing machine, the combination with the saw D, its pivoted
supporting frame C, and the yoke G, of the feed screw H, worm gear K, with its
box or recess and cap h, and the feed nut g, placed within said recess f and made
convex at its opposite ends, whereby it is permitted to adjust itself within said recess
to the varying inclination of the feed screw produced by the movement of the
swinging frame, substantially as described.
7. The combination with the frame A, of the rotating sleeve w, the crank shaft e¹, a
train of gearing between the crank shaft e¹ and the sleeve w, whereby the latter is
operated, the drill T sliding with a spline or key within the sleeve w, and rotated
thereby, a sleeve gl, provided with an external screw thread and sliding upon
the rear end of the sleeve w, and having a pin or plug fitting within the sleeve w and
bearing against the rear end of the drill to feed the same, the ratchet wheel having
an internal thread fitting over the thread of the sleeve g', whereby the latter is moved in
the direction of its length to feed the drill, and the pawl m¹ and its actuating lever n',
all operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
8. The combination with the drill T and its operating mechanism substantially as
described, of the sleeve g¹ having an external screw thread, and provided with a pin
or plug bearing against the rear end of the drill, and the screw threaded ratchet
wheel, fitting over, and adapted to propel the sleeve g¹, the pawl m³, lever n¹, and
cam p¹, on the crank shaft e¹, all operating substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.