Spike Extractor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
Spike Extractor.
We, LAWRENCE CLARK POWELL, Postmaster, and JAMES DORSIE WILSON,
Clerk, both of California, County of Washington, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 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:-
The spike extractor of this invention is more particularly designed for extracting
or pulling the spikes from railway sleepers by means of a straight pull so as not to
bend or injure the spikes as ordinarily happens with the use of a crow bar for this
purpose. The invention is also designed to effect a great saving in time and labour
in the extraction of spikes.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is a perspective view shewing the invention in use.
Fig. 2 a side view of the device applied to a railway rail and with the jaws
open. Fig. 3 a similar view with the jaws closed.
Fig. 4 a perspective view shewing the manner of starting the spike.
A is a metal lever say about 5 feet long, its bottom end rounded at A¹ and
notched or grooved at A2 to form a claw in order that it may be projected beneath
the head of the spike to be extracted and by rocking the lever to elevate the spike
a short distance. The lower part of the lever has a longitudinal slot B across
which is fixed a pin or bolt C, engaging in the curved slots D' of two jaws D. The
jaws are similar in construction, pivotted together by a short bolt E and comprise
a central portion D¹, the upper projection D2, and the jaw portion D³. Extending
along one side of the jaws is a shoulder D' the inner face of which is ogee shaped
and forms a stop for the opposite jaw.
The pin C passing through the inversely curved slots of the jaws supports these
within the slot of the lever and also causes the gripping ends D³ to come together
as the lower end of the lever is thrown upward or to come apart when said end of
the lever is lowered.
F is a fulcrum pivotally attached at F³ to the lever A a little behind the slot B
and having its base F¹ adapted to rest upon a railway rail, as shewn. The upper
part of the base between the lugs is formed with a middle edge F or is cut away
in order to permit the rocking motion of the lever upon the bolt F³.
In operation, after the spike has been started by means of the rounded and
notched end of the lever the fulcrum is placed as shewn, and the gripping ends
of the jaws lowered over the head of the spike. The upper end of the lever is
then pressed down so as to rock upon the bolt Fs thereby raising the lower end and
causing the jaws to grip underneath the head of the spike and with the further
downward pressure upon the upper end of the lever to draw the spike from the
sleeper in a straight direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is -
The herein described spike extractor consisting of the lever slotted towards the
lower end and a solid lower end beneath said slotted part, the clamping jaws

page_text: pivotally connected, the oppositely arranged slots in the upper part of said jaws,
in which the slotted portion of the lever is journalled, the fulcrum block secured
to the lever in the rear of the slotted portion thereof, depending therefrom and
adapted to rest upon a rail, the claw at the bottom end for starting the spike
when the lever is turned over in one direction, whilst when inverted from this
position the jaws actuated by the lever resting on the fulcrum block are caused to
grip the spike, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 26th day of April 1897.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.