Improvements in Devices for Drawing Spikes or Bolts.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Drawing Spikes or Bolts.
I, HOWELL NORMAN LEWIS, of Green Cove Springs, in the County of Clay,
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 :---
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tools for
drawing spikes, or bolts on railway construction or bridge work, the invention
being especially adapted for drawing drift bolts of any length, as the tool is self-
adjusting. The object of my invention as a claw bar for railroad use, is to enable
the operator to draw out the track spikes from a position inside of the track and
especially for use on high bridges where the operator cannot work with safety from
the outside of the track.
To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the same consists
further in the novel construction, combination and adaptation of the parts as will
be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically defined in the appended
claims.
I clearly illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings which, with the
letters of reference marked thereon form a part of this Specification and in which
drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view through the tool.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tool.
Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter A designates
the shoe of the tool, which is provided with a claw A 1 at one end, and pivoted in
a recess in the shoe is the handle B pivoted on the pin c, the lower end of the
handle being tapered to an edge which is designed to bite against the edge D
formed by the meeting of the curved surface of the bottom of the shoe, with the
front end or wall of the said recess, the side walls of the said shoe being notched
as seen at G to allow the tool to grip spikes or bolts having heads of various
widths.
An aperture K is formed in the forward portion of the shoe, the upper and
lower terminating edges of its walls being sharp as seen at k. Through this
aperture the bolt or spike to be drawn is passed and the sharp edges are designed
to bite into the sides of the spike or bolt on opposite sides when it is desired to
draw the same. Mounted to slide up and down on the handle is the slide H
provided with a suitable thumb-screw J, and at the lower end of the said slide is
provided an extension h, adapted to register with an aperture a, in the heel of the
shoe to lock the shoe in the position shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of the said
extension being then flush with the bottom of the shoe.
When the shoe is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the slide extension H holds
the heel of the shoe against the back of the handle B.
The operation of the tool when adjusted in the position shown in Figure 1 is
as follows; The shoe is placed over the spike which passes through the aperture K,
whose sharp terminal edges k, bite into opposite sides of the spike so as to secure
a firm hold thereon, when the tool is forced over as a lever at which juncture the
curved surface of the shoe serves as the fulcrum, fresh holds being taken at
different locations along the spike as the latter is gradually withdrawn. When
the tool is adjusted in the position shown in Figure 2, the claw end A' of the shoe
may be used without it being necessary to reach so far, as when the tool is

page_text: adjusted in the manner shown in Fig. 1, this being specially advantageous in bridge
When the
work when it may be necessary to reach over the sides of the track.
shoe is not locked to the handle by means of the slide H the sharp edge E at
the lower end of the handle B, may be utilized in connection with the edge D as
nippers.
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. A tool for drawing bolts and spikes consisting of the shoe having an
aperture Kits upper and lower walls brought to sharp edges, combined with a
lever B pivoted in a recess of the shoe and means for holding the shoe in different
positions.
2. A tool for drawing bolts and spikes consisting of a shoe having a recess
between the walls of which is pivoted a lever B, combined with a slide H having
a recessed portion on its lower edge adapted to hold the heel of the shoe against
the back side of the handle, substantially as shown and described.
3. A tool for drawing drift and other bolts consisting of a shoe, a handle
pivoted in a recess therein, a slide H working on the said handle, an extended
portion of the slide designed to register with an aperture in the heel of the shoe,
and to have its lower edge flush with the lower curved surface of the shoe, and
means for locking the same to the shoe, substantially as shown and described.
4. A tool for drawing drift bolts, spikes, etc. consisting of the handle pivoted in
a recess extending through the shoe, the lower end of the said handle brought to a
sharp edge, adapted to bite against the edge D, portions of the side walls of the
shoe notched away at G substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 17th day of March 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.