Normal-surface transfer-table.

Application filed September 24, 1906. Serial No, 336,886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Charles Gilbert Hawley, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, 5 have invented a certain new, useful, and Improved Normal-Surface Transfer-Table, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and 10 use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in means for shifting locomotives and cars laterally from one track to another, and the invention has special reference to improve15 ments in transfer tables and yards as constructed and employed in and about railroad shops and depots. _

The object of my invention is to provide means for transferring rolling stock from one 20 track to another, and, primarily, to provide ' means of such character as to obviate the use of the usual pit and permit the practically unrestricted use of the transfer surface or area for all the traffic that may be necessary 25 between and about the shops or depots.

In carrying out my invention I do not dig a pit in which to operate the transfer table, but utilize the normal surface of the yard and construct a low table adapted to serve the 30 tracks which terminate at or abut the transfer surface. The term “transfer surface” as here used is intended to designate the surface which is traversed by the transfer table.

Further particulars of my invention in35 volving structures and arrangements whereby the tracks to be served are adapted for connection with the transfer table and involving also the peculiar structure of the low movable table will be described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment and manner of carrying out the invention, but it will be understood that my invention is not restrict45 ed to the specific construction shown in the drawings and hereinafter described in detail.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a transfer yard and table embodying my invention, the transfer sur50 face being shown as lying between two railroad shops, sheds or depots; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion thereof, enlarged, showing two tracks which extend directly across the transfer surface; Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan 55 view of the transfer table; Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line a:—x of FigM; Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line y-^-y of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on the line z—z of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section of the transfer table, on, the _G0line u—n of Fig. 3.

As indicated in the foregoing, I lay the tracks which are to carry the transfer table directly upon the surface of the railroad yard, preferably, however, embedding the ₆₅rails in the ground so that the tops thereof are flush with the normal surface.

Referring to the drawings, A and B represent two railroad shops, each containing a number of tracks, 1—1, to receive rolling ₇₀stock; 2, represents the surface of the yard, and 3—3, are the transfer table tracks above referred to. Figs. 4 and 5 show the manner of laying the tracks, 3. I may arrange these tracks in pairs as shown or may use single 75 rails, according to the service to be performed. As indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, the ground is slightly depressed toward the middie of the transfer surface. My purpose in thus depressing the transfer surface will be go explained hereinafter. The transfer table, 4, hereinafter described in detail, is mounted upon wheels which roll upon the tracks, 3—3, and it is adapted to travel from one end thereof to the other. These rails 3, and the 85 transfer surface defined thereby, are preferably longer than the buildings, A and B to the end that the transfer surface may be traversed by through tracks, 6—6 from which rolling stock may be received for de- 90 livery to the shops or buildings, A—B and likewise to which the same may be returned or delivered. It will be seen that as the normal surface of the yard between and about the buildings is not interrupted, the tracks, 95 6, and other tracks, 5, may all be laid upon the normal surface; that is, may traverse the transfer area. I prefer that all rails traversing said area shall, upon approaching the same, be sunk into the ground so that their 100 tops will be flush with the surface, 2, and with the transfer table rails, 3. The slight depression of the ground at the middle of the transfer area does not interfere with the passage of rolling stock upon the cross ties. I 105 prefer that the intersecting rails shall be ’ joined by frogs, 7, as shown in Fig. 2. It will now be seen that I may construct my transfer yard upon a surface which is already occupied by the numerous through and no

889,388 . switching tracks necessary to the railroad shops or buildings, without interfering with the service upon said tracks and without removing or disturbing them beyond the neces₅ sary cutting and frogging of the rails. The tracks, 1—1, in adjoining railroad shops are rarely directly opposite one another, but in some cases they are so nearly in line that they may be connected by direct cross tracks, 10 6 , as represented in Figs. 1 and 2. These tracks, like the tracks, 5 and 6, are sunk into the ground so as not to interfere with the movement of the transfer table on the rails, 3. The tracks, 6—6, may lead into one of 15 the buildings or may be entirely outside thereof,, as indicated in Fig. 1, it being evident that the transfer surface may be extended at slight cost -to meet such outlying tracks and thus adapt the table to serve the 20 same. The low tails, 10, upon the transfer tables, 4, stand only a few inches above the marginal table-tracks, 3, but nevertheless, are too high to meet the stub ends of the track, 1, laid upon the marginal surfaces, 2'.

I therefore elevate the ends of said tracks, as shown in Fig. 4, bending the ends, 1', of the rails upward, and preferably supporting them upon rail-chairs, 8. The fixing of the ends of the rails at the height of the table in 30 this manner enables pie to dispense with movable parts or members which would otherwise be required to join the table to the tracks, 1. An incidental advantage attaching to the elevation of the ends of the track, 35 1, is that they prevent rolling stock from accidentally passing off the rails and onto the transfer surface.

.As a means of connecting the cross tracks with the transfer tables at necessary times, I 40 equip said tracks, with movable members, 9 9, at points adjacent to the transfer sur, face. One of these members is shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6, from which it will be seen that the track or table alining or join45 ing device comprises a tapered or wedge-like block or shoe, of the cross track or rail, 6. The upper surface of the shoe is preferably provided with a flange groove, 9', the wall of which merges with the inner side of the rail, 50 6 when the block is raised into position on the rail. The block is pivotally fixed upon the ends of the ties at the side of the rail by means of arms, 9², plates, 9³, and a pivot pin, 9*. The normal position of the wedge or 55 block is. at the side of the rail, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6 and by full lines in Figs. ¹ u The block is only raised at times when the table is stopped at the track, 6. If desired, mechanical means may be provided 60 for throwing the blocks, but as a rule they are sufficiently light to be operated by hand. It is obvious that when the blocks 9, of any θ> ^are raised to register with the rails of the table the car or locomotive can be 65 moved onto or taken from the table. In the absence of the table and when the blocks are down, the cross tracks, 6, are open for through traffic.

• A distinct advantage of my invention is that the ground surface between the buildmgs is preserved at substantially uniform level throughout, and as none of the rails pro- * ject above the transfer surface, trucks and pedestrians may cross the transfer surface freely in all directions.

, Tne table which I prefer to employ upon the transfer yard, of my invention is a low structure, comprising a plurality of cross bearers, 15, having journals for the axles, 12 of the carrying wheels, 13, together with a ₈₀plurality of longitudinal members. I prefer to use four wheels upon each cross bearer and between the pairs of wheels I depress the cross bearers, strengthening these portions by flanges, 17, and webs, 14'. The depres- §5 sionsin the cross.bearers receive the channel members, 20, which are continuous from end to end of the table and carry the low rails, 1θ· The ends of the cross bearers are connected by continuous channels, 18, and top ₉₀plates, 21 and 23, are employed to strengthen the table and withstand lateral strains, these plates also serve as a'floor or path for pedestrians. The middle portions, 16, of the cross bearers may if desired be omitted 95 and links or flexible members substituted, and in any case said middle portions serve only to tie the trucks together and hence may be of.less cross-sectional area than the loadcarpring portions. Sagging of the floor 100 plates is prevented’by means of spliced plates, 24. For driving the table,! employ a motor, 30, earned by an extension, 25, of the table. All except the end pair of wheels on one side of the table are connected by a shaft, 26; 105 that is, the wheels are mounted on a single axle and this being provided with a gear, is connected with a motor through a train of gears, 27, 28 and 29. The extension or plattorm, 25, also carries a cable winding drum 110

Y¹.¹¹⁰¹¹' ³¹>. ^on which is wound the cable that is used in moving rolling stock that is dead, ϊ. e. that which is not moved by its own power. The carrying wheels at the ends ot the table are of small diameter, and as it 115 would be difficult to attach a driving gear to so small a wheel, I increase the diameter of the wheels beneath the middle portion of the table. At this point I have to explain that the desirability of larger wheels 120 at these points for the reasons stated and also for the purpose of decreasing the resistance to the movement is .the sole reason for depressing the transfer surface. This being the case, it will be obvious that a dif- 125 ferent arrangement of the supporting wheels would permit the employment of a perfectly level transfer surface, or even a surface crowned at the center.

The use and operation of my invention is 130

689,368 3 fer table rails, a-plurality of stub or stall tracks wherewith said table is adapted to register and terminating adjacent to said marginal transfer table rails, and elevating or wedge blocks provided alongside the rails 70 which traverse the transfer table rails, adjacent to said marginal rails and adapted to be set upon said traversing rails to cause them to register with said table, substantially as described. 75

5. The improvements herein described comprising a plurality of transfer table rails, in combination with track rails which cross the surface occupied by said transfer table rails, a transfer table which is movable on go said transfer table rails, and wedge blocks or shoes hinged alongside the traversing rails adjacent to the marginal transfer table rails, whereby said traversing rails may be opened or made to register with said table, substan- 35 tially as described. .

6. The improvements herein described comprising transfer table rails embedded in the ground, in combination with crossing track rails also embedded in the ground, a 90 transfer table adapted to move on said transfer table rails and a pair of tapered or wedgeshaped blocks hinged upon the outer sides of said crossing track rails, normally lying beside the same but adapted to be raised and 95 to rest upon said crossing track rails for registration with said table, substantially as described.

7. The improvements herein described comprising a plurality of transfer table rails, 100 in combination with other rails which traverse the surface occupied by said transfer table rails, wedge shaped blocks hinged at the sides of the same and adapted to rest thereon adjacent to said surface, still other 105 rails abutting said surface and permanently inclined adjacent thereto, and a transfer table adapted to move upon said transfer table, substantially as described.

8. The herein described improvements 110 comprising a plurality of parallel transfer table rails laid in the ground, the intermediate rails being below the marginal rails, in combination with cross tracks comprising rails traversing the surface occupied by the 115 transfer table rails and depressed to correspond with said intermediate rails, wedgeshaped blocks or shoes hinged adjacent to said cross track rails and adapted to rest thereon, a transfer table adapted to register 120 with said cross track through the medium of said blocks, and a plurality of relatively elevated stub or stall tracks terminating adjacent to the marginal transfer table rails, substantially as described. 125

9. The improvements herein described comprising a transfer yard equipped with various through and cross and stub tracks, in combination with a plurality of transfer

I table rails lying between said stub tracks and 130 as follows: A locomotive or car arriving at the shops upon one of the outlying tracks, 6, the blocks or shoes, 9, thereof are raised and the transfer table is moved into register therewith. The locomotive is then moved onto the table, whereupon the table is started and passes along the transfer surface until a particular stall or stub track, 1, is reached. The table being here stopped in register with

5 the raised ends, the locomotive or car may be readily driven off the table and into the adjoining building. The operation of shifting rolling stock from one stall track to another is as above described, saving that in such

- cases none of the shoes need be operated unless the stall track chances to be one of the straight through tracks, 6'. It will be obvious that the table may be operated without interrupting the passage of cars or trains oq upon any of the through tracks.

As various modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, I do not confine the invention to the specific constructions and structures 2ό herein shown and described.