US3010408A - Spike setter - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1961 c. E. GODFREY 3,010,408

SPIKE SETTER Filed July 25, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tibia? INVENTOR. gHARLEs E. GODFREY Nov. 28, 1961 c. E. GODFREY SPIKE SETTER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1958 INVENTOR. CYHARLES E. GODFREY 4&0 M

Nov. 28, 1961 c. E. GODFREY 3,010,408

SPIKE SETTER Filed July 25, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 37 INVENTOR.

CHARLES E. GODFREY Nov. 28, 1961 c. E. GODFREY 3,010,408

SPIKE SETTER Filed July 25, 1958 6 SheetsSheet 4 my my I A? @Jm 5/ 7/ 6?/ 77 54 54 ea 54 4 f 9 a mom A\R M afia/14 1 1O 53 J F TANK 5| MAN 22M AIR Tf\NK 5| /47 U2 MAN INVENTOR. CHARLES E. GODFREY FL H1 5- Nov. 28, 1961 c. E. GODFREY 3,010,408

SPIKE SETTER Filed July 25, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 |||||l IN T l INVENTOR. g HARLES E. GODFREY Mada! M FL-H 1 5.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 SPIKE SETTER C. E. GODFREY Nov. 28, 1961 Filed July 25, 1958 INVENT OR.

C HARLES E. GODFREY United States Patent 3,010,408 SPIKE SETIER Charles E. Godfrey, Lombard, Ill., assignor to American Brake Shoe Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 25, 1958, Ser. No. 750,988 8 Claims. (Cl. 104-17) This invention relates to a spike setter for use in the construction of railway trackage and more particularly to a spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railway spikes and the like in the course of laying a railway track.

One of the most difficult and continuing problems in the field of railway maintenance relates to the elficient and economical laying of track, whether in the case of new track or in the case of re-laid track. A number of different spike driving machines for driving the spikes which anchor the rails to the ties have been proposed. Particularly efficient and effective spike driving machines, adapted to drive spikes on both sides of a rail, are described in the co-pending applications of Charles E. Godfrey and Wesley T. Johnson, Ser. No. 509,297 filed May 18, 1955, and Ser. No. 602,688 filed August 2, 1956, now Patent No. 2,910,010 and in the co-pending application of Charles E. Godfrey, Ser. No. 611,470 filed September 24, 1956, now Patent No. 2,884,867. Each of these machines, like others which have also been proposed for this purpose, is intended to carry out a complete spike driving operation. That is, the machine starts with a loose spike which is not yet embedded to any extent in the tie, aligns the spike vertically with respect to the rail, and also with respect to the underlying tie plate and tie, and drives the spike completely into the tie.

Although the spike driving machines disclosed in the aforementioned co-pending applications of Godfrey and Johnson are highly elficient and effective, as compared with previously known devices, they are nevertheless subject to some difficulties insofar as speed of operation in aligning the spikes is concerned. Thus, with these machines, it is necessary to align the spikes in a vertical direction and subsequently to complete a spike driving operation in its entirety before going on to the next tie. Because the aligning and driving operations are combined in a single machine, careless or hurried operation by the machine operator may in some instances lead to the driving of spikes at an undesired angle from the vertical. When this occurs, the rail is not as securely anchored as it should be and further maintenance work on the railway may be required at an earlier date than desirable.

The spike setter of the present invention effectively overcomes these difficulties by separating the alignment aspect of the rail-laying operation from the spike driving aspect thereof. This is accomplished by affording a separate and independent machine which effectively and automatically aligns the spikes with the tie plates and the rails and which set those spikes in vertically aligned position by driving the spikes a short distance into the ties. The machine does not, however, drive the spikes deeply into the tie. Rather, the driving operation is carried out by a second and independent machine, preferably one of the spike driving devices disclosed in the aforementioned applications of Godfrey and Johnson.

Certain spike driving machines known in the art have included arrangements for automatically feeding spikes or similar fastening devices from a magazine, carried by the spike driver, into the spike receiving apertures in the tie plates of the railway. Arrangements of this kind,

however, have not been particularly effective because of 3 tion may be achieved where the spikes are originally dis- 3,010,403 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 ice tributed along the railway by hand. In this manner, the spikes are pro-positioned at the desired points along the railway before the setting or aligning operation is carried out. With conventional spikes and tie plates, the spikes are prevented from falling over by engagement with the sides of the spike-receiving aperture in the tie plates. On the other hand, they are not held in the vertical alignment necessary for driving, but tend to lean at a substantial angle from the vertical. For an effective automatic spike setting operation therefore, it is essential that the spike setter be capable of automatically erecting the prepositioned spikes into the desiredvertical alignment with respect to the rail, the tie plate, and the tie before the spikes are set.

A principal object of the invention, therefore, is a new and improved automatic spike setter for vertically aligning pre-positioned and partially erected railway spikes with respect to the rail, the tie plate, and the tie with which the spikes are to be associated and thereafter setting the spikes by driving them a relatively short distance into the tie.

A more specific object of the invention is a new and improved spike setter for setting pre-positioned railway spikes which may be operated by relatively unskilled personnel and which effectively and automatically aligns the spikes in a vertical direction before they are set.

Another object of the invention is a new and improved selfcontained spike setter for setting railway spikes and the like in a railway tie, which is operable by a single man and which does not require any external power source or other additional mechanism.

A further object of the invention is a new and improved spike aligning apparatus for a spike setter which provides for accurate vertical alignment of a railway spike at any one of a relatively wide range of positions of the spike setter with respect to the tie plate aperture through which the spike is driven.

An additional object of the invention is a new and improved spike setter control apparatus which inherently and automatically controls the timing of alignment and impacting devices, in the course of a spike setting operation, to assure accurate vertical driving of railway spikes and like fastening devices.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and What is now considered to be the best mode for applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying thesame or equivalent principles maybe used and structurakchanges may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a spike setter constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the spike setter of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is a'fragmentary side elevation view, onan enlarged scale, of a portion of the spike setter at an early stage in the spike setting operation;

H6. 4 is a fragmentary elevation view, similar to FIG.

FIG. 8 is an end elevation of the spike positioner and the mounting arrangement therefor;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the main pneumatic operating and control system of the spike setter;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an auxiliary pneumatic operating and control arrangement incorporated in the spike setter;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view, on an enlarged scale, of a pneumatic impacting device incorporated in the spike setter;

FIG. 12 is an end elevation view of the impacting device of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the carriageof the spike setter.

.FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate, in side and end elevation views, a spike setter 20 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The spike setter 20 comprises a main frame 21 including a pair of longitudinal frame members 22 and 23 afixed to a plurality of transverse frame members 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 as best illustrated in the plan view of the frame, FIG. 13. The several frame members 22-29 are preferably fabricated from tubular or box-shaped structural members and are welded, bolted, or otherwise aifixed to each other to afford a rigid and relatively strong frame.

The frame 21 constitutes an integral part of a machine carriage which also includes a pair of outrigger members 31 and 32. The outriggers 31 and 32 are preferably mounted on the frame 21 by telescoping the Outriggers into the two frame members 26 and 29, respectively. The outriggers are prevented'from sliding out of the frame members by suitable keys 33 and 34 which extend through aligned holes in the frame and outrigger members.

The carriage of the spike setter 20 also includes a pair of flanged wheels '35 and 36 which are mounted upon the central portion of the main frame 21 and which are adapted to engage one rail 37 of a railway. In addition, a further pair of wheels 38 and 39 are mounted at the ends of the outriggers 31 and 32, respectively, in position to engage, the second rail 41 of the railway. As best shown in FIGSJl and 2, theengagement of the wheels 35, 36, 38 and. 39 with the rails 37 and 41 supports the carriage of the spike setter 20 upon the railway with the main frame 21 thereof disposed in transverse straddling relation to the rail 37.

Preferably, the carriage of the spike setter. 20 also includes an additional pair of relatively large wheels 42 which are normally carried in a pair of socket members 43 and 44 mounted upon theoutriggers 31 and 32 respectively (only one of the wheels 42 is shown in the drawings)". When it is desired to remove the spike setter 20 from the railway comprising the rails 37 and 41, the wheels 42 .are removed from their sockets and are mounted in the frame members 26 and 29in the manner illustrated by the dash outline '42A in FIG. 2. With the auxiliary wheels 42 in this position, the outriggers may be lifted to tip the spike setter 20 from the rail 37 in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 2, until the spike setter rests upon the auxiliary wheels. The spike setter may then be rolled away on the auxiliary wheels until it is again desired to mount it upon a railway.

The spike setterp20 is not restricted to use on the rail 37,

' but may also be employed on the rail 41 without changing the direction of movement during operation. This is accomplished by removing the Outriggers 31 and 32 from the positions on the left hand side of the frame as seen in The outriggers may then be inserted into the frame members 26 and 29 from the opposite or right hand end of the frame 21 to reverse the alignment with respect tov the frame. In this manner, the spike setter may be arranged for operation. in any desired direction along either of the two rails 37 and 41 of the railway.

The carriage of the spike setter 20 further includes an auxiliary vertical frame comprising a pair of inverted U- V members 46 as indicated in FIG. 2. The vertical frame 45, 46 is employed to support an internal combustion engine 47 and an air compressor 48, the air compressor 48 being driven from the engine 47 by a suitable drive arrangement such as the drive belt 49.

' The storage tank 51 for the compressor 48 is mounted within the frame 45, 46 below the engine and compressor. In some instances, it may be desirable to afford additional bracing, such as the brace 52 shown in FIG. 1, for the vertical frame 45, 46.

The spike setting mechanism of the spike setter 20 comprises a first guide structure 53 which is located at the right hand side of the spike setter as seen in FIGS. 2 and 13. The guide structure 53 includes a pair of mounting blocks 54 and 55 which are welded, bolted or otherwise securely mounted upon the frame members 28 and 29 respectively. A pair of guide members 56 and 57 extend between and are supported by the mounting blocks 54 and 55'. Furthermore, these guide members 56 and 57 project beyond the front frame member 29 by a substantial distance, as shown in FIG. 1. The guide members 56 and 57 are preferably constructed from relatively heavy steel pipe, although rods or other structural shapes may be employed if desired. Any suitable means, such as the bolts 58, may be utilized to maintain the guide'rods in fixed location in the mounting blocks of the guide structure 53.

A piston support yoke 59 is mounted upon the two guide members 56 and 57 intermediate the mounting blocks 54 and 55 as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 13. A pair of clamps 6%) may be utilized to maintain the yoke 59 in adjustable fixed position with respect to the two guide members. The yoke 59 is employed to support a horizontal operating cylinder 61 having a piston rod 62 which extends forwardly of the cylinder and through an aperture in the mounting block 55. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the cylinder 61 is pneumatically actuated by compressed air from the storage tank 51 of the compressor system including the compressor 48, the control system for the cylinder being described in detail hereinafter in connection with FIG. 9.

A second mounting member or yoke 63 is supported upon the guide structure 53 at the forward or cantilever portion of the guide structure. Preferably, the mounting member 63 comprises a casting having a pair of apertures extending therethrough to receive the twoguide members 56 and 57. In'this manner, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, the mounting member 63 is supported upon the guide members 56 and 57 of the guide structure 53 for sliding movement along two guide members. The yoke 63 is also provided with a boss 64 which receives the threaded end 65 of the piston rod 62'. This construction is illustrated in enlarged detail in FIG. 3, in which it is seen that a plurality of spacers such as the nuts 66 may also be threaded onto the piston rod end 65 between the yoke 63 and the mounting block 55 to limit movement of the yoke in a horizontal direction.

At the forward end of the mounting member or yoke 63, a vertical operating piston 67 is mounted. The piston 67, which is of the pneumatically actuated type, may be secured to the mounting member 63 by any suitable means affording a substantially rigid mount for the piston. The piston rod 68 of the cylinder'or piston 67 extends downwardly therefrom and a spike positioner 69 is mounted on and carried by the piston rod. The spike positioner 69, which is best illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 8, comprises a pair of vertical support members 71 and 72 joined together by suitable cross braces such as the transverse members 73 and 74. In the illustrated embodiment, the transverse member 73 is aflixed to the piston rod 68 by a pair of nuts 75 threaded onto the end of the piston rod and clamping the transverse member 73 between them. I

The spike positioner 69 comprises a pair of guide members 77 and 7-8 which are afiixed to the vertical support members 71 and 72 respectively. The two guide members 77 and 78 are disposed in spaced relation to each other and define an elongated longitudinal aperture 79 for receiving the shank of a railway spike. Each of the two guide members 77 and 78 is of substantially inverted L-shaped configuration, as indicated in FIG. 8. Furthermore, and as shown in FIG. 7, the forward ends 81 and 82 of the guide members 77 and 78, respectively, are tapered to afford a relatively wide throat for engaging a spike and guiding it into the elongated aperture 79.

The spike positioner 69, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 68, also includes a gripper device for releasably gripping the shank of' a railway spike. In this instance, the gripper device is both magnetic and mechanical in nature. The gripper comprises a permanent magnet 83 which is mounted upon the guide member. 77 by suitable means such as a pair of bolts 8'4. The gripper further includes a leaf spring 85 mounted upon the guide member 78 as by the bolts 86. The spring 85 is substantially Z shaped in configuration and extends outwardly from the flange 87 of the guide member 78 in a direction substantially transverse to the shank receiving aperture 79. A portion 88 of the spring 85, however, extends along the aperture 79 in substantially parallel relation to the adjoining portion of the guide member 77. Furthermore, and as indicated in FIG. 7, the spring 83 is located directly opposite the permanent magnet 83. The end portion 89 of the spring 85 is preferably flared back toward the guide member 7-8.

As best indicated in FIG. 13, a second guide structure 93, which is substantially similar to the abovedescribed guide structure 53, is mounted upon the two frame members 28 and 29. The guide structure 93, however, is located on the opposite side of the rail 37 straddled by the frame 21 from the guide structure 53.

The guide structure 93 comprises a pair of mounting blocks 94 and 95 which are mounted upon the frame members 28 and 29 respectively. The mounting blocks 94 and 95 support a pair of guide members which are substantially similar to the guide members 56 and 57; only the one guide member 96 is shown in the drawings (see FIG. 13). A first mounting member or yoke 99 is mounted upon the guide members and is located intermediate the two frame members 28 and 29. The yoke 99 is utilized to support a pneumatically actuated piston substantially similar to the piston 61 described hereinabove.

At the forward or cantilever ends of the guide members such as the guide member 96, there is mounted a slidable yoke 193 which corresponds to the previously described mounting member or yoke 63. As before, the mounting member 103 is connected to the piston rod of the horizontal operating piston included in this portion of the spike setter. The yoke 103 supports a vertical operating cylinder or piston 107 from which there is suspended a second spike positioner 109. The spike positioner 169 is substantially similar in'construction to the spike positioner 69 and therefore need not be described in detail.

The mounting member or yoke 63 is also employed to support an impacting device 111, in addition to the spike positioner 69 and its associated operating cylinder 67. The impacting device 111 includes a pneumatically operated actuating piston or cylinder 112 which is mounted upon a vertical frame 113, the frame 113 in turn being affixed to the yoke 63 by suitable means including the stud 114 and the nut or fastener 115. The cylinder 112 is suspended from the top member 116 of the frame 113 by suitable means'such as a stud 117 which is threaded into the upper portion of the cylinder 112 and is maintained in a desired vertical position with respect to the frame member 116 by a nut 118 or the of these guide blocks is provided with a vertical aperture which extends therethrough and which is employed to guide a vertically movable guide member. Thus, and as best indicated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the impacting device 111 includes a pair of vertical guide rods 122 and 123 which extend through apertures in the guide blocks 119 and 121 respectively. The lower ends of the two guide rods 122 and 123 are affixed to a hammer head 12 4. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the hammer head 124 is not a precision device in the sense of a member adapted to engage a spike head or other element in accurate alignment. Rather, the hammer head 124 comprises simply a large heavy block of metal having a length L which is relatively large as compared to the size of the head 126 of a railway spike (see FIG. 11). Preferably, the length L of the hammerhead or weight 124 is approximately equal in length to the over all effective length D of the gripping zone defined by thetwo gripper devices '85 and 83 in the spike positioner 69 (see FIGS. 5 and 7). This relationship between the lengths L and D is of substantial importance in compensating for possible hurried or careless operation of the spike setter, as explained more fully hereinafter.

A second impacting device 131, which is substantially similar to the impacting device 111, is mounted upon the yoke 103 on the left hand side of the machine as seen in FIG. 2. The impacting device 131 comprises a pneumatically actuated cylinder or piston 132 which is mounted upon a frame 133, the frame 133 being substantially similar to the frame 113 of the previously-described impacting device 111. Thus, the cylinder 132 may be suspended from an upper frame member 136 by suitable means such as the stud 137 and the nut 138 threaded thereon. A relatively large and heavy hammerhead or Weight 134 is suspended from the piston rod of the air cylinder 132 in substantially the same manner as the weight 124 is mounted upon the piston rod 127 of the first-described cylinder 112 (see FIG. 9).

FIG. 9 shows, in schematic form, the principal pneumatic operating circuits and control devices for the spike setter 20. In this connection, it should be noted that the individual air conduits or hoses have been omitted from the other figures of the drawings for the purpose of claritying the illustration of mechanical structures. As indicated in FIG. 9, the control system of the spike setter includes a main conduit 141, which is connected to the air tank 51 of the compressor 48. The air conduit 41 is connected to one port 142 of a manually operated twoposition four-connection control valve 143. A second port 144 of the main control valve 143 is connected to a conduit 145. A third port 146 of the control valve is open to the atmosphere and thus constitutes an exhaust port, whereas the fourth port 147 of the valve is connected to a conduit 148.

The valve port 144 of the main control valve 143 is connected, by means of the conduit 145, to the lower ends of each of the two impacting cylinders 112 and 132. Conduit also connects this valve port to a pilot device 149 which forms a part of an air operatedtwo-position three-connection time delay valve 159. Moreover, the conduit 14-5 may be connected to one port of an air cylinder 152 which may be utilized to operate a brake 153. The brake 153 may engage one of the spike setter wheels, such a the wheel 36.'

The conduit 148, on the other hand, connects the valve port 147 of the main control valve to the left hand end of each of the horizontal operating cylinders 61 and 101. In this connection, it should be noted that the pneumatic cylinders 61, 101, 112 and 132 are shown in F1G. 9 in the same relative positions as in FIG. 1. Conduit 148 also connects the valve port 147 to the upper end of the brake cylinder 152 and to the time sequence head 154 of a second air operated two-position three-connection time delay valve 155. I

The high pressure air line 141 leading from the air tank 51 is also connected to a normally closed port 156 of the time delay valve 150. A second port 157 of this valve is connected to the right hand side of each of the horizontal operating cylinders 61 and 101. The third port 158 of the valve is normally open to the atmosphere. In the normal position of the valve 150, the ports 157 and 158 are connected to each other, thereby afiording an exhaust opening for the right hand side of each of the cylinders 61 and 101.

In addition, the conduit 141 is connected to a normally closed port 159 in the time delay valve 155. A second port 161 of this valve is connected to the upper end of each of the two vertical operating cylinders 112 and 132. When the valve is in its normal or unactuated position as shown in FIG. 9, the port 161 thereof is connected to an exhaust port 162, thereby opening the upper ends of each of these cylinders to the atmosphere.

The entire operation of the control system illustrated in FIG. 9 is controlled manually by means of the master control valve 143. With the control valve 143 in the position shown in FIG. 9, air is applied, under pressure, to the lower portion of the brake cylinder 152, the upper portion of the cylinder being vented to the atmosphere. Consequently, the brake is released and the spike setting machine is free to roll along the railway. Air under pressure is also applied to :the lower portions or ports of the vertical operating cylinders 112 and 132, the upper portions of these cylinders being vented to the atmosphere through the valve 155. Consequently, the pistons are 'maintained in the position shown in FIG. 9 and the hammerheads or weights 124 and 134 are maintained in an elevated or inactive position. Moreover, the air pressure applied to the pilot device 149 through the conduit 145 maintains the valve 150 in its second or actuated position. Under these conditions, the inlet air conduit 141 is connected through the valve 150 to the right hand end of each of the horizontal operating cylinders 61 and 101. Moreover, the left hand end of each of these cylinders is vented to the atmosphere through the ports 146 and .147 of the master control valve 143. Consequently, the horizontal operating cylinders 61 and 101 are maintained in the illustrated position, holding the spike positioners of the spike setting machine at the left hand end of their range of travel (see FIG.1).

When the master control valve 143 is actuated to its not necessary for the operator physically to stop the rolling movement of the spike setter.

A second immediate operation effected by the change in the master control valve setting is the actuation of the horizontal; operating cylinders 61 and 101. As a consequence of the actuation of the master control valve, air is introduced under pressure into the left hand end of each of the double acting cylinders 61 and 101. At the same time, the release of air pressure on the actuating device 149 of the valve 150 permits that valve to return to its normal or unactuated operating condition, venting the right hand end of each of thehon'zontal pistons 61 and 101 to the atmosphere. Accordingly, the spike positioners which are mechanically connected to the cylinders 61 and 101 are moved to the right as seen in FIGS. 1 and9.

The third operation effected by the change in operating condition of the master control valve 143 relates to the impacting devices, or hammer pistons 112 and 132.

' The change in the master control valve applies air under pressure to the pilot device 154 and consequently drives the time delay valve toward its alternate operating position. The change in the valve 155 does not take time interval, preferably of the order of one second. Consequently, the change in operating conditions for the cylinders 112 and 132 doesnot take place at the same time as the change in operating conditions for the cylinders 61 and 101. Rather, the hammer cylinders 112 and 132 are actuated after actuation of the horizontal cylinders has been completed.

Actuation of the valve to its alternate operating condition connects the high pressure air line 141, through the valve 155, to the upper end of each of the impacting device cylinders 112 and 132. The lower end of each of these cylinders, on the other hand, is vented to the atmosphere through the master control valve 143. Consequently, the pistons 112 and 132 are driven downwardly thereby driving the hammerheads or weights 124 and 134 in an impacting stroke to set a pair of railway spikes held by the spike positioners of the spike setter 20, as described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 10 affords a schematic diagram of the control arrangement utilized in raising and lowering the spike positioners 69 and 109 of the spike setter 20. The control arrangement comprises a three-position four-connection auxiliary control valve 163, which is shown in FIG. 10 in its intermediate or neutral position. The valve includes an inlet port 164, a pair of outlet ports and 166, and a vent or exhaust port 167. In the neutral position, as illustrated, all of these ports are closed with the inlet port 164 being connected to the main air line 141. One of the two outlet ports, port 165, is connected to the top of each of the two vertical operating cylinders 67 and 107. The remaining outlet port 166 is connected to the bottom of each of the two vertical operating cylinders.

When the valve 163 is actuated to the right, as seen in FIG. 10, the top of each of the two cylinders 67 and 107 is connected to the air line 141 through the ports 164 and 165. At the same time, the bottom of each of the cylinders is vented to the atmosphere through the valve ports 166 and 167. Consequently, under the conditions, the pistons are driven downwardly, thereby lowering the two spike positioners 69 and 109 to their operative position as illustrated in the several figures of the drawings and particularly in FIG. 2. Once the positioners have been lowered, the valve may be returned to its normal or intermediate position, closing off the several ports of the valve. ,When this is done the positioners remain in their lowered position, the Weight of the positioners being suificient to retainthem in the desired operating position.

To raise the spike positioners 69 and 109, the control valve 163 is actuated to the left, as seen in FIG. 10. When this is done, the high pressure air line 141 is connected to the bottom of each of the vertical pistons 67 and 107 and the top of each of the pistons is vented tothe atmosphere. Accordingly, the pistons are driven upwardly and the two spike positioners are raised to a, location above the rail 37, the raised position for the positioner 69 being indicated by the dash outline 69A in FIG. 5.

The mounting of the control valves 143 and 163 upon the spike setter is best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 13. As shown therein, a pair of vertical support members 168 and 169 are aflixed to the transverse frame member 29 at locations approximately aligned with the two frame members 22 and 23.v A center vertical support member 171 is mounted upon the frame members 29 at approximately the center of the frame 21. A mounting plate or bracket 172 (see FIG. 1) is affixed to a transverse frame member 175, which is removably mounted upon the two vertical frame members 168 and 171. The bracket 172 affords a support for the main control valve 143 and for the auxiliary control valve-163. The manual actuating handles for the two valves 143 and 163 are indicated by the reference numerals 173 and 174 respectively.

The vertical support posts or frame members 168, 169 and 171 also afford a convenient support for the means employed to move the spike setter 20 along the railway. A relatively short vertical post 176 is mounted upon the transverse frame member 175 and a handle 177 is aifixed thereto. The handle 177 projects outwardly of the spike setter in a horizontal direction and may be conveniently grasped by the operator of the spike setter to propel the machine along a railway track. The support post 176 for the handle 177 is removably mounted on the transverse frame member 175 in order that the post and handle may be removed from the transverse frame member, rotated through an angle of 180, and remounted at the opposite end of the frame member 175 with the handle projecting to the left, as seen in FIG. 2, rather than the right. Moreover, the frame member 175 is removably affixed to the two posts 168 and 171 to permit removal of the frame member from the two posts and thus make it possible to re-mount this frame member at the opposite side of the machine in bridging relation to the posts 169 and 171. In this manner, with the change in outrigger location as described hereinabove, the spike setter 20 may be conveniently conditioned for operation in any direction along either rail of the railway.

In operation of the spike setter 20, the first essential step is, of course, the mounting of the spike setter upon the two rails of the railway, such as the rails 37 and 41. When the spike setter is properly located on the railway, as indicated in FIG. 2, the frame 21 is disposed in straddling relation to the rail 37 and most of the weight of the spike setter is supported upon the two flanged wheels 35 and 36. The Outriggers and the wheels 38 and 39 afiord a secondmy support for the spike setter and are principally useful in balancing the spike setter upon the railway. Once the spike setter is properly mounted on the rails, of course, the wheels 42 are removed from their operative position, indicated by dash outline 42A in FIG. 2, and are deposited in the sockets 43 and 44 so that they will not interfere with operation of the machine.

The spike setter 20 is preceded, in its normal operation, by one or more workers who deposit individual railway spikes or other similar fasteners in the tie plates, such as the tie plate 178, upon which the rail 37 rests. These workers do not drive the spikes into the ties, such as the tie 179, to any extent. Rather, they simply position the spikes in the spike-receiving apertures of the tie plates and leave them in a partially erected or leaning position as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. As is apparent from these two figures, the spikes may lean toward the rail 37 or away from the rail; they may also lean at a substantial angle from the vertical in a direction parallel to the rail. The spikes are prevented from falling over by engagement with the walls of the spike receiving apertures in the tie plates 178.

To operate the spike setter 20, it is first necessary for the operator to actuate the auxiliary control valve 163 to the right, as seen in FIG. 10, to apply air under pressure to the two vertical operating cylinders 67 and 107, thereby lowering the spike positioners 69 and 199 to their normal operative positions as shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1-5. Once this is done, the operator proceeds to push the spike setter 20 along the railway in the direction indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3 by the arrow 181.

As the spike setter 20 moves along the rail 37, one of the spikes 125 is engaged by one of the flared forward portions 81 and 82 of the guide members 77 and 78 of the spike positioner 69 (see FIG. 7). Of course, the spike positioner 109 at the opposite side of the machine similarly engages the spike on that side of the rail 37 (see FIG. 2). As the forward motion of the spike setter continues in the direction indicated by the arrow 181, the spike 125 is deflected into the elongated central aperture 79 of the spike positioner and consequently is erected in a direction transverse to the rail 37. At the same time, however, frictional engagement between the spike and the guide members 77 and 78 tends to cause the spike 125to lean forwardly as indicated in FIGURES l and 3.

The continuing forward movement of the spike setter 26 brings the spike 125 into the gripping zone D afiorded by the spring and the permanent magnet 83 of the I spike positioner 69. In this zone D, the magnet and the spring grip the spike, but only to a limited extent. That is, the gripping force exerted by the spring in the magnet is not great enough to pull the spike from the aperture 182 in the tie plate 178. This condition of operation is illustrated in FIG. 3, which shows the spike leaning forwardly and engaged by the spring 85 in the gripping zone of the spike positioner 69. Once the spike has been brought to the position shown in FIG. 3, the operator of the spike setter 20 manually actuates the main control valve 143, by means of the handle 173, moving the control valve to its actuated oroperative position. As soon as this accomplished, the brake 153 is engaged with the wheel 36 and interrupts the forward movement of the spike setter. At the same time, the two horizontal operating cylinders 61 and 101 are actuated by compressed air applied to the left hand ends thereof (see FIG. 9), moving the cylinder pistons to the right as seen in each of FIGS. 1, 3 and 9. As a consequence, the yoke 63, which is secured to the piston rod 62, is moved to the right along the two guide members 56 and 57 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4.

The relative movement of the yoke 63 with respect to the spike setter carriage, from the position of FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4, also moves the spike positioner 69 in the same direction, since the spike positioner is suspended from the yoke 63. Thus, the spike positioner is moved in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the spike setter along the rail 37 to erect the spike 125 in a direction substantially parallel to the rail. In this manner, the forward lean of the spike is effectively corrected and the spike is accurately vertically aligned as shown in FIG. 4. The amount of horizontal movement of the spike positioner 69 is determined primarily by the size of the tie plate aperture 182 and the dimensions of the spike 125, which determine the amount by which the spike 125 departs from the vertical. Consequently, it may be necessary to adjust the travel of the piston rod 62 to a limited extent for a given type of tie pad and a particular type of spike. This is accomplished by means of the space nuts 66, but is necessary only at the beginning of a given spike setting operation.

Only an extremely short time is required for the pneumatic operating mechanism of the spike setter to halt the forward movement of the spike setter and to move the spike positioners 69 and 109 horizontally to complete the vertical alignment of the spikes engaged'thereby. During this time interval, the impacting devices comprising the air cylinders 112 and 132 are not actuated, since the admission of air into the upper portions of these cylinders is delayed by the time delay valve'155. Subsequently, however, the time delay valve is actuated to admit air under pressure into the two impacting device pistons, driving the weights 124 and 134 downwardly into contact with the spikes engaged by the positioners 69 and 109. This condition is illustrated in FIG. 5, in which the hammer-head or weight 124 is shown in impacting engagement with the spike 125. Consequently, the spikes are driven a short distance into the tie 179 and become firmly anchored therein.

Once the two impacting devices 111 and 131 have co-mpleted their impacting stroke, the operator of the spike setter again actuates the main control valve 143, returning the valve to its normal position as shown in FIG. 9. As indicated hereinabove, this actuation of the main control valve causes air under pressure to be introduced into the lower portions of the two impacting device'cylinders 112 and 132, lifting the hammer-heads or weights 124 and 134 clear of the spikes. At the same time, the connections to the brake operating cylinder 152 are reversed, thereby releasing the brake and permitting the operator to continue forward movement of the spike setter. Moreover, the horizontal operating cylinders 61 and 101 are actuated, through the time delay valve 156,

11 V to return the spike positioners 69 and 109 to their normal advanced position after the impacting weights 124 and 134 have been lifted. Of course, the setting impact delivered by the impacting devices 111 and 131 must drive the spikes into the tie 179 to anextent sufficient to prevent the relatively light gripping force or drag exerted on the spikes by the spike positioners from again deflecting the spikes from their desired vertical alignment.

In operation of the spike setter 20, it is not necessary for the operator to achieve any great accuracy in locating spikes within the gripping zone D of the spike positioners such as the positioner 69. Rather, it is sufficient that the operator make sure that the spikes are somewhere within the zone D, which is preferably several inches in length. It is for this reason that the impacting weights such as the weight 124 are made relatively long, in a direction parallel to the rail 37, and thus parallel to the spike positioners 69 and 109. As long as the spike is somewhere within the gripping zone D, it may be engaged and impacted by the weight 124 and thus set in the desired manner. This relationship between the length of the weight 124 and the gripping zone D is best seen in FIG. 5, in which the weight is shown in its lowered or impacting position. 4

It should be noted that the spike positioner 69 does not require, in all instances, both the magnetic gripping device 83 andthe spring retainer or gripper 85. In many instances, one or the other of these devices may be eliminated entirely. Thus, if the magnet 83 is omitted from the spike positioner 69 (see FIG. 7) the gripping portion 88 of the spring 85 usually affords an adequate gripping force for erecting the spike in a direction longitudinal to the rail being anchored. By the same token, in many instances a single magnetic gripping device is adequate for this portion of the apparatus. This is particularly understandable in view of the fact that the gripping force required is only suflicient to overcome the weight of the spike and to move it to an erect position from a leaning position. It is not necessary to lift the spike or to move it against any substantial external resistance.

As the spike setter 20 movesalong the rail, setting spikes as described hereinabove, the machine may encounter a rail connector, a switch, or other device located in the path of movement of the spike positioners 69 and 109. When this occurs, the operator simply actuates the auxiliary control valve 163 to raise the spike positioners in the manner described hereinabove in connection with FIG; 10. As soon as the obstacle is cleared, the valve 163 is again actuated to lower the spike positioners and is returned to its normal neutral position for continuing operation of the spike setter.

It is thus seen that the spike setter 20 is highly automatic in'its operation and is eifective to align pro-positioned spikes, in a vertical direction, and to set the spikes a short distance into a tie. As pointed out hereinabove,

' the machine may be operated by relatively unskilled personnel, since it does not require accurate alignment of the machine with respect to the pro-positioned spikes in order to carry out the desired aligning and setting functions. The machine is operable by a single worker and is self contained, thereby eliminating any requirement for a separate compressor, power source, or other auxiliary mechanism. As noted hereinabove, a number of the principal advantages of the machine are achieved by automatically controlling the time relationship of operation following claims.

I claim:

1". A spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railway spikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, a plurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame in position to engage the rails of a railway and to support said carriage for movement along the railway with said main frame disposed in straddling relation to one rail: spike positioner means for releasably engaging the shank of a railway spike; means for mounting said spike positioner below said frame and in position to engage pre-positioned partially erected spikes when the carriage is moved longitudinally of said rail in a given direction and to erect said spikes in a direction transverse to said rail; means for moving said spike positioners horizontally relative to said carriage, and in a direction opposite said given direction, to erect spikes engaged by said positioner in a direction longitudinal of said rail; and impacting means, mounted on said frame, for applying a setting impact to the erected spikes in said positioner.

2. A spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railway spikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, a plurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on 'said frame in position to engage the rails of a railway and to support said carriage for movement along the railway with said main frame disposed in straddling relation to one rail; a spike positioner having a longitudinal aperture for receiving the shank of a railway spike and a gripper device for releasably gripping the shank of a railway spike; means for mounting said spike positioner below said frame alongside the rail straddled by said frame and in position to engage and grip a pre-positioned partially erected spike as said carriage is moved longitudinally of said rail in a given direction and to erect said spike in a direction transverse to said rail; means for moving said spike positioner horizontally relative to said carriage, and in a direction opposite said given direction to erect a spike engaged by said positioner in a direction longitudinal of said rail; and impacting means, mounted on said frame, for applying a setting impact to the erected spike.

3. A spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railway spikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, a plurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame in position to engage the rails of a railway and to support said carriage for movement along the railway with said main frame disposed in straddling relation to one rail; a pair of spike positioners each comprising a pair of spaced guide members defining a longitudinal aperture for receiving the shank of a railway spike and each including a gripper device mounted on one of said guide members for releasably gripping the shank of a railway spike; means for mounting said spike positioners below said frame on opposite sides of the rail straddled by said frame and in position to engage and grip pre-positioned partially erected spikes as said carriage is moved longitudinally of said rail in a given direction and to erect said spikes in a direction transverse to said rail;,means for moving said spike positioners horizontally relative to said carriage, and in a direction opposite said given direction, to erect spikes engaged by said positioners in a direction longitudinal of said rail; and impacting means, mounted on said frame, for applying a setting impact to the erected spikes in said positioners. i

4. A spike setter for'setting pre-positioned partially erected railway spikes and the like, comprising a carriage including a frame, a'plurality of, wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame in position to engage the rail of a railway and to support said carriage for movement along the railway with said main frame disposed in straddling relation to one rail; a pair of spike positioners each comprising a pair of spaced guide members defining a longitudinal aperture for receiving the shank of a railway spike and each including a gripper device comprising spring means mounted on one of said guide members and extending toward the other of said guide members for releasably gripping the shank of a railway spike; means for mounting said spike positioners below said frame on opposite sides of the rail straddled by said frame and in position to engage and grip pre-positioned partially erected spikes as said carriage is moved longitudinally of said rail in a given direction and to erect said spikes in a direction transverse to said rail; means for moving said spike positioners horizontally relative to said carriage, and in a direction opposite said given direction, to erect spikes engaged by said positioners in a direction longitudinal of said rail; and impacting means, mounted on said frame, for applying a setting impact to the erected spikes in said positioners.

5. A spike setter for setting pro-positioned partially erected railway spikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, a plurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame in position to engage the rails of a railway and to support said carriage for movement along the railway with said main frame disposed in straddling relation to one rail; a pair of horizontal guide members, mounted on said frame on opposite sides of the rail straddled by said frame; a pair of fluid pressure actuated pistons mounted on said frame in individual alignment with respective ones of said guide members; a pair of mounting members individually supported on respective ones of said horizontal guide members for movement therealong and individually mechanically connected to said pistons; a pair of spike positioners, each having a longitudinal aperture for receiving the shank of a railway spike and a gripper device for releasably gripping the shank of a railway spike; means for mounting said spike positioners on respective ones of said mounting members with said positioners disposed below said frame on opposite sides of the rail straddled by said frame and in position to engage and grip pre-positioned partially erected spikes as said carriage is moved longitudinally of said rail in a given direction and to erect said spikes in a direction transverse to said rail; means for applying fluid under pressure to said pistons to move said spike positioners horizontally relative to said carriage, in a direction opposite said given direction, to erect spikes engaged by said positioners in a direction longitudinal of said rail; and impacting means, mounted on said frame, for applying a setting impact to the erected spikes in said positioners.

6. A spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railway spikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, a plurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame in postion to en gage the rails of a railway and to support said carriage for movement along the railway with said main frame disposed in straddling relation to one rail; a pair of horizontal guide members, mounted on said frame on opposite sides of the rail straddled by said frame; a pair of fluid pressure actuated pistons mounted on said frame in individual alignment with respective ones of said guide members; a pair of mounting members individually mounted on respective ones of said horizontal guide members for movement therealong and individually mechanically connected to said pistons; a pair of spike positioners for releasably engaging the shanks of a pair of railway spikes; means for mounting said spike positioners on respective ones of said mounting members and disposed below said frame on opposite sides of the rail straddled by saidf rame in position to engage pro-positioned partially erected spikes as said carriage is moved longitudinally of said rail in a given direction and to erect said spikes in a direction transverse to said rail; means for applying fluid under pressure to said pistons to move said spike positioners horizontally relative to said carriage, and in a direction opposite said given direction to erect spikes engaged by said positioners in a direction longitudinal of said rail; impacting means, mounted on said frame, for applying a setting impact to the erected spikes in said positioners, said impacting means comprising a pair of fluid pressure actuated hammers; and control means for automatically applying fluid under pressure to said hammers in predetermined time relation to the application of fluid to said pistons.

7. A spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railway spikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, a plurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame in position to engage the rails of a railway and to support said carriage for movement along the railway with said main frame disposed in straddling relation to one rail; a pair of spike positioners for releasably engaging the shank of a railway spike; means for mounting said spike positioners on said frame on opposite sides of the rail straddled by said frame and in position to engage pre-positioned partially erected spikes as said carriage is moved longitudinally of said rail in a given direction and to erect said spikes in a direction transverse to said rail, said means comprising a pair of fluid pressure actuated pistons supported on said frame; means for applying fluid under pressure to said pistons to elevate said positioners to an inactive position above said rail to clear switches, rail joints, and the like; means for moving said spike positioners horizontally relative to said carriage, and in a direction opposite said given direction, to erect spikes engaged by said positioners in a direction longitudinal of said rail; and impacting means, mounted on said frame, for applying a setting impact to the erected spikes in said positioners.

8. A spike setter for setting pre-positioned partially erected railway spikes and the like, comprising: a carriage including a frame, a plurality of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on said frame in position to engage the rails of a railway and to support said carriage for movement along the railway with said main frame disposed in straddling relation to one rail; a horizontal guide structure, mounted on said frame and extending parallel to the rail straddled by said frame; a pneumatic piston mounted on said frame in alignment with said guide structure; a mounting member supported on said horizontal guide structure for movement therealong and mechanically connected to said piston; a spike positioner, for releasably engaging the shank of a railway spike, mounted on said mounting member and disposed below said frame alongside the rail straddled by said frame in position to engage a pre-positioned partially erected spike as said carriage is moved longitudinally of said rail in a given direction and to erect said spike in a direction transverse to said rail; a compressor mounted on said frame; means for applying compressed air from said compressor to said piston to move said spike positioner horizontally relative to said carriage, and in a direction opposite said given direction, to erect a spike engaged by said positioner in a direction longitudinal of said rail; and impacting means, mounted on said frame, for applying a setting impact to an erected spike in said positioner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,268,736 Lightell June 4, 1918 1,448,264 Doak Mar. 13, 1923 1,916,708 Zavatkay July 4, 1933 2,018,129 Jackson Oct. 22, 1935 2,799,230 Fensch July 16, 1957 2,884,867 Godfrey May 5, 1959 2,897,782 Kennedy Aug. 4, 1959 2,910,010 Godfrey et 'al Oct. 27, 1959 2,925,048 McWilliams et a1 Feb. 16, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,154,699 France Nov. 12, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Railway Track and Structure, September 1957, pages 22, 23.

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