US2538145A - Grade metering apparatus for car tracks - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16, 1951 G. c. CHRISTOPULOS GRADE METERING APPARATUS FOR CAR TRACKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1945 r m m j 560 v CZg za Z05 Jan. 16, 1951 ca. c. CHRISTOPULOS GRADE METERING APPARATUS FOR CAR TRACKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1945 6206 CZYZ/ZLAZOJ Jan. 16, 1951 G. c. CHRISTOPULOS 2,538,145

' GRADE METERING APPARATUS FOR CAR TRACKS Filed June 9, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5' Hm nu HHIIHI Hlll 55 7.9 All? ll 57 Jan. 16, 1951 G. c. CHRISTOPULOS GRADE METERING APPARATUS FOR CAR TRACKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 9, 1945 Patented Jan. 16, 1951 GRADE METERING APPARATUS FOR CAR TRACKS George C. Christopulos, Sioux Falls, S. Dak.

Application June 9, 1945, Serial No. 598,564

'7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in grade metering apparatus for car tracks and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide simple and efficient apparatus for determining the exact grade of an existing stretch of track and later accurately to establish the grade when such a stretch of track is to be raised.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus which though relatively long in size, is light in weight, remains true and straight against flexing and warping and may be readily taken apart for carrying upon a railway motor or similar car of shortlength.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide apparatus of this kind which includes two level devices, one for indicating when the beam of the apparatus is in a true horizontal plane and another for indicating the grade of the rail being metered, along with means whereby said devices may be brought to the same indicating position and at the same time present a visible reading of said grade.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this kind that includes track engageable wheels whereby the apparatus may be manually rolled along the track from one to another of selected positions therealong and in any of which positions it is automatically held, should such position be on a grade which would otherwise permit the apparatus to roll away therefrom.

Furth rmore, it is an object of the invention to provide apparatus of this kind, which is adjustable to compensate for super elevations of the outer rail of the track on a curve therein.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide apparatus of this kind that may be used for its intended purpose over either of the rails of the track.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a grade metering apparatus for car tracks embodying the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus appearing in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, on a scale enlarged over Figs. 1 and 2, of a part of the beam of the apparatus and more particularly illustrates one way in which the end to end sections thereof may be detachably connected together.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of that end of the apparatus carrying the instrument for showing the grade of the track being metered, also on a scale enlarged over that of Figs. 1 and 2 and with parts shown in section better to disclose the structure thereof.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the parts appearing I in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the metering instrument of the apparatus on a scale enlarged over that of Figs. 4 and 5 with parts broken away better to show the relative positions of the two level devices thereof.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the instrument of Fig. 6 as taken on the line 'l| thereof.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a part of the apparatus, on the scale and as taken on the line 88 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of the parts at the left hand end of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail view in side elevation of parts appearing at the right hand side of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a detail transverse vertical sectional view through a part of the beam of the apparatus, as taken on the line I ll l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of parts appearing in the upper left hand corner of Fig. 8 on a scale enlarged thereover.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal detail sectional view through a part of the apparatus as taken on the line l3l3 and on a scale enlarged over that of Fig. 4.

In general, the improved grade metering apparatus, as herein shown, is in the form of a lightweight skeletonized vehicle that includes a frame in the form of a relatively long beam mounted on longitudinally spaced wheels to roll upon one of the rails of a track and a laterally extending bar that carries a wheel to roll upon the other rail of the track. The vehicle is intended to be manually moved from one to another of selected positions along the track and for that purpose is provided at one end with an upright handle. This handle is also associated with a part of a brake mechanism and when the desired selected position is reached, the handle is released and the brake mechanism functions to hold the vehicle at this position against rolling down grade. When the handle is grasped to move the vehicle the brake is automatically released.

The beam carries a means to indicate when it is disposed in a true horizontal plane and this plane may be attained even upon a grade by inserting shims or lifts under the proper wheel of the beam. The beam also carries a means to indicate the grade of the track, the two means being relatively movable on the beam. Associated with said two means is a hand wheel that is manually turnable to impart such relative movement to said first mentioned means that will bring them to the same indicating position and will present a visible reading in percent of the grade of the track relative to the horizontal plane of the beam.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the improved apparatus includes a relatively long light weight but strong and rigid frame in the form of a horizontally disposed, straight edgelike beam indicated as a whole in Fig. 1 by the numeral [5. Preferably said beam is made of wood, in a plurality of end to end detachably connected sections, namely a front end section it, a rear end section H, and an intermediate section l8. By making the beam in this way, the apparatus is light in weight and may be taken apart for convenience in storage or in transport on a railway motor car and the like.

The said sections of the beam are each made of an inverted T bar cross section that includes a relatively thick bottom flange member I9 and an upstandingweb 20, the webs for the end sections l6 and I1 tapering in height toward their respective free ends as best appears in Fig. l.

The meeting end portions of the various beam sections are operatively secured together by :pairs of connector plates 2l2l having outwardly extending top and bottom flanges 2223. Bolts and associated nuts 2424 pass through said plates and the end portions of the webs between them, as best appears in Figs. 3 and 11. The top flanges 22 of each pair of connector plates are also bolted to a top gusset plate 25. The bottom flanges 23 of said pair of plates rest upon the top surface of the flange H of the meeting'end portions of adjacent beam sections and bolts 26-26 pass therethrough and through a bottom gusset plate 21. By means of the structure described, the sections I6, I1 and I8 may be operatively, but detachably, secured together in end to end relation to form a stiff straight rigid beam.

In the web 20 of the sections l6, l1 and I8 mentioned, are elongated openings 28 which reduce the weight of the beam as a whole and also provide convenient places to grasp the various sections for handling, as when carrying them. Upright brace plates 29-29 are disposed upon opposite sides of the webs of said sections to span the openings 28-28 and are fixed thereto and to the flange l9 of said sections, to strengthen and hold them against warping or twisting.

At the front and rear ends of the sections E6 and I l and depending therefrom are inverted U-shaped brackets 30 and 3! respectively, in which are journalled front and rear wheels 32 and 33 respectively. These wheels are grooved peripherally as best appears in Fig. 8 for a rolling engagement upon the head of one of the rails R of a car track, without lateral displacement, said rails being indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. As before stated, the beam I is relatively long and in an operative apparatus the wheels 32-33 are spaced apart 16 and the length of the section i8 is 6 as indicated in Fig. 1.

At a point between the ends of the front section I 6 of the beam, on the underside of the flange 19 thereof, I provide a transverse sleeve 34 in the form of a piece of metal tubing. At this point the flange I9 is provided with top strap 35 and a bottom metal plate 36 respectively and side metal straps 313Ta, the latter being in the form of an angle bar, as appears in Fig. 8. Metal bars 38 are welded to the plate 36 and to opposite sides of the sleeve, as appears in Fig. 4, to operatively secure said sleeve in place. The plates and straps are suitably secured in place by bolts, as shown.

The sleeve 34 is adapted to receive one end of a laterally extending reach bar 35' in the form of a metal tube and the other end of said bar 39 has straps 40 fixed to its opposite sides to provide a guide for a strut 4| in the form of a channel iron. The bottom end of said leg carries a stud 42, upon which is journalled a roller 43 for rolling engagement upon the other rail R of the track. In the upper end of the web of the leg is an elongated slot 44. The upper end of said leg bears against a built up bracket assembly 45 on the associated end of the bar A bolt 46 extends through said bracket assembly and through said slot and is provided with a head-like plate 41 that engages the opposite side of the web of said leg. A hand nut 48 is threaded on the opposite end of the bolt. In the arrangement described, by manipulating the hand nut, the leg 4| may be raised or lowered and thus effectively shortened or lengthened. By so adjusting the effective length of the leg, provision is available to compensate for elevations on curves in the track and at the same time keep the web 20 of the beam l5 in a perpendicular position.

The first mentioned end of the bar, which is disposed within the sleeve 34, is provided with two pairs of holes (Ha-39b which appear in dotted lines in Fig. 8. Either pair of holes receives a removable locking pin 59 carried against loss by a chain 5!, said pin being insertable through suitable openings in the plate 35 and through the proper pair of holes 39a39b in the sleeve 34. With the arrangement described, the bar 39 may be caused to extend from either side of the beam and therefore the beam may be disposed on either rail of the track. This arrangement is advantageous because tracks curve to both the right and left and, in the operation of the apparatus, the beam is always disposed above the inside and lower rail of a curve.

The structure thus far described, provides a three wheel vehicle for movement along the rails RR of a track, and by means of the reach bar mentioned, the beam may be disposed above either rail of the track. Said vehicle in use is manually moved along the track from one to another selected station therealong, and which stations are afforded by interval markers along the track. Such markers may be an engineers chain station ft.) telegraph poles or a number of lengths of rails may be used for the purpose. The stations or positions in practice should be between 100 and 200 ft.

To manually move the apparatus from one position to another, it is provided at the front end with an upright handle-like lever 52. This lever is detachably engaged at its bottom end in a socket 53 that is fixed to one end of an open frame-like structure 54 disposed within the bracket 35] above the wheel 32 thereof. This frame is pivoted at a point between its ends on a stud 55 extending between the sides of the bracket 33 and whereby the frame may rock thereabout. At the other end of the frame 54 is an L-shaped clip 56 that carries an adjusting screw 57 for a spring 58 that bears against the underside of the flange ll! of the beam section l6. A brake shoe 59 is carried by the frame for a limited rocking movement about a cross pin 59a carried by said frame'and said shoe normally engages upon the top peripheral portion of the wheel 39 by reason of the spring 58, which urges that end of'the frame, bearing the clip 56 downwardly.

When it is desired to move the vehicle forwardly (to the left as appears in Figs. 1 and 4) the operator grasps the handle 52 near its upper end and in drawing the vehicle forwardly the frame 54 is first rocked about the pin 55 to release the brake shoe from the wheel and at the same time compress the spring 58. Thus the brakin influence is removed from the wheel 32 so that the vehicle may be rolled along the track to the next position, at which a grade reading is to be made. When said position is reached, the operator merely releases his grasp from the handle when the spring 58 will expand to swing the frame 54 in that direction that will cause the brake shoe 59 to engage and brake against the wheel 32. Thus when the vehicle comes to a stop at the desired position along the track, the brake shoe functions automatically to engage the wheel and prevent rolling of the vehicle along the track. If said position happens to be on a grade, the vehicle is held against rolling away from said position under gravity. Thus all that is necessary to release the brake is to grasp the handle 52 and pull forwardly and all that is necessary when the new position is reached, is to release said handle and the braking action is automatically performed.

Carried on the front section It of the beam, in a position between the wheel 32 and sleeve 34, is the metering instrument which is indicated as a whole at 89 and which is removably secured on a block-like platform Bl. The instrument includes a hollow base 92 provided at its ends with ears es-ss to receive bolts 54, whereby the instrument is removably secured to said platform. At the rear end of said base is a pair of laterally spaced upstanding ears 6565 and at the front end of said base is a bushing 68.

The top wall of the hollow base is provided with an elongated opening 91, over which is a closure plate 68 having a sight opening 69 therein. The parts mentioned are so arranged that the sight opening is spaced to one side of the longitudinal center line of the top of the base as appears in Fig. 6. A spirit level case is supported at its ends from the closure plate 88 by means of a pin H and a screw 12 that pass through the end cars 13 of the case. Springs 'M'M surround the pin l! and the screw 12 between the plate 98 and the end ears 13. The case it carries a spirit level tube 15 formed to provide a bubble 16 that is visible through the sight opening 89. The mounting for the case 10, just described, counteracts shocks and provides means for leveling the same in the base.

ll indicates a metering arm which extends longitudinally of but above the base and is pivotally mounted at its rear end on the base 82 for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, the rear end being pivotally mounted between the ears B5-95 of the base by studs 18l8. The other end of said arm, which overhangs the assooated end or the bass, is formed as an upwardly curved extension 19 that terminates as a pointer 99. Near said extension, said arm is provided with a hole 84 which is disposed substantially coaxially with the bushing in the base. A stud 82 extends down through said hole and its bottom end 83 has a screw threaded engagement in the bushin 66. The upper end of the stud has the hub 84 of a hand wheel 85 fixed thereto and the bottom end of the hub is rounded to seat against a thrust washer 84a that covers the hole 8|. A coiled expansion spring 89 surrounds that part of the stud between the arm H and the bushing 88 and normally urges the arm to swing upwardly.

When the hand Wheel 85 is turned in one direction, the end 83 of the stud will screw into the bushing and cause the arm ll to swing downwardly and compress the spring 86. When the hand wheel is turned in the other direction, the spring will cause the arm to swing upwardly.

The hand wheel 85 is provided about its upper peripheral margin with graduated markings 8'! representing divisions of .10% and the space therebetween can be easily estimated within .01%, a one per cent grade meaning a one foot rise in 100 feet of track. Two sets of numerals 88 and 89 respectively are provided on the wheel in association. with said graduations and also on said wheel are arrows 99 and 95 for indicating the direction the wheel should be turned when metering a descending or an ascending grade. With the arrangement shown, one complete revolution of the wheel 85 is equivalent to a 1% grade. Thus great indicating accuracy may be afforded.

The arm IT has an elongated opening 92 therein, over which is a closure plate 93 having a sight opening 94 therein. The longitudinal medial line of this opening coincides with the median line of the arm IT as a whole and therefore is disposed laterally with respect to the plane of the like opening 69 of the base. With this arrangement both sight openings 69 and 94 are visible at the same time to the operator standing at one side of the front section. A spirit level case 95 is supported at its ends from the closure plate 93 by means of a pin 96 and screw 91 that pass through end ears 9898 of the case. Springs 99-99 surround the pin and the screw mentioned between the plate 93 and the end ears 98. The case 95 carries a spirit level tube I00 formed to provide a bubble l9l that is visible through the sight opening 94. The mountin for the case 95 just described counteracts shocks and provides means for setting the case relative to the arm.

The bubble '66 of the spirit tube in the base is the master bubble and its axis must be parallel with a plane passing through the axes of the wheels 3233. By turning the screw 12 one way or the other, this relationship may be maintained. To make the adjustment of this bubble, the vehicle of the apparatus is disposed upon a piece of track and the location of the bubble observed. The apparatus is then turned end for end with the "wheels 32-33 over the same places as before. If the bubble is in its same relative position as before, it is in adjustment. If the bubble does not come to rest in said same relative position, the bubble may be brought back one-half the indicated error by means of the screw '12.

On track with a level grade the bubble would be on center in its tube when in adjustment, but on track with a slightgrade the bubble would be a distance to the right or left of center. For accuracy, track of nearly level grade should be selected to make the adjustment. If such a piece of nearly level grade track is not available, a shim or lift may be placed under the low wheel (either 3239) to bring the bubble close to center. Besides using the bubble 16 as the master bubble, it may also be used to indicate whether the grade is an ascending or a descending one. On an ascending grade, the bubble will be forward of center and on a descending grade will be rearward of center.

After the master bubble T6 is in adjustment the bubble IBI in the indicating arm 11 may be adjusted as follows:

The wheel 85 is turned so that the (zero) of the numerals 88 is opposite or in line with the pointer 80. Should bubble It]! not be in exactly the same location as bubble 16, screw 91 is turned clockwise or contraclockwise, as may be necessary, to place bubble I (H in exactly the same location as bubble 16.

By means of the apparatus in connection with the use of a set of the track engineers notes, the track may be raised exactly as required and the accuracy and simplicity of the apparatus is such that the attending expense of the engineering party may be dispensed with while determining the grade with the apparatus.

In order to raise track, it is first necessary to establish the present grade thereof and then to select a revised grade. The amount of raise is usually from 4 to 6" although greater raises are, not uncommon and the grades may be accurately established by the apparatus described.

The per cent of grade, indicating the rise or fall of an excavating grade also may be determined by the apparatus.

The per cent of grade is determined by leveling the arm I? and observing the reading on the wheel 85. With stations or intervals apart of say from 100 to 200 feet, a reading is afiorded by the wheel 85 and pointer 89. If a new grade is to be established, it is determined by selecting a group of tabulated readings which closely correspond and then addin them up and dividing by the number of stations tabulated. The result is the proposed grade over that stretch of track.

After the above information has been secured, the result is the equivalent of a set of track engineer notes and all necessary information is available for raising the track. The track is then raised at the starting point by the amount of the predetermined rise. The apparatus is now placed upon the track with the rear wheel 33 resting on the rail over point already raised and with the front wheel 32 on the unraised portion of the track and in the diretcion in which the track raising or surfacing gang will work. By use of track jacks placed under the rail just ahead of the front wheel and with the graduated wheel 85 set on the calculated grade, the track is raised until the bubble lili of the spirit level tube I60 in the indicator arm shows level through the sight opening 96.

The other rail of the track is then raised in the customary manner with a common track level. When the track is thoroughly tamped, the apparatus is moved to the next station or track point and the operation is repeated.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto, except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A grade metering apparatus for car tracks comprising a mobile longitudinally extending beam for travel along one of the rails of a track, a reach bar positioned transversely of said beam and having one end fixedly secured to said beam, a vertically disposed strut arranged adjacent the other end of said reach bar and mounted on said bar for up-and-down movement, a rotatable roller carried by said strut for rolling engagement with the other rail of the track, a base positioned above and spaced from said beam contiguous to said reach bar and fixedly supported on said beam, there being a sight openin in said base intermediate its ends, a level indicating device positioned below and in aligned relation with respect to the sight opening in said base and dependingly supported from the latter for indicating when said beam is in a true horizontal plane, a metering arm arranged above and spaced from said base and having one end pivotally mounted on said base for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, there being a sight open- 111g in said metering arm intermediate its ends, a second level indicating device positioned below and in aligned relation with respect to the sight opening of said metering arm and dependingly supported from the latter for indicating the grade of the rails, a vertically disposed stud slidably supported in said metering arm adjacent its other end and having one end mounted in said base for up-and-down movement, and manually actuable means on the other end of said stud and bearing against said metering arm for causing up-and-down movement of said stud.

2. A grade metering apparatus for car tracks comprising a mobile longitudinally extending beam for travel along one of the rails of a track, a reach bar positioned transversely of said beam and having one end fixedly secured to said beam, a vertically disposed strut arranged adjacent the other end of said reach bar and mounted on said bar, a rotatable roller carried by said strut for rolling engagement with the other rail of the track, a base positioned above and spaced from said beam contiguous to said reach bar and fixedly supported on said beam, there being a sight opening in said base intermediate its ends, a level indicating device positioned below and in aligned relation with respect to the sight opening in said base and dependingly supported from the latter for indicating when said beam is in a true horizontal plane, a metering arm arranged above and spaced from said base and having one end pivotally mounted on said base for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, there being a sight opening in said metering arm intermediate its ends, a second level indicating device positioned below and in aligned relation with respect to the sight openin of said metering arm and dependingly supported from the latter for indicating the grade of the rails, a vertically disposed stud slidably supported in said metering arm adjacent its other end and having one end mounted in said base for up-and-down movement, manually actuable means on the other end of said stud and bearing against said metering arm for causing up-and-down movement of said stud, and resilient means operatively connected to said stud and said metering arm for biasing said metering arm to its up movement position.

3. A grade metering apparatus for car tracks comprising a mobile longitudinally extending beam for travel along one of the rails of a track, a reach bar positioned transversely of said beam and having one end fixedly secured to said beam, a vertically disposed strut arranged adjacent the other end of said reach bar and mounted on said reach bar, a rotatable roller carried by said strut for rolling engagement with the other rail of the track, a base positioned above and spaced from said beam contiguous to said reach bar and fixedly supported on said beam, a level indicating device positioned in said base and supported in the latter for indicating when said beam is in a true horizontal plane, a metering arm arranged above and spaced from said base and having one end pivotally mounted on said base for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a second level indicating device positioned in said metering arm and supported in the latter for indicating the grade of the rails, a vertically disposed stud slidably supported in said metering arm adjacent its other end and having one end mounted in said bas for up-and-down movement, and manually actuable means on the other end of said stud and bearing against said metering arm for causing up-and-down movement of said stud.

4. A grade metering apparatus for-car tracks comprising a mobile longitudinally extending beam for travel along one of the rails of a track, a reach bar positioned transversely of said beam and having one end fixedly secured to said beam, a vertically disposed strut arranged adjacent the other end of said reach bar and mounted on said bar for up-and-down movement, a rotatable roller carried by said strut for rolling engagement with the other rail of the track, a base positioned above and spaced from said beam contiguous to said reach bar and fixedly supported on said beam, a level indicating device positioned in said base and supported in the latter for indicating when said beam is in a true horizontal plane, a metering arm arranged above and spaced from said base and having one end pivotally mounted on said base for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a second level indicating device positioned in said metering arm and supported in the latter for indicating the grade of the rails, a vertically disposed stud slidably supported in said metering arm adjacent its other end and having one end mounted in said base for up-and-down movement, manually actuable means on the other end of said stud and bearing against said metering arm for causing up-and=down movement of said stud, and resilient means operatively connected to said stud and said metering arm for biasing said metering arm to its up movement position.

5. A grade metering apparatus for car tracks comprising a longitudinally extending beam, wheels arranged in spaced relation along and below said beam and supportingly connected to the latter for rolling engagement with one of the rails of the track, a horizontally disposed reach bar positioned transversely of said beam intermediate said wheels'and having one end fixedly secured to said beam, a vertically dispesed strut arranged adjacent the other end of said reach bar and mounted on said bar for up-and-down inevement, rotatable roller by said strut for rolling engagement with the other rail of the track, a base positioned above and spaced from said beam contiguous to said reach bar and fixedly supported on said there being a sight opening in said base intermediate its ends, a level indicating device positioned below and in aligned relation with respect to the sight opening in said base and dependingly supported from the latter for indicating when said beam is in a true horizontal plane, a metering arm arranged above and spaced from said base and having one end pivetaliy mounted on said base for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, there being a sight opening in said metering arm interme- 7 diate its ends, a second level indicating device positioned below and in aligned relation with respect to the sight opening of said metering arm and dependingly supported from the latter for indicating the grade of the rails, a vertically disposed stud slidably supported in said metering rm adjacent its other end and having one end mounted in said base for up-and-down movement, manually actuable means on the other end of said stud and bearing against said metering arm for causing the up-and-down movement of said stud, and resilient means operatively connected to said stud and said metering arm for biasing said metering arm to its up movement position. v

6. A grade metering apparatus for car tracks comprising a longitudinally extending beam, Wheels arranged in spaced relation along and below said beam and supportingly connected to the latter for rolling engagement with one of the rails of the track, a horizontally disposed reach 7 bar positioned transversely of said beam intermediate said wheels and having one end fixedly secured to said beam, a vertically disposed strut rranged adjacent the other end of said reach bar and mounted on said bar for up-and-down movement, a rotatable roller carried by said strut for rolling engagement with the other rail of the track, a base positioned above and spaced from said beam contiguous to said reach bar and fixedly supported on said beam, there being a sight opening in said base intermediate its ends, a level indicating device positioned below and in aligned relation with respect to the sight opening in said base and dependingly supported from the latter for indicating when said beam is in a true hori zontal plane, a metering arm arranged above and spaced from said base and having one end pivotally mounted on said base for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, there being a sight opening in said metering arm intermediate its ends, a second level indicating device positioned below and in aligned relation With respect to the sight opening of said metering arm and dependingly supported from the latter for indicating the grade of the rails, a vertically disposed stud slidably supported in said metering arm adjacent its other end and havin one end mounted in said base for up-and-down movement, manually actuable means on the other end of said stud and bearing against said metering arm for causing the up-and-down movement of said stud, resilient means operatively connected to said stud and said metering arm for biasing said metering arm to its up movement position, and means carried by said beam and operatively connected to one of said wheels for controlling the rolling movement of said wheels.

7. A grade metering apparatus for car tracks comprising a longitudinally extending beam, Wheels arranged in spaced relation along and below said beam and supportingly connected to the latter for rolling engagement with one of the rails of a track, a horizontally disposed reach bar positioned transversely of said beam intermediate said wheels, and havin one end fixedly secured to said beam, a vertically disposed strut arranged adjacent the other end of said reach bar and mounted on said bar for up-and-down movement, a rotatable roller carried by said strut for rolling engagement with the other rail of the track, a base positioned above and spaced from said beam contiguous to said reach bar and fixedly supported on said beam, there being a sight opening in said base intermediate its ends, a level 11 indicating device positioned below and in aligned relation with respect to the sight opening in said base and dependingly supported from the latter for indicating when said beam is in a true horizontal plane, a metering arm arranged above and spaced from said base and having one end pivotally mounted onsaid base for swingin movement about a horizontal axis, there being a sight opening in said metering arm intermediate its ends, a second level indicating device positioned 10 below and in aligned relation with respect to the sight opening of said meterin arm and dependingly supported from the latter for indicating the grade of the rails, avertically disposed stud slidably supported on said metering arm adjacent itsother end and having one end mounted in said base for up-and-down movement, a handwheel on the'other end of said stud and bearing against said. metering arm for causing the up-and-down movement of said stud, a spring circumpcsed about said stud and operatively connected to said stud and said metering arm for biasing the metering arm to its up movement position, means engageable with one of said wheels for control- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 742,077 Sovelius Oct. 20, 1903 874,373 Fordyce Dec. 17, 1907 897,045 Young Aug. 25, 1908 938,993 Ellis et a1 Nov. 2, 1909 1,016,254 Dodds Feb. 6, 1912 1,236,847 King Aug. 14, 1917 1,483,242 Pearce Feb. 12, 1924 2,027,628 Bowen Jan. 14, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 386,390 Great Britain Jan. 19, 1933

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