GB1188410A - Towline System Switching Device - Google Patents

Abstract

1,188,410. Towline switches. AEROJET-GENERAL CORP. 16 Aug., 1968, No. 39290/68. Heading B7L. In order to direct towline carts from the common side C of two floor towline loops A and B through a switch junction J alternately into the loops A and B (or all into either of the loops A and B), a selector plate 96 is manually selectively secured by a pin and holes arrangement to a pivoted switch plate 93 symmetrically (Fig. 8) (or angularly offset, e.g. Fig. 13), such that the towpin 18 of a first cart is guided along a slot 63 to the slot of the loop A and in its movement swings the selector and switch plates 96, 93 (by engaging the shoulder 97) through a dead centre into a position in which the slot 63 is blocked by 93a but slot 66 is opened thereby and the other shoulder 98 extends into the slot 66 so that the second cart is guided to the loop B. The selector and switch plates 96, 93 may be swung initially into either of the blocking positions manually. The chains of the loops A and B are driven in synchronism (by a common motor or synchronized motors) and their dogs alternate so as to drive alternate carts of the loops A and B as they approach and leave the common side C. The chain of the loop B descends (thus disengaging towpins 18) and runs along below the chair of the loop A in this common side C, so that only alternate carts are driven and push the others. In the switch junction J, none of the cuts are driven directly, only pushed through by the preceding cart, the slot 60 leading away sideways from the slot of the loop A at an angle to disengage the towpins from the chain. Upstream of the junction J the chain of the loop B diverges from that of loop A and rises to the slot of loop B downstream of the junction J. Storage or loading spur slots P lead from the common side C.