US1021312A - System of operating railway switches and signal devices. - Google Patents

Description

P. D. HIBNBR.

SYSTEM OF OPERATING RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNAL DEVICES. APPLICATION IILBD ammo, 190a. nnnnwnn APR. 18, 1911.

1 ,02 1 3 1 2, Patented Mar. 26, 1912;

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WITNESSES M ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM C0..WA:H1NOTON, D. c

P. 1). HIBNER. v SYSTEM OF OPERATING RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNAL DEVICES. I APPLIUATIONIILBD BEPT.30, 1908. RENEWED APR. 18, 1911.

1,021,312. Patented Mar.26, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PIANOGRAPII C0,, wunmamu. u. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP D. HIBNER, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

SYSTEM OF OPERATING RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNAL DEVICES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 26, 1912, I Application filed September 30, 1908, Serial No. 455,442. Renewed April 18, 1911. Serial No. 621,884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP D. I-IIBNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Operating Railway Switches and Signal Devices, of which the following is a specification- This invention relates to apparatus employed for operating and controlling railway switches and also the signal appliances which are utilized in conjunction therewith to indicate the condition of the same.

Switches have hitherto been connected for operation with levers located in towers at a distance from the switch; there have also been employed, but distinct therefrom, individual levers for operating the several signal appliances; and switch-stand posts have also been utilized to operate switches; but so far as I am aware none of these controlling agencies have been so associated as to obviate the requirements of a multiplicity of levers in a tower, nor can the post be operated independently of the tower controllers.

In view of the foregoing, it is believed that a system of interacting devices, including the switch operating and signal devices which can be simultaneously actuated either from a stand adjacent to the track or from a relatively remote tower is novel, and to be of extreme value in railway practice through the elimination of some of the factors which if misdirected might, and oftentimes do, lead to accident of considerable moment.

The object of my invention is the provision of means whereby the above referred to functions are coincidently attainable through the selection of a single lever in a tower or from a post in proximity to the movable member of a switch.

The invention consists of the novel arrangement, adaptation and combination of devices, as will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereof- Figure 1 is a plan View of a railway track, to which are applied devices embodying the present invention, shown in plan and horizontal section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation taken from a plane 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the switch-lock controller. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lever and associated parts for manipulating the switch operating and signal devices. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the signal device denominated as the target. Figs. 7 and 8, respectively, are side and front elevations of the switchstand.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 10 designates the rails of a main line of a railway track, 11 the rails of a branch or turn-out,

and 12 a swingable switch-tongue whereby a train moving as indicated by the arrow may be directed into the branch or caused to proceed upon the main line in its progress beyond the switch-tongue. This tongue is operated by a connected bar 13, which in turn is connected to a reach rod 14 with a crank-arm 15 which is mounted for rotation in a switch-stand 16.

Rigidly secured to the post (see Fig. 7) is a collar 15 provided with a notch wherein is engaged the short arm 17 of a lever 17 when the latter is brought into corresponding radial line therewith and suitably tilted. The lever is fulcrumed at 18 to the ears 18 of a ring 18" which is loosely mounted upon the post. Fixed upon this post is a yoke 19 having peripherally grooved arcuate extremities 19 to which are secured the pairs of lines 20, 20 and 21, 21'. Of these the lines 20, 20 extend to and after passing about guide pulleys 22 are secured to a sheave 23, or an equivalent mechanical device, upon a horizontal shaft 24 located in the base of a semaphore standard 25. Operative connection is had between the shaft 24 and a superposed shaft 26 which carries the semaphore-blade 27 by an endless line 28 secured to and passing about pulley 24 and 26 which are fixedly mounted upon the respective shafts. The shaft 26 likewise carries frame-members 29 for pairs of spectacle-glasses of appropriate colors which are individually presented to cover the opening of a lantern casing, as is usual, for the purpose of designating the condition of the switch when the blade 27 is not readily discernible.

30 represents the stand of a target, so

called, having a bell-crank 31 mounted upon a rock-shaft 32 and having one of its arms 31 connected with the line 20 as by an interposed plate .33. which is apertured at about its midlength to receive the pin 31 upon the end of the crank-arm. Provided in the target is a receptacle for a lantern 34, see Fig. 6, and upon the opposite sides thereof are frames 35 for appropriately colored spectacle-glasses 35 adapted to be brought opposite the light to indicate the condition pulleys 38 and the symmetrically disposed sector arms 39 of a yoke 39 and secure the line ends to the yoke in any suitable manner, as for example, to eye-bolts 40 secured to another arm 39 which is rcctangularly The Q yoke is mounted for oscillation upon a shaft; 41 which is journaled in a support 42 secured to the framework of the tower and below the platform 43 whereupon the operator Secured to the underside of the platform is a frame 44 comprised of side' members each of which is integrally provided with pendent webs 44 and upwardly arranged with respect to the arms 39.

stands.

projecting plates 44 Extending through 46 with the yoke-arm 39. The frameplates 44 are each provided with similar apertures 47 having their respective upper edges in the form of an arc concentric with respect to the axis of the pin and projecting upwardly from the apertures in spaced relation are recesses 47. A lever 48 is also fulcrumed by the pin 45 and extends above the platform for convenience of manipulation by the operator. This lever is bifurcated at its lower end to permit the upper arm of the lever 46 to swing freely between its branches 48 and the latter are slotted, as at 48", for a transversely disposed bar 49 of such length as to have its ends flush with or protrude beyond the outer surfaces of the frame-plates 44".

The bar 49 has, centrally of its length, a stem 49 which extends upwardly through a bridge member 48 connecting the lever branches and is provided at its end with an adjustment nut 50 whose ofiice is to confine the frame-webs 44 is a pin 45 serving as a fulcrum for a lever 46 having a notch46 in its upper extremity: and connected from its lower end by a link r a spring 51 which bears against said bridge member for yieldingly retaining the bar 49 out of the lever notch 46 and hence the lever 48 is normally disengaged from the lever 46. To efiect the engagement of the two levers, a subsidiary lever 52 is pivotally connected to lugs 53 of the lever 48 and a rod 54 connects the lever 52 with a bell-crank 54 which is hinged to the handle end of the lever 48. From the lever 46 is a connecting line 55 passing about guide pulleys 56, 56 and se cured to a sheave 57 upon a spindle 58, which has secured thereto a blade 59. When the lever 46 is moved either through the agency of the lever 48 or otherwise motion is correspondingly imparted to the blade 59 to apprise the operator within the tower of the same and the consequent state of the switch, that is to say, as to whether it is closedor open, or, through inadvertence, in a position intermediate thereof.

In order to prevent the displacement of the switch tongue during the passage of a train or car thereover, I utilize devices which are illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 and comprise a depressible rail 60 swingingly se cured to attachments 62 upon one of the main rails 10 as by pivotally connected links 61 and maintained in poised condition by counter-weights 63, or an equivalenhsuch as springs.

In the bar 13 are notches 13 either of which is adapted to receive an offset lug 60 of the rail 60 according to which of the notches is presented through the longitudinal movement of the switch tongue which affects or is affected by the bar movements.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The switch tongue being either in its open or closed condition and inasmuch as the lines 20, '20 and '21, 21 connect the various devices to cause them all to move in unison, the tongues position will be indicated by the position indicated by the blade 51 within the tower and, by day, through the blades of the semaphore and target stands, or at night by the blade 51 as well as by the disclosures made by the spectacle glasses of the respective stands. To alter the position of the switch-tongue from the switch-stand, the lever 17 is raised from the inoperative position as represented in Figs. 2 and 8 to that shown in Fig. 7 whereupon the lever is engaged in the notched collar 15 so that by swinging the lever to one side or the other, as demanded, the post 15 is rotated to impart the necessary motion to the bar 13 to efiect'the desired movement to the switch tongue. This manipulation, by reason of the connecting lines, effects the responsive movements of the signal devices as well as a movement of the lever 46 without disturbing the lever 48, which is locked by the spring-urged bar 49 occupying one of the slots 47. tongue being thus accomplished through the medium of the lever 17 the latter may be released when the excess of weight of its longer arm withdraws its shorter arm from engagement with the notched collar 15" upon the post 15 when the latter is free to turn. To alter the position of the switch and correspondingly actuate the signal devices, the bell-crank 54 is actuated by the operator to dislodge the lock-bar 49 from the occupied notch 17 and also introduce the bar into the notch 46 of the lever 4:6. WVhen the latter is in alinementthen the lock-bar may be engaged by a single movement thereof, otherwise the lever 48 after being unlocked from the frame 44 must be swung to carry the bar into position whereat by a further movement of the same it is projected into the lever-notch 46. WVhether it necessary for the operator to swing the lever 48 prior to engaging the other lever will be evident from an inspection of the blade 59 with relation to the lever 48. WVhen locked connection is thus had between the referred to lovers then they are swung as a single element to correspondingly effect the desired move ment of the switch tongue and simultaneously influence the signal devices to indicate the change made. From the oliices of the depressible rail 60 interlocking upon occasion with the tongue-bar 13 it is obvious that the switch tongue can not be affected while a car or train is passing over the switch. At other times the switch may be adjusted by either the lever 17 or the lever l8 and that, too, without any interference on the part of the one which is unemployed.

Various changes as to details and disposition of parts in the carrying out of my invention may be resorted to, to adapt the same to varying requirements, such as a different class of switch, or a peculiar arrangement of tracks.

Having described my invention, what I claim, is

1. In combination, with a switch-tongue, of two levers, normally disconnected operable means whereby the switch-tongue may be actuated from either of said levers, and means arranged to be affected by a car whereby both of said levers are temporarily rendered inoperative.

2. In combination, a switch-tongue, two levers, normally disconnected operable means intermediate each of said levers and said tongue, said levers being each arranged to be engaged with said operable means for the selective operation of the tongue by either of the levers.

3. In combination, a switch tongue, a pivoted yoke, operative connection between the yoke and the tongue, a second yoke, operative connections between said yokes, and

The movement of the switch normally disconnected lever devices for each said yoke whereby said tongue may be influenced by either lever independently of the other lever.

4. In combination, a switch tongue, a pivoted yoke, operative connection between the yoke and the tongue, a second yoke, operative connections between said yokes, nor mally disconnected lever devices for each said yoke whereby said tongue may be influenced by either lever independently of the other lever, and means arranged to be affected by a car whereby both of said levers are temporarily rendered inoperative.

5. In combination, a switch tongue, a pivoted yoke, operative connection between the yoke and the tongue, a lever arranged to be engaged with the yoke for operating the tongue therefrom, a second yoke, line connections between said yokes, and means engageable with the second named yoke for actuating the tongue independently of said lever. V 6. In combination, a switch tongue, a plurality of yoke devices, controlling connections between one of said yoke devices and the tongue and line connections between the several yokes, and a lever for each said yoke severally adapted for connection with the respective yoke for manipulation of said tongue independently of the other said levers.

7. In combination with a switch tongue, a pivoted yoke, controlling connections between the tongue and the yoke, another pivoted yoke, and line connections between said yokes, of two devices severally adapted for connect-ion with said yokes whereby the tongue is capable of being operated inter changeably by either of said devices.

8. In a switch operating device, a vibratory yoke, having line connections with a switch-tongue, an intermediate lever operativcly connected at one end to said yoke and provided at its other end with a notch, a bifurcated handle lever fulcrumed concentrically with said intermediate lover, a transversely disposed bar carried by the handle lever normally locking the same against movement, and means to engage the bar in said notch to lock the levers together to effect the movement of the switch tongue.

S). In combination, a switch tongue, a pivoted yoke, operative connection between the yoke and the tongue, a lever normally disconnected from said yoke, a second pivoted yoke, operative connections between the latter and the first named yoke, and a lever normally disconnected from the second yoke, said levers being arranged to be selectively employed for independently operating the switch tongue.

10. The combination with a switch tongue, a system of tongue operating lines, two levers normally disconnected with said lines,

means for operatively connecting either of the levers with said lines, and means influenced by a car passing over the switch whereby the aforesaid means are rendered temporarily inoperative.

11. The combination with a switch tongue, lines for operating the tongue, two systems of lever devices engageable with the lines whereby the tongue may be selectively op- 10 erated by either of said systems of devlces and without disturbing the unemployed systern.

PHILIP D. HIBNER.

Witnesses:

Homes BARNEs, A. H. SHOEMAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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