US1050416A - Railroad-switch stand. - Google Patents

Description

G. A. ALDEN.

RAILROAD SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1911.

1,050,416, Patented Jan.14,1913.

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c. A. ALDEN. RAILROAD SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1911.

1,050, 11 6. Patented Jan. 14,1913.

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RAILROAD-SWITCH STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14,1913.

Application filed November 22, 1911. Serial No. 661,667.

To all about it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. ALDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Steelton, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Switch Stands, of which the following a specification.

Railroad switch-stands in general use are provided with devices adapted to be operated to open and close a switch and, at the same time, set a signal in proper position to indicate the position of the switch; and such switch-stands are also provided with means to hold the switch and signal in either of two set positions with the switch open or closed and the signal indicating the same.

When a switch has been set in one of its two positions to properly receive wheels passing over the track in one direction and the switch is run through in the opposite direction, a part or parts of the mechanism are broken and the signal is thrown to an uncertain position.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel, simple and efficient means whereby, when a switch is run through in the opposite direction from which it is set, the signal will be moved to and retained in a definite, predetermined position, indicating that the switch is in a disabled condition.

\Vit-h this object in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and characterist-ic features of construction hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention: Figure 1, is a plan view of a switch-stand and adjuncts, showing one form of embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2, is a vertical section, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a horizontal section, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 1, is ahorizontal section, on line an of Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is a horizontal section, on line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6, is a vertical section showing a modification of the breakable connections.

Referring to the drawings, '7 designates the end portions of two adjacent railroad cross ties. Mounted upon these cross ties 7 is the usual two-part frame or casing 8 of a switchstand, the base portion of which is provided with suitable spike holes through which spikes may be driven to secure the frame 8 to the ties.

The frame 8 has mounted therein a horizontal shaft 9 the outer end of which is provided with the usual weighted operating lever 10. Secured to the inner end-of the shaft 9 is the usual beveled gear 11 the teeth of which co-act with the usual beveled. toothed sector 12. This sector 12 is 211' ranged within the casing 8 and projects from a vertical sleeve 13 which is mounted to turn in a bearing 14: formed in the bottom of the frame or casing 8. The parts are constructed so that when the lever 10 is moved from side to side of the frame 8 to turn the shaft 9 a half revolution, the sleeve 13 will be moved a quarter turn.

The sleeve 13 projects below the bottom of the bearing 14: and the part of the sleeve 13 directly beneath the bearing 14 extends into and is secured to the hub 15 of a switch and signal operating arm or member 16 which extends horizontally from the sleeve 13. Directly beneath the member 16 is a horizontally arranged switch operating part or lever 17, the hub 18 of which is mounted to turn loosely about the axis of the sleeve 13 on the lower reduced end thereof, axial movement of the hub 18 be ing prevented by a screw 19 screwed into the hub 18 and having its inner end extending into a circumferential groove 20 in the sleeve 13.

One end of the lever or part 17 is pivoted to the usual switch operating rod 21, and the other end of the lever 17 is connected to the member 16 by a pin 22. The body of the pin 22 extends through the lever 17 and the upper reduced end 23 of the pin 22 is frangibly connected to the body thereof and extends into a socket formed in the member 16, whereby the pin 22 will normally cause the member 16 and switch-operating part to move together to open and close the .switch when the lever 10 is moved from side to side, and whereby the upper end 23 of the pin may be broken or sheared from the main body thereof on the line under the forceful movement of the switch-operating part 17 when the member 16 is held in one of its two set positions by the weighted lever 10 extending horizontally from one side or the other of the shaft 9.

Directly beneath the switch-operating part 17 is a horizontally-extending signaloperating part or arm 24, the hub 25 of which is secured to the lower end of the signal or target shaft 26 which extends upwardly through and is rotatably mounted in the sleeve 13 and a bearing 2? in the top of the casing S. The shaft is made in two parts which are secured together by a surrmmding sleeve 28 and transverse pins 29 extending therethrough. The sleeve 28 and a surrounding collar 30 rests upon the top oi. the sleeve 13 and supports the shatt- 26 and arm 2i, the sleeve 13 ha." a shouldered portion 31 resting upon the top of the bearing ll to ,s-i upport, the sleeve 1? and the switch-ope 'ating part. ll is supported upon the hub ot the arm Bl, the s *rew if) being in'ovided for convenience in assembling the parts.

The pin 22 projects below the bottom of the lever l'i and the projecting lower end of the pin 2:2 tapered or beveled and resta within a tapered or beveled such in the subjacent arm The. body of tie pin in slidabl v titted to the lever ll" is norniallv held against vertical displacement by the engaganent oi the upper portion of the pin with the member 16 thereby causing the signal-operating member ill to move with the switch-operating lever ti, until the pin opert s to break the connection between the vuchoperating part 17 and the signal-ope 'atinr; part 2% as will be hereinafter explained.

The signaboperatine part 24- is provided with lateral projections 32, one being located on one ride and the other being located on the other side oil the lower end of an arm 5:33 which projects rigidly and downward l v from the member 16. This arm 33 forms an abutment againstv which either of the projections 32 are znlapted testrilce to limit the movement of the arm 2i when it. is moved relatively to the member 16 about the axis of the aha'l t 26 one-eighth (ll a turn in either direction it'rmn the poaition shown in the drawin The iree end of the rrm Qalcarries a pair oli' horizontallv-arranged latch arms 3% the meeting ends of which overlap each other and are pi voted on a vertical pin 33 in the arm Ql. The arms iii are pressed outwardlw to the positions shown in the drawings by the outer ends at tlat springs 36 having their inner enda secured to the arm Ql. "the free ends of the latch arms 34 extend to positions adjacent the free ends of the projections 32 and the free ends of the arms til are provided with notches Ell which are so ar- "anged with relation to the projections 32 that when the signal-eperating part or arm 2% is moved relatively to the member l6 oneeighth ot a turn about thw axis oil the shaft 26, one of the prtjijections 32 will engage one side of the abutment 33, and the adjacent notch ill will engage the other side of the abutn'ientthereby preventing; further movement at the arm Qet in either direction and locking it; to the abutment 33. ll'hen one of the projectioi'is 32 is moved into enand the pin tioi oli its spring 36 until the shouldertal portion 2-58 of the notch 3T esc; pes the abutment 33 whereupon the shouldered portion 38 15 pressed outwarelv into PUt-Illjiozl to eu gage me side (11 the abutment 33 immediately after the pro ection engaejea the other side oi the abutment and stops the movement oi the arm 24.

The operation is as follows: llheu tla, parts are in the positions shown in the drawings and the. rod 21 is connected to a switch the switch is held in one of its two positions opened or closed. by the weighted lever 10 resting on one side oil the shalt l the member 16, the lever 17 am. arm 21!: heiur; ceni'iect'ed together by the pin 2?. in this p i sition of the parts, the wines 3%) oi the signal carried by the shaft Lb extend at right angles to the track or substantially so and indicate the position of the switch while the winge it) of the signal extend parallel to the track or substantially so. l l hen it is desired to reverse the switch, or move it to the other of its two positionsthe weighted lever 10 is moved to the other side of the shaft 9, thereby moving the member to, the lever 17. the arm 21:. the shaft; on and signal thereon a quarter turn. about the arfa ot' the shaft 26 and causing the lever l? to shift the switch to its other position in which it is held by the weighted arm 10 resting on. the side of the shaft 9 to which it was: moved. The position to which the switch was moved is now indicated by the signal. wings 40 which now extend at right angles to the track, or anbstantially sin while the wine's 39 now extend parallel to the traeln or sub stantially so. it will thus be seen that by moving the lever 10 from side to side of the Shaft 9 the switch may be opened and closed and that the signal will be ope 'ated to indicate the position of the switch. When. the switch is run through in the opposite direction from which itis set and held by the weighted lever 10, the car wheels force the switch and its red 21 in a manner to turn the lever 17 while the weighted arm 10 and its connections hold the member 1(3 against movement by the lever 17. This ope 'ation :auses the upper portion 23 of the pin to be broken or sheared from the body of the pin, thereby braiking the connection between the lever 17 and member to. The tanning of the lever 17 under the inlluence of the car wheels brings one of the projections and latches into engagement with the abutment: 33 and arrests the movement 0i. signal-ope ailing arm Ql by the lever 1.7, after the top of the sheared pin 92 moves from beneath the member 16. During the continued movement of the lever 17 th tapered or beveled lower end oi the pin 22,

engaging the beveled wall of the socket in the arm 2 1, is forced upwardly from engagement with the arm, thus breaking the con nection between the lever 17 and the arm 24. The movement of the arm 24 and there with the signal is stopped by the projection 32 and latch 3% after the signal has been moved one-eighth of a turn to a predetermined position, indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1. This'predetermined set position of the signal, intermediate its two posi tions indicating that the switch is open or closed, indicates tothose concerned that the switch has been run through and disabled.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a modification in which the upper end 23 of the pin 22 is omitted, and in lieu thereof a pin 41 is employed which extends between the part 16 and lever 17 and forms a breakable connec-' t-ion between the same, the pin a1 being adapted to be sheared or broken when the lever 17 is forcibly moved relatively to the part 16 as previously described. In this modification there is no connection between the pin 22 and the part 16, and in all other respects the pin 22 operates as previously described.

I claim:

1. In a switch-stand, the combination of a frame, a switch operating part, a signal operating part, connecting means for said parts normally causing them to move together and permitting movement of said parts relative to each other and normally causing them to move together, and means cooperative to hold the signal operating part independently of the switch operating part, whereby when the last named means holds the signal operating part, said connecting leans will permit the switch operating part to move relative to the signal operating part.

2. In a switch-stand, the combination of a frame, a switch operating part, a signal operating part, an operating member movable to either of two set positions, means for holding said member in one of said positions, a breakable connection between said member and said switch operating part, connecting means for said parts, said connect ing means permitting movement of said parts relative to each other upon the breaking of said connection, and means controlled by said member after the breaking of said connection for holding the signal operating part when said part reaches a position intermediate said two set positions, whereby when said member is held in oneeof said set positions the movement of the switch operating part will break said connection and thereafter move relative to the signal operating part, leaving the signal operating part in said intermediate position.

3. In a switch-stand, the combination of a frame, a switch operating part, a signal op erating part, connecting means for said parts normally causing them to move together when moved to either of two set positions said connecting means permitting movement of said parts relative to each other, said connecting means comprising a pin extending between and engaged with. said parts and having a beveled end engaging a beveled face of one of said parts, and means operative to engage and hold the signal operating part when it reaches a position intermediate said two setpositions, whereby when the last named means holds the signal operating part in the intermediate position, said pin will permit the switch operating part to move relative to the signal operating part.

4. In a switch-stand, the combination of a frame, a switch operating part, a signal operating part, connecting means for said parts normally causing them to move together when moved to either of two set positions said connecting means permitting movement of said parts relative to each other, an abutment provided with means for holding it in a set position, and a latch device arranged to engage said abutment and hold the signal operating part when it reaches a position intermediate said two set positions, whereby when the abutment is in its set positionthe latch device will engage the abutment and hold the signal operating part in the intermediate position and permit the signal operating part to move relative to the switch operating part. i

5. In a switch-stand, the combination of a frame, a switch operating part, a signal operating part, connecting means for said parts normally causing them to move together when moved to either of two set posit-ions, said connecting means permitting movement of said parts relative to each other, said connecting means including a pin extending between and engaged with said parts, an abutmentprovided with means for holding it in a set position, and a latch device arranged to engage said abutment and hold the signal operating part when it reaches a position intermediate said two set positions, whereby when the abutment is in its said set position the latch device will engage the abutment and hold the signal operating part when it reaches the intermediate position and permit the signal operating part to move relative to the switch operating part.

6. In a switch-stand, the combination of a frame, a switch operating part, a signal operating part, connecting means for said parts normally causing them to move together when moved to either of twov set positions, said. connecting means permitting movement of said parts relative to each other, said connecting means comprising a pin extending between and engaged with said parts and having a beveled end enan abutment provided with means for holdit in a set positiom and a latch device arranged to engage said abutment and hold the signal operating part when it reaches a position intermediate said two set positions. whereby when the abutment is in its said set position the latch device will engage the abutment and hold the signal operating part in the intermediate position and permit the signal. operating part to move relative to the switch operating part.

7. In a switclrstand, the combination of a frame, a switch operating part, a signal operating part, an operating member movable to either of two set positions, means for holding said member in one of said positions, a breikable connection between said member and said switch operating part, connecting means For said, parts, said connecting means permitting movement of said parts relative to each other upon the breaking of said connection, an abutment carried by aid member, and a latch device arranged to engage said abutment and hold the signal operating part when it reaches a position intermediate said two set positions, whereby when. said member is held in one of said set positions. the movement of the switch (met-Ming part will break said connection and thereafter engage the latch device with the abutment and permit relative movement between said parts leaving the signal operating part in said intermediate position.

S. in a switch-stand, the combination of a frame. a switch operating part a signal operating part. an operating member mo 2 ble to either of two set ositions means for holding said member in one of said. positions. a lineakable pin connecting said member and said switch operating part, connecting means for said parts, said connecting means permitting movement of said parts relative to each other upon the breaking- (it said pin. an abutment carried by said member, and a latch device arranged to engage said abutment and hold the signal operating part when it reaches a position intermediate when said member is held in one of said said two set positions, wherebyinseam set positions, the movement of the switch operating part will first break said pin and thereatter engage the latch device with the abutment and permit relative movement between said parts, leaving the signal operating part in said intermediate position.

9. In a switch-stand, the combination of a tran'ie, a switch operating part, a signal operating part, an operating member movable to either of two set positions, means for holding said member in one of said positions, a breakable pin connecting said memher and said switch operating part, connecting means for said parts, said connecting means permitting movement of said parts relative to each other upon the breaking of said pin, said connecting means comprising a pin extending between and engaged with said parts and having a beveled end engaging a beveled face of one of said parts, an abutment carried by said member, and a latch device arranged to engage said abutment and hold the signal operating part when it reaches a position intcrnnzdiate said two set positions, whereby when said member is held in one of said set positions the movement of the switch operating part will first break said pin and thereafter engage the latch device with the abutment and permit relative movement between said parts, leaving the signal operating part in said intermediate position.

10. A signal for a switch stand comprising an operating member, a switch operating part, a breakable connection between the member and the operating part, a signal operating part, means for connecting said parts, said means permitting movement of the parts relative to each other upon the breaking of said connection, and means for limiting the relative movement of the operating member and the signal operating part.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES it. ALDEN. llitnesses:

G. A. Lawonozv, ALLEN Vi, ELLnNnnncnn.

tiepies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Connnissioner of Patents, Washington, G.

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