US1053591A - Automatic gate for railway-crossings. - Google Patents

Description

IR.G0LD5N. AUTOMATIC GATE IOR RAILWAY GROSSIIIGS. v`

APPLICATION 'FILED AUG'. 26,1911'. A A 350533591, Patents@ Feb. I3, 1913. I MEETS-SHEET 1.

y J. R., www. AUTOMATIC GATE FOR EATLWAY CROSSNGS.

APPLICATION FILED A-UG. 26, 1911. L V

- Iante Feb. 18,' TMS.'

f 4 SHETs-SHBBT 2,

J. R. GOLDEN. AUTGMATIC GATE PoR RAILWAY CROSSINGS.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 26, 1911.

'1,053,591 Pecented Feb.1s,`1913.

.4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

gem www@ 1.11. GOLDEN. AUTOMATIC GATE POB. RAILWAY GROSSINGS.

APPLIOATION'IILBD AUG'. 2s, 1911. l

Patented' Feb. 18, 1913.

, 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Re '8 5F36' l i 40 .A 'f @El i 'o a 'fi 4 "I \m[ 303g U l W ad 2V 'f o: n D 4l g o 56' the crossing.

.and arrangements ot' of Fig. 4, Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken JOHN R. GOLDEN, or HAMMQND, INDIANA.

STATES tit UTOMATIC GATE FOR-RAILWAY-CROSSINGS.

n Specification of Letters Patent.

*Patented Feb. 18, 1913. V Application filed August 26, 1911. Serial No. 646.092.

there being compressed air cylinders 3 and 4 and 4 leading thereto. city of Hammond, county of Lake, and State is such that when compressed air is supplied 'otV Indiana, have invented certain ncw and to the pipe 4 lha-l the piston in the cylinder useful ilmprovenients in Automatic Gat'esfor 3 Railway-Crossings, of which the following by means ofy the ordinary fiexible transmisis a specification. y sion leading thereto. vWhen compressedair My. invention relates to iniprovcnients in is supplied to the pipe 4 the piston within automatic gates for railway crossings, and the cylinder 3 will be depressed, thus causing To all if may concern Be it known that I,- Joni'w R. (jroLDeN, a l citizen of the ,United States, residing atthe has for its object the provision of an autothe gate l to be lowered into the normal pomaticaily controlled gate which is so de sition as shown in Fig. 1. By reference to signed and constructed as to be operated Fig. Q the arrangement of the gate l; a rail- `pneuma-tically-when a train passes over a waytrack Q, electrical switch box 8m., electro controlling switch in the neighborhood ot' pneumatic gate controlling mechanism 4,

with said switch boxes, willvbc understood. The arrangement as shown in Fig. 2 is pre tei-red, butif so desired an arrangement as shown in Fig. 3 may be adopted which reduces `the number of 4operating parts.

Fach switch box 3 is provided with a longitudinally rdisposed switch shaft which is journaled in bearings 6 and 7 pro- My invention consists in the combinations parts hereinafter described and claimed. y'

The invention will be best understood by reference to thc ,accompanying drawings toi-ming a pari of this specification and in which, l

Figure l is; a side elevation of a: railway gate employed in my invention, Fig. 2 is a top plan view otl the preferred arrangement of operating parts of my invention, Fig. 2l is a modified arrangement oi. said operating parts, Fig. 4 is a horizontal section -showing an electrical switch box, a railway rail being shown in top plan view, Fig. 5 is a vertical section o-f-said switch box and rail, Fig. 6 is a transverse/section taken on the line andI One end of the shaft 5 is provided with an operating lever 8 which is disposed adjacent a rail 2 and adapted to be oscillated by contact with the tread of a railway wheel. the direction of oscillation of the operating lever 8 depending upon t-he direction ot movement of a train running upon the track 2. A hub 9 is provided at the center ot oscillation ot the lever 8 and either rigidly secured to or t'ormed integral with the shat't 5 so as to rotate with the latter. A collar 10 -is secured to the shaftI 5 in sucha manner as to prevent the same from longitudinal movement. Suspended from the l shaft 5 and rigidly .secured thereto by means (rta screw 11 is a weight'lQ which noron a line 'Le/--y/ of Fig. `4, Fig. 8 is 4a transverse section taken on a line z-z'of Fig. 4, Fig. 9 is a section taken on a line @f4-z of Fig. 4, Fig. 10 is a side elevation vof the .gate controlling mechanism and showing the electrical connections thereof with the controlling switch, Fig. 11- isa side elevation of the main parts vof said gate'controlling mechanism, Fig. 12 is a top plan view of said last named parts, Fig. 13 is an enlarged detailedl provided with an arm 13 which is disposed side elevation showing a valve employed in= Vparallel with the extended axis of saidsha'ft the mechanism in closed position, Fig. 14 is but spaced apart therefrom as clearly illusa view similar to Fig. 13 Abutl showing said tra-ted in Fig. 5. Y To the inner side of the valve in open position, Figs. lz'fand 16 are transverse sectional views of parts shown in 13 and 14 respectively, and=Fig. 17 is l i blades 15" which airev adapted to coperate 4an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of ing knife switches, 'said members extending a cylinder employed in said mechanism.

The preferred form of vconstruction as illustrated in the :accompanying vdrtnvings comprises an ordinary 'gate 1 which is mounted on a frame 2 'and pneunratically as illustrated in Fig. 8. From-this construe'- tion it is clear that when the arm 8 is os- -c'illiated ynfone ldirec-tion that the arm 13 will-'contact with one pair ot members, 16,

The construction.

and the electric connections of the latter with pairs of curved members 16 -for form-Y upwardly f-rom an insulating base plate-17 l vided in said box asillustrated in Figs. 4

arm 1.3 is secured a member 14 'carrying and when oscillated in the other direction Will contact with the other pair, the elec trical circuits m connection with said members being thus closed by the oscillation oic the arnn8. The `*function of the Weight 12 is to maintain the blades 15 normally out ot engagement ivith the members 1G, the normal position ot said Weight corresponding with the vertical or inoperative position oi the arm S. W hen the Y. parts are -in this `position neither of the circuits terminating in the members 16 are closed. Assuming 'thatthe arm `8 is oscillatedas shown in Fig. ll due to the Wheels of a passing train, then one ot the electrical circuits will be closed in .a manner as aforesaid. llt then becomes necessary to lock the shaft 5 in position a suiiicient time for the operation of the gate 'controlling mechanism in the box 4c". ln 'order to `accomplish this a pair of electro- `magnets18 are disposed diametrically opposite relative to the shaft 5 which is the armature of lsaid magnets.v Upon the closing of either circuit one of the electro-mag` 'nets 18 Will. be energized'and drawn toward its armature or shaft, thus causing a fric tional locking means as illustrated in Fig. 6. rThe shaft 5 will remain immovable until thecircuit is broken which is eliected in the box 1f as Will be hereinafter described. After the-circuit is broken the friotional engagement ott the' magnet 18 with the shaft 5 will be released, whereupon said shat will return to the normal position by the action ,of the Weight 12.! The magnets'l are supported by means of liexible standards 19 which permit of va slight movement to and `from the shaft 5 for making and breaking the locking engagement.

The electricall circuits 2O and 21 connect4 a switch 3 with a gate controlling mechanism contained in a box 4;, the Wiring diagram being illustrated in Fig. 2. 'Relier` ring to Fig. 10J-the manner in 1Which the circuits 2O and 271 enter the box 4 is clearly shown, terminals 22 and 23vbeing provided on a yswitch board 24: for said circuits respectively. A `terminal 25 is also provided onthe4 sWitch-board 24 from Which Wires 26 extend to an electric motor 27. Pivotally connected to the inner end of the terminal 25 is ari-oscillatory switch lever 28 which is adapted to close either the circuit 2 0 or '21, the formerbeing closed as illustrated in Fig. 10. By reference to Fig. 12 an insu lator 29 is shown which separates the tvvo arms of the switch lever 28, thus 'preventing the passage of an electric current therebetween. lWhen the circuit 20 is closed as illustrated in Fig. 10 the arms ot the lever 28 rest in sockets 30 which are provided at theirmer extremities of the terminals 20, these sockets providing positive electrical ,connections From this .construction it is seen that when the switch lever 28 is oscilcuit 21 by engagement with .31 of the terminal parent that.

l there-through.

lated to a vertical position tliat the same Will openy the circuit 20 and close the cirthe inner end The electric motor 27 will be Yfurnished current and run in the ftion When the lever 28 rests in the socket 30 or 'contacts With the terminal 31, supposing the corresponcing circuit to be closed. y

From Vthe foregoing description it is When the arm 8 is -oscillate one directionv by means oi the wheels o moving train that either the circuit 2O or 2l Will be closed and Cause the electric motor 27 to operate. fin air compressor 32 is geared to the electric motor '27 so as to run simultaneously therewitln 'this construction being illustrated in Fig. 10. eration oii the air compressor 32 compressed air is produced in the pipes and s leading therefrom to mechanism which Will be presently described. incorporated in the pipe et is a valve and in the pipe il" a similar valve 36, the general arrangement or these valves being shown in 12. yThe pipes a and 4 are connected to a CylinderB by means of pipes 35 and 37 respectiyely, there beingl valves 58 provided in these pipes for regulating t-he orair By reference to Fig.-1-it will be obserrefL that the pipe el leads to the cylinder B, consequently yWhen air is sup` plied to said pipe lthe gate 1 will be loW- ered, air Within the cylinder 3 acting on the piston thereof as aforesaid. ln like manner when the pipe 4l is charged with compressed air the gate Will be raised.

The valve controlling mechanism comprises a valve lever 36 and a valve lever 36', which are connected by means of a rigid crank-pin Extending upwardly from the crank pin 39 is an arm L10 Which is adapted to transmit mot-ion to the switch lever 28 by means of a connecting rod 4l. The crank pin 39 is adapted to'oscillate the valve arms 36 and 36 for eecting the opening and closing of the valves and 36. rlhe crank pin 39 is actuated by means ot a connecting rod a2 which extends from said crank pin to a piston 43 operating in the cylinder 35". rthis piston is limited in its reciprocation by means of Ascrews let which are tapped into the heads of the cylinder 35, this construction being illust-rated in Fig. 17. v.Clamped-to the pipe 4t is a small cylinder L15y the general disposition of which is illustrated Vin Fig. 12. The bore 16 oit 'this `cylinder is arranged in communicatior During the op negaba;

as shown in Fig, llby means ,of a compression helical spring 50 surrounding the stem l of the piston 49. Pivoted to an open end of the cylinder 45 is a downwardly extending arm 52, there beingjan opening 53 provided in saidarm which is adapted to register with the free end of the stem 51 when said arm is in vertical position as illustrated in Fig. 14.' llhen the arm 52 is inclined to the vertical as shown in Fig. 13, the stern 51 is Anot permitted topass through vthe open- 1ng'53, the interference to such movement` being clearly shown. Extending from the lower end of the arm 52 toa depending arm A with the valve arm 36 5 4 is' an adjustable connect-ing rod 55, said arm 54 being arranged in rigid connection and adapted to. oscillate therewith' in an opposite dircti'on; lVhile the arm 54 is rigidly secured to the valve arm or lever 36 an adjustable'connection 5Gis'provided in order to attain the proper coperation of the parts.

The operation for opening and closing the gates is as follows: Assuming that the arm 8 has been moved to an inclined position as shown inFig. 7 by the passage of a train thereover, then the circuit 20 will be closed as will be clear by reference to Figs. 4 and 7. Simultaneously With this operation the motor 27 will begin to run,

l through the terminals 23 and socket 30 as illustrated in Fig. 10. Compressed air will now l.be produced in the pipes 4 and 4 by the faction of the air compressor 32. l/Vit-h the position of the loperating parts as shown in the several views the valve 35 is open and permits the free How of compressed air there-through and thence through the pipe 4 for lowering the gate 1, it being understood that this is the rst operation of the -gate after the arm 8 has been oscillated. A part of the compressed air flowing through the pipe 4 is diverted to t-he pipe 36 and `lthence to the cylinder 35, the-amount of air thus diverted being controlled-byv the regulating valve 38. The air thusadmitted into the cylinder 35 forces the piston 43 therein from the position shown in Fig. 17,'

one of the screws 44 limiting the movement of said piston as aforesaid.` This action ofthe piston 43 moves the crank pin 39 and the valve levers 36 and 36 in such a manner as to close the valve 35 and to open the valve 36. Consequently the compressed air Will cease flowing through the pipe 4 and to the cylinder 3, 1t being assumed that sulicient air has been introduced into the cylinder 3 for the lowering of the gate 1,. Simultaneously with the closing of the valve the switch lever 2 8 is moved out of engagement with the .Socket 30 and into engagement with the terminal 3.1. The circuit-1S thus broken which causes the electro-magnets l to be, magnetized whereupon the shaft .5 will be sclllat'el t6 its normal or neutral position compressed air within the the current passing .Y

Vthat cylinder below that fluently,

.by Ameans of the weight l2. The gate 1 will remain nlthc lowermostposition as shown ,Fi-g. 1 unt'ilthe tra-in passes over a second arin 8 which iS adapted to close the ciruitZl.. f

As above described, the switch lever 23 hasbeen moved into contact with the terininal 3l, consequently when the circuit 21 is closed the motor will begin to operate as before. The compressed air from the-compresso-r will now Howthrough the pipe 4', valve 36 and .thence to the-cylinder 3',

of the plston in said cylinder. After the last described ope-ration is completed the pipes 4 and cylinder'3wvill have time to leak out sutfi" .whereupon the gate 1 is raised by the action ciently to reduce the pressure therein to atmospheric pressure.

betweenthe lowermfr and raismo of the A D e gate 1 1s very short, consequently 1t is nee- Bnt the time elapsed essa-ry to provide 1means 'for the escape of the compressed air in the pipes 4 after the gate l is lowered, it heilig' clear that if `a pressure remains -in the cylinder 3 that' the introduction of compressed air into the cylinder 3 forraising the gate would be'. counterbalanced. To this end the cylinder 45 is provided. lVhen th'e switch lever 2S has been moved into Contact with the terminal 31 the arm' neously into the vertical positlon as shown in Fig. 14, thus causing the registration of the opening 53 with the piston 'stem 51. The compressed airwithin the pipe 4 will now act upon the piston 49 and cause the same to assume the position as shown in Flg. 16, the stem 51 of said piston passing through the opemng 53 wlthout interference. This action of the piston 49 uncovers the exhaust port- 48 whereupon the com.- pressed air 1s exhausted. The pressure within vthe pipe 4 being now reduced to atmospheric pressure there will be no resistance to the action of the piston in the cylinder 3 for raising the gate l when this operation occurs.

I have found that the high pressure sup-' 52 is moved simnlta-' ing constantly .hinged .to the inner ends 0f, i

the terminals orb-infime; por-fs 25, ,Gonz-e.- when pos- 1t-ionedl 'as vin Fig. l0, com.-

plete the circuit through 20, while an upward movement of levers '28 will br'ea'l this circuit and complete 'die circuit through 21 by-contactin'g--With th 'oclzets 3l. A gate closing and ning mechanism as set-forth is simple ort construction, and reliable in operation.

'llheA arrangement adapted for use iii cities close together, and it is gate ahead at the same ti ie a be .is open. To this end a. switch 52 :is ranged between the tiro ,D ed with circuits QOKand 'tor each gate controlling mechanism. this arrangement, when .the central switch 3" ope 'ated to open one gate, it will also close the other.

llhile. l have illustrated and described the preferred form ot constructiontorcarrying my invention into efect,`the same is capa.- ble of variation and modilicat-ion without departingfrom the spirito't the invention. l therefore do not wish to be coni'ined to the exact details of construction as set forth,

modifications as fall With/in the scope of the appended claims. l Y

Having described my invention, what li claim as new and desirel to secure by Letcar kWheel to produce oscillation thereof,

means on said shaft for maintaining .the same in a medial' neutral position, a pair o electro-magnets arranged adjacent said shait and adaptedto hold the same in an oscil-y lated position, a pair ot electric circuits adapted to be opened or closed by the oscillation of said shaft, said electro-magnets being in said circuit, a gate operating mechanism comprising an electric motor, means for switching said mftor into 'either one of'said circuits, an air compressor geared to said motor and adapted to supply compressed air, an oscillator'` `gate member, a pair of tion according to the circuit: in ivhich said motor is placed, compressed air pipes leading from saidv air compressor to said pneumatic cylinders, and valves arranged in said pipes tor controlling the distribution of compressed air therein, substantially as de-v scribed.r

.2. ln an automatic gate for railway cross ings, the combina-tionv ofa railway track, an oscillatoryl gate meiiiber,a pali-'fof fpneiimat-ically operated: cylinders )j adapted to operate said member-in either direction, an

ar-A O'rites and connect:

butl desire to avail myself ot such variations andtorme'd iiipneumatic cylinders adapted to` 'operate said gate member in eitherdirec electric switch `comprising an oscillatory shaft arranged adjacent said railway track, there beiiig'an arm onions end of said shaft capable of tion .according to the direction oit moyement ot a ltrainen said' track, said arm being ings for said sha-'tt incorporated in said switch, a weight secured tosaid shaft and adapted to maintain the same-in aneutr'al or intermediate position, nets adapted to hold s aidvslia-ttin an oscillated position when energized by a current passii'ig there-through, a pair of electric circuits leading Jfrom said switch, said electro-niagoscillated, thefcirci'iit which is, closed or opened being determined by the direction of movement ot the train on said-track, a gate ,controlling mechanism comprising an electric'motor arranged so as to lie-'placed in either of said circuits, an air compressor driven by said', electric motorI .and adapted to supply compressed 'airitor the operation of said pneumatic cylinders,- and means for diyerting introduced to oneo't said'-piieiimatic `cylinders Jfor 'opening a switch in' the circuit in v hicli said motor is temporarilyplaced, substantially as described. f" l In an automatic gate for railway crossings, the combination With a railway track, of an elect-ric switch arranged adjacent said track and comprising an oscillatory shaft adapted to be operated by the Wheels of a -train passing over said track, the direction of oscillation oit saidshaft 'depending upon the direction ot movement of said train, a pair of electric circuits adapted to be closed being open When said shaft is in au intcr mediate-or neutralvposition, a Iweight mounted on said shaft tor normally maintaining the samein said neut'al position, a pair ct' electro-magnets arranged in operative connection with said shaft and adapted to automatically hold the same inany oscillated position thereof, a gate controlling mechanismcoinprisingf an electric motor,

of said circuits, an ai'rcompressoi geared to said motor and adapted to ffeneratc compressed'tair, an oscillatory gate member, a pair of pneumatic cylinders tor oscillatling said member, means for furnishing com- 5 which said motor is placed after the d'eliveriv of suliicient 'air to one of said pneumatic one direction, substaiitiallyfasrdescribed.

ngs, itlie combination' with a railway track,

a' pair ot electroanag.

nets being iirs'aid circuits, said shaft being l adapted to open or close either 4circuit when a portion ot the compressed air` by the oscillation of'said shaft, each 'circuitp/ressed air to said cylinders alternately trom said compressed'air supply, and meansl for automatically opening the -circuit in j cylinders -foroperat-ing said gate member in 4. In an automatic gate foi'jrailivay cross-"- beingoscillated' in either. direc- A,

oscillated'rby the -Wheelso'f said train, hearf.

lio

means for placing said motor in either one of an electric switch arranged adjacent said track. and adapted to be operated by the wheels of trains passing thereover, a pair of circuit-s leading from said switch and adapt-' ed to be opened or closed by theoperation thereof, a gate controlling mechanism coniprising an electric motor, means for placing said motor in either one of said circuits, an air compressor geared to said motor and adapted to supply compressed air, an oscillatory gate member, a pair of pneumatic cylinders one of which is adapted to oscillate said member in `one direction and the other cylinder to operate the same in the other directiom a pair of pipes leading from said air compressor to said pair of cylinders, and pneumatic means for switching saidmotor into the other ci'rcuit when sutlicient air has been delivered to one ot' said pneumatic cylinders for operating said gate in one direction, subs antially as described.

5. ln an automatic gate for railway crossings,'the combination with a railway track ot' an electric switch arranged adjacent. said track and adapted to be operated by the wheels of trains passing` thereover, a pair of ,electric circuitsleading from said switch and adapted to be opened or closed thereby,

one circuit being closed when a train is passing in one direction and vthe other circuit being closed when -a train 'is passing inv the other direction, a gate controlling mechanism comprisingA an electric motor, means for placing said motor in either one of'saidcircylinder for oscillating saidgate member in the other directioman air compressor, pipes vlea-ding from said air compressor to said pneumatic cylinders, valvesffo-r shutting otl:1

theair in one of said pipes when vcompressed airis flowing through the other, ua switchv cylinder' arranged in 'piped connection with said compressed air ,pipes and adapted to' receive ar portion of the compressed air flow- 'ing there-through, a piston operating' in said switch cylinder and adapt-ed to control the vshut-off valves in said compressed air'pipes,`

an electric motor, a switch in combination with a railway trackv and adapted to be operated by trains passing thereover, a. pair of circuits leading from said switch, means forl placing said motor 1n either one of said cir-j. cuits,and means cooperating with said valyes for breaking a Acircuit infwhicli said `motor is placed, substantially as described.

- 7. In an automatic gate forrailuuiy crossings, an oscillatory gate member, a pneumatic cylinder adapted to oscillate said member in one direction, a second pneumatic cylinder for, oscillating said gate member in the other direction, an air compressor, pipes leading from said air compressor to said pneumatic cylinders,yalres for shutting oft' the `air in one of'said pipes when compressed. air is iowing through the other, a switch cylinder arranged in piped connection with said compressed air pipes and adapted to receive a portion ot' the compressed air-Howing there-through, a piston operating in said cuits, means torsupplying electrical energy to said circuits, au air compressor geared to .said motor and adapted to Aoperate synchronously therewith, an oscillatory gate member, a pneumatic cylinder adapted'to lower 5 said gate, a: second pneumatic cylinder adapted to raise said gate, compressed air pipes lleading from said air compressor to said cylinders for supplying operative fluid thereto, a switch cylinder, means for diverting a port-ion of the compressed air being delivered to one 'of said pneumatic cylinders to said switch cylinder, and means coperating with said switch cylinder for breaking the 'circuit in which said motor is placed, substantially as described.

6. In an automatic 0'fate t'or railwa 'I cioss- 2 ings, an oscillatoryl gate member, a pneumatic cylinder adapted to oscil-late said inernber in one direction, a second pneumatic switch cylinder and adapted to contrcl the shut-olf valves in said compressedair pipes,

`aii electricmotor, a switch in combination' with a railway track and adapted to be operated by trains passing thei'eover, a pair of .circuits leading from said switch, means

Images