US1085171A - Switch-lock. - Google Patents

Description

M. SGHROYER.

SWITCH LOOK.

APPLICATION FILED T1113. 17, 1913. 1 ,085, 1 7 1. Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

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M. SCHROYER.

SWITCH LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED man, 1913.

Patented J an. 27, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co wAsmNc'rox D c STATES jPATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN SCI-IROYER, OF BROW'NSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0 WILLIAM D. MOBRYAR AND ONE-THIRD TO THOMAS GRENFEL, BOTH OF ELIZA- BETH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-LOCK.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARTIN ScHRoYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brownsville, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in switch locks and has for its object to provide an apparatus of this class in which the switch operating lever is mounted upon a suitable supporting frame for usual operation, in connection with a suitably located locking mechanism, adapted to fixedly hold the lever in locked position, and only capable of operation by the use of a special key.

The apparatus also embodies other fea- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed =lliebruary 17, 1913.

tures of improvement which shall be hereinafter described, but which form the sub ject-matter of a companion application filed herewith.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in wh1ch Figure 1 is a plan view showing a section of track and switch-points in operative relation to my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan view of the switchstand. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in elevation of the lock, the coverplate having been removed. Fig. & is a cross sectional view, indicated by the line IV IV of Fig. 3. F ig. 5 is a view of the lock in elevation, with the cover-plate in position. Fig. 6 is a partial sectional detail view of the lock,

showing the mounting of the spring-actu ated bolt. Fig. 7, Sheet 1, is a view in elevation, showing the inner face of the coverplate of the lock.

In operating the switch-points of switches, it is customary and desirable to lock the actuating mechanism so as to positively maintain the switch in either open or closed position. For such purpose the switchpoints 2, 2, are usually connected by a bar 3 and actuated by a pitman 4 or other suitable connection, which in turn is thrust forwardly or backwardly by any suitable gearing 5, 6, of well-known type mounted within a suitable receiving casing 7. In the con struction shown, the casing 7 is formed integrally or otherwise as a part of the switch stand which is mounted by its base 8 across the ends of the usual cross-ties by spikes, and

Patented Jan. 27,1914. Serial No. 748,953.

at a suitable position for operation by the I switch-tender.

The operation of the switch is effected by manipulation of the usual lever 9 arranged to be thrown around the center of its operating shaft 10 extending outwardly from one end of the housing 7, and said lever is of any suitable or usual construction, as will be readily understood. It is designed to be thrown to the right or left in horizontal position. and to be there positively held in a receiving housing 11 extending upwardly from the base-plate 8, and having a locking latch 12 provided with an extended counterweighted portion 13 and pivoted at 14 in the housing.

The locking arm is retracted by means of a foot-lever 15 pivoted in the base of the housing, as more fully illustrated and described in the companion application above referred to. One such housing and lock is preferably provided at each side of the apparatus for reception and engagement of the lever arm 9.

For the purpose of efi'ectually locking the lever in place and preventing unauthorized throwing of the switch, I have provided an additional lock A of special construction mounted upon the base 8 in convenient juxtaposition to the normal position of lever arm 9, when thrown to such side, and which is provided with a sliding bolt or hasp 16 adapted to be receded by the lever 9 as it is lowered, and to spring into a socket Z) in the lever to maintain it in locked position until the hasp is retracted by use of the specially designed unlocking mechanism and key.

The hasp 16 is rounded or beveled at its upper outer portion, as indicated at 17, being straight underneath, and is slidingly mounted in a suitable recess 18 and on a supporting ledge 19 within a housing 20 which is fixedly mounted upon and secured to the base 8 by any suitable means. The hasp 16 is normally projected outwardly by pressure springs 21 mounted on stems 22 extending inwardly from the other end of the housing case, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. and its forward travel is limited by an abutting shoulder 23 engaging the front wall of the housing.

The hasp is provided along its length with a plurality of dog recesses 24, the walls of which taper downwardly, as shown, and

1' a... n a. 1.,

each of which is adapted to receive the terminal 25 of an actuating lever or arm 26. Said arms are pivoted at 27 upon suitable pins or screws extending outwardly from the inner face 28 of the housing and are suitably shaped to provide for the engagement of the projecting wing of an operating key, specially designed to actuate the dog.

As will be observed, the lock housing 20 is provided with a slidingly mounted front or cover 29 having projecting tongues 30 fitting into corresponding receiving grooves 31 arranged around the top, bottom and end portions of the housing so as to make a flush interfitting water-tight joint. The cover 20 is provided with a plurality of key-hole openings a, b and 0, each of which is of a different form in cross section, and is adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped key, a particular key being provided for each particular key-hole. The under side of the cover-plate 29 is also provided with distinctively diiierent undercut recesses a, b and 0, as shown in Fig. 7, providing clearance for the particular wings of each key, permitting its operation only in the particular hole for which it is designed. The several key-holes are covered by depending shields 32, each pivoted to a screw or stud 33 above the key-hole, whereby each hole'is covered, while permitting the shield to be thrust to one side for inserting the key.

The lever 9, having been thrown down and automatically engaged by the hasp 16, cannot be released until the hasp is thrown back by one such particular key, operating against its particular arm 26 to withdraw the hasp, whereupon the switch-operating lever may be raised, in connection with the unlocking of the lever by operation of the foot treadle 15 of one of the housings 11.

The especial advantage of the lock A, as thus constructed and applied, is that it pro vides, in addition to the housing locks; a positive means of preventing unauthorized opening or closing of the switch, the plural lock enabling the furnishing of a plurality of different keys to different operators. If desired, it may be so arranged as to prevent operation of the lock, except when all of the keys are used at the same time although, ordinarily, any particular key may be used. The advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated by all those familiar with this class of apparatus. It provides a positive and reliable means for effectually controlling the operation of the switch; it is simple and economical in construction, not

liable to get out of order, and completely prevents the tampering with the switch.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a switch lock, the combination of a supporting base, an operating lever mounted therein and operatively connected with the switch actuating mechanism, receiving and locking housings for the lever at each side of its pivotal mounting, and an additional keyactuated lock adapted to automatically engage the lever and retain it in thrown position having a spring-actuated locking hasp and a plurality of key-actuated operating dogs, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a switch lever, of a fixedly mounted lock provided with a spring-actuated hasp having a tapering terminal for engagement of the lever, a plurality of actuating dogs engaging recesses in said hasp, and a slidably mounted coverplate provided with a corresponding plurality of irregular key-holes, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a switch lever, of a fixedly mounted lock provided with a spring-actuated hasp having a tapering terminal for engagement of the lever, a plurality of actuating dogs engaging recesses in said hasp, and a slidably mounted coverplate provided with a corresponding plurality of irregular key-holes and associated clearance recesses on the inner side of said c0verplate and adjacent to said key-holes, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a switch-stand and its lever and a supporting base therefor, of locking mechanism for the lever consisting of a housing mounted on the base provided with a slidingly mounted locking hasp having a projecting tapering terminal and having a plurality of tapered recesses on its side, a limiting shoulder, spring mechanism for thrusting it outwardly to engage said shoulder, a plurality of actuating dogs pivoted within the casing and engaging said apertures in the hasp, and a cover-plate provided with a plurality of irregular-shaped key-hole openings arranged in operative relation to said actuating dogs, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN SCHROYER.

Witnesses C. M. CLARKE, W. A. HEOKMAN.

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

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