US1106533A - Interlocking switch-stand mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

P. 0. ANDERSON. INTERLOGKING SWITCH STAND MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 15, 1913.

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THE NORRIS FETERS CO. PHOTOLITHO. VA

F. O. ANDERSON. INTERLOGKING SWITCH STAND MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.15, 1913 2 6% 4 6 u Z Z Mm e2 7. g kit .w

Wi nesses:

Iwvemtor THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHCL. WASHINGTON D. C,

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FRANK o. ANDERSON, oFcINcINNATI, OHIO.

INrnRLooKING swIrcrr-sTA n MECHANISM.

License.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, FRANK O. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have'invented certain new: and useful Improvements in Interlocklng Switch-Stand Mechanisms, of which the fol lowing is a specification."

My nventlon relatesto means forinsur- 111g safety in the use of railwayswitches,

theoloject being to render it impossible to look a switch until the point-rail has'been brought againstthestock-railo My invention consists in the parts audin the details of construction and arrangement of parts as wlll herein after be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a general perspectiveview of part of a switch-and a switch stand embodying my invention Fig. 2is a detail of the switch-operating lever and the disengageable interlock-open ating lever; 3 is a detail perspective View of the bell crank that operatesthe interlocking plunger; Fig. 4: is a plan vieiv of the lnterlocklng mechanism; Eng. 5 IS a vertical-longitudinal section on the line wrc of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a similar section, but showing a modlficatlon'.

-ln the construction herein shown as an example, the switch stand 1 has the top 1 plate 2 and the vertical main shaft 3, which is connected by means of the crank 41 and rods 5 and 6 to the point-rail 7 of the switch. The shaft 3 has-the fulcrum-head: 8*fixed to it and theswitch-operating lever 9 swings in a vertical plane on a pivot 10 in its fulcrum-head. When the lever 9 is down in vertical position, it will engage either in the slot 11 or the slot 12 in the plate. 2, accordingly asthe switch is closed or opened. Stop lugs 13. and 1a are providedadjacent to the slots 11 and 12, respectively, to limit the swinging of the fulcrum-head Sin its horizontal plane, which swingingispermitted when the switch operatlng lever 9 is raised out of the slot 11 or slot'12 to horizontal position. Above this pivot .10,- the lever 9 has the ear 15, with an opening 16 to receive the shackleof a padlock; and the 'fulcrumdiead 8. and this leverare so shaped in the region of this ear 15 that the shackle of the'padlock in the-opening 16 will engage with the outside of the fulcrum-head and prevent the lever 9 from being raisedoutof either the slot 11 ortheslot "12; Thus the 'safe'for traffic.

from the stock rail, the

, Specification of Letters I Patent. V x-Paijgntgd Aflg. 11,1914; Application filed October 15, 1913. Serial No. 795,222.

switch maybe-locked in closed or open position. I

The switch stand 1 is mounted on the head blocks 17, and one of these, close to the switch stand, between'the switchstand and the track, is gained or recessed and reeeivesa housing 18. The point-rail 7 of the swltch has a guard 19 bolted to it, as seen 1n Flg. 1, and the interlocking-bar 20 is secured to this guard lt) by meansof 'nuts 21, flanking the guard and adjustable along a rounded part 22 of thebar 20. This bar 20 slides through a part of the housing 18 that extends outside the head block 17 A guide 23 for the'interlocking-bar 2l'is also provided on the head block 17 about mid- 1 way between the housing 18 and the track to reinforce said bar and render the operation of the apparatusunore accurate.

"The housing 18 is bolted to the underside ofa plate 24 which lies fiat on the upperside oi the head block 17, completelycoveringthe recess or gain in the head blockand being screwed or otherwise suit-ably secured tothe head block, as 'SllOWlL in Fig. 1. Sliding horizontally in the housing 18, at right angles to the interlocking-bar 20, is the interlocking-plunger .25. The interlocking-bar 20 has an opening 26,: andthis interlockingplunger. 25. can extend through this opening and out through the outside of the housing 18 when the pointrail 7 is drawn up close to the stock-rail of the track and is perfectly 1 The parts are so made how ever, that if 1 the "point-rail 7 is, forany reason, left any appreciable distance away enter the opening 26.

It is the purpose of my invention to. provlde simple 'andefi'ective mechanism that will so connect the switch-operating mechanism and. this interlcoking-mechanism that the -switch cannot be locked unless this plunger 25 has entered this opening 26 in the interlocln'ngbar 20, and this will now be described. a

plunger 25 cannot I V Secured to the upperside of the plate 24 i Q is a crank-casing27 with. a cover 28 secured to" its top and holding, in bearings formed in said casing and cover, the transverse shaft 29, which makes up, with the arm 3.0 andthe arms 31, a bell-crank 'of integral construction; The plunger 25, asshown in. Fig. 5, has a head 32 fixed on it, inside the housing 18, and thearm 3001' the shell-crank ex .tends downand engages inthis head 32 in such a lrnanner thatif. the arms 31 of the:

bell-crank are raised, this arm 30 will pull the plunger 25 back from the interlockingbar 20. I v

'On the switch stand is the d'i'sengageable interlock-operating lever 33, which has a pivot 34 in the stop 13, this pivot being con centric with the pivot -,10 of the switchoperating lever 9 when the fulcrum-head 8 is up against the stop 13 insuchposition. as to permit the lever 9 to drop into the-slot 11. This lever 33 has a lateral boss 35 extending over toward the switch-operating lever 9 and .carrying a lug 36 that enters a recess 37 in the switch operating lever 9 when said lever 9 is brought up toward the lever 33; v

. About in alinement with the boss 37 and i the lug 36, is a stud or pivot 38, on the lever is connected to said lever 33.

33, by means of which the connecting-rod 39,

v This connecting-rod 39 extends down and has a rounded part 40 that is screwed into a T I head .41 andprovided with a vlock nut :42

to fix it therein. This T-head 41 is brought between, the arms '31 of the bell-crank and a pivot pin 43 passes through the arms and through'the horizontal part of the T-l1ead.. With the parts thus arranged, when it is desiredto open the switch,-finding the lever 9 andthe other part-s in the positions shownin Fig. l, the operator removes the padlock fromv the ear 15yand. raises the lever v9 to its horizontal position so as to release it' from the slot 11. Indoing this he raises the interlock-operating lever 33 along with thelever 9, due to the engagement of the lug 36 in therecess 37 insaid-lever 9.v Raisfulcrum-head 8 around .in the horizontal 19, until the opening 26 in said interlocking bar is drawn away from the end of the plun-l ing this lever ,33 thus to its horizontal position, it operates, through the connection by means of the rod 39 and the T-head 41, to

as before described,.withdraws the, plunger 25Hfrom the interlocking-bar 20. WVhen this plunger-is thus withdrawn, the'switch may be opened by swinging the lever 9 with its 1 plane. In .thusswinging these parts around,

thellever 9 leaves .the. interlock-operating" lever 33 with its-lug36 withdrawn from the recess of said lever 9. This lever 33 will thus remain in raised horizontal position with the interlocking-plunger 25 withdrawn.

from the interlocking-bar 20, because, in

opening the switch, the interlocking-bar 20 has been pulled out,due to its connection withthe point-rail 7 by means of the guard ger25.fl r .When the switchis to beclosed, the lever 9 and the fulcrum-head 8 areuswung-back.

in the horizontahplane, and, as they approach theclosed position, the recess 37 in the lever9 will again receive the lug 36 of the interlock-operatingalever 33. ;N ow, if

the operator is to move said leverj9 down to itsv vertical position within ithe slot 11,'it is necessary. to force-the interlock-operating le- ,ver 33 down; and, for this lever to go down,

it is necessary for :theplunger 25 to enter,

the opening 26 in the -interlocking-bar 2O. As above described, jthe parts are so ar-' in position to admit 'thejplunger 25 as --ra11ged that this opening 26 will not be long-as thefpoint-rail '7"is-fany appreciable distance away from; tfhe'jstook-rail ofthe' track. Therefore it will be seen that itQ will be. impossible for thejoperatorl' to]:

bring the switchoperatingdevent),down to vertical position tvvith jits ear-15 pro-v trading to receive the padlock unless the point-rail 7 has actually been broughtup to safe position and 'theqplunger 25-has) entered the openingb26 'in the interlocking b'arQO. Therefore it ,W ill'ibeimpossiblefor-i" a careless operator to lock; the switch in an; safe position whether:v this be du'eto Wear V and looseness in theconneotions between. the.

switch-stand and therails, or whether it be due to some obstruction betweenthefpointw =rail andthestock-rail; which, e'venthough it were slight, might hold the l:.;point-rail]7 j far enough away fora sharp 1 fiangetoI enter between the point rail andthe stock-railgand result in derailment. ,NYher'e the obstruc-j tion is small; it is especially; dangerous, ,be-j' 5.5 causenwithout; an interlocking-mechanism" "the operator may strain thepartsofthe switch-stand and switch gsuflicientlyf to jl'ac icomplislt-the locking of; the switcli-st'and with the obstruction in place The interlocking-mechanism prevents: this; my

required on the Jpart'of the operator;

improved connections enable this mechanism,

to beyoperated withQa minimum of parts to};

a the mechanism and of wear and ofattention" By making the-bell-lerank as shown, with and its} cover 28, and, with the arm 30f. inside important consideration,"thehousing l8 .bel-I ing also, constructed.withthislin viewflI:

also reduce theexpens'e ofx consti'uctionand maintenance, considerably by-m'aking'flthef .120 integral. The parts-of*the shaft gg):thatlie l in the'bearings maybertu'rned andtheends; r

two arms 31, the arm 3O Eandthe shaft 29 v of the arms. 31' may belbored in alinementt to pivot with the T-head 41 with far less work than wouldibe necessary to assemble:

the: different parts made-separately. .On'ej of the arms 31 is providedwithfaprojection 44 with which the. square'head of the pin 43 engagesso that the pin is prevented from c turning in the arms and all of the 'wear..-

. raise the lever 9 and the interlock-operating takes place between the pin and the T-head l 41.

By providing the rod 39 with the reduced threaded part 40 screwed intothe T-head 41, thelength of this connection may be adjusted so that the bringingof the interlockoperating lever 33 to horizontal position will withdraw the plunger 25 just the proper distance to clear the interlocking-bar 20 and thereby insure that these partswill remain in their raised positions when the lever 9 is drawn away from the lever 33 ready to reengage upon the return of the lever 9. a

The device shown'in Fig. 6 is like that shown in the other figures excepting that'the plunger 25 is provided with a rack 45 and the bell-crank has a segment gear 46 substituted forthe arm 30. This segment gear, meshing with the rack 45,[ withdraws the plunger 25 from) the interlocking-bar 20 when the arms 31 of the bell-crank are raisedin the mannerhereinbefore described.

To guard against withdrawal of the plunger 25 from the; interlocking-bar 20, should the switch stand and other exposed mechanism be dislocated Or destroyed, the plate 24 is provided. This plate will permit the casing27 and other parts supported thereby to be destroyed and will yet cover and hold down. the housing 18 and the plunger 25 therein. Where it is desired to provide' additional insurance against withdrawal of the plunger in case. of such. an accident, a suitable locking device'may be provided to engage with the plunger 25 and be released manually before the operator attempts to lever 33 therewith, such locking devices being of various descriptions and the manner of their application to the interlockingmechanism notbeing novel, no specific description thereof is deemed necessary herein. It will also be understood that various other modifications of my invention are possible Without departing from the scope or spirit thereof, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim 1. In switclrinterlocking mechanism, an interlocking-bar connected to the point-rail of a switch, a plunger adapted to engage across said bar, throwing means for said plunger, a switch-operating lever requiring initial movement in one plane before it can be moved in another plane to throw the switch, an interlock-operating lever movable with the switch-operating lever during the initial movement thereof, but disengageable therefrom when the switch-op6rating lever is moved to throw the switch, and operative connection between the interlock-operating lever and said throwing means for the plunger.

2. In switch-interlocking mechanism, an interlocking-bar connected to the point-rail of the switch, a plunger adapted to engage across said bar, a bell-crank adapted to throw said plunger, switch-operating lever requiring initial movement in one plane before it can be moved in another-plane to throw the switch, 1 an interlockoperating lever movable with the switch-operating lever during initial movement thereof, but disengageable therefrom when the switchoperating lever is moved to throw theswitch, and. connect ng element from sald interlock-operating lever to said bell-crank.

3. In switch-interlocking mechanism, an interlocking-bar connected to the point-rail of a switch, a plunger adapted to engage across said bar, throwing means for said plunger, a switch-operating lever requiring initial movementin one plane before it can be moved in another plane to throw the sw tch, an interlock-operating lever movable with the switch-operating lever during the initialmovement thereof, but disengageable therefrom when the switchoperating lever is moved tothrow the switch, operative connection between the interlock operating lever and saidthrowing means for the plunger, and means for adjusting said operative connection. l

a. In switch-interlocking mechanism, an

interlocking-barconnected to the point-rail of the switch, a plunger adapted'to engage across said bar, a bell-crank adapted to throw said plunger, a switch-operatinglever requiring initial movement in one plane before it can be moved in another plane to throw the switch, an interlock-operating lever movable with the switch-operating lever during initial movement thereof, but

di-sengageable therefrom when the switchoperating lever is movedto throw the switch, a connecting element from said interloclooperatingflever to said bell-crank, and means for adjusting the length of said con necting element.

In switch-interlocking mechanism, an interlocking-bar connected to the point rail of the switch, a plunger engaging across said bar, throwing means for said plunger,

,a-switch-operating lever requiring initial movement 111 one plane before it can be moved in another plane to throw the switch, an interlock-operating lever movable in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of initial movement of the switch-operating lever, a lug carried bythe interlockoperating lever, said switch-operating lever having a recess receiving the lug, said lug being adapted to be disengaged from the recess when the switch-operatinglever is moved to throw the switch, and operative connection between said interlock-operating lever and V the throwing means for the plunger.

6. In switch-interlocking mechanism, in

combination with a switch-stand and a main shaft thereon and connection between said main shaft andthe point-rail ofthe switch,

a fulcrum-head fixednto the main shaft, a sw1tch operat1ng lever having a pivot in said fulcrum-head, a plate having a slot within which theswitch-operating lever engages, said lever beingi initially swung out of f centric with the pivot of the switclroperat ing lever during the initial movement thereof, means for engagement betweenthe nterlocK- operating lever and the switch-operat- V ,1 ing lever whereby they swing together durin'g'said initial movement, but whereby they disengage during the movement of. the

switch-operating lever to throw the switch,

an interlocking-bar connected to the pointrail of the switch, an interlocking-plunger adapted to engage across said interlocking bar, throwing means for said lun er, Y and operatlve connectlon between sald mterlockoperating lever and said throwing means for;

e i'p e r- 7. In switch .shaftthereon and connection between said -main shaft and the point-rail of the switch,

a fulcrnm headrfixed to the inainshaft, a

switch-operating lever having a pivot in saidfulcrum-head, a plate having a slot wlthinv WhlClltlle sw1tchoperat1ng lever engages,

said ,lever b eing initially swi'ing'out of said Y slot in one'plane, for movement with the fiil crnm headin another plane, to rotate the mainshaft and throw theswitch, an inter- I lock-operating lever having a pivot concentrio with thepivot of the switch-perating lever during the initial movement thereof, means for engagement between the interlockn p p arms, and a c0nnecting1iod ad'jiistably se- "cured, in the operating lever and the switch-operating lever whereby they swing togetherduring said initialmovement,.but whereby they disengage during the movement of the switchoperating lever to throw the ,switch, aninterlockingbar connected to the point-rail of the n interlocking mechanism, a in i combination-with a-swltch-stand and a maln.

, switch,- an interlocking-plungen adapted to engage across-said interlockingbar, throw nection between said '1 interloclboperating lever and said throwmg'means for thepluning means for vsaid plunger, operative con-' geiy said; swit chkoperating' lever having means for locking it in "position after it has] fully entered the slotin the plate, but said,-

means being iinavailable until plunger hasrengagedacrosssmd lnterloclnng bar.

8 In switch 'interIockiiigj mechanism, plunger-throwing means eompr s1ng, 1ntegrally formed, a transverse shaft, an engagl 9, In" switch interlockingmechanism, in comb nation wltha casing and a cover therefor, plunger throwing means comprising,

rigidly securedto each otl1er,,,ai transverse;

shaft joiirnaled between said casing and said :cover,-.an engaging member-extending from near the" m ddle]: of said shaft within said casing,and armsfex'tend'inggfromlthe endsof combination with a casing a coverthere shaft ij oiirna-led between said casingvand, said cover, an engaging member; extending from near the middle ;of,:said shaft withinisaid casing, arms extending from the" ends of'said shaft ontsidethe casing substantially paral lel to each other in another direction, a T

head between; the 'endlpai' tslgof said parallel a pivot pin passing throngh theLtrans verse part of the Trhead fa'nd thronghsaid stem member of; said yT-head.

7 JAMES :N. RAMsny, a GLARENOEPERIQEWV. f

' Copies' of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe f Commissioner of Patents a i 'washingtomnc. j v 1 i v v 1 "said shaft outside the-I"casing s ibstantially j parallel to each other in another direction 7 10. In switch-interlocking mechanism, in

rigidly seciired to each: other, a transverse F K o-ANDERsoN. a lvitne'ssest 1 f j I

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