US1108879A - Lock for interlocking switch-stand mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

F. G. ANDERSON.

LOOK FOR INTERLOGKING SWITCH STAND MECHANISM. APPLIOATION FILED 0M. 15, 1913.

1, 108,879, Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A a torney THE NORRIS PETERS PHOTO-LI'I'HLL. WASHlNU'f'UN. D. C.

F. C. ANDERSON.

LOOK FOR INTERLQGKING SWITCH STAND MECHANISM. APPLICATION TILED OCT. 15, 1913.

1,108,879, Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses.-

DQZ M 42 M 6mm AM W M Attorney THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHOH WASHINGTU". 1.!v L.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. ANDERSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

LOCK FOR INTERLOCKING SWITCH-STAND MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. 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 Looks for Interlocking Switch Stand Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switch stands and its object is to prevent accidental movement of the interlocking bar at all times even should the apparatus above it be disarranged or destroyed by accident.

My invention consists in the parts and in the details of construction and arrange ment of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a switch stand with interlocking mechanism provided with my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of part of the switch stand showing the relation of the interlock operating mechanism to the switch-throwing lever; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the interlocking plungerhead; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the interlocking plunger housing and the plunger and its head in place therein, together with part of the interlocking-bar, the housing being shown in position in the head block, and the bolt of the lock'being shown in section; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the interlocking mechanism and the lock pivoted thereon, the T-head being shown in section through the center of its pin; and Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section on a line corresponding to the line 03 of Fig. 5.

The switch stand 1 has the main shaft 2 journaled vertically in it, being held in upper and lowerbearings by caps 3 and 4, respectively. Below the lower bearing, this shaft has the crank 5 with the crank pin 6, adapted to receive the connecting rod, which is connected to the point rails of the switch. Above the upper bearing, this main shaft 2 has fixed on it the fulcrum-head 7, said main shaft being supported by this fulcrum-head 7 bearing down against the upper side of the upper bearing. The fulcrum-head 7 has the switch-operating lover or handle 8 pivotally swinging on the pivot 9. The top of this switch stand 1 comprises the horizontal plate 10, which has slots 11 and 12 diametrically opposite on. a line through the center of the main shaft 2, and thehandle or lever 8 is adapted to engage in either one of these Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

Application filed October 15, 1913. Serial No. 795,224.

slots when the switch is completely thrown one way or the other. The handle or lever 8 has the car 13 above its pivot 9, with an opening 14 adapted to receive the bow or shackle of the padlock to engage against the outer face of the fulcrum-head 7, whereby the lever 8 may be locked against swinging out of the slot 11 or slot 12 as the case may be. The target shaft 15 is journaled vertically, parallel with the main shaft 2, in upper and lower brackets 16 and 17, respectively, which are bolted to the switch stand 1 along with the caps 3 and 4, respectively, of the upper and lower bearings of the shaft 2. Above the upper bracket 16, a slotted arm 18 is pinned or otherwise suitably fixed to the target shaft 15, and, by bearing against the upper side of the bracket 16, supports the target shaft. The upper end of the target shaft carries the blades 19 and 20 extending at right angles to each other and adapted, respectively, when turned in direction crosswise of the track, to signal safety or danger.

The combination target and interlock-operatin lever 21 has a pivot 22 in one of two stops 23 and 24 which are providedon the plate 10 for the fulcrum-head 7. This pivot 22 is concentric with the pivot 9 of the switch-operating lever or handle 8. Pro jecting from the side of the lever 21, toward the switch operating lever 8, is a boss 25 that carries a lug 26, and the switch op erating lever 8. has a slot 27 that receives the lug 26, whereby the target-operating lever 21 is moved along with the switch operating lever 8, the two levers swinging together on their concentric pivots 9 and 22.

A bifurcated connection-head 28 flanks the slotted arm 18 above and below, and a pin 29 passes down through this head 28 and slides in the slot 30 of the arm 18. This head 28 has, projecting over toward the target-operating lever 21, a lug 31 and a bifurcated socket 32 flanks this lug 31, with a pin 33 passing horizontally through them, thus pivoting them together so that the socket 32 can swing on the head 28- in a vertical plane. A rod 34 is screwed into the socket and has a lock-nut 35 to hold it stationary therein; this rod 35 has bifurcations 36 with eyes 37 which receive between them on the upper end part of the combination lever 21,

and a pin 38 passes through the eyes 37 and through said upper end part of the lever 21, thus pivoting the rod 34 and the lever 21 revolution when the lever 21 is swung up ward through a quarter-revolution- The bracket 16 has a lug 39 to guide the head 28 at the outside, and, to prevent op, eration oi the target mechanism independ, ently of the switcl'i-operating mechanism,

the fulcrum-head 7 carries a segment 40 con centric with the shaft.

swung around the segment will be swung along with the fulcrum-head 7 into the path of the head 28, so that it will be impossible I to return the target-operating mechanism to safe position until the switch-operating mechanism has been brought entirely back 1 so that the switch is safely closed.

It will be understood that when the switch operating lever 8 returns in its horizontal position the combined target and interlockoperating lever 21 will be found also in horizontal position, and the slot 27 in the lever 8 will receive the lug 26 of the lever 21, and then the two levers 8 and 21 will move down to vertical position together, bringing the target back into sate position.

The switch stand 1 is mounted on the head blocks 42, and one of these, close to the switch stand, between the switch stand and the track, is gained or recessed and receives a housing 43. The point rail 44 of the switch has a guard 45 bolted to it as seen in Fig. 1, and the interlocking bar 46 is secured to this guard 45 by means of nuts 47 clamping the guard and adjustable along a rounded part 48 of the bar 46. This bar 46 slides through a part of the housing 43 that ex tends outside the head block 42. A guide 49 for the interlocking bar 46 is also provided on the head block 42 about midway between the housing 43 and the track. The housing 43 is bolted to the under side of a plate 50 which lies flat on the upper side of the head block 42, completely covering the recess or gain in the head block and being screwed or otherwise suitably secured to the head block as shown in Fig. 1. Sliding horizontally in the housing 43, at right angles to the interlocking bar 46, is the interlocking plunger 51. The interlocking bar 46 has an opening 52, and this interlocking plunger 51 can extend through this opening 60 and out through the outside of the housing 43' when the point rail 44 is drawn up close to the stock rail 53 of thetrack and is per fectly safe for traflic. The parts are so made, however, that it the point rail 44 is, for any reason, left any appreciable distance The terminal part; 41 of the segment acts as a guide for the; head 28 at the inside while the switch-opcrating lever 8 is being brought up to horizontal position, but as soon as this lever is '56 whichmakes up, with the arm 57 and the arms 58, a bell-crank of integral construction. The plunger 51, as shown in Fig. 5, has a head 59 fixed to it inside the housing 43 and the arm 57 of the bell-crank extends down and engages in this head 59 in such a manner that, if the arms 58- of the bellcrank are raised, this arm 57 will pull the V plunger 51 back from the interlocking bar 46.

0n the combination target and interlockoperating lever 21, about in alinement with the boss 25-and the lug 26, is a stud or pivot 60, by means of which the connecting rod 61 is connected to said lever 21. This connecting rod 61 extends down and has a rounded part 62 that is screwed into a T- head 63 and provided with a lock nut 64 to fix it therein. This T-head 63 is brought between the arms 58 of the bell-crank and a pivot pin 65 passes through the arms and through the horizontal part of the T-head. One of the arms 58 is provided with a projection 66 with which the square head of the pin 65 engages, so that the pin is prevented from turning inthe arms and all of the wear takes place between the pin and the T- head 63.

From the above description it will be seen that, simultaneously with the operation of the target mechanism preliminary to throwing the switch, the combination-lever 21 opcrates through the rod 61 and T-head 63 to raise the arms 58 of the bell crank, which,

, as before described, withdraws the plunger 1 51 from the interlocking bar 46, after which I the switch may be opened by swinging the lever 8 in its fulcrum-head 7 around in the j horizontal plane as before described. When the switch is to be closed again, the opening 52 in the interlocking bar will not be in position to admit the plunger 51 as long as 1 the point rail 44is any appreciable distance I away from the stock rail 53. It will thus be impossible to bring the switch-operating lever 8 down to vertical position in the slot 1 11 with its ear 13 protruding to receive the I padlock unless the point rail 44 has actually been brought up to safe position and the plungerhas entered the opening 52 in the interlocking bar 46. It will of course also, be impossible to turn the target to safe? position until the point rail has thus actually been brought up to safe position.

The interlocking plunger head 59 has an extension 67 out over the part of the plunger 51 that extends through the interlocking bar 46, and the housing 43 has a recess 68 in its upper part, immediately under the plate 50, which this extension occupies when the plunger 51 is through the bar 46, and back through which the extension slides when the plunger is withdrawn from the bar. Extending Vertically down through the plate 50 and entering a slot 69 in the extension 67 is the lock bolt 7 O, which has a flange 71. that bears down'on the upper side of the plate 50 and limits the downward movement of this bolt and merely permitting the bolt to extend through the extension 67 as shown when the plunger 51 is through the interlocking bar 46. The upper part of the bolt 70 is guided in the upper end of the lock casing 72, which incloses a helical spring 7 3 surrounding the bolt 70, bearing down against the upper side of the flange 71 of the bolt, and bearing up against the lower side of the top of the casing 72. Thus the bolt is normally held down through the slot 69 in the extension 67 and will prevent the backward movement of the head 59 and the plunger 51. Above the casing 7 2 the plunger has a bracket 74 fixed on it and this bracketextends down the outside of the casing and has an inverted stirrup 75. The casing has a laterally extended pedestal 76 within which an arm 77 is pivoted to swing up and down, and this arm bears upward in the stirrup so that when it swings up it raises the bolt 70 against the pressure of the spring 73, withdrawing thebolt from the slot 69 in the extension 67 and allowing the head 59 with the plunger 51 to move back and withdraw the plunger 51 from the interlockin bar 46. The arm 77, outside the pedestal (6, has a treadle 78, which, when depressed by the foot of the operator, raises the arm 77'with the effect above described. As shown in the drawings, the slot 69 in the extension 67 of the head 59 is somewhat elongated, so that a slight movement of the head 59 with its extension 67 will be permitted when the bolt 70 is extending through-the extension. This allowance is made in view of slight variations which-may be due to differences of adjustment in the operative connection from the head 59 up to the targetancl interlock-operating lever 21. As this movement, thus permitted, does not allow the disengagement of the plunger 51 from the interlocking bar &6, it is not objectionable. a

The bolt 7 O has, just above the flange 71, a reduced part or neck 79, which is provided to make this the weakest part of the bolt 7 0, so that if the parts mounted on the upper side of the plate 50 are dislocated or destroyed by accident, the bolt 70 will break in the neck 79, leaving the lower end of the bolt with the flange 71 holding it in position extending through the extension 67 of the head 59 and preventing withdrawal of the plunger 51 from the interlocking bar 46, so that the switch will be held closed even be used as described.

" though the entire upper mechanism of the switch stand and target and interlocking mechanism has been swept away.

The plate 50, securely screwed to the head block 42, completely covers the housing 43 and the plunger 51, and its head 59 therein will remain in this position, covering these parts, even when the crank casing and crank and the lock casing and other parts above the plate have been carried away as before alluded to, and with the lock bolt 70 so arranged that it will break oif and leave its lower part inserted through the extension 67 of the head 59 as above described, the maintenance of the plunger 51 in interlocking positionis insured at all times and at all contingencies of traflic. Atthe same time, the lock is manually released for throwing the switch in a most'convenient manner, the operator merely pressing the treadle with his foot as he is about to begin to raise the switch-operating lever 8 to horizontal position after he has removed the padlock from the ear 13 of thisl'ever 8. Even though he has thus removed the padlock it will be impossible for him to throw the switch until he has pressed this treadle.- As long as the switch is open, the bolt 70 will be held up by hearing against the smooth upper side of the extension 67, but'when the switch is returned to closed position the bolt will automatically drop into the slot 69 under the pressure of the spring 7 3, depressing the arm 77 and raising the treadle 78. r 1

I have shown and described my invention associated with a switch stand operating through an angle of 180 and having a target operating through an angle of and with the target-operating mechanism arranged as described for the purpose of operating the target" completely before beginning to throw the switch. However, it will be understood that merely the interlocking mechanism may be connected to such a lever as the lever 21 and the target may be operated directly on the main shaft, as with a. switch stand throwing through an angle of 90. In any case my improved lock may modifications either in association with the lock or in the details of the lock itself may be made without departure from the scope or spirit of my invention which is defined by slot, of a lock bolt entering said slot to engage with the member having the slot,

means normally holding said bolt in said slot, and means for manually withdrawing the boltfrom the slot, a plate over the member having the slot, said plate having an opening through which the lock bolt ex- Also various other tends into the slot, and an enlargement of the lock bolt engaging with the plate, said bolt having a weakened part above the enlargement whereby the bolt will break in such part and leave the part of the bolt in position extending through the opening in the plate and extending into the slot in said member with said enlargement holding this part of the bolt in such position.

2. In. a, lock -for switch. interlocking bolt having a weakened part whereby it will break and leave the part of the bolt in position extending through said plate and into the slot in said member with the enlargement bearing againstthe-plate to maintain the part in such position.

'3. In a lock for switch interlocking mechanism, the combination with 'aninterlocking bar and an interlocking plunger to engage with the bar, of ahead fixed to said plunger, an extension on'said head,,said extension having a slot therein, a plate over said'extension and having an-opening, a bolt extending through the opening into the slot in the extension, a flange on the bolt bearing down against the plate and limiting the movement of the bolt into the slot in the extension, a casing forming an upper guide for the bolt, a spring compressed between the flange of the bolt andpart of said casing, and means for manually raising said bolt against the pressur of said sprin 4:. In a lock for switch interlocking mechanism, the combination withv an interlocking bar, an interlocking plunger engaging with said bar, of a head fixed to said,

plunger, an extension onv saidhead' over said interlocking bar, a housing inclosing and guiding the interlocking bar and the plunger and having a recess-receiving'the extension ofsaid head, a plate covering said housing and the recess therein and covering said extension in said recess, said plate having anv opening and said extension having a slot, a bolt extending down through the openingin the plate and entering the slot in the extension when said plunger is en ga'ged with said interlocking bar, means for normally holding the bolt within the slot in.

the extension,- and means for withdrawing the bolt from said slot.

5. In a lock for switch interlocking mechanism, the combination with an interlock ing bar, an interlocking plunger engaging with said bar,'ofa head fixed to said plunger, an extension on said head over said interlocking bar, a housing inclosing and guiding the interlocking bar and the plunger and having a recess receiving the extension of said head, a plate covering said housing and the recess therein and covering said extension in said recess, said plate having an opening and said extension having a. slot, a bolt extending down through the opening in the plate. and entering the Slot in the extension when said plunger is engaged with said interlocking bar, said headhaving lateral extensions near its end opposite from the interlocking bar and said housing having slots in its sides receiving said lateral extensions whereby that end of the head is guided in the housing, means for manually withdrawing the bolt from the slot in the extension, and means for automatically returning said bolt tosaid slot.

6. In a lock for switch interlockin -mechanism, the combination with an inter oeking bar, an interlocking'plunger engaging with I said bar, of a head fixed to said plunger, an

extension on said head over said interlocking bar, a housinginclosing and guiding the in terlocking bar. and the plunger and having I a recess receiving the extension of said head,

a plate covering said housing and the recess therein and covering said extension said recess, said plate having an opening and said extension having a slot, a bolt extending down through the opening in the plate and entering the slot in the extension when said plunger is engaged with said interlocking bar, means normally holding the bolt down in the slot in the extension, and means for j manually withdrawing the bolt therefrom, said extension having a surface with nhieh r the lowerpart of the bolt engages as theplun-v ger is withdrawn from the interlocking bar,

whereby the bolt is held up and permits the sliding of the lunger with the head and said extension in either direction until the bolt has again entered the slot in said extension upon the reengagement of the plunger in the interlocking bar.-

7 In a lock for switch interlocking mech; anism, the combination with an interlocking j'bar, an interlocking plunger engaging with- }sa1d-bar, of a head fixed to said plunger, janextensionon said head over said interlocking bar, a housing inclosing and guiding the interlocking bar and the plunger and having a recessreceiving the extension ofsaid head, a plate covering said housingand the recess therein and covering said extension in said recess, said plate-having an opening and said extension having a slot, a bolt extend-ing down through the opening in the plate and entering the slot in the exten-' sion when said plunger is engaged with said interlocking bar, means for normally holding the bolt within the slot in the extension, and means for withdrawing the bolt from said slot, a bell crank engaging with said head to withdraw or ree'ngage said plunger with the interlocking bar, a switch-operating lever, and interlock-operating lever, disengageable operative connection between said switch-operating lever and said interlock- 10 operating lever, and operative connection between the interlock-operating lever and said bell crank, said slot being elongated to allow said bolt to enter it Within a range of variations in the position of the plunger as involved in the operation of the plunger 15 through the bell crank and the operative connection thereof with the interlock-operating lever and the switch-operating lever. FRANK C. ANDERSON. Witnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, CLARENCE PERDEW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0."

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