US1112279A - Switch-padlock. - Google Patents

Description

H. H. PBRRIS.

SWITCH PADLOGK.

APPLIOATION FILED 1111.27. 1914.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914 www #digg //fms.

WW1/mono y? jb all whom it may concern .UNrTED STATES PATENT onirica.

nanny H. FEnRIs, on HUNTINGTON maken, CALIFORNIA.

SWITCH-nannesz Be it known that I, HARRY H. FERRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Huntington Beach, in the county of Orange and State of California, have invented lnew and useful Improvements in Switch-Padlocks, of whichfthe following a specifica-I tion. This invention relates to locks and in particular to a switch lock such as is used for securing a rallroad swltch lever to prevent tampering with the switch by unauthorized persons. n

At a point Where the tracks of two railroad companies join or intersect, it is neces-v saryto providek means whereby the trainmen of both roads may unlock the hand 1ever of a common switch. This, heretofore, has been a difficult proposition, owing to the fact that the trainmen lof each road have keys entirely different from the keys finthe possession of the employees of the other road, owing to the fact that it is desirable to use different makes of locks to prevent the employees of one road from tampering with switches which they have no right to operate. I have provided, therefore, a double lock having two keyholes and a single shackle constructed so that it may be opened by operating either lock, thereby making it possible for a trainman of either, of the intersecting roads to unfasten the lock with his particular key. l

A further object of 'the invention is to provide a 'lock of the character set forth which is constructed in such a manner that it is composed of few parts, which is durable and extremely simple, whereby it may be positive in operation and not apt to get out of order, which are absolute prerequisites of a railroad switch lock.

The invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a lock constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a similar view,`showing one of the shackle sections unlocked; and, Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken 1ongi tudinally through a portion of the shackle.

In the drawing is shown what now api pears to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the body or casing 1 of Specification of Letters `I'fsltesnt; Application led January 27, 1914. ySerial No. 814,817.

its inner face.

- rammed sept. 29, 1914.

.the lock is segmental in form and is provided medially upon its convex face with an v apertured lug 2, for attachment to the usual loss-preventing chain 3.V Within the b'ody Iand at oneside of its-center, any desired type of lock mechanism (not shown) is mounted and a keyhole 4 is provided in the front Wall of the body in 'conjunction with the said mechanism, whereby a key may be inserted for theoperation of the same. A cover plate or shield 5 is pivotally mounted upon the outer face of this wall of the body by means of the pivot pin 6 in the usual manner for the purpose of covering the key-- hole. Upon this plate the name of the railroad whose keys' will operate this portion of the 4lock mechanism is preferably inscribed, for a-purpose which will appear presently. In the opposite side portion of the body 1`a form of lock mechanism (not shown) requiring the use of a different key is disposed and is provided with the necessary keyhole 7 and cover plate 8, the latter tions are joined by means of the transverse pivot pin'15 and one of the sections is provided at its pivoted end with a lug 16 upon A pin 17 extends laterally from the said lug and' serves to secure the medial portion of a leaf spring 18 to the said section with its end portions bearing against the inner faces of the respective sections of th' shackle. This spring is constructed' so that it' is under tension when both of the shackle sections are locked within the body openings, whereby the spring is adapted to throw either sectionl into its outermost inoperative position when the corresponding,

lockmechanism is operated to release its active extremity. Lateral projections 19 are provided upon the ends of the spring for engagementwithin the recesses 20 provid d in the inner faces of the shackle sectio s,wherby the spring ends are secured against displacement. r i

In order to`make clear the operation and peculiar utility Jof'this lock, we willf assume that its shackle isengaged in the usual manner with the lever of a common switch disposed at the junction of two railroads. lVhen the employee of one of the railroads is required to unlock the switch lever, he grasps the lock, turns the cover plate bearing the designation of his particular railroad into its inoperative position so as to expose the proper keyhole, and by inserting and turning the key, releases the corresponding section of the shackle, whereupon the lock may be disengaged from the switch lever'to permit operation of the latter. He may then lock the switch lever securely in a manner which. should be readily understood, without tampering with or operating the other lock mechanism. In like manner, the employee of the other railroad may readily distinguish and gain access to the keyhole into which his particular key maybe fitted for the purpose of operating the other lock mechanism land thus releasing the corresponding shackle quirements of usage, and Idesire to have it understood that minor changes in the form and arrangement of its parts,vsuchnas fall mto the scope of the appended claims, may

v be resorted to in practise if found necessary.

` What I claim is:

1. A lock of the class described comprising a body, a shackle having its ends adapted for engagement with the body and being free from connection therewith throughout its intervening length, releasable means for securing one end of the shackle to the body, and independently operable means for securing the opposite end of the shackle detachably t the body, each end of the shackle being adapted to be disengaged from the body without disturbing the other end of the shackle in its engagement with the body.

2. A lock of the class described comprising a body having a pair of relatively spaced openings therein, 'a shackleI including a pair of pivotally connected sections, each section being adapted to have its free extremity engaged within one of the body openings, lock mechanism provided within said body for operative engagement with the free end of one shackle section, a second lock mechanism provided within the body for operative association with the free end of the other shackle section, the said mechanisms being independently operable, and a spring connected with both shackle sections and being adapted to be placed under tension' when both sections are locked to the body.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence oitwo' witnesses.

HARRY H. FERRIS.

Witnesses:

Lnw H. WALLACE, CHAs. H. WALLACE.

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