US1115092A - Electric lock-switch. - Google Patents

Description

W. C. NEAHR. ELECTRIC LOCK SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4,1913.

1,115,092. Patented 0011221914 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILL C. NEAHR, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROTECTIVE SIGNAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

ELECTRIC LOCK-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 4, 1913.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914. Serial No. 771,738.

To all-whom it may concern Be it-known that I, lVILL C. NnAnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Lock- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to electric lock switches and its object resides in providing in operative connection with a circuit controlling switch, a mechanism which can be actuated Only by the use of a special key, and which, after it has operated the switch to reverse the condition of an electric circu'it in which the "latter is connected, will be automatically locked in its adjusted position and at the same time prevent the rcmoval of the key until the mechanism is released by the separate adjustment of its locking means; 7

By securing the key against removal from theinst'rument afterthc switch has been operated by the use thereof to either close a normally open circuit or open a normally closed circuit, 1' attain the tt'ollmving results: 1st, the presence of the key on the instrument indicates that it was by operation of the latter that the condition of the circuit was reversed, 2nd a person a'tte' havingoperated-the switch cannot restore the circuit to its orignalcondition without having the means and knowledge for releasing the mechanism by adjustment of its locking means, and only duly authorized persons can return the operative parts of the switch to theirnormal position, and 3rd, by providing the keys used to operate the switch, with numbers or other distinguishing marks, the connection of the key with the instrument not only establishes the fact that the latter has been operated to reverse the condition of the circuit in which it is connected, but also indicates what particular person performed the operation.

W'hile my invention may be advantageously employed for many diti'erent pur-' poses, it is particularly adapted for use in conncctionwi-th an electric signaling orannunciating-systemsuch as those. used to audibly or visually announce the approach of an engine or train at road crossings, stations and other points of a railway line. hen in a system of this type, a visible signal such as a semaphore rcniains in its danger indicating position after a train has passed the point of its location, or it a gong or other audible signal is sounded longer than a predetermined period, the circuit in which the instrument or instruments are located is deranged either by short-circuiting in case a normally open circuit is employed, or by a break in the circuit it the latter is n rmally closed. The watchman or other employee in charge of the section of the railway line in which the signaling instrument is disposed, or persons living; near the point at which an instrument is located, are provided with keys by means of which they can operate the switch for the purpose of reversing the condition 0 l the circuit, to remler it inoperative. Inasmuch as the key is locked in the instrument after the latter has been operated by its use, it becomes nccessacv that the person who ])t5l"f()llll(?(l the operation notifies the signal maintainer or other authorized person. of the imperative condition of the sy tem. he otlicial thus being notified has the means to restore the switch to its normal condition and at the same time remove the key, after the defect which caused the disturban e of the circuit has been corrected, and in doing so he ascertains at the same time by. whom the switch was operated.

In procedinp; in ilC l'liillH'C with my invention I provide in operative connection with a switch, a mechanism which can be adjusted only by means ot a key inserted through a slot in the housing in which it is' inclosed. The means for the separate adustment ot the part of the mechanism wlnch locks it in the position to which it is moved to reverse the normal condition of the switch, is accessible only at a point of the housingremote from the slot tlnougrh which the key is inserted, and the entire deyico is incloscd in a case which has a keyholeinnegistcr with the said slot, and

which is locked so that only persons in the possession of a second key 211'? able to adjust. the said locking! means for the purpose of releasing the mechanism and returpirigit to its normal position.

An embodiment of my invention has been Lo. n

illustrated in the accompanying drawings 1 14:. and they are consl'anlily niciulaf in the various VlCWS of which like parts are similarly designated, and in which Figure 1 represents a face view of the case in which the lock switch is lnclosedl Fig. 2, a transverse scclion througl'i the sguue along the line 2-2, Fig. l, enlarged elevation of the switch--" men? doi xched from the case, port of its 1 Join. plate having); been broken away to reveal the l1ll1- rior mechanism, l, a fragnientzury View of the upper portion of the switch housing showing the ope olive perls in the position they occupy after they have been mated by menus oi. the key i0 reverse the condition of the circuit in. "which. the switch is connected, and Fig. 5, a section taken along the L l')-5, Fig. l looking in the direction of I arrow drawn across said line.

Referring more particularly to the draw inns, lho reference character :2, designates 2L cos-o provided with a door whiol can secured in its closed PflSltlj-ll by means of :1- lUQli' the l-:ey-holc of which. hrs been shown at l in Fig. l.

The e; so which. may be used. to house the batteries or other parts 015 the cleo lric systen; to which my imention is applied, is more particularly provided to inclose the switch so as "to prevent access to the lock-- v w 5 all means .i'hicii forms part of ins mccluu main except by the use of a Key which his l; e lock or the door.

My improved lock switch has been shown in detail in Figs. 3 "no 5 of thedrziwings, consists of 11 preferably cylindrical housing 6 the detachul'ile face plate 6 of "which has two laterally projecting rpm-hired ears 7 for the application of screws or vets 8 by means of which the instrum in; is mounted upon the inner surface of the door 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and plate of the housing is attached to the hodyporrion of the some by means of screws 3) and it has a centrally disposed keyhole 3? which reg isters with a corresponding hole ii) iii the door 3. The switch mechanism which is assembled Within the housing upon lhc hack plate 12 of the same, comprises a circular disk 13 which is mounted for roto'tion in the center of *che housing and wh ch has a peripherol notch 14. The ineniii r l3 roimmhly mounted upon a stud 15 which riveted in the center of the back plate of the housing and whichluis extension 16 of reduced diameter to provide :1 pivot pin for the rotutivc support of on axiull ljUl'Qil key .17 iiuserlciil through tlie'regizislci'11,, holes oi "he door 3 and the plan: B. pmvls on" .i' l which arc oiwrtullumouni- .u ed on the llll c iii of poiuim oi. oppo. ,io sides of the of rointiou of lhe disk 13. have :itheir l'rcc \lreuu'iuys "oi (lo-tools 20 r nd \vhu'l: m N24! nclch l cmilcict will: the nu llJQI 13 by in springs 22 and 23 a i ed at their pivoted ends. The pawl 19 is turihcrmore provided with a. pin or handle 24% which projects ch *ough a slot in the rear place of the housing. and it engages a. plate 25 of non-con (luctivo nmicriul which is secured. to the resilient blade of the circuit-closing element of 3119 instrument. The blade 26 is attached. at one of its ends to the inmu-dly extending mig'ulur sl'uinh of a. oinding post 27 applied extoriorly of the housing and the opposice free extremity of the cl-ado i* adopted to engage the inws'dly projcclirg shank of :i similarly disposed, scconcl binding post 28.

r WI.

'ey-hil's. The two o'iiic. the roziry member 13 all; opposite sides ln'tior is inserted throu.

keyhol cs, and they set bury i'l11()\'-i?1l18l".ll or the rection for tho purpose 0 'lUYz'll in the instrumen nisni hereof has us Well all to rcvcrse the si'vilch. the o1 hcdisk shown 7. c SCC'Hl'ECl which hy the n 36, arrest the whirl the lz'i'ililfil. against r: motion, and i716 detect :31 oi the opposite pawl 19 rides upon ipheml edge of the said member, the mcntioned 1 mil holding by engagement ith the plate the blade 26 of the switch clementin or gngement with the shank of the ll lh'l l ff' no lhcrchy closing; tin} circuitsccured in apertures in 19 which enters 1 out is:

of which the two posts are the terminals. To open the circuit, the key 17 is inserted through the registering key-holes in the plate 6 and the door 3 and turned about the pin 16 on the stud 15 in the direction of the arrow a in I ig. 3. The bit 31 of the key engages a beveled .face 3a on the pawl 18, which extends in its path and thereby moves the said pawl about its pivot against the action of the spring 22 until the detent 20 has moved out of the notch 14. The rotary mem ber 13 being thus free to move about its axis, is rotated by the engagement of the key-bit with the pin 32 which is sufliciently longer than the pin 30 to prevent its passing through the notch in the bit 31. The memher is rotated until its notch is brought in register with the detent of the opposite pawl the same and thereby locks against further rotation while time the blade 26 is allowed to separate from the shank of the post 28 with which it was in engagement, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The circuit is thus opened and must necessarily remain in that condition until the detent of the pawl 19 is moved out of the notch of the rotary member to permit rotation of the disk to its the member at the same ()llglflftl position, it being observed that the pins and 33 at opposite sides of the bit of the key, prevent the latter from being turned separately to register with the keyholes. To restore the parts to their original position after the defect in the circuit has been corrected, it is necessary that the door of the case 2 be opened by means of a key which fits its lock, after which the pawl 19 is lifted by means of the pin or handle 24-. which projects through the slot in the rear plate of the switch housing, and the rotary member isturned by means of the key 17 until the latter is again in register with the key-holes through which it is removed from the instrument.

While I have shown and described my invention in the, best and simplest form at present known tome, I desire it understood that changes in the constri'lction and arrangement of its parts may be resorted to within the spirit of my invention, and that while the switch illustrated in the drawings is particularly designed for use in a normally closed electric circuit, a slight variation in its construction is suflicient to adapt it for the control of a normally open circuit.

Having thus described my invention what .l" claim 1. In apparatus of the cluiracter described, a circuit controlling'switch, key-lcontrqlled mechanism foroperating the switch to open and close a circuit in which it is connected, the said mechanism including a rotary member, means for locking said member in one aiid dcsi re to secure by-LettersPat of its operative positions, and means for locking the same in another one of its operative positions, and a key adapted to unlock said member by operation of the first-mentioned means and to rotate the same until it is locked by the action of the other means, the last mentioned locking means being capable of releasing the mechanism independent of any action of said key.

.2. In apparatus of the character described, a circuit controlling switch, key controlled mechanism for operating the switch to open and close a circuit in which it is connected, the said mechanism including independently operatable means for locking it in one of its operative positions, a removable key for the operation of said having a key-hole for the passage of sai key to. place it in operative mechanism, the latter having means for preventing the return movement of the key for its withdrawal through the when locked in its said position.

3. In apparatus of the character descri d, a circuit controlling switch, key contr led mechanism for operating the switch to open and close a circuit in which it is connected, the said mechanism including a rotary member, and independently operatable means for locking the latter in one of its operative positions, a key for the operation of said member, and a housing having a key-hole for the passage of said key to relation to the said member, the said member being adapted to prevent the independcnt return movement of the key for itswithd 'awal through the said key-hole, when l eckcd in its said position. i

4-. In apparatus of the character described, a circuit controlling switch, key controlled mechanism 'foroperating the switch to open and close a circuit in ohich it is connected, the said mechanism including a rotary member and independently operatable means for locking the latter in one sitions, a key for the bperati on of said member, and a housing having a key-hole for the passage of said key to place it in operative relatimi tq the said member, the said member having two pins projecting at opposite sides of the key to limit an independent rotary motion of the key in either direction.

In apparatus of the characterdescribed, a circuit controlling switch, key controlled mechanism for operating the switch to open and close a circuit in which it is connected, the said mechanism including means for locking fit in one of its operative positions, a key for the operation of said mechanism, a housing having a keyhole for the passage of the key to place it in operative relation to the said mechanism, the latter having means for preventing the return movement of the key for its relation to thesaid key-hole,

place it in operative a of its operative po-' scribed, 21 circuit-conti-olling switch, keycontrolled mechanism for operating the switch to open and close a circuit in which it is connected, a key fOf'iLilO operation of Said mechanism, the said mechanism including mcans for locking it in a position to which it is moved by use of the key, which means are adapted to be actuated for releasing the mechanism, independently of the key, and key-controlled means to prevent 10 unauthorized access to said locking means.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

'VVILL C. N EAHR,

Witnesses: V

G. J. ROLLANDE L. RIIOADES.

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