US1121820A - Automatic railroad-switch. - Google Patents

Description

C. E. FORS & F. W. LILYARD.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7. 1914 1,121, 20, Patented Dec. 22. 1914.

mfnesses THE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTOLITHO WASHINGTON, D

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

CARL E. FORS AND FLOYD W. LILYARD, OF BUBNSIDE, IOWA.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914..

Application filed March 7, 1914. Serial No. 823,576.

FL-0Y1) W. LILYARD, citizens of the United States, and residents of Burnside, in the county of Webster and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Automatic Railroad-Switch, of which the following is a specification.

lhe object of our invention is to provide an automatic railroad switch of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

More particularly it is our object to provide a railroad switch adapted to be automatically operated by approaching trains, and provided with simple means whereby the switch is held in either of its set positions so that it cannot be thrown without the exercise of considerable force.

Our invention consists in certain details, in the construction, combination and ar rangement of the various parts of the device, wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth,

pointed out in our claims,and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l'shows a top or plan view of a portion of the main line and switch track of a railroad track, equipped with an automatic switch mechanism, embodying our invention. Fig. 2 shows'a side elevation of the operating arm mounted on ties which are shown in section. Fig. 3 shows a top or plan view of said operating arm. Fig. 4 shows a horizontal, sectional view through the pressure device, whereby our switch is held in either of its set positions. Fig. 5 shows a front elevation of one of the guide pulleys and tracks therefor, and Fig. 6 shows a top or plan view of a bar for opoperating the movable rail members and the parts immediately connected with said bar. In the accompanying drawings, we have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate the rails of a main railroad track, and the numeral 11 to indicate the rails of the switch or side track. The rails 10 and 11 rest upon the usual ties. One rail member of the main track and one rail member of the switch track, indicated respectively by the numerals 10" and 11 are movable to be ad justed in the ordinary way for carrying a train from either of the tracks to the other.

Mounted between the free ends of the movable track members 11 and 10 is a plate 13. Pivoted to the plate 13, on each side thereof, are T shaped levers 14 and 15, havswitch and main tracks.

ing the laterally extending arms A arranged at right angles to the rails of the switch track and the laterally extending arms B,

arranged at right angles to the main track,

and having the stems C and D respectively arranged parallel with the rails of the The members C and D are pivoted to a transverse bar 16 by means of a bolt 17 mounted in said bar and also mounted in elongated slots 18 in said stems. Secured to the ends of the later ally extending arms 15 are suitable devices 19 and 20 which may be chains, wires or the like, which extend along the main track between the rails, as shown in Fig. 1.

Suitably mounted on the ties of the main track at points spaced apart from the plate 13 a suitable distance, are brackets 21 centrally pivoted to which are bell crank levers having curved arms 22 and straight arms 22 The .arm 22 of one bell crank lever is secured to the member 20 and the arm 22 of the other bell crank lever is secured to the member 19, as shown in Fig. 2. The

arm 22 of each bell crank lever extends up Wardly and towardthe switch member 13 and is curved downwardly at the free end, as shown in Fig. 2.

Secured to the free ends of the laterally extendingarms 14 are devices 23 and 24 and 21 similar to the devices 19 and 20 which are extended along the switch track and main track respectively, as shown in Fig. 1, traveling over guide pulleys 25, suitably mounted on the ties, to similar devices 22*, to which they are connected in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

It will be understood that the members 22 may be operated by a train moving in either direction so that, for instance, a train moving from the main track on to the switch track could, by engaging the member 22 connected with the member 24, close the switch after'itself so that another train coming along on the main track would not be required to slow down to throw the switch.

Our improved switch device is designed to be used in combination with suitable engaging means mounted on the engine or car, whereby the arms 22 are engaged and depressed. It should be mentioned that the arms 22 on the main track are arranged at different distances from the respective rails and that the arms 22 of the switch track are 1} arranged at different distances from the respective rails thereof. Each car or engine Q 25 1 nected with "the mernbena2 is designed to beeq iipped two engag 'ing devices 'so smii eethat the me r be lowered or'raised for engaging the a ln is or not as desired. 5 .W l ..-r 1ilY-b preaching the s seen t a if tljei l i at? on the stems 39, between the bell cranks and the wall' of-the 'cylinder=,- are coil springs 40. In each end of the cylinder 27 is an inwardly op'enirig spring controlled valve, as

gaging device is lowered to engage the arm 22,=. connectedi with ithe) member 519,. :the T- .sh-epeddevi'ce w'ill'ano've thebar 1.6 form-novingthe. movable :rail "members: .zi'ndthrowing the switchto positi'on; :forcausing; the 1 train to travel "straight: ahead .on the g nains track. -0n the other hahdpifthe engmgingdeyicezon 5 th'e'engine is iloweredsto 'engegeirthe smemfiber. 22, connected with the .1 member (20, the switch will be t.urned idr fithi own-toacarny the train tosthe switch 'or side-track, 'Afteii the train has. pasedr-the s'wit0h;--.iif it is desired r to throw 1 the switch .to: .properipositiorr ito permit the next. train to apesf sdveritheimti'n tr'ack Without .ln'ov ingath'ez'switch i itheufirst train may, aifter 5 pass-i'figethe switch, throw v the switch by E meei'ns :05 the nipl defvriee con- LYH 0I1' the sWitoh -ac -Lapriroachirig vthe meinz trzi'ck doesindtmeedsto throw ethe swi'tch' i' f it is in :the; positiorivshowniini 13 1f .-it':is "riot inetliat position, .the' device :.22-on "the sWitch trecleimayibeistriuck-hy, the

engaging device ?on-.- the ztrei'n-ge'ndsthelswitch sthirowntoithe;p'ositibneshfiwnso Elgs- -fll {5A train:- aplproachin fthestiithlftorh the; night, lies 'shbw-nzimligi 1, ,vvill ihe required {strike fithe "def'licei E22,: orilvthe :maih (track; thereby throwing the switch froin position, shown :in :Figi 1* to iprop'ere position; for gpermitti ng the itrii-t-itbi-lrtraviel'ibn. she main-track.- =f- F0r *fi iit'nly 'liolding. the .m'ev-eblei members: ,11 and il0 i-rpposition at either limit bfitheir-movemerit, swehalve: provided..=the; following 'rneahs: Mountedion v.e:Z's'i -iteb-le support at one side iof, the; travel 2,. -*t6 the :iree ends ofthe nieinberswlb? and 1191s e-cyili-nder stem extended through? .one -e'nd of: said cylinder,-.- Suitably; pivoteda to a: support, near the cylinder: 27-,i1is a; lever- 30, one :end f which is also pivoted "to the E'stem 29;- as

one'end and pivoted-to:.;the lever 30 between its ends is a rod,31t,'.on-w-hich 'arefimounted SC in. 36 and 35: extend: into the'parth. Of-lthe .stops 7 'shown in Fig. 4:, which may or may not be th" the "1h "tr'ack ei'riployed,as desired. hen usedytlielast described valve simply offers further means for admitting air to the respective ends of the cylinder when a v a,cuum. is created'there' The otherarms of the bell; crank levers 32 0n the rod 31in isuch mannerg that theQ D- ;.eration.. of the. valves: is es follows When -;toiw-ard the portiono-f the, cylinderzflf nearest the track. Assnminggthetathertrain lapproachesionrthe sW-itchi-tPacl end Strikesthe device 22, thereby:-,-:mivi;ng the? rod; 16, longithe track, oomp-resingithe pain inEt'he u pier the rod. 16 is atthelimitoi-its movement .as

't i ngthof; the-spring 4Q JE-he: springs .49,

however,-.are ofiis'ufiiciierr strength-rte. hol

"the val vesisee ted. MEhe spo-rtion :Of the r move 'nent' Ofit'he nod 3.1;-.howeveii;caiisesithe :stop 132 to; engafge th eebell crank-" 36; thereby unseeting.--the flisllve' :38 and permittingethe s-eir; to escape fi omzthedippeepart of the cylinder. Theneifter- -n0 aordina'ry. :pressure I will be sufficient; to throw the isvv-itch beck to its originailtibosition' on accountoft-he fact that it is necessary, in :ordertoso throw On ticcount ofitheiactithat power enough ;to effect such; compression is necessary to switch is instantly -locked-isin either of its set positions {means of its cylinder and .parts connected therewith. The advantage '55' mounted nesr-xeherends oil-the cylinder.

of a device of this-kindlies'particulariyin a -pressurezlocl-risprovidedswitchis. held Whenthrown t0- on end cannot be thrown to the other position without the exercise of strong pressure. The switch is thereby saved from danger, that might occur through theacts of meddlers, trampsend soon.

The partsof ourdezice are of simple and inexpensive construction and be readily and es.

- 'inay bemede in "the details irept in repair. be understoodtha some changes the construc tion of our-device Without departing from its essential features, and it is our intent to cover by this application any such changes which may be included within the scope of the following claims:

lVe claim as our invention:

1. In a device of the class described, means for moving the movable rails of a railroad switch, means whereby said moving means may be operated from points on the track spaced apart from said switch, a cylinder adjacent to said switch, a piston slidably mounted therein, and means for connecting said piston with movable rail members, said piston being provided with in- \vardly opening valves near its ends, and

means operated by said piston operating means for unseating one of said valves simultaneously with the latter part of the movement of the movable rail members in either direction.

2. In a device of the class described, a bar designed to be secured to the movable rails at a railroad switch, a cylinder a piston mounted therein, means for operatively connecting said bar with said piston, said cylinder being provided with openings near its ends to form valve seats, inwardly opening valves mounted in said openings, yielding means for holding the valves seated, and means operated by said first means for opening the valve in the compression end of the cylinder at the finish of the movement of said bar in either direction.

Des Moines, Iowa, February 13, 1914.

CARL FORS. FLOYD w. LILYARD.

\Vitnesses O. T. ENGQUIST, M. WALLACE.

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

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