US1123338A - Switch-operating mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

J. W. MARKHAM. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1914 w 0 1 Q(\:?\ N m Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Inventor Attorneys JAMES W. MARKHAM, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Application filed August 19, 1914. Serial No. 857,538.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, JAMES W. MARKHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evansville, in the county of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Switch-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to switch operating mechanism and aims to provide a novel and improved appliance whereby the motorman of'a street car, may throw the switch piece or tongue without leaving the car.

It is also within the scope of the invention, to provide a switch operating mechanism which will be improved generally in its construction, to enhance the utility and efficiency thereof. With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the track portion of the mechanism, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the car and the portion of the operating mechanism carried thereby. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental longitudinal section of the car illustrating the portion of the actuating mechanism carried thereby.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the main track from which the side track or switch 2 is branched, the usual switch piece -or tongue being designated by the numeral 3 and being mounted for oscillation in the the upturned flanges or ribs 5 along its side edges, the forward and rear ends of the plate 4 and its flanges or ribs 5 being flared as at 6 and 7, respectively. The plate 4 is preferably mounted upon a case or housing 8 eilnbedded within the road bed between the m1 s. 1

A trip lever 9 is fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon the plate 4 midway between the flanges or ribs 5 of the said plate, the lever 9 being secured upon the upper end of an upright rock shaft 10 which is journaled through the plate 4 and which projects into the case 8. The forward end of the lever 9 is pointed, as at 11, while the rear end of the lever is enlarged or flared, as at 12, to swing snugly within the flared portion 7 of the plate 4. When the rear endor' arm 12 of the trip lever 9 is swung against one side of the flared portion 7, the forward or pointed end .11 of the lever will rest against the opposite rib or flange 5, as seen in Fig. 1, it being noted that the plate 4 and its ribs or flanges 5 form a channel in which the trip lever is pivoted. for cooperation with the car-carried device as will hereinafter appear.

The trip lever 9 is operatively connected to the switch piece or tongue 3 to throw the same, and to this end an arm 13 is secured to the rock shaft 10 within the case 8, and a longitudinal reciprocatory rod 14 is pivoted tothe arm 13 and extends to a point inside of the switch piece or tongue 3. The

rod 14 is slidable through the case 8 and through a case or housing 15 disposed at the inside of the switch piece or tongue 3.

In order to operatively connect the rear end of the 'rod 14 and the switch piece or tongue 3, a transverse rod 16 is slidable through an ear or lug 17 depending from the switch piece or tongue 3, a nut or stop 18 being engaged upon the rod 16 to rest against the 'outer side of the ear or lug 17. A nut or seat member 19 is fixed upon the rod 16 between the switch piece 3 and the rod 14, and a coiled wire expansion spring 20 is disposed upon the rod 16 between the ear or lug 17 and the nut 19, to hold the ear or lug 17 yieldably against the nut or stop '18. If desired, the rod 16 may be extended,

as at 21, to operate a signal or semaphore (not shown).

The inner end portion of the rod or bar 16 is provided with an aperture or slot 22 through which the rear end portion of the rod 14 is engaged, the rear end portion of the rod 14, having an offset providingan oblique or diagonal cam 23 which is sli'dable through the slot 22.. The cam portion 23 is slidable through the slot 22 of the rod 16, whereby the reciprocation of the rod '14 will reciprocate the rod 16. "When the rod 14;. is slid forwardly, portion 23 -will be moved completely through the slot 22 to the forward side of the rod 16, and the rod 16 be positively. locked against inward movement. 7 a.

-The car-carried device is attached to the ffront truck 2e andthe car body 25, and embodies a vertical guide 26 attached to the truck 24 and having a lower bell 'or flared portion 27. a 3 A plunger 28 is slidable through the guide 26 andhas pivoted to its lower end, a tappet-29 which is arranged to vb'yithe motorman, and to this end the guide 26. isprovided with an arm 31 to which a bell crank lever 32 is'fulcrumed, the lower 7 armof the lever 32 ,being operatively connected to the upper end of the plunger 28,

and a draft rod-ormember 33 being pivoted the upper arrnof the receiver 32 and ex- "tending forwardly to a point underneath thefront platform or motormans cab- The forward end of the rod.33 is pivoted to a bell crank lever 34fu1crume'd to hanger 35 securedto the carv body-25 and a thrust rod or-plunger 36 is slidable through the floor or platform of the 'carbody 25 and has its lower end pivoted to the lever. 34;. The thrust; rod .36 is spring raised, to ordinarily iraise the plunger 28 and tappet 29 carried ther eby, in order thatthe tappet will not interfere with'; any objects upon the road bed... The thrust rod 36, however, may be readily depressed by the pressure of the motormans foot, to depress the tappet 29 when. it is desired to throw the switch'piece tongue 3 as the car approaches the switch. i s

ln operation, assuming the rod 14 tobe slid forwardly 'as seen in Fig. 1, to thereby bring the trip lever to the full line position, and to bring the switch piece 3 to closed posi tioin. a car may then pass along the main track 1 without entering the branch or side track aboveindicated, thecam portionrl23 of the rod 24L'moves completely .to theiforw ardside ofthe rod 16,:to hold. the an rod against movement-,5 Thus, when the m v wadw o 1 will be forced outwardlyto bring the switch piece or tongue 3 to closed position, it being noted, however, that the spring 20 enables the switch piece 3 to swing to open position when a car passes from the branch or side track 2 onto the main track 1. As soon as the switch piece 3 is released, itwill return to closed position under theinfiuence of the spring 20. When a car following the main track 1 and approaching the branch or side track 2, is to run onto the branch or side track, the motorman depresses the thrust rod 36 asthe car'approaches the switch, whereby the tappet 29 may be depressed to movejsnugly over the plate 4 and contact.

with and ride along that side ofv thellever 9 which is foremost. Thus, assumingthe trip lever 9 to'be in; the position illustrated in Fig. 1,-as the tappet 29 wipes or rides along the side of the lever 9, and reaches the rear end or arm of the lever 9, the said trip lever will be thrown or swung to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 1. This will force the rod 14 rearwardly and will move the cam portion 23 thereof through the opening 22 of they-rod 16, to

springs 30, andthe said (springs enable the tappet 29 to swing laterally or to one side or .the other, as it passes around the trip lever 29, and which will assistinthrowing or swinging the trip lever from one position to the other. i It is also to be noted that when the rod l l is moved rearwardly to swing the switch piece 3 inwardly, the cam portion 23 will not move completelythroughthe slot .22, and consequently when the car traverses the main track 1 from. the left hand side of- Fig. 1 to the right hand side, the switch piece 3iwill beswung outwardly to closed position and the rod 16 engaging the cam portion 23 will move the rod 1 L forwardly to again return the trip lever 9: to its practically normal position. However, if the switch piece 3 is left open, acar approaching the branch or side track 2. along the.

main track, may pass along-the maintrack without entering the'branch or sidetrack, for the reason that the. motorman may actuate the trip lever19'by depressing the tappet 29. In other words, the car-carrieddevice is operable for swinging the trip lever 9 in either direction when necessary. v

With the presentappliance, the motorman may readily throw the switch piece or s th l a a I .The present apparatus is comparatively tongue 3. when necessary, and without leavsimple and inexpensive in construction, may be readily installed, and is practical and efficient in its use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is In a switch operating mechanism, a switch piece, a transverse reciprocatory rod, the switch piece having a portion through which the said rod is slidable, a stop carried by the said rod and seatable against the outer side of the said portion of the switch piece, a spring carried by the said rod for yieldably holding the switch piece against the said stop, a trip lever, and a longitudinal reciprocatory rod operatively connected to the trip lever and having an offset portion providing a diagonal cam portion, the first mentioned rod having a slot through which the said cam portion is movable to reciprocate the first mentioned rod, the cam portion being arranged to move completely through the first mentioned rod when the said rod is moved outwardly and being arranged to remain partially within the said slot when the first mentioned rod is moved inwardly.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES W. MARKHAM.

Witnesses:

WM. EDWARDS, C. F. WERNER.

coplel of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ratentl,

Washington, D. 0.

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