US1254018A - Automatic railway-switch. - Google Patents

Description

F E. BAHMLER.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SWITCH.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Patented J an. 22, 1918.

APPLICATlON FILED IBM-3,1917- F. E. BAHMLER. AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN13, 1917- Patented Jan. 22,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I ya

mural FLOYD E. BAI-IMLER, 0F s'c'iLoN, IOWA.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY-SWITCH;

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan; 22, 1918,

Application filed January 3, 1917. Serial No. 140,447.

To all whom it may oon'cepn: v

Be 1t known that I, FLOYD BAHMLER,

a citizen of the United States, residin at Solon, in thecounty' of Johnson, State of Iowa, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements at Automatic Ra lway- Switches; and I do hereby declare the fol lowing to bea' full,"cl'ear, and exact description of the invention, such as willienable others skilled in the art to whicliflitappertains to make and use the same. f

This invention relates to improvements in railway. switches and particularly to automatic switches.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and simple device of this character by means of which the switch can be opened and closed by a passing train without the necessity of stopping the train and throwing the switch by hand by the brakeman,

Another object is to provide a novel and effective means for locking the switch in position, after having been actuated, and holding the switch in such position until the entire train has passed over.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a railway and switch equipped with my improved locking device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of F 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the locking mechanism, in operative position, with fragments of the surrounding railway connected there with, the parts being enlarged.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig, 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Referrin particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents the rails of the main line, and 11 the rails of the branch line, the pivoted switch points being shown respectively at 12 and 13.

Extending beneath the rails, at the point of contact of the points or tongues 12 and 13, with the main rails, is a sliding bar 14,

said bar being mountedin suitable guides 15., At a point a suitable distance from the switch, and extending under the rails, is a second sliding bar 16, a centrally pivoted rod or lever 17 being pivotally connectedto the corresponding ends of said bars whereby their simultaneous movement is accomplished. Secured onthe bar 14, between the rails, is a longitudinally extending block 18. one of the longer sides of which is curved outwardly, as shown at l9. At a correspond ing point on the other bar 16, is a similar block 20, having the same side curved, as -at- 21. The bar 14 is formed with a longitudinal slot 22, upwardly through which eXtends a lug 23, carried by the free end of a spring arm 24 secured within the casing 25 mounted beneath the said bar. In the lower portion of the curved face of the first block 18 is a recess 26 for the reception of the upper end of said lug, when the switch tongues are in normal or open position.

The operation of the device may be briefly described as follows: Assuming the switch to be in normal or open position, and a train which is moving along the main track desires to pass onto the branch. A member 27 carried by the engine of the train is let down in position to engage with the curved side of the block 18 which moves said block to one side sliding the bar 14 and causing the shifting of the switch tongue 12 in closed position against one of the main rails, while the other tongue 13 is shifted away from the other main rail. This movement is communicated to the other bar 18, by means of the connecting rod or link 17. When the tongues touch the main rails the spring arm causes the lug to snap upwardly from the recess and engage against the face of the curved side of the block 18, thus holding the switch in closed position. A member similar to the engine member 27 carried by the last car or caboose of the train is let down to a slightly greater degree than the engine member, so that the upper end of the lug will be depressed into a position opposite the recess, whereupon the usual spring which holds the switch in open position, will immediately move the switch tongues into their normal open position. The above-mentioned caboose member is identical in construction to that of the engine member, and it is not thought necessary to illustrate the same.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the train can readily throw the switch into closed position at such a distance from the switch as to render the device safe, and that by lowering the caboose member the lug 23 will be engaged and depressed whereby the parts will be released and permitted to assume their normal positions, thus restoring simultaneous movement, a block carried by each of the bars for engagement by a train to move the tongues into open position initially, means to close the switch automatically, and means for automatic engagement with each of said blocks for holding the switch in closed position, saidholding means being releasable by the train.

2. In an automatic railway switcha pair copies of this patent may be obtained for of movable switch tongues, a bar slidable beneath the railway and connected to the said tongues, a block carried by the bar and engageable by a train to move said bar and tongues into closed position, said block being" 7 formed with a recess, a spring arm mounted below the bar, said bar being formed with a slot for the reception of the end of said spring arm whereby said end will normally engage in said recess, said end being ar-.

ranged to engage with said block to hold the tongues in open position,said end being arranged to be depressed by train to release the switch.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my'signature v in the presence of two witnesses.

FLOYD i3, BAHMLER.

Witnesses: GEORGE ULoH, M. EDELSTEIN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 7 Washington, D. G. Y

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