US1263193A - Compensating device. - Google Patents

Description

W. H. BIDDLE.

COMPENSATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 1mm, I916.

Patnted Apr. 16, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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W. H. BIDDLE.

COMPENSATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-3111916.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WALTER HARRISON IBIDDLE, 0F EASTIBOURNE, ENGLAND.

GOMPENSATING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application filed January 31, 1916. Serial No. 75,434.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, WALTER HARRISON BIDDLE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in Eastbourne, England, have invented a certain new and useful Compensating Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for automatically compensating the expansion or contraction of wires, rods or the like arranged between two relatively fixed points. It is, for instance, applicable for compensating the expansion and contraction of railway signal wires or point rods due to variations of temperature, or for similarly compensating comparatively small variations of length of wires, rods or other connecting means due to any cause. 7

It consists essentially in cutting or severing the wire, rod or other connecting means and attaching each of the cut or severed ends to one of a pair of pivoted levers, one or both of which are weighted or otherwise adapted to move with the end or ends of the connecting means as the latter expands and contracts, and in providing an automatically adjustable link or connecting device between the levers adapted to cause them to move together at any position should a force be exerted upon the connecting means.

The invention will be described as applied to the operating wires of railway signals. When applied to such wires, the apparatus may be placed at any position in the length of the wire, but is preferably placed more or less in the center of the wire, for the reason hereinafter referred to.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example several methods of carrying out the invention. Figure 1 is a view showing one method of carrying out the invention; Fig. 2 shows a modified arrangement; Fig. 3 is a detail of same; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show further modifications.

Referring to Fig. 1 the apparatus comprises two levers A, which may be pivoted on the same, or as shown, on separate pivots B, and are provided with weights C so arranged that the levers have a tendency to move away from one another. The signal wire D is cut or severed at the place where the compensating apparatus is to be ar-' ranged, and the severed ends are attached to the extremities a of the two levers A in such a way that as the levers are pulled or moved outward by their weight, they ex ert a, tenslon on the two lengths of wire and keep them taut. It will be seen that as the lengths of wire D expand as the temperature rises, the levers A under, the action of their weights 0 will tend to open out from one another, whereas should the atmosphere be come cooler and contraction take place, the

levers will tend to be drawn by the contract- I ing lengths of wire toward one another.

Arranged between the levers is an adjustable link or block E adapted, as the levers A open or close, to move into or out of the space between the levers, in such a manner that the link or block E, in whatever position it takes, makes contact with or almost makes contact with both levers, so that if a pull is exerted on one of the levers A, it first engages the link or block E and then the link or block engages the other lever A and both levers, maintained in practically the same relations as when the pull began, are thus moved over under the influenceof the pull; When the extra tension is released the signal wires return to normal position in known manner, carrying with them the two levers still locked together, till as the'\ actually arrive at normal position the levers and the links become free from one another again. i

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1,in which the levers are arranged vertically, the link or block E is slung from the end of an arm F pivoted upon the supporting frame X, said arm being raised or lowered, ac cording to the movements of the levers A, by a link G operated by the movement of one of the levers A. The sides of the levers A and of the link or block E are so shaped that within reasonable limits, at every position of the levers A, the block E engages or almost engages both the levers. The sides of the levers A may be toothed or serrated and the edges of the link or block E may be similarly toothed or serrated to insure the better rip between the two levers and the adjusta le intermediate link or block.

The levers are preferably arranged more or less vertically as shown, but they may be arranged horizontally, or at any other angle, in which case a spring S may be attached to the connecting link or block E, to draw it inward between the levers as they open out from one another, as shown in Fig. 1. However, where the device is arranged vertically, or substantially so, and the weight of the link block E- is sufiicient, the spring can be dispensed with.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 the levers A which in this case may consist of straight rods or bars are mounted as before on pivots B and to the free extremities a ofone of the levers A is attached oneeof the severed ends of'the signal wire D. To the same lever is freely pivoted a link E which is normally free to slide over or through a rest or guide H (see Fig. 3) arranged in or on the side of the other lever A. The other severed end of the wire D is passed over a guide a at the extremity of the lever A through which the link E slides and is attached to the free end of said link E. The upper side of the link E is provided with teeth 6 and the guide H is provided with a stop J adapted to engage into the teeth 6 of the link E. Normally under the action of the weight 0 and the tension of the wire D the link E would tend to engage the stop J but a sprlng plunger K is provided in the guide H, which is adapted to normally hold the link E out of engagement with the stop. The pressure of the plunger K is greater than that which would normally tend to engage the link and the stop but less than that exerted when the signal is to be pulled ofl", so that in this case the pressure of the plunger K is overcome and the link E is raised into engagement with the stop J and both levers A are moved'over together while maintained in p the same relative positions as the commencement of the pull. Otherwlse the link E is free to slide in the rest or guide H as thelevers A open or close according to variations of length of the wire D. The arrangementshown in Fig. 4 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 except that instead] of a spring plungerK to holdth'e' linkj'E"norma11y out of engagement, with the stopJ a weight L is employedfor thls purpose.

A somewhat similar arrangementis shown in Fig. 5, A link Erpivoted to the lever A is provided, as described with reference to Figs. 2 and 4, but the method of engaging the link is different. For this purpose the upper end a of the second lever A is mounted so as to be capable of pivoting on the 'main portionof the lever but is normally held in line'therewith by a weight M which holds it against a suitable stop N. This weight M preferably takes the place of the weight C onthe lever A but may be in addition thereto if desired. From a lug, O on the front of the pivoted part'a depends a' chisel-edged rod P adapted,'wh en the part a is bent forward, to engage into the teeth ofthe link E and prevent its movement in the guide 'In operation it will be seen that under .,normal conditions the levers A and A are .erted on the end cz 'it'will bend forward,

thechisel edge P will engage teeth e of the link E and the levers will be moved over together while maintained in the same relative positions.

Any other means of adjustably connecting the lever, so that the levers are free to open orclose with regard to one another, but willmove together around their pivots when a pull is exerted in another direction on the wire, may be employed.

When the invention is applied to rods, instead of wires, it is not necessary to weight the levers, as it is not required that they should exert a tensionon the rod.

The invention 'canalso be applied to any other purpose in which it is necessary to take up or compensate for thecxpansion or the apparatus canbe arranged at any position in the wire." Where it is arranged at one or other end of the wire, one of the levers may under normalfcircumstances remain practically stationary, all the expansion or contraction being taken up by the other lever.

As shown in the drawings, the levers are shown withthe two ends offthe wire or rod overlapping, butitisobvious'that a similar arrangement canbe employed when the rela tions of the levers are reversed and the ends of the wire or the like do notoverlap. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 6 which illustrates a construction somewhat similar to that shown in"Fig.' 1, the essential difierence being that, instead ofa link block E arranged between the'levers A, a link E is employedwhich embraces the levers A and 1s adapted to engagethem onjtheir outer sides when one of the levers is pulled. The link E is raised or lowered to maintain it 1n almost engag ng position with the levers A at any position'thereof, in the manneiras is shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described the saidinvention and the'bestmeans I know of carrying the same into practical efiect, Ijclaimz 1. Apparatus for compensating the expansion or contraction of connecting means arranged between two relativelyfix d points, comprising two weighted pivoted levers each attached by its rfree extremity to one of the severed ends of said connecting means and normally disconnected from' each other" and r latively movableindependently to main;

tain tension on the respective connecting means and means adjustable automatically upon the movement of one of said levers to connect the levers and thereby cause them to move in unison should suificient force be exerted upon said connecting means.

2. Apparatus for compensating the expansion or contraction of connecting means arranged between two relatively fixed points, comprising two pivoted levers each at their free extremity attached to or engaged by one of the severed ends of said connecting means, and a locking device arranged between the levers and adjustable automatically with regard thereto according to the Copies of this patent may be obtained for to the swing of one of the levers adapted to engage or almost engage both the levers at, within limits, any position of the levers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER HARRISON BIDDLE.

' Witnesses:

Josnrrr Mmmnn, W. J. SKEBTEN.

five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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