US1269919A - Railroad-signal. - Google Patents

Description

E. FOSTER.

RAILROAD SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16. 1916.

Patented June 18, 191s,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. FOSTER.

RAILQOAD SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16. l9l6.

Patented June 18,1918.

gu -van for r w 6 mm EDGAR FOSTER, OF VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI.

RAILROAD-SIGN AL.

Application filed September 16, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDGAR FOSTER, a citizen' of the United States, residing at Vicksburg, in the county of Warren and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Signals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to railroad signals and has for its object the production of a simple and efi'icient means for automatically closing an electric signal circuit when a train or car passes over a given point of the railroad track.

Another ob ect of this invention is the production of a simple and efiicient circuit closing means for actuating the desired signal.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the signal apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a central section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of- Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

.Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fi 1.

, ig. 7 is a section taken on line 77 of Fi 3.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective of the con tact blocks carried by the signal casing.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that 1 designates the longitudinal rails of the railroad track which is supported upon the usual ties 2. A plurality of spring supporting blocks 4 are carried by the ties and support springs 5 engaging at their outer ends a flange engaging plate 6. The lower ends of the spring 5 are seated within the sockets 7 formed in the plates 4. The flange engaging plate 6 is provided with a concave portion 8 in which the flange of the wheel traveling over the rails 1 is adapted to fit. The plate is prm'ided with an out Specification of Letters latent.

Patented June 18, 1918.

Serial No. 120,492.

\vardly curvedouter edge 9 as is illustrated clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the plate 6 being adapted to fit snugly against the side of the tread of the rail 1.

A roller supporting bracket 10 is carried by one of the ties 2 and also a supporting roller 11, which roller 11 constitutes a rest for the rear end of the channel plate 6 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawings. A supporting link or arm 12 is secured between the cars 13 of the channel plate 6 and this arm 12 is carried by an operating shaft 14. The shaft 14 passes through the supporting brackets 15 as illustrated in Fig. 3 and a contact closing arm 16 is carried by the outer end of this shaft14. The shaft 14 is formed of a plurality of sections, one

section being provided with an enlarged head 17 in which one end of the opposite section is adapted to fit as shown clearly in Fig. 9. A coil spring 18 is mounted upon one of the sections of the shaft 14 and is adapted to normally hold the contact arms 16 in an inoperative position. One end of the spring 18 engages the cam 15 as shown at 26 in Fig. 3, while the opposite end of the spring extends into the head 17, as shown at 27 in Figs. 1 and 3.

A plurality of contact blocks 19 are carried within the signal casing 20, which casing is formed of wood or similar-nonconductive material, and this signal casing 20 supports a-light 21 and an audible signal such as a bell 22. A battery 23 is positioned or supported within the casing 20 and is electrically connected to the respective contact points 24 and 25, light 21 and bell 22 so as to energize the signals when the contact arm 16 is thrown into engagement with the contact blocks or points 24 and 25. It, of course, should be understood that the signal, light and bell can be placed in any desired position with respect to the switch throwing plate 6, to suit the desire of the operator. The signal, light and hell are, of course, intended to be placed at a point where the signal is to be given, such as a railroad crossing or the like.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signal operating mechanism of the character described, the combination of a shaft, means for normally retaining said shaft in a set position, an arm keyed to said shaft, a roller, a plate pivotally connected to said arm and resting upon said roller, whereby when said plate is dep it may ride over said roller for swinging said arm and turning said shaft. v p r 2. In a signal operating mechanism of the character described, the combination of a shaft, means for normally retaining said shat}; in'a set position, an arm keyed to said shaft, a roller, a plate pivotally connected to said arm and resting upon said roller, whereby when said plate is depressed it may ride over said roller for swinging said arm and turning said shaft, and springs engaging saidplate 'for yieldably retaining the same in a set position; p

In a signal'operating mechanism of the character described, the'comhination of a shaft; means" for normally retaining said shaft set position, aiia'rinkeyed to said shaft, a' roller, aplate pivotally connected f to said' ajrm and resting upon said roller,

whereby when said plate is depressed it may ride ever said roller for swinging said arm andtiirning said shaft, plates positioned beneath said first-mentioned plate and hating sockets formed thereiinsprings carried Within saidsock'ets, 'wherebysaid springs will be held against displacement, said springs e'n gaging said firstmentioned fplate, thereby iel dabl i Y' retainin said first-mentioned l A b plate" in aiset position.

In a' signal operating mechanism of the character described, the combination of, a shaft, inea'r'ls for normally retaining said shaftin'aset position, an armk'e ed to said shaft rollerifa plate 'pivotally' connected to saidfarm andresting upon said roller, whereby when 'said plate is depressed it may ride. ov erisai'd' rollerfor swinging said arm ajnd, turning said. shaft, plates posi- I 5. In a signal operating mechanism of the character described, the combination oi a roller, a plate resting upon said roller, said plate being adapted to be connected to a signal, said plate being adapted to be depressed so as to ride over said roller and operate the signal springs engaging said plate for yieldably holding the same in a set position, said plate having alongitudinally extending concated portion, whereby as the plate is depressed theflange of a Wheel fitting in said concaved portion will hold said plate aga nst s1de displacement,

plates positioned "beneath said first-mentioned plate and having sockets formed therein, springs carried by said, sockets,

n'herebysaid springs will be heldf'against displacement, said springs engaging said first-mentioned plate, thereby yieldably retainin said first-mentioned" late in a' set position.

6. In a signal operatingmechanisrri ofthe character described,- the combination of a roller, a plate resting upon said roller, said plate beingadapte'd to :be connected to a signal, said platebeing adapted to be depressed "so as to ride over said roller and operate the signal, sprlngs engaging said plate for yieldab'ly holding the same'in aset position, said plate having a longitudinallir eXtending conc'aved portionfii hereby asthe plate is' depressedthe flange o f a Wheelfitting in said concaved portion will hold said i plate against side displacement, plates. positioned beneath said first-mentioned plate and having sockets formedtherein, springs carried by said sockets, whereby said springs will be held against displacelnent said springs engaging said first-mentioned plate,

thereby yieldably retaining said first-mentioned'plate in' a set position, and said firstmentioned plate having a longitudinally' extending conca ned portion adapted to receive the flange of a wheel, whereby when said first-mentioned plate isdepressed it Will be held against side displacement.

. i A i 4' In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

EDGAR FOSTER.

Copies ofthispatehttfiiaBT b e ottaiiied fbr fixie cents each, joy addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). G.

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