US1288209A - Switch-throw. - Google Patents

Description

W. R. RUSH.

SWITCH THROW.

APPLICATION man NOV. 1. 191 I.

1,288,209. Patented Dec.17,1918.

INVENTOH M lka/I06? PM ATTORNEY UNITED WILLIAM R. RUSH, OF MULBERRY, KANSAS.

SWITCH-THROW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Application filed November 7, 1917. Serial No. 200,780.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. RUSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mulberry, in the county of Crawford and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Throws, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a switch and has special reference to switches for railroads, street car lines, coal mines and other places, and it has been found very advantageous in use in coal mines where it is necessary to switch the cars to different branches and when the cars return to direct the same out onto a main line.

One object of thisinvention is the production of a switch throw so constructed as to normally retain the points in a set position, although allowing these points to be thrown to direct a train onto a desired branch, although when the points are released they will again return to their normal positions.

Another object of this invention is the production of a switch throw wherein the points are yieldably retained in a set position,

thus allowing a train passing out onto the main line to throw the switch points to allow this movement although after the train has passed the switch points these points will again return to their normal position to provide a main line.

Another object of this invention is the production of a switch throw wherein a lever is connected to the connecting elements of the switch points, thus allowing these switch points to be manually operated for directing the train onto a desired track.

A still further object of this invention is a simple and eiiicient supporting means for the manually operated lever as well as the connection of the spring used for the operation of the switch points.

\Vith these and other objects in View, this invention consists of certain novel combination, construction, and arrangement, of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

One practical form of construction and assembly will be hereinafter described and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which a to pass thereover, this 'Figure l is a top plan view of the switch throw and switch,

Fig. 2 is a section through the bridle bar,

illustrating the support for the manual lever and the spring in elevation, and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the switch stand.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, it will be seen that the main rails 1 have diverging track portions 2 extending therefrom. The rails 3 and at diverge toward the rails 1 although terminating at a distance therefrom, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 1. It will be seen that the rail 3 is parallel with one rail portion 2 while the rail 4 is parallel with the remaining rail portion 2, thus forming a pair of branches or it maybe that one is a branch and the other is a main line. It is of course obvious that the track may be arranged so as to produce different forms of switches or different extensions without departing from the spirit of the present invention, as the invention relates more specifically to the throw and the manner in which the switch points are normally retained in a yieldable set position.

The switch points 5 are pivotally secured as shown at 6 to the ends of the rails 3 and at and these switch points 5 have beveled end portions 7 and are also provided with lugs 8. The bridle bar 9 is pivotally secured as indicated at 10 to the lugs 8 thus pivotally supporting the switch point 5 in parallel relation and at the same time connecting these switch points so as to be simultaneously shifted when necessary. Owing to the beveled construction of the end portion 7 of the switch point 5 it will be seen that when the switch points are swung to one side or the other the beveled portion of one switch point will bear firmly against the respective rail portion 2 adjacent the junction of this rail portion with the main rail 1, thus forming an even closure for allowing the wheel closure being clearly illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l.

The switch stand comprises a base 11 having an upturned flange 12 for purposes to be hereinafter set forth. The supporting plate 13 is bolted or otherwise secured at 14 to the will be noted by referring particularly to Fig. 3 that the body portion of the cover or supporting plate 13 is elf-set at15. By this construction it will be noted that the body of this supporting plate 13 will be spaced from the base plate 11.

The bell-crank lever 16, is pivoted upon the pivot 17 and projects between the base plate 11 and the supporting plate 15, thus allowing the pivot to be steadied adjacent each end for pivotally and firmly supporting the bell-crank lever 17. The projecting end of the bell-crank lever 17 is connected by a link 18 to the bridle bar 9, as shown clearly inFig. 1. It is therefore obviousthat' as this bell-crank lever is shifted it will move the link 18 so as to shift the bridle bar 9 for moving the switch points in a desired manner.

The shifting lever comprises a priming section 19 nd an auxiliary section 20. These sections 19 and 20 are placed apart throughout the greater part of theirlength,

base 11, but it thus allowing' the lower end of the sections of this manually operating and retaining lever to fit upon opposite sides of the upturned flange 12 of the baseplate 11. The pivot pin 21 is passed through the lower ends of the sections 19 and 20 of this operatlever and is also carried by the flange 12 for pivotally supporting this operating lever. The section 20 of the operating lever is elf-set as indicated at 22 so as to bear upon the body portion of the section 19. The rivets or other securing members 23 are passed through the off-set portions 22 of the section 20 and also through the sec tion 19f0r fixedly mounting the two sections upon each other. It will be noted however that the primary section 19 projects above the upper end of the auxiliary section 20 and is provided with a handle portion 24.- for facilitatingthe shifting of this operating lever when necessary. It will further be noted that the auxiliary section 20is provided with outwardly extending lip 25 at its upper end adjacent the off-set portion 22. The hook 26 is secured in any suitable manner to the lip 25 and the coiled spring 27 is connected at one end to this hook 26. The opposite end of the coiled spring 27 is connected to the book 28 supported by and secured to the upwardly extending lip 29 of the, bell-crank lever 16.

When this switch throw and switch are in use, they willnormally retain a set position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Owing to the resiliency of the spring 27 it is obviousthis spring will be contracted to its shorter position. Therefore, the upturned lip 29 of the bell-crank lever 16 will be drawn toward the lip 25 of the operating lever.

Thereiore, when the operating lever is swung to extend in a substantially horizontal plane, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, it is obvious the resiliency of the coiled spring 27 will cause this spring to pull the lip 29 and the lever 26 to one side. As the bell-crank l ver is swung upon its pivot 17, it is obyious it will draw upon the bridle bar 9 to the link 18, thus causing theswitch points to be moved into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The rail 3 and the diverging portion 2 of one of the rails 1 may be designated as constituting the main line. When the switch points are in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, it is obvious the main line will be clear. Accordingly, traffic may pass in either direction along the main line. if however, the train is to pass out from the branch, indicated by the track +1 and one of the diverging tracks 1, it is obvious the flange of the first wheel will strike one of the switch points to swing the same to the left,

inFigl, thus causing the branch to allow the train to pass therefrom to the main line. This action of the switch points is permitted, owing to the resiliency of the coiled spring 27. TVhen the operating lever is swung downwardly, the handle portion will swing downwardly below the horizontal plane of the pivot pin 21 and for this reason when the coiled spring pulls u eon the lip 25 it will be in a plane below the plane of the pivot 21, thus preventing an off-center pull upon this lever which will prevent the same from accidentally rising. Accordingly when the switch points are swung over by a train passing from the branch, they will draw upon the bar of the link and will consequently swing the bell-crank lever which action of the bell crank lever will elongate the coiled spring 27 and after the same has passed out from the branch the resiliency of the spring will cause the bell-crank lever to return to the position indicated in dotted lines, such action on the part of the, bell crank lever drawing the engaging link 18 and the bar 19 to return the switch points to theposition indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to again cause the main line to be clear.

The switchinan may grip the ope ating lever and swing the same upwardlyto the position indicated in the several figures of the drawing, whereby the. points will. be, moved to neutral position and as the lever is swung upwardly, the coiled spring will draw upon the lip of the bell-crank l'ver to the position indicated in full lines in Fig.1.

i i hen however, it is desired to switch the train onto the mgin line, the leverniey be swung to either side, according to the de sired movement of the switcn point. fAs so n as the lever swings over and downwardly, it will draw upon the coil spring to pull the bell-crank lever for properly swinging the switch point.

- vieldabl v retaining said switch This device is particularly advantageous where it is desired to allow the same to be actuated for switching the train onto the branch, after which the lever may be swung in the opposite direction and at this time allow the main line to be open, although yieldably retaining the switch points in a set position, thus permitting a train to pass out from the switch branch, simply by switching the point over by the wheel flanges to accommodate this action. After such a train has passed out onto the main line, the resiliency of the coiled spring will then return the switch points to a set position to allow the main line to be maintained in an open or clear condition.

As only one form of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in the foregoing specification, it is obvious that many Changes may be made in the detail construction of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the invention as included in the device as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pivotally supported switch point, a stand carried adjacent said switch point, a bridle bar connected to said switch point, a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted upon said stand, means pivotally connecting said bell-crank lever to said bridle bar, an operating lever mounted upon said stand, a coiled spring connected to said bell-crank lever and adjustably connected to said lever, thus causing said operating lever to move the spring and shift said bell-crank lever and bridle bar to move the switch point to a set position, and said spring yieldably retaining said switch point in a set position.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pivotally supported switch point, a stand carried adjacent said switch point, said stand comprising a base having an upwardly extending flange at one end, an operating lever comprising a primary section and an auxiliary section connected together, said sections being spaced apart at their lower ends, thus causing the lower ends to embrace said flange, means pivotally connecting said lower ends to said flange, the upper end of said auxiliary section terminating in a lip, resilient means connected to said lip, means connected to said resilient means and to said switch point for pivoting the switch point as said lever is swung, and point in a set position.

In a device of the class described. the combination of a pivotally supported switch point, a stand comprising a base having an upwardly extending flange at one end, a supporting plate fixed upon said base and having an off-set portion a bell-crank lever 60 pivotally mounted upon said base and the ofi-set portion of said plate, means connecting said bell-crank lever to said switch point, an operating lever pivotally mounted upon said flange, a lip extending from said operating lever, a coiled spring adjustably connecting said lip, and connected to said bell-crank lever, thus causing the shifting of said operating lever to cause said coiled spring to shift the bellcrank lever, and thus impart movement to said switch point for shifting the same, and said coiled spring retaining said switch point in a yieldable set position.

4:- In a device of the class described, the combination of a pivotally supported switch point, a stand carried adjacent said switch point, said stand comprising a base having an upwardly extending flange at one end, an operating lever comprising a primary section and an auxiliary section connected together, said sections being spaced apart at their lower ends, thus causing the lower ends to embrace said flange, means pivotally connecting said lower ends to said flange, the upper end of said auxiliary section terminating in a lip, a spring adjustably connected to said lip, means connected to said spring and to said switch point for shifting said switch point as said lever is swung, and said spring yieldably retaining said switch point in a set position.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pivotally supported switch point, a stand comprising a base having an upwardly extending flange at one end, a supporting plate fixed upon said base and having an olf-set portion, a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted between said base and the off-set portion of said plate, means connecting said bell-crank lever to said switch point, an operating lever pivotally mounted upon said flange, resilient means connected to said lever and to said bell-crank lever, thus causing the shifting of said operating lever to cause said coil spring to shift the bell-crank lever and thus impart movement to the switch point for shifting the same, said coil spring retaining said switch point in a yieldable set position.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pivotally supported switch point, a stand comprising a base having an upwardly extending flange at one end, a supporting plate fixed upon said base and having an off-set portion, a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted between said base and the oft-set portion of said. plate. means connecting said bell-crank lever to said switch point, an operating lever comprising a primary section and an auxiliar section connected together, said sections being spaced apart at their lower ends thus causing the lower ends to embrace said flange, means pivotally connecting said lower ends to said flange, the upper end of said auxiliary section termi- CJI nating in a lip, and a coiled spring adjustably connected to said lip and to said bellcrank lever, thus causing the shifting of said operating lever to shift said switch point, while said spring will yieldably hold said switch point in a set position.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM R. RUSH. WVitnesses GHAs. RUSSELL, H. S. FARMER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Estents,

Washington, D. C.

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