US1288595A - Electrically-operated switch-machine. - Google Patents

Electrically-operated switch-machine. Download PDF

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Publication number
US1288595A
US1288595A US2891615A US2891615A US1288595A US 1288595 A US1288595 A US 1288595A US 2891615 A US2891615 A US 2891615A US 2891615 A US2891615 A US 2891615A US 1288595 A US1288595 A US 1288595A
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Prior art keywords
switch
indication
motor
pole
changer
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US2891615A
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Winthrop K Howe
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SPX Technologies Inc
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General Railway Signal Co
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Priority to US135669A priority patent/US1288897A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
    • B61L5/00—Local operating mechanisms for points or track-mounted scotch-blocks; Visible or audible signals; Local operating mechanisms for visible or audible signals
    • B61L5/06—Electric devices for operating points or scotch-blocks, e.g. using electromotive driving means
    • B61L5/062—Wiring diagrams

Definitions

  • SHEETSSHEET 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
  • This invention relates to electrically operated switch machines for interlocking sys tems.
  • One of the principal objects of the invention is to construct and arrange the parts of an electrically operated switch ma chine so that said parts will occupy a small compass, will be readily accessible for in spection, adjustment or repair, and will. be capable of being made strong and durable.
  • a further object of the invention is to construct and arrange the control, device for the motor which operates the switch machine so that said motor may be reversed and the parts of the switch machine restored to their former position at any time after the initial movement of the motor, and, if necessary, before the switch has been unlocked or partially unlocked. Further objects of the invention relate to the detailsof the construction. whereby the switch machine will be simple, efficient, durable and cheap to manufacture.
  • Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line c-d in Fig. 2. looking in the direction of the arrow Figs. 4, 5 and 6, are details of the indication tripper arm constituting one of the operating parts of the switch machine;
  • Fig. 7, is an enlarged perspectiv view, diagrammatic in its nature, showing parts of the device for controlling the operating and indication circults, said parts being spread apart vertically and deformed slightly from their exact proport1ons so as to show the relative arrangement and positions of theseparts;
  • Figs. 8 to 11 are diagrammatic views showing th different positions of the throw rod, locking bar and indication slide of the switch machine at different times during the movement of the switch from one position to another;
  • FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the applicatlon of a switch machine embodying the invention to a typical switch layout
  • Flg. 13 is a diagram which shows graphically the timing of the different operating parts of the switch machine
  • Fig. 14 is the wiring diagram for the switch machine and its controller
  • Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section which taken substantially on the line e-e, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, and which shows morein detail the manner in which the tripper arm engages the lugs 0n the arms 57 and 61.
  • 111 Fig. 12 is shown a switch machine embodying the invention applied to a switch layout typical of well known construction.
  • the switch machine A for operating the switch is secured to the ties at one side of the stock rails 1 of the main or straight track and adjacent to the movable switch points 2; and the parts of the switch machine A are mounted in a protecting casing of suitable construction which is provided with a. weather tight cover.
  • the electric motor 3 for moving the switch is preferably mounted in a separate casing adjacent to one end of the switch machine A.
  • the switch points 2 are connected to a throw rod 4 and to a lock rod 5.
  • the detector bar 6 is connected to a rock lever 7 which is connected in turn to the locking bar 8 of the switch machine.
  • the front end the end of the switch machine'A adjacent to the rock lever 7, and opposite'to the motor 3.
  • the casing for the switch machine comprises a base plate 9, which is provided with apertured lugs 10,
  • lugs being adapted to be fastened to the ties so as to hold the switch machine in place.
  • a box-like frame 11 At the rear end of the base plate 9 is bolted a box-like frame 11, in the rear wall of which is journaled a shaft 12 extending longitudinally of said base plate 9.
  • the shaft 12 is connected by suitable universal couplings or joints 13 and a short shaft 14 to the motor 3, as shown in Fig. 12.
  • A. shaft 15 is journaled in the front wall of the frame 11 in alinement with the shaft 12, and a friction clutch 16 of suitable construction is connected between the adjacent ends of the shafts 12 and 15.
  • a second box-like frame 17 Secured to the base plate 9 near its middle is a second box-like frame 17 for supporting and housing the main gear of the switch machine and its associated operating parts.
  • This main gear frame 17 has an integral crosspiece 18 which extends transversely of said frame near the middle thereof and a supporting member 19 which extends from the middle of the cross-piece 18 longitudinally to the rear end wall of the main gear frame 17.
  • Mounted between the supporting member 19 and the base plate 9 is a vertical shaft 20, to the upper end of which is secured a bevel-gear 21, and meshing with this bevelgear is a bevel-pinion 22, which is fixed to the shaft 15.
  • a bearing stud 24 having a horizontal flange or rim 25 around its lower circumferential edge.
  • a gear 26 mounteded on the hearing stud 24 is a gear 26. and meshing with the gear 26 is a pinion 27 fixed to the aforesaid shaft 20.
  • a washer 28 is interposed between the bearing stud 24 and the main gear 26 and a cross-piece 18.
  • a pin 29 is fixed to the main gear 26 and extends downwardly therefrom; and journaled on said pin 29 are two cam rollers 30.
  • the locking bar 8 of the machine extends longitudinally thereof and rests upon the base plate 9.
  • This locking bar 8 is substantially T-shape. being widest at its rear end, where it is guided by suitable guiding surfaces at each side of the base-plate 9. and in this wide portion of the locking bar 8 is a cam slot 31 of a general elliptical shape which cooperates with the lower cam roller of the driving pin 29.
  • the locking bar 8 has a locking dog 32 near its middle for locking the throw rod 4 and another locking dog 33 near its front end for locking the lock rod 5. Resting upon the locking bar 8 is an indication slide 34, which has a slot 35 therein near its middle in which fits the locking dog 32 for the throw rod 4.
  • the indication slide 34 Near the front end of the indication slide 34 is a slot 36 of a general T-shape.
  • the indication slide 34 is substantially T-shaped. being widest at its rear end. and in this wide portion of said indication slide is a cam slot 37 of a general elliptical shape.
  • the cam slot 37 of the indication slide 34 while of the same general shape as the cam slot 31 of the locking bar 8, is narrower, as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 2.
  • the front end portion of the indication slide 34 is bent up to form an upturned flange 38.
  • the throw rod 4 extends transversely of the base plate 9 under the main gear 26 and is formed with a U-shape jaw 39 between its ends with which the upper cam roller 30 cooperates to cause reciprocation of the throw rod as the main gear 26 is rotated.
  • the throw rod 4 has shoulders 40 on each side of the jaw 39, and the locking dog 32 of the locking bar 8 contacts with one or the other of these shoulders 40 when the throw rod is in either one or the other of its extreme positions, thereby locking the throw rod.
  • a box-like casing 41 having a removable cover, and in this casing are mounted the devices for controlling the electric circuits of the switch machine.
  • the pole-changer casing On opposite sides of the casing 41. which will be hereinafter termed the pole-changer casing, are fixed blocks of insulating material to each of which are secured a plurality of me tallic contact springs 42. Under the insulating blocks are fixed two pairs of coils, 43 and 44. for operating the contact maker of the pole-changer hereinafter described.
  • An iron plunger 45 extends between the corresponding coils on opposite sides of the pole-changer casing 41. and secured to the plungers 45 is a contact holder 46.
  • a block of insulating material which is omitted from Fig. 7 but is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is secured to the upper edge of the contact holder 46, and fixed to this insulating block are two metallic contact blocks 47 which are arranged to make electrical contact with certain pairs of the contact springs 42.
  • a vertical shaft 48 Near the front end of the pole-changer casing 41 is a vertical shaft 48, shown to the best advantage in Fig. 7, the lower end of which is journaled in the bottom of said casing 41, and the upper end of which is Ournaled in a cross-member 49 fastened by screws 50 to suitable lugs 51 integral with said pole-changer casing 41.
  • a crankarm 52 Fixed to the lower end of the shaft 48 below the bottom of the pole-changer casing 41, is a crankarm 52. the outer end of which has two rounded lateral projections which are shaped to cooperate with the sides of the slot 36 in the indication slide 34.
  • the crank-arm 52 lies in substantially the same plane as the indication slide 34.
  • the cross-member 49 has upwardly curved-supporting members 53 between which is secured a horizontal. pin 54.
  • a contact support and secured to this contact support is a block of insulating material which is omitted from Fig. 7 but outer end of an arm 57 secured to the shaft- 48, a pin 58 fixed to said contact support fitting in a slot 59 in said arm 57.
  • the arm 57 has laterally projecting lugs 60.
  • an arm 61 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 48 so as to be movable independently thereof.
  • This arm 61 has two laterally projecting lugs 62, similar to the lugs 60 of the arm 57 and in the outer end of the arm 61 is a slot 63 in which fits a pin 6% secured to the contact holder 46.
  • the lock rod 5 of the switch comprises two bars 5 arranged side by side, which have notches 66 in their lower edges shown more clearly in Fig. 3. and are provided with a suitable device for adjusting them longitudinally relatively to each other in order that the distance between the notches 66 may be changed.
  • Each of these bars 5 has a long notch and a short notch 66. the long notch of one bar 5 being arranged opposite to the short notch of the other bar.
  • The. size of the short notch 66 in each bar 5" is such as to receive without appreciable play the locking dog 33 of the locking bar 8.
  • the bars 55 extend transversely of the base plate 9 of a switch machine near the front end thereof and are guided in a casting or supporting frame 67 bolted to said base plate.
  • the casting 67 is provided with two caps 68 which together with the base plate 9 form guide openings for the bars 5*.
  • two upwardlv projecting lugs 69 integral with the casting 67, and in these lugs 69 is rotatably mounted a rock-shaft 70.
  • Pinned to the rock-shaft 70 is an inverted Y-shape rock-member 71 having two operating arms. the lower ends of which are rounded.
  • a dog 72 Secured to each of the bars 5 of the lock rod 5 is a dog 72, which is arranged to engage the arms of the rock-member 71 and to rock said member as the lock rod is moved back and forth.
  • the rear end portion of the rock-shaft 70 is squared and straddling this squared end portion of said rock-shaft is the bifurcated end of an indication tripper arm 73.
  • This tripper arm 73 is pivotally connected to the rock shaft 70 by a horizontal pin 74:. and by reason of this construction said tripper arm is able to swing freely forwardly and rearwardly in a vertical plane butmust rock sidewise with the rock-shaft 70.
  • the lower end of the indication tripper arm 73 shown in Figs. 4. 5 and 6, has a forwardly extending projection 75 which is arranged to be engagedby the upturned flange 38 of the indication slide 34.
  • the lower end of the tripper arm 73 also has a flat face- 76 which is arranged to engage one or the other of the laterally projecting lugs 60 and 62 of the arms 57 and 61 respectively when said tripper arm is at one side or the other of the shaft 48.
  • the machine is provided with a suitable cover. preferably consisting of two end castings and an intermediate piece of sheet metal.
  • the switch machine hereinbefore described designed to be controlled at a dislance by a suitable controller.
  • the operating and indication circuits for the switch machine are shown diagramniatically in Fig. 1* and in this figure is shown a sliding controller 77 which is moved back and forth by the operator.
  • the construction of this controller 7 7. the indication latches. the indication magnets and other parts associated therewith form no part of this invention; and being shown and described more particularly in the patent to John D. Taylor. No. 752.127. of February 16th. 1904. said controller and its associated devices will not be herein described in detail except in so far as is necessary to make the operation of the .- ⁇ Vlt(7ll machine clear.
  • the controller 77 has four positions, namely. normal. normal indication. reverse indication and reverse,
  • the motor being supplied with electric current, drives the shaft 12, the friction clutch 71.6, the shaft 15, the bevel-pinion the bevel-gear 21, the shaft 20, the pinion 27, the main driving gear 26, and pin 29 in the main driving gear 26 which is moved by said gear in a, circular path.
  • the diagram in Fig. 13 indicates in general the timing of the different operating parts of the switch machine. In this diagram horizontal distances represent in degrees a complete revolution of the driving gear 26 and the short Vertical lines intersecting the horizontal lines point out when a change is made in the condition of the operating part corresponding to this horizontal line.
  • Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 show diagrammaticall the position of the driving pin 29, the locking bar 8, the indication slide 3-1, and the throw rod 4 at difllerent points in one revolution of the main gear.
  • Fig. 8 shows the position of these parts when the current is first supplied to the motor to reverse the switch.
  • the pin :2) is assumed to travel in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8, and for about the first forty degrees of a revolution of the main driving gear the motor runs freely without moving any part of the switch machine, since the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 follows the curved portions at the rear edge of the cam slots 31 and 17 of the locking bar 8, and the indication slide respectively, these curved portions being formed on the are of a circle concentric with the circular path of travel of the driving pin 29.
  • This free run of the motor allows its armature to accelerate and attain such speed as to develop its full power in the subsequent movement of the switch.
  • the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 contacts with the front edge of the cam slot 31 of, the locking bar 8 as shown in Fig. 9, and during the next part of the movement of the driving pin (from about fifty degrees to about 135 degrees) the locking bar 8 is moved forwardly.
  • the locking dog is carried out of engagement with the corresponding notches G6 in the lock rod 5, and the locking dog 32 is carried out of engagement with one of the shoulders 40 of the throw rod 4, thereby unlocking the switch.
  • the upper cam roller 30 enters the jaw 39 of the throw rod 4, and soon after the switch is unlocked the movement of said throw rod is commenced.
  • the first part of the movement of the throw rod does not move the switch points.
  • the lock rod 5 is moved by the switch points and as said switch points reach their reverse position, the dog 72 on said lock rod rocks the rock-member 71 and swings the tripper arm 73 to the opposite side of the shaft 48.
  • the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 reaches the curved portions along the front edges of the cam slots 31 and 37 of the lOcking bar 8 and the indication slide 3- ⁇ ; respectively as shown in Fig.
  • locking bar 8 con'nnences the locking of they switch at about 260 degrees, and continues this locking movement until the driving pin 2) reaches about 315 degrees. At this latter point in the travel of the driving pin 29 the lower cam roller 30 carried thereby clears the rear edge of the cam slot 31 of the locking bar 8, as shown in Fig. 11, and bears against the rear edge of the cam slot 37 of the indication slide 34 alone. thereby causing a final rearward movement of the indication slide independently of the locking bar 8.
  • the upturned flange 38 thereon engages the rearwardly extending projection 75 of the indication tripper arm 73 and swings said tripper arm rearwardly against the lateral projections and 62 of the arms 57 and 61 respectively, which are located on the side of the shaft 48 corresponding to the side to which said trip per arm was swung by the lock rod 5.
  • the tripper arm 73 rocks the shaft 48 and the arm 57, and the contact support 55 is shifted to the extreme position opposite to the position it formerly occupied.
  • the arm 61 is simultaneously rocked by the tripper arm 73 and the contact holder 46 is moved to the position opposite to the position it formerly occupied, that is opposite to the position shown in Fig. 14. This movement of the contact holder 46 interrupts the supply of current to the motor at the contact springs 89 and 91, but the motor continues to revolve due to its acquired momentum.
  • the circuit for the indication current is established as follows: from one brush of the armature 94 of the motor, conductor 93, conductor 116, contact spring 114, contact block 98, contact spring 115, conductor 117, conductor 101, field 102 of the motor, conductor 103, common return 104, conductor 118, indication magnet 119, conductor 120, contact springs 81., contact block 7 8, contact springs v8O, conductors 121, 122 and 123, contact spring 112, contact block 90, contact spring 113, conductors 124, and 95, back to the other brush of the armature of the motor.
  • the motor By this circuit the motor is placed on a closed circuit through the indication magnet, and the current generated by the motor acting as a generator passes through said indication magnet and releases the indication locking of the controller, thereby enabling said controller to be moved by the operator to its full reverse position to release the mechanical interlocking.
  • the operation of moving the switch from reverse to normal is the same as hereinbefore described, the motor, however, revolving in the opposite direction.
  • the indication slide 34 is moved by the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 immediately after the motor has finished its free run; and. as hereinbefore described, this movement of the indication slide shifts the crankarm 52 into its mid position, the shaft 48 and the arm 57 fixed thereto being simultaneously rocked.
  • the arm 57 by means of the pin 58 shifts the contact support to its mid position wherein both pairs of contact springs controlled by said contact support are bridged.
  • the tripper arm 73 may swing freely forwardly and will not interfere with the movement of the arm 61. Consequently, the contact holder 46 of the pole-changer is free to be shifted by the coils 43, and will be so shifted if the controller 77 is returned to its normal position. When the contact holder 46 is thus shifted.
  • an operating circuit for reversing the direction of rotation of the motor is established as follows: positive pole of the battery 84, conductors 85, and 125, contact spring 126, contact block 78, contact spring 127, conductors 128, 122, and 123, contact spring 112, contact block 90, contact spring 113, conductors 124 and 95, motor armature 94, conductors 93 and 116, contact spring 114, contact block 98, contact spring 115, conductors 117 and 101, field 102 of the motor, conductor 103 back to the common return wire 104 and through the conductor 105 to the negative pole of the battery. Vhen this circuit is established the direction of rotation of the motor is reversed and the parts of the switch machine are restored to their former position.
  • This circuit may be established by proper movement of the controller 77 at any time after the indication slide 34 has been moved far enough to swing the arm 52 to its mid-position, and consequently, if necessary, before the locking rod 8 has been moved.
  • the operating parts of the switch machine may be restored to their former positions before the switch is unlocked, or at any time thereafter prior to the final movements of said parts.
  • the operating parts such are all operated by the driving pin 29, so that these parts cannot be operated separately or improperly inany way except 111 the proper sequence.
  • the throw rod 4 of the switch is looked, as well as the lock rod 5, in the normal and reverse positions of the switch, so that said switch cannot be accidentally or intentionally thrown in case the lock rod 5 is broken or disconnected; and this locking of the throw rod is easily obtained in the construction herein described by providing the shoulders 40 thereon for cooperation with the locking dog 32 on the locking bar 8.
  • the contact holder 46 for the pole-changer cannot be shifted manually or by energizing its operating coils 43 and 44 while the switch is locked up in either its normal or its reverse position, for the reason that the indication slide 34 holds the tripper arm 73 against one of the laterally projecting lugs 62 of the arm 61, thereby preventing movement of said contact holder 46. Consequently, it is not possible to accidentally or maliciously jar the contact holder 46 of the pole changer from the position shown in Fig. 14, when the switch is locked up in its normal position, nor can the contact holder 46 be shifted by stray currents in the normal pole-changer operating coils 43.
  • the contact support 55 which opens and closes a break in the operating circuits for the pole-changer operating coils 43 and 44, is operated independently of the locking bar 8 and before said locking bar is moved.
  • This arrangement is better than the arrangement wherein the contact support is opcrated by the locking bar, because in the latter arrangement, in case the locking bar should become stuck for any reason, or in case the detector bar connected to said locking bar could not be moved because of the presence of a train on the track above the switch points, the contact support 55, being operated by the locking bar, could not be moved and consequently the motor could not be reversed.
  • the contact holder 55 will be shifted before the locking bar 8 is moved; and the automatic restoring action characteristic of this type of machine will occur before the switch is unlocked.
  • the lock rod 5 sets the indication tripper arm 73 into the position corresponding to the posi tion of the switch points, and subsequently the indication slide actuated this tripper arm 73 to break the motor operating circuit.
  • This tripper arm 73 is rocked by the dogs 72 on the lock rod 5, and consequently, as the switch points move and carry with them the lock rod 5, this tripper arm 73 is rocked to the proper position to be actuated by the indication slide 34 and thereby cause the pole-chan er to set up the proper indication circuit. owever, if the switch points do not move. the tripper arm 73 is not rocked; and consequently, the proper indication circuit is not set up.
  • the upturned flange 88 of the indication slide 34 being of relatively thin material, might be injured by striking the sides of the notches 66 in the lock rod 5, in case said notches were not exactly alined with said flange.
  • the upturned flange 38 is moving in and out of the notches 66 of the lock rod 5 it lies snugly against the rear end of the locking dog 33, and consequently said locking dog protects said flange from injury.
  • the tripper arm 73 swings by its own weight forwardly as soon as the upturned flange 38 of the indication slide 34 is Withdrawn from contact with its front face; but it may happen that said tripper will be frozen or stuck in some way so that its weight is not sufficient to move it. In such a case, when the lock rod 5 is actuated, and said tripper arm 73 is rocked, the arms 57 and 61 might be improperly moved. To obviate any possible dangerous results in case the tripper arm 73 should be frozen, said tripper arm is provided with a downward extension, shown to the best advantage in Figs. 4 and 5, which is arranged so as to strike the boss of the lower bearing of the shaft 48 and force said tripper arm forwardly as it is rocked from one side of said shaft 48 to the other.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a pole changer, indication circuits controlled by said pole changer, coils for shifting said pole changer, circuits for said coils, and means governed in accordance with the cycle of movements of the switch operating mechanism for normally closing a break in one of said circuits corresponding to the existing position of the switch, said means being operated by the preliminary movement of the mechanism to close the break in the other of said circuits prior to the operation of any of the other parts of said mechanism and being further operated by the final movement of said mechanism for opening the break of the first mentioned circuit leaving the break in the other circuit closed.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for operating the switch points of the switch; indication circuits for said motor, a pole changer for controlling said indication circuits, coils for shifting said pole changer, circuits for said coils, a device governed in accordance with the cycle of movement of the switch operating mechanism for closing the break in one of said circuits in either of the operated positions of said mechanism and operated by the motor prior to the operation of any of the other parts of the switch operating mechanism to close the break in the other of said circuits, said device being further operated by the final movement of said mechanism to open said first mentioned closed break.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a pole changer, indication circuits controlled by said pole changer; coils for shifting said pole changer. circuits for said coils; a device for controlling said circuits, a main gear for operating the switch, a slide reciprocated by said gear, and means operated by said slide for actuating said device to an intermediate point permitting either of said circuits to be estalr lished, said means operating to hold said device against movement from its intermediate position except at one extreme of the reciprocation of said slide.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for operating said switch, operating circuits and indication circuits for said motor, a pole-changer for controlling said operating and indication circuits, coils for shifting said pole-changer, a device for controlling the operation of said coils by said operating circuits, a shiftable tripper arm reciprocated by said motor and operating said pole changer and said device at the final movement of the switch points to one position or the other according to the shifted position of said tripper arm, and means operatively connected to the switch points for shifting said member, whereby the position of said pole-changer and said device corresponds to thcposition of the switch points.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising separate members secured to the switch points of the switch; means for locking said members against movement in each operated position of the switch machine; a motor for moving said stwitch points and for operating said locking means successively; indication circuits; circuit con trolling means for governing the electrical connection between said indication circuits and said motor; and means operated by the motor independently of the locking means for causing a movement of said circuit con trolling means after said locking meansis in the locking position.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a throw rod and a lock rod connected to the switch points of the switch; means for locking said throw rod and said lock rod in the thrown positions of said switch points; a motor for operating said locking means and for moving said throw rod successively; indication circuits; a circuit controlling device for governing said indication circuits; and means operated directly by the motor and controlled by the movement of the lock rod for selectively controlling said circuit controlling device.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a throw rod and a lock rod connected to the switch points of the switch: locking means for locking the lock rod; a motor for operating said locking means and said throw rod successively: indication circuits; a circuit controlling device for establishing an electrical connection selectively between said indication circuits andthe motor to permit indication current generated dynamically by the motor to flow in one or the other of said indication circuits and means operated by the motor independently of said locking means after the final locking movement of said locking means for effecting a movement of said circuit controlling device.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for operating the switch points of the switch; a locking bar operated by the motor for locking the switch points; indication circuits for the motor; a pole changer for controlling said indication circuits; :1 reciprocable member operated by the motor independently of the lock- 7 ing bar for causing movement of said pole changer during the last part of the cycle of operation of the switch machine; and means operated by the movement of the switch points for determining the direction of movement given to the pole changer by the operation of said reciprocable member.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for operating the switch points of the switch; a lock rod connected to the switch points and actuated thereby; a locking bar operated by said motor for locking said lock rod against movement in either of the operated positions of the switch points; indication circuits; a pole changer for governing said indication circuits; and means comprising an indication slide operated by the motor independently of said locking bar and an oscillatable tripper arm oscillated by said lock rod for selectively governing said pole changer in accordance with the position of the switch points.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprisin a motor for locking and unlocking and i or moving the switch; a pole-changer operated by said motor; means including a shiftable member shifted by the final movements of the switch points for selectively controlling the direction in which said pole changer is operated; and indication circuits controlled by said pole changer in each of the operated positions.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for operating said switch; a pole changer; operating and indication circuits for said motor; said circuits being controlled by said pole-changer; coils for operating said pole-changer; circuits for said coils; a device for controlling said circuits; and means operated by said motor for operating said pole-changer and said device independently.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor, a throw-rod con nected to the switch points of the switch, means operated by said motor for reciprocating said throw rod, normal and reverse operating circuits for said motor. normal and reverse indication circuits for said motor, a pole changer for controlling said operating and said indication circuits, coils for operating said pole-changer, circuits for said coils, a locking bar operated by said motor, means operated in accordance with the movement of said locking bar for controlling said pole changer, a slide operated by said motor independently of said looking bar prior and subsequent to the actuation thereof by said motor, and means controlled by said slide for governing said circuits for said coils.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for locking and unlocking and for moving the switch, a pole changer operated by said motor, indication circuits controlled by said pole-changer, a lock-rod operatively connected to the switch points, an oscillatable tripper arm operated by said lock-rod to difi'erent positions in accordance with the extreme positions of the switch points and adapted to determine selectively the position to which said polechanger is operated, and means operated by said motor after the switch points have been moved and locked for actuating said tripper arm to shift said pole changer to a corresponding position.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for locking and unlocking and for moving the switch, a polechanger operated by said motor, indication circuits controlled by said pole-changer, a lock-rod operatively connected to the switch points, a tripper arm oscillated to either of two positions by said lock rod in its extreme positions in accordance with the position of the switch points and biased to an nterme diate position, and means cooperating with said tripper arm and actuated by he inotor for shifting'the pole-changer contacts, whereby the pole changer contacts cannot be shifted and the corresponding indication circuit closed unless the switch points are in a corresponding position and have been locked in that position.
  • An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor: a main gear oper atively connected to said motor, a throwbar actuated by said gear for throwing the switch points, a lock-rod operatively connected to the switch points a locking bar actuated by said main gear and cooperating with said lock rod for locking and unlocking the switch points, a pole changer, indication circuits controlled by said pole changer, an indication slide actuated by said main gear independently of said locking bar, and means controlled by said lock rod at the extremes of its movements and cooperating with said indication sl de for shifting said pole changer to a position corresponding with the position of the switch points.

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Description

W. K. HOWE.
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH MACHINE.
APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. !9I5.
Patented Dec. 24, 1918.
6 SHEETS-SHEEI I.
m: nouns urns c0, womumc. wAsuwcr m. u
W. K. HOWE.
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH MACHINE.
APPL\CAT|0N FILED MAY|8.|915 7 1,288,595. Patented Dec. 24, 1918.
6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.
1N VEN TOR.
A TT'ORNE W. K. HOWE.
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH MACHINE.
APPLICATION FILED MAY l8, I9I5.
1 ,288,5 95. Patented Dec. 24, 1918.
6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- FIG. 7.
W 11v VEN'I ale.
-E. W ATTUIUV/Z I w. K. HOWE.
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH MACHINE.
APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, I915.
Patented Dec. 24, 1918.
If; 2 M WTfOW' W. K. HOWE.
ELECTRI CALLY OPERATED SWITCH MACHINE.
APPLICATION FILED MAY 19. 1915'.
1,288,595. Patented Dec. 24, 1918.
I 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5- H6. 12.
FIG. 13.
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W. K. HOWE.
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH MACHINE.
APPUCATION HLED MAY I8. I915.
Patented Dec. 24, 1918.
6 SHEETSSHEET 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
WINTHROP K. HOWE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF GATES, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.
ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED SWITCH-MACHINE.
Specification of Letters Patent.
Patented Dec. 24, 1918.
Application filed May 18, 1915. Serial No. 28,916.
To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WINTHROP K. Hown, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Electrically-Operated Switch-Machine, of which the following is a specification.
This invention relates to electrically operated switch machines for interlocking sys tems. One of the principal objects of the invention is to construct and arrange the parts of an electrically operated switch ma chine so that said parts will occupy a small compass, will be readily accessible for in spection, adjustment or repair, and will. be capable of being made strong and durable. A further object of the invention is to construct and arrange the control, device for the motor which operates the switch machine so that said motor may be reversed and the parts of the switch machine restored to their former position at any time after the initial movement of the motor, and, if necessary, before the switch has been unlocked or partially unlocked. Further objects of the invention relate to the detailsof the construction. whereby the switch machine will be simple, efficient, durable and cheap to manufacture. Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of'the invention progresses. and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The invention consists in the parts and in the arrangeinents and combinations of parts more fully set forth hereinafter. In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a preferred physical embodiment of HIV invention, and wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views; and in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch machine embodying the invention, the cover therefor being removed and parts thereof being broken away; Fig. 2. is a vertical longitudinal section on the line ab in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow as; Fig. 3, is a vertical transverse section on the line c-d in Fig. 2. looking in the direction of the arrow Figs. 4, 5 and 6, are details of the indication tripper arm constituting one of the operating parts of the switch machine; Fig. 7, is an enlarged perspectiv view, diagrammatic in its nature, showing parts of the device for controlling the operating and indication circults, said parts being spread apart vertically and deformed slightly from their exact proport1ons so as to show the relative arrangement and positions of theseparts; Figs. 8 to 11, are diagrammatic views showing th different positions of the throw rod, locking bar and indication slide of the switch machine at different times during the movement of the switch from one position to another; Fig. 12, is a plan view showing the applicatlon of a switch machine embodying the invention to a typical switch layout; Flg. 13. is a diagram which shows graphically the timing of the different operating parts of the switch machine; Fig. 14, is the wiring diagram for the switch machine and its controller; and Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section which taken substantially on the line e-e, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, and which shows morein detail the manner in which the tripper arm engages the lugs 0n the arms 57 and 61.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, 111 Fig. 12 is shown a switch machine embodying the invention applied to a switch layout typical of well known construction. The switch machine A for operating the switch is secured to the ties at one side of the stock rails 1 of the main or straight track and adjacent to the movable switch points 2; and the parts of the switch machine A are mounted in a protecting casing of suitable construction which is provided with a. weather tight cover. The electric motor 3 for moving the switch is preferably mounted in a separate casing adjacent to one end of the switch machine A. The switch points 2 are connected to a throw rod 4 and to a lock rod 5. The detector bar 6 is connected to a rock lever 7 which is connected in turn to the locking bar 8 of the switch machine. For convenience in description, the end of the switch machine'A adjacent to the rock lever 7, and opposite'to the motor 3. will be hereinafter termed the front end.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2. the casing for the switch machine comprises a base plate 9, which is provided with apertured lugs 10,
said lugs being adapted to be fastened to the ties so as to hold the switch machine in place. At the rear end of the base plate 9 is bolted a box-like frame 11, in the rear wall of which is journaled a shaft 12 extending longitudinally of said base plate 9. The shaft 12 is connected by suitable universal couplings or joints 13 and a short shaft 14 to the motor 3, as shown in Fig. 12. A. shaft 15 is journaled in the front wall of the frame 11 in alinement with the shaft 12, and a friction clutch 16 of suitable construction is connected between the adjacent ends of the shafts 12 and 15.
Secured to the base plate 9 near its middle is a second box-like frame 17 for supporting and housing the main gear of the switch machine and its associated operating parts. This main gear frame 17 has an integral crosspiece 18 which extends transversely of said frame near the middle thereof and a supporting member 19 which extends from the middle of the cross-piece 18 longitudinally to the rear end wall of the main gear frame 17. Mounted between the supporting member 19 and the base plate 9 is a vertical shaft 20, to the upper end of which is secured a bevel-gear 21, and meshing with this bevelgear is a bevel-pinion 22, which is fixed to the shaft 15. Extending downwardly through the cross-piece 18. near the middle thereof, is a stud bolt 23. upon which is screw-threaded a bearing stud 24 having a horizontal flange or rim 25 around its lower circumferential edge. Mounted on the hearing stud 24 is a gear 26. and meshing with the gear 26 is a pinion 27 fixed to the aforesaid shaft 20. A washer 28 is interposed between the bearing stud 24 and the main gear 26 and a cross-piece 18. A pin 29 is fixed to the main gear 26 and extends downwardly therefrom; and journaled on said pin 29 are two cam rollers 30.
The locking bar 8 of the machine extends longitudinally thereof and rests upon the base plate 9. This locking bar 8 is substantially T-shape. being widest at its rear end, where it is guided by suitable guiding surfaces at each side of the base-plate 9. and in this wide portion of the locking bar 8 is a cam slot 31 of a general elliptical shape which cooperates with the lower cam roller of the driving pin 29. The locking bar 8 has a locking dog 32 near its middle for locking the throw rod 4 and another locking dog 33 near its front end for locking the lock rod 5. Resting upon the locking bar 8 is an indication slide 34, which has a slot 35 therein near its middle in which fits the locking dog 32 for the throw rod 4. Near the front end of the indication slide 34 is a slot 36 of a general T-shape. The indication slide 34 is substantially T-shaped. being widest at its rear end. and in this wide portion of said indication slide is a cam slot 37 of a general elliptical shape. The cam slot 37 of the indication slide 34, while of the same general shape as the cam slot 31 of the locking bar 8, is narrower, as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 2. The front end portion of the indication slide 34 is bent up to form an upturned flange 38.
The throw rod 4 extends transversely of the base plate 9 under the main gear 26 and is formed with a U-shape jaw 39 between its ends with which the upper cam roller 30 cooperates to cause reciprocation of the throw rod as the main gear 26 is rotated. The throw rod 4 has shoulders 40 on each side of the jaw 39, and the locking dog 32 of the locking bar 8 contacts with one or the other of these shoulders 40 when the throw rod is in either one or the other of its extreme positions, thereby locking the throw rod.
Secured to the base plate 9 near the front end thereof is a box-like casing 41 having a removable cover, and in this casing are mounted the devices for controlling the electric circuits of the switch machine. On opposite sides of the casing 41. which will be hereinafter termed the pole-changer casing, are fixed blocks of insulating material to each of which are secured a plurality of me tallic contact springs 42. Under the insulating blocks are fixed two pairs of coils, 43 and 44. for operating the contact maker of the pole-changer hereinafter described. An iron plunger 45 extends between the corresponding coils on opposite sides of the pole-changer casing 41. and secured to the plungers 45 is a contact holder 46. A block of insulating material which is omitted from Fig. 7 but is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is secured to the upper edge of the contact holder 46, and fixed to this insulating block are two metallic contact blocks 47 which are arranged to make electrical contact with certain pairs of the contact springs 42.
Near the front end of the pole-changer casing 41 is a vertical shaft 48, shown to the best advantage in Fig. 7, the lower end of which is journaled in the bottom of said casing 41, and the upper end of which is Ournaled in a cross-member 49 fastened by screws 50 to suitable lugs 51 integral with said pole-changer casing 41. Fixed to the lower end of the shaft 48 below the bottom of the pole-changer casing 41, is a crankarm 52. the outer end of which has two rounded lateral projections which are shaped to cooperate with the sides of the slot 36 in the indication slide 34. The crank-arm 52 lies in substantially the same plane as the indication slide 34. The cross-member 49 has upwardly curved-supporting members 53 between which is secured a horizontal. pin 54. Slidably mounted on this pin 54 is a contact support and secured to this contact support is a block of insulating material which is omitted from Fig. 7 but outer end of an arm 57 secured to the shaft- 48, a pin 58 fixed to said contact support fitting in a slot 59 in said arm 57. The arm 57 has laterally projecting lugs 60. Below the arm 57 is an arm 61 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 48 so as to be movable independently thereof. This arm 61 has two laterally projecting lugs 62, similar to the lugs 60 of the arm 57 and in the outer end of the arm 61 is a slot 63 in which fits a pin 6% secured to the contact holder 46.
The lock rod 5 of the switch comprises two bars 5 arranged side by side, which have notches 66 in their lower edges shown more clearly in Fig. 3. and are provided with a suitable device for adjusting them longitudinally relatively to each other in order that the distance between the notches 66 may be changed. Each of these bars 5 has a long notch and a short notch 66. the long notch of one bar 5 being arranged opposite to the short notch of the other bar. The. size of the short notch 66 in each bar 5" is such as to receive without appreciable play the locking dog 33 of the locking bar 8. The bars 55 extend transversely of the base plate 9 of a switch machine near the front end thereof and are guided in a casting or supporting frame 67 bolted to said base plate. The casting 67 is provided with two caps 68 which together with the base plate 9 form guide openings for the bars 5*. In the longitudinal medium line of the base plate 9 are two upwardlv projecting lugs 69 integral with the casting 67, and in these lugs 69 is rotatably mounted a rock-shaft 70. Pinned to the rock-shaft 70 is an inverted Y-shape rock-member 71 having two operating arms. the lower ends of which are rounded. Secured to each of the bars 5 of the lock rod 5 is a dog 72, which is arranged to engage the arms of the rock-member 71 and to rock said member as the lock rod is moved back and forth. The rear end portion of the rock-shaft 70 is squared and straddling this squared end portion of said rock-shaft is the bifurcated end of an indication tripper arm 73. This tripper arm 73 is pivotally connected to the rock shaft 70 by a horizontal pin 74:. and by reason of this construction said tripper arm is able to swing freely forwardly and rearwardly in a vertical plane butmust rock sidewise with the rock-shaft 70. The lower end of the indication tripper arm 73, shown in Figs. 4. 5 and 6, has a forwardly extending projection 75 which is arranged to be engagedby the upturned flange 38 of the indication slide 34. The lower end of the tripper arm 73 also has a flat face- 76 which is arranged to engage one or the other of the laterally projecting lugs 60 and 62 of the arms 57 and 61 respectively when said tripper arm is at one side or the other of the shaft 48. The machine is provided with a suitable cover. preferably consisting of two end castings and an intermediate piece of sheet metal.
The switch machine hereinbefore described designed to be controlled at a dislance by a suitable controller. The operating and indication circuits for the switch machine are shown diagramniatically in Fig. 1* and in this figure is shown a sliding controller 77 which is moved back and forth by the operator. The construction of this controller 7 7. the indication latches. the indication magnets and other parts associated therewith form no part of this invention; and being shown and described more particularly in the patent to John D. Taylor. No. 752.127. of February 16th. 1904. said controller and its associated devices will not be herein described in detail except in so far as is necessary to make the operation of the .-\Vlt(7ll machine clear. The controller 77 has four positions, namely. normal. normal indication. reverse indication and reverse,
named in the order in which they occur as the controller is pulled outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 14. The final. move-- ment of the controller in either direction rcleases the mechanical interlocking. Referring to Fig. 11, the operation of the switch machine in throwing the switch from normal to reverse. as follows: The controller 77 is pulled out and the contact blocks 7e and 79 secured thereto engage between the contact springs 80. 81, 82 and 83. This movenrent of the controller 77 establishes an operating circuit for the motor as follows: positive pole of the battery 84, conductor 85. contact spring 82. contact block 79, contact spring 83. conductor 86. conductor 87. conductor 88. contact spring 89, contact. block 90, contact spring 9 conductor 9;. conductor 93. armature 94 of the motor. conductor 95. conductor 96. contact spring 97, con tact block 98. contact spring 99. conduct-or 100, and conductor 101. the field 102 of the motor, conductor 103 and common return wire 101 and conductor 105 back to the negative pole of the battery. At the same time the reverse pole-changer operating coils 44 are energized by the following circuit: Positive pol c of the battery 81, conductor 85, contact spring 82. contact block 79. contact spring 83, conductor 86. conductor 87. con ductor 106. contact spring 107. contact strip 108. contact spring 109, conductor 110, reverse polcchangcr coils conductor 111, to the common return 104 and back to the negative pole of the battery. The reverse pole-changer coils being energized hold the pole-changer contact maker 46 in its proper position to supply current to operate the motor in the direction to reverse the switch.
The motor being supplied with electric current, drives the shaft 12, the friction clutch 71.6, the shaft 15, the bevel-pinion the bevel-gear 21, the shaft 20, the pinion 27, the main driving gear 26, and pin 29 in the main driving gear 26 which is moved by said gear in a, circular path. The diagram in Fig. 13 indicates in general the timing of the different operating parts of the switch machine. In this diagram horizontal distances represent in degrees a complete revolution of the driving gear 26 and the short Vertical lines intersecting the horizontal lines point out when a change is made in the condition of the operating part corresponding to this horizontal line. Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 show diagrammaticall the position of the driving pin 29, the locking bar 8, the indication slide 3-1, and the throw rod 4 at difllerent points in one revolution of the main gear. Fig. 8 shows the position of these parts when the current is first supplied to the motor to reverse the switch. The pin :2) is assumed to travel in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8, and for about the first forty degrees of a revolution of the main driving gear the motor runs freely without moving any part of the switch machine, since the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 follows the curved portions at the rear edge of the cam slots 31 and 17 of the locking bar 8, and the indication slide respectively, these curved portions being formed on the are of a circle concentric with the circular path of travel of the driving pin 29. This free run of the motor allows its armature to accelerate and attain such speed as to develop its full power in the subsequent movement of the switch. After this free run of the motor the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 strikes the front edge of the cam slot 37 of the in,- dication slide 34;, which front edge is located in the rear of the front edge of the cam slot 31 in the locking rod 8, as shown to the best advantage in Figs. 2 and 8; and the indication slide is moved forwardly by said cam roller independently of the locking bar 8. This movement of the indication slide 3% causes engagement between the enlarged front end of the slot 36 in said slide and the rounded lateral projections on the front end of the crank arm 52, thereby swinging the crank arm 52 to its mid position. The reason for this movement of the crank arm will be pointed out after the operation of the switch machine under nor mal conditions has been explained. After the short forward movement of the indication slide 34 the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 contacts with the front edge of the cam slot 31 of, the locking bar 8 as shown in Fig. 9, and during the next part of the movement of the driving pin (from about fifty degrees to about 135 degrees) the locking bar 8 is moved forwardly. During about the first half of this forward movement of the locking bar 8 (from about 50 degrees to 100 degrees) the locking dog is carried out of engagement with the corresponding notches G6 in the lock rod 5, and the locking dog 32 is carried out of engagement with one of the shoulders 40 of the throw rod 4, thereby unlocking the switch. During this movement of the driving pin the upper cam roller 30 enters the jaw 39 of the throw rod 4, and soon after the switch is unlocked the movement of said throw rod is commenced. Due to the lost motion connection between the throw rod -l and the switch points shown in Fig. 12, the first part of the movement of the throw rod does not move the switch points. The lock rod 5 is moved by the switch points and as said switch points reach their reverse position, the dog 72 on said lock rod rocks the rock-member 71 and swings the tripper arm 73 to the opposite side of the shaft 48. Shortly after the throw rod has commenced its movement (at about 135 degrees) the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 reaches the curved portions along the front edges of the cam slots 31 and 37 of the lOcking bar 8 and the indication slide 3-}; respectively as shown in Fig. 10, and since this curve-d portion is formed in the arc of a circle concentric with the path of movement of the driving pin, forward movement of the indication cam 34 and the locking rod 9 ceases. Shortly before the throw rod has reached its extreme position (at about two hundred and thirty degrees) the lower cam roller 30 on the driving pin strikes the rear edges of the cam slots 31 and 37 in the locking bar 8 and the indication slide 34 and moves said locking bar and said indication slide together rearwardly. As soon as the throw rod 4 reaches the end of its movement (at about two hundred and. fifty-five degrees) the locking dog 33 is about to enter the corresponding notch 66 in the lock rod 5 and the locking dog 32 is about to pass behind the corresponding shoulder 40 of the throw rod 4, so as to lock the switch. The
locking bar 8 con'nnences the locking of they switch at about 260 degrees, and continues this locking movement until the driving pin 2) reaches about 315 degrees. At this latter point in the travel of the driving pin 29 the lower cam roller 30 carried thereby clears the rear edge of the cam slot 31 of the locking bar 8, as shown in Fig. 11, and bears against the rear edge of the cam slot 37 of the indication slide 34 alone. thereby causing a final rearward movement of the indication slide independently of the locking bar 8.
In this final movement of the indication slide 34 the upturned flange 38 thereon engages the rearwardly extending projection 75 of the indication tripper arm 73 and swings said tripper arm rearwardly against the lateral projections and 62 of the arms 57 and 61 respectively, which are located on the side of the shaft 48 corresponding to the side to which said trip per arm was swung by the lock rod 5. The tripper arm 73 rocks the shaft 48 and the arm 57, and the contact support 55 is shifted to the extreme position opposite to the position it formerly occupied. so as to break the circuit through the reverse pole-changer operatin coils 44 and to prepare the circuit throug the normal pole-changer operating coils 43 and make it possible to energize these normal polechanger operating coils by moving the controller T7 to its normal indication position for the next operation of the switch from reverse to normal, said circuit being as follon s: positive pole of the battery 84, conductor conductor 125, contact spring 126, contact block 78, contact spring 127, conductors 128. 122 and 129, contact spring 130, contact trip 131, contact spring 132, conduc tor 133, through the normal pole-changer operating coils 43, conductor 134, to the common return wire 104 and conductor 105 back to the negative pole of the battery. The arm 61 is simultaneously rocked by the tripper arm 73 and the contact holder 46 is moved to the position opposite to the position it formerly occupied, that is opposite to the position shown in Fig. 14. This movement of the contact holder 46 interrupts the supply of current to the motor at the contact springs 89 and 91, but the motor continues to revolve due to its acquired momentum. As the contact blocks 90 and 98 carried by the contact holder 46 make electrical contact with the contact springs 112, 113, 114 and 115 in its new shifted position, the circuit for the indication current is established as follows: from one brush of the armature 94 of the motor, conductor 93, conductor 116, contact spring 114, contact block 98, contact spring 115, conductor 117, conductor 101, field 102 of the motor, conductor 103, common return 104, conductor 118, indication magnet 119, conductor 120, contact springs 81., contact block 7 8, contact springs v8O, conductors 121, 122 and 123, contact spring 112, contact block 90, contact spring 113, conductors 124, and 95, back to the other brush of the armature of the motor. By this circuit the motor is placed on a closed circuit through the indication magnet, and the current generated by the motor acting as a generator passes through said indication magnet and releases the indication locking of the controller, thereby enabling said controller to be moved by the operator to its full reverse position to release the mechanical interlocking. The operation of moving the switch from reverse to normal is the same as hereinbefore described, the motor, however, revolving in the opposite direction.
Referring again to the first part of the operation of the switch machine, the indication slide 34 is moved by the lower cam roller 30 of the driving pin 29 immediately after the motor has finished its free run; and. as hereinbefore described, this movement of the indication slide shifts the crankarm 52 into its mid position, the shaft 48 and the arm 57 fixed thereto being simultaneously rocked. The arm 57 by means of the pin 58 shifts the contact support to its mid position wherein both pairs of contact springs controlled by said contact support are bridged. By this movement of the contact support 55 the circuit hereinbefore described through the normal pole-changer operating coils 43 is prepared so that it may be completed by a movement of the controller 7 7 back to its normal indication position. The upturned flange 38 of the indication slide 34 having been moved forwardly, the tripper arm 73 may swing freely forwardly and will not interfere with the movement of the arm 61. Consequently, the contact holder 46 of the pole-changer is free to be shifted by the coils 43, and will be so shifted if the controller 77 is returned to its normal position. When the contact holder 46 is thus shifted. an operating circuit for reversing the direction of rotation of the motor is established as follows: positive pole of the battery 84, conductors 85, and 125, contact spring 126, contact block 78, contact spring 127, conductors 128, 122, and 123, contact spring 112, contact block 90, contact spring 113, conductors 124 and 95, motor armature 94, conductors 93 and 116, contact spring 114, contact block 98, contact spring 115, conductors 117 and 101, field 102 of the motor, conductor 103 back to the common return wire 104 and through the conductor 105 to the negative pole of the battery. Vhen this circuit is established the direction of rotation of the motor is reversed and the parts of the switch machine are restored to their former position. This circuit may be established by proper movement of the controller 77 at any time after the indication slide 34 has been moved far enough to swing the arm 52 to its mid-position, and consequently, if necessary, before the locking rod 8 has been moved. In other Words, the operating parts of the switch machine may be restored to their former positions before the switch is unlocked, or at any time thereafter prior to the final movements of said parts.
In the switch machine shown and hereinbefore described, the operating parts, such are all operated by the driving pin 29, so that these parts cannot be operated separately or improperly inany way except 111 the proper sequence. The throw rod 4 of the switch is looked, as well as the lock rod 5, in the normal and reverse positions of the switch, so that said switch cannot be accidentally or intentionally thrown in case the lock rod 5 is broken or disconnected; and this locking of the throw rod is easily obtained in the construction herein described by providing the shoulders 40 thereon for cooperation with the locking dog 32 on the locking bar 8. The contact holder 46 for the pole-changer cannot be shifted manually or by energizing its operating coils 43 and 44 while the switch is locked up in either its normal or its reverse position, for the reason that the indication slide 34 holds the tripper arm 73 against one of the laterally projecting lugs 62 of the arm 61, thereby preventing movement of said contact holder 46. Consequently, it is not possible to accidentally or maliciously jar the contact holder 46 of the pole changer from the position shown in Fig. 14, when the switch is locked up in its normal position, nor can the contact holder 46 be shifted by stray currents in the normal pole-changer operating coils 43.
The contact support 55, which opens and closes a break in the operating circuits for the pole-changer operating coils 43 and 44, is operated independently of the locking bar 8 and before said locking bar is moved. This arrangement is better than the arrangement wherein the contact support is opcrated by the locking bar, because in the latter arrangement, in case the locking bar should become stuck for any reason, or in case the detector bar connected to said locking bar could not be moved because of the presence of a train on the track above the switch points, the contact support 55, being operated by the locking bar, could not be moved and consequently the motor could not be reversed. If the motor could not be reversed and if the obstacle which prevents the completion of the switch movement is not removed so that the switch could be thrown, an indication could not be given and the controller for this switch would be held by the indication latches between its normal and reverse indication positions, so that the mechanical interlocking associated with that controller could not be released. In the machine shown and described, however, the contact support 55 is moved at the beginning ofthe switch operating cycle and before the locking bar or any other of its operating parts are moved. Consequently, the motor can be reversed and the parts of the switch machine restored to their former position in case any part, even the locking bar, should be stuck, or for some other reason could not be operated. Also, in case an unauthorized attempt is made to move the switch machine by manually turning the shaft 12 or the main ear 21, the contact holder 55 will be shifted before the locking bar 8 is moved; and the automatic restoring action characteristic of this type of machine will occur before the switch is unlocked.
In controlling the indication circuits, the lock rod 5 sets the indication tripper arm 73 into the position corresponding to the posi tion of the switch points, and subsequently the indication slide actuated this tripper arm 73 to break the motor operating circuit. By reason of this arrangement and construction of parts, it is not possible to secure an indication that the switch has been moved unless the switch points have actually moved. For instance, suppose the throw rod 4 or its connection is broken or maliciously disconnected, it is evident that the throw rod could be moved by the switch machine, but the switch points would remain stationary. 1n the switch machine shown and hereinbefore described it is necessary to rock the tripper arm 73 before the proper circuits for the indication are set up. This tripper arm 73 is rocked by the dogs 72 on the lock rod 5, and consequently, as the switch points move and carry with them the lock rod 5, this tripper arm 73 is rocked to the proper position to be actuated by the indication slide 34 and thereby cause the pole-chan er to set up the proper indication circuit. owever, if the switch points do not move. the tripper arm 73 is not rocked; and consequently, the proper indication circuit is not set up.
The upturned flange 88 of the indication slide 34, being of relatively thin material, might be injured by striking the sides of the notches 66 in the lock rod 5, in case said notches were not exactly alined with said flange. In the construction shown and described, during the time that the upturned flange 38 is moving in and out of the notches 66 of the lock rod 5 it lies snugly against the rear end of the locking dog 33, and consequently said locking dog protects said flange from injury.
Under ordinary conditions the tripper arm 73 swings by its own weight forwardly as soon as the upturned flange 38 of the indication slide 34 is Withdrawn from contact with its front face; but it may happen that said tripper will be frozen or stuck in some way so that its weight is not sufficient to move it. In such a case, when the lock rod 5 is actuated, and said tripper arm 73 is rocked, the arms 57 and 61 might be improperly moved. To obviate any possible dangerous results in case the tripper arm 73 should be frozen, said tripper arm is provided with a downward extension, shown to the best advantage in Figs. 4 and 5, which is arranged so as to strike the boss of the lower bearing of the shaft 48 and force said tripper arm forwardly as it is rocked from one side of said shaft 48 to the other.
Although I have particularly described the construction of one physical embodiment of my invention. and explained the operation and principle thereof; nevertheless, I desire to have it understood that the form selected is merely illustrative, but does not exhaust the possible physical embodiments of the idea of means underlying my invention.
What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:
1. An electrically operated switch machine, comprising a pole changer, indication circuits controlled by said pole changer, coils for shifting said pole changer, circuits for said coils, and means governed in accordance with the cycle of movements of the switch operating mechanism for normally closing a break in one of said circuits corresponding to the existing position of the switch, said means being operated by the preliminary movement of the mechanism to close the break in the other of said circuits prior to the operation of any of the other parts of said mechanism and being further operated by the final movement of said mechanism for opening the break of the first mentioned circuit leaving the break in the other circuit closed.
2. An electrically operated switch machine, comprising a motor for operating the switch points of the switch; indication circuits for said motor, a pole changer for controlling said indication circuits, coils for shifting said pole changer, circuits for said coils, a device governed in accordance with the cycle of movement of the switch operating mechanism for closing the break in one of said circuits in either of the operated positions of said mechanism and operated by the motor prior to the operation of any of the other parts of the switch operating mechanism to close the break in the other of said circuits, said device being further operated by the final movement of said mechanism to open said first mentioned closed break.
3. An electrically operated switch machine, comprising a pole changer, indication circuits controlled by said pole changer; coils for shifting said pole changer. circuits for said coils; a device for controlling said circuits, a main gear for operating the switch, a slide reciprocated by said gear, and means operated by said slide for actuating said device to an intermediate point permitting either of said circuits to be estalr lished, said means operating to hold said device against movement from its intermediate position except at one extreme of the reciprocation of said slide.
4. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for operating said switch, operating circuits and indication circuits for said motor, a pole-changer for controlling said operating and indication circuits, coils for shifting said pole-changer, a device for controlling the operation of said coils by said operating circuits, a shiftable tripper arm reciprocated by said motor and operating said pole changer and said device at the final movement of the switch points to one position or the other according to the shifted position of said tripper arm, and means operatively connected to the switch points for shifting said member, whereby the position of said pole-changer and said device corresponds to thcposition of the switch points.
5. An electrically operated switch machine comprising separate members secured to the switch points of the switch; means for locking said members against movement in each operated position of the switch machine; a motor for moving said stwitch points and for operating said locking means successively; indication circuits; circuit con trolling means for governing the electrical connection between said indication circuits and said motor; and means operated by the motor independently of the locking means for causing a movement of said circuit con trolling means after said locking meansis in the locking position.
6. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a throw rod and a lock rod connected to the switch points of the switch; means for locking said throw rod and said lock rod in the thrown positions of said switch points; a motor for operating said locking means and for moving said throw rod successively; indication circuits; a circuit controlling device for governing said indication circuits; and means operated directly by the motor and controlled by the movement of the lock rod for selectively controlling said circuit controlling device.
7. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a throw rod and a lock rod connected to the switch points of the switch: locking means for locking the lock rod; a motor for operating said locking means and said throw rod successively: indication circuits; a circuit controlling device for establishing an electrical connection selectively between said indication circuits andthe motor to permit indication current generated dynamically by the motor to flow in one or the other of said indication circuits and means operated by the motor independently of said locking means after the final locking movement of said locking means for effecting a movement of said circuit controlling device.
8. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for operating the switch points of the switch; a locking bar operated by the motor for locking the switch points; indication circuits for the motor; a pole changer for controlling said indication circuits; :1 reciprocable member operated by the motor independently of the lock- 7 ing bar for causing movement of said pole changer during the last part of the cycle of operation of the switch machine; and means operated by the movement of the switch points for determining the direction of movement given to the pole changer by the operation of said reciprocable member.
9. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for operating the switch points of the switch; a lock rod connected to the switch points and actuated thereby; a locking bar operated by said motor for locking said lock rod against movement in either of the operated positions of the switch points; indication circuits; a pole changer for governing said indication circuits; and means comprising an indication slide operated by the motor independently of said locking bar and an oscillatable tripper arm oscillated by said lock rod for selectively governing said pole changer in accordance with the position of the switch points.
10. An electrically operated switch machine comprisin a motor for locking and unlocking and i or moving the switch; a pole-changer operated by said motor; means including a shiftable member shifted by the final movements of the switch points for selectively controlling the direction in which said pole changer is operated; and indication circuits controlled by said pole changer in each of the operated positions.
11. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for operating said switch; a pole changer; operating and indication circuits for said motor; said circuits being controlled by said pole-changer; coils for operating said pole-changer; circuits for said coils; a device for controlling said circuits; and means operated by said motor for operating said pole-changer and said device independently.
12. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor, a throw-rod con nected to the switch points of the switch, means operated by said motor for reciprocating said throw rod, normal and reverse operating circuits for said motor. normal and reverse indication circuits for said motor, a pole changer for controlling said operating and said indication circuits, coils for operating said pole-changer, circuits for said coils, a locking bar operated by said motor, means operated in accordance with the movement of said locking bar for controlling said pole changer, a slide operated by said motor independently of said looking bar prior and subsequent to the actuation thereof by said motor, and means controlled by said slide for governing said circuits for said coils.
13. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for locking and unlocking and for moving the switch, a pole changer operated by said motor, indication circuits controlled by said pole-changer, a lock-rod operatively connected to the switch points, an oscillatable tripper arm operated by said lock-rod to difi'erent positions in accordance with the extreme positions of the switch points and adapted to determine selectively the position to which said polechanger is operated, and means operated by said motor after the switch points have been moved and locked for actuating said tripper arm to shift said pole changer to a corresponding position.
14. .An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor for locking and unlocking and for moving the switch, a polechanger operated by said motor, indication circuits controlled by said pole-changer, a lock-rod operatively connected to the switch points, a tripper arm oscillated to either of two positions by said lock rod in its extreme positions in accordance with the position of the switch points and biased to an nterme diate position, and means cooperating with said tripper arm and actuated by he inotor for shifting'the pole-changer contacts, whereby the pole changer contacts cannot be shifted and the corresponding indication circuit closed unless the switch points are in a corresponding position and have been locked in that position.
15. An electrically operated switch machine comprising a motor: a main gear oper atively connected to said motor, a throwbar actuated by said gear for throwing the switch points, a lock-rod operatively connected to the switch points a locking bar actuated by said main gear and cooperating with said lock rod for locking and unlocking the switch points, a pole changer, indication circuits controlled by said pole changer, an indication slide actuated by said main gear independently of said locking bar, and means controlled by said lock rod at the extremes of its movements and cooperating with said indication sl de for shifting said pole changer to a position corresponding with the position of the switch points.
VVINTHROP K. HOWE.
Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,
- Washington, D. 0."
US2891615A 1915-05-18 1915-05-18 Electrically-operated switch-machine. Expired - Lifetime US1288595A (en)

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