US1332179A

US1332179A - Rail-lock

Info

Publication number: US1332179A
Application number: US140734A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest E Howard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1917-01-05
Filing date: 1917-01-05
Publication date: 1920-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 1937-02-24

Description

E. E. How/mn.

RAIL LOCK.

APPLICAHON FILED lAN.5\l91T.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A TTORNE Y Patented Feb. 24,1920. l

.INV/3N TOR. I

f/"nesfE/iowa/a E. E'. HOWARD.

BAIL LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 5. 1917.

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NNN MN NN WN Qn,

A TTORNEY E. E. HOWARD.

RAIL LUCK.

APPLLCATION FILED 1AN.5.1911.

Patented Feb. 24,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. N

[NI/'EN TOR.

TTU/UVE Y ERNEST E. HOWARD, y0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

RAIL-LOCK.

specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 24, 1920. l

Application filed January 5, 1917. Serial No. 140,734.

To all wlw/1t t may concern Be it known that I, EnNEsT E. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and Stat-e of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Locks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, and tothe letters and iigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ,of `this speciication.

My invention relates to a combined rail lock and signal operating mechanism for movable span bridges, and more particularly to ,mechanism whereby track rails on a movable span may be locked to Valining rails on a permanent span leading thereto, to re tain the alinement of the rails, the principal object 'of the invention being to provide eifective means for accomplishing this purpose, together With mechanism for operating the lock, a lock control device and means for operating a signal synchronously with the lock.

In accomplishing these objects I have provided improved details ,of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in thc accompanying drawings, wherein:m

Figure I is a perspective View of portions of permanent and movable spans of a lift bridge equipped With my improvements.

Fig. II is a plan View of the same, showing the locking `mechanism in locking relation to the track rails.

Fig. III is a side elevation ofthe saine.

Fig. IV is a cross section von the line IV-IV, Fig. II.

Fig. V is an enlarged detail perspectivev ViewV ofthe joint inthe operating lever rod. Fig. VIis a detail perspective lvievv of the automatic stop. i

Referring more in Adetail tothe drawings: 1 2 designate respectively, parts of permanent and mo-vable spans of a lift bridge of any ordinary construction, lcarrying track rails 3 3', the ends of Which terminate closely adjacent each other and in longitudinal alineinent when the movable span is in functional position.

The end of each of the rails 3 on the pei-- manent span is incut to form a pocket 5 along its outer face and the end of each of the rails 3 on the movable span. is inc-ut and provided With a joint plate 6, preferably Welded to the rail and shaped to completev rail sections thereto, and 8-8 designate guard rails on the ixed and movable spans at the inner sides of the rails 3-3.`

Fixed on the permanent span adjacent the end of each of the rails 3 is a standard plate 9, having a bearing 10 therein, the channel of which registers with an aperture 11 in the endof the adj acentlixed rail 3 and an' aperture 12 in the extension 6 of the joint plate on the movable rail 3. in said bearing-10 is a lock pin 14, the inner end of which. is adapted for projection through thev registering apertures 11-172 in the rail and extension 6 to lock said rails together when the rail on the movable span is Slidablymounted j in functional position and the rails in opera 1 tive 'alineinent The outer end of the lock pin 14 comprises a yoke 16 that is pivotally attachedto the arm 17 of a three-vvay lever 18 pivotally mounted on a pin 19 risingjfrom the plate 7 on the fixed span, so that it may turn horizontally when actuated in the manner presently described.

The lever 18 comprises an operating arm 21, the free end of which is pivotally con'l nected with a pin 22 on a slide 23 that Works in a guide trough 24 on the xed span, so that When the slide ris moved longitudinally in its guide the lever is rocked to vmove the lock pin into or from the registering apertures in the fixed and movable rail members to connect or disconnect the same.

18, so that when the three-vvay leverl 18 is actuated to draw or throw the pin 14 from or into the rail apertures, the lock pin 14 at the opposite side of the span is operated synchronously with and relatively to the pin 14 at the operating side to lock or unlock the respective rails.

Vhile I have shown but one end of the movable span with its rail locking parts, these parts are duplicated at the opposite end of the span and the rails at both ends of the movable span locked or unlocked simultaneously through the operating lever that is preferably located at the center of the movable span.

The operating lever, 29, is rotatably mounted in a standard 30 located preferably at the middle of the movable span and provided with a cross 31, having links 32 pivotally connected with its opposite ends so thatwhen the lever is rocked in one direction the links are drawn inwardly to draw the locking pins and when rocked -in the opposite direction the links are moved outwardly to throw the pins as presently described.

Pivotally connected with each of the links 32 is a connecting rod 33 which extends along the movable spa-n Aand is seated in guides thereon, the outer end of the rod being pivotally connected with a link 35 which in turn is pivotally connected with a bar 36 that is slidably mounted in a guide 37 adjacent the end of the movable span in order that the bar may work longitudinally. The bar 36 is preferably provided with side rails 38 forming upwardly facing shoulders 39 and the guide 37 with keeper plates 40 that overlie said rails and bear against the shoulder 39 to retain the bar against vertical displacement While providing' for free longitudinal movement thereof.

The bar 36 is upturned at its outer end and provided with a connecting head 41 that lies parallel with the bar, but at a higher elevation, and is provided with a wedge shaped opening 42 that is adapted for receiving a reversely shaped lugl 43 on the slide bar 23 that works in the guide Q4 on the fixed span.y so that when the movable span is lowered the head 41 will move over the lug 43 and form an operative connection between the draw bars on the fixed and movable spans, the

wedge shaped lug and opening insuring the proper positioning of the bars should there be any unevenness of alinement of the fixed and movable parts as the movable span comes to position.

In order to insure against premature or accidental throwing of the lock pins that would result in preventing; the functional positioning of the rails on the movable span,y I provide for automatically projecting a stop into the pocket 5 in one of the fixed span rails, immediately upon the lifting of the movable span, tov lie along the end of the aperture 11 therein and prevent -movement of the locking pms 14 through the apertures into thc path oi' a descending rail member,

the action of the stop being automatic in its primary movement and yieldable under the weight of the descending rail so that it can be moved out of obstructing position upon the descent of the movable span.

The preferred construction of this stop or obstructing member comprises a lever 45 that is pivotally mounted on a bracket 46 suspended from the fixed span adjacent one of the rails thereon, one end of the lever being provided with a weight 47 for automatically lifting the opposite end when unrestrained, and said opposite end carrying a stud 48 that is adapted for projecting upwardly through the floor of the span and along' the rail 3 in front of the aperture 11, so that when the movable span is raised and the extension 6 of the rail member 6 on the movable span moves away from its fixed mating member, the stud will automatically rise into the pocket 5 to cover the aperture and prevent the projection of thelocking pin across the path of the descending rail, the weight retaining' the stud in this obstructingposition until the movable span is lowered, when the lower edge of the extension 6 engages the top of the stud and moves the same downwardly against the tension of its weight.

It is customary in bridges of this character to provide signals at the ends of the bridge to indicate the position of the movable span, and in order to set the signals synchronously with the operation of the lock, I extend the slide bar 23 and provide the same with a connecting rod 50 that may run to the signal operating mechanism (not shown) so that when the operating lever is thrown to draw the locking pins preliminary to the lifting of the movable span, the signal will be set to indicate the opening of the bridge, and when the lever is moved to throw the pins, the signal operating mechanism is actuated to return the si gnal to its safe position.

In using` the mechanism, assuming the parts to be constructed and assembled as describedv` when the movable span is in functional positionv the ends of the rails are locked and the signal is propertly set, Should it be desired to open the span, the bridge tender throws the lever 29, throwing the connecting rods outwardly and moving the slides 23 to operate the three-way'levers 18 at the inner ends of the permanent spans. This rocking of the three-way levers serves to draw the pins 14 with which they are di rectly connected and also to move the bars 27 that extend'beneath the track and connect with the opposite levers 25, so that thel pins 14 on both sides of the track are simultaneously moved outwardly to draw the same from their locking' connection with the extension 6 on the rail members on the movable span, thereby freeing said rail members, to permit the span to lift. This outward movement of the connecting rod also serves llt? lll() to actuate the signal connecting rods 50 and set the signals to indicate an open span.

As the extension members 6 move upwardly the obstructing stud or stop 48 rises under tension of its weight and moves over the end of the aperture 1l in the end ot the rail 3 to lorm an obstruction that will prevent the throwing of the loc-king pin ld should the operating lever be actuated beiiore the movable span has returned to its l'unctional position.

When the span is to be returned to its functional position it is lowered in the ordinary manner, and when it comes to place the extensions G or the joint plates 6 move down along the ends of the rails 3 on the stationary span, the one at the side of the track where the obstructing stop is located engaging the top of the stop to move the same downwardly against the tension of the weight Lif?, so that when the span is in place the lever may be operated to throw the locking pins as before described.

It is apparent that with this combination ot parts the track rails lare normally securely locked together to form continuations of each other and that after the movable spa-n has been raised the locking mechanism cannot operate until the movable span has com pletely returned to its functional position, thereby obviating incomplete placement of the span or shearing of the locking pins, and also serving to prevent accidental or erroneous setting ot the signal at the end ot the bridge.

Having thus described my invention what l claim :is new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is zl. In combination with normally alining track rails, having side lapping ends provided with apertures, registering when the rails are in alinement, one of said rails being movable vertically relative to the other, a pin guiding and positioning standard adi 1 jacent the apertured portionof one of the rails, a pin slidably mounted in the standard and movable into and from the apertures ot both rails, and means for actuating the pin.

2. In combination with stationary and ver tically movable rail members, normally in longitudinal alinement and comprising side lapping portions, having transverse apertures registering when the rail members are in alinement, a pin guidingl and positioning bearing having fixed relation to one of the rail members, a pin in the bearing seating in the apertures of both rail members when the apertures are in registration and means tor drawing tbe pin.

3. In combination with stationary and vertically movable rail members, normally in longitudinal alinement and comprising side ,lapping portions, having transverse apertures registering when the rail members are in almement, a pin guiding and positionmg bearing havingixed relation to one oi the rail members, a pin in the bearing seating in the aperture of both rail members when the apertures are in registration, means for drawing the pin, and a stop movable across the path oi the pin when the pin is drawn.

-l-. In combination with stationary and vertically movable rail members, normally in longitudinal alinement and comprising side lapping portions, having transverse apertures registering when the rail members are in alinement, a pin guiding and posi tioning bearing having fixed relation to one ot the rail members, a pin in the bearing seating in the aperture of bot-h rail members when the apertures are in registration, means tor drawing the pin,'and a stop loW cated in the path of the pin when the pin is drawn and engaged by the other rail meml`ber to free the stop as the movable rail member returns to alinement with the` fixed rail member.

5. In combination with stationary and vertically movable rail members, normally in longitudinal alinement and comprising side lapping portions, having 'transverse apertures registering when the rail members are in alinement, a bearing having fixed relation to one of the rail members, a pin in the bearing seating in the aperture of both rail members when the apertures are in registration, means for drawing the pin, a stud located in the path of the movable rail member and movable into the path of the pin, means yieldingly urging the stud to contact with the movable rail member, whereby the stud is caused to follow the said rail member across the path of the pin as the movable rail member moves out of alinement with the stationary member and is engaged and shifted by the movable rail member said member returns to alining position.

6. In combination with fixed and movable track supports, track rails, one on the fixed and the other on the movable support, the movable rail having an extension movable along the fixed rail, a locking member movable in the rails to connect or disconnect the same, lever mechanism for actuating said locking member comprising a rod having cooperating heads on the fixed and movable supports to automatically brealr or make a joint as the movable member is raised or lowered.

7. In combination with fixed and movable track supports, track rails` one on the fixed and the other on the movable support, a lock ttor said rails, means for actuating said lock, longitudinally movable members on the fixed and movable supports, one having a lug and the other an opening` for receiving said lug, whereby a ljoint is automatically broken or made between the rod members when the movable member is raised or lowered.

8. In combination with fixed and movable track supports, track rails, one on the Xed and the other on the movable support, a lock for said rails, means for actuatingsaid lock. longitudinally movable members on the ixed and movable supports, one having a tapered lug and the other a tapered opening for receiving said lug whereby a joint is automatically broken or made between the rod members when the movable member is raised or lowered.

9. In combination with fixed and movable track supports, track rails, one on the fixed and the other on the movable support, a lock for said rails, means for actuating said lock, longitudinally movable members on the fixed and movable supports, one having a lug and the other an opening for receiving said lug, whereby a jointv is automatically broken or made between the rod members when the movable member is raised or lowered, andL guides on the supports for slidably actuating said rod members.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature.

ERNEST E. HOWARD.