US1344525A - Signal and gate-operating means for railroad-crossings - Google Patents

Description

` J. VIRAG.

SIGNAL AND GATE OPERATING MEANS FOR RAILROAD CROSSINGS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.17, 1917.

I. VIRAG.

SIGNAL AND GATE OPERATING MEANS FOR RAILROAD CRGSSINGS.V

APPLICATloN FILED nov. 1.1, 1917.

1,344,525. Patented June 22, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.Toi-1N` VIRAG, or DAYTON, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1920.

pplicaton led November 17, 1917. Serial No. 202,664.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN VIRAG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in

the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Imi provements in Signals and Gate-Operating leans for Railroad-Crossings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a signal and gate operating means for railway crossings, and one of the objects is to provide for giving an audible signal at the point where a railway crosses a highway and for automatically operating a gate or plurality of gates to prevent the passage of vehicles upon the approach of a train.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and -arrangement of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, y

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the apparatus located adjacent to thecrossinfr of a highway and railroad.

tig. `2 isa view,'partly in` section, of a clutch controlled by a solenoid, these elements being located between the motor shaft and one of the gates tof'be operated.

Fig. 3 is a detail in elevation and section showing mechanical means for lconnecting and operating oppositely located gates.

The highway to be protected is indicated by theinumber 10, conventionally, and the track by 12, this track comprising a series of insulated sections which constitute in a measure minor blocks. One of these insulated sections is designated 14, an adjoining section is shown at 15, and a further section at 16. The insulated section or block 15 extends on both sides of the highway crossing a suiiicient distance to permit of the lowering of the gate o1' gates at a suitable time in Y advance ofthe passage of the engine or train over the crossing.

The insulation between the track sections is shown at 17.

A bell 20 is mounted in any suitable manner at a point adjacent tothe crossing proper and is under the control of a circuit comprising wires 21 and 22 connected respectively withthe rails of track section 14, this bell also having connection with the rails of :track section 16, in order that the bell may give a signal when the bell circuit is completed by the approach of a train in either direction. The wires leading to track sec- \tion 16 are shown at 24 and 25 and the battery isdesignated 26.

The circuit through track sections 14 and 16 is broken after the train passes these sections. Means may be provided for causing the bell to continue to ring after the train enters block 15 by providing a shunt circuit from the motor circuit described below.

The gates 30, 31, 32 and 33 are' Operated by means of an electric motor or motors designated 35, 35 one of these motors controlling the movement of gate 30 and the other motor controlling gate 32. Gate 31 and gate 33 may be controlled mechanically from gates 30 and 32. The gates are balanced, the shorter arm however of each gate being slightly heavier, so that the gates will re- :turn to open position when the actuating means therefor permit their return. The circuit through the motors includes a source of current 38, wires 41 and 42 connected with the rails of track section 15, wires 59, elements 58, and wires 5, 6 and 7.

The motors continue to operate as long as the train remains on section 15 of the track andwhen the train first enters that section the circuit last named is completed and the gates are caused to move into operative position to obstruct the highway. The motors will continue to run as indicated, but no further mechanical action willresult so far as the gates are concerned, in view of the circuit described below. In F ig. 2 I have shown means for mechanically connecting the shaft of the motor with the means for operating the gates, whereby the motors may continue to operate while the gates are held in their lowered position.

A clutch employed for the purpose indicated comprises a plurality of clutch members 50 and 51 one of which is carried by the Vcore 52 of a solenoid, the coil being designated 53, this coil carrying sufficient current -to throw the clutch members into positive engagement for the initial operation, after which a resistance element 65 is thrown into circuit when the gate has reached its lower position. The current supplied to the coil is thereby reduced to such an extent that slipping action is permitted between the clutch members 50 and 5l and the motor may operate as indicated without producing further mechanical action so far as the gates are concerned. The circuit is first through contacts 57, 58, but upon the rotation of the motor shaft and clutch elements in raising ari the device 51 on clutch element 5l serves to separate the contacts at .time7 breaking the circuit at that point and thereby throwing in the resistance 65 connected with wire 60, and reducing the curs rent on coil 53, for the purpose indicated.

A shunt circuit for operating the bell from the motor circuit after the train passes into the block or track section l5 comprises a plurality of conductors 70 and 71.

What is claimed is:

In a device of the class described, an insulated track section, a plurality of gates certain of which are mechanically operated and others of which are mechanically and electrically operated, a motor for operating of the motors While said track section is oci cupied and the gates are closed, said means last named including an electrically controlled clutch, a circuit therefor, and a resistance automatically thrown into circuit with the electrical controlling elements of the clutch when the gates assume ahorizon# tal position.

In testimony whereorl l alii); my signature.

JOHN VlltiG.

Images