US1369733A - Railroad-switch - Google Patents

Description

J. ELDER.

RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILEE MAY 26, 1920.

Pamm Feb. 22,1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET If J. ELDER.

RIMLROAD SWITCH.- APPLICATlON FILED MAY 26, I920.

Patented Feb. 22, 192-1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED ST PATENT oFFIeE.

JOHN, ELDER, OF RAYMOND, ALBERTA, CANADA,

RAILROAD-SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ELDER, a sub ject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Raymond, in the Province of Alberta and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Switches; and I do'declare the fol lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and'use the same. i

This invention relates to an improved railroad switch of the ordinary type and one object or" the invention is to provide a switch and improved operating mechanism so constructed that the switch may be thrown for the main line or side lines and to further so construct the operating mechanism that the switch may, if desired be returned to its original position after the train has passed the switch, or maybe left in the set posi tion.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this switch operating mechanism that a flying switch may be made.

Another object of the lnventionis to so;

construct the operating mechanism that the switch points may be thrown by a train approaching the switch entrance from either direction, thus permitting it to be operated by a train moving along the main line toward the open end of the entrance to the siding or from the opposite direction and also permit of its being operated by a train which is moving along the side tracks and about to enter the main line.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this operating mechanism that it may be mounted upon the ties outside the rails, instead of between the rails and tofurther so construct it that the levers may extend upwardly where they will be free to move and not liable to be interfered with by snow or ice. I

Another object of the invention is to construct a switch operating mechanism which will be simple in construction, easy to install and not liable'to readily get out of order or This inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a top plan view of a track section provided with the improved operating means for the switch, 7 r I Fig. 1 is a continuationof the structure shown in Fig. 1, I 1

Specification of Letters latenti P te t 22, 1 2

Application filed May 26, 1920. Serial No. 384,245. v

Fig. 2 is a view showing the structure of Fig. 1 in side elevation,

Fig. 2 is a continuation of Figf2 and illustrates the structure of Fig. 15 in side elevation, and

Fig. 3' is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line'33 of Fig. 2.

This device is used for impartingmovement to the switch points 1 so that the'train may be directed from the main line indicated A cross bar 5 is slidably 'mounted trans 'versely of the track and adjacent a foundation beam 6 and this cross bar is connected with the switch points "so that when the cross bar is moved transversely of the track or longitudinally of the cross bar, the switch points will be swung from one position to another and thus'inoved to open the main line or side track according to the position to which they are moved. Locking hooks or horns 7 are pivotally mounted upon the beam 6 and areconnected with the cross bar 5 by rods 8 which'extend in crossed relation as shown, so that the hooks willbe swung upon their pivots when the cross bar is moved and thus the hook-shaped end portion of one of these horns moves into hooking engagemenuwith the free end portion of one of theswltch points while the shank portion of the second horn is'ymoved into contacting engagementwith the side face of the second switch point. It will'thus be seen that one switch point will be held in tight engagement with its cooperating rail, while the secondswitch point is engaged and securely held against movement toward its cooperating rails. -This will prevent the switch points from being moved out of'the proper position by vibration and there will be no danger of one portion of a train moving into a siding and a second portion attempting to move along the'main line instead of following the forward end portion into the siding.

In order to impart movement to the cross bar 5 there have been provided T-bars or levers 9 and 10 which are pivotally mounted upon the beam 6 and connected with the cross bar by pins 11 which extend through slots 12 in the levers 9 and 10. Treadles 13;- l i, l6, l7, and 18 are pivotally connected with the ties as shown in Figs. 1 and 1 duplicate treadles 13 and 14 being provided so that the switch points may be thrown from a point distant from the side tracks or at a point relatively close to the side tracks.

V downwardly and connected with links 21 which have their lower ends looselyconnectcd with a turning arm 22 carried by a rocker shaft 23. The rocker shaft23 is rotatably mounted in a bearing24 and carries an arm 25 which extends-at an angle to the lever arm 22 as shown in F igs; 2 and 2 The two treadles 13 are connected by a rod 2 6 which extends from the lever arm 25 of one treadle 1 3 and is connected with the lever arm 2-5 of the secondtreadle 13 andthe two treadles 14 are connected by a similar rod 27. Bods 2S and 29 connect the lever arm 25 of the treadles 13 and 14 with the T-bars 9 and 10 and the T-bars are connected respectively with the treadles l5 and '16 by rods 30 and 31 and with the treadles 17 and 18 by rods 32 and 33. It will thus be seen that when pres- 7 sure isapplied to one of the treadles,-niove-- ment will be transmitted to the entire operating mechanism as the switch points are moved from one position to another, movement at the same time being transmitted to a the switch point locking mechanism or horns mounted upon the beam 6.

In order to impart movement to the switchpoint operating mechanism from the train,

. the engine 34 hasbeen provided with a rocker arm 35 upon one side and a similar Z rocker arm upon the opposite side.- These rocker arms 35 are yieldably held in a vertical position by springs 36'and each is engaged by a rod 37 which extendsinto the cab where the two rods 37 may be' provided with suitable actuating means. -These. I-OCkGI QImS will each be connected with a rod 38 which is pivotally mounted and guided and limited in its swingingmovement by a pin 40 which extends through a curved slot 31. Arms 42 extend forwardly and'rearwardly from the V rocker arm or lever 39 and carry rollers 43 for engaging the treadles .to depress the same. 1 1

When this improved switch operating mechanism is in use, it is connected with the track as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 1 and it the switch points are in the position shown with the main line open and the side track closed, a train approaching the switch and intending to move along the main line, will 7 pass the switch points and proceed along the l-bars and move the cross bar thus moving the switch points to open the sidings. The cars which have been released from the train and are coasting along the main line, will be diverted into the siding. iii following train which is to proceed along the main line will have to set the switch to open the main line and the operating means upon the right hand side of then-ab or engine will be swung to the operative position so that it will engage the treadle 13 and move the rod 26 to impart movement to the T-bar or lever and swing the switch points to the proper position. If the switches are set for the main line and a train is to enter the siding, the

'treadles will be pressed upon and the cross bar will be moved to set the switch line open. It will thus be seenthat a train which has the right of way may proceed. along the main line with the operating mechanism of the train set toengage the trea-dles for moving the switchesto-open the main line and there will he no danger of the trains running into an open siding as-the switches will be moved to the proper position before the train reaches the switches. If a train is moving along the main track from the opposite direction. or bac'king along the main line or if a train isle'aving-a siding,

the wheels of the engine will enga eeither the treadle 17 or the treadle-18 an switch points to open themain line or siding. It will thus be seen that with-this im- 7 proved track structure train carried actuating means, the switches may be operated and moved to the desired position without the assistance of a switchma-n and withset the 100 points for the side track. Bitter ontering'the 1 side track, the engineer may raise the treadle out it being necessary for the train to come to a stop.

What is claimed is e 1. The combination with a track structure including a main line, a side track, and movable switch points and an operating bar for the same, of actuating mechanism for the switch points comprising a lever pivotally mounted with the bar, securing elements movably mounted, rods extending from the operating bar and connected with the securing elements for moving the securing elements into and out of an operative position as the switch points are moved, and train actuated operating means carried by the track structure and connected with the lever for imparting movement to the same and shifting the position of the switch points and securing elements. I

2. The combination with a track structure including a main line, a side track and movable switch points and an operating bar for the same, of locking means for the switch points comprising horns pivotally mounted between the switch points, each horn having a curved end portion for engaging the free end portion of its cooperating switch point and having a shank extension for engaging the side of its switch point, one horn having its curved end portion engaging the free end portion of its switch point when the second horn has its shank extension engaging the side face of its cooperating switch point, means connecting the horns with the operating bar for imparting movement to the horns as the switch polnts are moved, and means for imparting movement to the bar.

3. The combination with a track structure including a main line, a side track, and movable switch points and an operating bar for the same, of T -bars pivotally mounted and havin connection with the operating bar, actuatlng means positioned in the main line to one side of the switch points, actuating means in the main line upon the opposite side of the switch points, actuating.

means in the side track, and actuating means in the side track and main line for setting the switch points in opposition to the last inentioned means of the side track and main me. 1

4. The combination with a trackstructure including a main line, a side track, switch points, and a cross bar connecting the switch points, of means for imparting movement to the switch points including pivotally mounted T-bars having connection with the cross bar, actuating elements mounted upon opposite sides of the main line in advance of the switch points, rods connecting th e actuating elements with the inner end portions of the T-bars, actuating elements mounted in the main line beyond the switch points, actuating elements mounted in the side track beyond the switch points, rods connecting certain of the actuating elements of the side track and main line with the inner end por-' tions of the IT-bars, rods connecting the remaining actuating elements of the sidetrack and main line with the outer end portions or the bars.

f 5. The combination with a track structure 7 including a main line, a side track, switch points, and a cross bar connecting the switch points, of operating means for the switch points including levers connected with the cross bar, means upon one side of the main line connected with one of the operating levers to'move the cross bar to set the switch points in one position, means-upon the opposite side of the main line and connected with a second lever for moving the cross bar to position the switch points in a set position, means mounted adjacent the main line and side track and connected with the levers for imparting movement to the same reversely to the movement imparted by the first and second mentioned means, and other means mounted adjacent the side track and main line and connected with the levers for imparting movement to the same. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN ELDER.

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