US1375537A - Switch-operating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

c. R. PEDDLE AND 1. M. WALDRON.

SWITCH QPERATING MECHANISM. A'PPLICATION FILED OCT 4. I919.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

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CHARLES R; PEDDLE, 0F

rrrenwoon, New JERSEY.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

T 0 all w 71 am it may concern Be it known thatwe, CHARLES R. PEDDLE and JAMES M. VVALDRON, citizens of the United States, residing at Suifern, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, and at Highwood, in the county of Bergen, State of New Jersey, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanism, of which the 'following is a'specification.

This invention relates to switch operating mechanisms for railroads and has for an object to provide a switch operating mechanism embodying new and improved features of safety. In some switch operating mechanisms in use at the present time, provision is made to prevent the throwing of the operat ing lever when a car is in the switch block This is accomplished by a lock, locking the switch lever, which lock has its electrmmagnetic releasing means cut outby short circuiting a battery in the switch block. It has occurred, on a number of occasions, that accidents have arisen from the fact that the switch operating lever. has been started toward a switch throwing position before'the train has entered the switch block and after the lever has been started there has been no provision for preventing the complete throw of the lever and therefore throwing the switch under the train. The object of the present invention is to prevent throwing a switch'under a train when the train is in the switch block.

The drawing in the present case is purely diagrammatic and no feature of-the same is to be considered as disclosing the mechanism actually employed which may be varied within a very wide range to meetthe requirements of specific installations.

As disclosed in the drawing the operating mechanism is controlled from a battery B in circuit with a relay'B, magnets M and 1 and an operating lever L. The battery B is also at times in a circuit controlled by the track relay R in circuitwith the track bat tery B. As shown the track batteryBis connected with the side track ST but is also I in circuit with the main track T in whichis located the switch S. i r

The rail 10 of the track T is provided with insulating joints 11, 11 and 12,12, while the sidetrack ST is provided with insulating joints 13, 13, 14 and 15. The rail 16 of the side track is connected with the rail 10 by the bond 17. Qurrentfrom the battery B to the relay B is therefore through the'rail 1g, bond 17, rail 10, relay R rail 18 and rail deenergized by short circuiting'by a car in sure-nan, NEW YORK, AND JAMES tr. wALnRoN, or

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 19,1921. Application filed October 4, 1919.1 Serial no. 328,478.

It is obvious that this relay B may be any position within the switch block as indi cated by the several positions 0,

energized from the When the relay B is battery B the armature the contact 21. When so closed currentfrom the battery B passes through the line B,22, 1

armature 20 and contact-21 and the line to. B, through the line B, 23 and line 23', B to battery energizing the relay R and closing the armature 24 against its contacts 25 and 26 and the armature 27 against its contacts 28and29. I v I With the relay R closed the current is taken from battery B through the line B, 22, 30, 31, contact 25,-armature 24, contact 26 to the switch 32 on'thelever'L. With the lever L in normal position as shown in full lines in the drawing, current passes from the switch 32 when closed through the line 33, 34'to the contact spring'35 through the lever L to the contact spring36 and through the line 37, M to the 'magnet M 20 is closed against which is energlzed by completing the circuit through the line M, 38, 23 to "battery B. The energizing of the'magnet M at tracts the armature against the lug 40 on the bar 41 to prevent the throwing of the lever L. The unlocking of the lea-r41 permits the lever L from the position across contactsprings 35' and 3G wherebythe circuitto the magnet M is broken and the magnet deenergized. The'bar 41, however, has moved 7 so that the dropping of thearm'ature' 39 no: longer locks the 'bar and the bar and lever L are therefore free to move. Inits normal position,

however, and before moving, the lever L springs 42 andv 43. These springs are-in circuit withbattery B throughtheline B, 22, 30, 31, 44, 45, 46, contact springs '43 and 42, line 47, 48. to solen0id49 whichgactin upon the core50 tends'tohold the switchg track T. 'Returnclosed clearing the main ing from the .solenoid 49 current passes through line 51, ,52, 53, 23, to battery B. With the lever therefore vin normal or full line position the current 'of'battery B is on the solenoid 49 tending tohold the switch in such closed position, Current is also on the has closed contact between contact 39 which has engagedv throwing of the "B, 22, 30, 31, 44, contact 28, armature 27,

contact 29, 54, 55, 56 to contactspring 57, contact spring 58, line 59, 48, solenoid 49, line 51, 52, 53, 23 to battery B. It will be noted that the contact springs 57 and 58 cover a larger arcthanthe contacts 42 and 43. The movement ofthe lever to the position a breaks contact with the springs 35, 36, and 42, 43 but contactbetween the springs 57 and 58 is still maintained whereby although the current to the solenoid 49 through the contact springs 42 and 43 has been interrupted, the current, through the springs 57 and 58 is still maintained. The throwing of the lever therefore to the posi tion a to break the current through the springs 42 and 43 does not deenergize the solenoid 49. f When however the lever L has engagement with the bar 50.

. block'the relay R the circuitto the relay 1& whereby such relay passed 01? fromthesprings 57 and 58 it has made contact with the springs 60 and 61.

i The circuit including the springs 60 and 61 is from the battery B through armature 27 of relay R to 54, 62, to springs 61 through the lever L to spring 60 through the line 60,

i 63 to solenoid 64 the core of which, 65, looks the bar which is employed as a core of the solenoid "49 and when moved to throw the switch S. The locking. core 65 is normally held, in looking engagement by a spring 66 but when the solenoid 64 is energizedits locking core 65 is withdrawn from The circuit for solenoid 64 is completed through the line 51, 52,53, 23 to battery B. Unless however the relay R isclosed current does not pass 61 to energize bein being deenergized current does not pass through the springs andf61 to the solenoid 64 and the switch. remains locked notwithstanding the movement of the lever L from normal to any other position. The lever maybe thrown whollyto make contact with the springs43 and 42 which will energize the solenoid 67 tending to throw the switch S, but in View of the fact thatthe switch 50 r 1 Therefore with a carin the switch; block,-al-

remainsjlocked, the switch cannot be thrown.

though the relation ofthe parts initially may havebeen such as to unlock the lever L by the energizing of the magnet M, the lever may be thrown through its complete are without throwing the switchunder the train.

The springs 57,- and 58"are in suchip'osition relative to the springs 57 and58 that the inpractically no more than the width offthe lever L so thatwhen contact between the springs 57 and58 is broken, itis almost instantaneously made between the springs 57 and58"; If the relay R s closed current is taken through the springs 57 and 58 can only occurif the relay R is closed.

VVhenthe lever L has reached the position d the lock is held in unlocked position by the energizing ofthe solenoid '64 being en.- ergized through the springs 60 and61 and the solenoid 67 is springs 57 and '58 and the switch S is ST. An appreciable time, however, is re quired for the throwing of the switch S and to provide thatthe lever L shall not complete it movement before the switch S has reached its limit of movement, the parts are so arranged that when the lever L has reached the position (Z with the solenoids 64 and 67 both energized the armature 73 isin engagement with-the lug 74 of thebar '41 preventing a further movementof the lever from the lug 74L Provision is therefore made for holding the parts with the lever at position (Z until the switch 55 has come pleted its movement. Thi provision comprises aswitch '75 actuated bythe-bar 50, l/Vith the switch 75 in the position shown in thedrawings, it, is out of circuit. lVhen however, the switch completes its movement the switch 75 is brought into engagement with contact 76. -Currentl' is now taken from battery B through'line 22', 30, 31,44, contact 23', armature 27 contact 62,; spring .61, spring 60, line 7 7 63 to switch 75, contact 76, line 78, contact 7 9,'switch 80, contact '81, line 82, 83, 84 to magnet W1, 38, 53, 23, to battery 13. The energizing of the magnet M lifts the armature 73 to release the lug 74 permitting the completion of the movement of the-bar 41 and" the lever-L. The completion ofthc movement of the bar 41throws the switch out of engagement with the contacts '7 9 and 81 against the tension ofover -center spring 85 breaking the circuit through the switch 75 thereby deenergizing magnet Mf andallowing arma 35, 36 ,.42 and 43' and is the limit of its movement. The passing of the lever from thekposition cl to f and ofi' the, springs 60,

a 61 deenerp'izes' the solenoid 6.4 permitting until the armature 73 been released energized through the 29, line 54, r

the spring 66 toithrow thelockingfjcore into locking position.

For the return movement of; the. switch the'reverse is true inall respects. The clos-v ing of the switch 32 when the lever is in the positionf energizes the magnet M which attracts I the armature 73 which has now locked behind the lug 74 permitting bar 41 lines compelling the stoppage ofthe lever L until the switch S has completed its movement closing-the switch 7 5 against its contact 76 and the switch 80' now beingagainst the contacts 79 and 81' energizes the magnet- M lifting the'armature 39 and permit ting the completion of the movement of the lever L to full line position.

' It is obvious that the movement of the switch S will be almost instantaneous; and can only occur if the track relay R is ener-' glze'd from the battery B indicating a clear switch block.

At times and under certain 'conditions the apparatus of the track relay R or the relay B may get out of operativecondition which would delay the operation of'the trains. To provide for this contingency, a manual key 86 is provided adapted to en-' gage contact 87 whereby current is taken from battery B through the line to '80, key 86, contact 87, line' '55' 11554:, thus cutting out the relay R. It is proposedthat the key 86 be located ina locked boX'the key of which is inthe possession only of one who is authorized'to operatethe device other than in the usual and ordinary manner.

Having thusfully described our saidinventlon, what we claim as new; and desire V to secure by Letters Patent,-is:

1. The comb" ation with railway switch,

of electrical me ans-forcontrolling the oper- I ation of the switch, a manually-movable part, a source of' controlled bythe movable part in circuit with the source for maintaining the switchmo-vlng mechanism inoperative,'means controlled by the moving part at--a" certain position of its movement controlling mechanism for releasing the switch,- means'controlled by a further movement of the moving part for throwing the switch to its opposite limit, and means controlled by a train in block with the switch for throwing the moving part out of electrical control at any point in its movement 2. The combination with a railway switch, of mechanism for moving the switch between its limits of movement, a manuallymovable part in circuit with a source of electrical energy adapted to control the switchoperating mechanism, a circuit controlled by the movingpart in its initial position for maintaining the switch at its then limit of movement, a circuit controlled by the moving part in an advanced position for releasing the switch and permitting the 'mechaelectrical energy, means nism to throw the switch to its opposite limit, means for maintaining the switchin its thrown position, and means controlled from a train in the switch the operative efiect'jof the "moving part at any position in its movement. I

3. I The combination with v a railway switch locatedin 'ELIl lIlSLllfiIBCbblOCk, ofia source of electrical energy connected with the units of :the block, a relay electrically connected through'the block units'with the sourceof electrical energy in. such.manner' that a train-in any position in the block will short circuit-the source of energy and 'deenergize the 'relay, switch-operating mechanism, a manually movable part in: circuit with-a block to interrupt second source of electrical energy, means inpart carried by the movable part for transmitting energy from: the second source to the switchoperating mechanism .toxmaintain the switch at its initial limit while the i 1 moving part remains. in initial. position,

means carried by the moving part for trans mitting energy from1'the second source to the switch-operating mechanism 1 in an, ad! vanced position of the moving part torelease the switch retaining mechanism and put into operation 'the switch-throwing mechanism, means to restrain the movement ofj ithe moving part until the switch has completed its movement, means energized. from-the completion of movement of the switch 5 to release the moving part, 'means actuated by; a completion of movement of the-moving part to interrupt thelast men tioned energizing efiect, and means to interrupt energy from the second-mentioned source through the moving part at the opening of -the relay! connected with the first mentioned-source; q i 1 4:. The comb nation with a railway switch located an insulated block, of a source of electrical energy connected'with the units of the block, a relay in circuit qwith the source through the units of the block and adapted to be deenergized by short -:circuiting the source by a train at any point within the block, switch-operating -mechanism, switch-locking mechanism, a series of cuits including a source of circuit energy,

cir- I a moving part, means carried by the moving part in its initial position for transmitting energy from the'circuit source to the switch-operating mechansm to maintain the switch in its initial'position, circuits closed by the moving part at an advanced position to release the lockingmechanism and energize the switch-controlling mechanism.

to throw the switch to. its opposite limit, a

circuit controlled by anelectric switch in turn controlled by the movement of the railway switch'for interposing an obstruction to the movement of the moving part at the point of unlocking the railway-switch mechanism and energizing the switch-conopening'the circuits to trolled Joy the blocl complete. movement of the railway switch,

means energized by said .last mentioned cir-I cuit for; releasing the obstruction" when the railway-switch has completed its movement, and means controlled bythe block-relay for the moving part at any polnt between itsinitial. and final posi-' tions. 1 v

"5.The combination with a railway switch locatedsin an insulatedrblock; of a'source of electrical energy connected with the units of the block,

a3 block-relay electrically 0011-; nected with the source of energythrough the lolock units and adapted to: be Clefner gized by theshort circuiting ofthe source by a train-positioned at anypoint Within the block,=-a'.:- source of energy connected with a plurality of circuits some J of -which are? opened and closedby' the block-relay, part; awcircuitincluding-the move ing part ateither extreme of its movement the block-relay. control for com hold the switchuatl either extreme of its 'movement, .a circuitincluding the moving part having interrupting mechanism con-i -relay fadapted jwhen energized to release; the switch, a; ci I uit-Win eluding the movingpart adapted to Joe in: terrupted by the action of the 9 blockrelay for energizingthemechanism for throwing the switch tothe'xopposite limit of its move 7 inent, means for locking the; switchyat a further movement of; the :moving part when current to the flocking mechanism has been interrupted andmacircuit exclusive of the block-relay controh and closed atpthe extreme movement of the moving gpa rt for maintaining the switch at such 1 position a 6. L'lhe combination located in ian jinsulated 'block, a source, of

electrical energyconnected with the-units oil the block, a i'elay electrically! connected withthe units of the block and energized from thelolock-source ofenergy and adapted my hand and; seal at Highwood; with a railwayiswitch amoving part adapted atfits fromjthe circuit source to; theswitch-thr'ow ing mechanism to, hold theiswitch in its initialposition, means carried by the mov epa t of. circuit energy to the locking mechanism toire'lease the look at an advanced-position of themoving part, a circuit controlling the switch-throwing mechanism adapted to close "a circuit fromthegsource l energize the switch throwing"mechanism i through the moving part andthe circuit source at arifurther advanced positionof the movingpart; means controlled by the block-relay for interrupting the circuits through the moving part ateither of its advanced positions to preventxthe releas ing ofttheswitch-locking mechanism, and means atthe switch-throwing .position of the/moving part tojoolostruct the further movementgof the moving part-until the throwing ofthe switch has means controlled by completion of the move? ment of the switchr ifori removing the obstruction, and a circuit closed at the extreme limit of: movement part exclusive of, the block relay control foryholding the switch-throwing mechanism; against movement ofthe switch. In. witness whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand and sea liat Washington,; District of Columbia, this l3th day ofAugust, A. D. nineteen-hundredand nineteen. 1

C HARLES; R. PEDDLE. ,[n s.-] InVwitness whereof, I have hereunto set NewJerof the'moving sey,,this 21st-day of August,.- A. D. nine-v i teenhundred and nineteent a AMES M; WALDRON. [11. s,] l MWitnesses: f '1] .7

REED1- JOHN .HENECKERL-l

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