US1396946A - Double automatic latch for switch-stands - Google Patents

Description

F. C. ANDERSON. DOUBLE AUTOMATIC men FOR swncn STANDS.

APPLICATION FlLED NOV- l5| I9l9. 1,396,946, Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

FAQ.)

AT 'rmzv FIG.

UNITED sTATss PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKC. ANDERSON; or eINcI'NNAT pHIO; ASSIGNOR r THE AMERICAN VALVE & MErEncoMrANY, or CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

DOUBLE AUTOMATIC LATCH FOR SWITCH-STANDS.

To all wizom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK C. ANnnRsoN,

a citizen of the U nited' States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Double Automatic Latchesfor Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

latches such asset forth in my Patent No.

815,136, granted March 13, 1906, in which the switch levers are. secured against move ment under trailic and so constructed as to permit the switch-operating mechanism to operate automatically under forcecaused by the train runningfthrough the switch without any damage to the operating mechanism.

The object of my present invention is to simplify and ,improve the construction whereby the latch or keeper and cooperating mechanism may be adapted to switch-stands of varying heights or; 7 positions of the switch-stand lever without alteration of the operative elements of the switch-stands, and to keep the spring actuated plunger in an elevated position where its operation will not be interfered with by ice or other impediments. Other objects and advantages are attained as will be apparent from an examination of the device illustrated.

My invention consists in the parts and in the combination and arrangement of parts as herein set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a switch and switch-stand having my improved double automatic latch in operative connection therewith;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of my improved double automatic latch in locked position with relation to a switch-standlever,

which is shown in transverse section, parts of the view being shown broken away and in section; I

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showin the latch in lever releasing position;

Iig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the latch lever removed; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the latch lever.

My improved construction is provided I with a latch-stand 6 having a slot 7 formed therein for the reception of switch-throwing lever 8 which is adapted to rest upon support 9 in the bottom of said slot. A bear- Specificat-ion of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

Application filed November 15, 1919. Serial No. 338,338.

ing 10 is located on a plane below the support 9 for the pivotal mounting of keeper 11 upon pivot pin 12'mounted in said hearing. 'The keeper 11 is provided with a finger 13 which extends through the stand 6 to a position beneath cylinder 14 located on the opposite side of stand 6 from bean wing 10. This cylinder is on the opposite My invention relates to double automatic thereby maintaining nose 2O of keeper 18 in extended position over the switch-stand lever Swvhen it is in latched. position. The upper edge of nose 20 isbeveled to permit switch-throwing lever 8 to .be 'forced into slot 7, thus causing the keeper to tilt back against pressure of spring 16 as shown in Fig. 3. In this figure I have indicated a foot in dotted lines to show that the keeper may be tilted by foot pressure if desired.

At the upper portion of the latch-stand I have provided ears 24 having holes through which a pin or the hasp of a padlock may be passed should it be desired to prevent the switch being thrown. At the base of the latch-stand I have formed feet 25 with slotstherein for the reception of spikes to hold the stands upon the cross ties as shown in Fig. 1. It will be seen upon reference to Fig. 1 that I have provided two latch stands which will take care of the switch-stand lever when thrown into either of its positions.

In my improved double automatic latch the location of the spring cylinder 14 in elevated position upon the opposite side of the latch stand from that shown in my said patent permits of increase .or decrease being made in the height of support 9 from the tie upon which the latch stand is located, for the purpose of accommodating the latch or keeper to the location of any switch lever to whlch the latch is to be applied. This feature renders it unnecessary. to alter the length of cylinder 14 in any way to accoma stand having a slot therein adapted to receive a switch stand lever, a keeper pivot- -"ally mounted on one side of said slot and modate the latch to switch levers located a short distance frointhe tie such as would have to be done in my patented construction. Accommodation to switch levers located a greater or less distance from the surface oi means for securing the switch stand lever of sw1teh-operat1ngmechanlsm either automatically or rigidly as desired.

I claim:

1. A double automatic latch comprising a stand havinga slot therein adapted to receive a switch stand lever and also a slot adapted to receive a keeper for said switch stand lever, a sprlng pressed plunger mounted in-elevated position on one side of the "switch stand lever slot and a keeper for said switch stand lever on the opposite side of the switch stand lever slot from said plunger andhaving a finger thereon extending through a slot therefor and adapted to engage the lower end of said spring pressed plunger whereby said keeper'is adapted to be automatically opened and closedfwhen said switch stand lever ismoved past said keeper in either direction. j 7' r 2. .A double. automatic latch comprising I having a nose adapted to normally project into said slot and over said switch stand lever and having a finger adapted to project beneath said slot and to the side thereof opposite said keeper and a spring pressed plunger mounted in elevated position on the opposite side of said slot from said keeper and adapted to engage said finger whereby the force 01" said lever in operation in either direction is adapted to automatically open said keeper and whereby said keeper is adapted to automatically return to closed position before or after said lever has passed the nose thereof.

3. A double automatic latch comprising av stand having a slot for a switch stand lever, and having a slot for receivinga keeper to engage said switch stand lever, a spring pressed plunger mounted in elevated position, said keeper being pivotally mounted in the slot for said keeper at one side of and below said slot for said switch stand lever and having a nose normally projecting into the slot for the switch stand lever and also having a finger extending through a slot therefor adapted to engage said spring pressed plunger whereby said keeper is adapted to be automatically thrown to open and closed position, respectively, when said switch stand lever is moved upwardly or downwardly past said nose.

FRANK C. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

J AMES N. RAMsEY, MARY E. MCCONNELL.

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