US1420967A - Signal flag - Google Patents

Description

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SIGNAL FLAG. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 192i- 1,420,967, Patentedlune'27,1922.

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SIGNAL FLAG.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. GARnnve- 'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Inver Grove, in the county of Dakota and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signal Flags, of

which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide improved signal flags particularly adapted for use on locomotive engines.

More particularly it is my object to provide such flags in combination with a protective housing and means for quickly displaying or furling the signals.

Flags, of the class to which my invention relates, are used to identify the character of certain trains and are usually displayed on each side of the front of a locomotive. According to standard practice regular tra ns running upon schedule time, display no slgnal; special trains display a white flag and second sections or other trains, running off regular schedule, display a green flag. The flags in common use for this purpose are pieces of hunting of the desired color tacked on a wooden stick and when not in use they are supposed to be carried in the engine cab. The same train is often required to run without displaying this signal during a portion of a trip and then, because of delays or when running over the track of another road, 1t is necessary to display a signal flag for longer or shorter periods. At the end of a run such flags are frequently lost or mislaid and often through forgetfulness of the fireman a locomotive leaves the round house without flags. In consequence there is unnecessary loss of flags and not infrequently a delay in starting a train and in some instances absence of flags when they should be displayed.

My invention obviates this inefficiency by having suitable casings, containing the flags, constantly upon the locomotive ready for use.

- The drawings, forming a part of this specification illustrate what I at present believe to be the best form of my device but it will be readily understood that modifications are possible within the spirit of my 1nvention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device showing one of the flags in extended position; Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 and Fig. 3 is a Specification of Letters Patent. Pate ted J 217 192 Application filed May 23, 1921.

Serial No. 471,799.

is closed by doors 13 and 14 which are pivotally mounted upon rods 15, the ends of said rods belng secured in the top and bottom of the casing 10. The door 14 is provided with a pair of eyes 16 near its ends and a similar pair of eyes 17 are rigidly mounted on the casing 10 opposite the eyes 16. I-Iehcal springs 18 connect the eyes 16 with the eyes 17 to resiliently hold the door 14 in closed position. The door 14 overlaps the door 13 (as clearly shown in Fig. 2) so that the springs 18 also operate to hold the door 13 in closed position.

Revolubly supported at their ends in the top and bottom of the casing 10 is a pair of spindles 19 and 20 which are bent at their upper ends to form cranks 21 and 22. Longitudinal movement of the spindles 19 and 20 is prevented by cotter pins 23 which are inserted in suitable perforations in said spindles near their extremities. The flags proper 24 and 25 are secured at their inner edgesto the spindles 19 and 20 by a series of cotter pins 26 and the opposite edges of said flags are free to be extended through the door openings.

In use my device is secured to the locomotive or railway car as described above and when it is unnecessary to display the flags they are rolled upon the spindles 19 and 20 by manipulating the cranks 21 and 22. When thus furled the flags are effectually protected from weather and wear, the doors 13 and 14being'held shut by the springs 18. When itis desired to display one of the flags, the door 13 or 14 is opened against the action of the spring 18 and the appropriate flag is withdrawn as shown in Figure 1. When it is desired to change flags the one displayed may be quickly rolled up by manipulating the crank 21 or 22 and the other flag unfurled as described above.

For use on the front of locomotives I provide two of my signals, one with the doors 13 and 14 opening to the left and the other with said doors opening to the right so that the flags are always accessible to be displayed on each side of the train.

Having described my inventionwhat I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described a casing adapted to be secured to a locomotive, a door in said casing, resilient means for normally holding said door in closed position, a spindle revolubly mounted in said casing, a flag secured at one edge to said spindle and arranged to be frictionally engaged by said door When extended and means for turning said spindle to Wind said flag thereon.

2. In a device of the class described, a standard, a casing mounted on said standard, a door in said casing, a second door arranged in said casing to over-lap said first mentioned door, resilient means for holding said second door in closed position, spindles revolubly mounted in said casing, a flag secured at one edge to each of said spindles and means for rotating said spindles to Wind said flags thereon.

3. In a device of the class described, a standard, an upright casing mounted on said standard, a door in said casing, a second door arranged on said casing to overlap said first mentioned door, springs to hold said second door in closed position, spindles revolubly mounted in the ends of said casing, cranks on one end of each of said spindles, flags secured at one edge to said spindles severally and arranged to be selectivelyextended through said doors.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM D. OARRINGTON.-

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