US1460324A - Signal means - Google Patents

Description

June 26, 1923.

. 1,460,324 N. J. HOOD SIGNAL MEANS Filed Nov. 18, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 26, 1923. 1,460,324

N. J. HOOD SIGNAL MEANS Filed Nov. 18. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvau'ron ATTORNEY WITNESS June 26, 1923.

N. J. HOOD SIGNAL MEANS Filed Nov. 18. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQR Patented June 26, 1923 iaeszr NOAH J. noon, on vanes, ALABAMA.

SIGNAL MEANS.

Application filed November 18, 1922. Serial No. 601,806.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, NOAH J. 11001), a

citizen of the United States, residing at Vance, in the county of Tuscaloosa and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signal Means, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal means, the general object of the invention being to provide means for notifying the engineer of a train that another train is approaching around a curve or the like and also for notifying persons at railroad crossings that a train is approaching the crossing.

Another object of the )invention is to provide means for returning the signal means to inactive position after the train passes the danger point.

This invention also consists in certaln other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawlngs and specifically pointed out in the appended 7 claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in Wl1iCl12- Figure 1 is a plan view showing the invention used at a railroad crossing.

Figure 2 is an elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View through the suipport taken immediately above the arms therein.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing a curved part of a track with the invention in use for notifying an engineer of the approach of another train.

Figure 6 is a similar view but showing a modification.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification.

In these views A indicates the railroad crossing and B the track. A standard 1 is rotatably mounted in a support 2 which is placed along the track adjacent the crossing. This standard carries a signal disc 3 and a lamp 4. A spring 6 tends to hold the standard in a position where the rays of light from the lamp and the disc cannot be seen by a person approaching thetrack along the road as the edge of the disc will be presented to such a person. A lever 5 is placed adjacent the track, one on each side of the crossing at an appreciable distance therefrom, these levers'being adapted to be struck by apart on a train approaching thecrossing. These levers are connected with a double lever 6 on the standard by the flexible members 7 and the 'springs ti. "When. altrain approaches a crossing in either direction a part thereon will strike the lever 5 which will act through the connections 7 and 8 to swing the standard 1 to a position where the disc can be seen by a person approaching the track and the standard will be held in this position by a latch 8 or an arm 6", connected with the lever 6 and which is adapted to engage the projection 6 on a crank shaft 9, the crank and projection of which being held in raised position by a spring 10. As

soon as the train reaches the crossing it will strike the crank and thus partlyrotate the shaft 9 soas to move the projection 6 out of engagement with the latch 8 and thus permit the spring 10 to return the standard to normal position, thus hiding the disc and indicating that the crossing is free. The lamp can be used at night and will act the same as the disc.

Figure 5 shows a curved part of a track provided wit-h my signal means so that an engineer of one train will be notified that another train is ahead of him around the curve. The standards 1 are placed at the ends of the curve and the levers 5' are located adjacent these standards and the con nections are so arranged that a train at one end of the curve will operate the standard at the other end and vice versa.

Figures 6 and 7 show a modification wherein a tubular upright 11 is placed adjacent the track at each end of the curve and the disc 13 has its stem 13 connected to a weight 13* which is slidably mounted in the upright and this weight engaged by the upper and lower springs 16 so that when the weight is pulled downwardly and then released the weight and the springs will cause the disc to bob up and down and thus appear and disappear at the enlarged top of the standard or upright. The means for operating this device consists of a lever 14 which is connected with the weight by means of the cable 15 and the spring 18. In this case no releasing means are necessary as the disc will come to rest within the enlarged end of the upright and out of sight as soon as the Weight ceases to vibrate. It will of course be understood that this modification can be used at a railroad crossing.

It is thought from the foregoing descrip tion that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and ar 'angement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scopeot the appended claims.

Whatv I claim is 1. Signal means of the class described comprising a standard, signal means carried thereby, a casing in which the standard is rotatably mounted, an arm on the standard, a latch carried by the arm, a rod rotatably mounted in the standard, a keeper thereon for engaging the latch for holding the signal in operative position, a spring for holding the standard in inoperative position, a spring connected with the rod for holding the keeper in engaging position and a part on the rod adapted to be engaged by a train for moving the rod to throw the keeper thereon out of engagement with the latch.

2. Signal means of the class described comprising a tubular member, a spring actuated member therein, a signal connected with the spring actuated member and means actuated by a train. forvibrating the spring to cause the signal to appear and disappear at the top of the tubular member.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

NOAH J. HOOD.

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