US147655A - Improvement in railway-switches - Google Patents

Description

' S.`B. K'NEELAND.

Railway Switches. y 910,147,655, v Patented Feb.17,1874.

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SYLVANUS l). KNEELAXD, O F CHARLESTOVN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY-SWITCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,655, dated February 17, 1874; application filed 4 November 11, 1873.

To all 'whom 'it lmay concern:

Be it known that I, SYLvANUs lt. linnn LAND, of Charlestown, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Raib way-Switches for Horsedtailwa-ys; and l. hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, of which- Figure l is a plan of my ilnproved switch. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line a; x, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sec tion taken on the line z z, Fig. 1.

Like letters refer to like parts in the various gures of the drawings. p

M y invention relates to that class of switches used in the construction of horse-railways and consists in a movabletongue switch combined with devices for operating the same by the horses attached to the car, as hereinafter more fully set forth, the object .being to dispense with the services of a switch-tender.

The main track l P and branch lt It, with the movablevtongue switch F, are all made and arranged in thefusual manner. l), Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is a sliding bar, located under the tracks, as shown, to one end ot' which bar I attach the switch -tongue F by the crankshaped boltl, so arranged that when the bar l) is moved it will cause a movement of the tongue F, its point describing the are of a circle, said bolt being fastened in the tongue I", but loose in the bar D, and provided with a proper intermediate fulerum or support. At each end of the sliding rod D l locate the bent levers I or C, Fig. These levers are hung on pivots, as shown,and each has an arm resting against the end of the sliding rod D, and

there `is also an arm of each, as shown at 1l. and B, resting against the under side of the platforms A Gr. These platforms are hung at R R', Fig. 1, the other ends being supported by the bent levers C and I, and the whole be ing so arranged that if one of the platforms is weighted it will settle down and cause the bent lever under it to move the switch-tongue, and at the same time cause the other platform to rise.

The operationof my invention is as follows: Then a ear is approaching the switch from the direction Z, and the driver wishes to change the switch, he then swings his horses to the right or left, as the case 1na5r be, until one ot' them steps upon one of the platforms, A or G, when the weight of the horse will. depress the platform and throw the switch tongue or point around in the right direction for turning the car, as desired.

I am aware that atilting platform for automatically operating a switch has been located between the tracks of a railway, but it is very liable to become clogged and deranged by bcing in the direct path of the horses, and itis also difficult to so operate it by means of the horses as to switch in the right direction readily. 1l therefore do not claim such an arrangement, nor amT part thereof in itself considered; but

`What I do claim is-- The levers C- I, bar l), bolt E, platforms G A, and tongue 11, when combined, arranged, and operated substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth and described.

SYLVANUS KNEELAND.

Witnesses liras. Ln'r'rs, XVILLIAM B. KNEELAND.

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