US1499838A

US1499838A - Classification box

Info

Publication number: US1499838A
Application number: US582454A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard A Murray; Logan H Hooper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1922-08-17
Filing date: 1922-08-17
Publication date: 1924-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 1941-07-01

Description

CLASSIFICATION BOX Filed Aug. 17 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 1 1924.

R. A. MURRAY ET Al.

um f W. f 5f if l? f fr atto: nu!

July 1, 1924. 1,499,838

` R. A. MURRAY ET AL.

CLASS IFIGATION BOX Filed Aug. 1'? 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNHTED TES Meana are RICHARD A. IdIURRAY AND LOGAN H. HOOPER, O'F MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA. l

cLnssIrrcArroN BX.

Application led 'August 17, 1922. Serial No. 582,454.

T0 all 'whom z't may concern:

Be it known that we7 RICHARD A. MURRAY and LOGAN H. Hoornn, citizens of the United States7 residing at Muskogee, in the county of Muskogee and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Classification Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in signalling devices and more particularly to the type known as classiiication boxes7 which are designed to be located on the front of a steam locomotive for signalling passing trains and stations and towers situated along the tracks.

An important object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of this character which is permanentlyT attached to the forward end of a locomotive so as to obviate the necessity of the engineer or reman making hazardous climbs to the forward end of the locomotive in order togive the required signals to passing trains, and wayside stations.

The device is also constructed of metal or any other suitable indestructible material so as to obviate the necessity of renewing signalling devices from timeto time such as the fabric flags which soon fall into disuse due to their inability to withstand general weather conditions and constant usage.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a signalling device including an illuminated casing which houses a flag of a particular color which is so arranged with respect to the casing that when the flag of a particular color is projected from the casing to a displaying position, a light of the same color as the flag will be visible from the front and one end of the casing.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a signallingwdevice of this character which includes a plurality of different colored flags which co-operate with means for simultaneously displaying a light vof the same color as the flag which is arranged in displaying position.

A further object of the invention 'resides in the provision of a simple and inexpensive means for displaying the flags and also means for automatically concealing the flags in a protected position when their display is no longer required.

Another object -of the invention resides in the provision of a pluralityv of different colored movable liags which are normally concealed from. view and each of which is provided with a pair of transparent portions of a color corresponding to that of the Hag so that when both flags are disposed within the casing provided for housing the same, a safety light will be displayed from the front of the casing. f

Other objects and advantages ofthe in; vention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the description and wherein like lnumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views:- j 'j Figure l is a fragmentary top plan of a steam locomotive with the invention applied thereto7 Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section through one of the signal devices,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the flags associated witheach signal-devlce,

through the signaldevice showing one of the flags arranged in a semi-displaying position, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the' outer end of the signal device with one of the flags arranged in displaying position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the embodiment of the invention which is at present preferred, the numeral 6 designates the forward end of a steam locomotive having the usual smoke stack 7 projecting upwardly therefrom. A signalling device or Classiication -boX 8, which in the present instance consists of a rectangular casing, is mounted at the forward end of the locomotive on eachside thereof to project laterally beyond the boiler as clearly shown in Fig. l. Any suitable means may be used in supporting these boxes on the locomotive. As both bones are of identically the same construction, only one of them will be described.

The front of the casing 8 is designated by the numeral 9 and is adapted to bearranged facing forwardly of the locomotive and is provided with an opening i0 or bulls-eye in the outer upper corner as clearly` seen in Fig. 5. This opening is equipped with a transparent llens the color of ordinary glass. One end 12 of the casingr'which is the end arranged furtherest fromthe loco- Y Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectionv motive, is provided vvith a pair of spaced vertical slots 13 and 14 for a purpose which Will be presently described. This end of the casingin its upper rear corner is provided with an opening 15 Which is covered by a transparent element or lens 16. lThe back of the casing consists of a hinged closure 17 Which is imperforate With the exception of anr opening 18 in its upper inner corner, which opening is covered by a transparent element or lens 19 so that a source of light 2O which may be connected, or any other suitable'kind may be seen by the engineer soy that at all times he Will be informed Whether or not the casing 8 is properly illuminated. This source or" light 2O in the present instance consistsof an incandescent light bulb which is situated. at the inner end of the casingradjacent the top thereof. Aany suitable kind of fastening means may be provided for retaining the hinged closure 17 in a closedposition s o as to render the interior of the box or casing 8 weatherproof. H'An axle or shaftw21 is extended transversely through the outer lower corner of the casing 8 and has its opposite ends jour- `n aled inthe front and rear of the casing as bestsee-n Fig. Y2. This axle is preH vented fromdisplacement by means Qta collar 22 keyed to-` each end of the axle so as to abut the adjacent portions of the casf ing ras shown. A pair of so called

flags

28 and 24 are loosely mountedv in spaced relation on the axle 21. However, these flags are not flags as the term is ordinarily understood to mean fabric flags, but they consist of velements made of rigid material such as hard Wood or metal. The flags are painted Adifferent colors and in the present" instance the flag 23 is Wholly White. vvhile flag 24. isA entirely green. Each of the flags has secured to a side thereof a small pinion 25 each of which has an opening therethrough arranged concentric with the opening in its respective flag and through Which vthe axle 2l passes. Each Vof the flags consists of an L -shaped rigid member having an opening 26 at the juncture of its tivo arms as shown in Fig. 8 for the passage of the axle 2l. A coiled spring 27 is provided for each flag and has one end secured toits respective ag atl-- jacent the `juncture of the two arms of the: flag?k While the opposite end or" the spring is fastened to the bottom of the casing 8 at a substantial distance 4aiv'ay from the axler2l'so as to normally exert a pull inward of the` outerY end of the casing so as to retain the flags normally disposed therein, so that one arm 23a of each flag is ranged horizontally in the bottom of the casing, While the other arm 28b of the flags are disposed vertically. The arm 2th of each flag is provided With a transparent element 28 which is of rectangular configraciones uration as shown in the present instance and is the same color as the flag and lits in a out out portion of corresponding configuration extending from the free end of the arm to a point adjacent its juncture vvith the c0-acting arin. The edges: of this cut out portion are grooved to retain the edges ot the transparent element as shown to advantage in Figs. 3 and 5. The White transparent element 28 of flagr 23 is provided with a circular portion 29 which is adapted to align with the bulls-eye lO in the casing when the arm 28 is disposed Wholly`- therein. The arm 28'a'of each flag is provided With an opening 30 for the reception of a transparent element 8l which is the same color as the arm with which it isi associated.` its the tivo lia-gs Aare arranged in the` saine horizontal lane When disposed Within the casing 8, 1t will be seen that the transparent elements `28 or" the two flags will be in alignment and light from the electric bulb 20 Within the casing'ivill shoiv through the aligning transparent plates 28 of the tivo flags, and `sincefone ot the transparent portions is green', a green light Will be shoivn through the bulls-eye lO'in the Jfroifit of the casing. y i i l The green llag 24 has the upper edge of its horizontal arm 28a provided v'vitha right angularly, extending lens holding portion `32 which adjacent the free end of the arm 28a is provided with an lopening covered'by a green lens or transparent element 83 which transparent element is adapted to be brought into alignment with the transparentelement 16 in the end .l2 of the casing, When the green flag is moved to a displaying position as shown `in Fig. 5 so that a green light vvvill be visible through the opening l5. "When the green flag is in this position, it ivi-ll be obvious that a transparent element 3l carried by the green flag Will be arranged in alignment with the plain transparent portion 29 of the White Hag and also the bulls-eye l() so that a' green'light Will be visible rthrough the bullsf-eye and through the openingl l5 in the end of the casing, While the arm 28lu of the green flag Will be projected through the'slot 14 to extend outwardly from the end l2 ofthe box or casing.

lfhen the green flag is disposed Wit-hin the casing and the arm 28h01? the White flag is projected from the casing th-e transparent element 8l of the White fla-g Will be aligned ivith the bullseye 10 and a lv'vhite light 4will be visible therethrough. The lens carrying portion 82 ofthe green flag beting disposed horizontally belou7 the opening l5 in the end of the casing. White 'light ivill also be projected through the transparent element 1S. lt- `:vill therefore be obvious that two lights, one in the front of the casing and one in the side thereof Will be visible at lltll) all times, and the color of these lights will correspond with the color of the flag projected from the casing. When both ags are disposed within the casing, ransparent element 28 of the green flag 24 will be aligned with the bulls-eye l0 and the transparent element 29 of the white flag so that a green light will be visible through the bulls-eye in the front of the casing, while a White light will be visible through the end l2 of the casing.

For projecting the flags from the casing to a displaying position, a rack bar 34 is provided for each flag and is arranged alongside of the flag so that the teeth thereof mesh with those of its respective pinion 25. rI`his rack bar is held in engagement with its respective pinion by means of a bracket 35 fastened to the bottom of the casing and extending upwardly so that its upper angular end overlaps the top of the rack bar as shown to advantage in Fig. 2. Spacing sleeves 36 are provided on the axle 2]. to hold one of the brackets 35 spaced from the green flag 24 and its coil spring 27, while another one of the sleeves is provided to hold the bracket 35 in upright position and spaced from the rear closure 17 of the casing as shown. l A Y In the present instance, each rack bar 34 constitutes the stem of a piston hood which is arranged within a cylinder 37 carried by the forward end of an air pipe 38 so that air pressure is employed to operate the signals. The rack bars of the classification boxes extend through the inner ends of their respective boxes, and each constitutes the stem of a piston as hereinbefore explained. The pipes 38 lead to the cab of the locomotive and air pressure thereto is controlled by the engineer so that by permitting air to enter the cylinders 37, the iiags are caused to be projected and when air pressure in the pipes is released the coil springs 27 ret-urn the flags back to position within the casing. It will be understood that the rack bars of the white flags are controlled independently from those of the green flags, and the white flags at the sides of the locomotive may be simultaneously operated, or one at a time whichever is desired.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings have reference to what might be considered to be the approved or preferred form of our invention. We desire it to be understood that we may make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention what we claim is 1. A signaling device comprising an illuminated casing having an opening therein through which light from the casing is projected, a movable flag associated with the casing and having a pair of transparent portions, one of said transparent portions being adapted to align with the opening in the casing when the iiag is within the casing while the other transparent portion is adapted to align with the opening when the flag is extended out of the casing to display a light from the opening corresponding to the color of the flag.

2. A signalling device comprising an illulninated casing having an opening therein a movable signalling arm movable into and out of the casing, said signalling arm being of a color indicating a certain condition, and transparent means co-operating with the opening in the casing for causing a light corresponding in color to that of the signalling arm to be visible through the opening in the casing when the signalling arm is arranged in a displaying position.

3. A signallingdevice comprising an illuminated casing having an opening therein, a signal arm movably associated with the casing, and having transparent means to cause a light of a certain color to be projected through the opening in the casing when the arm is arranged in a displaying position and to cause a dierent light to be visible through the opening when the signalling arm is arranged in a non-indicating position.

4. A signalling device comprising an illuminated casing having an opening therein, a pair of signal arms movably associated side by side within the casing and having transparent portions adapted for alignment with the opening in the casing and with each other whereby different colored lights can be exhibited through said opening depending upon the relative position of the signalling arms.

5. A signalling device comprising an illuminated casing having an opening therein, a pair of L-shaped signalling arms movably associated therewith, ythe arms of each L-shaped signalling arm being provided with transparent portions adapted to align with the opening in the casing whereby di'erent lights are exhibited through the opening in the casing depending upon the relative positions of the signalling arms.

6. A signalling device comprising an ilY luminated casing having an opening therein through which light from the casing is projected, almovable flag associated with the casing and having a colored transparent portion associated therewith and adapted to align with the opening in the casing when the flag is arranged in an indicating position.

7. A signalling device comprising an illuminated casing having a slot and an opening in a wall thereof, a flag movably associated with the casing and adapted to be nor- Iii-ally arranged inside thereofV und being pro-y jectzrhle through the said slot, nd said flag hnvii'ig am zingularly disposed portion equipped with a colored transparent element adapted to be brought in alignment With the opening in the casing when the flag is projected through said slot.

8. A signalling device comprising a casing having n slot therein, n signalling erin pivotally mounted Within the casing and adapted to he projected through said Slot, a pinion carried hy said larm, and a rack har movable through the casing and engageable itl Seid pinion for inoving said arm to an eating position.

9 A Signalling device comprising an illuminated casing having opening associated with a Wall thereof, and u slot in the Wall arranged at right angles to the wall having the opening, an L-shztped signalling arm pivotally mounted within the casing und having a pair of transparent colored portions, one of which is adapted to align with the opening in one position of the erin While the other is adapted to align with the opening in the other position of the arm.

ln testimony whereof We zitlix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

RCHARD A. MURRAY, LOGAN H. l-OPER. lil/Titnesses BESSE-tn LYON, JULIA A: