US1532828A - Signal blade - Google Patents

Description

` April 7, 1925.

B. F. LoLLls SIGNAL BLADE Find Nov. 25, '1921 .2 .2f

UNITED STATES isaers PATENT GFFlEl.

BENJAMIN r. LoLLS, on BRWYN, rLLrNors, AssIeNon or oNE-HALF To o'rTo s. FLATH, or oHIcAGo, ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL BLADE.

Appneation fried November 25, 1921. serial No. 517,457.

To ZZ 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. LoLLrs, a citizen ot the United States, and a resident of Berwyn, in the county1 of Cool; Vand State of illinois, have inventedr certain newk My invention relates to blades especially intended for use on semaphores for providing signals to trainmen along the right otl way, and more specifically stated appertains to the blade and method of securing it to the spectacle casting of the 'semaphore or railway signal device, wherein the spectacle casting with its signal indicating means is pivotally mounted on a suitable standard or support and adapted to be operated, usually at a distance from the signal, by mechanically operated or electrically actuated means.

In semaphore signals Vas usually constructed. a spectacle casting is pivotally mounted and provided with lenses of which there are generally three in number, each oi' a diiierent color and artiiically lighted to provide a night signal.

The spectacle casting is also provided to one side oit' its pivotal point, with a blade or arm ot suitable width and length which in turn is givenv the desired color or Acolors I to enable the same to be discerned at a proper distance from the semaphore.

Signal blades or arms in thc past were made of wood and painted different or the desired colors, such as red, green, yellow, etc., to provide signals or indications to the trainnien; but theseA wooden blades have ot more recent years been supplanted by steel blades of diiierent types because of their greater longevity. Steel blades, in order to be suitable for outdoor use to withstand the elements, are usually provided,v

after proper preparation, with enamel applied in various `colors whereby the signal blade will give a brighter and clearer indication than was the case with theA wooden blade, while at the same time obviating the necessity for repeated painting and therefore eliminating the expense and labor incurred in changing the blades heretofore necessary when repainting was required; while on the other hand enameled blades may be cleaned with a suitable washing compound Without requiring removal of the blade. Difiiculty has been encountered in the use of steel blades of proper lightness, possessing the requisite strength and in providing the' same with a suitable coating of enamel, when lprovided with an attaching bracket, due to expansion 4and contraction and also due to the cracking of the enamel and bending of the blades resulting from wind pressure and the strains and jars encountere'd'in the swinging o' the blades dur-k ing operation of the semaphore.

My invention contemplates the provision of asignal blade formed to permit of varying degrees of expansion and contraction during` the enameling process and which will also be self reenforced; the reent'orcing being accomplished in such manner as to compensate for the jars and strains resulting during operation of the semaphore, while at the same timey a more elastic action will be given to the blade and cracking of the enamel prevented.

The objects and advantages of my improved constructions will all be more readily and fullycomprehended Jfrom the detailed description of the accompanying drawing, wherein?- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved blade shown secured to a spectacle casting. y

Figure 2 is a cross ysectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l as indicated.l

Figure 3 is a side elevation ol a. modified form.

Figure i is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View, in per spective, of another modification oi' the invention. Y

Inthe particular exempliication ot the invention as disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, 10 represents a well known type of spectacle casting employed with semaphores and providedwith a number of colored lenses at 11 adapted to be illuminated for night signaling. The spectacle casting iseprovided with a shaft-receiving aperture at 12 arranged so that the spectacle casting will oscillate with the shaft when the latter Vis actuated, either by suitable mechanically operated mechanism or by electrically controlled means, usually arranged at a point removed from the signal. The spectacle casting terminates usuallylin au arm or portion 13 disposed radially from the axis of the shaft-receiving opening 12, as shown in Figure 1; the arm or portionll usually being flanged along theY longitudinal top and bottom edges as shown at 14, and at suitable points provided with fastening means receiving apertures as disclosed and hereinafter' described.

My improved blade 15, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,"is formed of suitable Ysheet metal of desired length and width and provided with channels 16, extending longitudinally from end to end of the blade, ary

ranged to provide the intermediate Yraised portion or rib 17 and the raised portions or ribs 18, 18 extending adjacent to the longitudinal edges ofV the blade; the immediate longitudinal edges being preferably beaded or flanged as at 19, 19 for the purpose of ad-` ditionally reenforcing the same. The signal blades are usually made of increasing width toward one end of the blade, namely the outer or free end as shown in Figure 1. The channels 16, 16 are preferably disposed parallel with the longitudinal edges of the blade, with the result that Vthe intermediate or rib portion 17 increases in width from the inner or attached end toward the enlarged or free end of the blade in Figure 1.

ln order to provide suitable means wherewith to secure the blade to the spectacle casting, I provide a bracket 20, preferably of sheet metal channeled intermediate of its sides to such an extent and inverted rela-tive to the blade that the base of the dale or channel of the bracket will come flush with the rear side of the channel portions 16, 16 of the blade, the bracket 20 being preferably welded into place, by suitable welding or otherwise at points adjacent to opposite sides of the channel. i'With the bracket 20.secured to the rear side of the blade at the places indicated at 21, 21, it will be seen that. the rib-portion 17 of the blade is disposed intermediate of the points where the bracket is secured to the blade and is therefore in raised relation therewith. In practice, the bracket 20 is welded or properly secured in place on the rear side of the blade before the latter is enameled. With the channels in the blade extending from end to end and disposed on opposite sides of the fastening points 21, means are provided which will compensate for the differences in expansion and contraction of the blade andybracket encountered when the two members are going through the enameling process. llt the same time a blade is provided which will be reenforced .throughoutY its length and which will present a relatively smooth enameled surface free from boltheads or rivets ou the forward face thereof; the channels being of comparative width, presenting substantiallyl wide fiat surfaces provided with the desired colors for signal. indication` The channeled formation of the blade reenforces the latter throughout its length against wind pressure; enables a blade of lighter material to be employed, while at the same time eliminating the possibilities of enamel fractureY and scaling whichV otherwise would be encountered.

The laterally disposed sides 22, 22 of the bracket member 20 are adapted to extend flush with the extension or arm 13 of the spectacle casting 10, with the edges of the sides 22 preferably shown in abutting relation withthe flanges of theV spectacle casting, whereby the bracket 2O with the blade 15 will be firmly held'against vertical movement relative YVto the arm 13 of the spectacle casting. The laterally disposed sides 22 of the bracket 2O are provided with a suitable number of openingsVY for the passage of the bolts 23 which pass .through registering apertures in the portion 13 of the spectacle casting as shown in Figure 2, thereby firmly securing the blade 15, through the medium of its bracket 20, to the spectacle castin while leaving the blade with, b-roken exterior surface.

In Figures 3 and 4; I illustrate a modification, wherein the spectacle casting 10 is identical with that disclosed in Figure 1. while the signal blade 24 is formed to provide a longitudinal channel 25 at the longitudinal center line of the blade, namely in- Y g; a clear or untermediate of the raised portions or ridges- 26, 26; with the longitudinal edges 27, 27 of the blade being shown disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane as the base portion of the channel 25.y The immediate longitudinal edges of the blade are preferably beaded orvfianged downwardly or rearwardly at 28 substantially similar to the heading' or Hanging 19 disclosed in Fig ure 2. The blade 24 is secured to the arm 13 of the spectacle casting by means of a channeled member or bracket 2O similar in construction to the bracket 20 shown in Figures 1 and 2, ixcept that in this construction the bracket 20 extends flush with the end of the intermediate channel 25 of the blade, to which portion it /ii's Ipreferably suitably welded as indicated at the points 21, in order that a smooth unbroken sur face onthe forward side of the blade may be provided. n

ln the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4, the channel 25 is made of decreasing width toward the' outerl or free end of the blade, whereby the blade is more pronounccdly reenforced at the point of kattachment and therefore at the point where it is subjected to the greatest strains. The blade 2e, lilie the blade l5, permits 'of the varying degrees of expansion and Vcontraction during the enameling process after the bracket is attached, without causing a fracture or cracking of the enamel, andthe blade is reenforced throughout its length not only against wind pressure but also against the strains encountered during operation of the signal in overcoming' the inertia resulting during its oscillatory upward and downward movements.

My invention permits metallic blades of comparatively light weight to be employed, with the result that a considerable saving` of battery consumption where electrical means for operation are employed, is obtained and a reduction of operating expense prorided; while a` lesser expenditure of energy is required where the signal is mechanically operated. Furthermore, the possibility of enamel fracture and scaling will be entirely eliminated. It has been found in practice that the comparatively large channels and more particularly the central channel, give the plate greater elasticity, whereay cracking of tie enamel is prevented and which at the same time will compensate for the jars encountered during the operation of the semaphore.

In Figure 5 I show a portion of a spectacle arm and the adjacent end of a blade with means for securing the same in place, illustrating another modification of my in- `rention, wherein the blade 29, like the previously described blades, is also formed of sheet metal, provided with a corrugation or channel as at disposed along the longitudinal center line throughout a major portion of the bla-de; leaving the blade at one cud, adjacent to its longitudinal edges, with the flat portions at 31, 3l adapted to extend flush with the arm or projection 13 of the spectacle casting; while the .immediate longitudinal edges, at a point forward of where its abuts against the arml-l of the spectacle Lasting and on to the outer end of the blade, are preferably beaded or hanged as intithe previously described constructions, to assist the central channel in reenforcing the blade throughout its length. In the construction shown in Figure 5., the blade 29 is secured in place by means of a clasp 32, channeled intermediate of its longitudinal edges to corv respond with the central channel 30 of the blade and to tit thereabout as shown in Figure 5, while the sides of the clasp 32 as well as the two side portions 31 of the blade are apertured for the passage of suitablefastening members or bolts 33 whereby the blade with its clasp is secured in place. -It is prefeil-able, where the construction shown in Figinvention are better adapted to withstantl the elements because of the enameled surfaces, whereby the indicating colors may be more brightly and clearly presented; while the enameled surface eliminates the necessity for repeated painting and obviates the labor heretofore required in changing the blades for repainting; Whereas with my improved blade a properly enameled surface may be obtained, free from fractures or scaling and therefore a blade of greater longevity and whichmay be washed or cleaned without removing' the blade.

I have shown and described my invention in various embodiments which have been described in terms employed merely as terms of description and not as terms of limitation, as certain structural modifications are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

l. A signal blade, composed of sheet metal provided with rigidifying surfaces tending' along the longitudinal axis and adjacent the longitudinal edges and extending throughout the length of the sheet to constitute a self-supporting blade, the rigidifying and intermediate surfaces being substantially flat and of comparative width.

2. A signal blade composed of sheet metal provided with rigidifying surfaces along the longitudinal axis and adjacent to the longitudinal edges of the sheet to constitute a self supporting blade, and a bracket member of comparatively thin metal, channeled intermediate of its sides, with the intermediate channeled portion formed to provide a comparatively wide flat surface Aadapted to extend flush with the depressed fiat surface of the blade intermediate of the longitudinal edges thereof and integrally secured to the blade to provide an imperforatc front surface, the rigidifying surfaces at the longitudinal axis of the blade increasing in width toward one end of the blade, with the points of attachment between the blade and the bracket member being arranged to coinpensate for differences in expansion and contraction between the blade and the bracket member.

3. A signal blade composed of sheet metal provided with longitudinally disposed rigidifying surfaces at the longitudinal axis and adjacent to the longitudinal edges thereof to provide a self supporting blade, the intermediate rigidifying surface ing surfaces of the blade whereby the latter tapering toward 011e end of the blade, while 1s secured 1n place and an imperforzrte front all of the rigidifying and intermediate surfnceprovided. l0 facesv are substantially flat and of compara- BENJAMIN'F. LOL-LIS,

tive Width,V and fastening means formed t0 VVitnesSes:

provide a Wide Hat bearing Surface adapted Gr. HEIDMAN,

to cooperate with i portion of the rigidify- F. A. FLOBELL.

Images