US1554545A

US1554545A - Locking device for interlocking switch stands

Info

Publication number: US1554545A
Application number: US21057A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank C Anderson
Original assignee: AMERICAN VALVE AND METER COMPA
Current assignee: AMERICAN VALVE AND METER Co; AMERICAN VALVE AND METER COMPA
Priority date: 1925-04-06
Filing date: 1925-04-06
Publication date: 1925-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 1942-09-22

Description

Sept; 22, 1925.

F. C. ANDERSON LOCKING DEVICE FOR INTERLOCKING SWITCH STANDS Avfiorney.

Filed April 5. 1925 I rwe nior ing sliding through this stirrup the interlocking bar 20, with an opening through which the interlocking plunger 21, sliding in the housing 18, is adapted to extend when the opening registers with the openings in the casing and stirrup. This bar 20 extends under the stock rail 12 and has its end connected by means of a suitable plate 22 to the end of the point rail 6, so that the bar 20 must move with the point rail, in such a manner, as in my above mentioned prior devices, that if for any reason the point rail 6 is not brought safely close to the stock rail 12 by the switch-throwing mechanism, the openings in the bar 20 and the casing or housing 18 and stirrup 19 cannot register, and the plunger 21 cannot enter the opening of the bar 20.

For sliding this plunger 21, a crank is provided, comprising the shaft part 23 journaled in the upper part of the housing 18, with two arms 24 extending down inside the housing near opposite lateral walls thereof, and with two arms 25 extending back past the rear recessed end of the housing,

just outside said walls, The rear ends of these latter arms 25 are pivoted to the lower endof the connector 17. The plunger 21 is mounted, at its rear end inside the housing 18, in two downwardly extending lugs on the rack 26, which has, at each side, two laterally projecting lugs 27. The downwardly extending arms 24 of the crank straddle the rack 26, and the lower end of each of these arms 24 fits between a respective pair of the lugs 27. The rearwardly extending rod 28, fixed in the upper part of the rear end of the rack 26 and projecting out through the back of the housing 18, is for connection of a signalling device to the interlocking mechanism, and does not form an essential part of the present in vention.

With the parts connected as just described, when the switch-throwing lever 9 is raised out of the slot 11, to horizontal position, for throwing the switch, the plunger 21 is completely withdrawn from the opening in the bar 20, permitting the bar 20 to move with the point rail 6 as the latter is moved away from the stock rail 12 by swinging the lever 9' and the fulcrum head 8 around in the horizontal plane, the same as in any of the prior devices mentioned.

My present improvement consists in providing for locking the interlocking plunger 21 against this withdrawal from the interlocking bar 20, by looking it directly to a part of the interlocking housing 18. As herein exemplified, and as I prefer to make this provision, the rack 26 of the plunger 21 has the upwardly and forwardly extending neck-29 above the plunger 21, on the front end ofwhich neck 29 isthe ear 30 which projects out through a slot 31 in the front end of the housing 18 just down from the top thereof,'when the plunger 21 is engaged in the bar 20, so that its opening 32 is out past the outer front surface of the housing 18 to receive the bow of a padlock 33 as seen in Fig. 1. \Vhen thus locked, the padlock prevents the plunger 21 from receding back out of the bar 21, which thus cannot slide, and being connected to the switch rails, these cannot be thrown by means of the switch-throwing IIlBCl1- anism.

When locked in this manner, if the switchstand frame 1 and parts carried thereby are torn away, the plunger 21 cannot be pulled therewith from its engagement with the bar 20; so that the switch remains locked, although the entire upper mechanism is disrupted. The interlocking device, being very low, and most of it being embedded in the head block, hardly can be engaged by a disrupting object in such a manner as to tear it from its position. Thus, the switch is locked with much greater security against such accidents than when it is locked up in the ear 13. This arrangement also protects the switch in such cases as accidental disconnection of the switch-throwing mechanism from the switch rails. For example, if the bolt connecting the rod 5and bar 7 breaks or drops out, the switch rails might be jarred over, derailing a train, if the look ing is at the ear 13. With the rails locked in closed position'at the plunger 21, that disconnection does not endanger the traflic, because the bar 20 still holds the rails.

Furthermore, incomplete throwing of the switch by means of the switch-throwing mechanism, either through looseness or disconnection of its parts or inattention of the switchman, cannot be followed by a locking of the switch, as may be possible if the looking is done at the ear 13. Because the opening in the inter cking bar 20 must register with the plunger 21, allowing the latter to enter, before the'ear 30 can project its opening 32 for reception of the padlock, the switchman cannot place the padlock until the switch rails are in safe relation. This assurance was largely provided in my prior patents mentioned, locking the switchthrowing mechanism; but direct application of the lock to the interlocking plunger increases it. Also, as compared with application of the lock to some part pivotally or slidably related to the plunger, as in my prior'applications mentioned, the assurance 18 increased, because the factor of improper relation of the parts, through wear or dam- 1 age, is removed; and, the locking being still lower on the mechanism than in any of those devices, the chance for disruption by striking of objects against the mechanism is correspondingly reduced. In addition, the

its shaft part 23 .journaled one half in the housing body and one half in thecover 18,

while the slot 31 for the ear opens out through the top .of the housing body and has its upper end .closed by the cover '18. This construction permits simple integral formation of the crank shaft 23, and

arms

24 and 25, as the .crank can be dropped .into its lower bearing .sectlon before placing the cover 18, previously to which the rack .26 has been placed in the housing easily, by dropping its ear 30 down into the slot 31.

Although I have exemplified use of my present improvement With the high stand, and With the mechanism connected to the switch-throwing lever directly'by the connector 17, as in my first mentioned prior application, it Will be understood that it is equally applicable to and a benefit in the interlocking mechanisms of the other three prior applications mentioned, all of Which provide for a movement of the plunger be fore the switch can be thrown, or an opposite movement of the plunger before it can be locked. The modifications chiefiy concern the crank to operate With different types of switch-throwing mechanisms, or to operate in different manners, and in any of these my present direct-locking provision being adaptable thereto by providing a suit able extension on the plunger for reception of the lock, and the movable parts for coaction With a lock, on top of the housing, thereby being eliminated. These and other modifications may occur, and therefore,

while I have specifically illustrated and described acertain example of application of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as being limited to such precise disclosure, but What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a switch-stand, in combination With a switch-throwing elementthereof and interlocking mechanism therefor, having an operative connection to said element, means adapted to receive a padlock for locking said interlocking mechanism directly and thereby indirectly locking said switchthrowing element.

2. In a switch-stand, in combination With a switch-throvving element thereof and interlocking mechanism therefor comprising a plunger having an operative connection to said element, means fixed to said plunger adapted to receive a padlock for looking said interlocking mechanism directly and thereby indirectly locking said switchthrowing element.

3. In a switch-stand, in combination With a switch-throwing element thereof and in- .to said element, means fixed to said ph.

iterlocking mechanism therefer comprising a housing and a plunger sliding in sai [housing and having an operative connection inside said housing and slidably extending outside said housing, adapted to receive a padlock to engage against .the exterior of the housing for locking said interlocking mechanism directly and thereby indirectly locking said switch-throwing element.

t. In a switch-stand, interlocking mechanism comprising a plunger, and means fixed to said plunger adapted to receive a padlock for locking said interlocking .mecha nism.

15,. In a switch-stand, interlocking mechanism .comprising a 1honsing,.a phuiger sliding in said housing, and means fixed to said plunger inside said housing and slidably extending outside said housing, adapted to receive a padlock to engage against the exterior of the housing.

6. In a switch-stand, interlocking mechanism comprising an interlocking bar, a plunger slidable to engage said bar, and means fixed to said plunger adapted to receive a padlock adjacent to the place of engagement of said plunger with said bar, for locking said interlocking mechanism.

7. In a switch-stand, interlocking mechanism comprising an interlocking bar, a housing guiding said bar, a plunger slidable in said housing to engage said bar, and means fixed to said plunger inside said housing and slidably extending outside said housing, adapted to receive a padlock to engage against the exterior of the housing adjacent to the place of engagement of said plunger With said bar, for locking said interlocking mechanism. 7

8.. In a switch-stand, interlockingmechanism comprising a housing, a plunger slidable in said housing, a rack fixed to said plunger inside said housing, and a neck on said rack having an ear extending out through a Wall of said housing.

9. In a switch-stand, interlocking mechanism comprising a housing and a separate cover for said housing secured thereto, a plunger slidable in said housing, a rack fixed to said plunger inside said housing,

and a neck on said rack having an ear, said housing having a slot in its Wall over said plunger, With an open upper end closed by said cover, and said ear slidably extending out through said slot.

10. In a switch-stand, interlocking mecha nism comprising a plunger, a crank having an arm in operative relation With said plunger and an arm in operative relation With the switch-throwing mechanism of the sWitch-stand, and means fixed to said plunger adapted to receive a padlock for looking saidplunger and thereby locking said switch-throwing mechanism.

11. In a swltclrstand, in combination with a swltch-throwing element thereof and interlocklng mechanlsm therefor, having an operative connection to said element, means below said operative connection adapted to receive a padlock for locking said interlocking mechanism directly and thereby indirectly locking said switch-throwing element. v

12. A rack for switch-interlocking plunger comprising an upwardly and longitudinally extended neck having a lock-receiving aperture.

13. A rack for a switch-interlocking plunger having pairs of lateral projections on its opposite sides, and having extending up- Wardly and longitudinally from one end thereof a neck having a lock-receiving aperture.

14. In switch-interlocking mechanism, a rack, a plunger extending from said rack, and a neck extending from said rack substantially parallel With said plunger and having near its end a lock-receiving aperture.

15. In switch-interlocking 'mechanism, a

rack, a plunger extending from one end of said rack near the bottom thereof, and a neck extending from said end above and substantially parallel with said plunger and having near its end a lock-receiving aperture.

FRANK o. ANDERSON.