US1591197A - Switch thrower - Google Patents

Description

' July 6 1926.

G. B. WILKINSON SWITCH THROWBR' Filed Sept. 1 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z; madman Patented July 1926; I

GEORGE it WILKINSON, or onnnxsnuns wnsrvinG iiIn.

' -j "sw'xwon THROWER Application filed'sebteihbem mzs; seri l r m-53,910}

This invention relates means ofwhich a switch point maybe ad justedin order to control themovement; of'a'; -car and cause 'itcto eitherfproceed along the" V main track or pass onto a from the main track; 5 v, I i One object ofthe invention is'to so construct' the apparatus that adjustment of the switch may be controlled by the, inotorrnan of a car without it being necessary to alight from the car, Whe'n'itis necessary f or the 'fmotorman or conductor toalightfrom the car and adjust the switchto thedesired po- ;sition and then return to the car, loss of time I" is involved and-in addition ,itis necessary '7 for the motorman to leave the car withouta i 7 person of proper authority in control of itf.

o Another object of theinvention i-istoPfso 7 construct the track carried-mechanism ofthe switch control apparatus that it may be enclosed in a housing where it ,will be pro-- tected from exposure to the weather and prevented from being clogged by-'snow, ice ordirt. fl Another object of the inventionis to so 1 form the housingthat an open-ended trough may extend through the housing} to receive plungers forming part uo'f the car carried acf. tuating mechanism and 'haveithe trough' divided into separate passages to receive-the plungers so that when one plunger is moved to an operative position" there will be n'o danger of theswitch point being improperly set.

ably held in adepressed operative position and automatically returned tothe elevatedv or inoperative position after the switch point has been adjusted. V

' Another. object of the'inv'e'ntion is. to'so form and mount the latches for'the plungers that they maybe moved to an operative p0:

' sition by the plungers when the .plungers ter-the switch point has been set; a u

panying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view showing a portion on track in top plan and the track; carried mechanism in longitudinal section "on the. f line1 1ofFig.2; -=Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view throughtrackjbranching f The track carriedsinechanis Another object of the inventionis to so mount the plu ngers of the-car carried actuating mechanlsm that they may be releasare moved to anoperative positio-n'f'and moved toirelease the plungers-throu'gh =engagement with abutmentsjin'the trough a tr This invention is illustrated in thehcoom- V steak use aahasiaiwah amt; form ory floor of ,tlie carshown in section andjtheicar carr1ed :-1Inechanism in'front ele-, t

Fig. ,3 is a sectional view taken; ofn the vationpand j o I v line3+3.-of- Fig.j2 I H The apparatus forming I the subj ect matter ofthis invention-permits the switch 'pointll" r V to be swung' transversely)" of the frog 2 -;so

thata earimovinglalong the-railsB of the ,mmahn -Qtbre kage m y p ed to 'contlnue along the; main i onto, the rails 4 constitutingja branch line o si es-track The :.,;:ra 1'si are, f ours L mounted upon the 1 usualftiesfi and are. act, .a

conventional jconstruction; f1 1 in'a housing 6 formed of metal, oraan'y'other suitable material and at its sides iprot ided iszcontained ne orbe guided V are provided for the housing 1' at opposite sides of the trough 9 and releasably held in I place by fasteners 14 which preferably con sist of bolts so that the coverplates-may upper portionof the housing with ashes. tom spaced frointhe bottom of thethou'sing, asshown inFig; 2. A hollow side arm .15

extends' transversely from; the forward end" portion-of the housing and of *suchylength be easily removed when necessary: :It should be noted that the trough extends through'thef r that, when the'housing isrsecured to the ties as shownin Fig. 1, the outer end portion of the arm 15 ma extend intoa'niopening 16 formed in the rog 2 ofithe'track.

at one end in an opening formed transversely'through the switch point vextends -longi-- tudinally through the side arm 15 of the housing withits inner endportion extend v ing into thehousing and pivotally connected 1 E with the forwardend ot-arockr bar 18 a which is disposed longitudinally of the housing and pivotally mountedupon a post The-drawbar or-Tlink 17 whichis' 'secured i 19 projecting upwardly from thebottoin'of' g the housingbeneath the troughfiAt its" for-1 I cross bar section and the lever 23being'con5 Ward end the rocker .bar is pivotally connectedwith a crossbar consistingof a main section and a short auxiliary section 21 pivoted to the main section. Levers22 and 23 extend longitudinally ofthe housing at opposite'sides of the trough and are pivotally mounted upon posts 24 arising from the floor of the housing and each'lever has its rear end portion bent downwardly, as

shown in Fig. 2, and pivotally connected with the cross bar, the lever 22' being connected with the outer end of the auxiliary nected with the outer end of themain section of the cross bar. At their forward'ends the levers are formed with side arms 22 and 23" which are adapted to alternately move through the openings 25 formed in the side walls of the trough and extend transversely across the passages 11 and 12 for engagement by plungers forming part ofthe car carried actuating means.

The'car carried actuating mechanism includes a'bracket formed, as shown in'Fig; 3,

and; including a head board 26 and a de pending forwardly inclined arm 27-, the head board being secured to the under face of the car platform or floor 28 by bolts or other suitable fasteners 29 and the depending arm being strengthened by a braceBO disposed at an inclinebetwee'n'the ends of the arm,

' Sleeves 81 are provided at the lower forward end of the arm 27 and braced by webs 32 and serve a slidably mount :plungers 83 and 34. These plungers are-provided with up wardly extending rods 33 and 34- of a length to extend through the floor or platform of the car and at their upper ends terminate in heads upon which the motor-man is to place his foot when forcing the plungers dow wardlyagainst the action of the springs85 coiled about therods and serving to yieldably retain the plungers in an elevated and inoperative position. At its lower end each plunger is-formed with a notch or recess 36' adjacent the upper end of its curved and for wardly inclined lower end. The plungers .have their lower ends curved, as shown in Fig. 35 so that when moved downwardly they may easily force the elongated latches 37 downwardly to a depending position against the action of the springs 38v coiled about the pin 39 upon which the latches are pivotally tion it will be firmly held against return to the inoperativeor elevated position'without it being. necessary for the motorman to keep his foot upon the head of the plunger. It

should befurther inoted'that the latch is of 1y,

such length that when the plunger is moved downwardly and secured by the latch the lower end portion offthe latch extends below the lower end of the plunger to such an ex tent that it may engage with the abutment 4:1 in the bottom of'ithe trough compartment through which it moves. 7 v

When the improved switch'point adjusting apparatus is in use, the housing (i is secured" upon the ties with the outer end porformed inthe frog 2 and the'outer end pertion of the link secured in an opening drilled or otherwise formed in the switch: point. When the switch point is positioned to direct a car along the maintrack, the rocker bar is disposed as shown in Fig. l-with the tion of the arm 15 fitted in the opening 16 1 side arm of the lever 23 ro ectin into the compartment 12 of the trough. Whena car approaches the intersection of the side track with the main line and it is desired to have the car moved from-"the main line onto the side track,' the motormanpresses downwardly upon the head of theplunger and forces this plunger doWnward-ly'to the position shownln Figs. 2 and 3 1n whlch position it will be securely held by its cooperating latcln The car is'then advanced and as the depressed plunger passes througl'l the compartnient 12,"its lower end portion engages the side arm of the lever 23 and swings the side arm forwardly.

turn and its arm move outwardly through the slot in'the slde wall of the trough; At the same time a pushing action will be exerted upon the cross bar 20 and the rocker bar swung upon its pivot 19 to push upon the link or drawbar 17 and force the switch point to a. position to engage the wheels of the car and'direct the car onto the side track. At the same time the lever 22 will be swung to project its side arm into the "compartment 11 of the trough so that if a following car is to proceed along the maintrack the side arm ofthelever 22 may be engaged by the plunger 33 which will be depressed and re store the switch point to the position shown iii-Fig. 1. I After the depressed plunger has moved the cooperating lever to adjus'tthe switch point, the lower, end of 'tl1-e;lateh engages the abutment 41 in the trough compartment through which it moves and is thereby swung rearwardly, to such an ex tent that its tooth 40 moves out of the notch :36 in'the plunger and releases the plunger so that, its spring35 will return it to the elevated position. -As soon as the latch passes over the'abutment, its spring38 swings it upwardly to the inoperative position in which position it extends horizontally and forwardly across the lower end of the sleeve for engagement by its cooperating plunger when the plunger is again forced downward- Of. course, if the switch point is al- Since the lever is pivoted intermediate ltS' length, it will, of course,

' atethe switch poin't adjusting apparatus but ifatheswitchpoint is not well lightedthe V motorman in 'order to be sure of going in the proper "direction .may, pressvnthe proper "plunger :downwardly. In case'the switch f readyxset ia'thj ropeiposition 'topermit the canto travel intheaproper direction, it

is'not necessary for the mot-orman to operpoint is already set no" adjustment will take 1; 'Ai switch thrower comprising track carried mechanism adapted for connection place and as soon as the depressedlatch en-' gages its cooperating abutment 41' it will be moved to the releasing position and its 1 i plunger allowed to return to the inoperative position. Anywater which may "collectrin the housing will drain out through the open ings42 formed in its bottom.

Havingthus-described theinvention, I claim 2 1 a 1 with a movable switch point and including an operating lever, car carried actuating means including an element movable'tol an 3 operative position forengaging said lever as a car passes'loiverthe track'icarried mechanism, a latchfadapted to releasably hold said elementin an operativepositionyand means, associated with the. track mechanism to automatically .move said latch "to 5 an inoperative position after 'said element-has passed out of engagement with said lever.

2. A switch thrower" comprising track 7 -'carried mechanism, adapted for connection with a movable switch point and including" an operating lever, 'a housing for saidmechanism, said leverbeing adapted to project out ofsaid housing, carcarried actuating means including an element movable to an operative 'position'for engaging said. lever asa .car passes over the track-earned: mechav nism, a latch adapted to releasably ;hold-- saidvelement in an operative position, and

' .an abutment carried by said housingto en-' gage said latch and move the latch to a releasing position to permitreturnfof said lever engaging, element tofaninoperative position after passing'out of engagement actuating1neans releasably held in an p- 7 erative position to move longitudinally through the trough, and an abutment in said trough 'to cause'return of-the actuating with the lever.

A switch throwing mechanism com prising a housing adaptedto be mounted between the-rails of atr'ack, an open-ended trough extending longitudinally through said housing and opening through the upper Wall thereof, mechanism in saidhousing including a link projecting outwardly from the housing and adapted ,for connection; with a switch point of a track and op'eratinglevers adapted to be alternately projected int o the troughxthrough opposite side walls thereof for engagement by'car carried means to aninoperative position after enand ' gaging th ejilever -projecting intoithe moving tlie e'le ver tothrow the switcln point. "1

trough extendinglongitudinally through eluding a link projecting outwardly; from 4. v.A; switch mechanism I prising a housing. adapted to be: mounted between the rails of a track, aniopen-ended j erative s"iti'on to is move -longitudina-ll 1 through'the trough, a partitionQe'Xtending V I 7 longitudinally in said .trough,-qand;r,abuti a ments in the bottom jof. said. ..t rough 1 upon opposite sides of said partitiontocause re-' ff turn of the actuating means to an inoperm 5. A switchj throwing l I mechanism QCOIIl-I prisingaehousing adapted tobeimounted between. therails f'-- of-, azvjtraok' adjacenta movable switchf'i pointa' an ;;open end'ed-. l trough extending longitudinally" through said housing, a V rocker bar, extending longitudinally insaid housing and having movement transversely of said trough, switch point engaging means connected with, one end ofsaid rocker, bar and extending out of said housing, levers pivotallywmounted in said housing at opposite -sidesi of said trough and connected witho tlie other end -tive'positi0n afteroperative :engagement fr withjthe' leverhertending into the trough, ,i

ofs'aid rocker bar. ,and moving in; opposite l directionsjwhen one :is 'movedj'said' vlevers being provided with side farms adapted-to alternately pass into .saidtrou'gh: through openings'in the sides thereof into position for. engagement; by, ear c-arriedi actuating 'means moved longitudinally; through ,the-

trough a a a v 1116.;Ar eswitchv throwing{mechanism 'com; prising a housing adapted yto 'be mounted between the Jrails tor a track adjacent a A movable switch point, an open-ended trough extending longlt'udinally through-said hous ing and opening through "theuppenwall, of

vthe housing, a rocker barf extending longi g I tudinallyinfsaid housing and pivotally" V mountedfor swinging transversely beneath" 7 the trough, said trough having opposed' openings in, its side walls, levers pivot-ally mounted in said housing at opposite sidesof'said 'trou h and at one-end formed with side arms a apted 'to pass into theatrou'ghthrough the openings in the sidewalls thereof, the other end portions of saidi lever's being extended downwardlyand terminat- 7 ing below said trough, across barjoining .the' downturnedv ends "of 'saidi levers and extending" transversely beneath said trough pivotally connected with one end ot said 7 rocker bar, and a link connected with the tween the rails of a track adjacent a movable switch point, a trough extending longitudinally through. sa d housing and open at its ends, a rocker bar extending longitudinally insaid housing beneath said trough and pivoted intermediate its ends, a link pivoted tomone end-of said rocker bar and projecting from one side of said housing and adapted 601b?) connected with the switch point, ac'rossbar extending transversely heneath; said trough and 1 intermediate its length/pivoted to the other end of said rocker bar, andlevers pivotally mounted in said housing at opposite sides of said trough for swinging transversely thereof and p-iv otally connected to the-ends said cross bar, the other end portion of said levers be ing formed with side arms: adapted to alternately project into said trough through op posite sides thereof forengagement by-car carried actuating means moved through said trough. r 1 v 8. A switch throwing mechanism comprising a housing adapted to be mounted-between the rails ofa track adjacent movable switch point, a trough extending longitudinally through said housing and open at its ends, a rocker bar extending longitudi nally in said housing and pivoted intermediate its length for swinging transversely of the trough, a link pivoted to-one end of said rocker bar and projectingtransversely 105 from said trough and adapted for engag 'inent with the switch point, across bar piv'--1 oted intermediate its ends to the other end ot said rocker bar, and operating means connected with opposite ends of said cross 11 bar and movably mounted in said housing and adapted to alternately project into said trough for engagement by car carried actu ating means moved through said trough.

9. A switch throwing mechanism compris- 1 ing a housing adapted to bemounted between the rails of a track adjacent a movable switch point and including a hollow side arm open at its outer end and at its inner end communicating with the housing, a trough extending longitudinallythrough said housing and open at its ends, a rockerbar extending longitudinally in said-lions ing and pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for swinging transversely of the hous ing, a link extending longitudinally through said arm with .oneend pivotally connected with one end of said rocker bar and'its other end projecting from the outer end of the arm and adapted for connection with the switch point to imparttransverse movement thereto when said rocker bar is moved, a

cross bar pivoted intermediate its length to k the other end of said rocker bar, levers piv-y' otally mounted in said housing at opposite sides of said trough and pivotally connected at their endsto the ends of said cross bar,

said levers having their other end portions.

formed with side arms adapted to alternat'e extend into said trough through the sides thereof, and actuating means adapted to be carried by a car and disposed to pass through said trough as the car moves along the track and impart movement to said rocker bar by engagement with one o fsaid levers. V

10w In a car carried actuating mechanism for a switch throwing niechanisnifaframe adapted to be secured in depending relation to a car floor, a vertical bearingcarried by said frame between the sides thereof,- a plunger slidable in said bearing and provided'with an'upwardly extending rod of t t/length towprojectthrough the floor of the car, means yieldably retaining said plunger in araised inoperative position, and'a. latch for a'switch throwing mechanism, a frame adapted to be secured in depending relation to a car floor, a vertical'hearing carried by said frame between'the sides thereof, a plunger slidable' in said bearing and provid'ed with an upwardly extending rod of a length to project through the floor of the car, means yieldably retaining said plunger in a raised inoperative position, and a latch pivoted adjacent thelower end of'said sleeve and yieldably held in a'raised' position to extend across the lower end of the sleeve, sa d plunger when moved downwardly'en gaging the latch and swinging the same ed to be secured beneath a car floor, an arm extending downwardly from said head plate at a forward incline, a vertical sleevecarri'ed by the lower end of. said arm, a plunger slidahle in saidsleeve and having a latch receiving recess adjacent its lower end, a push rod extending upwardly from said sleeve through said head plate and of a length to extend upwardly through the car door, a spring coiled about, said rod and downwardly and interlocking therewith to downwardly into a depending position for vlocking engagement in the recess of .the

plunger to hold the 'in'a slet'posi-f extending belowthe plunger and adapted to be moved, to' a releasing position through engagement of its lower end With ai'l 'abutinent upon a'traek.

'In testimony Wli ereofl affiic' my signer v ture.

tion and said latch When forced downwardly GEORGE BL ILKINS NQ' 'L'. 8. i

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