US1606736A - Shipping means - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 9, 192s.

B. Ff LoLLls SHIPPING MEANS Filed Jan. 23, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lil) Iii)

Cil

Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

COMPANY, OF CHCAGO, ILLINGIS; CGRPORATON OF l'LIil'OIS.

sni'rrrno athens.

Application filed January 23. 1925. Serial No. 4,159.

The present invention relates tov shipping means'.

The present invention will be described `in connection with certain signaling mechanism which is useful for railway signaling purposes. u

Railway signaling mechanism involves the use of certain electrical relays which operate upon relatively low voltage andwhich, therefore, require rather careful adjustment. Such adjustment lis commonly made in shops equipped for the purpose, the worlnnen who install said relays on the railroad lines heilig required only to connect said relays in circuit. j.

lin object of the lpresent invention is to provide a construction whereby electrical relay devices may, after having been carefully adjusted, be shipped to their 'destination and installed with a maximum of convenience.

A further object is to provide means for conveniently holding movable parts of electrical relay mechanism when said devices are in shipment, which holding means may be rctained'as a permanent part of said mechanism andy which may be used repeatedly to performl its holding` functions if subsequent shipments of said relay mechanism should be found to be necessary.

Further objects will appear as the descrip'- tion proceeds.

Referring to the drawings- Figure l is a view in front elevation of a relay device, such as is used in railway signaliug mechanism;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 25-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 represents a detail of construc-` tion I Figure el isa view similar to that of Figure 2 but showing a slight modification; andV Figures 5 and 6 represent detalls of thel modification shown in Figure 4. Y

The numeral l indicates a housinglwhich is providedwith a cover 2. The housing 1 provides sightopenings which ma-y be 4closed by means of transparent closures indicated by the numerals 8--3. 'v

The cover provides` supporting means for a pair of electroniagnets {lf-ll, which electromagnets'comprise cores feand sole-V noids Cooperatively `associ'atedwith the lou-er'endsof the consce-'Gis the ar'inature 7, which may be pivotally supported by the bracket 8 and which may have its attracted position defined and limited by the adjustable abutment 7". The armature 7 provides mounting means for a plurality of resilient contact fingers QMS), four of which are shown in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention. Said fingers 9 9 are adapted to Contact with rrelatively fixed contact members l0 l0, which are adjustably supported from the ycover 2. The contacts iO-lO be connected in the electrical circuit to be controlled,

is noted above, electricalrelay devices as commonly used require a relatively tine adjustment and should be quite' accurate `in their performance. Forthisreason, great care should be taken in the mounting of the armature 7 andthe resilientcont-acts 9449 carried thereby. lt is not ordinarily practicable to entrust 'this fine adjustment to the workmen in the field, for which reason such adjustment is performed in shops equipped for the purpose, the relays being shipped with Vtheir .moving parts securely held against vibration. Said relays are commonly sealed to prevent access to the interior thereof by workmen who are installing same in service or by other unauthorized persons.l

It has been common practice heretofore to surface. When the expedient referred to iSd employed, such holding screwv will be turned down to permit free action of the armature.

It has not been good practice to entirely re'- l Tcl, SSGNOR TO THF. RAILROAD S'UPLY- moval thereof would leave an opening inthe .housing 1 through which dirt could enter'.

which thecuter end. 0f 4Said, holiling` screw would not interfere with the proper functioning of the legs 11-11. This practice is open to the objection that when it is necessary to again ship the relay device for inspection and possible .readjustinen said holding screw, having had its lower end out oil", is useless for again holding the relay armature in its home position.

According toV the present invention, an improved holding means is provided involving a member which may be held either in operative position for armature lholding functions, or held in a position entirely free of said armature. 1n neither of said positions will said screw interfere with the functioning of the legs 11-11. Y

Referring now to the armature holding means shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the base of the housing 1 is provided with an upstanding boss 12, which boss may have cured thereto the bushing 13, which pro vides holding means for a nut 14 located adjacent to the top of said boss 12. Said nut 14 receives the screifv-threaded pin 15, the upper end of which may contact with the underside of the armature 7. The lower end of said screw-threaded pin 15' may be provided with a slotV 1G for the reception Aof a screw driver.

The numeral 17 indicates a locking member of special configuration. Said locking member 17 has a screw-threaded portion 18 adapted to receive the screw-threaded pin 15 and an elongated shell portion .19, which at its lower end is provided with a head portion Q0 which may be conveniently1 gripper. with al pair of pliers. Th e sleeve portion 19 of the locking member 17 may have an internal diameter greater than the diameter of the screw-threaded pin 15, whereby a screw driver may readily be inserted within said sleeve portion 19 for the purpose of turning the screw-threaded pin 15.

The screw-threaded pin 15 should be of such a length that in its armature freeing position the lower end of said screw will lie above the plane marking the lower extremities of the legs 11-11, whereby said screw when in its retracted or armature freeing position will not interfere with the func tioning of said legs 1 1-11. The nut 14 will be positioned to hold the screw 15 through out its range of movement and will be displaced inwardly of housing 1 a sufficient distance from the lower end ofV screw 15 when said screw 15 is in armature holding position) to permit the engagement of the vlower portion of member 15 by the screwthreaded portionlS of the locking member 17.

The mode of operation yof theabove described embodiment of the present invention will be clear without detailed explanation. It will be sucient to state that after the armature 7 has been adjusted in the Leos-,73e

shop, the screw 15 will be turned up in the nut 14 to an extent necessary to hold said armature 7 in its attracted position, whereby vibration of said armature during shipment is prevented. When said screw 15 is in the position referred to, the locking member 17 may be turned up on the lower end of screw 15 into contact with the nut 14, whereby said screw 15 will be securely locked against turning movement.

The lower portion of the head 2O of the locking member 17 will at all times lie above the lplane marking the lower extremities of the legs 1111. Vhen the relay device has reached its destination and is to be in service, a workman need only loosen the locking member 17 by rotating the same, after which said workman may turn down 4the screw 15 to a position in which it will not interfere with the propel' operation of armature 7. By reason of the fact that the nut 14 lies at a level considerably higher than the plane marking the bases of the legs 11-11, said screw 15 is allowed a considerable range of movement before the lower end of said screw reaches the plane marking the bases of said legs 11-11.

When the screw 15 has been turned down a sufficient distance the locking member 17 may again be rotated to lock the screw 15 in 1y its re racted position. By reason o f the present invention, the screw 15 may be retained in the nut 14 at all times, whereby ingress of foreign matter into the relay mechanism, is prevented. Moreover, said screw 15 will be securely locked at all times, and even when in its retracted position will not project below the plane marking the bases of legs 11-11, so that the screw will not interfere at any time with the proper functioning of said legs.

lhen it is found necessary to again ship the relay mechanism, said screw 15 may readily be turned up to its armature holding position after communicating a slight turning movement to the locking member 17 to release same. It will be clear, therefore, that the present invention provides a construction in which the screw 15 will perform the functions of holding the armature 7 in immovable condition' during shipment, will form a closure for the housing 1 at all times, and will obviate the-necessity for any mutilation of said screw when said screw is ir non-holding position.

Referring now to the modification illustrated in Figures 4 to @the boss 12 within the housing 1 is provided with the bushing or nut 21, said bushing or nut being moldedV or otherwise secured within said boss 12. Said bushing 9.1 is preferably provided. with the screw-threaded*hole-22 at its upper extremity, which screw-threaded hole receives the holding pin 23.

-Said pin 23 is screw-threaded et its upper rie Cil

extremity as indicated by' the numeral 2l,-

which screw-threaded portionis adapted to have engagement with the screw-threaded hole 25 located -near the swinging edge oll the armature 7 and is also adapted tohave engagement .with the nut or bushing 21 to prevent ingress ot dirt. The pin 23 has a head 26 at its lower extremity, which head has the slot 27 for receiving a screw driver or similar tool. Between the screw-threaded portion 24 and the head 26, the pin 23 has a reduced shank which can slide through the screw-threaded hole 22. The lower eX- tremitf. of the bushing 21 is internally screw-threaded as indicated by the numeral 28, which screw-threaded portion is adapted to have engagement with the screw-threaded portion 29 of the bushing 30. Said bushing 30 at its lower extremity is provided with the lmurled head 31. At its upper extremity said bushing 30 is split longitudinallyl to Said bushing provide prongs 32-32 30, therefore, comprisesV a split sleeve. rlhe bushing 21 is tapered internally nea-r its upper extremity, as indicated by the numeral. 33` which tapered portion is adapted toreceive the prongs 32-32 of the split bushing 30.

The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 4;, 5 and 6 has the advantage that the armature 7 and its asso-y ciated contact members can be held in any desired position within the range of movement of said armature 7 and said members. rl`his advantage is important, for the reason that many railroads specify that in shipment the relay armature shall be positively held out of engaging position at both ends of the range of movement of said armature. According to the structurefshownin Figures i to 7, the screw-threaded portion 2li may be readily screwed into the armature 7, the reduced shank portion of the pin 23 permitting the free rotation of said pin relative to the bushing 21. At this time, of course, the bushing 30 will be turned back a suflicient distance from the tapered portion 33 of the bushing 21 to permit such free rotation ot the pin 23. After the pin 24 has been secured to the armature 7 said arma-V ture may be held, by means of a screw driver or other implement, in its preferred position in the range of movement of said armature, after which the knurledhead 31 of the bushing 3() may be turned up to a position wherein the prongs 32-32 have wedging engagement between the tapered portion 33 ot the bushing 21 and the shank of the pin 23, whereby said pin 23 and consequently the armature 7 will be held securely against movement relative to the remainder of the relay mechanism. The pin 23 will be of such a length that when in its uppermost position it will hold the armature 7 in close proximity' to the stops 7-7. Due to thefelong'ated bushing4 21, the pin 23 may bel lowered to the' lowest position required without having the lower end of said pin project below the base linel 11-11 of the instrun'ient. rlhe shank of the pin 23 between the head 26 andthe screw-threaded portion 2Lithereof will be of substantially uniform diameter, whereby only a. very slight movement of sleeve 30 is required to free the pin 23 for axial movement or to grip said piu.

rllhough a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, it will'be clear that many modilications will occur to those skilled in the art. intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

l/Vhat is claimed' is:

1. ln relay mechanism, in combination, a movable member, a housing for said member, means for recurely holding said member in immovable positionA for shipping purposes, said means including a pin adapted to be immovably supported by said housing,

sai-d pin and housing being provided with a. holding member for locking said pin in adjusted positions axially of said pin, said holding member having its holding portion placed midway of the range of travel of said pin, said pin being of such a length that when said pin is in a position tohold id movable member in an immovable position the opposite end of said pin will be adjacent to said Aholding portion and when said pm 1s in a position to free said movable member said opposite end-willlie within the boundaries ot' said housing` and the other end of said pin will be adjacent to said holding portion, said holding member being provided with a portion projecting` to a position at which same may be conveniently manipulated. i

2. In a relay device, in combination, a housing, said housing` having` supporting legs adapted'to rest upon a flatsurface, a movable member Within said housing, 'a boss within said housing, which boss provides communication from the exterior of said housing to the interiorthereof, a pin mounted within said boss and adapted to engage said movable member to hold said movable member immovable, said pin beingot such length that when retracted to permit free movement of said movable lmember it will lie within the plane bounded by the bases of said legs, and a holding member for locking said pin, said holding member including an elongated sleeve portion exten-ding into said housing and permitting access to the end of said pin.

3. In a relay mechanism, in combination, a movable member, a housing for said movable member, and means for holding immovable said movable member `for shipping lt is purposes, said means including a screwthreaded pin for engaging said movable member, a nut for holding said screw-threaded pin, a boss carried by said housing interiorly thereof, said nut being located at the. in-

ing said pin, said sleeve portion being oi a length to extend from said pin to the evterior of said housing member, the pin engaging portion of said sleeve member being` located midway of the range oi' travel oi' said pin. Y

5. In a relay mechanism, in combination, a movable member, a housing for said m vable member and means for holding immovable said movable member or shipping purposes, said means including a pin having screw-threaded engagement With said movable member, a boss carried by said housing interiorly thereof, and a sleeve member in said boss having a portion for engaging said pin, said sleeve portion being of a length to extend from said pin to the exterior of said housing member, the pin engaging portion of said sleeve member being located midway oi the range of travel of said pin, said boss being provided with a nut for holding said screw-threaded pin in a predetermined position.

6. In relay mechanism, in Combination, a movable member, a housing for said member, and means :for securely holding said member in immovable position 'for shipping purposes, said means including pin adapted Ito be immovably supported bysaid housing, said pin and housing being provided With a holding member for locking said pin in adjusted aositions axially of said pin, said holding mei aber having its holding portion placed midway of the range of travel of said pin.

7. In a relay device, in combination, a housing, said housing having supporting legs adapted to rest upon a flat surface, a movable member Within said housing, a pin mounted Within said boss and adapted to engage said movable member to hold sai-d movable member immovable, said pin being of such length that when retracted to perr't free movement of said movable member it ivill lic Within the plane bounded by the bas-es of said legs, and a holding member for locking said pin, said holding member including an Aelongated sleeve portion extending into said boss and permitting access to the end of said pin.

8. In a relay mechanism, in combination, a movable member, a housing for said movable member, a pin i'or holding said movable member in a predetermined position, and a holding member Vfor said pin having screw-threaded engagement with said housing and adapted to have lool-Ing engagement With said housing and said pin.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this Qth day of January, 1925.

BENJAMIN F. LOLLIS.

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