US1631387A - Railroad-crossing safety device - Google Patents

Description

' 1927. June ca. P. SPRINGFIELD RAILROAD CROSSING SAFETY DEVICE 0% 2 Z fl av 2M ....0 .2 7 M Jo k l g k 0. 4A% 9 w w a 2 w a i A M 6 m 0 F z a 7/ 74 z z m OZ 5 4 5 m 1 J 4 0 M o 0 My; w

Patented June 7, 1927.

cairn is'ara GARLAND r. srrn ixiGe atin, or iiv i: isvrLLizi, IniiIAi'vA, Assiivon or ONE-HALF 'ro RAYMOND 0. SMITH, or vennnasune COUNTY, INDIANA.

nAiLRoAn-cnossme SAFETY nnvrcn;

Application filed August so, 1926. Serial Nb. 132,514;

This invention relates to a railroad crossing safety device adapted to be arranged ists recklessly drive their automobiles on the track even though the signal is flashing .or ringing to indicate the approach of a train. My invention provides means for raising a barrier which will prevent any vehicle,

such as an automobile, from passing on to is the track when a train is approaching, said barrier being automatically operated by the train regardless of whether the signals are functioning or are out of order.

My invention enables the driver of the vehicle to back off of the crossing if trapped between the barriers, or, if hehas'time to get oif the crossing, to permit him to pass to the other side. However, if-the vehicle arrives at the crossing after the barrier has been set, it is impossible for the vehicle to pass on to'the crossing although such vehicle may be damaged if the attempt is made. I

A practical embodiment of the. invention is set forth hereinafter and is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1, is a vertical section, the barriers being raised; 1

' Fig. 2, is a plan View, the barriers being lowered. Fig. 3, is a detail viewv of the spring connection for the barrier or gate, the barrier being shown aspartially depressed.

On oppositev sides of the crossing 3 are 4 which, as shown, are'in the form of bails of heavy construction which aremounted in bearings 5 so that they may be swungupwardly as shown in Fig. l'by means herein: after described, or may be arranged-horizontally sunk below the crossing 3 as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 or swung backward "by a vehicle passing ofi of the crossing as 'illustrated in Fig.1 by dotted lines.

. The dotted lines 4 Fig. 1 illustrate the f adaptability of the'barriers or gates 4to be swung down whenthey are in raised or safety position if the vehlcle istrapped berent.

located swinging or hinged barriers or gates tween them and the driver either desires to back off ofthe crossing or, finding he has time to pass, decides to drive over the crossing. The arrows (1 indicate this action. On the other hand, the arrows 6 indicate thedirection of approach of. a vehicle to. the crossing and the manner in which the barriers or gates prevent the vehicle running onto the crossing.

The track appears at iances on either side ofthe crossing track instruments or electrical contacts 7 are provided by, which the train completesthe elec- 6. At suitable. dis- (ill trical circuits 9 which supply the current for operating the means for raising gates 4.

Any suitable source of current, such as a battery maybe used for furnlshing the ourwill utilize electrical current from batteries or according to any approved practice whereas installations on electric roads may derive the current from the trolley or third rail.

Installations used on steam railroads,

Barriers 4 are operated by electric motors 10 whose shafts carry the pinions '11 which mesh with gears 12 on the Vertical shafts 13,

v the latter being suitably mounted in bearings 14. Slidably mounted on the shafts l3 are collars 15 provided with pins 16. Governor balls l8are carried by arms 19,'which are pivoted to the collars 15 and t0 thebearings 14. Bell-crank-levers 20 which are suitably mounted atfl21 have one arm slottedat 22 to receive the pins 16. The other arms of the bell-crank-levers areslotted at 23 to receive the arms 24 which are connected to the gates or barriers 4. The barriers or gates 4 are pivoted to arms 24' and permitted to yield in relation to the arms 24 to "assume-the positions shown at 4 f when a vehiclebacksoif of the crossing :or passes from the crossing away from This arrangement comprises a spring tension means 'consistingof the pivoted :cup 25 and a. contractile coil spring 26,"the'cup being pivoted to the bracket 27, said bracket being cast in a single piece with the arm 24'. Normally, the barriers 4 are in the position shown in full lines, Fig. 2, but if a vehicle is trapped between the two barriers 4 after they have been raisedby the approach of a train, the driver can advance and depress the barrier 4 which is in. frontjof him, or, he

.105; 3 can-back off of thecrossing and depress that barrier. The arrows, and dotted lines, Fig. 1, show how the barriers may be depressed outwardly in relation to the railroad track. In F ig. 3, the barrier is shown in partly depressed position, as would be the case when, after it has been raised, it is run over by the vehicle but when it is released, the barrier a rises again and assumes the position shown in full lines, Fig. 1.v

Consequently, while the barrier may yield in the manner previously set forth, it cannot be depressed when the Vehicle attempts to run on to the crossing, if said barrier is in raised position because the barrier is blocked bythe bracket 27. v H

Normally, the Weight oi the governor balls 18 will cause the collars 15 to slide downwardly, thereby lowering the barriers below the crossing but when .a train is approaching, the circuits are completed at 7 and the motors 10 arev energized, thereby rapldly turning the shafts 13, causing governor balls 18 to swing upwardly, and raising the barv riers.

l'Vhen the train has passed, the circuits are .to bar the passage of a vehicle, or to be lowered away from the track to permit passage from the crossing, means being pr0- vided to prevent the gate or barrier from being swung downwardly toward the track when said barrier has been raised, and power means for arranging and maintaining .the

gate or barrier in raised position consisting of a motor and a 'centri'l u gal weight-operated governor by which the barrier is r'aisedan'd kept in ralsedposition so long as the motor operates, the welghtsoi said governor dropping and automatically lowering-the gate or barrier when the mot-or ceases to operate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

, GARLAND P. SPRINGFIELD.

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