US1691729A - Safety mechanism for street car and door operation - Google Patents

Description

Nov; 13, 1923. 1,691,729

I G. w. MEYERS SAFETY MECHANISM FOR STREET CAR AND DOOR OPERATION Fiid Aug. 20, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 MIMIIIIIIIIP ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1928.

v G. W. MEYERS SAFETY MECHANISM FOR STREET CAR AND DOOR OPERATION Filed Aug. 20, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTwOR W 'W* Nov. 13, 1928.

G. w. MEYERS SAFETY MECHANISM FOR STREET CAR AND DOOR OPERATION Filed Aug. 20, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet nun Nov. 13, I928.

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR STREET.CAR AND DOOR OPERATION 1,691,729 G. w. MEYERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 20, 1919 Wye .QI DHJ) INVENTOR Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

1 UNITED STATES.

PATENT QFFICE-I;

GEORGE WASHINGTON MEYERS, or RACEWAY, Nnw annsuy, As'sIeNoRToj ATIoNAr.

rNEuM'ATIc COMPANY, or NEW YO N. Y.,A oonroR 'rIoN or wnsr VIRGINIA.

SAFETY MECHANISM non STREET oAnj-ANn noon orERA'r oN.

Application filed August 20, 1919. SerialNo. 318,774."

This invention relates to safety mechanism for street and other railway car and dooroperationv The object of the invention is to provide means whereby the doors of a street or other railway car cannot be opened while the car is under headway, whether under power protrolling the ClICllltOf the relay magnet.

pulsion or coasting.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism to prevent operation of the motormans controller Whenever a door of the car is opened. p A further object of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism to prevent the operation of the doors byeither the motorman or the conductor as long as the car is under headway.

A further object of the invention is to provide means in a control and locking system of the character referred to which enables temporary operation of the doors for emergency use whether the car is under headway or not.-

Further objects of the invention will ap- I circuit arrangement employed in carrying, out my invention as applied to the controlof the motormans controller and of the door switches of a street car. I

Fig. 2 is a view showing more specifically the centrifugal circuit breaker operated by or from the car propelling motor and a locking device with a relay magnet controlling the circuit of the latter, the circuit of the relay device being controlled by the centrifugal circuit breaker.

Fig. 3 is a VlG-W illustrating the application of a-lock mechanism employed in connection with my invention asapplied to the motormans door control stand.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view oft-he construction shown in Figure 3. i

Fig. 5 is a view similar to'Figure-3 showing the application of a lock device employed in connection with my invention as applied to a conductors-door controlstand.

. conductors, control lock box to stand. r

direction of the arrows.

-, Fig. 6 is abrokenviewin side elevation showing the construction for securing the Fig.,7' is a face View with parts .-broken out showlng a'construction of acentrifugally operated circuit breaker employed :for con- F ig. 8 is a broken detail view in section on the line 8'8 of Figurefllooking in the Fig. 9 is a view in horizontal section on the" line 99 of Figure 10, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a'view in vertical section showits supporting 3 ing thestructure of the lock mechanism em-' 7 ployed in connection with my invention.

Fig. 11 is a broken detail view similar. to Figure 10 showing somewhatm-ore clear-' ly the structure of the lock mechanism.

Fig. 12 isa broken detailview on the line 1212 of Figure-2,'looking in-the direction of the arrows. a Fig. 13 is a detail in part similar to Fig. 11 showing the inclinedsurface onthe king bolt reversed. I p

The same partis designatedv by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs throughout the several views...

In thepresent method of street car, operation and door control it is frequently. possible. A for passengers or others to open the car doors wh le the car isunder headway whether from its propelling power'or from coasting down-, I grade- The result is that danger is incurred of accident and injury through. the opening of the doors While the car is in motion. i It is among the special-purposes of my present' ine" ,vention to provide a system of control which,

while permittingopening of the doors temporarily, or under emergency conditions, prevents the doors from operating under normal" operation so long as the car is under head- Way. In carrying out-my invention I employ lock devices for the control stands through, which the door operations may be controlled by either the motormanflorthe conductor on the car and I alsolprovide alocking -mecha--' nism; for the motormans .control stand 1. through which control of the propelling mo- 7 tor is edected. These-locking devices are, or I 'may be, of the same structure and therefore description of the one will apply equally to j vice is controlledelectrically by devices, the

, circuits ofwhich are in turn controlled by a by the propelling motoror otherwise; the es sential feature being that so long as thecar is under headway the centrifugal circuit breaker prevents the completion of the circuit of the relay magnet throughwhich the cir cuitslof the-control locking magnets pass. I A convenient and simplearrangement is, shown .wherein't-he' centrifugal circuit breaker is intended to be operated by a car propellingmotor and for'this purpose and to illustrate the principles involved, the centrifugal 'circuit breaker is shown as connected tothe motor shaft to be: operated whenever the motor" shaft is=in rotation, whether such rotation is ffected by the supply ofoperating currentto the motor. or to the gearing which connects I through the controller lock magnet at- 20,

themotor shaft-to the car axles.

A locking system of the nature referred'to is also, in accordance with the principles of L'my invention, connected upwith the dooroperations inisuch manner that door'controlledswitches also control the circuits of the controller lock sothat the lock cannot be released untilthedoor's are closed. V. v

Referring to the general layout of a lock and control system embodying my invention as illustrated in Figure 1, reference numeral 14 designates the car propelling motor-and" 15 the motor shaft. To the latter is connected "acentrifugal circuit breaker deviceindjicated generally by reference numeral 16. Therelay imagnet which controls the circuits of the lockmagnets isindicated'at 17 ,the circuit of said relay magnet being controlled by the centrifugal circuit breaker-16 "and also when desired for temporary or'emergency "operation by a push button switch device indicated generally at 18. Reference numeral 19 desig- Hates the motormans propelling motor controller and QO a lock device therefor. 21 designates a lock device for the door controlsys tern which is. operable bythe motorman. 22

. designates the :lock device .for theconductors door .controlstand23. A caris diagrammatically indicated at 24 having the doors 25 and I control switches indicates generally at 26,27

in circuits which include the magnet of the motorrnans propelling control lock. The operation generally, before proceeding with a specific description of the structure, as follows:As long as the car hash'eadway a cent-rifugal circuit breaker 16 maintains the. circuitof-=relay magnet 17-open 'andas long as the-relay magnet 17' is de-energized a switch device :28.controlled thercby remains open;

This switch device28 is included in the current supply connections for all of the locks so that-the lock magnets remain de-energized while Ithe circuitis open.. This condition obtainsias long as the. centrifugal'circuit breaker device 16 remains'inoperation, that.

to-be opened so long; as the car is;.-in motion,

excepting by the. special push button described above. The motor controller lock, on the other hand, because of the reversal of the inclined surface on the-'- king belt, as described below, remains unlocked while its WVhen, therefore, 'thecar comes to'rest, and the centrifugal cirmagnet is de-energized.

cui't breaker 16 is permittedto complete the circuit of the relay magnet thereby 'olos-"- ing the'switch 28,- and energizing the magnets of the various door locks, the-doorcontrol locks may be operated and the doors opened.

WVhen the-doors are opened, the pushdisconnecters at 26' and 27 wi'll cl'ose the-circuit thereby energizing the same to lock the controller against movementso that thefcar can'- not be started While any of the doors remain open, I lVhen, therefore, all the doors are-1 closed, and lock 20 becomes unlocked, con-' troller 19 maybe manipulated for normal operation; I I

The push disconnectors26'and 27' diagram-1 matic'ally" shown in Fig. l'are normallyheld" closedby the spring arm, but when the doors 25 now shown in, open position are closed,

they push against the arms of said disconnectors and open the contact points by overcoming the 'force of the spring arin thereby accomplishing theresultjustset-forth. i

I will first describe the constructionofthe centrifugal circuit breaker, particular refer ence being had to Figures 2, 7, 8 and-12. This breaker includes an annular member 29 composed of complementary sections p'laccd'fiatwise against each other and suitably bolted" together. Upon the opposing'faces of these members 30, 31 arel lormed chambers. within which are received rings 32, 3 0i suitable insulating material such, for example, as bakeare formed with complementary recesse s,

lite. On their'opposed faces th'e rings32, S 3 I at Placed within eachof the spherical recesses 34; is a ball'35.

The r1ngs32, 33011 I compass a ring 36 of insulating material} which is formed w1th a portion orsannular' rib 37, which separates from each other-two conductorrmgs 39, 40, which latter respec. tively extend into the spherical'recesses 34a distance sufficient for the balls 35 or some one or more of them to contact therewith when the centrifugal breaker-device is standing still. The conductor ring 40 is grounded'in I 'any*suitable or convenient manner, ZLS-fOlllH- stance, through a connection 38*to the frame of themotor. To the other conductor ring i u J 1s connectedaconductor ilwhich s 1n electricalconnection in any suitable or convenient pin 44 (see Figure 12) havinga spherical head 45 which projects beyond the outer end of the block 42. The block 42 is provided with a hole or opening therethrough, through which extends a conductor 41 to make electrical contact with the pin 44. The projecting end of the pin 44 receives a boss 46 which is formed with a concave seat in which the ball 45 is seated and is held by means of a cap 47 formed with a co-operating hemispherical recess or -seat therein. The boss 46 forms part of a hanger for a dependent weight 48'. To the boss 46 is connected one terminal of the circuit connection for relay-magnet 17. The other terminal of said relay magnet circuit .isconnected to a current source such, for ex ample, as a battery indicated at 49 in Figure 1. When the relay magnet 17 is energized its armature actuatesa projecting member 50 to bridge the contacts 51, 52, whichcontacts are ;,included in the current supply connections for all of the lock magnets.

use operation of the centrifugal circuit breaker device is as follows :Whenever the car is under headway the balls 35 are thrown by centrifugal action radially outwardly so as to befree and clear of contact with the con ductor strips or rings 89, and, consequently thecircuit of the relay magnet 17 is mainp 39, 40at one ormore points. These balls in" breaker is revolving. centrifugal circuit breaker comes to rest, that tainedopen as long as the centrifugal circuit When, however. the

is, when the'car loses its headway, one or more of the balls 35 will gravitate into POSllZlQIllZO close the'circuit between the conductor rings completing the circuit of the relayv magnetthereby energize said magnet and'operate the switch device 28, causing the bridge member to bridge the space between contacts 51 and 52, thereby completing the current supply circuits the locking devices. a

I will now describe the construction of one of the locking devices, it being understood that the structure of the locking devices is the same whether for the motormans propelling motor controller or door controller or for the conductors door controller except that the inclined surface on thefking bolt is reversed in the motormans controller motor lock, as is shown in Fig. 13. In this connection reference is had to Figures 9, 10, 11 and 13. Carried by the controller shaft 53 is a cam wheel or disc indicated at 54 formed in its peripheral edge with a seat or depression 55 adapt.-

ed to receive a projection 56 on the-end of a1 king bolt 57. The king bolt 57 is mounted to a slide, in the lock casing 58 on suitable guides formed in the lock casing. Connected to the king'bolt is a cross piece 59, to the ends of which are connected tension springs 60, the.

other ends of said springs being anchored as at 61; in the casing. I The tension of the springs exerted upon the king bolt 57 tends to pro,- jec-t the locking end 56 thereof against the peripheral edge of the wheel or-disc 54 on the shaft of the controller and into the seat 5f formed therein whenever the. seat is in position to receive the same; This POSitlOll; determines the off pOSltlOilOfdlllG carpropelling motor as wellas the off position of the door control shaft with the doors in their closed position. The king bolt 57 is longitudinally.slottedbothvertically and horizontally and extending transversely throughthehori zontal slot indicated at 62is a stud 63 which is fastened at its ends in the casing 58. "Pivotally mounted upon the stud 63 1s a locking toggle 64. One end'of the lockingtoggle'64 carries aroller 65 as in bearing 65 The roller is adapted to engage and, slide along an inclined surface 66 when the locking toggle moves toward its locking posit-ion until the longitudinal eentre'or axial line of the toggle member 64 passes beyond the inclined surface 66, whereupon the roller 65 will engage the wall 67 of the vertical slot 68in thekingbolt" and form a lock for said king bolt, thus preventing the same from being moved towards the left, as seen in Figures 9, 11,13, that is,

preventing said king boltfrom being moved.

fromits lockingposition, In order to normally maintain the locking toggle 64in locked position for the door locks and inunlockedposition for the motor locks, the cross ni'eln- 1 her 5%) of the king bolt isfformed with an overhanging extension 69 whichreceives the hear:-

ing of a spring 70' and permits it to slide along toggle 64 when the bolt is actuated; Theten-l sion of this spring is exerted, on the tail end 5 portion of the locking toggle to rock the look ing end of the toggle in locking'position forthedoor'locks and out of locking position for f for the, motor, locks. Extending vertically through the vertical slot 68-:in'the king bolt is a connection 71 forextension of the armature of the locking magnet '72, thesaidextension 71 being pinned orotherwisesuitablylcom nectedto the locking toggle 64. whenthe magnet 72 is energized, the armature 73'of the magnetis drawn downwardly, thereby pulling the locking end of thelocki'ng toggle 64' out of locking position and releasingthe kingbolt in the controller locks. Hence the unlocked king-bolt may be withdrawn from the locking engagement with the disc or wheel 54 on the control shaft when power'is applied to said shaft to rotate the wheel 54 therein.

The armature 73 of the lock magnet is drawn bolt in the door locks, but looking the king For this purpose the core 74 is mounted upon or carried by an adjusting screw 75. A stop screw 76 forms a limited stop to arrest the rockingmoveinent of the locking toggle upwardly so as to bring the longitudinall central axis of'the locking toggle from slightly above the lower edge of the vertical locking wall 67, thereby permitting an easy and quick release of the lock instantaneously with the cnergization of the relay magnet.

' In Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6' I have shown the locks 22 and 21 applied to the control stands 23 and 77. Itisto be understood, of course, that these locks may be applied and attached to the control stands in any suitable or convenient manner, and, therefore, my invention is not to be limited or restricted in respect 7 torthe method of attaching the locking devices to the stands, the essential feature being that the control shafts in said stands shall carry or have carried or otherwiseconnectedthereto the cam wheels or discs indicated at 54 disposed and arranged in co-operative relation with respect to the king bolt and the locking toggle and operating connection and mechanism therefor;

While I have shown and described my inventionas applied to looks for motor controllers and door controllers of street cars, it

is,of course, tobe understood that my invention'is not to belimi-ted or restricted 'in respecttothese purposes as a locking mechanism and a centrifu'gally operated control therefor is equally well adapted for use in a great many other relations and situations, such, for example, as the locking of the throttle of a steam'locomotive. to prevent actuation thereof until all the doors for example on the train have been closed, thus securing greater safety of operation of railway trains and preventing accidents occurring through untimelyor prematurely starting of the car ortrain.. v i r 1 r The pendulum weight" 48 suspended upon thehead 45 of the pin 44 permits me to eliminate the usual commutator ring structure employed in'like situationswhile at the same time permitting rotation of the shaft'15 and of the circuit breaker device Without interfe'ring with the terminal connection Of'tlie circuit conductor.

Variations and changes in the details ofi structure will readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spiritiai'id scope of my invention. I do not desire therefore to belimited or restricted to the exact detailsshown and described but I have set forth the objects and the nature of my in 'vention and a construction embodying the principles thereof. What-I claim is new'and useful and of my own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a car haying a driving motor therefor, the combination with a car door, and

means for opening and closing the same, of

an electrically operated locking device for locking said means against operation, a cirj cuit for said device including a source of current, said locking device being released when current is supplied thereto, a normally open.

switch included in said circuit, a magnet for controlling said switch whereby when said magnet is energized said switch is closed,'and

means on theniotor shaft actuated'by the motor coming to a full stop for energizing said'magnet to thereby renderoperative said locking device.

2. In a car having a driving motor, the

combination with a car door and meansfor opening and closing the same, of an electri cally operated locking device for locking said means against operation, a circuit for said device including a source of current,"said locking device being, released when'current is supplied thereto, a normally open switchincluded in said circuit, a magnet .for controllingsaid switch whereby when said mag net is energized said switch is closed, a' 'cen trifugally actuated circuit breaker attached to the motor controlled by theinovement of said motor for controlling said magnet centr fugal circuit whereby when said breaker is at rest said magnet is energized,

, 3. In an electrically operated car, the'combination'with a car door, means'for opening and closingthesame, said means being operable only when the car is stationary, a motor controller for controlling the operation of the car, and electrical means for lockin and retaining locked saidinotor control er when said door is open and the car is at rest, said.

locking means being energized through a circuit completed by a switch closed by the door when in open position. In testimony whereof I have hereuntoosetmy hand on this 18th day of August, A. D.

GEORGE IYASHINGTO N M EYERS'.

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