US1696946A - Switching system for suspended railways - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 1, 1929. 1,696,946

. F. E. FELTS SWITCHING SYSTEM FOR SUSPENDED RAILWAYS Filegl July 1, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7 6I6/ierEZZ/Z'Y,

BY W TOEYS.

Jan. 1, 1929.

1,696,946 F. E. FELTS 1' SWITCHING SYSTEM FOR SUSPENDED RAILW AYS Filed July 1, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

A c-s.

Jan. 1, 1929. 1,696,946

F. E. FELTS SWITCHING SYSTEM FOR SUSPENDED RAILWAYS Filed July 1, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 III mil INTI II II II II IHI Jan. 1, 1929.

F. E. FELTS SWITCHING SYSTEM FOR SUSPENDED RAILWAYS Filed July 1, 1927' 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTdR. fYefMe/flf/ a,

Fatented Jan. 1, 1929.

u its ere" insane SWITCHING SYSTEM FOR SUSEENDED RAILWAYS,

Application filed July 1,

This invention relates to switching system for suspended railways ojtthe type disclosed in UB Patent #928,435, granted to me July 20, 19Q9, and the object oi the invention is to provide a simple and eihcientnieans by which suspended cars or trains may he transferred from a main line of track onto another main line and by Which the o eration of the switch mechanism may he automatically. controlled.

The invention consists of suspended sections of straight track and curved track disjoined from continuous straight trackivay and curved trackivay respectively, and of means for moving such suspended sections of track into alineinentivith either the straighttrackway or the curved t-rackivay.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferredembodiment of the invention, and therein,

v Fig. 1 is a plan view showing diagrannnatically an electrically controlled inechanisin for moving disjoined sections of curved and straight track into alineinent With curved and straight tracltway respectively.

Fig. 2 is a side view showing the straight and curved sections of track and the carriers therefor,

3 is a fragmentary detail showing means carried by a car tor controlling the electrical mechanism.

t is a plan view showing the disjoincd sections 01 curved track in alii'ienient with the curved trackivay and the disjoined sec-- tion of straight track out of alineincnt with the straight track vay.

Fig. 5 is plan view showing means for 130- tating' a disjoined section of track to aline saine ivith a curved or straight tracl; of in tersecting trackway,

Fig, 6 is a fraginentz-iry end view showing the carriage mount and the rack carried by the carriage for operating the disjoined section of crossing tracks or rails;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing a disjoined sect-ion of track and the rotatable support therefor.

Pg. 8 is a diagrammatic view of electrical mechanism for controlling the movement of the disjoined tracks in one direction and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic View of electrical mechanism for controlling the movement of the disjoined tracks in. another direction.

Referring in detail to the form of embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings,

1 and 2 indicateparallel straight tracks or 1927. serial No. 202,851.

rails for cars traveling respectively in oppo- 1 and The resne ctive is ght tracks 1 and 2 and the resp'ective curvin tracksS andg l; are arranged to be suspended from a suitable structure generally shown at 5, "in Fig. 4.

cand 4terniihate at the e'tvlereot from the main The cure po nt of o1 e tracks 1, and 2 and that point are separated therefrom. The continuity of the parallel straight tracks or rails 1 and Zis interrupted by gaps A and B respectively, The continuity oi the curved trachsB ana s ri ranged to he established track sections 3 and 4: respectively, and the continuity of the straights tr ngks l and 2 is arrangedlto he completed by sections 1 and 2 therespective sections 8 and 1 and l and 2, heingaiF ranged to he moved into alinenient With the respective tracks by means hereinafter described. i i i l The continuity oft-helcurved track 4 and the continuity of the straight tmfi kl at the point of intersection of such tracks t, and 1 is interrupted hygaps C and D respectively, as shown in Fig. 5, and the continuity otsaid traclzs l and l at the, point of intersection thereof is arranged to be established by a track section 6, rotatable as hereinafter described to aline the seine with the curved track e or With the straight track 1, and concurrently with the movement of the track sections at andQ.

The sections of tracks 1 and 3 are suspended by hangers 7 and 8, respectively, from a carriage 9, supported. by pairs of flanged Wheels 10 and 10 which are arranged to ride upon tracks 11, disposed at right angles to the tracks 1 andZ and 3 and 1 which are suspended from a suitable structural support indicated at 11.

T he pairs of Wheels 10 and 10 are secured to axles 12 and 1:2, which are journaled in the carriage 9. UPQn tlieaxle 12 mounted a sprocket 13, which through the medium of a chain 1 1 is connected with a sprocket 15 e cured to the shaft of an electric notor 16, through which the rotation of said axle 12 and the movement of the carriage Salongthe tracks 11 iseiiectcd. The rotatory notion of the axle 12 is vconnnunicate-d to the 12 through a chain 17, running over sprockets 18 and 18 respectively.

The sections: of tracks 2 and 1 vare s tspended by hangers l9 and 20, fron a carriage 21, sup-ported by pairs of flanged wheels 22 and 22 which are arranged to ride upon the t acks 11. The pairs of flanged wheels 22 and 22 are secured to axles 23 and 23 which are j ournaled in the carriage 21. Upon the axle 23 is mounted a sprocket 2 1, which through the medium of a chain 25 is connected with a sprocket 26, secured to the shaft of an electric motor 27', through which the rotation of said axle 23 and the movement of the carriage 21, along the tracks 11 is effected. The rotatory motion of the axle 23 is communicated to the axle 23, through a chain 26, running over sprockets 27 and 27 secured to said axles 23 and 23.

The section 6 of track that is arranged to complete either the straight track 1 or the curved track 4 is, as stated, arranged to be operated concurrently with the movement of the sections of track 2- and 4' and to accomplish the rotation of said section 6 to aline the same with either of the tracks 1 and 1, by the rectilinear movement of the carriage 21, I have provided the arrangement shown more particularly in Figs. 4-, 5 and 7, and comprising the following structure. Onto the side of the carriage 21 is secured a rack 28, with which meshes a pinion 29, pinned or otherwise secured to one end of a shaft 30 journaled near one end thereof in a suitable support 31 and near the other end thereof journaled in a suitable support 32, that is carried by a tie structure 33 which is connected to the rail supporting structure 5. On the other end of the shaft 30 is secured a bevel gear 34,

which meshes with a similar bevel gear 35 on one end of a shaft 36, which extends at right angles to said shaft 30, and which is journaled in suitable supports 37 and 37 attached to said tie structure 33. On the end of said shaft 36 is fastened a bevel gear 38, which meshes with a horizontal bevel gear 39. The bevel gear 39 fits over preferably a squared extension 1O rising centrally of and vertically from a turntable 41 which is rotatable upon a support 412, that is fastened to said tie structure 33, suitable roller bearings 13 and 44 being provided to reduce friction incident on the rotation of said turntable. The section 6 of track is suspended from said turntable by hangers 415. and as seen in Fig. 5 is substantially straight. It will be seen from this description that the movement of the carriage 21 in either direction, transfers its movement through the media detailed, to the turntable 11, which will aline the section 6 of track carried by it with either the curved track 4 or the straight track 1.

Both carriages 9 and 21 are independently movable on the track 11 by the respective motors 16 and 27. The electrical power circuits for the motors of both carriages 9 and 21 being identical, one only will be described in detail, similar reference characters denoting similar parts. It will be observed that the main line or the straight tr cks 1 and 2 are arranged to be normally open, and that the curved or diverging tracks 3 and 1 are arranged to be normally closed. The system to be described therefore is controllable by a car that is to take the switch or diverging track to cause the diverging tracl; section to be moved into alinement with and to open the curved tack, while at the same time the straight section of track is caused to be moved out of alinement with and close the main or straight track; the system is also controllable by the car that has passed onto the diverging track to cause the main or straight track to be opened by the movement of the straight track section into alinement with the straight track while at the same time moving the diverging track section out of alinement with and closing the curving or diverging track.

Referring to Fig. 3, mechanism is illustrated which is arranged to be carried by a car E, and which is arranged to initiate the flow of electrical current through a plurality of circuits, presently described, whereby the switching system is set in operation. This mechanismcomprises a pair of arms 47 and 47, pivotally connected intermediate the ends thereof to the car. Between the forward ends of the respective arms is disposed an electro-magnet &8, which is in an electrical circuit 49, that also includes a source of electrical energy, as a generator 50, and a switch 51, arranged to be operated by the operator of the car. The rear ends of the respective arms 17 and 47 are normally held drawn toward each other by a spring 51, which also causes the front ends of said arms to be held away from both ends of the electro-magnet 18. Vhen the electro-magnet is energized by the closing of the switch 51, the front ends of the respective arms 17 and d7, will be attracted to and held on the respective poles of the el-ectro-magnet- 48. By this movement, the rear ends of said arms 17 and 17 are moved outwardly and into the path of contacts 52 and 52, and 53 and 53 by which a circuit, hereinafter described, is established whereby to energize one of the motors carried by one of the carriages 9 or 21, and thereby cause the travel of said carriages in one or the other direction respectively.

Referring to Fig. 9,

The electrical system by which the movement of the carriages is effected in one or the other direction is shown as comprising the motor 16, a pole changer 54, an armature 55 to which said pole changer is connected at one end and which is movable about a central pivot 57; a pair of electro- magnets 56 and 56 for operating said armature about its pivot and thereby control the movement of the pole changer. The armature is held normally away from said electro-magnets by lUO springs 58 and 58'. Each of the electro-magnets is provided with a supplemental winding 59, and, 59 terminating in a contact point 60 and 60 which is arranged for alternate engagement bysaid armature 55. The contacts 52and- 52 are in an electrical circuit 61, which is a branch of a power line 62, and which includes one of the.electro-magnets, namely Assumingthat the arms 4:? and 47 carried by a car have engaged the con tacts 52-and-52, a circuit is completed which energizes the electro-magnet 56. One end of thearmature 55 will thereby be drawn to the pole of the electro-magnet 56, and by this movement of said armature 55 the pole changer will be operated to establish the direction of flow of the current to the field magnets of the motor. At the same time that the armature 55 is attracted to the pole of the electro magnet 56, the armature contacts with the contact point in which the winding 59 terminateatherehy completing a circuit which includes the armature of the motor, the Winding 59. of the electroanagnet 56, the contact point-60 and the armature 55, which is grounded. hen the motor is thus set in operation, the carriage will bemoved and the track section '3 alined with the curved track 3. The supplemental windings 59 and 59 are provided on the electro- magnets 56 and 56 respectively, in order to hold the electroanagnets 56 and 56 energized after the initial circuit which includes the contacts 52iand 52, and 53 and 53, has been in terruptedby the passing of the contact arms 47 and 47. l/Vhen the carriage has been moved the distance required to bring about the alinement of the particular track section 3 with the respective track 3, the power cir cuit is broken by the disconnection of the ari'nature 55 with the electro-magnet 56, which is effected through themediurn of a deflector 63 which is disposed in the path of travel of the end ofarmature Stop members 6-1 and 64 and and 65 respectively are provided on the cross rail 11. on which the carriages 9 and 21 travel, to prevent the travel of said carriages and the movement of the rail sections 1 and 3 and 2 and 4 beyond the point of alinement with the respective tracks 1 and 3 and 2 and 4-. These stop members 6 1- and 64 and 65 and 65 are shown in Fig. 4. After the car has passed over the curve onto the straight track, the section 1- of track is arranged to be moved into alinemeut with the straight track 1. This is accomplished by the arms 47 and 47' making contact with the contacts 53 and 53, In so doing, a circuit is completed and the electromagnet- 56 is energized. Thereby the other end of the armature 55 will be drawn to the pole of the electro-magnet, as shown in Fig. 8, and by this movement of the armature 55, the pole changer 54 will be operated to re verse the flow of the current to the field mag nets of the motor. At the same time that the armature .55 isattracted to ,7 the pole otthe electro-magnetlifi, the armature contacts with the contact point 60 in which the wind= ing 59 terminates, therebycompleting a circuit which includes the ,arn ature of the motor, the winding 59 of the electroemagnet 56, the contact point. 60 andthe aanature 55, which is grounded. VJ hen the motor is thus set in operation, the carriage will he moved and the track section 1 aline-dw-ith the straight track 1.

What I claim, is:

1. A switching system i for suspended railw ways coniiprising suspended straight tracks for cars traveling in opposite directions and curved t tacks diverging from the stra' 'ht tracks for cars traveling in opposite di ec tions, each of the respective straight. tracks and curved tracks at substantially the points of divergence of the curved track from the straight tracks having a section disjoined therefrom, a plurality of carriers, each supporting a disjoined section of straight and curved track and means to move said carriers independently of each, other to aline the sec? tions carded thereby with the respective straight or curved tracks.

2. A switching system for suspended railways comprising suspended straight tracks for cars traveling in opposite directions and suspended curved tracks for cars traveling in opposite directions, said curved tracks die verging from said straight tracks, and each or" the respective straight tracks and curved tracks at substantially the-points of divergence of the curved tracks from the straight tracks having a disjointed section, means for suspending said disjoined sections, and means controllable by cars traveling on said tracks to operate said suspending means and thereby aline the sections carried thereby with the respective straight or curved tracks.

3, A switch ng. systemi or suspended railways includin suspendedstraight tracks and curved tracks diverging from said straight track-s andsections of tracks disjoined from said st night and curved tracks, a plurality of carriers each having supports for two track sections, and a motor to operate each carrier independently of the other thereby to cause said disjoined sections of track to he moved into and out of alinement with said straight and curved tracks.

4. A switching system for suspended railways including straight tracks and tracks curving away from said straight tracks, and sections of track dis-joined from said straight and curved tracks, a plurality of carriers, each having a support for two track sect-ions a tracliway supporting said carriers, motors to move said carriers independently of each other along said trackway, and means operable by cars traveling on said straight and curved tracks to control the motors and the movement of said carriers to aline one of the disjoined sections with the respective track and simultaneously remove the other of said sections from alinement with its respective track.

5. A switching system for suspended railways comprising straight tracks and curved tracks diverging from said straight tracks, each of said straight tracks and curved tracks having a section disjoined therefrom, a plurality of carriers, each supporting two track sections, means operable by cars traveling in one direction to move said carriers in one direction and thereby cause one of the disjoined sections to aline with its respective track, and the other disjoined section to be moved out of alinement with its respective track, and means operable by said cars to move said carriers in the opposite direction thereby to cause the alined disjoined section to he moved out of alinement with its respective track and the other section to aline with its respective track.

6. A switching system for suspended railways comprising straight tracks and curving tracks diverging from said straight tracks, one of said curving tracks also intersecting one of said straight tracks, sections of tracks disjoined from said straight and curving tracks at substantially the point of divergence of said curving tracks from said straight tracks, a single section of track disjoined from one of the straight tracks and one of the curving tracks at the point of intersection thereof, carriers each supporting two track sections, means to move said carriers independently oi each other to aline either of the sections carried thereby with its respective track. a support for said single section of track, and means to move said single section of track into or out of alinement with either the straight or curved track.

7. A switching system for suspended railways comprising straight tracks, and curving tracks diverging from said straight tracks, the ends of one oi the straighttracks and one of the curving tracks at the point of intersection thereof being spaced relatively to each other, sections of track disjoined from said straight track an d curving tracks at substantially the point of divergence of the curving tracks from the straight tracks, a single section of track disposed in the space between the ends of the straight track and curving track and arranged to complete or interrupt the continuity of said straight or curving tracks, carriers each having supports for two track sections, means to operate said carriers independently or" each other to cause the sections carried thereby to aline with their respective tracks, a support for said single sections of track, and means operable by the movement of one oi said carriers to move said single section into or out of alinement with either the straight or curving track.

8. A switching system for suspended railways comprising in combination with straight tracks and tracks diverging from said straight tracks, sections disjoined from said straight and divergent tracks respectively, supports for said sections, and means to move said supports independently of each other to cause the sections carried thereby to aline with the respective straight or clivergent tracks.

9. A switching system for suspended railways comprising straight tracks and curved tracks diverging from said straight tracks and one of said curved tracks and one of said straight tracks terminating at substantially the point of intersection thereof, sections of straight and curved track disjoined from said straight and curved tracks, means to move said sections of track into and out of aline ment with the corresponding straight or curved tracks, a single section of track for completing the continuity of the straight or curved track at the intersection thereof, and means to rotate said single section to aline same with either the straight or curved track.

10. A switching system for suspended railways, eoinprising straight tracks and curved tracks diverging from said straight tracks, sections of straight and curved track disjoined from said straight and curved tracks, respectively, supports for said sections, a motor to move each said support, and n'ieans controllable by the cars traveling on said tracks to operate said motors independently of each other and thereby cause the sections carried by said support-s to aline with. either the straight or curved tracks.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand.

L FLETCHER E. FELTS.

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