US1754393A - High-water signaling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

p l 1930- J. .1. M c'ANDLEs s HIGH WATER SIGNALING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 50, 1929 JJManJlsa April 15, 1930. .J. J. MCANDLESS v I ,7

Q HIGH WATER SIGNALING APPARATUS v I I Filed Nnv. 30, 1929 I STYEP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J, J fiandlaas Patented Apr. 15, 1930 JOSHUA J. MCCANDLESS, F HENNESSEY, OKLAHOMA HIGH-WATER SIGNALING APPARATUS Application filed November 30, 1929. Serial No. 410,846.

This invention relates to signals, and more particularly to a danger signal for railroad and other bridges. r

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a signal of the character stated which, when a body of water spanned by a bridge rises high enough to render the bridge unsafe, shall be adatped to operate signs located at distances from the ends of the bridge and adapted when operated to indicate that thebridge is unsafe.

The invention has for a further object to provide a signal of the character stated which shall be simple, durable and highly efficient, which shall be adaptedto be manufactured and installed at a comparatively low cost, and which shall be adapted to be maintained in a high state of efficiency at a comparatively low cost.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the nature of which will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating the signal applied to a railroad bridge;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the railroad bridge and signal Figure 3 is a View in front elevation of on of the warning signs'of the signal, the sign being shown in raised or operative position; Figure 4 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating one of the warning signs in lowered or inoperative position, the means for releasably holding the sign in this position, and the means for raising the sign when released into operative position, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 55 of Figure 2.

j Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 designates the piers and 2 the longitudinal beams of a railroad bridge. 3 designates the ties and 4 the rails of the track of the railroad.

The signal comprises signs 5 which are ear- 0 ranged centrally of the track and at a considerable distance from the ends of the bridge.

The signals 5 each consist of a post 6 and a plate 7 which latter bears the Word Stop. The posts 6 are pivoted adjacent certain of their ends, as at 8, to brackets 9, and the plates 7 are secured to the other ends of the posts. The brackets 9 are each secured to a tie 3 and are secured to those vertical sides of the ties most remote from the bridge.

ties and permit the signs 5 to normally occupy a horizontal or inoperative position above the ties, and permit the signs to be moved from this position into a vertical or operative position. Arcuate rods 13 are slidably mounted in arcuate guides 14c carried by the brackets 9 between the bracket members 11, and are pivotally connected, as at 15, to theposts 6. Coil springs 16 are arranged upon the rods 13 between the posts 6 and guides 14, and they constantly tend to move the signs 5 from their inoperative to their operative position.

The signs 5 are releasably held in their inop' erative position by latch bolts 17 which are slidably mounted in guides 18 secured to the upper sides of the ties to which the brackets 9 are secured. The bolts 17 engage lugs 19 formed on the pivoted ends of the posts 6, and they are held in engagement with the lugs by coil springs 20. i The coil springs 20 are arranged upon the bolts 17 and bear against the guides 18 and pins 21 carried by the bolts 17. The signs 5 are held by the bolts 17 in their inoperative position against the tension of the springs 16, and when the bolts are retracted, the springs function to move the signs intoand support them in their operative position. i

A lever 22 is pivotally secured intermediate its ends, as at 23, to a bracket 24 which is secured to the under side of one of the bridge beams 2 at a point centrally between the ends of the bridge. The lever 22 embodies a long arm 22" to which a float 25 is fixed, the float resting upon the body of water spanned by the bridge. The short arm 22 of the lever 2g is connected by cables 26 to the latch bolt 1 The cables 26 are connected, as at 27, to the lever 22 and, as at 28, to the latch bolt 17, and pass about direction pulleys 29 that are journaled in brackets 30 secured to. opposite sides of the tie located immediately above the lever 22.

In practice, the signs 5 are, when the bridge is safe, held in lowered or inoperative position by the latch bolt 17. When the body of water rises high enough to render the bridge unsafe, the consequent rocking of the lever 22 results in the retraction of the latch bolt 17 The retraction of the latch bolt 17 releases the signs 5, and they are raised into operative position by the spring 16. The warning symbol or work borne by-the signs 5 are only visible when .the signs are in raised or operative position, and the signs are located far enough away from the ends of the bridge to enable an engineer, when the signs are in operative position, to stophis train before reaching the bridge. When the signs are in inoperative position, they are located below the treads of the rails 4, and in view thereof, all danger of the signs being injured by the train is obviated. Each bracket 9 and its companion guide 18 are preferably formed integrally so as to permit their read application to a tie.

W ile the signal is illustrated and described in connection with a railroad bridge, it is to be understood that it-may be used in connection with highway bridges and for the purpose of indicating high water levels generally.

\Vhile I have described the principle of the invention, to ether with the structure which I now conslder the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the structure shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim 1. A signal of the character stated, comprising a pivoted sign normally occupying a lowered position, a latch bolt holding the sign in said position, a spring maintaining the latch bolt in engagement with the sign, a float controlled lever connected to the latch bolt and adapted when moved in one direction to retract the latch bolt, and means adapted to raise and support the sign on the retraction of the latch bolt.

2. A signal of the character stated, comrising a sign provided at one end with a 11g, means pivotally supporting the sign a nearsaid end thereof, thesign normally ocprising a sign, a bracketpivotally supporting the sign, the sign normally occupying a lowered position, a latch bolt holding the sign in said position, the spring maintaining the latch'bolt in engagement with the sign, afloat controlled lever connectedto the latch bolt and adapted when moved in one direct-ion to retract the latch bolt, an arcuate ,guide carried by the bracket, an arcuate rod slidably mounted in the guide and piv oted to the sign, and a spring mounted on the rod between the guide and sign and adapted to raise and support the sign in sai'dposition on the retraction of the latch bolt.

4:. A signal of the character stated, comprisinga bracket and a guide i'ormed integrally and right angularly related, a member pivoted between its ends to the bracket and provided at one end with a lug, a sign plate secured tothe other end of the member, a latchbolt slidably mounted in the guide and engaging the lug to normally hold the sign plate in lowered position, a spring bearing against the guide and latch bolt to maintain it inengagement with the lug, a float controlled lever connected to the latch bolt and adapted when moved in one'direction to retract .the latch bolt, and a spring bearing against the member to raise the sign plate 1 on the retraction of the bolt.

5. A danger signal for a bridge, comprising signs, means pivotally supporting the signs at distances from the ends of the bridge,

the signs normally occupying a lowered position, latch bolts engaging the signs to hold them in said position, springs maintaining the latch bolts in engagement with the signs, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends at the under side of the bridge, a float secured to one end of the lever, cables secured tothe other end of the lever and to the latch bolts, and guides for the cables.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOSHUA J. MCCANDLESS.

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