US1766597A

US1766597A - Instrument casing for train-control systems

Info

Publication number: US1766597A
Application number: US642652A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles S Bushnell
Original assignee: General Railway Signal Co
Current assignee: SPX Corp
Priority date: 1923-05-31
Filing date: 1923-05-31
Publication date: 1930-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 1947-06-24

Description

June-24, 1930. c. s. BUSHNELL INSTRUMENT CASING FOR TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS Filed May 31, 1923 mW zvroa @TZRN EY I I Z .15::\ J WW! =7 1 IL Hill;

. It! It I!!! .l! i. i i it v15 A I Iii. K Illa rlllf 'llflll Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES rarerrr- OFFICE CHARLES S. BUSHNELL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF GATES, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF YORK INSTRUMENT CASING FOR TRAIN-CONTROL SYSTEMS Application filed May 31,

v This invention relates to housing and supporting means, and particularly to means for supportin sensitive electro-responsive devices for train control systems on railway vehicles.

The present application is a continuation in part, of applicants eo-pending application Ser. No. 531,903 filed January 26, 1922, now Patent No. 1,717,380, granted June 11, an 1929, for all the subject matter common to the two applications.

In providing means for automatically controlling trains in accordance with traflic conditions ahead, it is found expedient to is communicate control influence from the trackway to the moving vehicle, so that the train may be automatically brought under control when it approaches another train ahead or a track section in danger "for some other reason. it is found desirable to transmit such control influences through an intervening air gap, and to accomplish this very sensitive electro-responsive devices are necessarily employed. Tn order to prevent such devices from opening or closing a circuit by reason of jars and vibration, it is found expedient to mount such devices on a sprin mounting suitably damped so as to cause t e oscillation of such mounting to so besubdued. Also, such supportin structure should provide protection for t ese devices from moisture, freezing, detrimental gases, and the like. 1

With the above and other considerations in mind, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention to provide an inner casing spring-mounted within an outer casing for both horizontal and vertical oscillatory movement, and to provide friction means acting as a brake to absorb the energy transferred into the resilient supporting system by such jars and Vibration. Another object of the invention consists in the provision of one easing within another so that sudden fluctuations in temperature in the inner casing do not take place, which might cause condensation of the moisture in the air within the casing and also to protect the electro-responsive mechanism generally, the 6 outer casing serving as a housing for the 1923. Serial No. 642,652.

resilient supporting and the friction energy absorbing means.

Other objects, purposes, and characteristic features of the invention will appear as the description progresses.

In the detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which I Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a mounting embodying the present invention, the covers of both the inner and outercasings being partly broken away to show the internal construction and mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22, Fig. 1, as viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4: is a vertical section taken on the line H, especially illustrating the manner in which the covers are secured to the casin s.

Referring to the drawings, the inner casing T is preferably constructed of cast iron and is provided with inwardly extending lugs 1 defining a horizontal plane substantially midway between the top and bottom thereof. On these lugs is supported an instrument supporting base plate 2, having bosses projecting therefrom and secured in place by cap screws 3 so as to rest on these bosses. This base plate is slightly smaller than the inside of .the casing, so that a certain amount of clearance is present to permit the various control wires to be brought from the compartment below the base plate to the top of this base plate where they may be secured to sensitive electroresponsive devices of various kinds, such as the time element device 4, the relays contained in the casing 5, and other devices shown. This casing T is provided with an outwardly extending lug 6 at each corner there-of. To the top and bottom sides of these lugs are fastened flanged spring centering devices 8 and 9, respectively, which are secured by a-rivet 10.

The outer casing O has each of its bottom corners provided with a raised seat 12 which has a round upstanding boss 12 integral therewith, around which is adapted to seat a compression coil spring 13 containing in its upper end thereof the corresponding spring centering device 9. This construction, it will be noted, affords a resilient support for the inner casing I as far as up and down motion is concerned. In

order to limit the relative upward movement of the inner casing, another compression coil spring15 is seated on top of the spring centering device 8 at each corner of the casing. On each side of the raised seat 12 near the top of the casing O are provided inwardly extending lugs 16 to which is fastened a curved bridge 18 (see Figs. 1 and 3)-by cap screws 17. This curved bridge 18 is provided with a threaded hole near its middle containing an adjustable stud 19, whichhas its reduced ortion extending into a flanged collar 20. his flanged collar 20 seats on trap of the compression spring 15, thereby e ecting a seat to prevent the inner casing from moving upward beyond a predetermined limit.

In assembling this structure, the inner casing I is set into the outer casing 0 upon the lower spring '13. A suitable weight may then be placed upon the inner casing, thereby forcing it down sufiiciently to allow the u per spring 15 and its retaining means inc uding the flanged collar 20 and brid e 18 re-enforcin to be put in place. If additional initia tension of the

springs

13 and 15 is desired, the adjustable 'ournal pins 19 may be drawn down still lrther, after which they may be locked in place by look nuts, as shown. By this construction, any desired natural period of oscillation may be set up within certain limits by making proper adjustments of the adjustable studs 19. The inner casing is preferably rather heavy, so that a fairl low natural period of oscillation may be ad usted for. Also, a heavy casin is adapted to store more kinetic energy supported, and for this reason a heavy casmg and springs of corresponding strength and stiffness are provided.

The resilient means thus far described consists of initially tensioned spring means which permits up and down movement 0 the inner casing with respect to the outer casing. In order to limit the movement of the innercasing in a horizontal plane, suitable leaf springs are securely fastened to bosses 26 projecting inwardly substantial y at the midpoint on each side of the outer casing by cap screws 27. These leaf springs 25 are of general Z-shape, and have riveted to opposite sides of the'upper end thereof friction pads 28 of suitable frict1on materlal, such as leather, re-enforced asbestos and the like, by suitable rivets as shown. The inner pad 28 on each of these Z-shaped s rings 25 is seated on a bearin plate 29 he din place by two threaded studl s resiliently 30. A similar but U-shaped bearing plate 32 is also provided and slidably supported by these studs 30, and is urged against the outer friction pad 28 by springs 34: adjustably held in place by nuts 35. Both of these bearing plates are removable, so that they may be re laced when worn down or when necessar or any other reason. Each of the leaf springs 25 is slotted at an intermediate point to receive the flattened bearing stud 36 riveted into the outer casing O. These studs 36 are mainly provided to re-enforce the leaf springs 25 as far as motion along the plane of these springs is concerned in a horizontal direction, and also to provide a certain amount of friction to absorb the energy of oscillation afforded by such springs.

The

bearing plates

29 and 32 and the easing I ma moveboth horizontally and vertically with respect to the friction pads 28, so that a certain amount of braln'ng action in both a horizontal and vertical plane is afforded by each of these frictiondevices. It should be noted that these devices are located at right angles to each other, and that the friction devices at the ends of the inner casin I take care of up and down as well as si ewise motion of the inner casing; whereas the friction devices on the side of the casing take care of up and down motion as well as en'dwise movement of the inner casing, so that frictional resistance is afforded in three planes substantially at right angles to each other. Further, the flattened bearing studs 36 afford a certain amount of friction to limit oscillation in two directions at substantially right angles to each other in a horizontal plane.

The inner casing I is provided with a cover 40, having a circumferential groove containing the usual felt gasket 41 to afford a moisture-tight seal between the cover and the casing, this cover being secured in place by cap screws 42 en aging threaded ears extending outwardly rom the casing I. A suitable collar is pinned to each of the screws 42 to prevent these screws from falling out of the cover when the cover is removed. The outer casing is provided with a simliar cover 43, also provided with a gasket, but this cover is held in place b a quick detachable hasp fastener H. 's hasp fastener comprises a hasp member 45 pivotally secured in of ears 46 by a cross pm 47. The hasp member 45 is bifurcated and has a curved spring hook 48 pivoted about a pin 49, and has its hooked end engaging a ledge 50 between extensions 51 on the'cover 43.

The lower en of the has member 45 is provided with a slot whic embraces the staple 52 when the has member is in the closed position. It shou d be noted that the pin 47 lies outside of a line connecting the edge 50 and the pin 49, so that a toggle lace between-a pair Ill action is present tending to hold the has member 45 in its closed position. If desire a padlock may be hung in the staple 52 to provide suitable locking means for the caslng.

The inner casing is provided with an opening in the side wall containing a flanged insulating bushing 55. The outer casing is provided with asimilar opening in which is shown fastened a conduit fitting 56, in which is shown secured a flexible conduit 57. A large number of wires 58 is adapted to be brought into the inner casing I, only two of which have been shown.

It will be noted that the openings in the inner and outer casings, respectively, are

. located a considerable distance apart in adjacent side walls. This is done so that relative movement between the inner and outer casings causes very little angular displacement of these wires, so that they arenot apt to be broken due to oscillation of the inner casing due to jars and vibration. The outer casing serves to provide a substantial support for the inner casing, and also provides a suitable housing for the resilient supporting and the frictional energy absorbing mechanism. The outer casin also serves to prevent a sudden change in t e tempera ture of the walls of the inner casing which if permitted would tend to condense moisture in the air in this casing, especially when the change is a lowering of the temperature. This manner of providing a dead air space between the inner and outer casing to a large extent prevents the accumulation of moisture in the inner casing.

A supporting and housing structure has thus been provided which includes initially tensioned spring means constructed in a manner so that the initial tension may be varied, if desired, so as to ermit any desired natural period of oscillation of the inner casing to be effected within certain limits. provided to permit oscillation in a horizontal plane, this sprin means (springs 25) being of a type which may be initially tensioned toward the center of the casing), if desired. Further, suitable energy absor ing friction devices have been provided which are adapted to absorb energy due to oscillation, re ardless of the direction or directions in whic the oscillation takes place.

Having thus shown and described one specific embodiment of the invention, it is desired to be understood that this has been done for illustrative purposes only and that various changes and modifications may be made to adapt the invention for supporting the various sensitive electro-responsive devices used in practice for the pur ose described, without departing from t e scope of the invention or the idea of means underlying the same.

Similarl spring means has been.

What is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a supporting structure for sensitive electro-responsive devices, the combination with a support, a casing, two sets of springs for resiliently supporting said casing by said support for movement in a horizontal and vertical plane respectively, and a friction device for absorbing energy due to oscillation of said casing in botha vertical and a horizontal plane.

2. In a structure for supporting sensitive electro-responsive devices, in combination, an inner casing, an outer casing, opposed initially tensioned springs for supporting said inner casing in said outer casing, and combined spring and friction means mounted in said outer casing, for resiliently supporting said inner casing against endwise displacement and for absorbing energy due to oscillation of said inner casing in both a vertical and horizontal plane.

3. Shock absorbing apparatus for supporting sensitive electro-responsive devices for train control systems on railwayvehicles comprising, an outer casing, an inner casing resiliently supported by said outer casing, and unitary means for frictionally limiting the movement of said inner casing in both a horizontal and a vertical plane and for resiliently limiting the movement of said casing in a horizontal plane.

4. Apparatus for sup orting sensitive electro-responsive devices or train control sys terns comprising, an outer casing, an inner casing, means for resiliently supporting said inner casing by said outer casing for both vertical and horizontal oscillatory movement, and friction means acting as a brake to limit the oscillation in both a vertical and a horizontal plane.

5. Apparatus for housing and mounting sensitive electro-responsive devices for train control systems, comprising, an outer casing, an inner casing, means for resiliently and movably supporting the inner casing in the outer casing, an opening in the wall of the outer casing and an opening in the wall of the inner casing for lead in wires, the openings, in the two casings being offset a substantial amount from opposition to each other, whereby lead in wires passing through the two openings will each have a portion disposed substantially parallel to the walls of the casings.

6. Apparatus for housing and mounting sensitive elcctro-responsive devices comprising, an enclosed inner casing carrying such devices, an outer casing, and unitary means wholly within the outer casing and wholly outside the inner casing for resiliently supporting the inner casing, said last mentioned means acting frictionally to subdue oscillation of said inner casing due to jars and vibration.

7. Apparatus for housing and mounting sensitive electro-responsive devices comprising; an outer casing, an inner casing, means movably mounting the inner casing in the outer casing, each casing consisting of a box like portion; fiat springs secured fixedly to one of said casings and extending between friction members spring pressed together and secured to the other casing, said springs and friction members being wholly contained within the outer casing.

8. Apparatus for housing and mounting sensitive electro-resp0nsive devices comprising; an outer casing, inner casing movably carried in the outer casing, each casing consis'ing of box-like body portion means mounting the in; Y ".5 ng, a plurality of. cured in vertical to on at points such that one of said springs can move substantially transversely to tr e movement of another of said springs; a plurality of spring pressed clamping devices secured to the otherof said casings at points to clamp said springs; and pads of friction material contained in said clamping devices engaging said springs; whereby movement of said inner casing verticaliy or horizontally in one vertical plane is frictionally resisted by one of said springs and its associated clamping devices, and movement of said inner casing in another vertical plane transverse to said one vertical plane is frictionally resisted by another of said springs and its associated clampin devices.

9. Apparatus for housing and mounting sensitive electro-responsive devices, comprising, an outer casing, an inner casing therein, means movably mounting the inner casing in the outer casing, friction members fixed to one casing, an arm fixed to the other casing and extending between the friction members, and means ressing the friction members together against the arm.

' 10. Apparatus for housing and mounting sensitive electro-responsive devices, comprising, an outer casing, an inner casing therein, means movably mounting the inner casing in the outer casing, opposed friction plates carried by one of the casings, a spring arm fixed to the other casing and extending between the friction plates, friction pads fastened to the arm and positioned between the friction plates, and-means pressing the plates against the friction pads.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

CHARLES S. BUSHNELL.