US1785698A - Switch machine for railroads - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 16, 1930. w. K. HOWE SWITCH MACHINE FOR RAILRQADS Filed Aug. 16, 1929 Anow m l a tented Dec. 16, I936 fumrse' 'STA TESPATENT orifice wnirirnor K. owe, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL coMPANY, or noormsrna, NEW YORK SWITCH MACHINE roe RAILRQADS Application filed August 16, 1929. Serial :No. 336,307.

This invention relates to power operated switch machines, and more particularly to means for safeguarding the manual manipulation or cranking of such switch machines.

It is desirable to provide a suitable crank, or equivalent manual means, by which the mechanism of a power operated switch matenance or adjustment; and it is also desirable to make provision so that the power must be out off from the switch machine before the hand crank can be used. Such an arrangement is disclosed, for example, in my prior Patent No. 1,466,903, dated'September 4, 1923. v V

In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to provide an automatic mechanical latch for the power cut-off device, so that when the'powercut-ofi' device has once been actuated to crank the machine by hand, this device is mechanically latched in this position, and can only be released to again permit the application of power to the machine, by some authorized person, who has a key to unlock the mechanism cover.

The characteristic features, functions and advantages of the invention will be in part apparent, and in part pointed out as the description' progresses.

In the accompanying 7 drawing, Fig. 1 shows a fragmentary plan view of an electrically operated switch machine of the type shown in my prior patent. above mentioned; .Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse section on line 22 of Fig. 1, through the mechanism casing, showing the cover; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view ofthe guard plate for the crank socket, shown in 1ts operated position to permit the insertlon of the crank; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 55 of Fig. 4. In the specific construction of the electr1- cally operated switch machine, shown in my prior Patent 1,466,903, and to which this 1nvention has been shown applied, the gearing between the electric motor for the switch machine and the throw bar connected to the switch points, includes a bevel gear 5 and a shaft 6, provided with a socket 7 atthe upper end to receive a suitable hand crank, so that the gearing may be turned by hand. To insert this hand crank (not shown), ahinged cap 8, covering an opening in the mechanism cover 9, is raised, and a guard plate 10 is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 4, so that the opening 10 in the guard plate 10 aligns with the crank socket 7. The guard plate 10 is connected by a rod 11 to a contact 12, engaging a pair of insulated contact fingers 13, so that upon movement of the guard plate 10 said contacts are disengaged and the power circuit to the switch machine is broken.

This guard plate 10 is pivoted at 14, and on one side of the pivot is a recess 15 (see Fig. 8) to receive a spring pressed plunger 16, set in a hole in the cross brace 17 When the guardplate 10 is in the normal position shown in Fig. 1, partly covering the crank socket and completing the power circuit, the s'pring'plunger 16 engages in the recess 15 and holds the guard plate in this position, the upper end of said plunger 16 and said re- Cess 15 being shaped to retain the guard plate in this normal position against jar and vibra tion, but permitting manual shifting of the guard plate.

On the opposite side of the pivot 14 for the guard plate 10 is a hole 20, as shown in Fig. 5, adapted to receive the end of another spring pressed plunger 21 set in the cross brace 17. This otherspring pressed plunger 21 engages the hole 20 when the guard plate is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 4, permitting insertion of the crank and cutting oif the power. The plunger 21 posi tively locks the guard plate 10 against move ment, and can not be released, until some authorized person unlocks and raises the cover 9, whereupon the plunger 21 may be pressed down to release the latch plate, by a suitable pin or other tool inserted through the small bore 20 aligned with'the hole 20.

From the foregoing, it will beapparent that this invention safe guards manual manipulation of power operated switch machines 1n a way to minimize the chances of lmproper operation of the swltch machine by power to derail atrain. For example, if the switch machine should get out of order, and

it is necessary to crank it by hand to permit trains to move, power is cut off from the switch machine and can not be restored except by an authorized personcapable of assuming the necessary responsibility. Such an arrangement is desirable, because in practice it is sometimes necessary for someone to crank the switch machine who may not know just what to do under such circumstances, and ,may thoughtlessly ,put power back on the switch machine. After cranking it over,

vwith the result that under certain combinathrough said opening and normally-preventr 7 ing insertion of said crank into saidsocket,

a power circuit. controller opened by the,

movement of said guard plate to an actuated position to permit insertion of thecrank,'and a sprin engaged latch for locking said guard plate in its actuated position, said latchbeing 1 V accessible to disengage it only by an authorized person having a key for the locked cover.

' v In testimony whereof I afix my" signature.

I WINTHROP K. HOWE.

tion of circumstances the switch may be thrown by power under a train. "It is as.

sumed that the authorized maintainer, hav ing a key to unlock the cover, will not release the latch plunger 21.holding the guard plate 10 in the position to cut off power, until conditions are safe and proper to do so.

One specificembodiment of the invention has been illustrated and'described in ccnnection with a switch machine of one particular type; and it is evidentthat the specificconstructio'n'disclosed is susceptible of modifiher, and a spring actuated locking device. for

cation and adaptation without departing from the invention. V.

What I claim is 1. In a switch machine, means permitting handoperation of the switch machine and including a movable member, power control contacts operated by movement of said meniretaining said member in its operated-position, said locking means being contained-in a locked compartment and releasable only by an authorized person holding a key to said compartment.

2. In a power operated switch machine, a. power cut-off switch, a manually operablemember for operating the switch to cut 05 power, and locked means accessible only to an authorized person for holding said memher in its actuated position to. cut 02d the power. I v

3. In a switchmachine of the character described, operating mechanism including a socket to receive a hand crank, a guard plate preventing insertion of the hand crank into 'saidsocket until said plate is shifted to an operatedposition, a circuit controller governingthe application of power ofthe switch machine, said circuit controller beingfc'onnectedto said guard plate and opened by its movement to its operate-d position, and a spring engaged latch for locking said guard plate in its operated position, said latch beingcontained in a locked compartment.

4. In a switch machine of the character described, mechanismincluding a socket to re ceive a hand crank, a locked cover for the switch "machine having opening "therein through which the hand 'crank'm'ay be insert ed into said socket, a guard plate accessible an r

Images