US1965930A - Control device for railway signals and switches and the like - Google Patents

Description

July 10, 1934. E. PACILLI 1,965,930

CONTROL DEVICE FOR RAILWAY SIGNALS AND SWITCHES AND THE LIKE Filed March 21, 1933 INVENTOR' ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 10, 1934 CONTROL DEVICE FOR RAILWAY SIGNALS AND SWITCHES AND THE LIKE Emidio Pacilli, Milan, Italy Application March 21,

1933, Serial No. 661,958

In Italy March 25, 1932 2 Claims.

The object of the present invention, is a con- 10 directions, on the control rod of the mechanism so as to induce in this an axial movement, either in one direction or in the other.

One form of carrying out the object of the invention is shown, merely by way of example, in the attached drawing.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal projection, partially in section, of the control device.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

7 Since signals, semaphores or the like, have a stable position (this corresponding to line closed) caused by appropriate counter-weights, it is sufficient for the control device to act only in the direction away from that of a closed line to the position of line clear.

But the action in the opposite direction may be rendered necessary in the case where the signal, after being placed at line clear, is, when the action of the mechanism is stopped, prevented from returning to. line closed, on account, for instance, of accumulations of ice in the various members of the transmission line to the signals.

The form illustrated is suitable to permit of transmission of the movement in both directions.

Rod 1 is attached to the signal; solidly attached to this rod are the parts 3-3 of the double ball bearing 233. The middle ring 2 carries two projections (or studs) 4 placed at 180 apart, which can slide in two slots 5 cut in a hollow shaft 6 of the motor '7.

On this hollow shaft 6 two collars 8, 9, are arranged. Collar 8 carries bolts 10 supporting the rods 11 carrying the swinging masses 12 whilst to collar 9 guides 13 of the said swinging masses 12 are fixed.

To collar 8 two studs 14 are fixed at 180 apart and two other studs 15 also at 180 apart.

Similarly, to collar 9 studs 16 and 17 are fixed in pairs, those of each pair being 180 apart.

Internally to and coaxially with the hollow shaft 6 is placed a tube or liner 18.

The above mentioned slots 5 in shaft 6 are 2 shaped (see appendices 5') and are arranged at 180 apart, studs 15 and 17 sliding in these slots.

Other longitudinal slots 19 in shaft 6 serve to move freely studs 14 and 16. Liner tube 18 has also slots 20 corresponding to those (19) in shaft 6, in which slots (20) studs 16 and 17 are slidably guided. This same tube 18 is provided with suificiently wide slots 21 to allow studs 15 and 17 to move freely in them, even circumferentially through an angle corresponding to the appendices 5' in slots 5.

The duty of tube 18 is, through slots 20, to prevent relative rotation between collars 8 and 9.

At the beginning of the movement the two collars are in the extreme positions in which studs 15 and 17 are in line with the cross slots 5 of slots 5 of shaft 6. This is obtained through the action of counter-spring 22; it may, however, also be obtained by the weight of masses 12 themselves if the guides 13, instead of being horizontal have a slight inclination towards the axis of rotation.

Since, at the beginning of movement the collars after a resistance to rotation, on account of the inertia of the masses attached-t0 them, the positions of studs 15 and 17 relatively to slots 5 will be changed according to the direction of rotation, so that the relative functions of the two collars 89, will be interchanged, one remaining fixed axially whilst the other moves towards the first. For example, supposing, rod 1 to be up, as shown in the drawing in full line and with the motor running in one direction, the studs 17 of collar 9 will catch in the transverse slots 5' of slots 5 whilst studs 15 of collar 8 will be freed from these transverse slots; consequently,

collar 9 will be prevented from moving upwards whereas collar 8 will be free to move down. Such movement is due to the pull exercised, through rods 11, by the swinging masses 12 sliding in guides 13 as the effect of centrifugal force. When descending, the foot of collar 8 presses on the projections 4 of rings 2 and 23 therefore rod 1 is drawn down, arriving at the lowest position (corresponding to 4' dotted representing projection 4). The masses 12 are drawn back to the position of rest when the motor is stopped, and collar 8 then rises. If now the motor rotates in the opposite direction, it will be studs 15 which will catch in the transverse slots 5' of slots 5 and then collar 8 will be prevented from moving while collar 9 will move up pushing with its upper edge 24 on to projection 4 and through it on to controlrod 1.

If we suppose this rod to be attached to the rods controlling the switches of a railway track, either directly or through transmission means it will be clear that the described control-device may be used for working switches.

In such an application of the mechanism, if any external action should occur from the wheels of the vehicle not taking the switches properly or running back through the switches it is clear that this would affect rod 1, but, on account of the free run of projection 4, it could not have any influence on the mechanism nor on the motor '7.

The essential advantage of the new controlclevice must be noted; this is when the switches have been changed over, the motor may be stopped with perfect safety.

In practice variations of construction and of application of the control-device according to the invention may be introduced without departing from the scope of the invention and therefore from the control of the industrial patent.

What I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A control device for railway signals and the like comprising a hollow rotatable and slotted shaft, an operating member arranged within the shaft, pins mounted on the said member and slidably engaging the slots in the shaft, a centrifugal governor operably mounted on the shaft and including collars slidably and only partially rotatably connected to the shaft, masses radially slidable on the inner of said collars, connections ivoted to the outer of said collars and operably connected to said masses and cooperating with the masses to normally hold the collars spaced, and the outer collar being arranged in contacting engagement with said pins, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner liner is fixed with the shaft and is provided with opposed longitudinal pairs of slots, said shaft also having substantially Z- shaped slots arranged with their long portions longitudinally thereof and registering with the slots in the liner and their horizontal terminals extending in opposite directions, and pins passing through the collars and engaging the slots in the shaft and sleeve for connecting the collars to the shaft.

EMIDIO PACILLI.

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