US1976830A - Railway switch operating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 16, 1934. H. BQNE ET AL 1,976,830

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TORS Herbert L.BOIZ and THEIR A TTORNEY Oct. 16, 1934. H. BONE ET AL 1,976,830

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING API ARATUS Filed.April 27, 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Herbert L .3012? and Fig y William GMWlzimep.

THEIR AT TORNE Patented Got. 16, 1934 RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS ,Herbert L. Bone, Swissvale, and William C. McWhirter, Wilhinsburg, Pa, assignors to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 27, 1933, Serial No. 668,198

17 Claims.

Our invention relates to railway switch operating apparatus, and particularly to manually controlled switch operating apparatus for switches of the type which are designed to be trailed. a

One object of our invention is to provide novel means whereby a switch of the type described may be positively locked in its normal position for facing point moves over the switch but will become automatically unlocked when a train trails the switch.

We will describe one form of apparatus embodying our inventicnand will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing a railway switch provided with one form of switch operating mechanism embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation of the operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line IEIII of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character A designates a railway switch comprising, as usual, two fixed rails 1 and 1 and two movable rails 2 and 2 The fixed rails 1 and 1 are laid on tie plates 3 and are secured to crossties 4 in the usual manner. The movable rails 2 and 2 ar fastened together by a front rod '5, a head rod 6, a bridle rod '7 and a tie rod 8, and may be moved into a normal or reverse position by means of an operating rod 9 which is connected 'with the head rod 6 through the medium of the usual switch basket 10. When the switch occupies its normal position in which it is shown in Fig. l, the movable rail 2 engages the fixed rail 1, and the movable rail 2 is spaced a slight distance from the fixed rail 1 When the switch is reversed, however, the movable rail 2 then engages the fixed rail 1 and the movable rail 2 is spacedfrom the fixed rail 1.

Associated with the switch A is a switch operating mechanism B comprising a main casing 11 which is bolted or spiked to the ties 4 adjacent the outer side of the rail 1, and an auxiliary casing 12 which is bolted to the left-hand end of the casing 11. The main casing 11 is pro vided with a removable cover 13, while the auxiliary casing 12 is provided with a removable cover 14. a y

Extending downwardly through the main casing 11 is a rotatable spindle or switch actuating shaft 16, and attached to the lower end of this shaft is an adjustable crank 17 which is pivotally connected with the previously described operating rod 9, the parts being so proportioned that rotation of the shaft 16 through an angle of approximately 90 will move the switch between its normal and reverse positions.

The l of the shaft 16, that is, the portion the casing 11, is made round, and is journaled in a bearing 18 provided in the bottom of the casing 11, and in a star bio-cl; which in turn, is journaled in a bearing 20 formed in the top of the casing 11. The portion of the shaft 16 above the top of the bloc bearing, however, made square and has a somewhat smaller cross-sectional area than the lower portion of the shaft.

Secured to the square portion of the shaft 16 is a square sleeve 21, and slidably mounted on this sleeve is an outer sleeve 22 which is provided with a square opening to receive the inner sleeve so that both sleeves and the shaft are constrained to rotate together.

When the outer sleeve 22 occupies its 1owermost position on the inner sleeve, in which position it is shown in the drawings, a squared portion 23 formed on the lower end of the outer sleeve enters a squared recess or socket 24.- formed in the upper end of the star block 19, and under these conditions, the outer sleeve, and hence the shaft 16, is connected with the star block, so that any rotation of the shaft will cause corresponding rotation of the star block. When, however, the outer sleeve 22 is moved to an upper position on the inner sleeve, the squared portion 23 on the lower end of the outer sleeve becomes disengaged from the socket 24 in the star block, and the two sleeves and the shaft are then free to: rotate as a unit independently or" the star block.

The outer sleeve 22 is arranged to be moved between its two extreme positions by means of a hand lever 27 which also serves as a means for rotating the switch actuating shaft 15 between its two extreme positions. This lever is bifurcated at one end, and the bifurcations thereof are disposed on opposite sides of a squared por tion formed at the upper end of the outer sleeve, and are pivoted at their free ends on a pin 28 mounted in a lug 29 formed on the inner sleeve 21. Each bifurcation extends between a pair of lugs 30 which are secured to the associated side of the outer sleeve 22, only one pair of lugs being visible in the drawings. The parts are so proportioned that when the lever 2'7 is rotated about the pin 23 to the depending position in which it is shown in the drawings, the outer sleeve 22 will be moved to its lowermost position on the inner sleeve, but that, when the lever is rotated about the pin 28 to a substantially horizontal position, the outer sleeve-will then be moved to its upper position on the inner sleeve. It follows that the switch actuating shaft 16 will be connected with, or disconnected from, the star block 19 according as the lever 27 occupies its depending or its horizontal position, and that, when the Gil lever occupies its horizontal position, the shaft 16 may be rotated between its two extreme positions to move the switch points totheir correspending extreme positions by rotating the lever about the axis of the shaft, Without causing rotation of the star block.

When the hand lever 27 occupies its depending position, which position is its normal position, it may be locked in this position by placing a padlock 51 or other suitable locking device through a hole 52 formed in the outer end of a lug 52 which is fastened to the outer sleeve 22, and which passes through a suitable slot 53 in the lever 27.

A. suitable signal, here shown as a pair of vanes 31, positioned. 90 with respect to each other in plan view, is fastened to the upper end of the switch actuating shaft 16, and serves to accurately indicate at all times the position of the switch.

The star block 19 is constantly biased to the position in which it is shown in the drawings by means of two biasing devices 32 and 33 which are disposed on opposite sides of the star blocl; best seen in 3. These biasing devices are similar, and a description of one will therefore sufiice for both. Referring particularly to the biasing device 32, this biasing device comprises a rod or bolt 34 supported at one end in a wall of the casing 11, and at the other end in an upright support 35 provided on the bottom of the casing 11. Two sleeves 36 and 3'? provided with annular flanges 36 and 3%, respectively, are slidably mounted on the bolt 34 with their flanges 35' and 37 facing each other, and positioned on the bolt between these sleeves is a coil spring 38 which biases these sleeves to the position in which the outer end of the sleeve 36 engages one of a pair of thrust washers 39 interposed between the sleeve and the side of the easing 11, and in which the outer end of the sleeve 37 engages one of a pair of thrust washers 40 interposed between this sleeve and the support 35. Surrounding the'sleeves 86 and 3'7 and the spring 38 is a third sleeve 41 having a flange 42 at one end which engages the outer side of the 37 of the sleeve 37, and a removable flange 43 at the other end which engages the outer side or" the flange 35 of the sleeve 36. An upwardly projecting lug 44 is secured to the outer sleeve 41 as shown in Fig. 3.

The lug 44 on the biasing device 32 extends upwardly between two rollers 45 and 46 which are journaled between suitable spaced lugs formed on the star block 19, and the lug 44 on the outer sleeve of the biasing device 33 similarly extends upwardly between two rollers 49 and 50 which are also journaled between the lugs on the star block, the four rollers 45, 46, 49 and 50 being disposed at the four corners of 2. rectangle. ribs 44 cast on the side of casing 11.

With the biasing devices constructed and connected with the star block in the manner just described, it will be apparent that rotation of the star block 19 in either direction from the position shown will cause the lugs 44 on the outer sleeves of the two biasing devices 32 and 33 to rotate in opposite directions, thus compressing the springs within the biasing devices.

It follows, that when the star block has been rotated away from the position shown, as soon as the force which caused the rotation of the star block is removed, the springs will act to restore the star block to the position shown.

The lugs 44 are adapted to slide along For reasons which will become apparent as the description proceeds, it is desirable to prevent the biasing devices from returning the star block to the position shown at too rapid a rate after the star block has been moved away from this position, without interfering with the rotation of the star block away from the position shown. For this purpose, the star block is piv otally connected with the piston rod of a dash pot or buffing device 56, the cylinder 57 of which is pivotally attached to the right-hand wall of the casing 11 by means of a pin 58 and a lug 59. The bufiing device 56 forms no part of my present invention, and may be of any suitable type which will allow free and unrestricted movement of the piston rod out of the cylinder, but which will retard movement of the piston rod into the cylinder. As here shown, this buffing device is similar in all respects to the buffing device shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,813,803, granted to William C. McWhlrter, on Nov. 10, 1931, for Railway switch operating apparatus, and it is believed to be unnecessary therefore to describe it in detail here.

Reciproca'bly mounted in the bottom of the casing 11 is a locking device 60 which in the particular embodiment of my invention here i1- lustrated, comprises two spaced end memb rs 60 and 60 (see Fig. 3) connected together by means of a pair of spaced stud bolts 60 and 60 The left-hand end member 60 is provided on its left-hand side with an integral rectangular locking plunger 60 while the right-hand end member 60 is provided with a centrally located hole 60 The locking plunger 60 is mounted to slide in a guideway 61 formed on the bottom of the casing 11, and is adapted to cooperate with a lock rod L which is slidably mounted in the casing 11 at right angles to the locking plunger. The lock rod L is of standard construction, and comprises two longitudinally adjustable bars 63 and 64 attached at one end to the front rod 5 cf the switch A, and provided with two registering notches 65 so disposed that these notches will align with the locking plunger 60 when and only when the switch occupies its normal extreme position in which it is shown in the drawlocking plunger is within the notches, the switch will be positively locked in its normal extreme position, but that when the locking device is moved .to the position in which the locking plunger is withdrawn from the notches in the lock rod, the switch will then be unlocked.

The bolt members 60 and 60 of the locking device 60 are slidably mounted adjacent their right-hand ends in suitable lugs 66 and 67, respectively, which project upwardly from the bottom of the main casing 11, and surrounding each bolt member between the end member 60 and the associated lug 66 or 67 is a partly compressed coil spring 68 which constantly biases the locking device 60 to its left-hand extreme position.

A bell t er end of a rtical connecting rod '74. T connecting rod W4 is shaped as shovm, and es, in addition to the screw-threaded end whch receives the screw jaw 73, an integral offset portion '3 which is rectangular in cross-section. This offset portion extends upw r 1y with a lit through a rectangular idewaty formed in top wall of the casing is, is provided at upper end with 9. lateral ext-e on WP which overlies and cooperates with, an annular flange 77 formed on the sliding sleeve 22 directly above the squared portion 23. A two-piece collar 78 is bolted to the sliding s eeve 22 some distance above the annular flange "1''? and lateral extension '34. and extending vnwardlv from this collar is an integral -frustro-conical hood 79 which completely encloses the upper part of the offset portion 7% or" the conrod l and the annular flange Z7, thus tecting these parts from dirt, moisture, snow,

etc.

The lower end 74 of the oifset portion 74 of the connecting rod 7% overlies and cooperates w a cam member 80 formed integrally with the star bl ck This cam member has a semicircular periphery and its upper surface curves downwardly from each end toward the center, as shown in 2. Only one half of th s cam member is visible in 2, because the other ctly back of the half shown, but the isle is similar to the half A rich is visible.

e parts are so proportioned that when the .lCll"$ sleeve 22 occupies its lowermost position, star block l occupies the position to biased by the biasing devices 32 and ngs, the connecting rod t is of the connecting rod will engage the no" do i the annular flange '77, the lower end 7 portion 749 will engage the upi the cam member 89 at the lowest cam face, and the bell crank lever 69 rotated to a position in which the rounded po. con would engage the left-hand side of the end member Go oi the locking device 69 if the locking de ice were then moved to its extreme left-hand position by the biasing springs 68.

The locking device 60, in addition to being operatively connected with the shding sleeve 22 and the star block 19 in the manner just described, is also operatively connected with the previously described tie rod 8 by means of linkage which we will now describe.

As here shown, linkage includes a plunger bolt 81 (see 2) which extends with some clearance through the hole 80 in the end memher of the locking device 6:), and the head of which bolt cooperates with the left-hand side the end member 60 The threaded right-h nd end of the plunger bolt 81 is adjustabl con nected by means of a turn buckle 82 (see 1) with one end of a link 83, the other end of which link is pivotally connected with the long arm 84 of a bell crank lever 84. The bell n's; love 84 is pivot-ally supported in a crank s r 85, and has its short arm 8 1 pivotally connected with one end of an operating rod 86. The other end of the operating rod 86 is connected with previously described tie rod 8 by of a standard switch basket 87.

The tie rod 8 may be located at any 5 able location, but will be preferably located approximately halfway ietween the and the poit of the switch. The base 83 of the crank stand 85 is secured both to a gage plate 89 and to the bed plate 15 upon which the mechanism 3 is mounted, and it will be apparent, therefore, that any loss of adjustment between the parts due to creepage of the ties is prevented.

For reasons which will be made clear presently, the extreme position to which the lcclring plunger 60 is movable within the notches in the lock rod L is beyond the normal locking position in which it is shown in the drawings, and the linkage connecting the locking device with the tie rod 8 is so adjusted that when the switch occupies its normal extreme position, the head of the plunger bolt 81 will engage the end men r 60 when the locking plunger has been moved to its locking position and will prevent the locking plunger from moving beyond its, locking position.

The auxliary casing 12 referred to hereinbefore houses a circuit controller 0 in such manner that this circuit controller can be added to or removed from the remainder of the switch operating apparatus without disturbing the remainder of the switch operating apparatus. The details of construction of this circuit controller are similar in all respects to those of the circuit controller described and claimed in the copending application for Letters Patent or" the United States, Serial No. 651,933, filed Jan. 16, 1933, by Herbert L. Bone, for Railway switch circuit controllers, and in themselves form no part of my present invention, except in so far as they are used in combination with the rest of the apparatus. Briefly, this circuit controller includes two separate sets of contacts, one set of which is usually referred to as plunger lock contacts and the other set of which is usually referred to as point detector contacts. The plunger look contacts are each designated the reference characters 9091 and are all controlled by a contact operating member 92 pivotally attached to one end of a rocker arm 93, which rocker arm, in turn, is pivoted in mediate its ends on a fixed pin 94:, and is provided in the end opposite to the operating member 92 with a cam slot 95 and with a cam face 95 which cooperates with a roller 96 mounted in the upper end or" a bracket 97 secured to the 1 25' upper face of the locking plunger 68. When the locking device 60 occupies its locking position, in which position it is shown in the drawings, the roller 96 engages the cam slot 95 at an offset portion 95 and under these conditions, the rocker arm 93 is rotated to an extrerne position iii-which the plunger lock contacts 90-91 are all closed. When, however, the locking device 69 is moved in either direction from its normal locking position, the roller 96 is forced out of the offset portion 95 of the cam slot 95, and the rocker arm 93 is then rotated to another extreme position in which the plunger lock contacts 90--91 are all open.

The point detector contacts of the circuit controller C are each designated by the reference characters 989Z- and are all controlled by a contact operating member 100 provided with a roller 161 which cooperates with a recess 102 for: is. in a point detector rod D. The point de- "ector rod D is slidably mounted in the casing 12 transversely thereof and is attached at one end by means of a linl: 103 and abclt member 104 to the movable rail 2 of the switch A in the usual and well-known manner. The recess 102 in the point detector rod D is so positioned that it will align with the roller 101 when and only when the switch occupies its normal position and the movable rail 2 is gainst the associated fixed rail 1, and the parts are so proportioned that when the recess 102 aligns with the roller 101, this roller will enter the notch, thereby permitting the contact operating member 100 to rotate by gravity to a position in which it is I out of engagement with the contact fingers 99 of the point detector contacts, thus causing these contacts to close by virtue of the inherent resiliency of the contact fingers 99. When, however, the roller 101 is forced out of the recess 1 32 in 1 he point detector rod D, the contact operating member 109 will then be positively rotated to the position in which the point detector contacts 98-99 become opened.

The circuit controller C further comprises lock mechanisrn whereby, if the roller 101 is forced out of the recess 102 in the point detector rod D, when the locking device 60 occupies any position in which the locking plunger 60 is within the notches 65 in the lock rod L, the point detector contacts will, after becoming opened in the manner previously described, subsequently be held open until the latch mechanism is manually operated to permit these contacts to again become closed. The plunger lock contacts and point detector contacts of circuit controller 0 may be used to control signals governing traffic over switch A in a well-known manner.

The operation of the apparatus as a whole is as follows: As shown in the drawings, the movjahle rails of the switch are in their normal extreme positions, and the hand lever 27 is locked in its depending position by means of the padlock 51. Under these conditions, the sliding sleeve 22 is held in its lowermost position on the inner sleeve 21, and the star block 19 is accordingly connected with the switch actuating shaft 16 so that the biasing devices 32 and 33 are effective to hold the movable rails of the switch in their normal positions. Furthermore, under these conditions, the connecting rod 74 is held by gravity in its lowermost position, and the locking device 69 is held in its locking position by the biasing springs 68. As was previously pointed out, when the locking device 0ccupies its locking position, the movable rails of the switch are locked in their normal position and the plunger lock contacts 9091 of circuit controller C are closed. Point detector rod D occupies the position in which the recess 102 aligns with the roller 101, and the point detector contacts 98-99 of circuit controller C are therefore also closed. Since both the point detector and plunger lock contacts of circuit con-- troller C are closed, the signals governing trafiicover switch A would display a proceed indication, thereby indicating that the movable rails are in their proper normal positions and are properly locked in these positions for main line traffic over the switch.

We will now assume that it is desired to reverse switch A. To do this, padlock 51 is first removed from the hole 52 in the lug 52 to unlock the hand lever 27, and the hand lever 27 is then raised to its horizontal position. This preliminary movement of the hand lever raises the sliding sleeve 22 from its lowermost position in which it is shown in the drawings to its uppermost position, and as was previously described, when the sliding sleeve is moved to its uppermost position, the squared portion 23 on the lower end of this sleeve becomes disengaged from the socket 24 in the upper end of the star block 19, thus disconnecting the star block, and hence the biasing devices 32 and 33 and the bufiing device 56 from the switch actuating shaft, so that the switch actuating shaft is then free to rotate without any opposition from the biasing and bumng devices. Furthermore, when the sliding sleeve 22 is moved to its uppermost position, the annular flange 77 on the lower end of this sleeve cooperates with the lateral extension 74 on the connecting rod Tate move the connecting rod is to its uppermost position, and this movement of the connecting rod, in turn, acts through the bell crank lever 69, to move the locking device 60 from its normal locking position in which it is shown in the drawings to a position in which the locking plunger 60 is completely Withdrawn from the notches in the lock rod L, thus unlocking the a switch, and at the same time actuating rocker arm 93 of circuit controller C to open the plunger lock contacts 90-91 of the circuit controller. The biasing and bumng devices now being disconnected from the switch actuating shaft and the switch being unlocked, the hand lever is next rotated, in the horizontal plane which it then occupies, through an angle of approximately 90 in a counter-clockwise direction. This intermediate movement of the hand lever rotates the switch actuating shaft 16 to the ex treine position opposite to that in which it is shown in the drawings, thereby reversing the movable rails of the switch in the manner previously described. As soon as the movable rails start to move to their reverse positions, recess 102 in point detector rod D moves out of alignment with roller 101 thus opening the point detector contacts 90-91 of circuit controller C. Furthermore, as the movable rails move to their reverse positions, the linkage which connects the locking device 60 with the tie rod 8 is actuated in such manner that the plunger bolt 81 is moved toward the right, and as soon as the plunger bolt has moved as far as the locking device was previously moved by the bell crank lever 69, the plunger bolt will engage the end member 60 of the locking device 60, and during the balance of the movement of the plunger bolt, the locking device will be moved with the plunger bolt, so that when the switch reaches its full reverse position, the locking device will be moved to its extreme right-hand position. The switch points now being fully reversed, the hand lever 27 is next restored to its depending position. This final movement of the hand lever, of course, restores the sliding sleeve 22 to its lowermost position, thus reconnecting the star block 19 with the switch actuating shaft, and at the same time permitting the connecting Lovdssd rod 7.4 to return by gravity to its lowermost position. After the hand lever has been restored to its depending position, it may, if desired, be relocked in this position by again inserting the padlock 51 in thehole 52 in the lug 52.

If, when the switch has been moved to its reverse position in a manner just described, it is desired to restore the switch to its normal po-' sition, the hand lever 27 is first raised to its horizontal position, and is then rotated in a clockwise direction through an angle of 90 as viewed in Fig. 1, and is finally restored to-its depending position and relocked in this posi tion. The operation of the various parts of the apparatus under these conditions is just the reverse or" that describedabove, and will be readily understood from the foregoing and from an inspection of the drawings without further description.

We will now assume that the parts are in their normal positions, as shown in the drawings, and that a train trails the switch. As the leading wheels of the train'roll along the fixed rail 1 and the movable rail 2 the movable rails 2 and 2 ar forced over laterally, but before a sufficient force is developed at the points of these rails to'overcome the opposing force of the biasing devices 32 and 33 and cause the point of the movable rail 2 to move out of engagement with the fixed rail 1, the movable rails, being somewhat resilient, become bent, so that with the usual standard split switch, the tie rod 8 will be moved upwardly, as viewed in Fig. l, three-fourths of an inch or more. This movement of the tie rod 8 acting through the switch basket 87, operating rod 86, bell crank lever 8' link and plunger bolt 81, moves the looking device in opposition to the bias 'ofthe springs 63, a sufficient amount to completely withdraw the locking plunger 63 from engagement with the notches in the lock rod L, thus unlo 1g the switch. As a result, when the leading eels of the train have reached the position in sufllcient force is developed at the points of the movable rails to cause the point of the movable rail 2 to move out of engagement with the fixed rail 1, the movable rails will be unlocked, and the rails will therefore be forced away from their normal positions by the wheels of the train in exactly the same manner as they would be if no point lock were provided. The movement of the movable rails away from their normal positions, acts through the operating rod 9 and crank 17 to rotate the shaft 16 in a q counter-clockwise direction, and this rotation the shaft 16, in turn, rotates the associated sleeves 21 and 22 and the star block 19 in the same direction. The rotation of the star block 19 actuates the biasing devices 32 and 33in the manner previously described, so that these biasing devices now tend to constantly restore the movable rails to their normal position. The rotation of the star block 19 also actuates the buffing device 56 which, as was previously pointed permits free and unrestricted rotation of the star block in a direction to compress the springs of the biasing devices 32 and 33, but cts to retard movement of the star block by the biasing devices. It will'be seen, therefore, the buffing device 56 will not oppose the movement of the movable rails away from their normal position, but will prevent too rapid move-. nicnt of the movable rails toward their normal position by thebiasing devices 32 and 33, thus preventing the quick return of the movable rails to their normal position between the passage of the successive wheels of the train. The rotation of the star block 19 further causes the cam to rotate, and due to the previously described shape of the cam 88, it will be apparent that this rotation of the cam will force the connecting rod upwardly from its normal position. The parts are so proportioned that this upward movement of the connecting rod will rotate the bell crank lever 69 in a eountercl .ckwise direction to a position in which, if the locking device were not already moved to an unlocking position by the linkage which connects the locking device with the tie rod 8, the bell crei I lever would move the locking device to a 100s. on in which the locking plunger 69 of the lo ng evice would be just clear the notches .15 in the lock rod L. However, since the locking device has already been moved to an unlocking position, there is no contact between the bell crank lever and the locking device under these conditions. After the train has completely passed the switch, the displacing force of the wheels will, of course, be removed, and the springs of the biasing devices will then slowly return the switch points to the position which they occupied before the train started to trail the switch- During the return movement of the movable rails the star block 19 will, of course, slowly return to the position in which it is shown in the drawings, thus permitting the connecting rod 74 to return by gravity to its lowermost position. Furthermore, during the r turn movement of the movable rails the linkage which connects the locking device 60 with the tie rod 8 will permit the biasing springs 68 to slowly return the locking device toward its locking position, and since there is no deflection of the movable rails under these conditions, the locking plunger 66 will be moved into engagement with the side of the lock rod L before the'movable rails have reached their full normal position in which the lock rod is in the proper position for the notches -65 therein to receive the locking plunger. ing plunger has once moved into engagement with the side of the lock rod, the locking plunger will slide along the side of the lock rod until the notches 65 in the lock rod move into alignment with the locking plunger, at which time, the energy stored in the compressed springs 68 will force the locking plunger to its normal looking position, thus restoring the switch to its normal locked condition. If the notches 65' in the lock rod L should not come into alignment with the locking plunger under these conditions for any reason, or if the notches should come into alignment with the locking plunger and the linkage which connects the locking device 60 with the tie rod 8 was then out of adjustment, so that thelocking plunger was then prevented lrom moving to its normal locking position, or was permitted to move beyond its normal locking position, plunger lock contacts 9091 of circuit controller C would remain open, thus causing the signals controlled by the circuit controller to remain at danger. Furth rmore, if while the train was trailing the switch, the movable rail 2 should have become bent or damaged so that when the movable rails had returned to their normal positions, the movable rail 2 failed to assume its proper position with respect to the fixed rail 1, the point detector contacts 98 99 of circuit controller 0 would remain open, which wouldalso cause the signals As a result, after the loclrg controlled by circuit controller C to remain at danger. It follows, therefore, that with appaatus embodying our invention, under no condition can a dangerous condition exist due toa train trailing the switch when the switch occupies its normal position.

We will now assume that the switch A has been moved to its reverse position by means of the switch operating mechanism B in the manner previously described, and that a train trails the switch. Under these conditions, as the leading wheels of the train roll along'the fixed rail 1 and movable rail 2, the movable rails will become deflected in much the same manner as when the switch occupies its normal position and a train trails the switch, but this deflection will now be in the opposite direction, so that the plunger rod 81 of the linkage which connects the locking device with the tie rod 8 will move toward the left instead of toward the As a result, the locking device which, it i be remembered normally occupies its extreme right-hand position when the switch occupies its reverse position and no train is trailthe switch, will now be moved toward its locking position by the biasing springs 68 a certain amount, which amount may be sufficient to allow locking plunger 60 to move into engagement with the side of lock rod L. This movement of the locking device, however, will not cause the locking plunger to enter the notches in the lock rod L because when this movement takes place, the notches 65 in the lock rod will then be out of alignment with the locking plunger. As the movable rails are forced open, shaft 16, sleeves 2i and 22, and star block 19 are rotated toward the position corresponding to the normal position of the switch, and lock rod L is likewise moved toward the position corresponding to the normal position of the switch. The rotation of the star block 19 actuates the biasing devices 32 and 33 and the buffing device 56 in the manner previously described so that the biasing devices now tend to constantly return the movable rails toward their reverse positions but are prevented from doing so at too rapid a rate by the bufiing device 56. Furthermore, the rotation of the star block 19 causes cam to force connecting rod 74 upwardly in the same manner as when the switch was trailed in the normal position, it being apparent, of course, that under these conditions the movement of the connecting rod is caused by the side of the cam opposite to that which caused the connecting rod to move upwardly while the train was trailing the switch when the switch occupied its normal position. As a result of this upward movement of the connecting red, bell crank lever 69 is rotated a counter-clockwise direction to such a position that it engages the left-hand side of the and member 60 of locking device 60 and moves the locking device to a position in which the locking plunger 60 is out of engagement with the side of lock rod L. It will be seen, therefore, that under these conditions, even though the switch is forced to its full normal position by the trailing train, thus causing the notches 65 in the lock rod L to move into alignment with the locking plunger, the locking plunger cannot move to its locking position. It follows that with apparatus embodying our invention it is impossible for the switch to become locked in its normal position if it is moved to its normal position from its reverse position by a trailing train. After the train has completely trailed the switch the biasing devices will slowly return the movable rails to their reverse positions through themedium of the star block 19 and switch actuating shaft 16, and as the star block 19 returns to its reverse position, connnecting rod 74 will slowly return by gravity to its lowermost position. Locking plunger 60 however, will remain out of engagement with lock rod L, because as the switch points return to their reverse positions, there will be no deflection of the movable rails, and the resultant operation or" the linkage which connects the locking device with the tie rod 8 will slowly restore the locking device to its extremeright-hand position. When the rails have reached their full reverse positions, all parts will thenoccupy the same positions as they occupied before the train started to trail the switch.

One advantage of apparatus embodying our invention is that it provides an extremely simple means for permitting the switch to become locked in its normal position when it is moved to its normal position by the switch operating mechanism, and at the same time prevents the possibility of the switch becoming improperly locked in its normal position when the switch is moved to its normal position from its reverse position by a train trailing the switch.

, Although we have herein shown and described only one form of railway switch operating apparatus embodying our invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In combination with a railway switch, a

switch actuating shaft movable between two eX- 1 treme positions and operatively connected with the switch for moving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, a star block rotatable about said shaft, means connected with said star block for biasing said star block to one position and for retarding movement of said star block by said biasing means, a manually operablc lever rotatable in two planes, means responsive to rotationof said lever in one of said planes for rotating said switch actuating shaft between its two extreme positions, means responsive to rotation of said lever in the other plane for connecting and disconnecting said star block from said switch actuating shaft, a lock .rod connected with the switch to move therewith and provided with a notch, a locking plunger adapted to align with the notch in said lock rod when and only when the switch occupies its normal position and movable between a locking position in which said locking plunger enters the notch in said lock rod and an unlocking positionin which said locking plunger is withdrawn from the notch in said lock rod, means for constantly biasing said locking plunger to its locking position, means for movsaid switch actuating shaft for preventing said locking plunger from moving to its locking position in the event that the switch is moved to its normal position from its reverse position by a trailing train.

2. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft movable between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch for moving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, a star block rotatable about said shaft, means connected with said star block for biasing said star block to one position and for retarding movement of said star block by said biasing means, a menu-- ally operable lever rotatable in two planes, means responsive to rotation of said lever in one of said planes for rotating said switch actuating shaft between its two extreme positions, means responsive to rotation of said lever the other plane for connecting and disconnecting star block from said switch actuating shaft, a lock rod connected with the switch to'imove therewith and provided with a notch, a locking plunger adapted to with the notch in said loci: rod when and only when the switch occui '5 normal position and movable between a locking position in which said locking plunge enters the notch in said lock rod and an unlocking position in which said locking plunger is withdrawn from the notch in said lock rod, means for constantly biasing said locking plunger to its locking position, means for moving said lo k ng plunger to its unlocking posi tion in opposition to its bias whenever said star block becomes disconnected from said switch actuating shaft, means connected with said looking plunger and adapted to be actuated by a train trailing the switch when the switch occupies its normal position for moving said lockplunger from its locking to its unlocking po- 11, a cam actuated in response to rotation of said block, and means controlled by said cam "for preventing said locking plunger from moving to its locking position in the event that the switch moved to its normal position from reverse position by a trailing t; in.

3. In combination with a railway switch, a s ch operating m hanism casing, a star block jou naled in said casing, means connected with said star block for biasing said star block to 01 2 position and for retarding movement or" said star bio-cl: by said biasing means, a switch actuating shaft jcurnaled in said star block and in said casing and operatively connected with said switch in such manner that said switch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions by rotation of said shaft between two extreme positions, a sleeve constrained to rotate with said shaft but slidable along said shaft beta con a first and a second position, means effective when said sl eve occupi s said first position for connecting said shaft with said star block, a manually operable lever pivotally attached to said shaft and operatively connected with said sleeve in such manner that said sleeve maybe moved between its two positions on said shaft by rotation of said lever about its pivot and that said shaft may be rotated between its two extreme positions by rotation of said lever about the axis of said shaft, a lock rod connected with the switch and extending into said casing and provided with a notch, a locking plunger adapted to ali n with said notch when and only when the switch occupies its normal position and movable between a locking position in which said locking plunger enters said notch and an unlocking position in w rich said locking plunger is out of engagement with said notch, means for constantly biasing said locking plunger to its locking position, means controlled saidsleeve for moving said locking plunger to its unlocking position when sleeve is moved to its second posi'on means actuated by a train trailing the i: on v ion the Si tch occupies its normal position for me rig said locking plunger from its locking position to unlocking position, and

controlled by said star block for preventinr said lo g longer from moving to its locking p05; 1 1 the event that the switch is moved to its normal position from its reverse c a with sing saw. star block to one inov rnent or" said 5 ar block by so ating eh.

.ected with said w -h may be switch in such moved b two extreme te with said connecting and a sec-on sleeve occu lever piv hed to tively connec with eve may he i lever vt and that sal rotated be en its two rotation of said lever r lock rod connected wit tending said c ch, a locking its two p ""i a M ed to align with ion the switch occuniova le between lock 1g lunger ch aid loclri "tn notch, r ror constan ly biasing said locking plunger to its locking position, me: is controlled by said sl to its unloc' moved to its seco n sting the movable ra and a trail locking .lun

unlocking no and i c 1 a said star block for preventing said locking plunger m moving to its 1 position in the event that the switch moved to its normal position from its reverse position by a'train trailing the switch.

5. In combination. with a railway switch, a swi ch operating mecha in casing, a star block journal d in said casing, means connected with said star block for biasing said star block to one position and star block by said biasing means, a switch actuating shaft iournaled star block and in said casing, and operatively connected with said swltcl in such manner that said switch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions by rotation of said shaft between two extreme positions, a sleeve constrained to rotate with said shaft but slidable along said shaft between a and a second position, means effective when said sleeve occupies said first position for connecting said shaft with said star block, a manually operable lever pivotally attached to said shaft and operatively connected with said sleeve in such manner that said sleeve may be moved between its two positions on said shaft by rotation of said lever about its pivot and that said shaft may be rotated between its two extreme positions by rotation of said lever about the axis of th shaft, a look rod connected with the switch and extending into said casing and rovided with a notch, a locking plunger adapted to align with said notch when and only when the switch occupies its normal position and movable between a locking position in which said locking plunger enters said notch and an unlock ing position in which said locking plunger is out of engagement with said notch, means for constantly biasing s id locking plunger to its locl ing position, a connecting rod biased to one position, means for moving said connecting rod away from said one position when said sleeve is moved to its second position, means controlled by said star block for moving said connecting rod away from said one position when said star block is moved away from its one position, means controlled by said connecting rod and effective when said connecting rod is moved away from its one position for moving said locking plunger from its looking to its unlocking position, and means actuated by a train trailing the switch when the switch occupies its normal position for moving said locking plunger from its locking position to its unlocking position until after the train has completely passed the switch.

6. In combination with a railway switch, a switch operating mechanism casing, a star block journaled in said casing, means connected with said star block for biasing said star block to one position and for retarding movement of said star block by said biasing means, a switch actuating shaft journaled in said star block and in said casing and operatively connected with said switch in such manner that said switch may be moved between its normal and reverse pos ions by rotation of said shaft between two extreme positions, a sleeve constrained to rotate with said shaft but slidable along said shaft between a first and a second position, means eiiective when said sleeve occupies said first position for connecting said shaft with said star block, a manually operable lever pivotally attached to said shaft and operatively connected with said sleeve in such manner that said sleeve may be moved between its two positions on said shaft by rotation of said lever about its pivot and that said shaft may be rotate-d between its two extreme positions by rotation of said lever about the axis of the shaft, a lock rod connected with the switch and extending into said casing and provided with a notch, a locking plunger adapted to align with said notch when and only when the switch occupies its normal position and movable between a locking position in which said locking plunger enters said notch and an unlocking position in which said locking plunger is out of engagement with said notch, means for constantly biasing said locking plunger to its looking position, a connecting rod biased to one position, a flange on said sleeve, means cooperating with said flange for moving said connecting" rod away from said one position when said sleeve is moved to its second position, means controlled by said star block for moving connecting rod away from said one position when said star block is moved away from its one position, means controlled by said connecting rod and eiiective when said connecting rod is moved away from its one position for moving said locking plunger from its locking to its unlocking position, and means actuated by a train trailing the switch when the switch occupies its normal position for moving said locking plunger from its looking position to its unlocking position until after the train has completely passed the switch.

7. In combination with a railway switch, a switch operating mechani m casing, a star block journaled in said casing, means connected with said star block for biasing said star block to one position and for retarding movement of said star block by said biasing means, a switch actuating shaft journaled in said star block and in said casing and operatively connected with said switch in such manner that said switch 1 may be moved between its normal and reverse positions by rotation of said shaft between two extreme positions, a sleeve constrained to rotate with said shaft but slidable along said shaft between a first and a second position, means effective when said sleeve occupies said first position for connecting said shaft with said star block, a manually operable lever pivotally attached to said shaft and operatively connected with said sleeve in such manner that said sleeve may be moved between its two positions on said shaft by rotation of said lever about its pivot and that said shaft may be rotated between its two extreme positions by rotation of said lever about the axis of the shaft, a lock rod connected with the switch and extending into said casing and provided with a notch, a locking plun er adapted to align with said notch when and only when the switch occupies its normal position and movable between a locking position in which said locking plunger enters said notch and an unlocking position in which said locking plunger is out of engagement with said notch, means for constantly biasing said locking plunger to its locking position, a connecting rod biased to one position, means for moving said connecting rod away from said one position when said star block moved to its second position, a cam secured to said star block, means controlled by said cam for moving connecting rod away from said one position when said star block is moved away from its one position, means controlled by connecting rod and effective when said connecting rod is moved away from its one position for moving said locking plunge from its looking to its unlocking position, and 1.-eans actuated by a train trailing the switch when the switch occupies its normal position for moving said locking plunger from its locking position to its 2 unlocking position until after the train has completely passed the switch.

8. In combination with a railway switch, a switch operating mechanism casing, star block joumaled in said casing, means connected with said casing and operatively connected with said switch'in such manner that said switch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions by rotation of said shaft between two extreme positions, a sleeve constrained to rotate with said'shaft but slidable along said shaft between a first and a second position, means efiective when said sleeve occupies said first position for connecting said shaft with said star block,- a manually operable lever pivotally attached to said shaft and operatively connected with said sleeve in such manner that said sleeve may be moved between its two positions on said shaft by rotation of said lever about its pivot and that said shaft may be rotated between its two extreme positions by rotation of said lever about the axis of the shaft, a lock rod connected with the switch and extending into said casing and provided with a notch, a-locxing plunger adapted to align with said notch when and only when the switch occupies its normal position and movable between a-locking position in which said locking plunger enters said notchand an unlockirs position in which said locking plunger is out of engagement with said notch, means for constantly biasing said locking plunger to its locking position, means controlled by said sleeve 1' r moving said locking plunger to its unlocking position when said sleeve is moved to its second position, means actuated. by a train trailing the switch when the switch occupies its normal position for moving said locking plunger from its locking position to its unlocking position, a cam secured to said star block, and means controlled by said for preventing said locking plunger from moving to its locking position in the event that the switch is moved to its normal position from its reverse position by a train trailing the switch.

9. In combination with a railway switch, a switch operating mechanism casing, a star block journaled said casing, means connected with said star block for biasing said star block to one position and for retarding movement of said star block by said biasing means, a switch actuatin'g'shaft journaled in said star blockand in said casing and operatively connected with said switch in such manner that said switch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions by rotation of said shaft between two extreme positions, a sleeve constrained to rotate with said shaft but slidable along said shaftbetween a first and a second position, means effective when said sleeve occupies said first position for connecting said shaft with said star block, a manually operable lever pivotally attached to said shaft and operatively connected with said sleeve in such manner that said sleeve may be moved between its two positions on said shaft by rotation of said lever about its pivot and that said shaft may be rotated between its two extreme positions by rotation of said lever about the axis of the shaft, a lock rod connected with the switch and extending into said casing and provided with a notch, a locking plunger adapted to align with said notch when and only when the switch occupies its normal position and movable between a locking position in which said locking plunger enters said notch and an unlocking position in which said locking plunger is out of engagement with said notch, means for constantly biasing said locking plunger to its locking position, means controlled by said sleeve for moving said locking plunger to its unlocking position when said sleeve is moved to its second position, a tie rod connecting the movable rails of the switch at a point approximatelyhalfway between the heel and the point of the switch, linkage connecting said tie. rod and said looking device and efiective when the switch occupies its normal position and a train trails the switch for moving said locking plunger from its locking position to its unlocking position, a cam secured to said star block, and means controlled by said cam from preventing said locking plunger from moving to its locking position in the event that the switch is moved to its normal position from its reverse position by a train trailing the'switch.

10. In combination with a railwayswitch, a switch operating mechanism casing, a star block'journaled in said casing, means connected with said star block for biasing said star block to one position and for retarding movement of said star block by said biasing means, a switch actuating shaft journaled in said star block and in said casing and operatively connected with said switch in such manner that said switch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions by rotation of said shaft between two extreme positions, a sleeve constrained to rotate with said shaft but slidable along said shaft between a first and a second position, means effective when said sleeve occupies said first position for connecting said shaft with said star block, a manually operable lever pivotally attached to said shaft and operatively connected with said sleeve in such manner that said sleeve may be moved between its two positions on said shaft by rotation of said lever about its pivot and that said shaft may be rotated between its two extreme positions by rotation of said lever about the axis of the shaft, a lock rod connected with the switch and extending into said casing and provided with a notch. a locking plunger adapted to align with said notch when and onlywhen the switch occupies its normal position and movable between a looking position in which said locking plunger enters said notch and an unlocking position in which said locking plunger is out of engagement with said notch, means for constantly biasing said locking plunger to its locking position, means controlled by said sleeve for moving said locking plunger to its unlocking position when said sleeve is moved to its second position, means actuated by a train trailing the switch when the switch occupies its normal position for moving said locking plunger irom its locking position to its unlocking position, and means for preventing said locking plunger from moving to its locking position except when said star block occupies said one position.

11. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft movable between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch for moving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, means for 1-0 tating said switch actuating shaft between its two extreme positions, means effective when said switch actuating shaft is rotated to either extreme position by said first mentioned means for connecting with said shaft means for biasing the shaft to the position which it then occupies and means for retarding movement of said shaft by said biasing means, means for locking the switch in its normal position constantly biased to a locking position, means for actuating said locking means from its-locking position to an unlocking position prior to movement of the switch from its normal position to its reverse position by said switch actuating shaft, means actuated by a train approaching the switch in a trailing direction when said locking means occupies its locking position for actuating said locking means to an unlocking position until after thejtrain has trailed the switch, and means controlled by said switch actuating shaft for preventing said locking means from moving to its locking position if said switch is moved to its normal position from its reverse'position by, a train trailing the switch.

12. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaftmovable between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch fornmoving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, means for rotating said switch actuating shaft, between its two extreme positions, means effective when said switch actuating shaft is rotated to either extreme position by said first mentioned means for connecting with said shaft means for biasing the shaft to the position which it then occupies, means for locking the switch in'its normal position constantly biased to a locking position, means for actuating said locking means from its locking 1 position to an unlocking position prior, to movement of the switch from its normal position to its reverse position by said switch actuating shaft, means actuated by a train aproaching the switch in a trailing direction when said jlocking means occupies its locking position for actuating said locking means to an unlocking position until after the train has trailed the switch, and means controlled by said switch actuating shaft for preventing said locking de- 1 vice from moving to its locking position if said switch is moved to its normal position from its reverse position by atrain trailing the switch.

13. In combination with a spring switch, means. including a switch actuating shaft for moving the switch between its two extreme positions, locking mechanism for locking the switch in one extreme position constantly biased to a locking position, a cam actuated by said shaft when a train trails the switch, and means conj trolled by said cam for preventing said locking mechanism from moving to its locking position in the event the switch is movedto said one extreme position from its other extreme position by a train trailing the switch.

14. In combination with a spring switch, means including a switch actuating shaft for moving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, locking means for said switch constantly biased to a locking position and eifective when in its locking position for locking the switch in its normalposition, means for operating said locking means from its locking position to an unlocking position prior to movement of said switch from its normal position to its reverse position by said first mentioned means, means actuated by a train approaching the switch in a trailing direction when the switch occupies its normal position for operating said locking means from its locking position to an unlocking position until after the train has completely trailed the switch, and means controlled by said switch actuating shaft for preventing said locking means from moving to its locking position in the event the switch is moved to its normal position from its reverse position by a train trailing the switch.

15. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft rotatable between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch formoving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, manually operable means for-rotating said shaft between its two extreme positions, a star block, means for biasing said star block to one position, means controlled by said manually operable means for normally connecting said star block with said shaft except while said shaft is being rotated from one extreme position to the other by said manually operable means, locking mechanism for locking the switch in its normal position constantly biased to a locking position, and means controlled by said star block for preventing said locking mechanism from moving to its locking position in the event that the switch is moved to its normal position from its reverse position by a train trailing the switch.

16. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft rotatable between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch for moving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, manually operable means for rotating said shaft between its two extreme positions, a star block, means for biasing said star block to one position, means controlled by said manually operable means for normally connecting said star block with said shaft except while said shaft is being moved from one extreme position to the other by said manually operable means, locking mechanism for locking the switch in its normal position constantly biased to a locking position, a cam secured to said star block, and means controlled by said cam for preventing said locking mechanism from moving to its locking position in the event that the switch is moved to its normal position from its reverse position by a train trailing the switch.

17. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft movable between two extreme positions and operatively comiected with the switch for moving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, a star block rotatable about said shaft, means connected with said star block for biasing said star block to one position, a manually operable lever rotate able in two planes, means responsive to rotation of said lever in one of said planes for rotating said switch actuating shaft between its two extreme positions, means responsive to rotation of said lever in the other plane forconnecting and disconnecting said star block from said switch actuating shaft, locking mechanism for locking the switch in its normal position constantly biased to a locking position, means for actuating said locking mechanism from its looking position to an unlocking position whenever said star block becomes disconnected from said switch actuating shaft, means actuated by a train approaching the switch in a trailing direction when the switch occupies its normal position for actuating said locking mechanism from its locking position to an unlocking position until after the train has completely passed the switch, and means controlled by said star block for preventing said locking mechanism from moving to its locking position in the event that said switch is moved to its normal position from its reverse position by a train trailing the

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