US2027512A - Railway switch operating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 14, 1936. H BONE ZJUZZEH RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 193.3 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Herbert L .Bozg

BY Q/RW HIS A TTORNEY Jan. 14, 1936. H. L. BONE 2,027,512

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V INVENTOR HQPbQPZ L .3012? iq BY @WW HAS A TTORNEY Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Application Euly 15, 1933, Serial No. 680,568

9 Claims.

My invention relates to railway switch operating apparatus.

In certain power interlockings in which railway switches are moved to their normal and reverse positions by means of power operated switch and lock movements controlled electrically from an interlocking tower by an operator, the trafiic during certain periods of the day is so light, or of such a nature, that the necessity for having the operator in the tower to control the switches during these periods can be eliminated. by installing spring switches and allowing the trains to trail the switches. When this is done, how ever, it is necessary in the interest of safety to lock the switches for facing point moves over the switches, and in the past, considerable difficulty has been experienced in providing a satisfactory lock for doing this which would become automatically unlocked while a train was trailing the switch. One object of my invention is to provide a lock by means of which this desirable result may be accomplished.

Another object of my invention is to provide a facing point lock which can be successfully applied to spring switches which are operated by existing types of switch and lock movements without making any extensive changes in the switch and lock movement.

Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan View showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the spring connecting rod C forming part of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of the switch and lock movement B shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing on an enlarged scale certain of the parts of the switch and lock movement B illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the facing point lock mechanism M illustrated in Fig. 1, with the various covers removed to better illustrate the construction of the parts. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the lines VIVI of Fig. 4. Fig. '7 is a detail view of the lock rod L forming part of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1.

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 l and l and two movable I rails 2 and 2 The fixed rails I and I are laid on tie plates 3 and are secured to crossties 4 in the usual manner. The movable rails 2 and 2" are fastened together by a front rod 5, a head rod 6, a bridle rod 1; and a tie rod 8, and may be moved into a normal or a reverse position by means of a switch operating mechanism B which is connected with the head rod ii through the medium of a spring connecting rod C. When the switch occupies its normal position in which position it is shown in Fig. 1, the movable rail 2 engages the fixed rail l, and the movable rail 2 10 is spaced a slight distance from the fixed rail I When the switch is reversed, however, the movable rail 2 then engages the fixed rail l and the movable rail 2 is spaced from the fixed rail I. The spring connecting red C may have any suitable form but, in the well known form here shown, this connecting rod comprises a cylindrical housing I0 having a lateral extension [B fastened to the head rod 6 (see Fig. 2). The lower end 10 of the housing it] has a smaller diameter 20 than the body of the housing, while the upper end is threaded to receive a cap ll having an end I l similar to the end Iil Slidably mounted in the opening in the end iii is a sleeve [2 provided with an annular flange l2 located within 25 the housing it, and similarly mounted in the opening in the end i l is a sleeve 13 provided with an annular flange 13* which is also located within the housing Iii. A spring rod 14 extends through the sleeves l2 and I3 with sufficient 30 clearance to permit the rod to slide freely in the sleeves and this rod carries a compression spring I5 which engages the sleeves at their annular flanges and urges the sleeves toward the positions in which the annular flange [2 of the sleeve 35 I2 engages the shoulder formed on the inside of the housing It by the end W, and the annular fiange I3 of the sleeve I3 engages the shoulder formed on the inside of the cap H by the end Il The spring rod M is provided with an an- 40 nular shoulder It for at times engaging the outer end of the sleeve E3. The lower end of the spring rod I4 is pivotally connected directly to the operating rod 0 of the switch and lock movement B. The operation of the spring connect- 45 ing rod C is Well understood and need not, therefore, be described here.

The head rod 6 is also connected by means of an adjustable screw jaw 13 with the piston rod E9 of a bufiing device D. This buffing de- 50 vice may be of any suitable type but, as here shown, this buffing device is similar in all respects to the bufiing device shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,869,604, granted to William C. McWhirter, on August 2,

1932, for Bufiing devices for railway switches and the like. It is believed, therefore, that for purposes of the present disclosure the following brief description of the buffing device D will suffice. This buffing device includes, in addition to the piston rod l9, a cam shaft 20 extending into the case of the device and controlling a valve mechanism not shown. Attached to the outer end of the cam shaft 23 is a crank 2| which is connected by a link 22 with the spring rod M of the spring connecting rod 0. If, when the movable rails 2 and 2 of the switch A are in their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 1, they are moved to their reverse positions by the switch and lock movement B, the piston rod l9 will be moved into the device, and the cam shaft 20 will be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the left in Fig. 1. The construction of the device is such that, under these conditions, the piston rod 19 will be permitted to move with substantially no resistance, and the bufiing device will therefore exert practically no retarding action on the rails. Conversely, if the movable rails are moved from their reverse positions to their normal positions by the switch and lock movement B the piston rod l 9 will be moved downwardly and the cam shaft 20 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the left in Fig. l, but due to the construction of the device, no retarding action will again take place. If, however, when the movable rails are in either extreme position, a train trails the switch, the cam shaft 29 will remain stationary, and under these conditions, the action of the device is such that the movement of the movable rails away from the positions which they previously occupied will be unresisted by the buffing device, but that, when the movable rails are being restored to the positions which they previously occupied by the spring l5 of the spring connecting rod C, the buffing device will act to retard this latter movement.

Operatively connected with the front rod 5 of the switch A is a lock rod L and a point detector rod P. As here shown, the lock rod L is of standard construction, and comprises two longitudinally adjustable bars 23 secured at one end to the front rod 5 of the switch A by means of an adjustable connection 24. Each bar 23 is provided in its upper edge with a long notch 26 and a short notch 21' (see Fig. 7) so arranged that the long notch in the one bar registers with the short notch in the other bar. Each bar 23 is also provided in its lower edge with a long notch 28 which registers with the corresponding notch in the other bar. The point detector rod P is of standard construction and need not therefore be described here.

The switch and lock movement B may be similar to any of the well known types but as here shown, this switch and lock movement is similar in all respects to that shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,293,290, granted to William Zabel, on February 4, 1919, for Railway traffic controlling apparatus. Inasmuch as the construction and operation of the switch and lock movement B is similar to that described in the said Zabel patent, only those parts which are thought to be essential for a clear understanding of my present invention have been shown in detail in the drawings and will be described here. Referring to Fig. 3, this switch and lock movement comprises a suitable casing :5 provided with guides to receive the operating rod 0, the lock rod L, and the point detector rod P. Slidably mounted within the casing 29 directly above the operating rod and directly below the lock rod L, and intersecting the operating rod 0 and lock rod L at right angles, is a slide bar N, the left-hand end of which is provided on its upper face with two locking dogs 30 and 3|. When the movable rails of the switch occupy their normal positions in which they are shown in Fig. l, the slide bar N occupies the extreme position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, and under these conditions, the locking dog 30 enters the aligned notches 28 in the lock rod L. When, however, the switch and lock movement is operated to move the movable rails of the switch to their reverse positions, the slide bar N is moved toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, prior to the movement of the operating rod 0 which reverses the movable rails, to an intermediate position in which the dog 30 is withdrawn from the notches 28 in the lock rod. L; and when the movement of the movable rails to their full reverse positions by the operating rod has been completed, the slide bar N is then moved in the same direction as before, to another extreme position in which the locking dog 3| enters the left-hand pair of notches 26 and 21 in the lock rod L, as viewed in Fig. 7. When the switch and lock movement is next operated to restore the switch to its normal position, the subsequent movements of the slide bar and operating rod above described are maintained, but the direction of the movements is reversed.

The notches in the lock rod L are so designed that when the dog 3| is in the aligned notches 28, the switch will be free to move between its normal and reverse positions without interference from the locking mechanism of the switch and lock movement, but that when the dog 30 is within the left-hand pair of aligned notches 26 and 21, the switch will be securely locked in its reverse position by the switch and lock movement.

The switch and lock movement B also comprises a suitable circuit controller not shown which is controlled in part by the slide bar N and in part by the previously described point detector rod P. Inasmuch as this circuit controller forms no part of my present invention, it has been omitted from the drawings.

Referring now to the facing point lock mechanism M shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 6, this mechanism, in the particular embodiment of my invention here illustrated, comprises a main casing 35 and an auxiliary casing 36. The main casing 35 is mounted on one end of a tie strap 31 secured to the crossties 4, while the auxiliary casing 36 is bolted to a tail-like projection 35 of the main casing 35. The upper end of the main casing 35 is closed by a removable cover 38 and the upper end of the auxiliary casing 36 is closed by a hinged cover 39.

Reciprocably mounted within the main casing 35 is a locking device 40 comprising two transversely disposed horizontal end members M) and 43 secured together in parallel spaced relation by means of two parallel bolt members 40 and 40 The one end member &0 is provided with an integral locking plunger 40 while the other end member 40 is provided with a centrally lo cated hole 40 The locking plunger ll! is mounted to slide in an axially extending rectangular guideway 4| formed in the top of the tail-like projection 35 of the main casing 35, and cooperates at its free end with the lock rod L which is slidably mounted, at right angles to lever 50.

the locking plunger, within a transverse slot 42 formed in the tail-like projection 35*. are so proportioned that the right-hand pair of aligned notches 26 and 21 in the lock rod L as viewed in Fig. '7 will align with the locking plunger 40 when and only when the switch occupies its normal extreme position in which it is shown in the drawing.

The locking device 40 is arranged to be moved, in a manner which will be described hereinafter, between a left-hand extreme position in which the locking plunger 40 is within the right-hand pair of notches 25 and 2'! in the lock rod L, as viewed in Fig. '7, and a right-hand extreme position in which the locking plunger is withdrawn from these notches, and it will be apparent that when the locking device is moved to the position in which the locking plunger is within these 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 these notches, the switch will then be unlocked unless the switch is then looked in its reverse position a by the locking dog 3!.

The bolt members 40 and 40 of the locking device 40 are slidably mounted in suitable holes or guideways 43 and 44, respectively, formed in a bracket 45 which is bolted to the sides of the Leasing 35, and surrounding each bolt member between the bracket G5 and the end member 46* is a partly compressed coil spring 45 which biases the locking device ii) in the direction to cause the locking plunger 6& to enter the right- 1 hand pair of notches 26 and 2'! in the lock rod L,

as viewed in Fig. '7.

The locking device it is operatively connected with the previously described tie rod 8 by means of linkage which I will now describe. As here shown, this linkage includes a plunger bolt H which extends with some clearance through the hole 40 in the end member iil of the locking device lil, and the head of which bolt engages the left-hand side of the end member 48 as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. The threaded end of the plunger bolt 4? is adjustably connected by means of a turnbuckle 48 (see Fig. l) with one end of a link 49, the opposite end of which link is connected with the long arm 55% of a bell crank The bell crank lever 50 is pivotally supported in a crankstand 5| and has its short arm 50 pivotally connected with one end of an operating rod 52. The other end of the operating rod 52 is connected with the tie rod 8 by means of a standard switch basket 53. The plunger bolt ll, turnbuckle it, link 45, bell crank lever 59, operating rod 52, switch basket 53 and tie rod 8 also constitute means for effecting the unlocking of the movable rails of the switch when the movable rails are in their normal positions and a train trails the switch, as will be made clear hereinafter.

The tie rod 8 may be located at any suitable location, but will preferably be located approximately halfway between the heel and the point of the switch. The base 54 of the crankstand 5! is secured to a base plate 55 which, in turn, is secured to the previously described tie strap 31. It will be apparent, therefore, that any loss of adjustment between the parts due to creepage of the ties is prevented.

The locking device to, in addition to being operatively connected with the tie rod 8, is operatively connected with the slide bar N of the switch and lock movement B in such manner The parts that when the switch and lock movement is operated to move the switch from its normal position to its reverse position, the movement of the slide bar which takes place before the operating rod is moved will move the locking device 40 from its normal locking position to an unlocking position. As here shown, the means for effecting this connection comprises a push rod 56 which is slidably mounted in the lower part of the main casing 35 of the facing point lock mechanism M, and which cooperates at its right-hand end with the left-hand side of the end member da of the locking device 40. The left-hand end of the push rod 56 extends out of the main casing 35 below the auxiliary casing 36 and is pivotally connected by means of a pin 'l with one end of a lever 58 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in a crankstand 59. The free end of the lever 58 cooperates with the left-hand end of a push rod 6!) which is secured to the left-hand end of the slide bar N of the switch and lock movement B in place of the well known eye rod which is usually provided for detector bar connection in switch and lock movements of this type.

The operation, as a whole, of the apparatus thus far described is as follows: As shown in the drawings, all parts are in their normal positions. That is to say, the switch occupies its normal position, the slide bar N occupies the position in which the locking dog 38 is within the aligned notches 25 in the lock rod L as shown in Fig. 3, and the locking device 48 of the facing point lock mechanism M occupies its normal locking position in which the locking plunger th is within the right-hand pair of notches 2'6 and 2? in the lock rod L, as viewed in Fig. '7. It will be apparent, therefore, that when the parts occupy their normal positions, the switch is unlocked in so far as the switch and lock movement is concerned, but is securely locked for facing point moves over the switch by the facing point lock mechanism M.

I will now assume that the parts are in their" normal positions and that the switch and lock movement B is operated to reverse the switch A. As was previously pointed out, when this is done, the slide bar N is moved toward the left, from the extreme position in which it is shown in Fig. 3 to its intermediate position, prior to the movement of the operating rod which reverses the movable rails of the switch, and to its other extreme position upon completion of the movement of the movable rails to their reverse positions. The movement of the slide bar N to its intermediate position withdraws the locking dog Jill from the notches it in the lock rod L in the manner previously described, and at the same time acts through the push rod lever 58 and push rod 55 to move the locking device so from its locking position to its unlocking position. It will be apparent, therefore, that when the movement of the operating rod which reverses the movable rails of the switch takes place, the movable rails will be free to move in the same manner as if no facing point lock mechanism were provided. As the movable rails move to their reverse positions, the tie rod 3 is moved upwardly, and this movement of the tie rod acts through the linkage which connects the locking device "35 with the tie rod to cause additional movement of the looking device toward the right. This additional movement, however, has no effect on the remainder of the apparatus. The movement of the switchpoints to their reverse positions also moves the point detector rod P and lock rod L upwardly, as viewed in Fig. l. The upward movement of the point detector rod P operates the usual circuit controller of the switch and lock movement B in the usual and well known manner, while the upward movement of the lock rod L causes the left-hand pair of notches 26 and 21 in this look rod, as viewed in Fig. 7, to move into alignment with locking dog 3 I. As a result, when the slide bar next completes its movement to its lefthand extreme position, the locking dog 3| enters the associated pair of notches in the lock rod and locks the switch in its reverse position in the conventional manner.

When the switch has been moved to its reverse position in the manner just described and the switch and lock movement B is subsequently operated to return the switch to its normal position, the Various movements of the parts just described takes place in the reverse order, and it is believed that this operation will be readily understood from the foregoing and from a description of the drawings without further detailed description.

I will now assume that the parts are in their normal positions in which they are shown in the drawings and that a train trails the switch. As the leading wheels of the train roll along the fixed rail I and movable rail 2 the movable rails 2 and 2 are forced over laterally, but before a sufficient force is developed to overcome the opposing force of the spring l5 of the spring connecting rod C and cause the point of the movable rail 2 to move out of engagement with the fixed rail l, the movable rails, being somewhat resilient, become bent, so that with the usual standard slip switch the tie rod 8 is moved upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1, three-quarters of an inch or more. This movement of the tie rod 8 acting through the switch basket 53, operating rod 52, bell crank lever 50, link 49 and plunger bolt 41, moves the locking device 40, in opposition to the bias of the associated springs 46, a 'sufiicient amount to withdraw the locking plunger t completely out of engagement with the associated aligned notches 25 and 21 in the lock rod L, thus unlocking the switch. As a result, when the leading wheels of the train have reached a position in which a sufficient force is developed to cause the point of the movable rail 2 to move out of engagement with the fixed rail I, the movable rails will be unlocked, and the movable rails will therefore be forced open by the wheels in exactly the same manner as would be the case if no point lock were provided, and the buifing device D will perform its normal function of preventing the movable rails from snapping back to their normal positions after the passage of each wheel through them. When the train which is trailing the switch has completely passed the switch, the movable rails will slowly return to their normal positions under the bias of the springs l of the spring connecting rod 0 and against the retarding force of the bufling device D. During this return movement of the rails, there will be no deflection of the rails, and the locking plunger 40 will therefore be moved into engagement with the lock rod L before the movable rails have reached their full normal positions in which the lock rod is in the proper position for the associated notches 2E and 21 to receive the locking plunger. The biasing springs 46 which are compressed under these conditions will therefore urge the locking plunger into engagement with the side of the lock rod L until the associated notches move into alignment with the locking plunger, at which time the energy stored in the compressed springs 46 will force the locking plunger into place in the associated notches, thus restoring the switch to its normal locked condition.

When the switch occupies its normal position and a train passes over the switch in a facing point direction, there is no lateral thrust on the movable rails corresponding to or commensurate with that which occurs during a trailing movement, and what lateral thrust there is will be in a direction to permit the springs 46 to force the locking plunger further into the associated notches in the lock rod L.

It should be pointed out that when the switch is moved to its reverse position by the switch and lock movement B, it is not intended to have trains trail the switch, and it is for this reason that the switch is caused to become locked in the usual manner in its reverse position.

It is usually desirable to indicate when the movable rails of the switch are properly locked in their normal positions, and when this is the case, the facing point lock mechanism may be provided with a suitable circuit controller, designated by the reference character C in the drawings, and located wholly within the auxiliary casing 36 of the facing point lock mechanism M. This circuit controller forms no part of my present invention and in the well known form here shown comprises a suitable contact 6l-62 controlled by the looking plunger 40 of the locking device 40 through the medium of an operating arm 63 and a roller 64 in such manner that this contact will be closed when and only when the locking plunger occupies its normal locking position. The contact 6l62 may be used in connection with the circuit controller of the switch and lock movement B in any suitable manner to control signals governing traffic over the switch A.

It should be pointed out that while in the foregoing description the switch and lock movement B has been rendered ineffective to lock the switch in its normal position by making the notches 28 in the lock rod L sufiiciently long so that when the locking dog 30 is within these notches, the locking dog will not engage the lock rod except in the extreme positions of the switch, the same results can be obtained by merely removing the locking dog 30 from the slide bar, in which case the notches 28 in the lock rod L are unnecessary and may be omitted.

It should also be pointed out that while in the foregoing description I have shown and described my invention as applied to a spring switch which is operated by only one type of electric switch and lock movement, my invention will work equally well with other types of electric switch and lock movements, with electropneumatic switch and lock movements, or with mechanically operated switch and lock movements.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of railway switch operating apparatus embodying my 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 my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a spring switch, a switch and lock movement operatively connected with said switch, means controlled by said switch and lock movement for locking said switch in one ."extreme position only, locking mechanism independent of said means biased to a locking position and effective when in its locking position for locking said switch in its other extreme position, means operated by a train approaching said switch in a trailing direction when said switch occupies its other extreme position for actuating said locking mechanism from its locking position to an unlocking position until after the train has completely trailed the switch, and means controlled by said switch and lock movement for actuating said locking mechanism from its look-- ing position to an unlocking position prior to movement of said switch when said switch and lock movement is actuated tomove said switch from its other extreme position to its one extreme position.

2. In combination with a spring switch, a switch and lock movement operatively connected with said switch, means controlled by said switch and lock movement for locking said switch in one extreme position only, locking mechanism separate from said switch and lock movement and biased to a locking position and effective when in its locking position for locking said switch in its other extreme position, means operated by a train approaching said switch in a trailing direction when said switch occupies its other extreme position for actuating said locking mechanism from its locking position to an unlocking position until after the train has completely trailed the switch, and means controlled by said switch and lock movement for actuating said locking mechanism from its locking position to an unlocking position prior to movement of said switch when said switch and lock movement is actuated to move said switch from its other extreme position to its one extreme position.

3. In combination with a spring switch, a switch and lock movement comprising an operating rod movable between two extreme positions and a slide bar which is moved to an intermediate position prior to movement of said operating rod from either extreme position to the other extreme position and to one or the other of two extreme positions upon completion of the movement of said operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which said operating rod is moved, means for operatively connecting said operating rod with said switch to move said switch between its two extreme positions, means controlled by said slide bar for locking said switch in one extreme position, lock mechanism separate from said switch and lock movement biased to a locking position and effective when in its locking position for locking said switch in its other extreme position, means operated by a train approachin said switch in a trailing direction when said switch occupies its other extreme position for actuating said locking mechanism from its looking position to an unlocking position until after the train has completely trailed the switch, and means responsive to the movement of said slide bar to its intermediate position which takes place before said operating rod is moved when said switch and lock movement is operated to move said switch from its other extreme position to its one extreme position for actuating said locking mechanism from its locking position to an unlocking position.

4.11:1 combination with a railway switch, a switch and lock movement comprising an operating rod movable between two extreme positions and a slide bar which is moved to an intermediate position prior to movement of said operating rod from either extreme position to the other extreme position and to one or the other of two extreme positions upon completion of the movement of said operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which said operating rod is moved, means including a spring connecting rod for connecting said operating rod with the movable rails of said switch, a lock rod connected to the movable rails of said switch, means controlled by said slide bar and cooperating with said lock rod to lock said switch in one extreme position, a locking plunger biased to a locking position and cooperating in its locking position with said lock rod to lock said switch in its other extreme position, means effective when said switch occupies its other extreme position and a train trails said switch for moving said looking plunger from its locking position to an unlocking position until after the train has completely passed the switch, and means controlled by said slide bar for moving said locking plunger from its locking position to an unlocking position prior to movement of said switch from its other extreme position to its one extreme position by said operating rod.

5. In combination with a railway switch, a switch and lock movement comprising an operating rod movable between two extreme positions and a slide bar which is moved to an intermediate position prior to movement of said operating rod from either extreme position to the other extreme position and to one or the other of two extreme positions upon completion of the movement of said operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which said operating rod is moved, means including a spring connecting rod for connecting said operating rod with the movable rails of said switch, a lock rod connected to the movable rails of said switch, means controlled by said slide bar and cooperating with said lock rod to lock said switch in one extreme position, a locking plunger biased to a locking position and cooperating in its locking position with said lock rod to lock said switch in its other extreme position, means effective when said switch occupies its other extreme position and a train trails said switch for moving said locking plunger from its locking position to an unlocking position until after the train has completely passed the switch, means controlled by said slide bar for moving said locking plunger from its locking position to an unlocking position prior to movement of said switch from its other extreme position to its one extreme position by said operating rod, and a bufiing device operatively connected with said switch to retard the movement of said switch by said spring connecting rod when a train is trailing the switch.

6. In combination with a railway switch, a switch and lock movement comprising an operating rod movable between two extreme positions and a slide bar which is moved to an intermediate position prior to movement of said operating rod from either extreme position to the other extreme position and to one or the other of two extreme positions upon completion of the movement of said operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which said operating rod is moved, means including a spring connecting rod for connecting said operating rod with the movable rails of said switch, a lock rod connected to the movable rails of said switch, means controlled by said slide bar and cooperating with said lock rod to lock said switch in one extreme position, a locking plunger biased to a locking position and cooperating in its locking position with said lock rod to lock said switch in its other extreme position, means effective when said switch occupies its other extreme position and a train trails said switch for moving said locking plunger from its locking position to an unlocking position until after the train has completely passed the switch, means controlled by said slide bar for moving said locking plunger from its locking position to an unlocking position prior to movement of said switch from its other extreme position to its one extreme position by said operating rod, a buffing device operatively connected with said switch to retard the movement of said switch by said spring connecting rod when a train is trailing the switch, and a circuit controller controlled by said locking plunger.

7. In combination with a spring switch, a switch and lock movement comprising an operating rod movable between two extreme positions and a slide bar which is moved to an intermediate position prior to movement of said operating rod from either extreme position to the other extreme position and to one or the other of two extreme positions upon completion of the movement of said operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which said operating rod is moved, means for operatively connecting said operating rod with said switch to move said switch between its two extreme positions, means controlled by said slide bar for locking said switch in one extreme position, lock mechanism separate from said switch and lock movement biased to a locking position and effective when in its locking position for locking said switch in its other extreme position, a lock rod connecting the movable rails of said switch at a point approximately midway between the heel and the point of the switch, means connected with said tie rod and responsive to the lateral bending of the rails which takes place when said switch occupies its other extreme position and a train trails the switch for actuating said lock mechanism from its locking position to an unlocking position until after the train has completely trailed the switch, and means responsive to the movement of said slide bar to its intermediate position which takes place before said operating rod is moved when said switch and lock movement is operated to move said switch from its other extreme position to its one extreme position for actuating said lock mechanism from its locking position to an unlocking position.

3. In combination with a railway switch, a switch and lock movement comprising an operating rod movable between two extreme positions and a slide bar which is moved to an intermediate position prior to movement of said operating rod from either extreme position to the other extreme position and to one or the other of two extreme positions upon completion of the movement of said operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which said operating rod is moved, means including a spring connecting rod for connecting said operating rod with the movable rails of said switch, a lock rod connected to the movable rails of said switch, means controlled by said slide bar and cooperating with said lock rod to lock said switch in one extreme position, a locking plunger biased to a locking position and cooperating in its looking position with said lock rod to lock said switch in its other extreme position, a tie rod connecting the movable rails of said switch at a point approximately midway between the heel and the point of the switch, linkage connecting said tie rod and said locking plunger and effective when said switch occupies its other extreme position and a train trails the switch for moving said locking plunger from its locking position to an unlocking position until after the train has completely passed the switch, and means controlled by said slide bar for moving said locking plunger from its locking position to an unlocking position prior to movement of said switch from its other extreme position to its one extreme position by said operating rod.

9. In combination with a railway switch, a switch and lock movement comprising an operating rod movable between two extreme positions and a slide bar which is moved to an intermediate position prior to movement of said operating rod from either extreme position to the other extreme position and to one or the other of two extreme positions upon completion of the movement of said operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which said operating rod is moved, a spring connecting rod, means including said spring connecting rod for operatively connecting said operating rod with the movable rails of said switch, a lock rod connected to the movable rails of said switch and provided with two notches, a locking dog secured to said slide bar and adapted to enter one of in which it enters said other notch, means aotuated by a train approaching said switch in a. trailing direction when said switch occupies its other extreme position for moving said locking plunger in opposition to its bias from its locking position to an unlocking position in which said locking plunger is withdrawn from said other notch until after the train has completely passed the switch, and means for operatively connecting said locking plunger with said slide bar in such manner that the movement of said slide bar to its intermediate position from the extreme position corresponding to said one extreme position of the switch will move said locking plunger from its locking position to an unlocking position.

HERBERT L. BONE.

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