US2094134A

US2094134A - Track switch symbol

Info

Publication number: US2094134A
Application number: US82411A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert F Obergfell
Original assignee: Associated Electric Laboratories Inc
Current assignee: Associated Electric Laboratories Inc
Priority date: 1936-05-29
Filing date: 1936-05-29
Publication date: 1937-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 1954-09-28

Description

Sept; 37- 'H. F. OBERGFELL 2,094,134

TRACK SWITCH SYMBOL Filed May 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HERBERT F. OBERGFELL ATTORNEY.

I P 3 H.IF. OBERGFELL 2,094,134

'TRAGK SWITCH SYMBOL Filed May 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4H FIG..4D 4

- svllllmm 47 INVENTOR. HERBERT F. OBE RGFELL.

ATTORNEY.

mesa-a Sept. 2a, 1931 UNITED" STATES PATENT oFFicE Application May 20', 1036, s mi No. sun

This invention relates in: general to animated dispatcher's display panels for use in centralized traflic controlling systems for railroads, but more particularly to a combined key and lamp signal 5 on such a display panel. This combined key and lamp signal is intendedfor use in a centralized traiiic controlling system for railroads such as shown and described in the John Wicks application. Serial No.82,508, flied May 29, 1936.

The object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved combination key and lamp signal which is manually rotated by the dispatcher to either one of its twopositions and which is transparent so as to show different colors in ac- 1'5 cordance with the position of the distanttrack switch it corresponds to.

One of the features relates to the'constniction of the combined key and lamp signal to enable easy assemblage and replacement of the parts.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a portion of a dispatchers animated display panel;

Fig. 2 shows the rotatable cam of the combined key and lamp signal;

Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the entire combined key and lamp signal assembled on the dispatcher's 'panel Figs. 4A to 4L, inclusive, show a portion ofthe detail parts of the combined key and lamp signal in positions corresponding somewhat to their order of assemblage. These as a whole may be considered a sc-called exploded view of these detail parts.

Referring now to that portion of the dispatchers display panel shown in Fig. 1, the diflerent colored lines thereon represent corresponding railroad track sections associated with a distant nal and siding signal for governing train traflic from left to right. The key-Q is provided for controlling the distant track signals corresponding to the symbol signals QMSL and ESL in the panel. 'IBL and SL are dispatcher's symbol signals corresponding to the distant tracksignals for governing train traiiic from right-to left. Keys I and I are provided for controlling the dis- 55 taut track signals corresponding to the symbol signals-Island tSL,.respectively. Key is a operation of the distant track switch.

Referring now tothe. details of this combined 25 taken combined key and lamp signal corresponding to a distant track switch. This combined key and symbol is manually rotatable by the dispatcher to simulate the siding" or main track" positions of the distant corresponding track switch. 5 The raised oblong transparent portion 88L provides the means by which this symbol is manually rotated by the dispatcher. A green lamp 0 and a' red lamp R are mounted directly behind the raised transparent portion tSL'to cause ISL 10 to be illuminated green or red dependent on whether the green or the red lamp is illuminated. The green lamp G is illuminated in case the 'corresponding distant track switch .is in #main track position and the red lamp R is illuminated 16 in case the track switch is in its siding position.

In case the symbol 88L in the position shown in Fig, l glows red, the dispatcher knows that the corresponding distant track switch is in its "aiding" position and accordingly rotates ISL in the direction indicated by the arrow to its siding position. The dispatcher also manually rotates ISL, whenever it is desired to remotely control the 1 key and lamp signal shown in-Figs. 4A,to 4L, inclusive, and in Figs. 2 and 3:

Fig. 4A shows a molded glass disc ll having a raised portion ISL on top and a ridge ll on the bottom parallel with 08L The iiat topsurface '9 III is glazed black, as shown in Fig. l, raised portion 08L is not glazed but is left transparent. The disc ll fits into the flanged portion 42 of sleeve ll shown in Fig. 4B. The ridge ll of disc 30 fits in the cut-out portion ll of the sleeve Ii and the pper edge of iiang'e 4! is then spun over the edge of disc I. to lock the two together, as shown in Fig. 8. Due totheridge ll in the cut-out portion ll the sleeve II is rotatm able with the disc 30 and raised portion 881-.

This assemblage of disc 30 and sleeve, II is inserted from the front of the dispatcher's panel and is easily removable to permit changing of lamps in case one or both should burn out. 5 The elongated sleeve shown in Fig. 40 has a flange" which is mounted in a hole on the panel II approximately flush with the front surface of a the screws 0 extend to fasten the flanged collar M to sleeve it by meansof the threaded nuts ll.

1 A projection or tongue 33' is cut in the side of sleeve 33 and bent inward so as to fit in groove 3| oi sleeve 3| when sleeve 3| is slid into sleeve 33. 'The tongue 33' in groove 3 I permits longitudinal removal and replacement of sleeve 3i but causes sleeve 33 to be rotated whenever sleeve 3! is rotated. I

The sleeve 33 is rotatable in the flanged collar 32 shown in Fig. 4D. Collar 32 has a flange d3 which fits against the back of panel 25 and has holes 61 for fastening collar 32 to the panel 25 by means of screws 29 as shown in Fig. 3. Projections 38 on'the lower portion of collar 32 extend in the cut-out portions 80 of fibre cam 20 shown in Fig. 4E. Projections 48 in conjunction with the inwardly extending extensions 50 of cam .provide stops for limiting the rotation of camf20 and also 85L. Fibre cam 20 is mounted on top of fiange 54 of the collar 34 by means of thefiat- 20 headed screws 49 extending through the countersunk holes 5| of cam 20into the tapped holes'52 of flange 54. Cam 20 .has a projection 29 for operating circuit closing springs I11 and depressions Y22 and a in which the roller detent 24-is 5 positioned when the combined key and lamp signal is in eitherone of its operated positions as, shown in Fig. '2. Cam 20 and collar 34 are now mounted on the bottom portion of sleeve 33 which projects below collar 32 with the holes 53 and 53' Q in alinement. Screws 56 extending through holes 53 and 53' screw into the nuts 55 to securely fasten sleeve 33 and the collar 34 together. The cam 20 and collar 34 rotate with sleeve 33 while the projections 48 on stationary collar 32 stop -,.turther rotation when such projections abut the inward extensions .50 of cam 20. From the foregoing description it will be en that the disc 30,-"sleeves 3i and 33, the ca 20 and the collar 34 rotate as a unit in the collar 40 32 which is fastened to the panel25 when the dispatcher grasps and rotates the raised transparent portion 881'.

\

Semi-circular clamps

35 and 59, shown in Figs.

4H and 4J, are clamped around the stationary col- 45 lar 32 and secured in place by machine screws (not shown) extending through holes 51 to the threaded holes 58. Clamp 59.has downwardly extending arms 8! bent at 82 to formbottom

portions

33 and 64. Arms 6! 'have'side portions 5Q" bent at right angles thereto to stiffen or reinforce arms 6 i The bottom portionfi4 is provided with tapped holes 65 to permit'mounting of the

lamp jack springs

23, 21, and 2Bfby means of screws 13 as shown in Fig. 3..

.55 The brackets H and 10, shown in Figs. 4K and 4L, are mountedpn opposite sides of bottom portions 33B4 by means of machine screws extending through holes 68 to tapped holesl3. Bracket 10 is provided with tapped holes for mounting 60 circuit closing springs lll by means of screws 11 I as shown in Fig. 3. In a similar manner bracket l l' is provided with tapped holes 12 for mounting detent spring .23 by means of screws I5 as shown in Fig. 3. i

65 when the dispatcher desires tooperate the dis tanttrack signal cpl-responding to the combined keyand lamp signal, he will grasp the raised transparent portion BSLand rotate the same in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1. The

70 raised transparent portion I 8L is moved into alinement with the 'slanting siding line on the a. panel, the-springs I11 are'closed by projection 2i and the roller detent 24 is in depression 25a. .The closure of springs I" close circuits to cause the 75 operation or the distant track switch t KS S din said first sleeve and a tongue in said second sleevefor permitting longitudinal separation of said sleeve and for causing both sleeves to rotate together when said raised-transparent portion is rotated, a cam mounted on said second sleeve 70 ing" position as described in the previously mentioned Wicks application. A

The circuits for illuminating the green and red ,lamps G and R in Fig. 3 terminate on the lower ends of jack springs 26, 21, and 28. 5

lamps, the entire spring and bracket assembly is easily removable by removing the clamps and 59, while the cam 20 and collar 34 may be removed by removing the-screws 56 extending through

holes

53 and 53 in the collar 33 and sleeve 33. 5

Having described the invention and what is considered to be new and is desired to be protected by Letters Patent will be set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1.- In a dispatchers animated-display board panel, a combined key and lamp signal, a flanged collar for mounting said signal on said panel, rotatingmeans in said signal comprising a disc,

a first sleeve and a second sleeve, means for se- 25 curelylocking said disc to said first sleeve, a raised transparent portion on said disc to enable manual rotation of said rotating means, a slot in said first sleeve and a tongue in said second sleeve for permitting longitudinal sepa- 30 ration of said sleeves and for causing both sleeves to rotate together when said raised transparent portion is rotated, a cam mounted on said second sleeve and rotated therewith, circuit closing means controlled by said cam, lamps for illumi- 35 nating said raised transparent portion, a clamp mounted on said collar, and lamp jack springs mounted on said clampfor mounting said lamps. 2. In a dispatchers animated display board panel, a combined key and lamp-signal, a flanged 40 collar for mounting said signal on said panel,

rotating means in said sig'nal comprising a disc,

a first sleeve and a second sleeve, means for securely locking said disc to said first sleeve, a raised transparent portion on said disc to enable manual rotation of said rotating means, a

' said collar, and extensions 'on said cam cooperating with said projections to limit the extent of' manual rotation of said rotating means.

' 3. In a dispatchers animated display boar panel, a. combined key and lamp signal, a flanged collar for mounting said signal on said panel, rotating means in said signal comprising a disc, a first sleeve and a second sleeve, means for seraised transparent portion on said disc to enable manual rotation of said rotating means, a slot.

and rotated therewith, circuit closing means conv trolled by said cam,.'lamps for illuminating said clamp for mounting said lamps, and a bracket mounted on said clamp for mounting said circuit closing means. I

d. In a dispatchers animated display board panel, a combined key and lamp signal, a flanged collar for mounting said signal on said panel,

rotating means in said signal comprising adisc, a first sleeve and a second sleeve, means for securely locking said disc to said first sleeve, is

raised transparent portion on said disc to enable manual rotation of said rotating means, a slot in said first sleeve and a tongue in said second sleeve for permitting longitudinal separation 0! said sleeves and for causing both sleeves to rotate together when said'raised transparent portion is rotated, a cam mounted on said second sleeve and rotated therewith, circuit closing means controlled by said cam, depressions in said cam, and a detent roller and spring assembly ior engaging said depressions to hold said rotat-' ing means in its last operated position.

5. In a dispatcbers animated display board panel, a combined key and lamp mu, a flanged collar for mounting said signal on said panel,

rotatingmeansinsaidsignalcompflflnsadisc, a first sleeve and a second sleeve, means for secprely locking said disc to said first sleeve, a raised transparent portion on said disc to enable manual rotation oi said rotating means, a slot in said first sleeve and a tongue in said second sleeve for permitting longitudinal separation 0! said sleeves and for causing both sleeves to rotate 'togethervlhen said raised transparent portion is rotated, a cam mounted on said second sleeve and rotated therewith, circuit closing means controlled by said cam, depressions in said sam, a detent roller and spring assembly for ensasing said depression to hold said rotating means in its last operated position, and a bracket mounted on said clamp for mounting said detent spring.