US2168796A - Railway switch operating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

8 1939. JKI. GRAMMER 2,168,796

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Nqv. 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet HIS ATTORNEY Aug. 1939. J. 1. GRAMMER 2,168,796

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 19, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H I 7 0 w m H &6 wk M m 9 4 4 F F n 6 5 7 6. A J s CO I. mm MMJHZb m. 6 8 5? 9 f 7 B |lH ||1| III! I 0 a m o m M 7 WW 9 I w M l 6 M 4 n0 o g L m o 7 F b 1 0 I 6 a w M L w M Patented Aug. 8, 1939 PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS James I. Grammer, Penn Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Comp'any, Swissvale, Pa.,, a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application November 19, 1937, Serial No. 175,482

10Glaims.

My invention relates to railway switch operating, apparatus; and particularly to apparatus for operating spring switches.

One object of my invention is the provision, in

a'switch operating mechanism of the type which includes within one housing a vertical switch actuating shaft, means for biasing the switch to whichever position it is moved, means for locking the switch in one extreme position in such manner that when a train trails the switch the'switch Will become automatically'unlocked,.and means for controlling the. movement of the points by the biasing devices while a train is trailing the switch, of means for operating the vertical switch actuating shaft bya hand-throw lever. operating in a verticalplane only.

Other' objects and characteristic features of my invention will. appear as the. description proceeds.

I shall describe two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, and shall. then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is atop plan View showing arailway switch provided with one form of switch operating mechanism embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is an. enlarged top plan view, partly in' section. of the operatingmechanism shown in Fig; 1. Fig. 3 is. a longitudinal sectional view. of. the mechanism shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and. 5 are detail .views showing on an enlargedscale portions .of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Figs..6, '7 and 8 are detail views showing modifications of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figs..1 and 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. I and. l and two movable rails 2 and 2a. Thefixed. rails l and l are laid on tie plates 3 .and are secured to crossties 4 in the usual manner. The. movable rails 2 and 2 are fastenedtogether by. a front rod 5, .a. head rod 6,.a bridle rod 1, and a tierod 8,.and may be. moved intov a normal. or a reverse position by means of an operating rod 9 which is connected with the head rod'fithrough themedium of the usual switch basket l0. .When the switch occupies its normal position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, th movablerail 2 engages thefixed rail. I, and the movable rail.2 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 Associated with the switch A is a switchoperating mechanism B embodying my invention, which mechanism I shall now describe. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the mechanism B comprises a suitable casing H which is'bolted or spiked to the ties, and which is closed at one end by a removable cover l2 and at the other end by 'a removable cover [3, Journaled in bearings l4 and I5 formed respectively in the top and bottom wallsof the main part of the casing H is a switch actuating shaft H, the lower end of which extends below the casing and carries an adjustable crank l8, and the upper end of which projects above the casing and is provided with a signal lamp IQ for indicating the position of the switch- The crank I8 is. pivotally connected with the previously described operating rod 9, the parts being so proportioned that rotation of the shaft I! through an angle of approximately 90 will move the switch between its normal and reverse positions.

Journaled on the switch actuating shaft l1 within the casing l l is a sleeve 20 which is. biased to one position by means of two spring. assemblies SI and S2. These spring assembliesform no part of my presentinvention, and may, for example, be similar to those shown and described in an application for. Letters Patent of. the United States, Serial No, 176,836, filed by Herbert L. Bone, on November 27, 1937, for. Railway switch operating apparatus. Since these spring assemblies form no part of my present invention and are similar to those shown in the said. Bone application, it is believed to be sufii'cient for purposes of the present invention to point out that each of these spring. assemblies comprises a suitable housing. 22 and a spring rod 23 which extends into the housing, and is biased to one position by means of suitable springs, not shown, in

right-hand end to the. casing II by means of apin 21 which passes througha. lug 28 formed on. the. casing II andthrough lugs 26 formed on the housing. 22. The projecting end of the springrod 23 of each spring unit is operatively connected with the sleeve 20 by. meansof a pin 29 which passes through the rod. and through aligned apertures provided in vertically spaced laterally projecting lugs 30 formed on the sleeve. The parts are so proportioned that when the spring rods 23 of both units occupy the positions to which they are biased, the sleeve 20 will be held in a central position in which the lugs 30 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism, but that, if the sleeve is rotated away from this position in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, through an angle corresponding to the switch stroke, the force exerted on the sleeve 20 by the spring unit SI will continue to increase as the sleeve approaches its clockwise extreme position, but the spring unit S2 will function as a toggle, and will act to oppose the movement of the sleeve until the sleeve has been rotated halfway to its clockwise extreme position. whereupon the spring unit will then act to assist the further movement of the sleeve. The parts are still further so proportioned that, if the sleeve 20 is rotated away from the position shown in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, through an angle corresponding to the switch stroke, the force exerted on the sleeve 20 by the spring unit S2 will continue to increaseas the sleeve approaches its counterclockwise extreme position, but the spring unit SI will now function as a toggle and will act to oppose the movement of the sleeve until the sleeve has been rotated halfway to its counterclockwise extreme position, whereupon this latter spring unit will then act to assist the movement of the sleeve. The parts are still further so proportioned that the force exerted by the spring unit SI tending to restore the sleeve 20 to its normal position when the sleeve has been rotated to its clockwise extreme position, as viewed in Fig. 2, will exceed the opposing force exerted by the spring unit S2, and that the force exerted by the spring unit S2 tending to restore the sleeve 20 to the position shown when the sleeve has been rotated to its clockwise extreme position, as viewed in Fig. 2, will. exceed the opposing force exerted by the spring unit SI, and it follows, therefore, that, when the sleeve 20 has been rotated away from the position shown in either direction, as soon as the force which caused the rotation of the sleeve is removed, the spring units will act to restore the sleeve to the position shown.

For reasons which will become apparent as the description proceeds, it is desirable to prevent the biasing devices Si and S2 from returning the sleeve 20 to its biased position at too rapid a rate after the sleeve has been moved away from this position, without interfering with the rotation of the sleeve away from this position in either direction. For this purpose, the sleeve is pivotally connected by means of the pin 29 with the piston rod 35 of a dashpot or builing device 36,

the cylinder 31 of which ispivotally attached to the right-hand end wall of the casing I by means of a pin 38 and a lug 39. The bumng device 36 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 buiiing device is similar in all respects to the bufiing device shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,830,803, granted to William C, McWhirter, on November 10, 1931,. for Railway switch operating apparatus, and it is believed to be unnecessary, therefore, to describe it in detail here.

The mechanism also includes differential gearing for at times operatively connecting the sleeve 20 with the switch actuating shaft I1, and for at other times permitting movement of the switch actuating shaft by a hand-throw lever 45 independently of any movement of the sleeve.

As here shown, this gearing comprises two bevel gears one of which 46, is pinned to the shaft l1 directly above the upper end of the sleeve 20, and the other of which 41 is pinned to the sleeve 20 in confronting spaced relation with respect to the gear 46. The gears 46 and 41 mesh with two bevel pinions 48 and 49 journaled on pins 50 and 5] respectively, secured to a sector gear 52 which is journaled on the sleeve 20 between the gears 46 and 41. The sector gear meshes with a bevel gear 53 secured to the inner end of a shaft 54. The shaft 54 is journaled in a boss 55 formed in the side wall of the upper part of the casing II, and has pinned to its outer end the previously referred to hand-throw lever 45. The hand-throw lever 45 is rotatable between an extreme position in which it is shown in the drawings, which position I shall termits normal position, and another extreme position spaced substantially 180 in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown, which latter position I shall term its reverse extreme position, and associated with the lever are two lever latches 56 and 51 of well-known construction for latching the lever in its two extreme positions.

Reciprocably mounted in the bottom of the casing II is a locking device 60 which, as here shown, comprises two spaced cross members 80 and 60 connected together by means of a pair of spaced stud bolts 60 and Go A third cross member 60 is adjustably secured to the threaded left-hand ends of the stud bolts 60 and 60 by means of nuts 60 and this latter member is provided on its left-hand side with an integral rectangular locking plunger 60 The member (ill is provided with a centrally located hole 60 The locking plunger 60 is guided in suitable guideways provided in the left-hand end of the casing, and. cooperates at its free end with a lock rod L which is slidably mounted in the lefthand end of the casing H 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 of the switch A, and provided with registering notches 65 so disposed that these notches will align with the locking plunger 60 when and only when the switch occupies its normal position in which it is shown in the drawings.

The locking device 60 is arranged to be moved in a manner which will be described hereinafter, between a left-hand extreme position in which the locking plunger 60 is within the notches 65 in the lock rod L, and a right-hand extreme position in which the locking plunger 60 is withdrawn from the notches 55, and it will be apparent that, when the locking device is moved to the position in which it is within the notches, the switch will be positively locked in its normal extreme position, but that, when the locking device is moved to theposition 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 66 of the locking device 60 are slidably mounted intermediate their ends in suitable lugs 66 and 61, respectively, which project upwardly from the bottom of the main casing l I, and surrounding each bolt between the cross member 60* and the associated lug 66 or 61 is a partly compressed coil spring 68 which constantly biases the locking device 60 toits left-hand extreme position.

A bell-crank lever 69 is pivoted on a pin 19 mounted in a pair of spaced lugs H which project upwardly from the bottom of the casing II, and one arm 69 thereof extends upwardly and is pivotally connected to a rod 1! which extends with clearance through an opening provided in a lateral extension 69 formed on the cross member 60 and is provided with an upset head H which cooperates with the extension in a manner which will be described hereinafter. The other arm 69 of the bell crank lever 69 extends upwardly and is pivotally connected with the lower end of a vertical rod 72. The rod E2 is slidably mounted adjacent its upper end in a guideway 13 formed on the side wall of the casing II, and is provided at its upper end with a roller M which cooperates with a cam 75 keyed to the shaft 54. The parts are so proportioned that, when the hand lever occupies the extreme position shown, the roller 14 will engage the cam at the low portion of the cam, but that, when the hand lever is moved away from this position, the roller 14 will ride up onto the high portion of the cam and will thus force the rod 12 downwardly, thereby causing the bell crank lever 69 to rotate in a clockwise direction and move the rod H to the right to a position in which the locking plunger 6i] is withdrawn from the notches 65 in the lock rod L.

The locking device 60, in addition to being operatively connected with the hand-throw lever in the manner just described, is also operatively connected with the tie rod 6 by means of linkage which I shall now describe. As here shown, this linkage includes a plunger bolt 8! (see Figs. 1 and 3) which extends with some clearance 40 through the hole 66 in the cross member 6| of the locking device 68, and the head of which bolt cooperates with the left-hand side of the cross member 60 The threaded right-hand end of the plunger bolt 8! is adjustably connected by means of a turnbuckle 82 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 crank lever 84 is pivotally supported in a crank stand 85 and has its short 1 arm 84 pivotally connected with one end of an operating rod 86. The other end of the operating rod 86 is connected with the previously described tie rod 8 by means of a standard switch basket 81.

The tie rod 8 may be located at any suitable location, but will preferably be located approximately midway between the heel and the point of the switch. The base 89 of the crank stand 85 is secured both to a gauge plate 89 and to a bed plate 98 which is bolted to one end of the mechanism B, and it will be apparent, therefore, that any loss of adjustment of the parts due to creepage of the ties is prevented.- The linkage is so adjusted that, when the switch occupies its normal extreme position, the head of the plunger bolt ill will engage the cross member 59 when the locking plunger has been moved to the desired locking position within the notches 65 in the lock rod L.

This circuit controller may, however, be similar to that shown and described in Letters. Patent of the United States No, 1,989,128, granted to Herbert L. Bone, on January 29, 1935, for Railway switch operating apparatus.

The operation of the apparatus, as a whole, is as follows: As shown in the drawings, the movable rails of the switch A are in their normal extreme positions, and the hand-throw lever 55 is locked in its normal extreme position by means of the lever latch 56. The differential gearing is so designed and the parts are so proportioned that under these conditions the sleeve 29 will be driven in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, a slight distance beyond its central or biased position and, since rotation of the sector gear is prevented, the force which is exerted on the sleeve 28 tending to rotate it to its normal position will act through the differential gearing to exert a clockwise force on shaft H, which force yieldingly urges the switch points to their normal positions. Furthermore, under these conditions, the roller 14 engages the cam 55 at the low portion of the cam, and the locking device 60 is held in its locking position, in which the locking plunger 60 enters the notches 65 in the lock rod L, by means of the springs 63. As was previously pointed out, when the locking device 60 occupies its locking position, the movable rails of the switch are locked in their normal positions.

I shall now assume that it is desired to reverse the switch A. To do this, lever latch 56 is operated to release the hand-throw lever and the hand-throw lever is then rotated to its reverse extreme position. In approximately the first 20 of travel of the hand lever, the force which was previously exerted on the sleeve 28 tending to rotate it away from its biased position is released, and the locking plunger is withdrawn from the notches 65 in the lock rod L by engagement of the high portion of the cam 15 with the roller 14. As the movement of the hand lever continues, the engagement of the bevel gear 53 with the sector gear 52 will rotate the sector gear in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. This rotation of the sector gear transmits through the bevel pinions 48 and 49 a force which tends to rotate the bevel gears 48 and 4'! in the same direction that the sector gear is rotated. Rotation of the gear 41, however, is resisted by the spring units SI and S2, and the parts are so proportioned that under normal operating conditions, these spring units will absolutely prevent rotation of the bevel gear 41. It follows, therefore, that under these conditions, only the bevel gear 46 will be rotated in response to rotation of the hand-throw lever. Since the gear 46 is keyed to the switch actuating shaft 11, the rotation ofthe bevel gear will, of course, rotate the shaft H, which latter rotation moves the switch to its reverse position. When the hand-throw lever reaches its full reverse position, it will become latched in this position by the lever latch 51. The importance of a spring bias to hold the switch points in the reverse position is not so great as the importance of a spring bias to hold the switch points in their normal position, and the parts are therefore so proportioned that the sleeve 20 will not be rotated from its normal position when the handthrow lever is rotated to its reverse position.

The advantage of proportioning the parts in this manner is that-there is no load on the handthrow' lever which need be resisted by the lever latch when the hand lever is in its reverse position.

If, when the switch has been moved to its reverse position in the manner just described, it is desired to restore the switch to its normal position, the hand-throw lever is restored to the position shown. The operation of the various parts of the apparatus under these conditions is just the reverse of that described above, and will be readily understood from the foregoing description and from an inspection of the drawings without further description.

I shall 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 are forced over'laterally, but before a sufficient force is developed at the points of the movable rails to overcome the opposing force of the spring units SI and S2 and cause the point of the movable rail 2 to move out of engagement with the fixed rail I, the movable rails, being somewhat resilient, become bent, so that with the usual standard split switch, the tie rod 8 will be moved downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1, threequarters of an inch or more. This movement of the tie rod 8 acting through the switch basket 81, operating rod 86, bell crank lever 84, link 83, and plunger bolt 8| moves the locking device 60, in opposition to the bias of the springs 68, a sufiicient amount to completely withdraw the locking plunger 66g from engagement with the notches 65 in the lock rod L, thus unlocking the switch. As a result, when the leading wheels of the train have reached the position in which a sufficient force is developed at the point of the movable rail 2 to move it out of engagement with the fixed rail I, the movable rails will be unlocked, and these 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 l8 to rotate the shaft I! in a counterclockwise direction, and this rotation of the shaft [1, in turn, rotates the bevel gear 46 in the same direction. Since the hand-throw lever 45 is now locked in its normal position by the lever latch 56, rotation of the sector gear 52 under these conditions is prevented by the bevel gear 53, and as a result the counterclockwise rotation of the bevel gear 46 transmits through the bevel gears 48 and 49 a force which causes the sleeve 20 to rotate with the shaft [1. This rotation of the sleeve 20 actuates the spring units SI and S2 in the manner previously described, so that these spring units now tend to constantly restore the movable rails to their normal positions. The rotation of the sleev 20 also actuates the buffing device 36 which, as was previously pointed out, permits unrestricted rotation of the sleeve 20 in a direction to compress the springs of the spring units SI and S2, but acts to retard the movement of the sleeve by the spring units. It will be seen, therefore, that the buffing device 36 will not oppose the movement of the movable rails away from their normal positions, but will prevent too rapid movement of the movable rails toward their normal positions by the spring units SI and S2, thus preventing the quick return of the movable rails to their normal position between the passage of the successive wheels of the train. After the train has completely passed the switch, the displacing force of the wheels will, of course, be removed, and the springs of the spring units will then act through the sleeve 20, bevel gear 41, bevel pinions 48 and 49, and bevel gear 46 to rotate the switch actuating shaft I! in the direction to return the switch points to the positions which they occupied before the train started to trail the switch. During the return 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 60g will be moved into engagement with the side of the lock rod L befor 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. As a result, after the locking 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 locking position, thus restoring the switch to its normal locked position. When the switch becomes locked in its normal locked condition, all parts will then be restored to the positions in which they are shown in the drawings.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, in the modified form of the apparatus here shown, the bevel pinions 48 and 49, instead of being pivotally attached to the sector gear 52, are pivotally attached to a crank arm 95 which is journaled on the sleeve 20 between the bevel gears 46 and 41 in the same manner that the sector gear shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, is journaled on the sleeve. The crank arm 95 carries a roller 96 which cooperates with a cam slot 91 formed in a cam 98 secured to the inner end of the shaft 54, it being noted that this shaft has been moved toward the left-hand end of the casing some distance from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. The cam slot 9'! is provided at each end with a portion which extends at right angles to the axis of'rotation of the cam, and with an intermediate connecting portion which extends at an angle to the axis of rotation of the cam. The parts are so proportioned that, when the hand lever occupies its normal position, the roller 96 will engage the cam slot at the straight portion 97, and that, when the hand lever occupies its reverse position, the roller will engage the cam slot at the straight portion 91*, but that, when the hand lever is being moved from either extreme position to the other, the roller will engage the inclined portion of the slot. The parts are further so proportioned that, when the roller 96 is engaging the cam slot at the straight end portion 91 the switch actuating shaft I! will be rotated by the bevel gearing to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, but that, when the roller is engaging the cam slot at the straight portion 91*, the switch actuating shaft I! will be rotated to the position corresponding to the reverse position of the switch. The operation of the apparatus as a whole when modified in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is substantially the same as that previously described the only difference being that, since when the hand-throw lever occupies either extreme position the roller is within a portion of the cam slot which extends at right angles to'the axis of rotation'of the cam, there is no force exerted on the hand lever tending to rotate it away from its extreme positions. It follows, therefore, that with the apparatus modified as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the latches 56 and 51 become secondary locking means.

One advantage of the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is that the cam slot may be so shaped as to give a high mechanical advantage at the ends of the switch stroke where it is desired to compress the springs of the spring units to bias the switch points against the stock rails.

Another advantage of the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is that higher spring forces can be employed to bias the movable rails of the switch to either extreme position since the reaction due to these forces is not transmitted to the hand lever.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of 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. Switch operating mechanism comprising a switch actuating shaft, a rotatable member, a hand-throw lever, differential gearing connecting said hand-throw lever with said shaft and said member, and biasing means connected with said member and effective to oppose its rotation when said hand throw lever is operated.

2. Switch operating mechanism comprising a switch actuating shaft, a sleeve journaled on said shaft, a second shaft, means for rotating said second shaft between two extreme positions, differential gearing connecting said second shaft with said switch actuating shaft and with said sleeve, and means for biasing said sleeve to one position with sufficient force to oppose its rotationv when said second shaft is rotated.

3. Switch operating mechanism comprising a switch actuating shaft, a sleeve journaled on said shaft, confronting bevel gears secured respectively to said sleeve and to said shaft, a member journaled on said sleeve between said bevel gears, two bevel pinions carried by said member and meshing with said two bevel gears, means for rotating said member between two extreme positions, and means for biasing said sleeve to one position with sufficient force to oppose its rotation when said member is being rotated from either extreme position to the other.

4. Switch operating mechanism comprising a switch actuating shaft, a sleeve journaled on said shaft, confronting bevel gears secured respectively to said sleeve and to said shaft, a member journaled on said sleeve between said bevel gears, two bevel pinions carried by said member and meshing with said two bevel gears, means for rotating said member between two extreme positions and for blocking rotation of said member in response to rotation of said switch actuating shaft or said sleeve when said member occupies either extreme position, and means for biasing said sleeve to one position with sufficient force to oppose its rotation when said member is rotated.

5. Switch operating mechanism comprising a switch actuating shaft, a sleeve journaled on said shaft, confronting bevel gears secured respectively to said sleeve and to said shaft, a

sector gear journaled on said sleeve between said bevel gears, two bevel pinions carried by said sector gear and meshing with said two bevel gears, a hand lever shaft, a hand lever secured to said hand lever shaft for rotating it, a bevel gear secured to said hand lever shaft and meshing with said sector gear, and means for biasing said sleeve to one position with sufficient force to oppose its rotation when said hand lever is operated.

6. Switch operating mechanism comprising a switch actuating shaft, a sleeve journaled on said shaft, confronting bevel gears secured respectively to said sleeve and to said shaft, a lever journaled on said sleeve between said bevel gears, two bevel pinions carried by said lever and meshing with said two bevel gears, a hand lever shaft, a hand lever secured to said hand lever shaft for rotating it, a cam secured to said hand lever shaft provided with a cam slot, and a roller secured to said first mentioned lever and riding in said cam slot for operating said first mentioned lever in response to rotation of said hand lever, and means for biasing said sleeve to one position with sufiicient force to oppose its rotation when said hand lever is operated.

7. Switch operating mechanism comprising a switch actuating shaft, a sleeve journaled on said shaft, confronting bevel gears secured respectively to said sleeve and to said shaft, a lever journaled on said sleeve between said bevel gears, two bevel pinions carried by said lever and meshing with said two bevel gears, a hand lever shaft, a hand lever secured to said hand lever shaft for rotating it, a cam secured to said hand lever shaft and provided with a cam slot having end portions extending at right angles to the axis of rotation of said cam and a connecting portion extending at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of said slot, a roller secured to said first mentioned lever and riding in said cam slot for operating said first mentioned lever in response to rotation of said hand lever, and means for biasing said sleeve to one position with sumcient force to oppose its rotation when said hand lever is operated.

8. Switch operating mechanism comprising a switch actuating shaft, a sleeve journaled on said shaft, a second shaft, means for rotating said second shaft between two extreme positions, differential gearing connecting said second shaft with said switch actuating shaft and with said sleeve in such manner that rotation of said second shaft will rotate said switch actuating shaft when said sleeve is held stationary but that when said second shaft is held stationary rotation of said switch actuating shaft will rotate said sleeve, biasing means connected with said sleeve and effective for holding said sleeve stationary while said second shaft is being rotated but for permitting rotation of said sleeve in response to rotation of said switch actuating shaft, and means for controlling the movement of said sleeve by said biasing means after it is rotated by said switch actuating shaft.

9. In combination, a railway switch of the type adaptedto be trailed, a lock rod connected with said switch, a locking plunger biased to a locking position and effective when in its looking position for engaging said lock rod to lock said switch in its normal position, means actuated by a train trailing said switch when said switch occupies its normal position for moving said locking plunger to its unlocking position,

a switch actuating shaft connected with the switch, a hand lever rotatable in a vertical plane, a sleeve journaled on said shaft, bevel gearing connecting said hand lever with said shaft and said sleeve, means actuated by said hand lever for moving said locking plunger to its unlocking position prior to movement of said shaft in response to operation of said hand lever, and biasing means connected with said sleeve for opposing its rotation during operation of said hand lever.

10. In combination, a railway switch of the type adapted to be trailed, a lock rod connected with said switch, a locking plunger biased to a locking position and effective when in its locking position for engaging said lock rod to lock said switch in its normal position, means actuated by a train trailing said switch when said switch occupies its normal position for moving said locking plunger to its unlocking position, a hand lever rotatable in a vertical plane between two extreme positions, a rotatable member, means including bevel gearing for operatively connecting said switch with said hand lever and said member, a cam rotated by said hand lever, means actuated by said cam for moving said locking plunger to an unlocking position prior to movement of said switch by said hand lever, and biasing means connected with said member for opposing its rotation during operation of said hand lever.

JAMES I. GRAMMER.

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