US2355989A - Slow release lock for railway switches - Google Patents

Description

g- 1944- K. J. J. MCGOWAN 2,355,989

SLOW RELEASE LOCK FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES Filed Oct. 30, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet l 'INVENT'OR fima 1%?6610012 2511419525 A? ATTORNEY Au 15, 1944. K. J. J. M GOWAN SLOW RELEASE LOCK FOR RAILWAY- SWITCHES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 30, 1942 k INVENTOR 01212966 JJ MCGOWQIZ Y Q-z fiwhzg n O I k T/QQ a 0 a & F 0 Q o o m \n wmm Mm mm} a w N ATTORNEY Aug. 1 1944- K. J. J.. MCGOWAN 2,355,989

SLOW RELEASE LOCK FORRAILWAY SWITCHES Filed Oct. 30, 1942 r 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 'mumm :53 ATTGRNE' 1 8 1944. K. J. .1. 'M GOWAN I SLOW RELEASE LOCK FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 an? W R .w\ m m Filed Oct. 50, 1942 Q SQ w ATTORNEY Aug. 15, 1944. K. J. J. M GOWAN SLOW RELEASE LOCK FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES Filed Oct. 30, 1942 6 Sheets-$heet 6 RQ wQ Z 1 0% Ms M /m HIS ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLOW RELEASE LOCK FOR. RAILWAY SWITCH-ES Kenneth J. J. McGowan, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 30, 1942, Serial No. 463,867 12 Claims. 01146-161 My invention relates to. slow release locks for railway switches, and particularly to slow release locks for hand thrown switches. 7 One object of my invention is to provide novel and, improved means for compelling the signals governing traffic over a hand thrown switch to be placed at stop, a predetermined time interval before the switch throwing mechanism can be .operated to unlock the switch to prevent a switch- .man from reversing theswitch in the face of a train which has passed a clear signal.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel time release mechanism for direct application to hand operated switch throwing mechanisms.

.A further object of my invention is to provide a hand operated switch throwing mechanism with means which make it necessary to operate the usual circuit controller of the mechanism a predetermined time interval before the locking .plunger of the mechanism can be withdrawn to unlock the switch.

A further object of my invention is to apply to a hand operated switch throwing mechanism an auxiliary hand lever for operating the circuit controller of the mechanism independently of the usual hand throw lever, together with time release mechanism which is set into operation upon operation of the circuit controller by the auxiliary lever, and which is effective, to delay the operation of the usual hand throw lever for a predetermined time interval.

According to certain forms of my invention, the switch throwing mechanism is provided, in addition to the usual lock bar which cooperates with the switch lock rod to lock the switch, with a secand bar which is operatively connected to an auxiliary lever, and which is effective when operated .to operate the circuit controller of the mechanism. This second bar when operated also sets into operation a mechanical time release which after a predetermined time interval moves a third 'bar from a locking position in which it prevents operation of the usual hand throw lever to an switch under conditions which might cause a derailment. V

In another form of my invention, the circuit controller contacts are actuated by an auxiliary lever through the medium of a bar independent of the lock bar in the same manner as just described, but the hand throw lever instead of being locked by a third bar actuated by a mechanical time release connected directly with the mechanism is locked by an electric lock controlled by an electric time release set into operation by the actuation of the circuit controller contacts.

Other objects and characteristic features of my invention will become apparent as the description. proceeds.

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

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a to plan view showing a railway switch controlled by a switch throwing mechanism provided with a slow release lock embodying my invention. Fig.

2 is an enlarged top plan view of the switch throwing mechanism and lock shown in Fig. 1 with the covers of the switch throwing mechanism and lock both removed to better illustrate the construction of the various parts. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the switch throwing and locking mechanism shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the motion plate 12 forming part of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and '7 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing the switch throwing mechanism provided with a modified form of slow release look also embodying my invention. Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views taken on the lines VIIIVIII and IX-IX respectively of Fig.

6. Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views showing various applications of switch locks embodying my invention to crossovers. Fig. 13 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 modified for some special applications. Figs. 14 and 15 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing the switch throwing mechanism provided with an electric lock controlled by an electrical time release to provide the same protection electrically that is provided by mechanism means in the preceding views. Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view taken on' the lineXV-IXVI 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 l and la and two movable (Fig. 2)

rails or switch points 2 and 2a. The fixed rails I and la are laid on tie plates 3, and are secured to crossties 4 in the customary manner. The movable rails 2 and 2a are fastened together by a front rod 5 and a head rod. 6, and may be moved into a normal or a reverse position by means of a throw rod 'l which is connected with the head rod 6 through the medium of a switch basket 8. When the switch occupies its normal position, in which position it is'shown in the drawings, the movable rail 2 engages the fixed rail l,

and the movable rail 2a is spaced from the fixed rail la. When the switch is reversed, however, the movable rail 2a then engages the fixed rail la, and the movable rail 2 is spaced from the fixed rail I.

Secured to an elongated pair of the ties 4 adjacent the outer side of the rail I is a switch throwing mechanism B provided with slow release lock mechanism embodying my present invention. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the mechanism B in the form here shown comprises a suitable casing 59 which encloses the operating parts of the mechanism, and which is closed at its upper end by a removable cover H. Located within the casing It is a motion plate l2 (see Fig. 4) which is guided to slide longitudinally in a direction parallel to the track by means of guide rollers I3 and i4 secured to the underside of the motion plate adjacent its opposite ends and cooperating with guideways (not shown) provided in the bottom wall of the casing. The motion plate 12 has rack teeth It formed on the upper surface on one side of the center line, the spaces between the teeth being disposed below the adjacent upper surface of the plate, and being curved inwardly at their ends for a purpose whichwill be made clear presently. The rack teeth l6 mesh with a segment gear l"! mounted on a square'shaft l8 disposed at its ends in bearing sleeves l9 and 20 journaled in suitable bosses 2| and 22 formed in the side walls of the casing l0. The bearing sleeve 253 is provided at its outer end with a flange 29a and is secured to the shaft by a through bolt 23. The shaft l3 projects through the bearing sleeve [9, and is provided on the outer side of the casing 56 with a hand throw lever 24 which serves 'as a means for reciprocating the motion plate [2 between 'two extreme positions. The segment gear H is slidably mounted on the shaft l8 with enough clearance so that it can be readily slipped off of the shaft, and has'its teeth curved at their ends in a manner similar to the ends of the spaces between the rack teeth, whereby the segment gear is maintained in the proper longitudinal position on the shaft to mesh with the rack teeth by the cam action which results'between the curved ends of the teeth on the gear and the curved ends of the spaces between the rack teeth, thus eliminating the necessity for any means for securing the segment gear to the shaft. One advantage of this construction is that the shaft can be turned end for end to permit the mechanism to be mounted on the opposite side of the switch from that shown without unfastening any parts from the shaft but the bearing sleeve20.

A roller 25 is secured to the underside of the motion plate [2 adjacent one side thereof at a point equallyspaced from the rollers l3 and I4,

- and this latter roller cooperates with cam faces 26 and 21 formed on an escapement crank. 28 The escapement crank 28 is formed integrally with the upper end of a switch actuating shaft 29 journaled at spaced points in bearings 3G and 3| formed respectively in the bottom wall of the casing I0, and in a depending stirrup 32 which is provided on the underside of the casing. A removable switch operating arm 33 is secured to a square portion formed on the shaft 29 between the two bearings 30 and 3|, and this arm. is pivotally attached to the free end of the throw rod 1. Y

The portion of the switch throwing mechanism B thus far described taken by itself forms no part of my present invention and is similar in all respects to that shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,184,870, granted to Herbert L. Bone and myself on December 26, 1939 for Railway switch operating mechanisms.

A lock bar 35 extends longitudinally of the casing ID directly above the motion plate I2, and is slidably mounted adjacent one end in a guide plate 36 bolted to an auxiliary casing 31, which latter, in turn, is secured through the medium of an adapter plate 38 to one end of the casing Ill. The other end of the lock bar is slidably mounted in a guideway (not shown) formed in a frame 39 which is secured within the casing l0, and which serves as a support for a suitable circuit controller, as will appear presently. The lock bar is operatively connected with the motion plate by means of the square head 40 of a depending stud 4| fixed to the lock bar, and disposed within a transversely extending slot 42 formed in the upper side of the motion plate.

The left-hand end of the lock bar 35 cooperate with a notch 43 provided in a lock rod L which is secured to the front rod 5. The parts are so proportioned that the notch 43 will align with the lock bar when and only when the switch occupies its full normal position, and that when the notch 43 is in alignment with the lock bar and the motion plate is in its left-hand extreme position, the lock bar will have entered the notch 43, as shown in Fig. 3, and will thus have locked the switch in its normal position.

The operation, as a whole, of the portion of the apparatus thus far described is as follows: When the hand throw lever 24 is rotated to its normal extreme position in which it is shown in the drawings, the motion plate 12 is moved to its extreme left-hand or normal position in which 'it is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and under these con- -wise direction a viewed in Fig. 2' through an angle of substantially 180 degrees'from the extreme position shown to its opposite-or reverse extreme position. This rotation of 'the'hand throw lever acts through the segment gear I I and rack teeth Hi to move the motion plate to its right-hand extreme position, and as the motion plate moves to this latter position, the first part of the movement withdraws the lock bar 35 from the notch 43 in the lock rod L to unlock theswitch, the intermediate part of the movement causes the roller 25'to engage the cam surface 21 of the escapement crank-'28 and rotate the. escapement crank to the position in which I the straightv portion of thecam surface 21 extends. parallel to the track, thereby rotating the switch actuating shaft to its reverse extreme position, and hence moving the switch points to their reverse extreme positions, while the final part of the movement of the motion plate causes the roller 25 to move along the straight portion of the cam surface 21 to such a position that any tendency of the switch actuating shaft to rotate in a direction to permit the switch points to move away from their reverse positions is effectively blocked by the roller. It will be seen, therefore, that when the switch points occupy their reverse extreme positions they are effectively 'held in these positions due to the coaction between the roller and the escapement crank, and it will also be seen that any force which may be exerted on the switch tending to restore it to its normal position will cause a transverse force to be exerted on themotion plate rather than a longitudinal force, thus avoiding any tendency to reverse the hand throw lever due to any force which may be exerted on the switch.

When the switch has been moved to its reverse position, and it is desired to restore it to its normal position, the hand throw lever 24 is returned to the position shown. The operation of the parts under these conditions is exactly the reverse of that just described, and'this operation will be apparent from the foregoing description and from an inspection of the drawings without further detail description.

Reciprocably mounted in the housings I and 31 directly above the lock bar 35 is a second bar 45 which actuates a circuit controllerC through the medium of a cam dog 46 secured to the lefthand end of the bar. The circuit controller taken by itself forms no part of my present invention and may have any suitable construction. As here illustrated, this circuit controller is similar to the circuit controller described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No; 2,053,891,

granted to Charles R. Beall on September 8, 1936, for Railway switch circuit controllers, and it is believed therefore to be sufficient for purposes of my present invention to point out that this circuit controller comprises a rocker 41 and a contact operating member 48 both pivoted for rocking movement about a pin 49 mounted in the hereinbefore' referred to frame 39. The rocker 47 corresponds to the rocker I! in the said Beall patent, and carries two rollers 50 and which cooperate withthe cam dog 46 to rotate the rocker to a normal extreme position in which it is shown in the drawings, or to a reverse extreme position according as the bar 45 is moved to the left-hand extreme position shown in Fig. 3 or a right-hand extreme position.

The contact operating member 48 corresponds to the contact operatin member 13 in the said Beall patent and carries an insulating block 52 to which two U-shaped switch elements 53 are attached (see Fig. 5). These switch elements serve as switch blades and cooperate with slotted switch jaws 54. The parts are so arranged that when the contact operating member occupies the position shown, which position may be termed its open position the switch blades are out of engagement with the switch jaws, and under these condition the contacts are open. When, however, the contact operating member is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 about the pin 49 from the open position shown to what may be termed its closed position, the switch blades then engage the associated switch jaws and thecontacts of the circuit controller are closed.

I The contact operating member 48 is operatively connected with the rocker 4'! by spring mechanismincluding springs 55 and 56. This spring mechanism constantly biases the operating member to its closed position in all positions of the rocker, but when the rocker occupies its normal position the contact operating member is normally restrained from moving to its closed position by a latching member 51 corresponding to the latchin member 40 in the said Beall patent. The latching member 51 is pivotally supported on a rod 58 mounted in the rocker 41 and is biased by a spring 59 to its latching position. The lower end of the latching member is formed with a latching foot 51a which carries a roller 60. The roller 60 cooperates with a notchBl formed in a point detector rocl D. The point detector rod D is slidably mounted in suitable guides formed in the sides of the casing In and its latching position if it does not already oc-i cupy its latching position, and that, when the.

latching member has once been moved to its latching position if the notch 6| in the point detector rod D is then in alignment with the roller 60, movement of the rocker 4'! between its two extreme positions will cause the contact operating member to move between its open and closed positions in substantially the same manner as if the contact operating member and rocker were rigidly secured together for movement as a unit. The parts are further so pro-- portioned that the notch 6| will align with the roller 60 when and only when the switch points occupytheir full normal positions and the switch point 2 is in close engagement with the fixed rail l, and that when the rocker occupies its normal position and the latching member occupies its latching position, the roller 60 will fully enter the notch 6|. The parts are still further so proportioned that if the roller 60 is forced out of the notch 6| when the rocker occupies its normal position and the contact operating member 48 is latched in its open position, the latch member will be moved to its unlatching position, and will thus permit the contact operating member to move to its closed position due to its bias.

It will be seen therefore that with the circuit controller constructed in the manner described its contacts Will normally be open or closed according as the bar 45 is moved to the left-hand extreme position shown or its opposite extreme position, and that if the switch points are displaced, when the contacts are opened, due for example to a train improperly trailing the switch, the contacts will automatically move to their closed positions and will subsequently remain in their closed positions until they are manually restored to their open positions. This may be done by manually operating the contact operating member to its open position or by moving the bar 45 to the extreme position opposite to that-shown and then restoring it to the posi- 'tion shown provided the switch points are not damaged to the extent that the notch BI is held out of alignment with the roller 60. If the switchpoints are damaged it is necessary to repair them before the circuitcontroller contacts can be released-to their open position.

As is well understood, circuit controllers of the type described are most frequently employed intrain control territory on electrified roads at locations where ,a track circuit extends for a considerable distance in both directions from the switch, and their primary function is to short circuit the track circuit whenever the switch is moved away. from its normal position by the switch throwing and locking mechanism, or by a train trailing the switch; The short circuiting of the track circuit provides train control protection by causing the cab signals to indicate stop, and also functions through the dropping of the usual track relay to cause the wayside signals to display stop indications.

It should be particularly pointed out, however, that other types ,of circuit controllers such for example as that shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,184,870

referred to hereinbefore may be employed in Y place of that shown when the switch is located in non-electrified territory. In this event, the circuit controller may be arrangedto directly control wayside signals governing traffic over the switch in such manner that the signals will becaused to display stop indications when the circuit controller is operated by movement of the bar 45 away from its normal position; The control of the signals by circuit controllers of either type is well understood, and need not, therefore, be described in any further detail herein. r

- The bar 45 isprovided at the end opposite to the cam dog 46 with rack teeth 65 which at times mesh with the teeth on a segment gear 66.

The gear 66 is mounted within the auxiliary housing 31 on a square shaft 81 journaled at its ends in suitable bearings provided in the side walls of the housing, and is arranged to be reciprocated between two extreme positions by means of an auxiliary lever 68 secured to-one end. of the shaft 61. The parts are so proportioned that the teeth on the segment gear will be out of engagement with the teeth on the bar 45 at each end of the stroke of the lever 68, but that during the intermediate part of the stroke of the lever, the teeth on the segment gear will mesh with the teeth on the bar 45 through a sufficient angular distance to enable the bar to be reciprocated between its two extreme positions. v

As was pointed out hereinbefore, my present less the circuit controller C is first operated to place the signals governing traiiic over the switch to stop and a time interval has thereafter been allowed to elapse, said time interval being of sufficient duration to insure that the train,

will either have stopped short of the signal, or if it has already passed the signal when the circuit controller is operated it will have time to pass the switch before the switch can be unlocked.

As here shown, these means include a third "bar 10 slidably mounted on top of the bar 45.

The bar 19 is arranged to be positively moved to a left-hand extreme position in which it is shown and to be yieldably novedto arightehand extreme position in response to movement of the bar 45 to its right-hand extreme position through the medium of a coil spring 13 which is disposed between the bracket II and a similar bracket 14 secured to the bar 45. When the bar 10 occupies its left-hand extreme position, it underlies an arcuate lug l'la provided on the segment gear l1 and thus prevents rotation of the segment gear by the hand lever 24, but when the bar 'lll is moved to its right-hand extreme position, it is then out of the path of movement of the lug Ila, and the segment gear is free to rotate.

The movement of the bar 10 to the right is limited to a relatively slow rate by time release mechanism comprising a pinion gear 15 fixed to a shaft 16 and meshing with rack teeth 10a provided on the upper face of the bar 10. The shaft 16 is journaled at its ends in suitable bearings formed in the side walls of the housing 31, and has secured thereto a ratchet pinion 11 which is connected through a ratchet pawl 18 .with a gear 19 journaled on the shaft 16 between the pinion gear 15 and the ratchet pinion H. The gear 19 meshes with a pinion 80 forming part of a cluster gear. The cluster gear is journaled on a jackshaft 8| secured at its ends in bosses 82 formed in the sidewalls of the housing 31, and comprises in addition to the pinion 80 an escapement gear 83 which cooperates with an escapement pawl 84 attached to one side of an inertia member 85 pivoted on the shaft 15.

The ratchet pawl 18 and ratchet gear 11 are so arranged that rotation of the pinions l5 and 71 in response to movement of the bar 78 toward the right will act through the ratchet pawl and ratchet gear to impart rotation to the gear train comprising the gear 19, pinion 80 and gear 83, but that rotation of the pinions l5 and 11 in response to movement of the bar 10 toward the left will permit this gear train to remain stationary. The escapement pawl 84 co-operates with the gear wheel 83 in such manner that rotation of this gear will impart an oscillatory motion to the inertia member 85, and it follows therefore that the escapement pawl and inertia 7 member comprise a well known form of escapement mechanism whereby rotation of the gear train is limited to a relatively slow rate. Since the gear train is limited to movement at a relatively slow rate it will be obvious that when the bar 45 is moved to the right the spring 73 will become compressed and will tend to move the bar 10 to the right, but that, the bar 10 will be prevented from moving to the position in -which the hand throw lever 24 can be operated until a time interval has elapsed. By proper ,proportioning of the parts this time interval can be varied as conditions require,

The operation of the apparatus as a whole is as follows: When it is desired to reverse the switch, the operator will first rotate the auxiliary lever 68 from the position shown to its opposite extreme position. This will move the bar 45 to the right, thereby actuating the circuit controller C and thus causing the signals governing trafiic over the switch to move to their stop positions. The movement of the bar 10 to the right will also compress the spring 13 to set the time release mechanism into operation, and after a predetermined time interval determined by the prolportioning of the parts of the time release mechanism the bar 10 will be moved by the spring 13 to its right-hand position in which it is out of the path of movement of the scribed, and it is desired, to restore 'it to its nor mal position, the operator will first restore the lever 24 to its normal position and,will then restore the auxiliary lever to its normalposition. The movement of the lever 24 to its normal position will move the switch points toj-their normal positions and lock them in these positions while the movement of the lever'58to its normal :position will restore the bars 45 and to their normal positions. During the movement of the bars 45 and 10 to their normal positions,the'time release mechanism will remain inoperative for the reasons described hereinbefore.

Referring now to the modified form "of mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9, as here shown the circuit controller operating bar 45 is arranged to be moved between its twoextreme positions in response to movement of the'auxiliary lever 68 between its two extreme positions through the'medium of cam and roller mechanism comprising a cam 89 secured to the'sha'ft 61 and two spaced rollers 90 and -9I- mounted in upstanding arms 92a provided on a bracket 92 secured to the upper side of the bar 45. The parts are so proportioned that only a part of the stroke of the lever 68v (approximately 80) is required to produce the desired movement of the bar 45, and that'the idle travel of the lever will be equally divided between the two ends of its stroke.

A bar 93, which corresponds to 'the'bar I0 in Figs. 2 and 3, is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on top of the bar 45, and this bar cooperates with an arcuate lug I'll) (see Fig. 8) provided on the side of the segment gear I1 in such manner that when the bar is moved to the left-hand extreme position shown, it willfextend into the path of movement of the lug 'I'Ib and will thereby prevent rotation of the segment gear by the hand throw lever, but that when the bar is moved to the right to a right-hand extreme position, the lug I'Ib will be free to enter a slot 94 provided in the side of the bar 93. The bar 93 is constantly biased to its right-hand extreme position by means of a spring I3 which abuts at one end against the one end wall of the casing 31 and at the other end against a depending bracket 96 secured to the bar 93, but is arranged to be positively moved to a'le'ft-hand extreme position in opposition to its bias when the 'bar 45 is moved to its left-hand extreme position through the medium of a drivin lug '9'l secured to the upper end of the bar 45 in a position to engage the end of the bar 93 Vertical force components on the bar 93 are resisted by rollers 93a provided in the underside of thebar 93'and by circular shoulders I000. formed on a gear cluster "I00. The shoulders" Ill0a "are dis-1 posed above the upper ends of the bracket 95 at the opposite sides of the -bar '93, and when' the bar 93 is moved these shoulders roll along' the upper ends of the bracket; The'gear cluster I00 comprises 'partoi a time release'mechan ism which I shall now describe for controlling the movement of the bar 93*towa-rd its right-hand extreme position in response to :its bias when the bar 45 is moved to its right-hand extreme position.

The time release mechanism as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is driven by a rack bar 99 secured to the upper side of the bar 93 within the housing 31, and. meshing with a pinion I002) comprising part of the previously referred to gear cluster I00. This gear cluster also includes a ratchet pinion I000, and is journaled at its ends in suitable bosses provided in the side walls of the casing 3?. The ratchet pinion 1000 is operatively connected through a ratchet pawl 08'with a spur 'gear l [H in such manner that rotation of the. gear cluster by movement of the bar 93 toward the right will cause corresponding rotation of the gear IOI, but that rotation of the cluster in the opposite direction will cause the ratchet pawl to slip around the ratchet pinion without causing rotation of the spur gear. The spur gear I0I is journaled on the hub of the gear cluster between the ratchet pinion and the contiguous side wall of the casing 31 and meshes with a pinion gear 102 fixed to a jackshaft I03 journaled at its ends in suitable bearings formed in the side walls of the casing 31. Also fixed to the jackshait is an escapement wheel I05 which cooperates with an escapement pawl I06a secured to one side of an inertia member I05 'journ'aled on a stub shaft I 01, the parts being so proportioned that throwing mechanisms which are used to operate two switches at the opposite ends of a crossover between two tracks. This result may readilybe accomplished when at least "one of the mech- 'anisms is provided with a slow release switch lock embodying my invention, by interconnecting the mechanisms for the two switches a in the manner shown in Fig. '10. Referring to Fig. 10 as here illustrated,-a crossover is provided with two switchesC and D, the condition of operation being such that it is desired to cause switch 0 to be operated a predetermined time interval before switch D. To accomplish this 'result, the switch D is operated by a mechanism which may be'identical to either one of the previously described mechanisms except for the fact that the auxiliary lever 68 has been replaced by a crank IIO as shown in Fig. 13. This crank is connected through a pipe line I II including a one to one ratio crank I I I a with the lock bar'35 of a mechanism BI which is similar to that described in the previously referred to Bone 'et al. Patent No. 2,184,870. Since this latter mechanism is described in detail in the Bone et al. patent, and since it is similar to either one of the mechanisms previously described except for the fact that the slow release lock mechanism has been omitted and that the cam dog 46 which operates the cir cuit controller, instead of beingsecured to a sec-L ond bar is secured to the lock bar 35, it is believed to be unnecessary to describe this mechanism in detail herein.

Normally the switches C and D are set to permit traffic to move along the straight tracks past the switches. When it is desired to cause a train to move over the crossover from one track to the other, the switch operating mechanism BI associated with switch C is first operated. This rotates the crank I III of the mechanism B through the medium of the pipe line I l I connected to the lock bar 35 of the switch operating mechanism BI, and thereby operates the circuit controller of the switch operating mechanism B, thus causing the time release mechanism of this latter switch operating mechanism to be actuated. When the time interval'has expired'the hand lever 24 of the switch operating mechanism B becomes unlocked, and the switchman may then operate this mechanism to reverse the switch D.

In Fig. 11, the switch D of a crossover is operated by a mechanism which may be identical to either one of the mechanisms described herein, while switch C is operated by a mechanism which is similar to that for operating switch C in Fig. 10 except that the lock bar 35 is not connected to the motion plate of the mechanism, but is connected through a'pipe line III with the lock bar 35 of the mechanism associated with switch D. To reverse the switches with this arrangementit is necessary first to operate the mechanism B associated with switch D. This operation cannot be'effected until a time interval has elapsed by virtue of the associated time release mechanism, and when it is effected it operates the lock bar of the mechanism BI associated with switch C through the medium of the pipe line III to unlock this latter switch. When this latter switch is unlocked, it can then be reversed by its associated mechanism B I.

In Fig. 12, the switches C and D are each provided with operating mechanisms B similar to either one of the mechanisms described hereinbefore except for the fact that the auxiliarylevers of both of these mechanisms have been r eplaced by cranks I'III connected by pipe lines I I2 and H3 respectively to the lever of a lever stand -I-I4 located intermediate the two mechanisms. With this arrangement the lever of the stand H4 must be operated a predetermined time interval before either mechanism can to reverse the associated switch.

'Referring now to Figs. 14 and 15, I have here shown a simplified form of my invention in which the functions performed by the mechanical time release mechanism in the preceding viewsare performed by a time element relay T controlled by the circuit controller and arranged to con trol, an electric lock EL applied to the hand throw lever 24. As here shown, the bar I0 which operates the circuit controller C is arranged to V be reciprocated between'its two extreme positions by the auxiliary .lever68, shaft E'Lgear 66 and rack bar 99, but since the mechanical time release mechanism is not necessary these parts are shown located in' a smaller auxiliary housing H5 which takes the place of the housing 31. The bar 10, however, is interlocked with the bar 35 by means of a lug IIB whichis secured to bar 10, and which cooperates with a lug II'I secured to bar 35 in such manner that the bar I0 cannot be moved to its left-hand extreme position when the switch is unlocked.

Operation of the hand throw lever away from its normal position except when the auxiliary leveris moved to its reverse position to operate the circuit controller is prevented by a blocking piece I20 which is attached to theupp'er' side of the bar and which cooperates with the lug I1a of segment gear I! in such manner that rotation of this gear is prevented except when be operated the bar III is moved to its right-hand extreme position.

July 17', 1934, for'Electrical relays. The relay T is connected with'a battery E through a contact of'the circuit controller Cfand it will be seen therefore that this relay will become energized as soon as the circuit controller C is operated by operation of the auxiliary lever 68.

' The electric lock EL may be of any suitable type which will prevent operation of the hand throw lever 24 except when the lock is energized. A's here shown, it is similar to the Electric switch lock shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 914,447, granted March 9, 1909, to Walter P. Neubert, and includes a latch I26 which projects into the path of movement of the lever 24, and which is prevented from being moved out .of th path of movement of the lever except when the lock is energized. The lock' is arranged to be energized over a circuit which includes a battery F and which becomes closed whenever contact 8 of relay T becomes closed. For moving the latch out of the path of movement of the lever a foot pedal I2I' is provided.

-With the form of the invention shown in Figs. 14 and 15 when it is desired to reverse the switch theauxiliary lever 68 is first operated to operate'the'circuit controller C. "The'operation of this circuit controller completes the circuit for time element relay T, and after the time interval for which this relay is set has elapsed contact II8 becomes closed and energizes the electric lock EL. This permits'operation of the latch I26' by the associated foot pedal. The operation of the latch unlocks the hand throw lever 2-4 which can then be reversed in the usual manner.

Itshould be pointed out that with the 'mechanism constructed as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 the blocking piece I20 acts as a mechanical check to insure that the hand lever cannot be operated without first operating the circuit controller C to place the signals at stop in the event the electric lock should become improperly energized for some reason such for example as a short circuit.

Although I have herein shown and described only three forms of slow release locks for railway switches 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, whatI claim is: v

1. In combination, a railway switch, manually operable means for operating said switch between its two extreme positions and for locking it in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive to the position of said switch, other means for operating said circuit controller, means for locking said manually operable means in the position in which said switch is locked, and mechanism-set into operation by the operation of said other means for unlocking said manually operable means at the expiration of a timed interval.

2. In combination, a railway switch, manually operable means for operating said switch between its two extreme positions and for looking it in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive to the position of said switch, other means for operating said circuit controller, and means for preventing operation of said manually operable means away from the position in which said switch is locked except when said circuitcontroller is actuated by said other means and a predetermined time interval has elapsed thereafter.

3. In combination, a railway switch, means including a hand throw lever for operating said switch between its two extreme positions and for looking it in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive to the position of said switch, an auxiliary lever, means controlled by said auxiliary lever for operating said circuit controller, and means controlled by said auxiliary lever for at times preventing operation of said hand throw lever.

4. In combination, a railway switch, means including a hand throw lever for operating said switch between its two extreme positions and for looking it in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive to the position of said switch, an auxiliary lever, means controlled by said auxiliary lever for operating said circuit controller, and means controlled by said auxiliary lever for at times preventing operation of said hand throw lever away from the position in which said switch is locked.

5. In combination, a railway switch, means including a hand throw lever for operating said switch between its two extreme positions and for locking it in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive to the position of said switch, an auxiliary lever, means controlled by said auxiliary lever for operating said circuit controller,

and means controlled by said auxiliary lever for at times preventing operation of said hand throw lever away from the position in which said switch is locked for a timed interval after said auxiliary lever is operated to operate said circuit controller.

6. In combination, a railway switch, means including a hand throw lever for operating said switch between its two extreme positions and for locking it in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive to the position of said switch, an auxiliary lever, means controlled by said auxiliary lever for operating said circuit controller, and means for preventing operation of said hand throw lever away from the position in which said switch is locked except when said auxiliary lever is operated and a predetermined time interval has thereafter elapsed.

7. In combination, a railway switch, means including a hand throw lever for operating said switch between its two extreme positions, means operated by said hand throw lever for locking said switch in one extreme position, a circuit controller responsive to the position of said switch, an auxiliary lever, means controlled by said auxiliary lever for operating said circuit controller, mechanical time release mechanism controlled by said auxiliary lever, and means for locking said hand lever controlled by said time release mechanism.

8. In combination, a railway switch, a lock bar cooperating with means for locking said switch in one extreme position, manually operable means including a segment gear for actuating said lock bar and for moving said switch between its two extreme-positions, a circuit controller responsive to the'position of said switch, means including a'seo'on'd bar movable between two extreme positions for manually operating said circuit controller, a third bar movable between extreme positions, means on said segment gear cooperating with said third bar to prevent operation of said manually operable means when 'said third bar occupies its one extreme position, means operatively connecting said second and third bars in such manner that said third bar will be positively moved to its one extreme position when said second bar is moved to its one extreme position and will be yieldably urged to its other extreme position when said second bar is moved to its other extreme position, and time release mechanism connected with said third bar for controlling its rate of movement from its one to its other extreme position.

9. In combination, a railway switch, means including a segment gear operated by a hand throw lever for moving said switch between its two extreme positions and for looking it in one extreme position, a first bar manually operable between two extreme positions, a circuit controller responsive both to the position of said switch and to the position of said first bar, a second bar, means for positively moving said second bar to its one extreme position when said first bar is moved to its one extreme position and for biasing said second bar to its other extreme position when said first bar is moved to its other extreme position, means on said segment gear cooperating with said second bar for preventing said hand throw lever from being operated when said second bar occupies its one extreme position, and means for retarding movement of said second bar by said biasing means.

10. In combination, a railway switch, means including a segment gear operated by a hand throw lever for moving said switch between its two extreme positions and for looking it in one extreme position, a first bar provided in one end with rack teeth, a segment gear rotatable between two extreme positions and arranged to mesh with the rack teeth on said first bar in an intermediate part of its stroke to move said first bar between its two extreme positions, an auxiliary lever connected with said segment gear for rotating it between its two extreme positions, a second bar, means for positively moving said second bar to its one extreme osition when said first bar is moved to its one extreme position and for biasing said second bar to its other extreme position when said first bar is moved to its other extreme position, means on said segment gear cooperating with said second bar for preventing said hand throw lever from being operated when said second bar occupies its one extreme position, and means for retarding movement of said second bar by said biasing means.

11. In combination, a railway switch, means including a segment gear operated by a hand throw lever for moving said switch between its two extreme positions and for locking it in one extreme position, a first bar, two spaced rollers secured to said first bar, an auxiliary lever, a cam segment rotatable between two extreme positions by means of said auxiliary lever and cooperating with said rollers to reciprocate said first bar between its two extreme positions, a second bar, means for positively moving said second bar to its one extreme position when said first bar is moved to its one extreme position and for biasing said second bar to its other extreme troller responsive to the position of said switch,

manually operable means for actuating said circuit controller, an electric time measuring means set into'operation by operation of said circuit controller, anvelectric lock efiective when deenergized to prevent operation. of said hand throw lever, and means controlled by said time measuring means for controlling the energization of said look. I

, KENNETH J. J. MCGOWAN.

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