US2387115A

US2387115A - Electric lock

Info

Publication number: US2387115A
Application number: US513707A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert L Bone
Original assignee: Union Switch and Signal Inc
Current assignee: Hitachi Rail STS USA Inc
Priority date: 1943-12-10
Filing date: 1943-12-10
Publication date: 1945-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1962-10-16

Description

Oct. 1&61945. H; BONE Y `2,387,115 ELECTRIC 1LOGK Filed Dec. lo, 1943 e sheets-sheet 1 iY il IN VEN TOR HU ATTORNEY Oct. l, 1945. v H. I .BONE

ELECTRIC LOCK Filed Dec. l0, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 HIJ ATTORNEY Oct, 16, 19,45.`

' H. .v BONE I ELECTRIC LOCK Filed Dec..,l0, 1943. 6 SheelLS--Sheet 54 'HLP ATTORNEY Oct. 16, 1945. H.'| BONE 2,387,115

1 ELECTRIC LOCK l Filed Dec. l0, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 'r4 @xy/0f.

HIS ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 16, 1945 ELECTRIC Loon Herbert L. Bone, Forest Hills, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale,

Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application ,December 10, 1943, Serial No. 513,707

11 Claims. (Cl. 246-159) My invention relates to electric locks, and particularly to locks for preventing the unauthorized operation of railway trafc controlling devices such as switches, derails or the like.

lOne object of my invention is to provide an electric lock which may be used with any of the usual types of manually operable switch operatstand cooperates with the hand throw lever of the ing mechanisms, and which is capable 'of locking the mechanism in both its normal and its reverse positions. y

Another object of my invention is to provide an electric lock which can be bolted directly to the housing of a switch operating mechanism of the type described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,184,870, granted to myself and another on December 26, 1939, whereby the necessity for separate tie mounting is eliminated along-with the possibility of any shifting in relationship between the lock and the switch operating mechanism.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electric lock which does not require a lever lock rod. According to a preferred form of my invention, the lock comprises a casing which is adapted to be secured to the housing of switch operatingv trolled means which is effective when fdeenergized to prevent movement of the lock member from its intermediate to its one extreme position but not from its intermediate to its other extreme position. The lock member is operatively connected with a foot pedal and is biased to its intermediate extreme position. 'Ihe foot pedal, in turn, is operatively connected with a lever latch which cooperates with the hand throw lever of the switch operating mechanism in such manner that the hand throw lever is prevented from being moved away from its normal extreme position ex-` cept when the lever latch occupies an unlatching position corresponding tov said one eXtreme position of said lock member. An auxiliary latch stand is provided with a foot pedal and lever latch similarto the foot pedal' and lever latch of the lock proper, and the foot pedal'of thisstand is connected with the foot pedal of the lock in such manner that the foot pedal and latch of the stand are causedto operate inunison with the vfoot pedal and latch of the lock, The latch of the switch operating mechanism in such manner that the hand throw lever can be moved away from its reverse eXtreme position when and only when the lever latch of the stand occupies an unlatching position corresponding to said one extreme position of the lock member. The lockmember is provided with means which cooperates with the lock bar of the switch operating mechanism to retain the latch members in their unlatching eX- treme positions when the hand throw lever is between its two extreme positions. Means are provided for padlocking the lever latches in their latching extreme positions.

In an alternative form of my invention the electric lock is adapted to be secured to one of the ties which support the railway switch rather than to the switch operating mechanism housing, and differs from the lock described above principally in the fact that an externa1 lock rod operatively connected with the hand throw lever of the switch operating mechanism is used in place of the means secured to the locking member and cooperating with the lock bar of the switch operating mechanism to retain the leverlatch of the lock and the lever latch of the latch stand in their unlatching position while the hand throw lever is being moved from either extreme position to the other. f

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

Electric locks embodying my invention are an improvement upon the electric lock shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,126,834, granted to W. P. Neubert and W. E. Smith on February 2, 1915.

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

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing a railway switch operated by a switch operating mechanism provided withV a switch lock embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the switch operating mechanism and lock shown in Fig. 1, the cover for the switch operating mechanism being removed to better illustrate some of the working parts of the mechanism. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line Ill- III of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the motion plate of the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the mechanism and lock shown in Figs..2 and 3. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of theelectric lock shown in Figs.

2, 3 and 5, taken substantially on the line VI-VI of Fig. 2. Fig. '1 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line VII- VII of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a top plan view with the cover removed of the lock shown in Figs. 6 and '1. Fig. 9 is an enlarged side View of the lever latch stand LLS forming part of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 10 is a view similar-to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of lock embodying my invention; Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10. Fig. l2 is a sectional view of the modifled form of lock shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

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

Referring first to Fig. l, the reference character A designates a railway switch comprising, as

usual, two fixed rails l and la and two movable,

rails or

switch points

2 and 2a. The fixed rails l and la are laid on tie plates 3, and are secured to crossties 4 in the customary manner. The movable rails 2 and12a are fastened together by a front rod 5 and a head rod 5, and may be moved into a normal or a reverse position by means of a throw rod 1 Awhich is connected with the head rod 6 through the medium of a switch basket 8. Whenthe switch occupies its normal position, in which position it is shown in the drawings, the movable rail 2 engages the Viixed rail l, and the movable rail 2a is spaced from -the iixedrail la. When the switch is reversed,'how ever, the movable rail 2a then engages the IiXed rail la, and the movable rail 2 is spaced from the fixed rail l.

Secured to an elongated pair of the ties 4 adjacent the outer side of the rail I is a switch operating mechanism B for operating the switch A. This mechanism in the form here shown is identical in all essential respects to that described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,184,870, granted to myself and another on December`26, 1939, and it is believed. therefore, that for the purpose of my present invention the following brief description of this mechanism will suice. 7 f

As best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the mechanism B in the form illustrated comprises a sfu-itable housing l0 which encloses the operating parts of the mechanism, and which is closed at its upper end by av removable cover Il. Located within the housing l0 is direction plate25 (see Fig. 4) which is guided to slide longitudinallyin a direction parallel to the track by means of guide rollers 26 and 21, secured to the underside of the motion plate adjacent its opposite ends, and cooperating with guideways 28 provided on the bottom wall of the casing. The motion plate 25 has rack teeth 29 formed inrits upper surface, whichv teeth mesh With'a segment gear 3o mounted on a square shaft 3|. The shaft 3l is mounted at its ends in bearing sleeves 32 and 33 journaled in bosses 34 and35 formed in the sidewalls of the casing, and has secured thereto at its outer end adjacent to the sleeve 33 a hand throw lever 38 which serves as a means for reciprocating the motion plate between its two extreme positions.

A roller 40 is secured to the underside of the motion plate 25 adjacent Voneside thereof at a point equally spaced from the rollers 26 and 21, and this latter roller cooperates with cam. faces 4| and 42 formed on an escapement crank v43 (see Fig. 2). The escapement crank 43 is formed integrally with the upper end of a switch actuating vshaft 44, the shank .of which'is provided with two bearing surfaces 4'5 'and 4b separated by a squared portion 41. The

bearing surfaces

45 and 46 are journaled in vertically aligned

bearings

48 and 49 formed respectively in the bottom of the casing lill, and in a depending stirrup 50 which is provided on the underside of the casing, and secured to the square portion 41 of the shaft is a removable switch operating arm V580i' which is pivotally attached to the'free end of the throw rod 1.

A lock bar 5l extends longitudinally of the housing Hl directly above the motion plate 25, and is slidably mounted adjacent one end in a guideway formed in the casing 60 of an electric lock which is bolted to the end of the housing lll, and which embodies my present invention. The other end of the lock bar is slidably mounted in a guideway 54 (see Fig. 3) formed in a frame 55 which is bolted to the housing adjacent its lefthand end, and which serves as a support for a circuit controller. The lock bar is operatively connected with the motion plate by means of a stud 51 secured to the lock bar and extending into a transversely disposed slot 58 formed in the upper side of the motion plate. The parts are so proportioned that when the casing 58 is secured to the casing l0, the stud 51 will be held in operative engagement with the motion plate.

The left-hand end of the lock bar 5l cooperates with a notch 59 provided in a lockrod L which is secured to the front rod 5 of the switch A. The parts are so proportioned that the notch 59 will align with the lock bar when and only when the switch occupies its full normal position, and that, when the notch 5S is in alignment with the lock bar, and the motion plate is in its uleft-hand extreme position, the lock bar will have entered the notch 53, as shownvin Fig. 3, and will thus have locked the switch in its normal position.

The operation, as a whole, ofthe portion of the apparatus thus far described is as follows: When the hand throw lever 33 is rotated to its normal extreme position in which it is shown in the drawings, the motion plate 25 is moved to its extreme left-hand or normal position in which it is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and under these conditions, the switch points are held in'their normal positions by engagement of the roller 40 with the cam surface 4l of the escapement crank 43. Furthermore, under these conditions'the lock bar 5l enters the notch 59 in the lock rod L, thus locking the switch points in their lnormal positions.

When vit is desired to reverse the switch, the hand throw lever 38 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction through an angle of substantially from the extreme position shown to its opposite or reverse extreme position. This rotation of the hand throw lever acts throughth'e segment gear 30 and rack teeth 29 to move the motion plate to its right-hand extreme position, and as the motion plate moves to this latter position, the iirst part of the movement withdraws th'e lock bar 5l from the notch 59`in the lock rod L to unlock the switch; the'intermediate part of the movement causes the roller'40 to engage the cam surface 42 of the escapement crank 43 and rotate'the escapement crank tothe position in which the straightV portion of the cam surface 42 `extends parallel to the track, thereby rotating the switch 'actuating shaft toits reverse eXtreme position, and hence movingthe switch points to their reverse extreme positions; while the iinal part of the movement of the mo-V tion plate causes the'roller 4U to move along the straight portion of the cam'surface 42'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 the motion plate rather th'an 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 beenv moved to its reverse position, and it is desired to restore it to its normal position, th'e hand throw lever 38 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 detailed description.

Referring now to the electric lock embodying my invention, the casing B8 of this lock is closed at its upper end by a hinged cover 6| through which access to the interior of the casing may be had, and is provided at its forward side with an integral extension 62 formed with a jaw 63 (see Fig. 6) which receives the h'and throw lever 38 when and only when the hand throw lever occupies its normal eXtreme position in which it is shown in the drawings. also provided at one side with two spaced vertical standards 64 which support a pivot pin 65, and pivotally mounted on the pin 65 between the standards is a lever latch 66 (see Fig. 6). This latch is movable between a latching position in which it is shown in Fig. 6, and an unlatching position, and is provided with a nose portion 66a wh'ich, when the latch occupies its latching po- The extension 62 is sition, projects into the upper end of the jaw 63 in such manner that it prevents movement of the lever 38 into or out of the jaw, but which, when the latch is moved to its unlatching position, is withdrawn from the jaw. Th'e latch is also provided with an eye 86h and with a treadle portion 660. The eye 66h is so disposed that the bow of a padlock 61 (shown only in Fig. 6) can be inserted through the eye when and only when th'e latch occupies its latching position, and that, when the lock is in place in the eye, the bow of the lock Will cooperate with the undersides of lips 64a formed on the standards 66 to lock the latch in its latching position. 'I'he treadle portion 66e of the latch provides a means for at times restoring the latch to its latching position following its movement to its unlatching position under certain conditions which will be made clear hereinafter.

Pivotally mounted between the standards 64 below the latch 66 on another pin 68 is a foot pedal 69 provided with' a finger 89a which projects into and cooperates with a recess 66d in the lower edge of the latch 66 in such manner that movement of the foot pedal will cause corresponding movement of the latch or vice versa. The foot pedal 69 is also provided with depending slotted bifurcations 69h which straddle one end of a rod 10 slidably mounted in the eXtension 62 of the casing 60 below the jaw 63. The foot pedal is operatively connected with the rod 10 by a pin '1| extending throughv the slots in the bifurcations and through a clearance hole in the rod 10.

Th'e inner end of the rod 18 is provided with a screw'threaded portion 18a of reduced diameter, and screwed onto this portion is a block 12 which is pivotally connected by a pin 13 with a jaw 14a provided on the lowervend of a locking segment 14. 'I'he locking segment 14 is also provided with a sleeve portion 14h by means of which it is mounted to rock on a rod 15 secured in a fixed position in the housing 6l). The upper surface of the segment 14 is provided with a notch or recess 11 adapted to coact with a locking dog 18. This notch is elongated to permit the segment to rock through a limited angle when the dog 18 is in locking position for a purpose hereinafter explained. The dog 18 is formed on one end of a bar 79, the other end of which is secured to one end of an angle lever 80. The angle lever 88 is pivotally supported on pivot pins 8| mounted in depending lugs 82a provided on a supporting strap 82 secured by means of screws 83 to a magnet bracket 84, and its other arm carries an armature 85 adapted to be attracted by an electromagnet 86 mounted in the bracket 84. When the armature 85 is attracted by the electromagnet, it lifts the dog 18 out of the notch 11, thereby leaving segment 14 free to rock between its two extreme positions, but when th'e armature-is released, the dog 18 drops onto segment 14 and into the notch |1 if the latter is in alignment therewith.

The locking segment 14 is further provided with a lateral arm 90 terminating at its free end in a depending portion 9| which cooperates with two holes 5|a and 5|b disposed in longitudinally spaced relation in the lock bar 5| in such positions that the hole Sla will align with the depending portion 9| when and only when the hand throw lever 38 occupies its normal extreme position, and that the hole 5|b will align with the depending-portion 9| when and only when the hand throw lever occupies its reverse extreme position. The parts are so proportioned that when either one of the holes Ela or 5| b is in alignment with the depending portion 9| on the locking segment, the locking segment will be free to rotate to the extreme position shown, but that when the holes are out of alignment with the depending portion,

the depending portion will cooperate with the upper surface of the locking b-ar to hold the locking segment in the extreme position it occupies when the lever latch is moved to its unlocking position.

The sliding rod 18 is not mounted directly in the casing 60, but slides in a sleeve 81 screwed into an opening provided in the casing 6l). Slidably supported on the reduced portion 18a of the rod 10 between the sleeve 81 and the inner end of the block 12 are two spring guides 92 and 93 which support a coil spring 94. rI'he spring 94 is provided with sufficient initial compression so that it constantly urges the guides apart to the relative positions in which the guide 92 engages the inner end of the sleeve 81 and the guide 93 engages the adjacent end'wall of a compartment 95 in which the spring and spring guides are disposed, and the parts are so proportioned that when the guides are in the relative positions just mentioned and the rod 18 is in its mid stroke position, the shoulder formed at the junction of the reduced portion 18a of the rod with the main body portion of the rod will just touch the guide 92 and the inner end of the sleeve will just touch the guide 93. It will be apparent,-therefore, that the spring 94 acts through the spring guides 92 and 93 to bias the rod 1B to its mid stroke position, and hence biases the foot pedal 69 and lever latch' tov their mid stroke positions.

The notch 'l1 in the segment '14 is of sufficient length so'that when the padlock isremoved from the 'lever latch, the ylocking segment will be free to move, due to the bias of the spring 94, from the extreme position shown -to its intermediate position even thoughthe dog T8 is within the notch 11. Y

Attached to one side of the segment T4 is a cam 188 which `co'acts with a depressor arm IDI pivotally mounted at |02 in a lug |03 secured to the underside oa terminal board |84 of insulating material, which latter, in turn, is mounted on supports extending upwardly from the magnet bracketv 84. When the locking segment occupies y itsnormal-ex-treme position as shown in Fig. 6, the cam |09 is out of'engagement with the arm |8|, and under these conditions the armis held in a'lowered position both by the` force of gravity, and by'the'bias of a compressed coil spring |29 which is disposed between the upper side of the arm and a plate |2| overlying a hole |22 in the terminal board. When, however,` the locking segment is swung from the normal extreme position shown'to its intermediate or its other extreme position, 'the cam |08 engages the arm |0| and forces it to an upper position for a purpose to be made clear presently. The plate |2| is secured to the upper side of the terminal board |84 by means of the same screw which fastens the lug B3 to the terminal board, as will be obvious from an inspection of the drawings.

A contact operating bracket |83 (see Fig. 7) provided with three flexible contact lingers |I| is suspended from the terminal board |84 by means of three flexible supporting springs |69 one end of each of which is secured to the upper side of the bracket in electrical contact with an associated one of the contactV fingers, andthe other end of each of which is secured to the underside of the terminal board |84 by means of an associated terminal post H9. It will be seen, therefore, that each contact finger is electrically connected to an associated one of the terminal posts ||9 through the medium of the associated supporting spring |99. The bracket |88 is operatively connected with the depressor arm |8| through the medium of an operating arm i'i in such manner that the bracket will be moved to a raised or a lowered position according as the depressor arm is moved to its raised or lowered position, and the two outside contact fingers cooperate with two fixed contact members ||2 secured to terminal posts |13 mounted on the terminal board |94 to close or open back contacts |2 according as the depressor ann occupies its lowered or raised position, while the middle finger cooperates with a xed contact member H4 secured to a terminal post H5 mounted on the terminal board |96 to close or open a front contact ill- |54 according as the depressor arm occupies its raised or its lowered position. The contact member I4 is intended to be connected in series with the electromagnet winding, and serves to prevent this winding from becoming energized unless the parts are in the position in which the contact I M becomes closed.

The operating arm |91 is secured at one end to the underside of the bracket |99, and is provided at the other end with a slot which receives a V grooved bushing |05 of insulating material .secured by means of a screw |06 to the upper side ofthe arm ||l|. A flat spring I|6 of suitable flexibility is clamped to arm |8| underneath the bushing |85, andcooperates with the arm 19 in such manner that when the arm lili occupies its lowermost position and the magnet 86 is deenergized, sufficientl force will be transmitted through the spring H6 to the arm '1,9 to prevent vibration of the parts. Spring ||6 is raised by arm |9I out of engagement with arm 19 before magnet 86 can be energized'and therefore does not exert any force on the armature opposing its movement to its attracted position .when the magnet 86 becomes energized.

The'armature 85 also controls other lcontacts I8 in such manner that these contacts will be open or closed according as the armature is released or picked up. Thesecontacts may be used to provide an indication at a remote point of the energized or deenergized condition of the lock or for any other desired purpose.

The apparatus also includes means embodying my invention to enable the electric lock to be used to lock the switch in its reverse position as well as in its normal position. As here shown,these means comprise a lever latch stand LLS (see Figs. 2, 5 and 9) bolted to one of the ties 4 on the same side of the mechanism B as the hand throw lever 38, and provided with a jaw |63 which receives the hand throw lever 38v when it is operated to its reverse position in the same manner that the jaw 63 in the extension 82 on the electric lock receives the hand throw lever 38 when the hand throw lever occupies it normal position. The latch stand is formed with standards |66 corresponding to the standards 64 on the lock, and has pivoted therein between the standards on suitable pivot pins |65 and |68 a lever latch |66 and a foot pedal |69. 'I'he lever latch |66 and foot pedal are identical with the lever latch 56 and foot pedal 69 of the lock, and the two foot pedals 69 and |69 are mechanically connected together to cause them to operate in unison by means of a rocker shaft |25 provided at its 0pposite ends with cranks IEE and |21 respectively; The rocker shaft is pivoted at its ends on the heads of the pivot pins 68 and |68, and the two cranks extend through apertured lugs' 89e and |650 provided on the foot pedals.

The operation of the apparatus as a whole is as follows: When the switch A and the switch operating mechanism B occupy their normal positions as shown in Fig. l, the parts of the electric lock occupy the positions in which they are shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. That is to say, the padlock is inserted into the eye 65h of the lever latch 66 so that this lever latch and the foot pedal 89 we held in their normal lpositions in opposition to the bias of the centering spring 94, the locking segment '|11 occupies its normal position in which the depending portion 9|` of the arm 90 is within the hole Sla in the lock bar 5|, the electromagnet 85 is deenergized so that armature 85 is released and dog 'I8 is within the notch 11, and cam |06 is out of engagement with depressor arm |8| so that the contacts 2 are closed and contact I4 is open.

I shall now assume that it is desired to operate the switch to its reverse position. To do this, the padlock 61 is n rst removed from the eye 69h. This permits the spring SQ to move the rod 1U to its intermediate position which movement, in turn, moves Athe foot pedals 69 and |69, the lever latches 68 and |66 and the locking segment 'I4 to their intermediate positions. The movement of the locking segment 14 to its intermediate position acts through the medium of the lcam and depressor arm |0| to open the contacts I2 and to close the contacts I4, and if traic conditions are then such that it is safe to operate the switch as determined by the external control circuit which it is intended Will be provided for magnet 86, this magnet will automatically become energized. One form of control circuit which may, for example, be used to control the energization of the magnet 86 is shown in Fig, 4 of Patent No. 1,126,834 referred to 'hereinbefore Assuming that magnet 86 does become energized, the locking dog 18 will be lifted out of the notch 'l1 in the locking segment, to unlock the locking segment, and the contacts |8 will become opened. With the locking segment unlocked, the operator may depress foot pedal 69, whereupon latch 66 will be swung clear of the path of movement of the hand throw lever 38 out of the jaw 63 and the extension 9| on the arm 90 of the locking segment '1,4 will be swung out of the hole 5|a in the lock bar 5|. The lever latch |66 will also be swung out of the path of movement of the hand throw lever 38 into the jaw |63 in the lever latch stand LLS. Since the lever latches 66 and |66 are now both out of the path of movement of the hand throw lever, the hand throw lever may be operated to reverse the switch points in the usual manner, as described hereinbefore. As soon as the operator starts to move the hand throw lever, the hole 5|a in the lock bar 5| will move out of alignment with the depending portion 9| on the arm 96 of the locking segment, and, as a resultthe foot pedal 69 may then be released and the engagement of the depending portion 9| with the top` of the lock bar will act to hold the parts of the lock in the positions they then occupy so that the lever 38 will be free to enter either the jaw 63 or the jaw |63 without interference from the lever latches. When the hand throw lever reaches its full reverse position, the hole 5lb in the lock bar will then move into alignment with the depending portion 9| on the -arm 90 of the locking segment and will thus permit the spring 94 to return the parts of the lock to their intermediate positions. If, now, it is desired to lock the switch in its reverse position, the operator will depress the lever latch |66, by placing his foot on the treadle portion |66a thereof, and will then insert the padlock 61 in the eye |66b of the lever latch |66.

Inasmuch as the parts of the lever latch stand and the parts of the electric lock are caused vto operate in unison, the parts of the electric lock will be restored to their normal positions and will be subsequently held there as long as the switch remains locked in its reverse position.

When itis desired to again restore the parts to the positions shown, the padlock is removed from the eye |661) in the lever latch |66, and the foot pedal |69 is then depressed. The removal of the padlock permits the spring 94 of the electric lock to move the parts of the lock and the lever latch stand to their intermediate positions, and causes the electromagnet B6 to become energized in the same manner as was described hereinbefore when the lock was removed from the eye 66b of the lever latch 66, while the depression of the foot pedal |69 moves both lever latches to their unlatching positions. As soon as the latches are moved to their unlatching positions, the hand throw lever 38 may then be operated to its normal position in the usual manner. During the operation of the hand throw lever, both notches 5|a and 5|b in the lock bar Will be out of alignment with the depending portion 9| on the arm 90 of the electromagnet', and as a result the lever latches will be retained in their unlatching positions even though the operator removes his foot from the foot pedal |69 as soon as he has moved the hand throw lever a short distance from its reverse extreme position. When the hand throw lever is restored to its full normalposition, hole 5| a in the lock bar 5| will move into alignment with the depending portion 9| on the arm V96, and the spring 94 will then act to restore the parts of both the lock and the latch stand to their intermediate positions. Magnet 66 will thereupon become deenergized due to the resultant opening of contact l l I-l I2. As soon as the depending portion 9| enters the hole 5|a in the lock bar 5|, the lever latch may be depressed to its latching position, and the padlock 6l inserted in the eye 66h. When this is done, all parts will be restored to their normal positions in which they are shown in the drawings. 1

Referring now to Figs. 10, -11 and l2, the lock EL here shown is .adapted to be bolted to the ties instead of to the end of the housing of the switch operating mechanism B, and differs from the lock previously described principally in the fact that an external lock rod |99 is used in place of the arm 96 on the locking segmentl cooperating with the lock bar 5| to retain the lever latch'in its unlatched position while the hand throw lever 68 is in transit. One end of the rod is pivoted on a stud |9| mounted on the hub of the hand throw lever 36 on the vertical center line of the hand throw lever shaft belowl the axis of the shaft, and the other end is loosely supported to slide in an opening |92 (see Fig. 12) in oneof the standards 64 of the electric lock in close proximity to the finger 69a. When the lever latch 66 ismoved suficiently to clear the hand throw lever by ,depressing the foot pedal 69, the finger 69a will have moved out of the path of the rodv |96, and then when the lever 33 is swung upwardly, the rod |90 will be moved endwise behind the finger 69a as viewed in Fig. 12, and will thus act to retain the foot pedal in its depressed position and the latch in its unlatched position in opposition to the bias of the spring 96 until the hand throw lever is moved to one extreme position or the other. It will be seen, therefore, that with the lock constructed as shown in Figs. 10, 11a-nd 12, the lock rod |99 performs the same function as is performed by the arm A9|! and the holes 5|a and 5 Ib in the lock bar of the electric lock shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8: Y

The lock as shown in Figs. 10, l1 and l2 is further provided with an anti-rattler spring |93 mounted on one end of the pin 65 on which the lever latch 66 isY pivoted. One end of this spring is anchored to a pin |99 projecting from `one of the standards 64 below the pin 65, and the other end engages a, lug 66e provided on the side of the lever latch 66. The spring |93- is'assembled in such 'manner that it tends to rotateY lever latch 66 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig.` 12, and consequently tends to rotate Vfoot pedal 69 in a counterclockwise direction, whereby it assists spring 944 when the parts are in their latch-` ing positions.

The apparatus shown in Figs. l0, 11 and `12 also comprises a lever latch stand LLSI for locking the lever in the reverse position. This latchr stand is similar to the latch stand LLSprevously. described except for the fact Athat it is provided with an anti-rattler spring |94 y.similar to the Spring provided in the lock proper. The latch.

`stand is connected with the lock proper in a manner similar to that previously'described in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The anti-rattler spring |94 isl assembled so that it tends to bias the lever latch |66 to its locking position, and the parts are so proportioned that the forces exerted by the two anti-rattler springs on the lever latches will balance each other. It follows, therefore, that the anti-rattler springs do not interfere with the normal function of the lock but do act to prevent wear due to vibration.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 as a whole is similar to the previously described operation of the apparatus shown in the preceding views, and it is believed to be unnecessary, therefore, to refer to it in further detail herein.

If desired, anti-rattler springs similar to those just described may be applied to the form of the lock shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive.

Under some conditions it may be desirable to lock the switch in its normal position only. When this is the case, the form of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, may be adapted to this purpose by omitting the hole y5Ib inthe lock bar 5I and the latch stand LLS. With the hole Sib and the latch stand LLS eliminated, the lock can be locked up when and only when arm S aligns with hole 51a. which will occur when and only when the switch is locked in the normal position.

One advantage of apparatus embodying my invention is that it permits a hand` operated switch to be electrically locked in both its normal and reverse positions'by means of a single electric lock.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of electric locks embodying. my invention, it is understoodthat various changes and modications 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:

l. The combination with a switch operating mechanism including a hand throw lever movable between normal and reverse positions for moving an associated switchl between corresponding extreme positions, of two lever latches each movable between a latching and an unlatching position, one said latch cooperating with said lever to prevent its movement away from its normal extreme position except when said one latch occupies its unlatching position and the other said latch cooperating with said lever to prevent its movement away from its reverse extreme position except when said other latch occupies its unlatching position, means for operating said latches to their unlatching positions, means connecting said two latches together to cause them to operate in unison, and electromagnetically controlled means associated with one oi said latches and eiective when deenergized to prevent movement of said latches to their unlatching positions.

2. The combination with a switch operating mechanism including a hand throw lever movable between normal and reverse positions for moving an associated switch between corresponding extreme'positions, of two lever latches each movable between a latching and an unlatching position, one said latch cooperating with said lever to prevent its movement away from its normal extreme position except when said one latch occupies its unlatching position and the other said latch cooperating with said lever to prevent its movement away from its reverse extreme position except when said other latch occupies its unlatching position, means for operating said latches to their unlatching positions, means connecting said two latches together to cause them to operate in unison, electromagnetically controlled means associated with one of said latches and effective when deenergized to prevent movement of said latches to their unlatching positions, and means for locking said latches in their latching positions. Y

3. In combination, a switch operating lever movable between a normal and a reverse position, two lever latches each movable between latching andv unlatching positions, one said latch being effective in its latching position to prevent movement of said lever to or away from its normal extreme position, and the other said latch being effective in its latching position to prevent movement of said lever to or away from its reverse eXtreme position, means connecting said latches together to operate in unison, means biasing said latches to intermediate positions, a contact operated when said latch is operated from its latching to its intermediate position, and electromagnet means energizable over said contact, said electromagnetic means being effective when deenergized to permit movement of said latches from their latching positions to their intermediate positions and to prevent movement of said latches to their unlatching positions and being effective when energized to permit movement of said latches to their unlatching positions.

4. In combination, a switch operating lever movable between normal and reverse positions, -two lever latches each movable from a latching position through an intermediate position to an unlatching position, one said latch being effective in its latching position to prevent movement of said lever to or away from its normal position and the other said latch being effective in its latching position to prevent movement of said lever to or away from its reverse position, two foot pedals pivoted on aligned pivot pinsand one operatively connected with each of said latches, each said foot pedal being provided with an apertured lug, a rockshaft journaled at its ends on said pivot pins and provided with two cranks one engaging each of said foot pedals at said apertured lugs, and electroanagnetically controlled means associated with one of said latches and effective to prevent or permit movement of said latches to their unlatching positions according as said means is deenergized or energized.`

5. In combination, a switch operating lever movable between normal and reverse positions, two lever latches each movable from a latching position through an intermediate position to an unlatching position, one said latch being effective in its latching position to prevent movement of said lever to or away from its normal position and the other said latch being effective in its latching position to prevent movement of said lever to or away from its reverse position, two foot pedals pivoted on aligned pivot pins and one operatively connected with each of said latches, each said foot pedal being provided with an apertured lug, a rockshaft journaled at its ends on said pivot pins and provided With twocranks one engaging each of said foot pedals at said apertured lugs, means biasing said foot pedals to intermediate positions, a contact operated when either foot pedal is moved from its latching to an intermediate position, and electromagnetic means energizable over said contact, said electromagnetic means being effective when deenergized to permit movement of vsaid latches from their latching t their intermediate positions and to prevent movement of said latches to their unlatching positions and when energized to permit movement of said latches to their unlatching positions.

6. In combination, a switch operating lever movable between normal and reverse positions, two lever latches each movable from a latching position through an intermediate position to an unlatching position, one said latch being effective in' its latching position to prevent movement of said lever to or away from its normal position and the other said latch being eiective in its latching position to prevent movement of said lever to or away from its reverse position, two foot pedalsl pivoted on aligned pivot pins and one operatively connected with each of said latches, each said foot pedal being provided with an apertured lug, a rockshaft journaled at its ends on said pivot pins and provided with two cranks one engaging each of said foot pedals at said apertured lugs, means biasing said foot pedals to intermediate positions, a Contact operated when either foot pedal is moved from its latching to an intermediate position, electromagnetic means energizable over said contact, said electromagnetic means being effective when deenergized to permit movement of said latches from their latching to their intermediate positions and to prevent movement-of said latches to their unlatching positions and when energized to permit movement of said latchesto their unlatching positions, and two antirattler springs one connected to each of said latches, said springs being sodisposed that the netforces exerted thereby on said latches neutralize each other.

7. In combination, ajswitch operating lever operable between normal and reverse positions, a rst Vlatch movable between latching and unlatching positions and effective Ywhen in its latching position to prevent movement Vof said lever away from its normal position, a locking member operatively connected with said first latch and movable between an intermediate and two Aextreme positions, electromagnetic means cooperating with said locking member in such manner that when Said means is deenergized it permits movement of said member between said intermediate position and one extreme position but not to the other extreme position unless the magnetis energized, a contact controlled by said locking member and closed or open according as said locking member occupies said intermediate position or said other extreme position, said contact controlling the energization of said electromagnet, a first foot pedal connected with said rst latch for moving it to its unlatching position, a latch stand including a second latch movable between latching and unlatching positions and elective when in its latching position to prevent movement of said lever away from its reverse position, a second foot pedal operatively connected with said second latch for moving it to its unlatching position, and means connecting said two foot pedals together to cause them to operate in unison, whereby both latches are prevented from being moved to their unlatching positions unless said electromagnet is energized.

8. The combination with a switch operating mechanism including a hand throw lever movable between two extreme positions for moving a switch between its two extreme positions and a lock lbar movable to a locking position, of an electric lock comprising a casing secured tov said switch operating mechanism'and receiving one end of said lock bar for locking the switch in its one extreme position, a locking member mounted in said casing for movement between an intermediate and two extreme positions, means for biasing said locking member to its intermediate extreme position, a contact controlled by said locking member and-.operated by movement of said locking member away from its one extreme position, electromagnetic means energized over said contact and cooperating with said locking member in such manner that movement of said locking member between said one eXtreme vposition and its intermediate position is permitted and movement to its other extreme position is prevented when said means is deenergized but that movement of said locking member; to its other vextremer position is permitted when said means is energized, means for moving said locking member to its other extreme position, a latching member operatively connected with said locking member through the medium of said last mentioned means and movable to a latching or an unlatching position according as said locking member occupies its one or its other eXtreme position, said latching. memberv being eiective when in its latching position to prevent move-` ment of said lever away from its one extreme position, and means controlled by said lock bar for retaining said latching member in its unlatching position when said hand throw lever is moved away from its one extreme position,

9. The combination with a switch operating mechanism including a hand throw lever movable between two extreme positions` for moving a switch between its two extreme positions and a lock bar movable to a locking position, of'an electric lock comprising a casing secured to said switch operating mechanism and receiving4 one end of said lock bar for'locking the switch inv its oneA extreme position, a locking member mounted in said casing for movement between an intermediate and two extreme positions, means for biasing said locking member to its intermediate extreme position, a contact controlled by said locking member and operated by movement of said locking member away from its one extreme position, electromagnetic means energized over said lcontact and cooperating with said locking member in such manner that movement of said locking member between said one extreme position and its intermediate position is permitted and movement to its other eXtreme position is prevented when said means is deenergized but that movement of said locking member to its other extreme position is permitted when said means is energized, a foot pedal operatively connected with said locking member for moving it, a rst latching member operatively connected with said locking member through-the medium of said foot pedal and movable to a latching or an unlatching position according as said locking member is moved to its one or its other extreme position, said rst latching memberv being effective when in its latching position to prevent movement of said hand lever away from its one eXtreme position, a latch stand including a second latching member movable between latching and unlatching positions and operatively connected with a second foot pedal for moving said second latching member, means connecting said two foot pedals together to cause them to operate in unison, and means controlled by said lock bar for retaining both said latching members in their unlatching positions when said lever is between its two Vextreme positions.

10. The combination with a switch operating mechanism including a hand throw lever movable between two extreme positions for moving a, switch between two extreme positions and a lock bar movable to a locking position when and only when saidswitch occupies its one extreme position, of an electric lock comprising a casing secured to said switch operating mechanism and receiving one end of said lock bar, a latch pivotally attached to said casing for movement between a latching and an unlatching position and effective when in its latching position to prevent movement of said lever away from its one extreme position, a foot pedal pivotally attached to said casing and operatively connected with said latch, a locking segment pivotally mounted in said casing and operatively connected with said foot pedal, said locking segment being movable to one extreme positionv or another according as said `latch is moved to its latching or its unlatching position, means biasing said locking segment and connected parts to intermediate positions, a, contact, means operated by movement of said locking segment away from its one extreme position for operating Asaid contact, l electromagnetic means energized over said contact, said electromagnetic means being effective when deenergized to permit movement of said locking segment between its one extreme position and its intermediate position but to prevent movement past its intermediate position toward its otherextreme position and when energized to permit movement of said locking segment to its other extreme position, an arm secured to said locking segment and provided with' a depending portion cooperating with said lock bar, said lock bar being provided with a hole which aligns with said depending portion when and only when said bar occupies its locking position, the parts being so proportioned that when said hole is in alignment with said depending portion said segment,V is free to move to its one extreme position but that when said h'ole is out of alignment with said depending portion said depending portion will cooperate with the top of said bar to retain said latch in its unlatching position.

11. ,The combination with a switch operating mechanism including a hand throw lever movable between two extreme positions for moving a switch between two extreme positions and a lock bar movable to a locking position when and only when said switch occupies its one extreme position, of an electric lock comprising a casing secured to said switch operating mechanism and receiving one end of said lock bar, a latch pivotally attached to said casing for movement between a latching and an unlatching position and effective when in its latching position to prevent movement of said lever away from its one extreme position, a foot pedal pivotally attached to said casing and operatively connected with said latch, a locking segment pivotally mounted in said casing and operatively connected with said foot pedal, said locking segment being movable to one extreme position or another according as said latch is moved to its latching or its unlatching position, means biasing said locking segment and connected parts to intermediate positions, a contact, means operated by movement of said locking segment away from its one extreme position for operating said contact, electromagnetic means energized over said contact, said electromagnetic means being eiective wh'en deenergized to permit movement of said locking segment between its one extreme position and its intermediate position but to prevent movement past its intermediate position toward its other extreme position and when energized to permit movement of said locking segment :to its other eX- treme position, an arm secured to said locking segment and provided with a depending portion cooperating with said lock bar, said lock bar being provided with a hole which aligns with said depending portion when and only when said bar occupies its locking position, the parts being so proportioned that when said hole is in alignment with said depending portion said segment is free to move to its one extreme position but that when said hole is out of alignment with said depending portion said depending portion will cooperate with the top of said bar to retain said latchin its unlatching position, and means for locking said latch in its latching position. HERBERT L. BONE.