US2559477A - Switch machine for railroads - Google Patents

Description

y 1951 J. E. STEPHENSON 2,559,477 I SWITCH MACHINE FOR RAIL-ROADS Filed July 16, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

July 3, 1951 J. E. STEPHENSON 'SWITCH MACHINE FOR RAILROADS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1946 N, W. v k t L Wk KER INV TOR;

ATTORNEY July 3, 1951 Filed July 16, 1946 FIG. 5.

Jv E. STEPHENSON SWITCH MACHINE FOR RAILROADS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 412 ATT.OQNEY Patented July 3, 1951 SWITCH MACHINE FOR RAILROADS James E. Stephenson, Gates, N. Y., assignor to General Railway Signal Company, Rochester, N. Y.

Application July 16, 1946, Serial No. 683,884

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to switch machines for railroads, and it more particularly pertains to improvements in switch machines of the handoperated type.

Higher speed traffic on the railroads has required the use of heavier track rails and higher speed track switches. The use of heavier track rails and higher speed switches in turn requires the use of switch operating mechanisms that can handle the heavier switches without excessive effort being required on the part of the switch operator, and also requires more positive looking of the switch points in their operated positions than is required for lower speed traffic on lighter track rails.

An object of the present invention, in view of the above remarks and other considerations, is to provide a dependable hand-operated switch machine which will operate heavy track switches without requiring excessive effort on the part of the switch operator, such machine comprising a minimum number of parts so located and assembled as to facilitate the maintenance of the mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dependable locking means by which a lock plunger assembly in the switch machine can lock the points of a track switch when such track switch is in correspondence with the position of the machine in either a normal or a reverse position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for reversing the relative direction of operation of a throw rod operating mechanism in the switch machine with respect to the hand throw lever without disturbing the lock plunger assembly thus providing that a minor change in the arrangement of parts, within the switch machine will reverse the direction of operation of the machine. Such mode of operation is desirable in adapting a'switch machine that has been provided for use with a righthand track switch for use with a left-hand track switch, or vice versa, assuming the switch machine to be located on the same side of the main track in either case. The simplicity of the reversal of direction of operation of the switch machine requires that only a single type of track switch need be stocked, as it is readily adaptable for use on either side of the main track for-either a right-hand or left-hand switch layout.

Another object of the present invention is to include in the switch machine a dependable detectorcontact mechanism having readily .accessible adjustable normal and reverse contact Lopcrating mechanisms and having a structure to provide that the normal contacts are held open if the switch points are damaged so as to be spread from their normal positions, even though such switch points may spring back within the limits of their normal adjustment, thus calling attention to a signal maintainer or other railroad employee that the track switch has been damaged.

Other objects, purposes, and characteristic features of the present invention will be in part obvious from the accompanying drawings, and in part pointed out as the description of the inyention progresses.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters are used todesignate corresponding and similar parts in the several views, and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the switch machine with its cover removed showing the machine secured to switch ties in operating position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the switch machine taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

,Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the switch showing a modified structure for use with a target of medium height;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the switch machine showing a modified structure for use without a target; and,

Fig. 5 illustrates in perspective the cooperation of the more essential operating elements of the switch machine, with some parts omitted, certain parts being shown in an expanded or diagrammatic manner to more clearly illustrate the general structure and mode of operation.

Theswitch machine case CA (see Figs. 1 and 2') is suitably secured along the right-hand side of the left-hand track switch TS (see Fig. 5 at points 5 and 6 (see Fig. -1) to an elongatedswitch tie 'l, and at pointsB, 9, Hi and H to the switch tie l2.

Within the case CA, and extending longitudinally along the bottom and on each side of its center is a channel formed by an outer wall 13 and an inner wall M to provide guides for the rollers l5 and it (see Fig. 2) which are secured to the underside and near the ends of a longitudinal toothed rack GR to provide a channel for guiding the rack GR. when it is disposed oneither sideof a lock plunger LP.

A dog l (seeFig-S) is formed to protrude from the inside edge and at the right-hand end of the rack GR, and it removably'couples the rack GR effective to dispose the rack GR at a position longitudinally along the side of the lock plunger LP directly opposite from the position in which the rack GR is shown in the accompanying drawings.

A throw shaft 20 extends through a longitudi- 1 nal slot 2| in the lock plunger LP and is journalled in a boss 22 (see Fig. 2) at the top of the case CA, and in a boss 23 at the bottom of the case CA. The shaft extends through the bot- 7 tom of the case CA and drives a throw crank 24' which is suitably coupled to the shaft 20 as by the pin 25 (see Fig. 2). The shaft 20 has a squared portion at the point 26 (see Fig. 5) directly above the boss 23, and an escapement crank 21 having a squared center opening is fitted over the squared portion of the shaft 20 so as to be removably secured to the shaft.

The escapement crank 21 is operated by the reciprocation of the roller 28 which is secured to the underside of the rack GR at a point near the center of the rack. The roller 28 operates within the jaw 29 of the escapement crank 27 to rotate the throw shaft 20 and thereby operate the movable points 30 and 3l of the track switch TS which are connected by the throw rod TR' to the point 32 of the throw crank 24.

The rack GR is reciprocated by the rotation of a toothed sector S in mesh with the teeth 33 of the rack GR, the sector gear S operating through approximately 180. The sector gear S is slidable on the square shaft 34 so as to be readily removed from the shaft 34 and shifted to the opposite side of the lock plunger LP, along with the rack GR, when it is desired to reverse the direction of operation of the throw rod TR with respect to the operation of a hand throw lever HT, which is suitably secured to the square shaft 34 as by the through bolt 35. By a slight bevel 36 at the ends of the teeth 31 on the sector gear S, cooperating with a bevel formed in the walls 38 at the ends of the teeth 33, the sector gear S is maintained in its proper operating position longitudinally along the square shaft 34 without being rigidly secured to the shaft.

The square shaft 34 is journalled in the bosses 39 and 45 (see Fig. l) of the case CA by the use of removable bushings 4| and 42. The collar 43 is suitably secured as by the through bolt 44 to the opposite end of the shaft 34 from the hand throw lever HT, and it will be readily apparent that the collar 43 and the hand throw lever HT can be readily transposed when it is desirable to locate the switch machine on the opposite side of the track switch TS (see Fig. 5)

The locking of the track switch TS in its normal position is accomplished by the engagement of the locking dog 45 (see Fig. 5) which is suitably secured to theunderside of the lock plunger LP, in a notch 46 formed in the upper side of an adjustable lock rod LR. The lock rod LR is connected to the front rod of the track switch TS in the usual manner. It extends through both sides of the case CA under the lock plunger LP, and it is guided by a suitable channel formed by the walls 4'! and 48 (see Fig. '2) in the bottom of the case CA. The lock rod LR comprises the 4 parallel bars 49 and 55 (see Fig. 5) adjustably' coupled together so as to cooperatively form a normal locking notch 43 extending through the upper side of the bar 55 and into the bar 49, and a reverse locking notch 55 extending through the bar 45 and into the bar '55. The locking dog 52, which is secured to the underside of the lock plunger LP near its left-hand end, is so spaced as to enter the reversed notch Si in the lock rod LR when the switch machine is near the end of its operation to its reverse position. By the use of the notches 45 and 5| extending only part way through the lock rod LR from opposite sides, it is provided that should certain parts become disconnected and out of correspondence, the normal dog 45 can never enter the reverse notch 5i of the lock rod LR," and similarly, the reverse dog 52 can never enter the normal notch 46 of the lock rod LR. v

The abutments 53 and 54 (see Fig. l) on the opposite sides of the lock plunger LP are formed in the case CA to provide a channel for the longitudinal operation of the lock plunger LP and they provide a rigid support against transverse forces transmitted to the lock plunger ll from the track switch TS through the lock rod LR.

Normal and reverse switch circuit controller mechanisms NC and RC are secured to a common frame 7 l, which in turn is suitably secured within the case CA above the lock plunger LP as by the bolts '52 extending into the shoulder 74 within the upper side of the case CA (see Fig. l) and the bolts "25 extending into the shoulder 16 Within the lower side of the case CA. By the removal of these 4 bolts, the circuit controlls NC and RC can be readily removed as a unit for servicing and replacement.

. Considering first the structure of the normal switch circuit controller NC, a block 18 of insulating material is secured by the screws it to shoulders Si) and 8| on the opposite sides of the frame il. Spaced across the top of the block t8, and recessed into the block 78, are contact fingers Fl, and spaced directly underneath the fingers Fl across the bottom of the block 78 are cooperating contact fingers F2, which are recessed into the lower surface of the block 18. The binding posts 82 serve to secure the contacts Fl and F2 near their left-hand ends to the block E8 and make electrical connection to the respective contacts F2, while being insulated by the insulation strips 83 from the contact fingers Fl. Similarly, the binding posts 84 serve to secure the contacts Fl and F2 near their left-hand ends to the block if! and make electrical connection to the respective contacts Fl while being insulated from contacts F2 A U-shaped rocker Rl (see Fig. 1) has its ends pivoted by a pin 85 which in turn is journalled in bosses'86 and 87 in the opposite sides of the frame II. The right-hand ends of the contact fingers F2 are clamped to the rocker Rl between the strips of insulating material 88 and 89 which are suitably secured to the rocker RI. A cooperating rocker R2 (see Fig. 2) is pivoted by the pin 85 and it carries a roller 9| which is biased by spring 90 against the upper surface of the lock plunger LP because of the rocker R2 being spaced beneath the rocker Rl by the adjustment screw 92. It will be readily apparent that the adjustment 92 varies the gap of the contacts FI and F2 when these contacts are opened by the operation of the switch machine away from its normal position. The roller BI is disposedso as to be operate ed by the normal cam 93 (see Figs. 1 and 5) which is secured to the upper surface of the lock plunger LP so as to be moved longitudinally upon the driving of the rack GR. The cam 93 is of sufiicient length to allow the roller 9I to drop and close contacts FI and F2 only when the switch operating mechanism is in its normal position and the lock rod LR is locked by the dog 45. When the lock plunger LP is operated to the right, the cam surface 93a (see Fig. 5) acts to lift the roller 9| and thus open the contacts FI and F2.

The detector rod DR extends transversely through the sides of the case CA, and it is slidable through the guide plates 94 (see Fig. 1) which are suitably secured to the opposite sides of the case CA. It is to be understood that the detector rod DR is suitably connected to a point of the track switch TS (generally the point that is normally closed) according to the usual practice as indicated by the dotted line I4l (see Fig. 5), and it will be apparent from Fig. 1 that either end of the detector rod DR may be connected to a switch point, dependent upon which side of the track the switch machine is located.

The roller 95 (see Figs. 2 and 5) which is secured to the longitudinally slidable bracket 96, is normally positioned within the normal notch 91 of the detector rod DR. It is biased within .notch 91 by the spring 98 which acts to bias a catch I04 against the stationary rib I95 (see Figs. 1. 2 and 5) of the frame II. The catch I94 is pivoted at the point I99 of cam IOI which is slidable longitudinally (see Fig. 5) on the upper surface of the lock plunger LP through a channel formed by the normal cam 93 and a cam I92. The spring 98 thus biases the cam IUI to the left (see Fig. 2) against the head of the adjustment screw I93 (see Fig. 1) which is threaded into the longitudinally movable bracket 96.

The movement of the detector rod DR (see Fig. 5) from its normal position operates the bracket 96 to the right and thus operates the cam lIlI to the right to raise the roller 9| by the cam surface IIlIa to open the contacts Fl and F2. It will be readily apparent that this operation is independent of the switch operating mechanism to provide that the contacts Fl and F2 are opened Whenever the switch points become spread more than the allowable limit which is generally approximately A. inch.

If the switch points become spread, as by a train improperly trailing the track switch TS when it is in its normal position, the contacts FI and F2 are opened, and by reason of the catch I94 dropping off of the shoulder l95 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 5) of the frame II as caused by the movement of the cam Illl to the right, the contacts Fl and F2 are held open to maintain signals governing traffic over the switch at stop, and thereby call attention to the fact that the switch points have been damaged.

Restoration of the catch I94 to its normal position can be effected manually by applying pressure at the point ll, or by operating the machine so as to cause the cam surfaces 93b and IBM to operate rollers I91 secured at the opposite sides of the catch I94 and thereby raise the catch I94 so that it will extend over the shoulder I95 of the frame II upon restoration of the switch operating mechanism to its normal position. This is true because the roller 95 enters the notch 91 to allow the catch I94 to extend over the shoulder 'l05 before the lock plunger LP is operated to its full left-hand position to slide the cams 93 and I92 from under the rollers I01.

The structure of the reverse switch controller circuit RC issomewhat similar to the structure of the normal switch controller circuit NC in that it has a similar contact block having contacts FI .and F2 (see Fig. 2) secured to the block by terminal posts I08 and I09. The contacts F2 are secured at their right-hand ends by insulating strips III! and III to a rocker R3 which is biased by the spring I I2 in a direction to close contacts FI and F2 except as limited by the roller II3 which is disposed to operate against the underside of the lock plunger LP and is tensionally connected to the rocker R3 by the adjusting nut H4. The adjustment nut II is adjusted to maintain contacts FI and F2 open except when the roller II3 drops into the notch H5 in the underside of the lock plunger LP, corresponding to the reversed position of the switch operating mechanism.

The rocker R3 (see Figs. 2 and 5) can also be operated by the detector rod DR through a rocker R4 which is pivoted by a pin Ilt serving as a pivot point for both the rockers R and R3. The rocker R4 has secured thereto a roller Ill which acts against the side IIB of the detector rod DR to maintain contacts F'I and F2 open unless the detector rod is in its reversed position to allow the roller II? to drop into the notch H9 and thereby allow the rocker Rd to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot point H6. The rocker R9 is coupled to the rocker R3 through the adjustment screw I20 so as to open the contacts FI and F2 when the roller II? is forced out of the notch H9, irrespective of the position of the roller II3 which is operated by the lock plunger. It is, therefore, provided that the contacts of the reverse switch circuit controller RC as well as the contacts of the normal switch circuit controller NC can be opened either by the detector rod DR or by the lock plunger LP, each acting independent in this respect.

Provision is made for the adjustable attachment of either a high or a low switch target, or the machine may be used without a target in accordance with the requirements of practice. When used with low target, the target operating structure may be provided as shown in Fig. 2 wherein the target T is secured to a vane IEI formed as a part of a cover I22 for the upper end of the throw shaft 29. A cover plate I23 is secured to the top of the case CA, and within the center of such cover plate, an adjustment collar I24 is secured by the pin I25 to the shaft 29, such collar l2 l having an upper serrated surface I29 cooperating with a lower serrated surface of the cover I22 to provide a means by which the relative position of the target T with respect to the position of the switch points can be rotatably adjusted in accordance with the requirements of practice. The cover plate E22 is suitably secured as by the nut I27 to the collar I24. The washer I23 serves as a'spacer 'between the collar I26 and the boss 22.

If it is desired to use a high target, the cover I22 is replaced by the cover I29 (see Fig. 3) which is adapted to receive a target shaft I39 which is suitably coupled to the cover I29 as by the pin I3I.

If it is desired to use the switch machine without a target, a shorter throw shaft is provided such as shaft I 32 shown in Fig. 4, and such shaft is threaded on the top end to receive a nut 13 3' and a washer I34 for supporting the shaft l32 at the top of the boss '22. Because of the boss 22 being recessed in the case CA a flat cover plate I35 can be secured to the case above the upper end of the shaft I32.

It will be noted that the right-hand end of the lock plunger LP extends through the righthand end of the case CA, and it is guided by a plate I42. A hole I36 is illustrated in the righthand end of the lock plunger LP to provide a means for connecting the lock plunger to any other apparatus desired to be operated by the lock plunger, such as to a derail, or the lock plunger of another switch machine. If a lock plunger LP is to be operated by the lock plunger of another machine, such lock plunger is not coupled to the rack GR, and thus the rack GR used in such a machine is provided without a dog corresponding to the dog I! shown in Fig. 5.

It will be noted from the description as it has been set forth that the various adjustments of the switch circuit controllers are in positions to be conveniently adjusted with the cover of the switch machine removed. The cover C is of suflicient size and shape to facilitate the adjustment or removal of the switch circuit controllers and the transposition of the rack GR from one side of the lock plunger LP to the other for reversing the direction of operation of the throw rod TR with respect to the operation of the hand throw lever HT. The cover C is hooked into the eye bolts I31 so that it may be readily removed, and it is secured tightly in place by the hasp I33 with the packing 139 being effective to provide a tight seal for the cover to protect the operating mechanism against dust and dirt.

Having thus described in detail the structure of the switch machine provided by the present invention together with the general function of certain of the parts, consideration will now be given as to the mode of operation of the machine upon operating the track switch TS from its normal to its reverse position.

With the track switch TS in its normal position as shown, tendency of the track switch to creep from its normal position is restricted by the face 29a of the escapement crank 27 which bears against the roller 28 to transmit any pressure applied to the throw rod TR by the track switch TS as a transverse pressure with respect to the longitudinal operation of the rack GR. Thus, there is no tendency to move the rack GR longitudinally due to pressure applied to the throw rod TR from the track switch TS.

Assuming the catch hid (see Fig. 1) tobe released and the hand throw lever HT operated from its right-hand to its left-hand position, the initial operation of the lever operates the lock plunger LP to the right to remove the dog 45 from the notch 0.16 in the lock rod LR (see Fig. 5). Such movement is provided without operating the throw shaft 26 because the roller 28 cannot cause operation of the shaft until it has been operated to the reverse operating surface 2% of the escapement crank 21. When the roller 23 operates within the jaw 29 of the escapement crank 2'? to cause the shaft 20 to be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, the mechanical advantage increases as the end of the operating stroke is approached because of the action of the roller 28 against the reverse operating surface 2% when the surface 291) is nearly parallel to the direction of movement of the roller 28. The full reverse position is reached near the end of the stroke "of the hand throw lever HT where the surface 29b is parallel to the direction of movement of the roller 28 after the escapement crank 21 has been operated through approximately and subsequently sufiicient longitudinal movement of, the lock plunger LP in a right-hand direction is provided to cause the dog 52 to enter the notch 5| in the lock rod LR, and thus lock the track switch in its reverse position. It is pelieved to be apparent from the description as it has been set forth that the initial operation of the hand throw lever HT in operating the track switch from normal to its reverse position is efiective to open the contacts Fl and F2 of the normal switch circuit controller NC because of the roller 9i being raised by the .cam surface 93a; and similarly, the contacts FI and F2 of the reverse circuit controller RC become closed after the track switch is locked in its reversed position when the roller H3 enters the notch H5 in the under side of the lock plunger LP.

Although the switch circuit controller contacts most generally employed for closing signal control circuits are closed only in the fullnormal and full-reverse positions as they have been described, it will be readily apparent that the contacts can be arranged to be opened only when the track switch TS is in its full-normal or full-reverse position if such is the requirements of practice.

To consider, a specific example of how the parts of the switch machine can be rearranged to change the direction of movement of the throw crank 24 with respect to the hand throw lever HT, it will be assumed that the machine is initially assembled as shown in the accompanying drawings. Upon removing the collar 43, the shaft 34 can be removed from the sector S, and upon removing the bolts 12 and 15 the switch circuit controllers NC and RC are readily removed to provide clearance for transposing the rack GR when turned end. for end to the opposite side of the lock plunger LP. When the rack GR is removed, the escapement crank 21 is rotated so that the roller 28 will fall within the jaw 29 of the escapement crank 2? when the rack GR is inserted in the machine at the opposite side of the lock plunger LP.

With the rack GR in its new position, the sector S can again be positioned on the shaft 35 with its teeth 3'? in mesh with the teeth 33 of the rack GR, and the collar 23 can be again secured at the end of the shaft 3d. The removal of the pin 25 allows the crank 2d to be shifted 180 to complete the change required to reverse the direction of movement of the throw crank 2d with respect to the hand throw lever HT. It will be noted that this change is facilitated by having the rack GR removably coupled to the lock plunger LP so that the change can be made readily without disturbing the lock plunger and the associated cams 93, ml and I62, or the throw shaft 20.

If it is not required in practice that a track switch with which the switch machine is used be locked in its reverse as well as its normal position, the double lock rod LR is not required as a single lock rod having only a normal notch is sufficient. When it is not required to look a track switch in its reverse position, the reverse locking dog 52 is omitted from the underside of the lock plunger LP.

Having thus described a hand operated switch machine as one specific embodiment of the pres ent invention, it is desired to be understood that this form is selected more to facilitate in the disclosure of the present invention rather than to limit the number of forms which the invention may assume, and it is to be further understood that various adaptations, alterations, and modifications may be applied to the specific form shown to meet the requirements of practice without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention except as limited by the appending claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a hand-operated switch machine for positioning a track switch, a casing, a lock plunger for locking said track switch extending longitudinally through the center of said casing having a slot extending longitudinally, a throw shaft extending through said slot and journalled at the top and bottom of said casing, an escapement crank rotatably secured to said shaft, a toothed rack slidable longitudinally in said casing when disposed at either side of said lock plunger, said rack having a roller at an intermediate point receivable within the jaw of said escapement crank so as to rotate said shaft in response to the longitudinal movement of said rack, and said rack being removably coupled to said lock plunger when disposed on either side of said lock plunger, and means for reciprocating said rack when it is disposed at either side of said lock plunger, whereby the relative direction of rotation of said shaft with respect to the longitudinal movement of said rack can be changed without disturbing said lock plunger by the transposition of said rack from one side of said lock plunger to the other.

2. In a hand-operated switch machine, a casing, a lock plunger extending longitudinally through said casing having a slot extending longitudinally, a throw shaft extending through said slot and journalled at the top and bottom of said casing, a rack coupled to one side of said lock plunger and operable longitudinally in said casing, an escapement crank on said throw shaft operated by said rack, a toothed sector for driving said rack, and a target adjustably coupled to the upper end of said throw shaft in axial alignment with said shaft.

3. A hand operated switch machine for operating a track switch comprising in combination, a casing having two laterally spaced longitudinal channels formed in the bottom thereof, a lock plunger extending longitudinally through the center of the switch machine having respective normal and reverse locking dogs secured thereto for locking said track switch, said lock plunger having a longitudinal slot, and said lock plunger having recesses in opposite sides thereof, a toothed rack slidable longitudinally in said casing having several spaced rollers secured to the under side thereof, all of said rollers being disposed upon the longitudinal axis of said toothed rack so as to operate in one or the other of said channels, dependent upon at which side of said lock plunger said rack is disposed, and said rack having a detent formed in one side thereof so as to respectively engage one of said recesses in said lock plunger when said rack is disposed at either side of said lock plunger with its guiding rollers within one or the other of said channels, a toothed sector for reciprocating said rack, a crank having a jaw cooperating with one of said rollers, and a throw shaft carrying said crank, said throw shaft being journaled in the upper and lower sides of said casing and extending through said longitudinal slot in said lock plunger, whereby the force applied through the rack to said jaw, by being applied upon the longituding axis of the rack, minimizes the side thrust of the rollers within the channels, and whereby the relative direction of rotation of said throw shaft can be reversed by the transposition of said rack to the opposite of said lock plunger Without disturbing the disposition of said lock plunger.

JAMES E. STEPHENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,320,522 Anderson Nov. 4, 1919 1,654,023 Thorn Dec. 2'7, 1927 2,184,870 Bone et al Dec. 26, 1939 2,337,636 Bone et a1 Dec. 28, 1943 2,380,820 Bone July 31, 1945

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