US2610584A

US2610584A - Rail for transporting hangers or carriages and switches therefor

Info

Publication number: US2610584A
Application number: US164399A
Authority: US
Inventors: Caesar A Calder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-05-26
Filing date: 1950-05-26
Publication date: 1952-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1969-09-16

Description

Sept. 16, 1952 c. A. CALDER 2,610,584

' RAIL FOR TRANSPORTING HANGERS 0R CARRIAGES AND SWITCHES THEREFOR Y 5 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26, 1950 INVENTOR. CAESAR A. CALbER- ATTORNEY c. A. CALDER RAIL FOR TRANSPORTING HANGERS OR CARRIAGES AND SWITCHES THEREFOR Sept. 16, 1952 Filed May 26, 1950 5 5 6 /60;20 I f2 Z726 (75 5653 z? INVENTOR. CAESAR A. CALDER ATTORNEY P 1952- c. A. CALDER 2,610,584 RAIL FOR TRANSPORTING HANGERS 0R CARRIAGES AND SWITCHES THEREFOR Fil ed-May 26, 1950 :5 Sheets-Sheet s IN VEN TOR. CAESAR A. CALDER ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE RAIL. Fort TRANSPORTING HANGERS on I oARaIAGEs AND SWITCHES THEREFOR Caesar A. Calder, Verona, N. J. Application May26, 1950, Serial No. 154,399

9 Claims. (or-104 401) hangers or. carriages and switches therefor.

More particularly, this invention relates to a main line rail on which hangers or carriagesmay be moved anjdlasecondaryline rail disposed at an angle .to the main line 'rail, and switchvmeans to permit hangers'orcarriages to be moved either along themain'line'rail or from the secondary line rail to the main line rail, or from the main line rail to the secondary line rail.

Usually the secondary line rail is at a higher level thanthe main line rail. In accordance with the present invention agcu'rved switch railis pivoted tothe secondaryline, rail about the axis of thelatter and it has a tapered endportion adapted to rest on the main line'railflwhen saidswitch rail .is swung down about its pivot, to .permit switching of hangersor, carriages from the main line to theseccndarynline andback, and said switch rail being swingable upwardly tothe plane or level of the secondary line rail and away from the mainline rail to permit movement ofhangers or carriages along' the main line rail without being switched to the secondary line rail.

In accordance with one form of this present invention the switch rail'normally rests on the main line rail butmay be lifted, releasable means being provided to retain the switch rail in raised or lifted positionwhenit isswung upwardly, and

' means being furtherprovided to limit the upward swingingmo'vement of the switch rail. In accordance with another form of the invention the switch rail is biased upwardly away-from the main line. rail' by a spring, means'being provided to limit the upward movement of the switch rail to a horizontal plane, the construction being such that if a hanger or carriag supporting garmerits or any other articles are moved along the secondary ,line onto. the switch rail said switch on to the main" line rail, and when weight is removed from the switch rail, said biasing means will again raise said switch rail to horizontal posi tion.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a switch rail of the character described comover a tubular main line rail, so as to facilitate movement of hangers or carriage wheels'from the switch rail onto the main line rail and vice versa.

Yet'another object of this invention are provide a strong, rugged and durable construction of rail, due to the weight imposed'thereon, will drop 4 to permit said hanger. or carriagev to beswitched th switch rail *2 the character described. which may either be mounted on brackets, supported on a vertical pipe, or which may be mounted on ceiling suspension sets and which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and shall be sure and positive in operation and yet practical and efficient, to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will, in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in thefeatures of construction, combinations of elements, and. arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the con'struction'hereinaiter described, and of which the scope ofinve'ntionwill be indicated in the following claims:

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown variousillustrative embodiments of this invention,

, Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a rail switch system embodyingthe invention and showing the switch rail contacting the main line rail;

Fig. 2 is'a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the switching-rail lifted;

'Fig. 4 is a partial, top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 3 with parts broken away and in cross-section;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on 'line 5-5o;fFig.3; f v

Fig. Sis a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3; v

'Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view showing the outer end of the switch rail mounted on the main line rail;

Fig. v9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view H!lfl of Fig. 8;' I

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the outer end. or

taken on line Fi 12. is a bottom plan of the switchrail; v

Fig.713fis a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a'modified construction in which the switch view of the outer end rail can remain either in a down position resting on the mainline rail or isjreturned in araised position away from'lthe main line .rail; I

:Fig; 14 isa partial top-view of the construction shown inFig. 13; with parts broken away and in cross-section; v

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on line ||5 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the switch system and illustrating one means of supporting the main and secondary line rails by means of brackets supported on a pipe; and

Fig. 1'? is a view similar to Fig. 16 but showing the switch system supported on ceiling sets.

Referring now in detail to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 16, numeral I9 designates apparatus embodying the invention, comprising a vertical supporting stanchion or pipe Attached to the pipe II by means of. brackets I3 is an outwardly extending arm l4. Thev arm I4 is formed with a vertical sleeve |5 at its outer end. Extending through the sleeve is an upper screw threaded end portion l5 of a hook shaped support l1. Nuts Iii-a. screwed to the threaded portion l5 serve to adjust the height of the hook relative to the arm M. The support I! is formed with an offset hook portion l8. having an upwardly extending verticalfinger I9. Also fixed to the pipe H, at a level lower than the arm M, by means of brackets is an arm 2| extending at right angles to the arm l4. At the outer end of the arm 2| is a vertical sleeve 22'. Extending upwardly through said sleeve 22 is the screw threaded portion |6 of another hook shaped member IT. The hook IT has an offset hook portion l8 provided with. an upwardly extending finger l9 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Supported by the support H on the arm I4 is a horizontal secondary line rail 23. The rail 23 comprises a tubular member 24" having an outer end 25. Mounted on the outer end of tube 24 is a junction member 25 comprising an intermediate cylindrical portion 21 formed at its underside with an upwardly extending blind drilled hole 2-8 receiving the finger IQ of the hook l8 which forms part of the support I! attached to the arm M. The cylindrical portion 21 is formed with a screw threaded opening 29 communicating with the opening 28 and receiving aset screw 30 adapted to press against and clamp the finger i3. Extending from one end of the cylindrical portion 21 is a reduced flange 3|. which fits: within. the

outer end of the tube 2.4. Extending from the.

flange 3| is an axial screw threaded stud 32 pro- ,jectingv axially into the tube 2.4.. Screwed. on the stud 32 is an internally screw threaded. ferrule 33 having a tapered or conical outer surface 34. Surrounding the stud 32 and part of the ferrule 33 is a longitudinally split sleeve 35 having a tapered or conical inner surface 35. The split sleeve 35 is disposed within the tube 24.. It will now be understood that upon turning member '26 in one direction the ferrule 33 will be moved inwardly toward the flange 3| to expand the split sleeve 35 to press the same against the inner surface of. the tube 24. The ferrule 33 will be. restrained from turning due to friction with the sleeve. In this manner the member 23 may be firmly attached to the secondary rail 24 Extending from the intermediate cylindrical portion 21 in the direction opposite to the. stud 32 is an axial stud or pin 40... The pin 40 is of greater length than the stud 32. and extends in a direction oppositev therefrom. Received on the pin and contacting. one end of said intermediate portion 21 is an annular sleeve or ring, 4| having the same outer diameter as. said portion 21. It is formedwith an axial through open: ing 42 through which the pin4|l passes. It is also formed with a radial screw threaded opening 43 to receive a set screw 44 which fixes the member 4| against rotation relative to member 26. Said member 4| is furthermore formed at its outer end with a portion 45 of somewhat reduced diameter. Fixed to the outer end of said portion 45 and extending outwardly therefrom is a pin 50. The outer end of said portion 45 may be drilled and one end of the pin force fitted into the drilled hole as at 5|. Thus the portion 52 of the pin projects outwardly therefrom in a direction parallel to the axis of the stud 40.

Swingingly mounted on the pin or stud 40 is a switch rail 55. Said switch rail comprises a tube. having a straight portion 56 at one end, an

intermediate curved portion 51 and a straight outer end 58 at the opposite end. The portion 58 has its outer end 59 received on the flang 45. Disposed within the tubular portion 56 is an inner sleeve 60 formed with a through opening 6| through which the pin or stud 40 passes. The sleeve 60 is fixed to the tube 56 by means of screws. 63 so that said sleeve. will rotate with the tube. The end. of the sleeve 60 adjacent the sleeve 4| is formed with a reduced flange extension 65 contacting said sleeve 4| and forming an annular surface 56 spaced from said portion 45 of the. member 4|. The end 66 of the sleeve 60 is drilled as at GT and inserted therein is one end of a pin 68 which projects from said surface and overlaps the projecting pin portion 52. The pins 58 and 50 are equal distances from the axis of the stud or pin 40 so that when the switch rail 55 is swung upwardly or in a counterclockwise direction, looking at Figs. 1 and 2, pin 68 will contact pin portion 52 to limit upward movement of the switch rail to a horizontal position in the plane of the secondary rail 23, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. 7

Means is provided to bias the switch rail 55 upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2. To

this end there is received on the outer end of the 1 pin or stud 40 a collar 10 fixed thereto by means of a set screw H. Interconnecting the collar 10 with the outer end 12 of the sleeve 60 is a coil torsion spring 13. One end of the torsion spring is fixed in the collar 10 and is anchored in said position. The opposite end is attached to the sleeve 50 which in turn is attached to the tubular portion 56 of the switch rail 55, and the torsion spring tends to move the switch rail 55 upwardly and retains the switch rail in its up position.

Referring now to the outer end 58 of the switch rail 55', its underside is cut away in a planet inclined to the plane of the axis of said switch rail, to form a V-shaped notch I5. The upper side of said end 58 isalso cut away on a plane inclined to the axis of said switch rail to form a top V shaped notch 16. The inclination of the plane of thenotch 15 is'greater than the inclination of the plane {of the notch 15'. It will be noted that the notches 15 31161115 form a. pair of bifurcated ends 18- which straddle the pipe or main line rail 85 supported by member I! which is attached to the arm 2'], as shown in the drawing. The pipe 30} is formed-with a pair of shallow drilled openings 8| which underlie the pointed ends of the bifurcated. portions 18.

The mainline rail may comprise a plurality of pipes 801m alignment and they may be attached together by a joint 85 formed with an opening at its underside to receive the finger IQ of offset support I! which is attached to the arm 21. (The joint 85 may be similar. to the construction shown in application of Stephen Speckhart, Serial No. 788,853, filed on November 29, 1947 for Flush Coupling Means.) Said pipes may be supset screw 92.

ported by additional hook shaped suspension members 86. It will now be understood that hangers or carriages may move along the main line rail 80 without being disturbed by the switch rail whichis in an up position; However, if a hanger or a carriage moves from the secondary line rail on to the switch rail 55, said switchrail will be depressed due tothe weight of the hanger or carriage, to the position shown in Fig. 1 and in the full line position of- Fig. 16 so that the may be switched on to the.

carriage or hanger main line rail.

In Figs. 13, 14 and 15 therexis shown a modified form of the invention which may betermed a single switch system. In this construction there is likewise provided a secondary line: rail 24 mounted on a support I! which engages the portion 2! of a member.- 26.' Member 26 is likewise Fixed to the adjacent end of-t-he sleeve E is a, pin 98 havinga rounded projecting portion 99 overlapping the rounded portion 91. The switch rai1 55 in the modification of Figs. 13, l land 15 rests on the main line rail. However, it may be swungupwardly and when that is done'the projecting rounded pin portion 99 contacts the projecting rounded pin portion 91, thereby moving the switch rail 55 to the left, looking at Fig. 13,

against pressure ofspring 93, a sufiicient distance to permit the pin 99 to bypass thepin 97, atwhich time the switch rail is moved to the right by spring 93. When the pin 99 strikes the pin 95 further upward movement of the switch rail is prevented. When the switch rail is thenreleased,

pin portion 99 will contact the opposite side of the pin 91 and the switch rail will remain in a horizontal plane at the level of the secondary rail. The compression spring 93 keeps the sleeve 60 biased toward member 41. When the switch rail 55 is in its up position, garment hangers or carriages may be switched in either direction along the main line rail. When it is desired, to switch hangers or carriages from the secondary line rail on the main line rail, member 55 is swung downwardly thereby pressing the switch rail to the left and pressing the spring 93 to permit rounded pin 99 to bypass rounded pin 91. Then theswitch rail will drop until its outer end contacts the main line rail. In such position garment hangers or carriages may be switched either from the secondary line rail to the main line rail, or vice versa.

The switch rails may extend in either direction, that is, either to the left as shown in Fig.

16, or to the right as shown in Fig. 17. Furthermore, instead of supporting the main line rail and the secondary rail by means of a vertical supporting rod and arms, said rails may be supported by means of hook members I! attached to brackets I00 attached to the lower ends of pipes As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinset forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I-claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a tubular rail, a member attached to oneend of said rail and provided with a stud extending in the direction away from the rail and being coaxial therewith, a tubular switch rail having one end receiving said stud, a sleeve fixed within said end of said switch rail, and said stud being journalled and slidable in saidsleeve and extending therebyond, a collar on the outer end of said stud and a spring interposed between said collar and adjacent end of said sleeve, and

:rounded pins fixed relative to the opposite end of said sleeve and said member, respectively, positioned'to contact and bypass each other upon swinging said switch rail about the axis of said stud, and said spring permitting longitudinal movement of said switch rail relative to said stud as said pins bypass each other.

' 2. In combination, a tubular rail, a member attached to one end of said rail and provided with a stud extending-in the direction away'from the .rail and being coaxial therewith, a tubular switch rail having one end receiving said stud, a sleeve fixed within said end of said switch rail, and said stud being journalled in said sleeve, a collar on the outer end of said stud and a spring interposed between said collar and said sleeve,a pin attached to said member and being offset from said stud! and a pin fixed to said sleeve and being offset from said stud and overlapping the first pin, and being adapted to contact said first-pin upon rotating said switch rail and sleeve relative to said stud.

3. In combination, a tubular rail, a member attached to one end of said rail and provided with a stud extending in. the direction away from the rail and being coaxial therewith, a tubular switch rail having one end receiving said stud, a sleeve fixed within said end of said switch rail, and said stud being journalled in said sleeve, a collar on the outer end of said stud and a spring interposed between said collar and said sleeve, a pin attached to said member and being oiTset from said stud, and a pin fixed to said sleeve and being offset from said stud and overlapping the first pin, and being adapted to contact said first pin upon rotating said switch rail and sleeve relative to said stud, said pins having rounded ends so that upon rotating said switch rail and said sleeve relative to said stud, the pin on the sleeve may bypass the pin on said member, thereby causing the switch rail to move longitudinally of the stud and compressing said spring. v v

l 4. In combination, a tubular rail, a member attached to one end of said rail and provided with a stud extending in the direction away from the rail and being coaxial therewith, a tubular switch rail having one end receiving said stud, a sleeve fixed within said end of said switch rail, and said stud being journalled in said sleeve, a collar on the outer end of said stud and a spring interposed between said collar and said sleeve, a pin attached to said member and being ofiset from said stud, and a pin fixed to said sleeve and being offset from said stud and overlapping the first pin, and being adapted to contact said first pin upon rotating said switch rail and sleeve relative to said stud,

said pinszhavingrounded. ends; sorthatiuponrotating saidswitch v.rail andisaid'.sleeverelativez to: said stud, the-.pin...on1the. sleeve :may bypass. the;

pinionsaid member, thereby causing thaswitch rail .to .movelongitudinally f. the stud and com-- pressing. saidcspring; and...a:second1 pin fixedv to. said member and spaced from the firstpin' there.- of andadaptedto beicontactediby the pinch said sleeve to limit. angular movement'of said switch rail andsaid sleeve relative to said stud.

5. In combinationwithamainline rail and a horizontal secondary rail disposed at. a level highenthan. the. main line rail, a'swit'ch rail having an intermediate curved: portion and: straight end portions, one:.end of said switch rail being pivoted coaxially to Oneend oflthesecondary line rail, and the, other endofsaidswitchrail being movable into; engagementwithlthe: main line rail, and

said-switchrailcbeing swingable upwardly to the horizontaLplane of th secondary line rail, said switch railbeing tubular. and said main line rail being tubular and theend of the switch rail which is adapted to. contact: themainlinearail being cut away at its upperand lower. sides on planes lin clinedto. the planeof'said. switch rail, thereby forming a pair of bifurcated ends. adapted to straddle.themainlinerail.

6. In combination; with; a mainline rail and a horizontal.secondary'rail: disposed at a level higher. than. the main line rail, a switch rail having an. intermediate). curved portion and straight end. portions, one; end. of said switch rail being: pivoted. coaxially to one end of the secondary'linerail, and the. other; end of said switch rail. being movable. into engagement with the mainlinerail, and said switch rail being swingable. upwardly to;the horizontal planeof the secondaryline; rail, said switch rail being tubular and-.saidmain line rail beingtubular and the end. of the switch rail which is adapted to contact the main line rail being cut away at its upper and;lower sides. on planes inclined to the plane of said switchrail; thereby forming a pair of bifurcatedends adapted to straddle the main line rail, themain line. railibeing formed, with shallowrecesses underlying the pointed ends of said" bifurcated portions;

7. Incombination, a tubular rail, a member proyided withclutch means to engage one end of said. tubular rail, said: member having an out-'- wardly extending stud, a tubular switch rail hav--' yond said sleeve, a collar. fixed: to the outer end 8?. otsaid stud, apzcoillcompressioncspringinterposed". between. the: collar: andthe. sleeve, releasable; means to; retain; saidrswitch. rail. in one; angular; positionand. means:.to,positively; limit; movement" of. tl'ieswitchv raiL relative: to; said member in another;angulanpositiomoisaid switch rail- 8. In; combinationgaisecondary line; rai]..pr0-.- vided: witnan axial. stud, .a tubular. switch .rail. having an intermediate: curved portion; and straight. end portions;v oneend portion of: the switcnrail receiving said stud, a: sleeve within said end of said switch rail and fixed thereto and slidably receiving saidtstud, spring means'to press said;switchmailxtoward: said: secondary rail, the main-line..railbeing'ata levelibelow the second-- ary line rail and? atan angle thereto, and the opposite-endofisaid.switch rail being adapted to engage said mainline-rail when said switch rail is" swung downwardly, and said" opposite end of said switch rail being movable away from the main linerail .upon swinging the switch rail up-- wardly about the axis of' the said stud.

9. In combination; a secondary line-rail provided. with an axial' stud, a tubular switch rail havingan intermediate curved portion and straight and portions, one end portion of the switch rail receiving said stud, a sleeve within said end of saidswitch rail and" fixed thereto, spring means to-press said switch rail toward said secondary rail, the main line" rail at a level below the secondary line-= rail and at an angle thereto, and the opposite end of said switch rail being engageable with said main linerail when said switch rail is-swung downwardly; and said opposite-end of said switch rail being'movable away from the 'main line rail upon swinging the switch rail upwardly-about the axis' of said stud, and means to retain said switch rail in raised condition, and means to limit upward swinging movement of said switch rail relative to said seccondary line rail;

CAESAR A. CALDER.

REEEBENGES CITED The following'referencesare of record in the file of this. patent:

UNITED STATES: PATENTS Number Name Date 631,687 Whaley Aug. 22', 1899 845,912 Watkins Mar. 5, 1907 2,511,027 Werner June 13, 1950 IEORFEIGN. PATENTS Number Country Date.

325,573 Germany Nov. 22; 1919.