US301369A - Railway switch and signal mechanism - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. H. JACKSON. RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL MECHANISM.

No. 301,369. I Patented July 1, 1884.

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(N0 Model.) 3 She'etS -Sheet 2. 0-. H. JACKSON.

RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL MECHANISM. No. 301,369. I Pa tent ed July 1, 1 884;

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(No Model.)

G. H. JACKSON.

RAILWAY-SWITCH AND SIGNAL MEGH'ANISM. No. 301,3 9. PatTntedIJuIy 1, 1884,.

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UNITED STATES v PATENT O FrIcE-H ('lelLl'l-B H. JACKSON, OF ALLEGHENY, lll ENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,869, dated-Tu ly 1, 1884.

Applicalion filed June 20, 1351:. (X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1', CALEB H. J .loKsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in RailwayISwitcli and Signal Mechanism; and'I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear concise, andexaet description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-like letters indicating like partsv Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a view in perspective ofsuchlparts and so much of an interlockingmachinc asis necessary, in connection with a diagram of a. railway-track, to illustrate my present invention in' one form of its application. Fig. 2 is a detached sectional view of the locking and interlocking appliances of Fig. 1 in a position of locked and interloeked. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, shows the same invention in asomewhat modified for'm, and Figs.' 4, 5, and (3, Sheet 3, show still further modifications or embodiments of the invention, as presently to be explained.

In Letters Patent No. 255,998, granted to me April 4, 1.882,I made provision in the manner therein described for the locking of switch and signal levers by train action, and the operation was such that as soon as the train entered on the insulatedtrack-circuit the electrie locking was immediately performed, whether the lever to which the look was applied was lorwardor back. It is sometimes desirable in mechanism of this class-that is, in connection with a switch and signal system embracing an interlockingmachine-that, while the switch is open or set to the sidingor turn-out, or so as to derail, the signals corresponding thereto should be locked in thewhich to secure these ends 1 apply the elec trically-actuated lock to an interlocking member of the mechanical interlocking mechanism in such manner that when such interlockingmember is'in one position it will not be subject to any electrical" locking action, but.

to construct or devise an apparatus adapted to attain these results, I- also believe I am the first to combine an electric lock actuated by train movement with any movable interlock-' ing member of an interlocking machine, and such combination I claim as a part of the present invention, nidcpe'ndently of other features of eonstructionan'd combination hereinafter described.

Referring first to Sheet 1, R ll. may represent the tracks of a grade-crossing, and it will be suffieient, in illustration of the present invention, to describe it as combined with one of such tracks, since the appliance may be duplicated for the different lines of track as theyapproach the crossing; but all the interlocking appliances should be incorporated into one machine located in a single cabin or tower, asis usual in the art. In the track representedl make a throw-off or derailing switch, It", which may be constructed to derail the train or to run it off-onto a branch,

witha battery, '0, and an electro-rnagnet, A,

by wirecon'ncction, in the manner common in the Robinson closed-circuit track system.

Any suitable interlocking-machine may be employed for the purpose in View, and for convenience of illustration I have shown that commonly known as the Saxby-dv Farmer,

or so much ot'it as is necessary to illustrate the present invention: The hand-lever B is mounted-in any suitable frame, pivoted, as at b, so as-by the usual bell-crank and rod confunction, 1), to open and close the switch R Electrical connection past this Switch-may be made by any suitable wire, as at 'r'. Tlhe lever B in its motion not only moves the switch, but also rotates the link 13, and also, by the pitman a and crank a, gives a short rotary motion to the spindle or flop D. 3y means of a similar handlever and connections therefrom to one or both of the home and distant signals G G, I provide for actuating such signals in the manner common in the art, and by a pitman, a", and crank a, I provide for operating therefrom another Saxby d: Farmer flop, D.

At H, I have represented one of the longitudinally-moving bars of the Saxby & Farmer system and omitting the feature of prclin1i-.

nary locking. These devices, except as hereinafter described, have substantially the construction and operation of the corresponding devices shown and described in the Saxby patent, No. 230,200, dated July 20, 1880. The numbers of such flops and horizontal bars and levers to actuate them may be indefinitely increased, and the interlocking appliances may be addedih the manner well understood by those familiar with the Saxby & Farmer system. At 8, I have shown one of the Farmer 8n Saxby dogs, and at 8 one of the Saxby & Farmer connections between the bar H and the flop D, whereby the rotation of the flop will give to the bar II a motion in the direction of its length.

At the end of the frame-work D, which carries the flops andhars described, I arrange a box, A, which contains the electro-magnet A and its armature c. This armature is secured to a centrally-pivoted armature-lever, c, and the opposite or free end of such armature-lever is so arranged relatively to the end of the horizontal bar H that when the eleetro-magnet A is excited and the free endof the armature- ,leveric is thereby raised up' it will stand clear of the end of the bar II, so that the bar can be moved to the right and come under the free end of the lever c, as shown in Fig. l, and thereby prevent such armature-lever from performing any locking function; but the arrange ment is such that when the bar II is moved to the left it will pass out from beneath the free end of the armature-lever c, and then thelatter, being depressed hyits retractile spring 0', will come into such position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, that, abutting against the end of II, or nearly so, it will lock said bar asagainst a return or rightwise motion, and then said bar will be looked as against a reverse motion, and, being locked, its flop D cannot be rotated back, and consequently the lever Bcannot be moved or reversed. The posi tion'shown in Fig. 1 may be assumed as the normal position of the ap paratus-that is, with the switch R open and the signals G G at danger, also, the circuit will be closed from the battery 1:, through the track-rails and the wires to the electrovmagnet A, and the free end of the armature 0, being raised, will be held in that position, or, in other words, will be prevented from assuming or taking a locking position, by the engagement therewith, or beneath it, of the end of the bar H. It will also be seen from the draw ings that the switchl ever B is then unlocked, so that the switch It" may be closed or set for the main. track. Still further, it will be seen that the dog 8, by its bearing on the edge of the flop D, will lock the signal-levcr, which,

'as above described, is connected therewith through the pitman (6 Assuming, now, that a train approaches from the right, it will of course be stopped by the distant signal G at danger. If the train runs onto the insulated section described, it is true that it will shortcircuit the battery r, so as to demagnetize the elcctro-inagnet A; but-no locking effectwill take place, for the reason that the armaturelever c is locked out of action, as already set forth; and this is desirable for the reason that for many purposes I do not wish to lock the signal-lever, nor do I wish to lock the switch-lever when the switch-R? is set for the siding, or in open position. If, however, the operator is ready for the train, he shifts the lever B, and in doing so closes'the switch W, and at the same time and thereby 11c rotates the flop D to the position shown in Fig. 2, andin doing so he moves the bar II to the left, so that its farther or right-hand end shall clear the free end of the armature-lever c and allow it, under the influence of its retraetile spring a, to come down, as illustrated in Fi 2, into line with said bar II, and thereby lock such bar as against a return or reverse motion; and this action of the armature-lever will take place if the train or any part thereof is on the insulated section of track, or as soon as'it comes thereon. In this manner it will be seen that the switeh-leveris locked when, and only when, the switch is set for main line, and that it cannot be locked at any other time; also, the samemotion brings the dog 8 of the bar H over an open slot in the flop D, so that such flop is then unlocked, and consequently the lever connected therewith is free to be moved, so that the operator may clear one or both signals G G, with whichever one such level" may be connected, or both, if connected with both, but preferably a separate lever should be used for each, and both be unlocked by the movement of the lever 13, so that both signals may be cleared, or so that after the train has passed the distant signal (l, ai'terit has been cleared, such signal (1% may be reset at danger, so as to protect the rear of the train, and allow the train to proceed under authority of the signal G when set at safety.

In the arrangement last suggested the distant signal G is used chiefly as'a cautionary signal, when at danger, and the engineer, afterpassing it at danger, will keep his train under control until he sights the home'signal G. ll'he finds the latter t danger, of course he will stop, but if at safety he will then know that the switch is locked. in the position of main track unbroken, so that he may then proceed with safety.

In Fig. 3, Sheet 2, I have shown the same arrangement ot' lracks it It, switch lt insulated section 1' r, and connecting-wire i"; also, battery 22 and wires to electromagnet ,\,'i'naking a normally-closet'l trackcircuit; also, the same armature, lever, and spring cc 0", and a horizontal reciprocating bar, H, of an interlocking-machine. I have also shown by end view two flo'ps, 1) D and dogs 8 s, by which to lock and unlock the ilops. I have not in this figure shown the levers by which to operate the bar II and flops l) l)"; but they are such as are described with reference to Fig. 1'.

'and the manner of applying and using them will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, understanding, however, i that with the apparatus in normal condition the switch It is open, both signals aredocked at danger, and the armature-lever c is so engaged by the end of the bar H that when a train enters on the insulated track-section the electric locking of the switeh-lever (with which the bar II is to be connected) cannot be effected but when the bar II is moved to the left, in the operation of setting the switch It to closed position, the dog s will be moved clear of the hop D, so that thesignal-lcwr connected therewith will be unlocked, and with it its signal, and also the dog 8 will be moved into position opposite a slot in its flop 1), so that the latter and its signal-lever and signal will also be unlocked. hit the modification more particularly designed to be illustrated in this ligure relates to the 'use of a relay. by which still further to control the locking action. The signal-lever 13*, from which, by suitable connection, I), the home signal G is operated, is to be connected with one of the flops, as represented in Fig. 1, or in other suitable way, but I have shown it separate simply for convenience of illustration. Assuming it through its flop to be unlocked by the closing of the switch It to main track, on being shifted to clear its signal G it works a circuit-closer of any suitable construction-say such as'is represented-so as to bring its contact-points 1' "i together, and thereby close a circuit from the opposite poles of battery 1: through wires, 1" r and magnet A. The latter is arranged ,so that through its armature c and armaturelever eit may, as the circuit is closed or broken, unlock or lock the armature-lever 0; hence it will be seen that when the switch It is set to the siding the switch-lever is unlocked, but both signals are locked at danger, that when the switch is set to main track both signals are unlocked; that if a traincautiously passesthe distant-signal atdanger .the switch is still unlocked, notwithstanding the. short-eircuiting ot the electro-niagnet A, because its armature-lever c is locked out of locking engagement with the bar H by means of the armature-lever c, the electro-n'iaguet'of which is then in an open circuit, and that the electric locking of the switch-lever will be offected onlywhen the home signal G is cleared, because then, and onlythen, will the circuit through electro-magnet A be closed, so as to cause the free end ofits armaturclever e to swing clear olthe lever c. As soon as this is done, the free end of the armature-lever c will drop down into engagement'with the bar H, and the switch-lever will be locked, as above explained.

In Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet 3, I have illustrated the same organization or system of apparatus as applied to the locking of the rotating flop instead of to the horizontally-sliding bar. In his figure I havev shown only the hop 1), or the one with which the switch-lever is to be connected. In this construction I make a curved segment, (I, on the.flopsay ator near one end, Fig. 6-and make a notch or recess,

1, therein of suitable size and in such position that when the switch R is set to open position be the armature-lever c of the electro-magnet A of the track-circuit; or the latter may, as shown, he used as a relay to make and break a circuit through battery r and electro-magnet A", so that its armature-lever 6' shall do the work described, in the manner already set forth. 1

As every interlocking mechanismconsists of two movable parts or appliances, and as it is =imniaterialon which one of such appliances the electric lock is made operative, as" long as 1 one of such appliances interlocks with the other, it will be seen that it is immaterial whether the electric lock be made operative on the bar or 011 the flop, provided it be on that bar or on that flop with which the lever to belocked is mechanically connected at the time when the locking is to be done; nor do I limit myself to an apparatus employing a'flop. Interlocking-machines having longitudinaland transverse lockingbars are well known, and the electric lock described maybeapplied to either or any of -the bars of such a system,

'or to any of the movable interlocking appliances of other systems, without any substantial departure from the scope of the present invention, and the combination so made I believe to be, broadly, new with myself; and I also include herein the invention set forth as applied to the interlocking devices of'a by draulic, electric, or pneumatic or other power mechanism, and without limitation as to the lever, whether switch or signal, to be locked thereby -nor, as regards the changing of the;

electric conditions of the electro-magnet or magnets employed by, under, or as a result of train action, do I limit myself to the use ofa track-circuit, but include herein, as the mechanical equivalent thereof, any suitable track instrument adapted to do the work described, substantially in the manner set forth, and all such mechanisms are hereby and herein included under and indicated by the general term track circuit changer. Various other modifications may be made without any substantial departure from the scope of the presentinvention, and all such as include substantially the system and construction or combinations herein described, operating substantially in the manner set forth, are included.

herein; and it may be further stated that (re' l'erring to Fig. 1) the same results will follow if the lever B be the lever for operating a switch-locking bolt for the switch B or a draw-bridge locking-bolt, provided the organization be such that locking shall be effected when, and only when, the switch or drawbridge is locked to make an unbroken main track.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. The combination, substantially as set forth, of an electrically-actuated lock, a movable interlocking member of the interlocking mechanism of a railway switch and signal interlocking-maehine, an electric circuit connected with said lock, and a track-circuit changer actuated to render said circuit operative upon said lock by train movement upon a section of railway-track. V

2. The combination, substantially as set forth, of an electrically-actuated look, a mechanically-operated interlocking part or appliance of a hand-actuated interlocking'machine, an electric circuit connected with said lock, a track-circuit changer actuated to render said circuit operative upon said lock by train movement upon a section of' railwaytrack, and a switch and one. or more signals,

each shifted by or from the levers of the interlocking-machine, these members being combined for joint operation, so that, with the switch open, the signals shall be interlocked, at fdaugerfi and the switch-lever incapable of being electrically interlocked, and, with the switch closed, its lever shall be electrically locked under train movement, but without locking the signal lever or levers, substantially in the manner described.

3. In a railway-switcher draw'bridge and signal apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of an clectrieally-actuated look, a movable interlocking member of a hand-actuated switch or a bridge lock and signal interlocking mechanism, an. electric circuit connected with said lock, a track-circuit changer actuated to render said circuit operative upon said look by train movement upon a section of railwayt 'ack,-a switch or track circuit changer,

draw-bridge lock, and one or more signals, each shifted by or from the levers of the interlocking-machine, these members being combined for joint operation, so that when the switch or draw is open the signal or signals corresponding thereto will be mechanically locked at danger, and the electriclocking mechanism will be held out of action, and on the closing of the switch or draw or of their locking-bolts the signal or signals shall be unlocked, and the switch or bolt in position to be electrically locked by train movement, substantially in the manner described.

4. Asystein of apparatus in which are com.- bined a lever or levers for governing track condition, a lever or levers for governing train movement, an interlocking mechanism controlling said levers, au electrically-actuated lock acting on a movable interlocking member of said mechanism,said lock being adapted to be locked out of action when the switch or bolt lever is in one position, and by its action to lock the interlockingmember governing the movement of said lever when in its other po sition, an electric circuit connected with said lock, and a track-circuit changer actuated to' render said circuit operative upon said lock by train movement upon a section of railwaytrack, substantially as set forth.

5. A system of apparatus in which are com.- bined a lever or levers for governing track condition, alever orlevers for governing train movement, an interlocking mechanism controlling said levers, an electric lock adapted to be held out of locking engagement 'with an interlocking member of said mechanism governing the movement of a switch or bolt lever when said lever is in one position, and by its action to lock such lever when in its other position, leaving the signal lever or levers at the same time unlocked, an electric circuit connected with said lock, and a track-circuit changer actuated to render said circuit operative upon said look by train movement upon a section of railway-track, substantially as set forth,

6. The combination ofthe bar H, armaturelever a, magnet and circuit connections, and substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the flopsD '1), bar H, armature-lever c, magnet and circuit connections, and track-circuit changer, substan tially as set forth.

'lntestimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CALEB H. ,J GKSON.

itnesses:

Gnoncu II. Crinis'rv, R. H. Wnrr'rLnsnY.

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