US344207A - Railway-signal - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. E. SMITH & F. A. BALLIN.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

No. 344,207. vPatented June 22, 1886.

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JOHN E. SMITH AND FRED. A. BALLIN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

srzzorrrea'rron forming part of Letters Patent No. 344.20 dated June 22, 1886- Serial No. 183,005. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN E. SMITH and FRED. A. BALLIN, of Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railway-Signals; and we hereby declare that the following V is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction and operation of railway night-signals.

Signal lanterns or lamps are usually e011- structed with four faces, the light inside,when 1n operation, being exhibited through green glass on two opposite faces and red glass upon the two remaining opposite faces, and it is usual to secure these lamps to the top of the revolving target. Now, if the operator desires to show a green light to a train approachng from one direction and arrest that train, 1n so doing the opposite face of the lamp is presented in the opposite direction, and would prevent a train coming from that direction. This frequently causes delaysas, for instance, supposing it is necessary to arrest a train from the east at a certain point to allow a train from the west to pass such train from the cast at that point. Now, if the operator sets his green light to arrest the train from the east, the train from the west is also arrested, and both are detained until proper orders are delivered to them from the train-dispatcher.

The object of this invention is to prevent this unnecessary detention by supplying the operator with the means of signaling the one train with a green light in order to arrest it, and with a white light to signal at the same time the train from the opposite direction, that the engineer may know that he is not required to arrest his train.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of the parts, their combination and operation, as more fully hereinafter described.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improve ment. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

In the accompanying drawings,A represents the front wall of a station-house, and B the roof projecting therefrom over the ordinary platform by the side of the track. Supported at the outer extremity of the roof, or in such other position as to be readily seen from both directions on the track, is secured the f ramework or box 0, open at both ends in the same direction in which the track runs.

D represents two triangular-shaped boxes, each of which is provided with adoor, E, or other suitable means of furnishing access to the interior thereof, through which the inclosed lamp may receive the necessary attention.

In each vertical wall of the box D, at the proper point, there is aglass inserted, as shown at F. The glass in one face will be the ordinary uneolored, upon the next face the glass will be green, and upon the next it will be red. Each of these boxes D is centrally supported upon the target-shaft G, which is secured to the bottom of the frame 0, and the upper ends of such boxes D are provided with pintles a, which furnish a suitable bearing for the revolution of the box D in thetop of the frame (l.

Upon the targetshaft G there is secured a bevel-gear, I), which engages with a similar gear, 0, upon the horizontal shaft II, which passes to the interior of the station through the wall A, it being supported in suitable bearings for that purpose.

Upon the end of the shaft H there is secured a ratchet or sprocket wheel, I, and below the same, upon a suitable counter-shaft, J, properly supported, there is a similar wheel, K, and a suitable sprocket or other chain, L, passing over and around such two wheels I and K,enabling the opcrator,by means of the crank M, to rotate the box D, carrying the lamp, in order to present either face to the track which he may desire. The counter-shaft J is located in the rear of a dial, N, whilethe crank M is secured outside such dial to the overhanging end of such shaft, as shown in Fig. 1. There being two of these signal-boxcs, they are both connected with the interior of the sta tion by means already described, each, however, acting independently of the other. The dials are laid off as shown in Fig. 1, and the whole arrangement of the parts is such that when the crank is over the white part of the dial,or that part which is marked White,the uncolored front of the box D is presented, the one looking up the track and the other down the track. Now, if it is necessary to arrest one train-say from the east-the crank which operates the signal looking in that direction is turned, as shown in Fig. 1, over the green part of the dial, or that which is lettered Green,? when a green light is presented to the train coming from that direction, and if it is desired that a train coming from the west should pass such train from the east at that point, the other light, looking in the direction of the west, is presented uncolored; and in order that there may be no confusion of the lights, a division-wall, R, is located in the frame 0 and between the two signal-boxes, which prevents the engineer upon the eastern track from seeing the light presented to the western track.

What we claim as our invention is 1. A pair of railway-signal lamps arranged in a frame common to both with relation to each other, and each triangular in form, operating independently of each other, divided from each other, and constructed substantially as described.

2. A pair of railwaysignals, each. triangular in form and rotating in a frame common to both, and which is provided with a central division-wall, by means of which each signal does not interfere with the operation of the other, substantially as specified.

3. A pair of railway-signals, triangular in form, locatedin a frame common to both, and rotated therein, each independently of the other, by suitable mechanisms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A railway-signal consisting of a frame having a central division-wall, two triangular signal-boxes located in opposite ends of said frame and on either side of such division-Wall, each of said boxes being provided with a taro get-shaft with bevel-gear thereon, two shafts carrying on one end like bevel-gear, and each communicating by means of sprocket-wheels and chains with cranks and dials, the parts being constructed, arranged, and operating 45 substantially as and for the purposes described.

JOHN E. SMITH. FRED. A. BALLIN.

Vi tn esses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, EDMOND J. SoULLY.

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