US352779A - reiff - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) .3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. N. REIFF.

RAILROAD SIGNAL APPARATUS. No. 352,779. Patented Nov. 16, 1886.

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.. the ribs 7) b constituting guides for the signal- UNITED STATESDPATENT Fries;

GUSTAVUS vN. REIFF, OF'PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD H. JOHNSTON, OF SAME PLACE.

RAI LROAD-SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 352,779, dated November 16,1886.

' Application filed December 8, 1885. Serial No. 185,203. (No model.)

- To all whom it may concern.-

different positions; and my invention consists.

, in the combination, with the signal-bars, of a slide connected with the signal-lever and shifting-connections between the slide and the switching devices or switch-rails, and in the use, in connection therewith, of a locking device, whereby both signal-bars are locked until one or the other of them is in connection with the bar-operating appliances, and in the construction and arrangement of parts, all as fully set forth hereinafter, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view showing my improved device in connection with they signals, switch, signal and switch levers, and main and branch rails of a junction of a single-tr'ack railway. Fig. 2 is a plan ofthe im- 7 parts shown in Fig; 2, illustrating the said proved device, the cap of the box being re moved. Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of the parts in different position. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the box supporting the signal J and shifting bars, the cap removed. Fig. 7 is a transverse section.

view illustrating a modified form of signal barlocking device. In niyimproved device there are two signal- I bars, A A, which slide'ina box, B, provided with a base-plate, a, a cap-plate, O, and with ribs b b o, and central block, d, the latter and bars, which slide parallel to each otherin the box between the ribs and thecentral guide- ;block as bearings. A transverse groove, :0, in the base of the box, extending through the Fig. 8 is a perspectiverib b and into the rib b, constitutes aguide for and receives a shifting-bar, D, in which is a slot, y, for'the passage of a slide, E, the end of the latter being formed into a head, 6, adapted to recesses or bearings i of the signal bars, so as to engage and connect with the latter when the slide is carried to one side or the other, as hereinafter set forth.

With the parts above described l ernploy a locking'device of any suitable character, so

arranged and constructed as to lock both the bars in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,

Whenever the slide is in a mid-position, or out v. of contact with either bar, and so that when the slide is in contact with either bar, or in a mid-position, the other bar only will be locked.

- One locking device which has proved effect ive is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5, and consists of a bolt, f, sliding transversely in a groove, w, in the face of the block d, and a lever, I,

vibrating upon a pin, 12, projecting from the block d, and having in the opposite end a slot, 2, receiving a central pin, 9, projecting upward from the bolt f. The bolt 3 is adapted to notches m m in the inner edges of the signal-bars A A, and is of such length that when moved laterally to its full extent into the notch of one bar its opposite end will be flush with the side of the block d and wholly out of the notch of the opposite bar,"whereby a very slight movement of the bolt toward its central position will cause it to occupy a place in the notches of both bars, and thereby prevent both of them from moving longitudinally. The longitudinal movementis imparted to each signal-bar by the longitudinal movement of the slide E,which, to eft'ectthe movementof the signalbar, is brought toward the latter until the head 6 engages in the notch i of the bar to be moved, when the reciprocation or sliding movement of the slide E will carry with it the bar with which the slide is in connection. The slide is brought into operative con! opposite bar and locks the latter in position, while the bar to which the slide has been brought may move freely in connection with the said slide.-

In the application of the above-described device, in connection with the signals and switch of a railway, the carrying-bar is connected to the switch-tongue or rails, and each of the signal-bars A A is connected to one of the signals.

The device may be used in connection with various arrangements of switches and different characters of signals. I have shown it in Fig. 1 in relation to the switch at a junction and to the signal K of the main line, the signal J of the branch line, and the signal-lever L and switch-lever M of a gang of levers-as, for instance, the levers of a Saxby 81 Farmer signal and switch device.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 the carrier-bars Dare connected to the switch-rails h h by rods jj and crank in. The signal-bar A is connected by a rod, m to a crank-lever, N, and the latter is connected by a rod, 12, to the signalJ. The signal-bar A is connected by a rod, m, to a crank-lever, M,which operates the signal K. The slide E is connected by a rod, 12, to a crank-lever, P,which is connected with the operating hand-signal lever L, and the switch-lever M is connected, through the medium of cranklevers Q E and rods q q,with the switch-rails. A third lever, L, is connected with the slide E of a second box, B, supporting slides connected 'to signals S S. When the switch-lever M is vibrated so as to throw the switch-rails fully to one position or the other, the movement of the rails is transmitted to the carrier-bar D, and the head of the latter is brought into engagement with one or the otherof the signal-bars, and the signallever L may then be moved so as to carry with it the signal-bar with which the slide E is engaged, the other being locked. The parts are so arranged and connected that the shifting of the switch-rails will always bring the slide E into connection with the signal-bar that operates the signal of the track which is opened or completed by the movement of the switch, so that the said signal, which is normally at danger, may be set to safety, and it will be seen that when the slide E has been thrown inward to set the said signal at safety the switch-rails will be thereby locked in their position, inasmuch as the said slide is carried between the parallel bearings formed by the side rib, b or b, and the middle rib, c, and cannot be moved laterally, thereby preventing any movement of the carrying-bar D so long as the slide is in this position. Thus when the slide E has been carried to the position shown in Fig. 4 on the opening or completing of the branch line, and on the setting of the sig nal J thereof in position indicating safety, it will be between the ribs 12 a, and will hold the carrying-bar D, and the switch-rails connected therewith, securely in position; but when the slide is drawn outward until its head can pass the end of the rib c it can be moved freely with the carrier-bar D, when the latter is shifted by the shifting of the switch-rails,or any parts connected therewith.

Should the switchrails be set to a mid-position, it will be impossible to alter'either signal from danger to safety, inasmuch as any attempt to then move the slide E will be resisted by the contact of the head of the slide with the end of the rib or bearing 0, the resistance to the movement of the signal thus indicating to the attendant in the cabin that the switch-rails are out of position,while both tracks are blocked by the danger-signal, and both signals are locked so that they cannot be altered.

The bars A A may in someinstances be arranged close together, instead of being separated by the block at, in which case the looking device prevents the movement of both bars until the slide is fully connected to move either one or the other. In such case, also, the slide takes its lateral bearings against the side rib, b or b, and the side of the locked bar.

While the device described is thus effective in looking both signals and the switch-rails at the proper times, and in transmitting motion to the signals to be operated when the parts are all in proper position, it is extremely simple in its construction, consisting of parts which operate positively without lost motion or liability to become impaired. or inoperative from wear, and not liable to be effected injuriously by the conditions under which it must be used.

It is not necessary to construct all the parts of the device in the manner above described. For instance, the slide E and the signal-bars may be diiferently constructed,so as to secure a temporary connection of the slide with each ICC bar when the slide is brought against such bearings on both signal-bars, and the connec tions between the bolt and the signal-bar operating devices may be a rock-shaft, s, carrying a cross-head, t, with turned-up ends, with which a lug, r, on the shifting-bar D makes contact as the slide is brought into connection with either signal-banthus rocking the bolt away from its bearing on that bar.

The connections with the lock or bolt may be operated by the movement of any part of the signal-bar operating mechanism-as, for instance, the slide-and different connections than those described may be used between the slide and the switch-rails or any part of the switch-operating devices. i

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim- 1. A signal-operating device consisting of zontally movable slide constructed to make Thus the slide may have recesses to reconnection with each bar independently, and

means for shifting the slide laterally, and a locking device independent of the slide,

whereby both bars are locked immovably un- 5 til the slide is in connectionwith one or the other of the bars, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the signal-bars and laterally and horizontally moving slide and shifting device, of a locking device independent of the slide, and connections between the same and the slide or shifting device, whereby the locking device is withdrawn on the shifting of the slide from each bar as the slideis brought into connection therewith, substantially as described. 1

3. The combination of the signal-bars, the center and side ribs extending longitudinally, and the sliding and shifting slide connected with the switch devices and adapted to make connection with either bar and to fit between each side rib and the center rib when thrown inward to set the signal, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the sliding signal- 25 bars, shifting slide adapted to slide with'each bar between parallel bearings, and a looking device for securing both bars, and a lever extending between the locking device and the slide or shifting bar, connected to move the o lock to unlock only the signal-bar towhich the slide is connected, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the parallel notched signal -bars, independent bolt arranged between to lock both bars immovably, and con-- 3 5 nectionsbetween thebolt and thebar-operating devices, whereby the bolt is withdrawn only from the notch of the bar in connection with such operating devices, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the signal-bars, sliding bolt, shifting slide, and'lever connected to the bolt and to the slide-shifting devices, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the signal-bars, bolt, slide, slide-carrying bar, and lever connected to the bolt and slide-carrying bar, substantially as described. j

8. The box, the signal-bars guided therein, the rib 0, extending between the bars, the slide and slide-carrying bar sliding transversely of 5c. the box, the bolt f, and lever I, all substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the main and branch tracks and switch-bars and signals of a railway, of a signal-lever, switch-lever, signal-bars each connected to operate one of the signals, slide connected to the signal lever and adapted to make connection with each bar, slide-shifting devices connected with the switch devices, an independent locking device for securingboth bars, and connections between the lock and the signal-bar-operat-ing devices, substantially as. described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two 65 subscribing witnesses.

. GUSTAVUS N. REIFF.

Witnesses:

EDWARD H. JoHNs'roN, HAROLD E. COBB.

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