US366053A - Thieds to michael mcineeney - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

F. G. WHITE.

, )SWINGING BRIDGE FENDER.

366.053. Patented July 5,1887.

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AIENT FRANK G. XVI-IITE, OF SOUTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOR OF TYVO THIRDSTO MICHAEL MOINERNEY, OF SAME PLACE.

SWlNGlNG-BRIDGE FENDER.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,053, dated July 5, 1887.

Application filed June 25, 1885. Renewed April 23, 1887. Serial No. 23559337. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. WHITE, of South Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements inSwinging-BridgeFenders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to bridgefenders which automatically close the. approach to swinging bridges when the same is open, and open said approach when the bridge is closed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 isa front elevation of the abutment of the bridge-approach. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of bridge-approach. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing one of the drums and pinions in section. Fig. 5 shows a modification.

Reference being bad to the drawings, A represents a swinging bridge of the usual construction, the ends of which are curved to correspond to a segment of a circle struck from the pivotal center of said bridge. Arranged underneath these ends and supported by arms b b, connected at their inner ends nearer the centerof the bridge, are the racks B B. These racks describe a segment of a circle similar to the ends of a bridge under which they are placed, and are provided with a series of cogs on both the upper and under surfaces. Depending from the under surface of the bridge are the vertical rods 1) b, which pass downward through suitable openings in the arms b 1), near where they connect with the racks B, and have surrounding them immediately above and below said arms the stiff springs 12 b the pressure of which against the arms is regulated The cogs on the upper surface of the racks B mesh with pinion 0, fast on shaft 0, projecting and journaled in suitable hearings in the abutments of the bridge-approach diagonally opposite each other and on a line radiating from the pivotal center of the bridge. The cogs on the under surface of said racks B mesh with the pinion D, fast on the end of shaft d, journaled on a plane below said F and lifts that end of the gate.

ion 0, Pinion D is on a plane below that of U pinion O, and the two are so arranged that the rack as it travels from right to left will alternately engage pinions CG, driving them in one direction, and then pinions D D, driving them in the opposite direction, or vice versa. The shafts of these pinions Oand D extend horizontally through the abutments of the bridge-approach to a chamber under the road approaching the bridge, where, contiguous to said abutment, they are provided with concave pulley or sprocket. wheels 0 d, which are connected by means ofarope, cable, or chain, e. On theinner ends of these shafts c and d, contiguous to the pulleys c and d, are drums E,having the ropes or chains F wound around them from right to left, so that as said drums revolve from left to right they unwind or pay out the rope, and when they have the contrary motion wind or haul it in. These ropes F, after they leave the drums, pursue an upward course through the road-bed to the pulleys G, journaled in the vertical posts II, after passing or being wound around which they travel downward and are connected in a suitable manner to the gates I. These gates are placed transversely across the road leading to the bridge,and when the bridge is closed rest in a suitable chamber, of corresponding dimensions, which is below the road bed, and when lifted out therefrom through the transverse opening thereof close the approach to the bridge.

' In operation my invention works substantially as follows: Say the swinging bridge is closed and it is desired to open it. Now, as the bridge moves to the rightthe cogs'on the upper surface of the rack will engage with pinion O, which derives a motion therefrom from right to left, which it imparts to the drum E on the same shaft, and thus winds the rope The motion thus acquired by pinion C will be imparted to pinions D by the rope belt e,and will cause the rope F to wind around the drum on shaft (Z, thus lifting both ends of the gate simulta ncously and at the same rate of speed. If the bridge is swinging into place from right to left, the motion of the pinion 0 would be the reverse of that just described, causing the rope to unwind from the drum, thus lowering the gate.

It makes no difference in what direction the bridge, is moving when being opened or closed. The gate will be lifted to close the approach to the bridge when said bridge is opened, and will be lowered to open said approach when the bridge is closed. If desired, considerable friction can be overcome by weighting the ropes F between the pulleys G and c and G at, so as to counterbalance to a certain extent the weight of the gate. Moreover, a frictionroller may be placed on the same vertical plane above pinion D and one on' the same vertical plane below pinion 0, both of which have, preferably, rubber tires, and are separated from said pinions the thickness of said racks. These friction-rollers are adapted to keep the racks in engagement with pinionsO and Dwhen the bridge is moving.

By reference to Fig. 5 it will be seen how the 1* gate may be lifted without exposing the ropes F above the road-bed. This I accomplish by bringing the pulleys G down below the surface of the road-bed in a suitable chamber and connecting them by means ofa .belt or endless chain, and then connecting the lower corners ofthe gate to the said belts in such manner that they will lift the gate at the same speed at the same time. In case this modification is used the rest of the actuating mechanism remains the same.

What I claim as new, and desire to seen re by Letters Patent, is'- 1. In an automatic bridge-fender, t-heswinging bridge, double racks 13, arranged under the ends ofsaid bridge, arms b,and rods b',sup-

porting said racks, in combination with pinions 0 and D, alternately engaged by said racks B, shafts c and d,snitaloly connected, drums'E, ropes F, and gate G, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

2. The combination, with the swinging bridge, and the racks arranged under the ends thereof, of the pinions O and D, arranged, respectively, above and below the horizontal plane of said racks and engaged, respectively, 45 by the cogs on the upper and under surfaces thereof, the shafts c and d, carrying said pinions, the pulleys c and cl thereon, and cable e,connecting the same, the drums E, ropes F, pulleys G, upright posts H, having bearings for pulleys G, and gates I, said ropes F. being preferably weighted between pulleys c and G and d and G, respectively, asand for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the racks arranged under the ends of a swinging bridge, arm's supporting said racks, which are nearer the center of the bridge, vertical rods depending from said bridge and passing through suitable openings in said arms, and springs surrounding said rods above and below said arms, the pressure whereof against said arms is regulated by nuts, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix my signature in pres- 65 once of two witnesses.

FRANK G. WHITE.

Witnesses:' I

JNo. WV. SIoKELs, FRANK D. TnoMAsoN.

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