US366086A - Signal for railway-crossings - Google Patents

Description

(No Mdel.) v 2 sheets-#sheet 1. E. FONTAINE.

SIGNAL POR RAILWAY GROSSINGS. '610.3660866` Patented July 5, 1887.

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SIGNALFOR RAILWAY CROSSINGS.

lPfb'eiu'ed July 5, 1887.'

IiNrren STATES PATENT rtree,

`EUGENE FONTAINE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

SIGNAL FOR RAILWAY-CROSSINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,086, dated July 5, 1887.

Application filed February 17, 1887. Serial NoA 227,890. .(No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE FONTAINE, of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signals for `Railway-Orossings; and I do hereby declare that the following 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 new and useful improvements in signals for railway-crossings; and the invention consists in the novel con` struction, arrangement, and operation of two targets-one for each trackand in `their combination with the operating-lever ofthe crossing, whereby the crossing and the targets are operated together, so that simultaneously with the `change in the crossing the targets are eX- clianged from one track to the other, all as hereinafter more fully described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a diagram plan showing the relalive position of the parts. Fig. 2 is a plan of the switchstainl. Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectionl through the same, and Fig. 4 is a similar section at right angles thereto, showing, also, the shafts and the targets.

A is a crossing,`which may be of any known construction. B is a staud. Ois the operating-lever, and D is the connecting-rod for operating the crossing.

For the sake ot illustrating my device more clearly, I have shown in Fig. 1 a crossing of that 4character whereby rail-sections are pivotally secured at the intersection of the rails, and which are suitably interconnected with each other and with the main connecting-rod D, to beturned simultaneously by means of the operatingflever, so as to register with one 'or the other of the tracks, as desired. It will appear, however, that my invention is applicable to crossings of other constructions and operation.

The operating-lever C operates a vertical shaft,E, which hassuitable bearingsin the frame of the stand, and connects atits lower end with the'opcrating devices oit' the crossing, so as to change it from one track to the other by actuating the lever C.

F and G are two Vertical signal staffs or masts, one loosely inside the other and turning on a com mon axis. Both staffs are stepped in suitable bearings in the frame at different heights, so as to make the inner staff, F, project below the outer one, G, and siiitable side bearings are` formed above the steps of the masts to keep them firmly supported in their vertical position against the action of the wind. To the lower `ends or" these masts are secured in any suitable manner thefcranks I Land these are connected by means of links K L with the operating-lever, all so arranged that the operation of the operatinglever will turn the two masts simultaneously, but in opposite directions to each other. The inner mast extends above the outer mast, and bot-h masts have secured to their free ends arms or brackets which reach to or near the center lines of the tracks, and have secured to their free ends the targets III-one safety, the other danger.`

For night use the targets carry corresponding signal-lanterns displayed within the targets, and to this end the targets are made hollow, with bullseyes for the lights to shine through, and, if required, with devices, such as chains L', to raise and lower thelamps. I preferably display the red or danger target or light at the lower distance from the ground, and use the inner and higher mast for thedsplay of the safety target orlight. The danger target may be placed even so low as to form an actual obstruction to a passing train, and thereby constitute by its destruction at a wrong crossing a tell-tale. However, I do not intend to confine myself to any particular height of display, except that the safety-tar get must be sufiiciently high to permit a train to pass underneath, but the relative positions of the targets with the tracks must be such that while one is in the center of one track to indicate its condition of safety or danger, the other must be in the center ofthe other track and display the opposite signal, and'when the .lever is turned to change the crossing the two targets must exchange their relative positions. By thus interlocking the operating devices of the crossing with two targets, each in the center of its respective track, the condition of each track is at all times positively indicated and absolute safety in crossing is provided for.

What I claim as my invention is l. In a railway-signal for crossings, two

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swinging targets, one for each track, a vertical shaft and radial arm for swinging each target from one track to the other, and operating mechanism for such masts, whereby the two targets are simultaneously moved to exchange their relative positions with the tracks, substantially as described. s

2. In a railway-signal for crossings, two targets Vsuspended from radial arms above the centers'ot" the tracks, two vertical masts, one inside the other, to swing such targets, a single operating-levenand connecting mechanism between such lever and the respective masts to simultaneously move the targets in opposite directions, substantially as described.

3. In a signal for railwaycrossings, the combination, with the operating-lever of a crossing, of two swinging signal-targets, one for each track, a vertical shaft and radial arm to swing each target, and mechanism between the operating-lever of the crossing and therespective masts of the signaltargets to simultaneously change the crossing and the signals, substantially as described.

4. In a signal for railway crossings, the combination, with the stand and operatinglever of a crossing, of two Vertical staift's supported by such stand, one inside the other, a radial arm carried by .each staff, a signal-target swung on such radial arm, and connecting mechanism to simultaneously swing the signal-targets in opposite directions, substantially as specified. p

5. In a signal for railwaycrossings, the combination, with the actuating-lever C of the crossing, of the vertical masts F G, rotatably secured inside each other and carrying the signal-targets, the links K L, and the cranksIJ, all substantially as described.

6. In a signal for railway-crossings, the combination, with the stand having the operatinglever O of the crossing, of the vertical masts F G, rotatably supported by the stand, the links L K, and the cranks I J, all substantially as specified.

7. In a signal for railway crossings, the combination, with the stand of the crossing having operating-lever C, of the signal-masts F G, rotatably supported by such stand, one inside the other, and the inner one projecting below the outer one, the radial arms secured to such masts and carrying the signal-targets,

the links K L, and the cranks I J, substan-

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