US387708A - Draw-bridge - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. J. BRIGGS.

DRAW BRIDGE.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

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4 Sheets-Sh'eet 2.

(No Model.)

W. J. BRIGGS.

DRAW BRIDGE. No. 387,708.

Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

W. J. BRIGGS.

DRAW BRIDGE.

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(No Model.) l 4 sheets-sheet 4.

W. J. BRIGGS.

DRAW BRIDGE. No. 387,708. Patented Aug. 14,1888.

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VLLAM J. BRIGGS, OF FORT VORTH, TEXAS.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,708, dated August 14, 1888.

Application filed May 23, 1887. Serial No. 239,125. (No model.) I

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. BRIGGs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Worth, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Draw-Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in, draw-bridges; and it consists in the construction `and arrangement of the parts of the same, which willA he more fully set forth hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an automatically opening and closing gate for use in connection with the draw of the gate, and which is operated by the revolution of the swinging platform,whether it be t0 or from the said gate.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automaticallyopening and closing gate for use in connection with draw-bridges having a vertical ascension and deseension in opening and closing, and controlled in said movement by mechanism relatively situated upon the draw-platform and the said gates, which mechanism is of simple and effective construction and operation and positive in its desired ultimate result.

I attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanyings drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and in which" Figure l is a perspective view of my improvement, showing the draw-platform as j ust being opened. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my improvement with thc draw closed. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the gatos removed from connection with the draw-platform. Fig. 4- is a similar view showing a modification in connection therewith. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one of the ends of the draw-platform. Fig.A 6 is a modified form of construction of the gate. Fig. 7 is a modification of construction of a double gate embodying the saine principle as in the use with the single gate. Fig. Sis a detail view of the track-iron B2 and T-rail C.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan View of the draw and gate, showing the position of the parts when the draw is closed. Fig. l0 is a si milar view of one of the levers C".

A indicates the swinging platform of the draw, which is constructed in the usual manner and mounted upon a central pivot orfulcruin-pin, as will be readily understood, and, as shown in this instance, adapted to be swung outwardly in either direction. At each end of the draw-platform A, and adjacent thereto, two standards, posts, or brick columns, B B, are formed and suitably mounted, in the upper ends of which suitable sheaves or pulleys, b, are situated and have movement in suitable journal-boxes. Over these pulleys b cords b pass, which are connected at their one ends to aweight, B', which is adapted to have movement in the said posts or columns B. The

Vother ends of the said cords, ropes, or cables b are secured to suitable eyes, c, attached to the two top ends of the gates C. These gates C are constructed of any suitable material, and may be provided with a metallic or other suitable sheathing, c', for purposes which will be more fully hereinafter described.

On the sides of the posts or standards B, adjacent to the ends of the gates C, recessed trackirons B2 are secured, which have central depressions or recesses, b2, and which are engaged by angle-irons or T-rails O', secured to the ends of the gate, and thereby the said gate is steadied in its upward and downward movement. In the central rear portion of the gate C a .T-iron, G2, is also secured, which, as shown in Figs. l and 7, may have suitable movement in the platform of the bridge, and thereby provide a guide for each' gate at this point to steady the movement thereof.

Adjacent to each end of the gates O,and also in the central portion thereof, metallic clipplates c2 are secured,which form seats for wire projections c3, which are pivotcd therein by bending the ends of the wire, and from the central portion thereof the said wires are formed to project outwardly at right angles, or at nearly right angles, from the gate to which they are attached. The normal disengaged position of these wires or iron rods c3 is slightly on a` downward incline. These wires or iron rods c3 are adapted to engage with two metallic strips, A', secured to the end of the draw-platform, which strips have an intervening space, a', between their ends at the central portion of the said platform. This space a is adapted to receive the central projection, c3, of the gate when the parts are at rest. The inner and outer ends of each of these strips A are formed with a chisel-edge, a, so as to provide for an easy engagement therewith of the wire rods ci. These strips A project out wardly from the ends of the draw, and have an intervening space between the inner edges thereof and the ends of the drzuvvplatform to prevent the collection of dirt, ice, or snow therein, which would materially affect the operation of the parts.

In thelower portion ofeaeh of the gates two guide rods or ways, C3, are secured, the said guideways projecting upwardly some distance. Below these guideways C3 two levers, C, are mounted, which are adapted to be thrown in either direction in the operation of the draw, and when thrown inward toward the central portion of the gate they are adapted to rest upon a central projection, e, and thereby steady the same and aid in resisting the weight brought to bear thereupon. Each of the said levers C' has a metallic arm, c, secured thereto, which projects upwardly parallel with one side thereof and passes around and has movement in connection with the guide rods or ways Ci. By this means the said levers are always caused to remain in true adjustment with the gates C, and thereby prevent any inoperative conflict between the parts, which would necessarily be the consequence if the said levers were not thus guided in their movement. Une of the levers C has a recess, e, formedin itslower portion, for a purpose which will be more fully hereinafter described.

On each end ofthe draw a series of pins, a, a, and alare mounted, the said pins being su rrounded by suitable friction rollers or collars, as. The pins ai and c are arranged at or about the same elevation and of the same length; but the pin if is mounted in a lower position below the plane of the pins fr and e, and is also constructed longer in length than the said pins cf and c". In the central portion of the draw-platform A a cam-block, A2, is mounted between and supported by two sidepins, e, the said cam-block having a metallic sheathing covering` the under side thereof. This block may be constructed of any material prefer able and applicable for the desired use. The under side thereof is constructed with a plane face in a horizontal plane, and from each side of this face the eam-block is formed with upward inclines.

Upon the upper top port-ion of each of the gates a metallic housing, C, is adapted to be secured, which covers the opening between the said gate or gates and the end of the draw platform A adjacent thereto. By this means the congregation of dirt, ice, and snow is prevented, aud te further aid in keeping the plat form A free from any such deposits a series of openings or recesses are formed at regular in tervals therein in the top portion thereof, whereby the dirt may fall therethrough and over the end of the draw when the platform is being opened, and cleanliness of the parts thereby at all times preserved.

Myimprovement is adapted to be used with Sarnico a bridge having a right and left road-center, or with a double right and left drive or tramway, and in the use thereof with a bridge having a double right and left tramway I propose to use a double form ofthe gate, each gate embodying the construction of the single form of gate hereinbefore described, and in the use of this double form of gate a central standard similar to the standards B B will be used, similar to that shown in Figs. G, 7, and 9, and which maybe conveniently used with the gate without interfering with the travel over the bridge. It', however, the breadth of the bridge is such that the leverage will have to be increased without lengthening the levers, I use a leverage-extension block, D, having recesses in its sides, in which the levers are adapted to rest when thrown over thereagainst, and a friclional roller, d, mounted in the central portion thereof, to overcome the friction between the same and the cam-block A2 on the draw-platform, adapted to ride thereon. By this construction the leverage may be extended without increasing the length of the levers, as by increasing the length of the levers to produce the length of leverage necessary lor the proper and desired operation the levers would have to be made of such length as to render them cumbersome, and in all probability cause them to project above the upper surface of the gate and of the platform of the bridge, which would be objectionable, and would cause an interference of the workingmeehanism and an i mpracticability thereof.

The construction of the levers C* is such that they maybe raised in a vertical position, and thereby prevent the collection thereon of any depository material which would prove to be deleterious to the action of the said levers.

i'lefore proceeding to describe the operation of the invention I call attention to the fact that pin aT on the draw, Figs. 7 and 9, is longer than the pin fr, and also arranged in a lower plane, Fig. 5; also, that one ofthe levers C is pivoted on a higher plane than the other. (See Fig. 3.) XV ith these facts in mind, and remembering that the pin a is the first to come into action when the draw is swung in the po sition indicated by the arrow in Figi, and that the pin el is arranged on the opposite side of the draw and comes into action when the draw is swung in the opposite direction, I will proceed. The function of the pins ai al is to bear on the inclined levers and depress the gate; but it is not desired, for instance, that the pin c5 should depress the tirst lever it reaches in its movement in either direction when closing the draw. No matter in what direction the draw is moving, the first pin should pass the first lever C4 without depressing the gate. The function of the cam-block A is to continue the depressing of the gate and when the latter is lowered completely, to rest ou the central projection, c', and hold the gate in its lowered position when the draw is closed. New suppose the gates are raised, the draw is IIC servos opened, and it is desired to close the same. The draw is moved in the position indicated by the arrow in Fig. l,when the pin a5 on that side of the draw passes through the recess c" of the first lever 04 and does not touch it. It should be stated that the levers 0L are then iu the inclined position seen in Figs. 1 and 3. When the draw is moving in the opposite direction, the levers are in the position shown in Fig. 4. After leaving the first lever 04 the pin a5 continues around, passing under the central projection, c, (as the gate is still raised and the projection c is above the path of the pin ai) and said pin a strikes the second lever 0*, which is in the position shown in Fig. 3, and throws or reverses said lever into the position shown in Fig. et. As soon as the second lever 04 is reversed, the pin a5 then commences to ride up the incline of the said lever 04 and depress the gate. Shortly after the pin a5 comes into action and commences to ride up the second lever 0* the cam block A2 strikes the first lever 0* and commences to ride up the same, and thus the combined action of the pin a5 and cam-block A2 on the parts mentioned completes thelowering of the gate. In turning the draw the strips A pass under the projections c3 until theA advancing end of the first strip A has nearly reached the last of the three projections c3. Then the pin @riding up the second lever 0*, supplemented by the action of the cam A2 upon the first lever 04, causes the descent of the gate just in time for the said last projection c3 to pass under the advancing end of the first strip A. The width of the space between the strips A and the hinged arrangement of the central projection c3 permits said central projection to fall into position through said space just as the closure ofthe draw is effected. About the time when the pin a5 reverses the second lever the first strip A on the draw strikes thelast end projection c3, having passed below the central projection c3. When the draw has depressed the gate to its fullest eX- tent, the central projection c rides oft' the top of the strip A and drops into the space a at the meeting inner ends of the said strips. This combination of strips A and projections c3 insures an even movement of the gate, overcomes any tendency to rise, and thus avoids any possible binding or friction of the parts.

Having closed the gates, suppose it is desired to open the draw in the direction indicated by the arrow: As the draw moves, the strips A pass over the projections ci of the gate and prevent the latter from rising. For instance, the first strip A continues to ride over the iirst end projection c3 as the cam-block A2 leaves the central projection c4. As the draw moves, the pin a7 strikes the first lever 04, reverses the same so as to correspond with the second lever 0", and the said pin a7 rides up the first lever 0*, holding the gate from rising. About the time when the rst strip A commences to act on the end projection c1 the second strip Aengages with the center projection c, riding over the top ofthe same, and as soon as the second strip A leaves the center proj ection c3 it engages with the last end projection ci. As the draw swings around, the pin a7 cannot strike the second lever 0*, because the latter is above the plane of the pin a7. As soon as the second strip A leaves the last end projection c3, the gates arei'ree to rise under the action of the weights.

The draw can be closed or opened from either side, and the operation in either case is essentially the same. In closing the draw from the side opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. l the pin aT first comes into action; but it does not strike the first lever. It passes under it, as the plane of the lever is higher than the plane of pin a7. Said pin a7 strikes the second lever, reverses the same, and the operation is proceeded with in the same manner as before.

lThe advantage of the construction and operation as just described is the practicability with which the draw-platform A may be opened or closed from either side and the operationl and effectiveness of the improvement preserved.

A further advantage of my improvement consists in using the sheathing or covering for the several gates as an advertising medium, which are readily adapted for the reception of advertisements, which may be applied by means of stencils or in any other desired inanner.

The novelty and utility of my improvement being obviously apparent and appreciable, it is unnecessary to further enlarge upon the same herein.

Itis obvious that many minor variations in the construction and arrangement of the several parts may be made and substituted for those shown and described herein without iu the least departing 'from the nature and principle of my invention. V

It will be understood that the pins a5 aT ou the draw form contactpoints to act on the levers 0, while the projections c on the gate form corresponding contact-points to be acted upon by the strips A on the draw.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination, with the gates adapted to ascend and descend in a vertical plane, of the levers 04, mounted in connection with the lower portion thereof, and the pins a5 and a7 and central cam-block, A'l, mounted in connection with the end of the draw-platform, as herein set forth, whereby the said gate maybe raised or lowered in whatever direction the drawplatform may be swung, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the gates having the levers 0l in the lower portions thereof, the projecting wires or rods c3 in the upper portions thereof', the projecting pins arranged at different elevations upon the end of the drawplatform, the central cani-block on the drawplatform, and the metallic strips A', having a IOO IIO

space between their central ends, all arranged as and for purposes herein set forth, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the gates C, of the posts D, the guiding-connection between the said gate and posts, the levers G, mounted in the lower portion of said gates, the central projection c, and the pins and central ca1n block arranged in connection with the ends of the draw-platform, substantially as de scribed.

4. rllhe combination, with the gate C, of the levers C4, arranged in thelowerportion thereof and steadied in their movements, as set forth, one of said levers being recessed, and the pins ai al and the central canrblock, A, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with thelower central portion of the gate C, of theleverageextension block D, and the levers C, and thcdraw having the contactpoints to act on the levers, substantially as described.

b'. The combination, with the upper portion ofthe gate, of the wire rods or pins c, and the strips A', secured to the end of the draw-platform, substantially as described.

7. In combination with the gates having the levers C, which are adapted to be reversed from side to side and to assume an inclined position, the contact-points on the draw to coact with the levers to reverse the same and bear thereupon, as set forth.

8. In combination with the gates having the levers C, which are adapted to be reversed :from side to side and to assume an inclined position, the contact-points on the draw to coact with the levers, the strips A on the draw, and the contact points or projections on the gates, against which projections the strips A coact, as set forth.

9. The combination, with the gate posts or columns B B, of the gate havingits ends guided in the posts or columns, and provided at its center with the vertical gnide-iron C, having movement in the platform of the bridge, the rope or chain connected to the gale, the weight attached to the rope or chain and working in the posts or columns, and the draw acting on the gate to depress the same when the draw is closed, substantially as specified.

In testimony thatl claim the foregoing as my own l have hereto allixcd mysignatnrc in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. BRIGGS.

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E. i. Siemens, MYRTLE SirALNam-nz.

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