US387747A - Danger-signal for railway-bridges - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J-. W. STEELE. DANGER SIGNAL FOR RAILWAY BRIDGES.

N0. 3 87 747 Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

N, PETERS. Plwtowngripher, Wnbingjm Dv C (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.'

J. W. STEELE.

DANGER SIGNAL FOR RAILWAY BRIDGES. 180.887.742 Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

Irfen/avu' 71 MM Q8/1886 @WAfl/AZO UNITED STATES Fl lQFQ PATENT JAMES W. STEELE, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE'HALF TO ANDREW MCNALLY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DANGER-SIGNAL FOR RAlLWAY-BRlDGES.

SPECIPICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No.- 387,747, dated August 14, 1888.

Application filed September 16, 193?. Serial No. l-lil 34. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES W. STEELE, of Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Danger-Signals for Railway-Bridges, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a railwaybridge, showing my improved device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View in detail of aportion of the bridge, showing the tripping device connected therewith and the manner in which the same is operated upon by the rise of the water beneath. Fig. 3 is a face View in detail of a semaphore when released by the tripping mechanism. Fig. 4 is a lateral view of the same. Fig. 5 shows a modified form of semaphore in its normal position. Fig. 6 is a view of the-same in its abnormal position; and Fig. 7 is a bottom sectional view of the frame or trigger, taken upon the line a: .r, Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the different figures.

The object of my invention is to provide a danger-signal to be placed at or near the approach of railway bridges, culverts, 850., and which shall be so constructed that it may act automatically and give warning to approaching trains of danger resulting from an abnormal action of the elements in relation thereto-as, for example, floods, high winds, earthquakes, lightning-strokes, or fire. 1 accomplish said object by means of semaphores or other signals connected with the bridge by any suitable tripping mechanism or trigger, whereby a dangerous rise of water or a displacement or destruction of the bridge from other causes may serve to releasesaid tripping mechanism and operate the signal,all of which I accomplish substantially in the manner hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings, A represents the usual stringers of a railway-bridge, while B indicates the cross-ties. One of said cross-ties, as B, preferably located at or near one end of the bridge and upon the solid ground, as

shown, is caused to project beyond the others upon one side of said bridge, while another, as B", Fig. l, is made to project in like manher from the opposite side, and to the ends of said ties, respectively, are attached elbow levers O O. The levers C O are connected with each other by means of a wire, D, eX- tending across the bridge, while one arm oi the lever G is connected by means of a taut wire, D, to a tripping-block, E, of a sema phore, F, both of which are hereinafter more fully described. A wire, D connects the lever C with a like semaphore upon the opposite side of the stream.

Nailed or otherwise rigidly secured to one of the ties B, at or near the middle of the bridge, and preferably upon the upstream side of the said bridge, are depending bars G G, which serve to support the middle of a horizontal bar, H, Figs. 1 and 2,which is provided with cross-arms h h, journaled in bearings in the supports G. A frame,J,is loosely suspended at a point, j, from the cross'tie B, while one end of the bar H, which is bent at right angles, as shown in Fig. 7, is caused to bear upon the under side of a notched block, j, and thus constitute a trigger which may serve to normally support the bar Hin a horizontal position. The opposite end of the bar H is extended over and rests upon the wire D, while a weight, H, is loosely attached to the outer end of said bar. A cross-bar or float, J, is attached to the frame or trigger J at such a height above the normal water-line of the stream as to indicate a dangerous rise of water.

The form of semaphore which I prefer to use as a signal may be constructed and operated as follows: F is a supporting-post, F an arm pivoted at its top at f, and F is a connterpoise-weight attached to a short arm, f, rigidly secured to, the arm F The block E, above mentioned, is passed loosely through a mortise in the bottom of the post and engages with a notch, f Figs. 1 and 3, in the end of the arm F", thereby normally retaining 9 said arm in a vertical position against the post F and causing the weight F to remain in an elevated position. A. spiral spring, e, (better shown in Fig. 4,) attached to the block and post, respectively, serves to maintain V mitted to act upon the wire D.

such engagement. A notch, e, in the block E permits the release of the arm F when brought into alignment therewith by an abnormal strain upon the wire D. A pin or stop, 0 Fig. 4, prevents the block from being wholly withdrawn.

The operation of said device is as follows: Assuming the various parts to be in the respective positions shown in Fig. 1, and that an abnormal rise takes place in the water of the stream, the float J is actuated thereby, as indicated in Fig. 2, when the end of the bar H is released from its bearing against the block 9', and the entire force of the weight H is per- This expands the spring 0, controlling the position of the block E, and withdraws the latter until the notches therein coincide with the notches f thus releasing the arm F which is raised by the weight F", as indicated in Fig. 3. It is obvious that a like action would take place in the event of a strong wind blowing in the direction taken by the current, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, or in an opposite direction, or in case the bridge should be burned or so displaced as to throw the weight H upon the wire D.

I do not confine myself to the style or kind of signal or semaphore employed, as it is ob vious that any of the various kinds may be employed without departing from the essential features of my invention.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I' have shown the usual target and lantern signal in their normal and abnormal positions, respectively. F therein is the equivalent of the rigid post shown in the other figures, and is adapted to partially rotate upon a vertical axis, being held in its normal position by means of the spring 0. By

attaching the wire D to the arm c it is inanifest that the signal would be actuated upon the falling of the weight H as effectually as the mechanism shown in the other figures.

The advantages of said device are that it is cheap and simple in its construction as well 5 as automatic and positive in its action, giving warning of an abnormal rise of water, the carrying away of the bridge by flood, or the destruction thereof by fire.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is e 1. The combination, with a bridge and one or more signals or semaphores provided with means, as sliding blocks and springs, for maintaining them in a normal position, of a Wire connecting said blocks, and a trigger (de signed to be released by the abnormal action of the elements) for sustaining a weight above the wire and in operative connection therewith, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a signal or semaphore and its releasing mechanism, as the block 6, ol' the weighted and pivoted bar H,

the suspended frame or trigger J, and a wire in operative connection therewith and with said releasing-block, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a danger-signal for railway-bridges, a

suspended trigger adapted to float and move 7c in the direction of the current in the event of an abnormal rise of water, in combination with a semaphore and its releasing mechanism, as the block e, and means, as the pivoted bar H, weight H, and wire D, for connecting

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