US397880A - toulmin - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. TOULMIN. ELECTRICAL RAILWAY GATE.

Patented Feb. 12, 1889;

N PETERS. Pmwuhn n mr. Washinglnm D. c,

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. TOULMIN. ELEGTRIGAL RAILWAY GATE.

N0..39'7,880. Patented Fe b.'12, 1889.

N. PETERS PhotuLilhagnphcr, Washing):

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3." TOULMIN.

ELECTRICAL RAILWAY GATE.

No. 397,880,. Patented Feb. 12, 1889.

Z HIIIIIJI lmitmaoow (Juno/whoa.

5 flue owe ym 22 C37 2 I N PETERS. PholvLilbogmpMr, Washington. DV 0.

llnirnn States MORTON TOULMIN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,

ASSIGNOR TO THE TOULMIN ELECTRIC RAILlVAY GATE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRECAL RAl LWAY=GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,880,

dated February 12, 1889.

Application filed November 4, 1887 Serial No. 254.245. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Mormon TOULMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Electrical Railway-Gates, of which the following is a specification, reference be ing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in railway-crossing gates.

The invention consists, essentially, of a pivoted gate-arm for closing the roadway over the tracks of a railroad and an electric motor and suitable intermediate gearing by which the motor-shaft and the gate are geared or connected in such manner that the motor c011- trols the movements of the gate-arm,it being preferred that the arm shall constantly normally tend to descend or move to a closed position and that the motor-gearing shall operate to elevate or open the gate when the motor-circuit is closed.

The invention also consists of the gate-arm, the motor, and the intermediate gearing connecting themotor and gate in such manner that the gate is elevated by the rotating of the motor and intermediate electrical and mechanical devices whieh close the motor-circuit, maintain it in a closed condition, and operate the motor until the gate arm assumes nearly an open position, and then automatically break this circuit, whereby the motor-circuit is kept closed and the motor kept active long enough to accomplish the raising of the gate-arm,notwithstanding the circuit-closer actuated by the train may remain closed momentarily only.

The invention consists, further, of certain features of arrangement and construction, hereinafter more fully appearing.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and on which similar letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding features, Figure 1 represents a housing with the greater part of the side thereof removed, showing the mechanism of my improved gate in side elevation; Fig. 2, a plan view of said housing with the greater part of the cover removed, showing said mechanism in plan; Fig. 3, an enlarged detail View of a gate-arm, with a portion of the housing in sect-ion and elevation; Fig. l, a detail plan view of a portion of a gate-arm and gate-shaft; Fig. 5, an enlarged detail view of the primary-circuit magnet, the bell-circuit closer, and the weighted arm for throwing the worm-shaft out of gear with the wormsegment, also showing certain fixed parts in section; Fig. 6, a diagram showing certain parts of the machine and the several circuits; Fig. 7, a detail plan view of parts of the apparatus; Fig. 8, a detail side view of the segment and return mechanism, and Fig. 9 a plan view thereof.

The letter A refers to a metallic housing or box of any suitable form, designed to be located near a railway-crossing and to contain the mechanism by which the gates are operated.

The letter B designates the gate-shaft, the same having bearings in the housing A, as seen more clearly in Fig. 2. Upon this shaft is loosely mounted a gate-arm, C, of skeleton form, so as to secure lightness and strength, which is as nearly counterbalanced as may be. For this purpose the metallic block D is provided, a portion of which fits into the hollow heel of the gate, and is secured by a transverse bolt, E. To the longer arm of the gate is pivoted a yielding stop composed of a bar, F, having a sleeve, G, at the lower end containing a spiral or other spring, and having slidingly fitted within it a foot-piece, H, whose upper end is enlarged for this purpose, and whose lower end is cushioned, as by a rubber disk, I, secured thereto. The function of this yielding stop 1s that of preventing a serious jar to the gatearm when it is arrested in the position shown in Fig. 3, the stop yielding as it strikes the ground.

The heel of the gate is by preference provided with a spring, J, which comes against a fixed part, K, when the gate-arm assumes its elevated position, the object being to stop it gradually. A rubber or other cushion, L, is also preferably provided, as shown in Fig. 3, against which the gate arm strikes and finally rests when down.

The means by which the gate is lowered IOO exercises a rotating influence over the shaft B in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1, and this motion is transmitted to the gatearm through disks M, secured rigidly to the shaft and notched at N, so as to engage with a transverse pin, (1), extending through the 211111. the gate without atiecting the shaft, and also allows the motor (hereinai'ter mentioned) to j get a fair start before the shaft engages positively with the gate-arm to elevate it.

The means referred to as acting upon the shaft B to rotate it consists, by preference, of

a groox'ed pulley, P, secured thm-eto, and from which a weight, Q,is suspended bya chain, (or rope,) R. B to rotate is therefore in the direction of the arrow, and the normal. tendency of the gatearm is theret'ore that of closing or descending.

I will nowdescribe the meclmnism by which l g V lever, I, pivoted upon the shaft .1 and supthis tem'lency is controlled, and by which the shaft i3 is rotated in the opposite direction to that caused bv the weight Q when it is dci sired to elevate or open the gate. This consists of a segmental worm-wheel, S, secured rigidly to said shaft B, and a worm, T, which meshes with the segment, and is thrown in and out ot' gear therewith, as will presently appear. sections l' and Y, being coupled by any convenicntt'orm of universal joint, as at \Y. The section if at its free end is mounted in alink, X, suspended from the arm Y, and guided against lateral deflection by a jaw in the end of bars Z, extending from the standards a.

The arm is pivotally mounted upon a short shaft, 7), l'iaving bearings in the standards a, and is extended downward and provided with a weight, c, sutlicient to raise the worm T out of mesh with the segment S when it (the weight) is allowed to swing down. This weightis hcld up by the means presently to be described .in such position as to maintain engagement between the worm-shaft T and segment S, 1

whereby the shaft 13 is locked against rotating and the gate-arm held up. The section 'V of the worm-shaft has suitable bearings in the housing A, and is provided with a gearwheel, (I, which meshes with a pinion, 6, carried by a shaft, f, which is either a continuation of the motor-shaft or is coupled therewith.

The letter g designates an electric motor of any approved construction, whose function is that of rotating the shaft f, and through the intermediate devices described the worm T, worm-segment S, and the shaft B, whereby the motor is used as the motive power by which to elevate the gate-arm, it being caused to descend under theinfluence ot' the weight (2, as already suggested.

The weight is sustained against dropping down and throwing the worm T out of gear with the segment bymeans ot' a lug or hook on the armature 71. of the primary-circuit magnet t. This primary circuit has a circuiteloser located some distance, as at a quarter,

This notch allows of the-rebound of 2 5 through the n'ieans already described, lifts the The normal tendency of the shai't I The shaft of the worm is divided into i a half, or a full mile, in advanecof the roadcrossing, and mounted so as to be actuated by a passing train, and to close the circuit, energize the magnet t, and draw the lug ol' the armature h from beneath the weight; 0 some time before the train reaches the crossing.

This done, the weight 0 swings down, and,

worm T out of ongagemen t with the segnumt S, and leaves the strait 13 under the rotating in tluenco ot' the weight which iin1nmliatel v act-s under the torce of gravity to draw the gate-arm down. The segment S also moves through about. a quarter of a revolution with the sha it B and comes to rest upon a cushioned stop secured within the housing A.

In Fig. the segmentis shown as awn-melting the limit of this quarter movement, and a stud, 7;, projecting [from a spoke of the segment S, as about to come into cont-act with a porting a rod, 92?, guided at n. This rod and lever constitute return mechanisn'i, by which the weight 0 returned to its position upon the lug of the armature 72. The support h o! the armature, bcin in the nature of a spring, yields to allow the weight to pass over the lug and acts to force the lug back under the weight. This return of the weight c, it will be observed, automaticall v occurs when the gate has descended. This returns the worm T into engagennmt with the segment .s,which is now ready to elevate the gate upon the closing of the motorcircuit-.

To go back somewhat, I will now refer to the gong or bell circuit. A cross-piece form ing a support, 0, for the s n'ing h of the armature 71 also supports two metallic plates, 9 and q, forming parts of the bell-circuit. The plate p is of a yielding nature, and normally held out of contact with the plate (1 by means of a rod, 1', (see Figs. 1 and sus pended from the support 0, and lntvin g a nonconducting term ination, s, which rests upon the weight c. It-will be noticed, therefore, that when the weight 0 swings down the rod will. drop sutfioiently to allow the spri rig-plate p to make contact with the plate q. There fore when the magnet; t is energized to allow the gate to descend the bell-circuit is at the same time closed. The circuit which energizes the magnet "i, and which I term the primary circuit, is only closed. for a moment, while the bell-circuit remains closed until the gate is entirely down, when the lift;- ing of the weight 0, in the manner already described, also lifts the rod r and raises the plate 1:) awayfrom the plate q. These actions having taken place, the train is Pl'OSHllltXl to be traveling in the direction of: thcroad-crossin g. \Vhen it has passed the same, it actuates a circuit-closer located beyond the roadcrossing, say, fifty or one h undred feet. This circuit-closer is in what Itcrm a motor-closing circuit, and in which motor-closing circuit the magnet i is placed. A pivoted detent, r, stands opposite the armature 'u, and

is provided with a non-conducting surface, 'w, which normally engages said armature. The shaft :20 of this detent o carries a cam-arm, 'y, (see Figs. 1 and 2, which acts to hold the non-conducting surface a normally against the armature 'u, and which also draws the detcnt '0 over said armature when the latter has been drawn down to it's magnet t. The armature and the det'ent are in the motor-circuit, and when they are brought into contact in this manner the motor-circuit is thereby closed and maintained in a closed condition mechanicallyafter the motor-closing circuit has been automatically broken by the reaction of its circuit-closer, the latter being of such character as to effect this, as will presently more fully appear. Thus it will be observed that the motor-closing circuit is utilized to close the motor-circuit proper, which is to remain closed long enough to give the motor time to elevate the gate-arm.

Immediately upon the armature u and the detent I; becoming electrically engaged with each other the motor begins to operate, and, through the mechanism already described, rotates the worm T. This rotation is kept up until the gate-arm is nearly elevated,when the lever g is engaged by a cam-block, .2, secured to the segment S, and elevated sufficiently to throw the detent away from the armature u and allow it to return to normal position. liy this time the block .2 has passed from beneath the lever i whereupon the nonconduct-ing surface 10 comes again against the armature n, and the momentum of the motor and of the gear-wheel d carriei the gate up the remainder of the distance.

I will now refer to the preferred arrangement of the circuits, as shown in Fig. (5. In this diagram, 1. designates the battery, which is composed of any required number of cells, and which, by preference, is placed in that part of thehousing shown at number2in Fig. :3. At 3 the primary-circuit closer is located, and at 4c the motor-closing-circuit circuitcloser is located. -When the circuit-closer 3 is actuated, the primary circuit is made,

shaft until said magnet is energized, mechanthrough the wires 5 o '7. This also closes the bell-circuit through the wires 8, 9, and 10 and the plates p and q, already referred to. hen the circuit-closer i is actuated, the motor-closing circuit is made through the wires ll, 12, and 13. This being done, the motor-circuit is made, in the manner above described, through the wires ii. if) it, the detent c, and the armature u.

i do not confine myself to the use of any particular form. of circuit-closer.

The term intermediate gearing" in this specification is used as meaning mechanism which transmits motion from the motor to the gate.

llaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a pivoted gatearm havinga normal tendency to descend, of

an electric motor, intermediate gearing connecting the motor with the gate-arm and controlling its descent and ascent, and an electric generator, circuits, and circuit-closers which control said gearing and motor, whereby upon closing one of said circuits the gatearm descends and upon rlosil'ig the other the motor is actuated.

2. The combination, with the pivoted arm and means which normally tend to close it, an electric motor, and an electric generator, of gearing between the motor-shaft and the gate-shaft which elevates the gate when the motor is in operation and locks it againstdescent, a primary circuit, its magnet, and circuit-closer which unlock the locking parts of the gearing, a motor-starting circuit and a magnet therein, a motor-circuit of which the armature of said magnet forms a part, a detent which engages saidarmature to main tain the motor-circuit, and cam mechanism to disengage them when the gate-arm rises.

23. The combination, with a gate-shaft, a pivoted detent, and intermediate cam mechanism which acts on the detent through the turning of the gate-shaft, of an clectro-magnet, its armature, and an electric circuit maintained by said armature after its magnet has been momentarily energized until the cam mechanism releases it from the detent.

4:. The coml'iination, with a gong, a generator, and a gong-circuit, an electro-magnet, its circuit, its circuit-closer, and devices between said magnet and the gong-circuit which hold the latter open until said magnet is energized, of a pivoted gate and return mechanism actuated by said gate on its descent to act upon said intermediate devices and break the bellcircuit.

' 5. The combination, with a pivoted gatearm, of an electric motor, a jointed wormshaft, one section of which is geared to the mo tor-shaft and the free end of the other section of which is connected with a pivoted weighted arm, an electro-magnet whose armature sustains said arm and maintains the worm in engagement with a segment on the gate ism actuated by said segment to return said arm to its position after the opening of the gate, a pivoted detent in the motor-circuit, provided with a cam-lever, an elcctro-magnet whose armature is also in the motor-circuit, which it completes when said magnet is energized, and a cam on the worm-segment to break said cireui t as the gate-arm rises.

(i. The combination, with a pivoted gatearm and means normally tending to close it, of an electric motor, intermediate gearing connect-ing its shaft with the gate-shaft, devices which maintain said connection, an electromagnet which, when energized, breaks said connection, allowing the gate to descend, a circuit and circuit-closer of said magnet in advance of the crossing, return mechanism actuated by the descent of the gate which reestablishes said connection, a detent, an electie-magnet whose armature, when said mag;- 11 et 15 energized, electrically contacts with said detent, cam meehan ism which breaks said eont'aet as The gz'iio-arm rises, a eireniiz-eloser be- I 'yond The (missing, a motor-Marti11g eireuii: between said closer and the last-named magnet, and a moior-eirenii eomposed in part of said armature and dei'en l, i he (:i reuii-eh'isers being loeaied near a raihvay-traek, and an eleetrie generator ("or said eireniis.

T. The combination, with a pei'iesial and a pivoted gaie-arm mounied ihereinmi' an electric motor and iniermediate gearing heiwwen \Vitnesses:

JNO. '1. )Lwnox, 'F. (I. FEUHAGEN.

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