US409648A - Half to james c - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. W. NORWOOD.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

No. 409,648. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

MIWI\ lll (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. R. W. NORWOOD.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

Patente gl Aug. 20, 1889;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD IV. NORVVOOD, OF COURTLAND, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JAMES C. GRANT, OF SAME PLACE.

RAI LWAY-SIG NAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,648, dated August 20,1889.

Application filed March '7, 1889. Serial No. 302,279. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD W. Noawoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Oourtland, in the county of Lawrence and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Signals and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in antomatically-operating railway-signals, the object thereof being to simplify and perfect the construction of that class of signaling deviceswhich are used to promote safety in the running of trains upon railroads, the invention being particularly, although not exclusively, applicable for use on single-track roads; and the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved railway signal complete. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line as a of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of a railroad provided with my improved signaling mechanism. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View of aportion of the operating mechanism of the signal, which is arranged alongside of the rails of the track.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout all the different figures of the drawings.

My invention is adapted for use with any kind of railroad, it being pre-eminently advantageous for use with roads where trains pass in both directions upon a single track.

A A denote the parallel rails of any ordinary railroad, said rails being placed upon the usual cross-ties, as shown.

B denotes an example of car arranged to travel upon said road. This car has the forward truck 0 O and rear truck D D. It will be noted that I represent this car simply by way of example, to show how the car during its movements upon the road mayautoinatically operate my improved railway-signal. Said car, in addition to being provided with the regular trucks which roll upon the tracks, has a pair of wheels carried on an axle E, journaled in horizontal arms E E arranged beneath the platform of the car in some suitable manner, so as to project downward. One of the wheels has a portion of greater diameter than the rest, or is flanged in some manner so as to project downward onthe outside of the track a short distance below the upper surface thereof, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5. During the progress the wheel E, just described, is made to encounter certain spring devices belonging to the automatic mechanism of my improved signal, which causes the signal to be operated in the manner to be hereinafter more fully detailed.

The mechanism of my improved signal is arranged alongside the rails of the track on the outer side thereof. In the case of a singletrack road I preferably locate the mechanism of the signal on the outer side of both rails. (See Fig. 4.)

F denotes a signal-post, which is located close by the track in a conspicuous position, where it may be easily seen. Said post carries upon its upper end a cylindrical drum G, having a suitable number of rectangular or other shaped openings therein.

VV'ithin the drum is a cylinder II, the surface of which is painted red and white, or any other suitable color, alternately, the red and white sections being of suitable size, so that they may be displayed through the openings in the wall of the cylindrical drum G. Thus if the cylinder II be revolved it is manifest that the white and red sections will be disclosed to View through the openings in the drum G. The signal-cylinderH is secured to the spindle I, the lower end of which is journaled in the base of the hollow signal-post F. Said spindle I is provided with a horizontal slotted arm or loop J, projecting through the side of post F toward the track. There may be any number of these signal-posts located at suitable points on one or both sides of the track. It may be well to suggest in this connection that four signal-posts might be conveniently arranged on each side of the track in a distance of a mile. In Fig. 4 I have shown a signal-post on one side of the track and one on the opposite side.

At certain points between the signal-posts I arrange devices which are acted upon by the cars and which communicate motion to the cylinder within the drum on the signalpost, and thus actuate said painted cylinder in the manner desired.

K denotes a curved spring, one end of which is bolted or otherwise suitably fastened to the base-flange of the rail, while the other end portion of the spring is located substantially on alevel with the upper surface of the rail and in close proximity thereto, so that when the car passes the wheelEwill act upon the spring to depress it. Such springs K are located at proper intervals between the signal-posts. It may be convenient to arrange them one or two hundred yards apart or at such other intervals as maybe found proper.

L denotes a right-angled bell-crank lever arranged in connection with the rail near the spring K. Said bell-crank has a horizontal pin or journal a, which is supported in a suitably-journaled box or bearing 1), secured to the under side of the rail. The free end of the spring K is provided with a downwardlyprojecting lug or pair of lugs c, to or between which is pivoted a short link d, the other end of which is pivoted to one arm of the bellcrank. The other arm of said bell-crank is properly curved to enable the same to pass over the base-flange of the rail and up along the side thereof, its end being slotted and pivotally connected with thelink M. This link is properly fashioned to permit the screwthreaded end of the horizontal rod N to connect therewith atone end, as shown, While the other end of the link is connected to the screw-threaded end of the horizontal rod 0. The rods N and O are adapted to move endwise, and are supported and guided by suit able devices secured to the side of the rails. The rod Nextends from the point where it is connected to the link M (which link is adjacent to that spring K which is nearest to the signal-post) to a point Where it is connected to a link M, constructed similarly to the link M and located on the rail adjacent to the signal-post.

P denotes a crank having a horizontal portion journaled in guides near the foot of the signal-post, and having also one arm 19 at-right angles to the horizontal part, which arm projects through the looped or slotted horizontal arm J, projecting from the signal-spindle, said crank having also another arm 9, which is pivotally connected to the link 1 I have thus described in detail that part of the mechanism whereby motion is communicated from the moving car to the signaling device to actuate the latter, which mechanism is located nearest to the signal-post. There will, in fact, be a continuous line of rods running the entire length of the track, which rods will connect With each other by means of links similar toM and M. Accompanying each spring K will likewise be a bell-crank and other mechanical parts similar to what We have just described. As the train moves along the track the Wheel E will depress each spring K as it comes'in contact therewith, and-this will actuate the bell-crank and impart an endwise movement to the rods, which will be located alongside of the track. The actuation of these rods Will operate the crank P, thus moving the arm J and oscillating the spindle I and the painted cylinder to Which it is connected. Suppose, therefore, that the cylinder H is so arranged within the drum G that when the spring K occupies its normal position undepressed the white sections of said cylinder II will be displayed to View through the drum. Then whenever the spring K is depressed the result of said depression will be to oscillate the cylinder H and dis- I play a red section to view inlieu of the white, Which red section will be seen only momentarily or during the period that the spring K is depressed, for when the wheel or signaloperating truck E has moved off said spring the resiliency thereof will cause it to assume its normal position, which will again bring the white section into View. If the car therefore be moving forward in the direction of the arrow (shown in Figs. 1 and 5) another car or train on the same track some distance ahead would instantly be made aware of its approach by the intermittent flashing of the red section consequent upon the periodic depression of the springs K ranged along the rails. When signal-posts are stationed on both sides of the track, both cars or trains which might at any time be approaching each other would be informed as to each others movement and danger thus averted. My mechanism is so arranged that when the spring K is depressed the actuation of the intermediate mechanism between it and the signal will be quick, thus imparting a sharp or instantaneous movement to the signal.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a way of connecting two of the rods which are located alongside of the track, to Wit: rods 0 Q. The rod 0 has connected to the end thereof a loop e. The end of rod Q enters said loop and is provided with a pin g. It will thus be seen that When the spring K nearest the signal-post is depressed it will have no effect upon the spring K next behind it, for although it will cause the rodO to move endwise, yet such motion in this instance will not likewise reciprocate the rod Q, for the loop e will slide over said rod, being guided and limited in its movement by the pin g.

If desired, the spring K and the accompanying mechanism may be covered or housed with a covering of sheet-iron or other suitable metal to protect said mechanism from the Weather. I have shown an example of this covering in Fig. 5. It Will furthermore be noted that the revolving signal-cylinder H ICC may be furnished with a spring, if desired, (see Fig. 2,) to assist in returning it into position after it has been revolved.

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

1. In a railway-signal, the combination of the revolving cylinder and its spindle, having a slotted arm, the spring located alongside of the track and adapted to be depressed by the moving car, a bell-crank having a journal supported in a bearing beneath the rail, the link connecting the spring and the bell-crank, the horizontal rods to which the bell-crank is pivotally connected, and the crank connecting the horizontal rod with the slotted arm of the signal-cylinder, all substantially as described.

2. In a railway-signal, the combination ofupon by the moving car, the bell-crank L,

connected movably to the rail, the connecting link (1 between the bell-crank and the spring, the horizontal rods alongside of the track connected by links, to one of which the bellcrank is pivotally attached, the signal-post F, carrying drum G, the cylinder H therein, having painted sections, its spindle I, having arm J and the crank P, connecting armJ with one of the links between the horizontal rods, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD W. NORIVOOD.

VVitn esses:

N. DUMON'l, FRED E. TASKER.

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