US431732A - Railway gates - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. WAYLAND & J. S. BALDWIN. PNEUMATIC SYSTEM FOR OPERATING RAILWAY GATES.

No. 431,732. Patented July 8, 1890.

BY me ATTY'S.

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J. WAYLAND & J; S. BALDWIN. PNEUMATIC SYSTEM FOR OPERATING RAILWAY GATES.

No. 431,732. Patented July 8, 1890.

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/ BY .ATTY'S.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES IVAYLAND AND JAMES S. BALDWIN, OF NEWVARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE RAILWAY APPLIANOECOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PNEUMATIC SYSTEM FOR OPERATING RAlLWAY-GATES..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,732, dated July 8, 1890.

Application filed September 4,1889. Serial No. 322,958. (No model.)

.To all whom/it may concern.-

, Be it known that we, JAMES IVAYLAND and JAMES S. BALDWIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Systems for Operating Railway Gates and other Appliances; and we 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

Our invention relates to that form of aux- 4 iliary railway apparatus in which an impulse devices are open to the objection of disarrangement and breakage due to the violent shocks to which they are subjected. The limited time allotted for their action is also in many cases a feature attended by irregular movement and frequent failure. \Ve employ for this purpose in place of the contact of solid objects the impact of a blast or current-of air or other fluid, either aeriform or liquid, as projected from a nozzle or other suitable outlet carried by a vehicle on said railway and received by suitable stationary apparatus arranged in convenient relation to the line of movement of said vehicle, and adapted tore ceive an impulse from said blast and to transmit the same through appropriate means of connection to any desired point for the operation of a gate or other appliance, already referred to. By this method we are enabled to avoid all violent shocks and to substitute therefor an easy and fluent impulse, thus securing durability of the operating parts and greater certainty of action.

Although various methods may be employed to transmit and apply the impulse thus imparted to said gate or similar appliance, that which we prefer consists in the employment of said impulse to control and regulate an apparatus connected with such gate and arranged and adapted-to operate the same by power locally supplied thereto, but controlled in its action by the said blast-impulse transmitted and imparted thereto. .The mechanism and apparatus which we have devised, combined, and applied to carry out our invention will now be more particularly described, and finally pointed out in the clauses of the claims. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings, embraced in two sheets, in which like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures, Figure 1, Sheet 1, shows in elevation the frame-work of a gate with a portion of a gate-bar, movable tanks, and tubes connected with said tanks. Fig. 2 shows a rotating vessel in elevation and partial section, a recessed bearing for the same shown in section, and apparatus for controlling the rotation of said vessel. Fig. 3 shows, on the same plane as Fig. 2, in elevation, a portion of 'a locomotivetender (the remainder being broken away) carrying a blast-nozzle; also, in section and partial elevation, a stationary apparatus for receiving an impulse from said blast. 4 and 5, Sheet 2, show in proper operative relation and projected on the same plane the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 6 shows in outline and elevation a portion of Fig. 2 projected on a plane at right angles to that of said Fig. 2. Fig. 7 shows a modified form of the apparatus in Fig. 1. Fig.8 shows in section a detail of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 shows a detail of Fig. 2. Fig. 10 shows a portion of a frame-Work and drum pertaining to .the mechanism in Fig. 1. Fig. 11 shows another modification of the apparatus in Fig. 1.

A represents a frame-work or stand carry.- ing drums I and I. From the drum I are suspended the closed tanks 13 and B by wire ropes, each securely attached to said drum.

Figs.

Similar wire ropes are attached to the bottom of said tanks and also to the drum 1. Tothe shaft of said drum 1' is fastened an arm G, of which a portion is broken away, as shown. It is apparent that motion imparted to either of said tanks will be communicated to the drum 1 and a corresponding motion to the bar G, which if swung to a horizontal position may be employed to serve as a gate barring a roadway crossing a railway-track, and by reverse motion may be swung to a vertical position, leaving said roadway free. The tank B may be filled with water or other suit able liquid through an orifice in the top thereof to the line Z, and said orifice may be securely closed by screwing thereon a cap B". I

As thus filled, said tank will by its weight descend, and by connections already described bring the bar G to vertical position against ,any suitable stop, as a stud A, secured to frame A. J is a flexible tube connecting the interior of the tank B with a similar part of the tank B, and is adapted to afford a free channel for the passage of a liquid from one tank to another when impelled by a suitable force, irrespective of the relative position of said tanks.

Q is a flexible tube connected with the upper part of the tank B and arranged and adapted to supply thereto air under pressure or to permit said air to flow from said tank as operative conditions may require.

The tank B is provided with an outlet, as shown in Fig. 8, closed by a float-Valve 13*, which, hanging loosely by its stem and cross bar 0, will permit the free escape of air from said tank, but is adapted to-close said orifice when actuated by liquid forced into said tank to the level indicated by the line X. As thus constructed and arranged the above apparatus is adapted to permit air supplied in sufficient volume and pressure to force liquid from tank B to tank B, lessening the weight of one and increasing the weight of the other.

It is apparent that if the several parts are in substantial equilibrium the shifting of a quantity of liquid from one to the other by reason of changes of pressure effected through the tube Q will in one case hold the bar G against the stop A, or if the preponderance of weight is with the tank B then said bar will be caused to descend until its hanging stop G shall touch the ground.

D is a vessel, preferably of a cylindrical form, carried by a shaft D, moving in a bearing L, having therein a recess 61. A portion of the trunnion between the points D and D has a channel within it, with openings therefrom into said recess d, placing the same at alltimes in communication with said channel, which also communicates by a pipe D with an air space D in the vessel D.

L is a tube communicating with the recessv (Z. It is apparent that changes of pressure induced in the air-space D will be communicated through the several channels, as described, to the tube L and its connections.

N is a piston or plunger moving freely but air-tight in the vessel D, andadapted when in the position shown to impart pressure to air in the space D and to force out said air through the pipes and channels, as above described. If, however, said vessel D has its position reversedth rough half a revolution,the air-space D being brought uppermost,a partial vacuum will be formed therein by the descent of the plunger N, and the plunger will be prevented from passing outside said vessel by a barv D secured across the open end of said vessel, as shown in Fig. 9. The

said vessel D is thus adapted when placed in one position to increase the pressure within an y channel or other inclosure connected with the pipe L, or by a reversal of said position efiected by suitable means to reduce such pressure.

' D is a disk securely fastened to shaft D and having notches D D cut therein, as shown in Fig. 6.

D is a pulley, also firmly attached to the shaft D and arranged to be rotated by power applied through the belt K from the pulley M of the motor M, which may be of any approved type, adapted to be operated by fluid under pressure supplied thereto through a pipe M and discharged through pipe M Said motor prevents any flow or consumption of such fluid when its rotation is prevented by a sufficient resistance, said rotation beginning, however, when such resistance is removed or sufliciently reduced. As such motors are now in general use, no particular description thereof is deemed essential. continued rotation of said motor is adapted through the attached apparatus described alternately to raise and lower the pressure in pipe L and its connect-ions.

C is a pawl or stop carried by the holder 0 and adapted to enter notches D D formed in the disk D, and to arrest the rotation of said disk D attached to shaft D, and other parts connected with said shaft, as described. Conversely, the withdrawal of said pawl will permit said disk and attached parts to rotate, the same being actuated by motor M, as already set forth.

0 Fig. 6, is a spring attached to the holder C for the purpose of affordin g an elastic stoppage for the disk D and its rigidly-attached parts, the slipping of the belt K gradually arresting the motion of the motor M.

E, Fig. 2, is a rod connected with the pawl C and adapted to actuate the same when moved by the action of the lever WV on the curved and hooked end of said rod, said lever being raised by the inflation of a bag or bellows WV by air transmitted under pressure through pipes W or as the same may be placed in communication through suitable cocks embraced in said pipes, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4:. By the inflation of the bag W and raising of the lever WV and engaged hook 11 the curved extremity of the latter is by a contact with a portion of the stand E disen The IIS

gaged from said lever W", at which time its attached pawl C will have released its hold on the disk D, permitting the same to rotate, and the said bar and pawl descending by their weight, and when necessary the added power of a spring E, the said pawl will rest on a plain part of disk D until another notch in said disk is brought under it, when the pawl, entering the same, will arrest the rotation of the disk D in manner as described.

WV is a stop arranged to limit the movement of lever W, which, descending by its weight and that of its attached platen, as permitted by the collapse of the bag W, effected by means to be hereinafter described, will re-engage with the hook E preparatory to another removal of the pawl G and corre sponding rotation of the disk D. Said notches beingtwo in number and opposite each other, as shown, the alternate inflation and collapse of the bag W will permit a succession of half revolutions of the disk and attached parts, as described.

U, Fig. 3, is a T or equivalent outlet, preferably leading from an air-brake main on a locomotive-tenderT. U is a pipe proceeding from said T and sustained by a stud T. Said pipe is provided with an outlet or nozzle T* and also with a valve T operated by handle T the main U being supplied with air under pressure in the usual manner. Said air will pass through pipe U when valve T is opened and will then emerge through nozzle'T as a violent blast.

S is a post provided with a bracket S, carrying a casing F, preferably flaring at its lower parts. Said casing is provided with a partition F pierced with an orifice or short channel provided with a check-valve, as

shown. In some cases this valve may be dispensed with. Above said partition and attached thereto is a bellows or other extensible vessel F connected by a platen provided with a spring F with one end of a lever V. Attached to and suspended from said partition F is a bag F, preferably, but not necessarily, provided on its lower side with a plate F attached thereto and adapted to receive the impact of a blast or violent current projected againstit from a nozzle, as T By the force of such blast, if suitable in quantity and direction, said bag will be partially closed and air contained therein forced through the orifice in partition F into the bellows F inflatin g the same and applying through the spring F an upward pressure to the attached end of the lever V and a corresponding downward pressure from the other extremity of said lever against the spindle of a tappet-valve V, of the usual construction, connected with a pressuremain R, supplied with air under pressure from any suitable source of supply, as a pump and tank in a round-house or other convenient locality for preparing and maintaining such supply.

V is a delivery leading from said valve to any desired point, and adapted to convey thereto air under pressure as supplied from said pressure-main through valve V when opened, as described.

It is apparent that by the use of the abovedescribed means an operator on a train may, by properly timing and regulating the delivery of a blast of air or other fluid under pressure toward and against the plate F effect the transmission of an impulse from a train to the valve V, and thus secure a further transmission of a greater force to any required distance. i

In some cases the bag F may be dispensed with and the force of the blast permitted to inflate the bellows F directly. The return of said bellows to its normal position we prefer to secure by providing a slight leak through the check-valve or by any similar small but constant'outlet from said bellows to the bag or space below,whereby the said bellows, having been inflated and having operated the valve V, shall, after a prescribed interval, collapse sufflciently to permit said valve to close.

The operation of our invention is as follows, reference being had to Figs. 4t and 5, wherein are shown as combined for joint operation the elements already described placed in proper relation to each other substantially as we prefer to combine said elements in a complete working system, the relative positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3 having been chosen for case of illustration: In said Figs. 4 and 5 minor parts already sufficiently described are not shown in exact detail or dimensions. A tender Tor other vehicle moving in the direction indicated by arrows in Fig. 5 and provided with a nozzle or outlet furnishing a blast of fluid under pressure may, when in the position shown in said Fig. 5, and substantially in the manner shown and described in connection with Fig. 3, emit a current of air under pressure, to be applied through pipe V to attached pipe W inflating the bag W and actuating the pawl O in the manner described in connection with Fig. 2, thus permitting a semi-revolution of the ves- Sol D and an appropriate pneumatic action in and from said vessel through the tube L and its continuation Q, effecting an operative result in the attached mechanism and gate bar. Assuming the operative conditions to be those shown in Figs. 1' and 2, the effect would be to lower the bar G, as shown partially in said Fig. 1 and completely in Fig. 5.

Said operation having been completed and the valve V being closed by the withdrawal of lever V following the passage of the blastnozzle beyond the casing F, the bag W, being no longer supplied with air under pressure, will collapse by the escape of its contents through the bleeder W suitably adjusted for that purpose, and the lever WV will re-engage with the hooked bar E The vehicle continuing to move, (the valve '1 being closed, if desired,) the said vehicle will in due time reach the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 and connected with the bag WV by its branch pipe W as shown partially by a broken line. The foregoing operations may then be repeated by a proper employment of the aforesaid airblast acting on the second recipient thereof, which does not differ in any respect from that shown in Fig. 5. Another semi-rotation of the vessel D being thus effected, the airspace I) brought uppermost and a partial vacuum created therein and in the connected tank B, a rapid transfer of liquid will take place thereto from tank B through flexible tube J, thus changing the preponderance of weight, and a corresponding movement of said tank and gate will occur in manner as already described.

By the employment of the above system a gate may be automatically opened and closed by the above-described apparatus connected therewith and controlled by suitable impulses communicated thereto from a moving vehicle through the medium of a blast or current of air or other fluid properly directed from said vehicle against a stationary recipient provided therefor and connected with said apparatus. The blast of air may in some cases be replaced by steam from the boiler or exhaust of a locomotive or by the blast which issues from the smoke-stack. A jet of water could be used in some cases when no danger of freezing existed. WVe employ the term blast of air as a representative one.

Our invention maybe modified in many ways. If the tank B, Fig. 1, were removed and replaced by a suitable weight B Fig. 11, and itself fixed in a convenient position above the tank B on the support 13 as shown in same Fig. 11, the connection through tube J being maintained, then the passage of liquid to and from between said tanks would secure the same change of preponderant weight and corresponding movement of attached parts that attend the arrangement shown in Fig. 1. In like manner, if said tanks were placed on opposite sides of a fulcrum, as shown in Fig. 7, changes in pneumatic pressure effected in tank B through tube Q would be accompanied by a corresponding flow of liquid be tween tanks B and B and a shifting of the preponderance from one side to the other of fulcrum a and a corresponding movement of attached parts.

The vessel D, if made of sufficient capacity, may be employed to operate several gates at once, and in case of accident, or when for any reason such course becomes desirable, may be disconnected from the motor M by removing the belt K, and may then be operated by manual effort applied at handles H, the pawl 0 being disengaged to permit such movement.

Various means of transmitting the impulse communicated by the blast to the plate F or other recipient thereof may be employed in lieu of those shown and described, and we reserve the right to make the same the subjects of other applications co-ordinate herewith.

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

1. The combination, with the operating mechanism of a railway appliance, of a ve-v hicle carrying a blast-nozzle, a receiver supported at a convenient position adjacent to the track or way for said vehicle and communicating with the said appliance, whereby the impulse of the blast is transmitted from said nozzle to said appliance to operate the latter, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the operating mechanism of a gate, of a vehicle, a blastnozzle carried thereon, and a receiver supported in a convenient position to transmit the impulse of a blast from said nozzle to said gate-operating mechanism, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the operating mechanism of a gate, of a vehicle, a blast-nozzle carried thereon, having a hand-operated valve in its supply-duct, and a receiver supported in a convenient position to transmit the impulse of a blast from said nozzle to said gate-operating mechanism, substantially as set forth.

4:- The combination, with the operating mechanism of a gate anda pressure-main supplying power thereto, of a vehicle, a blast-nozzle carried thereon, and a receiver supported in a convenient position to transmit the impulse of a blast from said nozzle to the controlling-valve of said pressure-main, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the operating mechanism of a gate, of a vehicle, a blast-nozzle carried thereon, a collapsible vessel c011- taining air supported in a convenient position to receive the impulse of a blast issuing from said nozzle, and mechanism, substantially as shown, to connect said vessel with the gate-operating mechanism, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the operating mechanism of a gate anda pressure-main supplying power thereto, of a vehicle, ablast-nozzle carried thereon, a collapsible vessel supported in a convenient position to receive the impulse of a blast issuing from said nozzle, and an extensible vessel connected with the former which receives the air expelled from it by the force of the blast and transmits its pressure to the controlling-valve of the said pressure-main, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the operating mechanism of a gate and apressure-main supplying power thereto, of avehicle, a blast-nozzle carried thereon, a collapsible vessel supported in a convenient position to receive the impulse of a blast issuing from said nozzle, an extensible vessel communicating with the former, a check-valve in the connecting-passage, and means, substantially as described, whereby the second vessel transmits the pressure of' the air forced into it by the blast to the controlling-valve of the pressure-main.

8. In combination with a gate, a movable and pneumatic-operating mechanism therefor, of an air-vessel rotating on a horizontal W l c axis, a gravitating plunger controlling the IS tension of the air contained therein, and a tube leading from the interior of said vessel to the gate-operating apparatus, all substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing 20 We have hereunto set our hands this 3d day of September, 1889.

JAMES WAYLAND. JAMES S. BALDWIN.

Witnesses:

CHARLER H. PELL, E. L. SHERMAN.

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