US468160A - Railway switch and signal interlocking mechanism - Google Patents
Railway switch and signal interlocking mechanism Download PDFInfo
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- US468160A US468160A US468160DA US468160A US 468160 A US468160 A US 468160A US 468160D A US468160D A US 468160DA US 468160 A US468160 A US 468160A
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- 229930091051 Arenine Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 229910001018 Cast iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
- B61L5/00—Local operating mechanisms for points or track-mounted scotch-blocks; Visible or audible signals; Local operating mechanisms for visible or audible signals
- B61L5/10—Locking mechanisms for points; Means for indicating the setting of points
Definitions
- My invention has reference to the interlocking mechanism which usually is located in the tower from which the different signals,
- switches, and switch-locking devices of the system controlled by the operator in the tower are actuated by means of suitable levers and intermediate motion-transmitting devices.
- Figure 1 is a front elevation, on reduced scale, of so much of the machine as needed for the purposes of explanation.
- Fig. 2 is a similar elevation ofthe machine on enlarged scale, parts of the machine between the two ployed in the particular organization represented in the preceding figures.
- Fig.6 is a diagram of the system of tracks, signals, and switches for Which the machine is intended.
- Fig. 7 is a diagram of the locking-bars illustrating the working of the apparatus.
- Figs. Sto 16 are modifications which will be hereinafter more particularly referred to.
- Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, X, Y, and Z are the operating-levers in the tower of ordinary or suitable construction and provided, as usual, with quadrants 1.
- Bolted to the frame-work of the tower are cast-iron floor-plates 3, having in them suitable openings for the passage of the operative parts of the mechanism, and upon these floor-plates and at the opposite ends of the machine are bolted the upright guideplates a.
- the levers X which are at the ends of the machine, are the signal-levers.
- levers Y Z are located in the intermediate portion of the machine, and of these levers those marked Yare the switch-levers and those marked Z are the switch-pointlocking levers.
- the point-locking mechanism is not shown, being a well-known device and forming no part of my invention. It is a device which customarily is located within a few feet of the switch itself, and consists, usually,
- Obviousl-y t'he lock-bars 15 can be operated from theswitchlever Y, instead of from the -*point lock 'lever Z; butthis in practice "wouldbe-a modifica- "tion'to be employed onlyin the absence of special 'point loc'k mechanism and le'vers. In any event 'they'shou'ld be connected to and operated by -some part of the switc'h-con'trolling nl'echanism, Whet-herthe mechanisinfor shifting or -the mechanism for lo'c'king the switches or switCh-points.
- Fig. 6 is a diagram of the system of tracks, signals, and switches to which the machine above described is applicable.
- this figure there are three tracks and six switches, viz: three cross-over switches marked 1, 2, and 3, respectively, one derail andtwo plain switches marked 5 and 6, respectively, and nine signals marked A to I, inclusive.
- Switch 5 has to be reversed to get either one of the two signals; but both signals cannot be lowered at the same time.
- Fig. 7 the locking-bars are represented diagrammatically in normal position.
- second and fifth pins are short and do not engage the second and fifth locking-bars.
- the short pins are not indispensable. They can be omitted, if desired, and they appearonly because as a matter of economy and to save multiplication of patterns I cast all the yokes in one mold with teeth or pins of uniform length andthen break off or otherwise shorten the proper ones of these teeth, according to the particular location in which the yoke is to be used.
- Fig.8 is a horizontal section through a guide-plate 4, one of the locking-bars 15, and the yokes 9 of the east and west bound signal levers in the plane of one of the lockingpins 10 of each of said yokes.
- Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of these parts with the yokes removed and the locking-pins in cross-section.
- Each yoke is to be connected by its own slotted link (similar to the link 6 already described) to its own independent signal-lever.
- To the back of the guide-plate 4 is held a horizontally sliding dog 16 by the head of a bolt, which screwsinto the back of the guide-plate and passes through a slot in the dog of such length as to permit to the dog the necessary range of movement.
- Thepins 10 of the yokes also pass through openings in the dog, and on the inner opposite edges of these openings are beveled projections marked 26 and 27, respectively.
- the two pins 10 have each a lateral lug or projection 25 and 30, respectively, in each of which is formed a beveled recess 28 and 29 to match the beveled projection 26 or 27 on the dog 16, with which it is to co-operate.
- Fig. 8 the parts are shown in normal position with the lock-bar adjusted to bring its holes in register with the holes in the guideplate through which the locking-pins work. If now it be desired to lower the east-bound signal, the lever appropriate to that signal is of course operated.
- the bevel 26 of dog 16 by the inwardlymoving pin of the west-bound signal, is forced into the beveled notch 29 of the locking-pin of the east-bound signal and is held there until the west-bound signal is again restored to its normal position.
- Fig.10 is a side elevation of the link 6 -to be used with the home-signal lever.
- This link in no wise differs from the link shown in Fig. 3, save that, in addition to an oifset s at the lower end of its slot 5, it has a second off-' set 8 at or near the upper end of said slot.
- Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are sections similar to Corresponding reference numbers and letters in Figs. 11 and 8 indicate corresponding parts.
- the dog 16 in Fig. 8 provided with beveled pro jections opposite the pins; but in Fig. 11 these bevels are not upon the interior opposite edges of the openings through which the pins pass; but one of them 22 is upon the inner edge of one opening and the other 22 is upon the outer edge of the other opening.
- the link with an offset at the top and at the bottom of the slot is to be used whereatwo-position signal is to be handled by the leverconnected to the link, there being first an active, then a silent, and then an active movement, and the object of having the second offset at the top of the slot being that the signal-man must fully reverse the lever before the second active movement occurs. If, however, it is desired to handle a three-position signahthen the link should be modified, as shown in Fig. 15-that is to say, the second oifset .9 should be about midway of the slot.
- ⁇ V G; LIANEY; Jon FosrER.
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Description
(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 1.
J. W. THOMAS, Jr. RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL IN'I'EELOGKING MECHANISM.
No. 465,160. Patented Feb. 2, 1892.
m lj
(No Model.) 7 Sheet88heet 2.
J. W. THOMAS, Jr. RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL INTERLOGKING MECHANISM.
No. 468,160; I Patented Feb. 2, 1892-.
. gmoewboc Witt mama fi M M4 THE mums PEYEHS on, Pnovo-umm, msumorcn, o c.
7 Sheets-Sheet 3.
Patented Feb. 2, 189 2.
(No Model.)
J. W. THOMAS, Jr RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL INTERLOGKING MECHANISM. No. 468,160.
wuewtoz W0 mk 04 aim 0mg (No Model.) 7'Sheets--Sheet 4. J. W. THOMAS, Jr. RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL INTERLOGKING MECHANISM. No. 468,160.
Patented Feb. 2, 189,2.
ll IHNFIIIIIIII llill I I l 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.
(No Model.)
J. W. THOMAS, Jr. RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL INTER-LOCKING MECHANISM.
(flo ModeL) 7 7 Sheets-Sheet 6.
' J; W. THOMAS, Jr.
RAILWAY fsWITcH AND SIGNAL INTERLOGKING MECHANISM.
No. 468,160. Patented Feb. 2, 1892.
7 Sheets-Sheet 7.
(No ModeL) J W THOMAS Jr RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL IN'IEELOGKING MECHANISM.
No. 468,160. Patented Feb. 2, 1892.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
JOHN \V. THOMAS, JR, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.
RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGONAL INTERLOCKING MECHANISM.
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No.468,160, dated February 2, 1892.
Application filed August 12, 1891. Serial No- 402,4=25- (No model.)
To all whom, it may concern;
Be it known that I, JOHN V. THOMAS, Jr., of Nashville, in the State of Tennessee, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Railway Switch and Signal Interlocking Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.
My invention has reference to the interlocking mechanism which usually is located in the tower from which the different signals,
switches, and switch-locking devices of the system controlled by the operator in the tower are actuated by means of suitable levers and intermediate motion-transmitting devices.
The improvements I have devised relate,
principally, to the devices by which the vari ous levers are interlocked, my obj eet being to cheapen, simplify, and enhance the efficiency of the apparatus, and to so organize and combine the operative parts thereof as to obtain a mechanism by the aid of which a three-position signal can be handled with ease and perfect safety. These improvements will first be described by reference to the drawings accompanyingthis specificatiomand will then be more particularly pointed out in the claims.
The improvements are applicable as well to machines or apparatuses in which special locking is required as to those termed by signal-engineers straight locking machines; but in the main figures of the drawingsl have represented my invention as embodied in a machine of the latter class-viz, a straightlocking machine.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, on reduced scale, of so much of the machine as needed for the purposes of explanation. In this figure, owing to the smallness of the scale, it is possible to represent only the general relation in which the several operative parts stand to one another. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation ofthe machine on enlarged scale, parts of the machine between the two ployed in the particular organization represented in the preceding figures. Fig.6 is a diagram of the system of tracks, signals, and switches for Which the machine is intended. Fig. 7 is a diagram of the locking-bars illustrating the working of the apparatus. Figs. Sto 16 are modifications which will be hereinafter more particularly referred to.
Confining attention for the present to the main figures of the drawings, Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, X, Y, and Z are the operating-levers in the tower of ordinary or suitable construction and provided, as usual, with quadrants 1. Bolted to the frame-work of the tower are cast-iron floor-plates 3, having in them suitable openings for the passage of the operative parts of the mechanism, and upon these floor-plates and at the opposite ends of the machine are bolted the upright guideplates a. The levers X, which are at the ends of the machine, are the signal-levers. levers Y Z are located in the intermediate portion of the machine, and of these levers those marked Yare the switch-levers and those marked Z are the switch-pointlocking levers. The point-locking mechanism is not shown, being a well-known device and forming no part of my invention. It is a device which customarily is located within a few feet of the switch itself, and consists, usually,
The
of a pair of plungers, one or the other'i'of which locks the switch according as the points are normal or reversed, as will be understood, for example, by reference to British Letters Patent No.1,06l of 1874 or United States Patent No. 369,815, to Harry Roser, dated September l 3, 1887. The levers are hung in brackets 2, secured to the frame-work of the tower. The short arms of the signal-levers X (usually about two feet long) are forked at the end, so as to straddle links (3, and they engage the links by pins which pass through their forked ends and through slots 5 in the links, there being one link for each lever. Each link is fulcrumed at 7 to a casting S, and to its upper end is jointed a yoke 9, armed with looking pins 10, which are keyed oriotherwise suitably secured to it.
in and through the guide-plates at, opposite the points where the pins of the several yokes come, are holes in which the pins work and through which they can pass to locking-bars 15, which extend the entire length of the machine and are mounted upon the guide plates 4 on the side or face thereof opposite that on which the locking yokes and pins are in such manner as to be capable of sliding horizon-- tally or in the direction of their length. These locking-bars are provided with holes which, when they are brought opposite 'to or in register with the holes in the guide-plates, can be entered by the locking-pins 10, and thus the locking-bars can be locked in position. There;
been p'i-(hardy operated to set a a lock the switch foirii liic'h the "signal is to he set;
To the hereon bdnnhfng-Tdd 1 1 eheh.
bell' c'ra n lnis pivoted in a suitable standard,
and -has i-ts-dtheiarm 'pin'ned to the lock-bar F ie hp'prepriete to the switch, which is *e'dn-r;
trolled *by ever z.
In lieiiofbelhcranksq can'euiployohlique their hppthphihte locking-bars At the lewereha er "theslot 5 or eheh li n k' the sheet e, which, "when acted on by the e ih ihhhe rer ea endof t'h'e si el-levehx; serve-she 'giveft'he nh'h its forwardthrowtfdn theipurposeof engaging its heme-game to with the locking-bars :15) *at the ver'ycom meheeihe hemhe movement 'of lever ehn" curved that when the li-nk has been thus threw-h it will bean sheer h circle, having the fii 'crh'm cue-vet Keene-ente rhe resiilt istha-t quick movement or the yoke and pins "10 is "obtained at the coiiimehcemeiit,' so that by the ti-me'the'ha-nd lever X, in being reversed from its normal positionin 3, showsa ii1oveinentof aboutfive-eight'hs ofhh iheheh the quadrant-(whichin practice: does not affect the position of 'thefsignal) its 'locliing pinshavebeeliforcediiitoengagement with the appropriate locking bars 15, t hus "loc'king 'alhth'e switches overwhi'c'h the signahab'oiit to be lowered gives a train a right' to ?'pass when the signal is lowered,- and by this'i-irn'e'the pin 'Of the hand-lever hasteach'ed tiie"-'urVed pOrtiOn of the slot 5 of the link throw. In other words, after the lever has est te-awhileeth pi peoperated through the offset 3 the interlocking mechanism it has still a range of movement amply sufficient to permit it to set the signal to either caution or safety.
In practice there is only one-eighth of an inch clearance between the inner ends of the locking-pins 10 and the locking-bars 15, and it is therefore evident that, unlessthc switches over which the signal to be lowered gives a train a right to proceed are properly set, so as tobring the holes in the bars 15 opposite to the pins 10, the hand-lever which operates that signal cannot be moved. On returning the signal-lever X from either one of these twolast named positions to normal or danger position the locking pins 10 remain stationary and in looking position "until theiever has l "early reached its normalpositiomat 1 time, *by t'he action of the lever on the offset s, the l'oek in-g -"p'i'ns are dise'ngag ed and withdrawn from 'thelocking-ba rs l5, t-h u's permitting the signal-man to unlodlcafn'd throw "a'ny'of the switch 'es hehnayd'esire.
The liiaiiiienti f operatin g the levers X Y Z isa's renews; When aswitch is'set andlo'cked in its normal "position, the levers'occtrpy the position shown in Figs. 3anl *4. To re-verse the s witch,' the"point lock lever'Z isfi rst phlled ,1 ba'c'kone h'alf stroke, "\vlri'chhloveiil'eiit with- A draws oh'e o'f the -locking-pllingers of the lock slotted iiibt'ion plat'e's,(devices "wen-known h 1 the art "to which this invention pertains); vvlii'chsho u ld be se'eured t0 the i rti'ca'lo'ni jheetih -h-eas 14 aha be engaged b'y pins eh,
% "back the other =ha'-If (if stroke, with the "effect (if locking-the switch by th'eother l'ock- }ing-plting'e'r 6f the *lock located att'he-siviteh. Thenfiand Unlythbn, can the-signal-lever X appropriate to the "switch he ope1'ated,-'beeh'use it is only b-yth'etnovement of the leve'r "Z that the loc'k ba'r 15 appropriate to the switch has been-'s'hiftedto bring it into position'where "it 'inay be'ehgaged by the iiiterjlockihg y'o'ke 9 of the sighel leve ahd the bar ca'nnot be 'b'rough't to this position until the-switch"has inten ly been co'mpltelyset, biit also completely locked. Obviousl-y t'he lock-bars 15=can be operated from theswitchlever Y, instead of from the -*point lock 'lever Z; butthis in practice "wouldbe-a modifica- "tion'to be employed onlyin the absence of special 'point loc'k mechanism and le'vers. In any event 'they'shou'ld be connected to and operated by -some part of the switc'h-con'trolling nl'echanism, Whet-herthe mechanisinfor shifting or -the mechanism for lo'c'king the switches or switCh-points.
'In the system represented in the drawings thereare six locking-bars and eight-signall'ever's X. -Th ere are consequently eightyokes 9. luflallof these-yokessom'e-o'f'the pin'sa're 'long, whilc others are'short. The -long =pins 'alone arelocking-pins, and these alone have thedesignating-numeral10. Thes'hoiter'pins have 'nofunctions other thanby entering the holes'in-the guide-plates 4 to serve as guides to assist in assuring the yokes in position dur- IIO ing their back-andforth movement. It will also be noted that the long pins or locking pins proper on the several yokes vary in position. This is made necessary by the interlocking scheme and by the fact that all of the yokes do not engage the same locking-bars.
Fig. 6 is a diagram of the system of tracks, signals, and switches to which the machine above described is applicable. In this figure there are three tracks and six switches, viz: three cross-over switches marked 1, 2, and 3, respectively, one derail andtwo plain switches marked 5 and 6, respectively, and nine signals marked A to I, inclusive. Vhile there are nine signals there are only eight signal-levers X, Fig. 1; but this is because the signals G and II are supposed to be operated from one and the same signal-lever through a selector. Switch 5 has to be reversed to get either one of the two signals; but both signals cannot be lowered at the same time.
In Fig. 7 the locking-bars are represented diagrammatically in normal position. The
lines lettered A to I, inclusive, which intersect the bars 15, are the center lines of the locking-pins 10 of the yokes 9,'whieh pertain to the signal-levers appropriate to the signals which bear similar letters in diagram Fig. 6, and upon each one of the locking-bars is indicated the particular switch of Fig. 6 to which that bar belongs. \Vherever the same two letters as, for example, A A-appear in juxtaposition on any locking-bar, it indicates that a hole in the locking-bar is in register or in line with the locking-pin appropriate to it. A single letter in full lines-as, for example, Fby the side of a hole (or asmall circle typical of that hole) indicates that the hole is out of register with its pin, and a single dotted letteras, for example Finside of a dotted circle indicates the pin with which the similarly-lettered hole is out of register.
The mode of operation of the apparatus will be readily understood from these diagrams with but little further explanation. Indeed, the movements required in order to clear the several signals can be conveniently tabulated as follows, the column headed Normal containing those locking-bars which occupy nor- *mal position (shown in Fig. 7) and the column headed To the left containing those locking-bars which are moved or shifted to the left of normal position;
Normal.
To clear signal A Bar 1 To clear signal 13. To clear signal 0.. To clear signal D. To clear signal E.. To clear signal F To clear signal Gm. To clear signal H ,l To clear signal I Bars 2 Bars 3, 4, and 5 Bars 1, 4, and 5 Bars 1, 3, and 5...
appropriate to signal A has but one lockingpin 10, Fig. 5, which engages only the first or top locking-bar. To clear the signal F, the first and sixth locking-bars remain at normal and the third and fourth locking-bars are shifted to the left of normal so as to bring their holes F in line with the locking-pins indicated-by the dotted letters F. As soon as this is done all of the holes F in the first, third, fourth, and sixth locking-bars will be in line with each other and in register with the locking-pins of the yoke 9 of the lever appropriate to signal F. This yoke is shown in Fig o. It has four-locking-pins, which come opposite the holes in the first, third, fourth, and sixth locking-bars. Its second and fifth pins, however, are short and do not engage the second and fifth locking-bars. I may remark here that the short pins are not indispensable. They can be omitted, if desired, and they appearonly because as a matter of economy and to save multiplication of patterns I cast all the yokes in one mold with teeth or pins of uniform length andthen break off or otherwise shorten the proper ones of these teeth, according to the particular location in which the yoke is to be used.
From the foregoing table and the diagrams to which it refers it will be observed that when the combination for one signal is made the combination for all other signals which may conflict is broken. In doing this only such switches are looked as a lowered signal gives a train a right to pass over, and those switches which the train does not go over in following the signal are left free to be used, thus allowing the signal-man to lower any number of signals which do not give conflicting routes.
I have hereinbefore stated that my improvements are applicable not only to straightlocking machines, such as illustrated in the figures of the drawings already referred to, but also to machines in which special locking is required. For example, in the case of a single track having, say, east and west bound signals the two can be. so interlocked that when either is lowered to safety the other must remain at danger. This is effected by providing the locking pin or pins of the yoke of each lever-the east-bound-signal lever and the westbound-signal le ver-with side lugs having recesses and by combining therewith a sliding dog, which is operated by said projections and acts to lock one or the other of the yokes, as the case may be, by engaging their pin or pins, the mechanism in other respects remaining the same as already described by refereuce to the previous figures. Such a modification is represented in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig.8 is a horizontal section through a guide-plate 4, one of the locking-bars 15, and the yokes 9 of the east and west bound signal levers in the plane of one of the lockingpins 10 of each of said yokes. Fig. 9 isa rear elevation of these parts with the yokes removed and the locking-pins in cross-section.
. gle offset-link in Fig. 3.
Each yoke is to be connected by its own slotted link (similar to the link 6 already described) to its own independent signal-lever. To the back of the guide-plate 4 is held a horizontally sliding dog 16 by the head of a bolt, which screwsinto the back of the guide-plate and passes through a slot in the dog of such length as to permit to the dog the necessary range of movement. Thepins 10 of the yokes also pass through openings in the dog, and on the inner opposite edges of these openings are beveled projections marked 26 and 27, respectively. The two pins 10 have each a lateral lug or projection 25 and 30, respectively, in each of which is formed a beveled recess 28 and 29 to match the beveled projection 26 or 27 on the dog 16, with which it is to co-operate. In Fig. 8 the parts are shown in normal position with the lock-bar adjusted to bring its holes in register with the holes in the guideplate through which the locking-pins work. If now it be desired to lower the east-bound signal, the lever appropriate to that signal is of course operated. By the time the lever shows five-eighths of an inch travel on its quadrant (which in practice does not affect the position of its signal) the lug 25 of locking-pin 10 of the east-bound signal will be opposite to and in contact with the bevel 26 of dog 16, thus holding the bevel 27 of the dog in the beveled notch or recess 28 oflthe locking-pin of the west-bound signal, and consequently preventing this signal from being operated. If, on the other hand, assuming the parts to be again in normal position, as in Fig. 8, it is desired to lower the west-bound signal, the bevel 26 of dog 16,by the inwardlymoving pin of the west-bound signal, is forced into the beveled notch 29 of the locking-pin of the east-bound signal and is held there until the west-bound signal is again restored to its normal position.
A variation of the special locking plan last described, designed by me more particularly with reference to the interlocking of home and distance signals and involving the use of links having two offsets which give successive impulses to the locking-pins during the movement of-the signal-lever, as well as the use of locking-pins having each a number of lateral projections and beveled notches and recesses, is illustrated in Figs. 10 to 14, inclusive.
Fig.10 is a side elevation of the link 6 -to be used with the home-signal lever. This link in no wise differs from the link shown in Fig. 3, save that, in addition to an oifset s at the lower end of its slot 5, it has a second off-' set 8 at or near the upper end of said slot. I remark here that the link used with the distance-signal lever need have but one offset 8, or, in other words, it may be just like the sin- The throw given by the single offset of the one link is about equal to the throw given by the combined action of Fig. 11 is a section similar to Fig. 8, hereinbefore described, except that the sliding dog and the locking-pins differ in detail in the two figures.
Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are sections similar to Corresponding reference numbers and letters in Figs. 11 and 8 indicate corresponding parts. the dog 16 in Fig. 8, provided with beveled pro jections opposite the pins; but in Fig. 11 these bevels are not upon the interior opposite edges of the openings through which the pins pass; but one of them 22 is upon the inner edge of one opening and the other 22 is upon the outer edge of the other opening. Upon one side of the home-signal locking-pin 10, adjoining the bevel 22 on the dog, are two similar beveled recesses 20 and an intermediate projection 23, and on the opposite side of the pin is a wedge projection 17, which works in an opening formed for it in the guide-plate 4 and never passes back out from the dog 16*, even when its yoke 9 is fully retracted. Upon the side of the distance-signal locking-pin next to the bevel 22 on the dog are two similar beveled notches or recesses 18 and an intermediate projection 18*, and upon the 0p posite side of this pin is a wedge projection 19, which normally is back and outside of the dog 16, and when its pin moves forward never passes-in beyond the dog. The two wedge projections 17 and 19 have their bevel in opposite directions. They both operate to move or slide the dog in the same direction; but the projection 17 only so operates when its pin is drawn out, while conversely the projection 19 only so operates when its pin is pushed in. The parts in normal position are shown in Fig. 11, in which position the pro jection 17 on the locking-pin of the homesignal holds the bevel 22 of the dog in the inner notch 18 of the locking-pin of the homesignal, and thus locks the latter in place. The parts are so organized and arranged that in bringing the home-signal to safety position the home-signal lever must be fully re-' The sliding dog 16* in Fig. 11 is likeversed before the distance-signal is fully un- 1 locked. For example, in reversing the homesignal lever for this purpose, when that lever shows one-fourth of an inch travel on its quadrant the locking-pin 10 of the home-signal yoke, actuated'by the lower offset 8 of linkb will have moved about. five-eighths of an inch, bringing the parts to'the position shown in Fig. 12, with the bar 15 locked and the edge 21 of the dog forced and held immovably against the'locking-pin 10 of the distance-signal bythe projection 23 on the homesignal pin. As the operator continues the movement of the home-signal lever, the locking-pin 10 of said lever remains stationary until the concluding portion of the stroke, when the top offset 8 in the link 6* further advances the hon'ie-signal locking -pin 10, which movement of the pin brings its outer notch 20 opposite to the bevel 22 of the dog. The parts in this position are shown in Fig. 13. Then, and only then,is the locking-pin of the home-signal released. The next move 1S to reverse the distance-signal lever, the effeet of which is to bring the distance-signal lockingpin 10 to the position shown in Fig. .14. It will be seen from the above that until the movement of the home-signal is completed it is impossible to lower the distance-signal.
.When the home-signal is in normal position, the distance-signal is locked by the projection 17 on home-signal pin drawing and holding the bevel 22* of the dog in the inner notch 18 of the distan ce-signal pin. After this first advance of the home -signal pin and while the silent movement of the lever is takmg place (by silent movement I mean that portion of the movement of the lever during which it passes through the curved portion of slot 5 between the two oitsets' s and 8) projection on the home-signal pin is in contact with bevel 22 of the dog, thus pressing and holding the edge 21 of the dog up against the distance-signal pin, so that with the home-signal in this position if the operator should try to lower his distance-signal he would be prevented from so doing by the bringing up of the lug or projection 19 on the distance-signal pin against the dog. Consequently until the completion of the movement of the home-signal lever, which brings the parts to the position shown in Fig. 13, it is impossible to lower the distance-signal. \Vhen after this the distance-signal is lowered, bringing the parts to the position shown in Fig. 14:, it will be seen that the projection 19 on the distance-signal locking-pin holds the bevel 22 of the dog in the outer notch 20 of the home-signal locking-pin, and thus the distance-signal must be restored to its normal position before the home-signal can be operated.
The link with an offset at the top and at the bottom of the slot, as illustrated in Fig. 10, is to be used whereatwo-position signal is to be handled by the leverconnected to the link, there being first an active, then a silent, and then an active movement, and the object of having the second offset at the top of the slot being that the signal-man must fully reverse the lever before the second active movement occurs. If, however, it is desired to handle a three-position signahthen the link should be modified, as shown in Fig. 15-that is to say, the second oifset .9 should be about midway of the slot. This form of link during the throw of the lever connected to it gives in succession an active, a silent, an active, and a silent movement, the second active movement occurring just as the lever reaches its middle position and the signal-blade reaches an angle of forty-five degrees. With a link of this description the stroke of the lockingpins 10 is completed when the signal is in caution position, after which the lever can be put to safety position without disturbing them. If, for example, a three'position home-signal and a distance-signal are to be handled, a link like that in Fig. 15 is con nected to the home-signal lever, and the releasing of the distance-signal is completed when the home-signal lever is in its middle position, (at which time the home-signal is in caution position.) As the releasing occurs when the home-signal is in this position, a train can be allowed to proceed under cantion-signal or the home-signal lever can be reversed fully and the train proceed under a safety-signal, as the occasion may demand.
The foregoing illustrations will suffice to show the ease with which any desired combination of special locking can be applied to the machine.
It will be noticed that in the machine illustrated in the main figures of the drawings there are spaces only for six locking-bars; but the capacity of each or any looking-bar can be doubled by cutting it in two lengthwise and forming semicircular recesses in its meeting edges, which conjoined will form a hole into which the looking-pin can enter, so as to lock both bars. This construction is indicated in Fig. 16, which is a face view of a portion of a locking-bar so divided. In case it is not necessary to lock both bars by the same pin the bar that does not require to be locked can be slotted, as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 1G.
Having described my improvements and the best way now known to me of carrying the same into effect, I state in conclusion that I do not restrict myself to the details herein shown and described, for manifestly the same can be varied in may particulars with out departure from the spirit of the invention; but
\Vhat I claim herein as new and of my own invention is as follows:
1. The combination of sliding locking-bars connected to and actuated by the switclrcontrolling mechanism, locking-pins to engage the selected bar or bars, slotted vibratory links carrying said pins and provided in their slots with offsets which determine the throw of the pins, and signal-levers connected to and adapted to operate the links, substantially as and for the purposeshereinbefore set forth.
2. The combination of a pivoted link having a curved slot provided with an offset, a signal-lever havinga pin which works in the slot of the link, a locking pin or pins carried by the link, a guide-plate provided with apertures in which said pins work, one or more locking-bars provided with corresponding apertures and movable to bring said apertures into and out of register with those of the guide-plate, as desired, and switch-controlling mechanism connected to and adaptedto operate the lock-bars, the combination being and acting substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
3. The combination of two indpendentlymovable locking-pins or sets of locking-pins provided each with lateral locking recesses and projections, as described, locking-bars to 5 be engaged by said pins, a sliding dog actu- I 5 and locking-bars with which said pins co-operate, of a pivoted pin-carrying link having a slotprovided with two offsets s s, and an J operating-lever provided with a stud wliich works in the slot and acts upon said offsets 2o successively to cause the intermittent moveineiit in one direction or the other of the link and locking-pins during the throw of thelevei',
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
-5. In an interlocking switch and signal 25 machine, the combination, with the signalactuating mechanism and the signal and switch interlocking mechanism, of a signal lever and a pivoted link connected on the one hand to the signal-lever by a pin-and-slot 3o connection and on the other hand to the interlocking mecha'nism,-whereby the signal-lever during its throw is enabled to actuate the interlocking mechanism and also to operate the signal as a three-position signal, substan- 3 5 tially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.
JOHN w.- THOMAS; .fR. Witnesses: f
\V: G; LIANEY; Jon FosrER.
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US468160A true US468160A (en) | 1892-02-02 |
Family
ID=2537021
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US468160D Expired - Lifetime US468160A (en) | Railway switch and signal interlocking mechanism |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US468160A (en) |
-
0
- US US468160D patent/US468160A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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