US469066A - -scare - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) A. C. SGARR.

.RAILWAY TIME SIGNAL.

Wit?! eases (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet; 2.

' A. 0. SGARR. RAILWAY TIME SIGNAL.

N0. 469,066. Patented Feb. 16, 1892.

' [Fifi ceases ji en (for Q, Mag/W WMM66 zz i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC ABRAHAM O. SGARR, OF HARRISTON, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SCARR RAILIVAY SIGNAL COMPANY OF HARRISTON, LIMITED.

RAILWAY TIME-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,066, dated February 16, 1892. Application filed March 5, 1891. Renewed January 16, 1892. Serial No. 418,243. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM CALVERT SOARR, of the Town of Harriston, in the county of \Vellington, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented a certain new and Improved System for Operating Railroad-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to arrange a device or series of devices by which semaphores or other signals on a railroad may be operated by the wheels of an approaching train in such a manner as to give notice at any desired distance from the said train and thereby prevent collisions; and it consists, essentially, of a short rail movably held in contact with one of the rails of the track and connected by a cable or other means to a semaphore or other signal located in proximity to the track at the required distance from the signaling spot, the connections between the movable rail and its signal being such thatwhen the said rail is pushed from the rail of the track by the wheels of a passing train the semaphore or other signal is .instantly operated, so as to give notice of the approaching train at a suffieient distance to avoid the possibility of collision.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of my improved signaling device to a curve on a railroad. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the means of holding the adjustable rail to the track. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the construction of the air-cushion used in connection with the semaphore.

It has long been known to all railroad-men, and indeed to many others, that the majority of accidental collisions could be preventedwere it possible to provide simple and reliable mechanism by which the drivers of two approaching trains might be'notified in time to stop their trains. This knowledge turned my attention to the subject, and after eonsiderable study and careful consideration of the matter I have succeeded in producing a system for operating signals which is both simple in construction and reliable in its operation.

In the drawings, A represents a short rail located, as indicated, against one of the rails of the track 13. A bar 0 is connected one at each end of the rail A, which bar is fitted into a grooved plate D, rigidly secured to the tie or sleeper E.

To the end of each bar 0, I-attach a chain or cable F, which cables are carried around suitably-arranged grooved guiding-pulleys G and are connected together or to a single cable H. This cable H is suitably supported and carried to a semaphore or other signal located in proximity to the track at a point sufficiently far from the signaling-point to notify the driver of a train approaching from the opposite direction to enable him to stop his train in time to avoid collision with a train which in passing over the rail A has operated the semaphore or signal in the following manner: It will be observed that the cable H is connected toan arm I, attached to the rod J, on which the signal-lamp K is fixed. To this arm' I a cable L is also attached, and, after being carried over suitably-arranged grooved pulleys M, is connected to the tail of the pivoted semaphore-arm N. When the train before referred to passes over the rail A, the flanges of its wheels pass between the rail A and the rail of the track B, against which it is held by a weight or spring. In passing between these rails the flanges of the wheels push the rail A inwardly, and'as this rail is eonnected,as before described, by suitably-arranged cables to the lamp-rod J and the semaphore-arm N the said arm is thrown up to signal danger, and the red light of the lamp is likewise set, thus giving the desired notice to any train which may be approaching from the opposite direction.

As it is desirable that the semaphore and danger-signal should remain set to dangerpoint for a short time after the train has passed the rail A, I provide the following simple device, by which the desired end is accomplished: A small cylinder 0 is pivoted upon a bracket P, fixed to the semaphore post Q so as to oscillate, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. A piston is fitted into this cylinder, and is connected by the piston-rod R to the tail of the semaphore-arm N. When this semaphore-arm is raised, as before described, the piston in the cylinder 0 is pushed down, and through a valve in the piston, or other- ICO wise, a supply of air is admitted above the said. piston. When the trainhas passed the rail A, the weight or spring draws the said rail into its initial position, thereby slackening the cables which connect it to the semaphore-arm, leaving the said arm free to fall by its own Weight. As it is not desirable that thisfall should be instantaneous, the device just described is provided. Thefallingof the semaphore-arm N of course throws its tail up,which, being connected, as described, to the piston'in the cylinder 0, is held by the said piston,which cushions against the air above it and will not permit the semaphore to fall until all the air above the piston has been pressed out of the cylinder. VVith the View of regulating the time in which. the semaphore should fall I place in. the. top of the cylinder 0 an aircock S, by which the size of theiaperture. in. the cylinder through which; the. air escapes may beincreased or decreased. to let the air 'out of the cylinder slowly or quickly, according to the time in which it is'desired that the semaphore should taliein falling.

It will of course be understood that I do. not. confine myself to the exact position: shown for theair-cushioning cylinder, and I may add that the lamp-rod J may also be provided with similar means for preventing itchanging iissignal too quickly.

It will beobserved in. the drawings that at the center of the curve I. show two semaphores locatedtogether. The signaling-points are located oneach side otthesesemaphores atthelreqnired distance from them. A train; approaching from one side operates one of' the semaphores,.whi1e a. train approaching; from. the other side operates the other signal. Should both-trains pass, their respective sig nali'ngpoints simultaneously, both signals:

- will lbe operated and both driverswill. be simultaneouslynotified that they are. in clangerous proximity to a train approaching. from the oppo'site. direction.

Itwill ofcourse. be understood that I do"v not confine myself to any particular number of signals nor to their exact location,,as of' course they may be located at all dangerousprobably be found sufficient, in which case the said rail may be made so short as to be considered simply a. block. I therefore do not'wish to be confined by the term rail, as it is not necessary that it should be made the exact shape of a rail.

What I claim as. my invention is 1. The rail. B, a supplementalraib A, havingbars-O conneetedto it. at its'opposite ends and resting in. the grooved plates D,said. bars O and plates D being arranged under'ra-il: B,

and: the weighted pivoted. lever L, arranged to hold the said rail. against OneOfi therails ot the track 13, in combination with. a chain or cable connected. to the said barsO and. to

the lamp-rod J- and. semaphore-arm N,,substantially as and for. the purpose specified.

2. A pivoted semaphore-arm N and: assup- :port for the same, in combination with: an oscillatingcylinder 0,, pivoted on abracket'P, Iattached tothe semaphore-supportland pro- ,vided. with. a piston and a. piston-rod It, connected directly to the\ said semaphore-arm,

substantially asand for thepurpose-specified. 3; A pivotedsemaphore-arm N and a; support for the same,- in combinations with: an oscillating. cylinder O,-h2rvi.ng a.- coc'k sand pivoted on a. bracket P,.attached. to-th'esemaphore-support-and provided with apistomand Ia piston-rod R,.conne.cted directly to'sthesaid semaphore-arm, all substantially as shown and described.

Toronto, January 31, 1891.

ABRAHAM C; SCARR.

In presence of- I CHARLES C. BALDWIN, JOHN E. CAMERON. a

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