US472464A - pfeil - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets+Sheet 1.

G. H. PPEIL. SWITCH AND SIGNAL OPERATING-APPARATUS.

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Mme/1g Patented Apr. 5, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.-

. G. H. PFEIL. SWITGH AND SIGNAL OPERATING APPARATUS.

I N0.472 ,464. PatentedApr..5,1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.."

eEoReEII. PEEIL, oE EAsroN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL SWITCH AND sIeNAL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL OPERATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,464, dated April 5, 1892. Application filed December 12, 1891. Serial No. 414,871. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern: best for the purpose; and I shall now proceed Be it known that I, GEORGE H. PFEIL, of to a more particular description of my inven- Easton, in the State of Pennsylvania, have tion by reference to'the drawings, in whichinvented a new and useful Improvement in Figure 1 is a plan view of the mechanism. 5 Switch and Signal Operating Apparatus, of Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 which the following is a specification. is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking in the My invention relates to interlocking switch direction of the .transverse rock-shafts which and signal apparatus, and has particular refcarry the cams that impart a partial rotary erence to that portion of said apparatus movement to the signal-rods. Fig.4 is asec- IO termed the selector, which is a mechanism tion on line 4 4, Fig. 1, looking toward the whereby the switch-operating devices when rear guide-bearing through which the signalthey are actuated are caused to adjust the rods pass. signal connections in such manner that only In the particular apparatus shown in the the signal appropriate to the routeto which drawings there are three signal-rods R R R 15 the switch or switches have been adjusted supportedandlongitudinallymovableinfront can be operated, the other signal or signals and rear guides Gr G and also capable of rounder these conditions remaining locked tation therein. Each rod at its rear has a toe against move1nent.- Such mechanism usually or projection a, which when the rod is parcomprises a single longitudinally-movable tially rotated in the proper direction will en- 20 shifting-bar connected to and operated by the ter and engage a slot 1) in the longitudinallysignal-lever in the tower and two or more movable shifting-bar S. The shifting-bar is signal-rods longitudinally movable for the supported and slides in suitable guides c, and purpose of operating the signals and brought is to be connected to and operated by the siginto and out of engagement either bya proper nal-lever in the tower, as will be understood 25 movement of their own other than that by without further explanation. Each signalwhich they operate the signals or through the rod is further formed for a portion of its intermediary of' coupling devices by whose length with a squared part d, upon which movement they are connected to or disconloosely fits a collar e of corresponding shape. nected from the shifting-bar,this latter move- To the collar is made fast one end of spiral 8o 0 ment of the rods themselves or of the coupspring 3 encircling the rod and attached at ling devices being occasioned by the same its other end to the frontguide G. This motion which shifts the switch or switches. spring tends to rotate the rod in a direction Myinvention relates to that particular kind opposite to that in which the latter is rotated of selector in which the signal-rods themselves by its appropriate cam on the rock shaft or 3 5 are moved into and out of engagement with shafts, as will be presently described. To rethe shifting-bar; and, briefly stated, it constrain the collar from following the longitudisists in imparting to the signal-rods for this nal movement of its rod it is provided witha purpose an axial rotarymovement, or, in other circular flange e, which fits in and engages words, I combine with the signal-shifting bar a slot f in a stop-piece f, attached to the base 40 two or more signal-rods longitudinally movof the apparatus. Each signal-rod also is able for the purpose of operating the signals provided with a longitudinal wing which is and capable also of a movement of partial roacted on by the cam for rotating the rod, and tation,whereby they are thrown into and out of also serves as a weight to act upon the rod in engagement with the shifting-bar. This movethe same direction as the spring 8.

5 ment of partial rotation is effected by the I here remark that the wing may be of size same motion which shifts the switch approsufficient in itself to furnish weight enough priate to the signal rod or rods acted on and to turn the rod back into the position from can be brought about by a variety of interwhich it is moved by the cam; but I prefer to mediaries. I have represented in the drawsupplement it by the sprin gin order to insure I00 50 ings accompanying this specification the certainty of action.

means which I believe to be on the whole the Beneath and extending crosswise of the signal-rods are two rock-shafts B B supported in suitable bearings and designed to be connected to and operated by the switch-operating mechanism by any of the devices usually employed for that purpose. The rock-shaft B has three cams C C C on itone for each signal-rod. Each cam is like the others and is of the form shown. The rock-shaft B has two cams C C only, which are designed for and operate the signal-rods R R respectively. These two cams on shaft B are set at ninety degrees to each other. Upon shaft B, however, the same two cams are set in coincidence with each other, but at ninety degrees to the cam G, which operates rod R. Each cam by wiping against the wingg of its signal-rod will rotate the rod partially against the stress of the spring 3 and in a direction to turn the toe 0. of the rod out of engagement with the signal-shifting bar S.

In the position of parts represented in the drawings the signal-shifting bar is retracted. The signal-rod B only is in engagement with the bar, and consequently has been drawn back by the bar, while the other rods R R by their cams have been partially rotated in a direction and far enough to carry their toes at out of engagement with the bar.

The rear guide G has in it openings or slots h of size and shape to permit the passage of each rod and its wing when the rod is in the position where it interlocks with the shifting-bar. At other times, however, the wing g is turned out of register with its slot h, as shown in thedrawingsin the case of the two rods R 11 and thus locks its rod against possibility of rearward movement.

The number of rock-shafts and the number and positionof their cams will of course vary with the number of signal-rods and the various combinations which it may be desired to make; but each signal-rod will be thrown into and out of engagement with the shifting-bar by a movement of partial rotation, brought about by suitable devices actuated by or from the switch-operating mechanism. It is this feature which characterizes my invention. Various forms of mechanism manifestly can be availed of to accomplish this result. Itherefore do not restrict myself to the particular details herein described and shown in illustration of my invention; but

What I desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Ininterlocking switch and signal operating apparatus, the combination, with a signal-shifting bar, of two or more signal-rods longitudinally movable for signal-operating purposes and capable also of axial rotary movement, whereby they are caused to engage and to be disengaged from the signalshifting bar, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the signal-shifting bar, the signal-rods capable of both longitudinal movement and rotation, the Wings g on said bars, and the rock-shaft and cams for operating on said wings, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

3. The combination of the signal-shifting bar, the signal-rods capable of both longitudinal movement and rotation, the wings on said bars, the rock-shaft and cams for turning the rods in one direction, and the springs tending to turn the shafts in the other direction, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof Iallix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE I'I. PFEIL. Witnesses:

J. BRUNNER, J. W. LATTIG.

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