US515307A - James m - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model) J M. SWBM. GATE FOR RAILWAY cnossmes.

Patented Feb. 20,1894

INV WI WITNg ATTORNEY we NAYIONAL umomurnmq COMPANY.

WASHINGTON. u. e.

2 $119etxs Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. M. SWEM. GATE PORRAILWAY GROSSINGS.

.307. Patented Feb. 20, 1894..

ATTORNEY THE mmomn. UTNOGRAFKING coMPANv.

TATES I UNITE w JAMES M. SW'EM, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SlVEM SUPPLY AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

GATE FOR RAILWAY-CROSSINGSQ SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,307, dated February 20, 1894.

Application filed September 16, 1893. Serial No. 485,729. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, J AMEs lVLSWVEhLa citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver,in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates for Railway-Crossings; and I do 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 the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification;

My invention relates to improvements in gates for railway'crossings, my object being to provide a device of this class which shall be superior to those heretofore employed, in points of simplicity, economy and general efficlency.

To these ends, my improvementconsists of the features, arrangements and combinations hereinafter'described and claimed all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of two double gates embodying my improvements and guarding the approaches to two lines of track, between which the controlling mechanism is located. Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the double gates as it appears to one approaching the tracks crossing. the highway for vehicles. Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary elevations of the gate mechanism shown on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line az-x, Fig. 4, the gate arms being removed. Fig. 6 is an elevation, partly in section, of the framework or tower forming the support for the operating or controlling mechanism. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail View illustrating the operating mechanism, partly in section.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts or elements of the mechanism in the several views, let the numeral 5 designate the railway tracks crossing the vehicle highway 6.

7, 7, 850., are the gates guarding the approaches to the tracks via the wagon road, and 8 the framework or tower from which the mounted on the trunnions, and the vertical supporting standard 13 set firmly in the ground and passing through the caslng 10. The lower extremities of the gate arms (those parts located below the trunnions) are enlarged as shown at 12 while they diminish in size toward their opposite extremities. By

' reason of this construction, the operation of the arms is made easy, since the short Weighted extremities nearly balance the longer por-= tions of--the arms, the excess in weight of the. latter being only sufficient to cause the arms to fall by gravity when released byloosemng the ropes 9 which are attached to the arms above the pivoted point as shown at 12 and pass over pulleys 1a pivoted and supported at the upperextremities of the standards 13, from which the ropes pass to the pulleys 15 of the tower 8, and thence downward to the large pulleys 16 made fast on the shaft 17 journaled in boxes 18 secured to the framework of the tower 8. The shaft 17 is provided with a'crank arm 19 having a handle 20. Each gate 7 is composed of two arms 12 mounted on opposite sides of the casing 10, and therefore moving in different vertical planes. These arms when raised, are oppositely inclined as best shown in Fig. 2, the casing being provided with the integral stops 10, which engage the arms both above and below the fulcrum, and thus prevent them from assuming the vertical position. Hence, by reason of this opposite inclination of the raised arms, they are in position to fall in opposite directions as the cable is slackened. The two posts or standards 13 are supposed to be located on opposite sides of the street a between the vehicle way and the sidewalk for pedestrians, whereby as the arms or guards 12 are lowered, one falls across the sidewalk and the other projects into the street. The

short ropes 9 which are attached to the two arms of each gate, are connected at 9 where they merge into a single cable 9 before passing over the pulley 14.

lhe two cables 9 connected with the two pans of arms forming the double gate, pass over separate pulleys 14 and 15 and make a single turn around separate pulleys 16 mounted on the shaft 17. After passing around the pulleys 16, the cables pass downward and are provided with weights 21 at their lower extremi'ties, said weights being of just sufficient gravity to balance the guard arms 12, whereby the latter remain in the position assumed when the pulleys 16 cease to move.

The two double gates located on opposite sides of the railway tracks are controlled and operated by two sets of winding mechanism, each composed of a shaft 17, a crank arm 19, a handle 20 and two pulleys 16, the shafts being located in such proximity that they may both be actuated by the same person who grasps one handle 20 with each hand.

Since the wire ropes-or cables 9 are wound once around the pulleys 16, and since .these ropes occupy a vertical position both above and below the pulleys to which they are tangent, the ropes will engage themselves at the extremities of their coils, or at the tangential points unless provision is made to obviate this result. As this contact of the ropes would result in considerable friction, and consequent wear,I may employ a spreading device illustrated in Fig. 7 and consisting of a stationary arm made fast to the framework in proximity to the pulleys 16 on each shaft 17. This arm is provided with a horizontal portion located above the pulleys extending across their peripheries and provided with two depending pins 22 projecting between the tangential portions of the ropes which would otherwise engage, the function of these pins being to act as spreaders or separating devices, whereby the said portions of the ropes are other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a gate for railway crossings, the comon the casing trunnion,a suitable framework or tower provided with another pulley, operating mechanism composed of a shaft carrying a pulley made fast thereon, and a rope or cable attached to the guard arm passing over i the pulleys on the standard or tower around the pulley on the operating shaft, and provided with a weight at the other extremity which hangs below the shaft, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a gate for railway prevented from engaging each crossings, of a hollow exteriorly trunnioned casing, a post or standard passing through the casing, a guard arm mounted on the casing trunnion, operating mechanism composed of a shaft carrying grooved pulleys or sheaves and provided with suitable crank arms, the shaft being j ournaled in a suitable framework, and a rope or cable connected with the guard arms passing over the pulley on the standard, and around the pulleys on the shaft, said rope being provided with a weight at its lower extremity, substantially as described.

3. In a gate for railway crossings, the combination of a suitable stationary, casing provided with trunnions on opposite sides, a post or standard passing through the casing and forming a support therefor, two guardarms mounted on the casing trunnions and being weighted at their lower extremities, and-suitable means for operating the gate mechanism, substantially as described.

4. In a gate for railway crossings, the combination of a stationary hollow .casing provided with trunnions on opposite sides, apost or standard passing through the casing and carrying a pulley located at asuitable height thereon, twoguard arms mounted on the easing trunnions and oppositely inclined when raised, the casing being provided with stops to maintain this inclination, and operating mechanism composed of a shaft journaled in a suitable framework, and carryingafast .pulley or sheave, the shaft being provided with a suitable crank, andshortropes leadingfrom the respective guard arms and merging into a single cable which passes over the pulley on the standard and thence over another pulley on the framework supporting the operating shaft, thence around the pulleyon the shaft and downward therefrom, being provided with a weight at its lower extremity of sufficient gravity to balance the substantially as described.

a 5. In a gate for railway crossings, thecombination with suitable gate mechanism, of means for controlling'and' operating the same consisting of a shaft provided with a crank and carrying a fast pulley having grooved peripheries, a rope connected with the gate mechanism and wound around the pulley on the shaft, and a spreading device consisting of a stationary arm carrying a pin projecting between the tangential portions of the rope, substantially as described.

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

JAMES M. SWEM.

Witnesses:

EDWARD F. LAOKRER, O. A. GILMAN.

guard arms,

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