US591911A - Electrically-operated railway-gate - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J.-s. BIGGAR. ELECTRICALLY OPERATED RAILWAY GATE. "110.591.911.

m: Ncnms Pmas corpworaumou wasmnm'on, o. A:v

NITED STATES ATEN'r Erica,

JOHN STUARTBIGGAR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRlCALL Y-OPERATED RAILWAY-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,911, dated October 19, 1897.

Application filed July 29, 1895. Serial No. 557,537 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN' STUART BIGGAR, a citizen of the United 7 States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electrically Operated Railway Gates or Signals, (Case No. 1,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an electrically-operated railway gate or signal, its object being to provide means whereby a railway gate, semaphore, or other signal may be operated through the agency of electricity. It has usually been the practice heretofore to operate the gates and railway-signals by means of compressed air, requiring considerable piping and mechanical construction for operating the signals from a distance. It has also been proposed to operate such signals electrically by providing a solenoid adapted to be energized by the passage of the train to attract its core, which is secured to the gate-arm or other signal in such a manner as to produce a rotation thereof. .In such construction, wherein a solenoid has been employed as the motive device, satisfactory results have not been attained, as a solenoid is very inefficient and unsatisfactory in operation.

In accordance with my invention I provide a dynamo-electric machine or motor to the armature or rotatable element of which the gate-arm'is connected, whereby the rotation of the armature produces the rotation of the gate-arm, means controlled by the rotation of the armature being provided for opening the circuit through the motor and thus bringing the armature to rest in a predetermined p0- siti on. I also provide a locking device which maintains the armature in its alternative position and provide an electromagnetic device for releasing the look when it is desired to return the armature to its former position.

I will describe my invention more in particular by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aview in elevation showing my invention as applied to a railway-gate. Fig.

2 is a similar View showing a modified form of the invention. Fig. 3 is" a view showing a further modification.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures.

Upon the standard a and inclosed within the casing a is provided a dynamo-electric machine or motor I), brushes 1) 12 being adapted to rest upon the -commutator b whereby current from a source of electricity is supplied to the motor. The arm 0 of the railway-gate is preferably secured directly to the armature-shaft b of the armature 6 whereby the arm partakes of the same rotation as the armature. Mounted upon the shaft 79 of the armature b is an arm cl, carrying upon its end a finger or blade (1, which is adapted, when the armature has rotated through a predetermined distance, to pass between the contact-springs d d to separate the same and thus open the circuit through the motor. lVhen a train approaches the crossing, the circuit through the motor Z) is closed either by hand or by a switch operated by the passage of the train, and the armature b is thus caused to rotate to move-the gate-arm a into a horizontal position, as indicated in dotted lines. By the time the arm 0 has reached the horizontal position the finger d has engaged and separated the springs d d thus opening the circuit through the motor and bringing the armature to rest. The weight 0', carried upon the end of the arm 0, is sufficient, when unchecked, to move the arm into its'raised position, and it is therefore necessary to provide some means for maintaining the arm 0 in its horizontal position after the current through the motor has been out of. For this purpose a lever e is provided, pivoted at e and carrying upon its end a hook e adapted to engage an offset on the arm (1, whereby the arm 01, and consequently the armature of the motor and the arm a are prevented from v gage the hook e from the arm d and the weight acts to move the arm a into its raised position.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modification of my invention in which the motor serves to move the electromagnet g is normally energized to attract its armature g and maintain the hook e in engagement with the arm cl. WVhen it is desired to move the gate-arm into its horizontal position, the electromagnet g is deenergized by opening the circuit by hand or by the passage of the train, the spring h acting to disengage the hook e from the arm (1 and permit the gate-arm to descend by its own weight, thus rotating the arm 01 into'the position illustrated in dotted lines. When the train has passed and it is desired to raise the gate-arm, circuit is closed through the motor by hand or by the passage of the train and the armature of the motor is rotated until the strip of insulation 7.; provided on the commutator moves to a position beneath the brush b when, the circuit through the motor being opened, the armature comes to rest. The electromagnet g has been previously energized either by hand or by the passage of the train and maintains the hook e in position to lock the arm d in position and consequently maintain the gate-arm o elevated.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated my invention in connection with a motor provided with an armature without coils, the armature comprising merely a bar Z of magnetic material mounted to rotate between the pole-pieces Z Z excited by field-coils Z Z The armature I normally occupies the position illustrated in dotted lines, the gate-arm being elevated.

When the coils Z Z are energized, the a'rmature Z is moved into the position indicated in full lines, thus bringing the gate-arm'to the horizontal position.

I am aware that heretofore the oscillating arm of a signal device has been operated by means of an electric motor through the agency of interposed mechanism, but it has not heretofore been proposed to mount the arm directly upon the shaft of the motor-armature, whereby the arm is operated by the rocking or oscillating movement of the motor-armature.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters- Patent, is

1. In a railway-gate, the combination with a pivoted gate-arm, provided with a bearingshaft, of an electric motor connected directly with the shaft and adapted to rotate or rock the same to operate the gate, and electricallycontrolled means independent of the motor for holding the gate in a lowered position. j

2. In a railway-gate, the combination with an electric motor, of the gate-arm mounted directly upon the shaft of the armature of said motor, means for bringing the armature to rest after a fraction of a complete revolution, a locking device for maintaining the.

armature in said rotated position, and an electromagnetic device for releasing said looking device; substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of July, A. D. 1895.

JOHN STUART BIGGAR. lVitnesses:

GEORGE P. BARTON, W. CLYDE J ONES.

Images