US646155A - Electrical railway-switch. - Google Patents

Description

No.646,l5,5. I Patented Mar. 27, 1,900. P. E. PERRY.

ELECTRICAL RAILWAY SWITQH. (Application filed 'Aug. 17, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Shoots-Shed I.

m: NORRIS PETERS 00., Pnorouma. WASHINGTON. D. c

No. 646,!55. I Patented mar. 27,1900. P.'E. PERRY.

ELECTRICAL RAILWAY SWITCH.

(Application filed Aug. 17, 1599.)

2 Sheets-Sh (No Model.)

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UNITED STA ES"; I

PHILIP E. PERRY, OF BOSTON,;MASSAOHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO RANDOLPH O. SURBRIDGE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. Q

ELECTRICAL RAILWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 646,155, dated March 27, 1900.

Application filed August 17, 1899. Serial No. 727,512. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- is adapted to come in contact with or wipe Be it known that I, PHILIP E. PERRY, a citialong the contact-plate 8, located in the roadzen of the United States of America, and a bed inside the rail. The buttons abare con= resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk nec ted, respectively, with the brushesd d 55 and State of Massachusetts, have invented which are adapted to come in contact with or certain new and useful Improvements in wipe along the contact-plates e and 6 Electrical Railway-Switches, of which the folcated in the road-bed outside the rail. The lowing is a specification, reference beinghad connections of the buttons at b with the therein to the accompanying drawings. brushes 0n the other side of the car are not [o The invention relates .to that class of elec{ shown, as it will be readily'understood that trical railway-switcheswhich are controlled they belong to that part of the mechanism directly from the moving car or other vehiwhich is employed for operating a switch locle, and has for its object to provide a simcated on the left side of the mainline instead ple and eflicient means for operatingand conof the right, as shown in the drawings. r I 5 trolling said switches without the necessity In order to avoid repetition and duplication, of stopping the car or other vehicle and withthe invention is shown and described only for out the operator being obliged to alight thereoperating a switch on the right-hand side of from. the main track and with the car proceeding in The invention consists in the novel feathe direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2o tures of construction hereinafter set forth 3. The brushes (1, d, and diareattached to and described, and more particularly pointed any convenientpart of the trucks, the two out in the claims hereto appended. former being attached, preferably, to a cross- The invention is shown and described as bar g at or near the rear wheel and the latbcing applied to the ordinary electric streetter to the truck about midmay between the 2 5 railway car. wheels. These brushes are preferably made Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is' a as shown in Fig. 7and consist ofawooden porplan of the road-bed, partially broken away. tion f, hinged to the cross-bar g or other por- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showtion of the truck, the springs hit, and a brass ing a portion of car-truck and brushes. Fig. portion 2', let into and bolted to the portion f. 3o 3 is a diagram of the wiring with brushes The contact-plates e, e, and e are made of omitted. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse secsuitable conductive material and are connecttion of the switch and box containing switch ed-with the solenoids or long-pull magnets, as mechanism. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views hereinafter set forth. In practice these conof the push-pin and locking mechanism. Fig. tact-plates are located in the road-bed about 3 5 7 is aperspective view of the brush. Fig. 8 isforrty feet approximately from the switch to a side view of the car, partially broken away; he operated-that is,when the ordinary douand Fig. 9 is a view of the rear end of same. hie-truck car is used. It would not be neces- Like letters and numerals of reference resary to have them located so faraway from the fer to like parts throughout the several views. switch if a car with a shorter Wheel-base line 0 0 A- A represent the main line of a railway, were used, it being necessary to have them far B B a branch thereof, and O a car adapted enough from the switch so that the latter may to move thereon. be thrown before the wheels reach it. The con- D is the bed-plate of an ordinary switch, tact-plate e is substantially equal to the sum and E the switch-tongue. of the lengths of the contact-plates e and e 45 F is a switchboard located on the dashand arranged, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so board of the car and provided with the butthat the brush cl will remain in contact with. tons or knobs a b a b, and c the switch-hanthe plate 6 at the same time the brush d is die, said handle being connected with the traveling over and along the first half of the battery G, which furnishes a current entirely contact-plate e and that the brush d will remo 50 independent from that employed in propelmain in contact with the contact-plate e durling the car, and also with the brush d,which ing the time that the brush (1 is traveling along the last half of the contact-plate e. In this way the circuits are formed, as hereinafter stated, by the simultaneous contact of the brushes with the contact-plates.

H II denote boxes located in the road-bed and near each side of the switch to be operated. These boxes, together with their contents, are duplicates, and only one will be described, the mechanism in the box H being employed and brought into use when it is desired to send the car in the direction of the branch B B. The box H is waterproof and made of east-iron and provided with a lip g, extending all the way around the upper part, upon which lip a sheet-steel protection-cap h tightly fits.

t" denotes a sealing substance, such as paraffin or other waterproof material, for the purpose of keeping out the moisture, and 7c the cover, the inner side of which fits tightly between the side of the switch and a shoulderl on the inner side of the box.

on is a solenoid or long-pull magnet connected with the contact-plate 6 The solenoid (not shown) in the box H is connected with the contact-plate c, all as shown in diagram in Fig. 3.

n is the soft-iron core of the solenoid, attached to the lower arm of the bell-crank lever a n, and 0 a plunger attached to the upper arm of said lever. plunger terminates in the push-pin 1), made, preferably, of phosphor-bronze and adapted to fit snugly into and to slide back and forth through ahole in the side of the switch-plate and when in its normal position having its end substantially flush with the inner side of the switch-plate. It is to be understood that the push-pin is located sufficiently below the top of the switch-rail so that the flange of the wheel will not strike it and that the end of the pin is entirely disconnected and is not in any way attached to the switch-tongue E. The advantage in this construction is manifold in that it permits of the switch being thrown by the ordinary switch-stick independeutly of the electrical mechanism and therefore without the danger of disarranging such mechanism. Again, the switch-tongue is free to slide freely and smoothly across the switch-plate, the latter being free from all obstructions and free from all holes, slots, or recesses which ordinarily become clogged from various sources, thereby reducing to a minimum the objections which have heretofore existed in switches of this class. Inasmuch as the current used for operating the switch mechanism is entirely independent from the current used for propelling the car, all danger of short-circuiting the latter current is avoided, which danger is present in all devices of this class which utilize the same current for propelling the car and operating the switch. Furthermore, by reason of the arrangement of the brushes and contact-plates as above set forth and illustrated the circuit is produced by simultaneous con- The inner end of the tact between said brushes and may at all times be depended upon for positively and surely operating the switch mechanism.

(1 is a recoil-spring, one end of whichrests against the side of the box H and the other end against a collar 1" on the plunger 0. s is a rack suitably secured to said plunger and provided with teeth 25 t.

K is a boss suitably attached and extending from the side of the box H and terminating in two similar circular portions are, with a space between them, and provided with central openings through which the plunger 0, with its rack s, is adapted to slide back and forth.

m is a small solenoid, the core of which terminates in afork having tongues 11 and o. The tongue o is hinged, as at w, and pressed against the plunger 0' by the spring 13. The tongue o is rigid and is in contact with the said plunger. The hinged tonguet' is irregularly shaped on its inner side, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and is so constructed that the rack will slide past it when the plunger is moved forward, and when the plunger has reached the limit of its forward movement the inner side of said tongue will engage with the nearest tooth on the rack after the manner of a spring-dog, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. (5, thereby locking the switch mechanism after the switch has been thrown.

The solenoid m is connected with the contact-plates y y, located in the road-bed a short distance from the switch and made substantially like those heretofore described.

2 is a spring having its lower end resting upon the top of the solenoid m and its upper end pressing against a stud on the solenoidcore. The function of this spring is to keep the tongues 12 and *u' in their normal positions and so that the spring-tongue 0 will engage with the teeth t i at the proper time, as hereinafter set forth.

The mode of operating the above-described apparatus inso far as it has not already been set forth is as follows: The operator or motorman just before the car reaches the contactplates 8, e, and 6 places the switch-handle 0 upon the button I). As soon as the contactbrushes d and (1 come in contact with the plates 6 and e a circuit is formed, including the solenoid m, as follows: from battery, wire 1, switch-handle 0, button b, wire 2, brush (Z con tactplate 6 wire 3, solenoid m,wire 4,wirc 5, contact-plate 6, brush (Z, and wire 6 to battery. The solenoid or long-pull magnet being operated by the current in the eircuit,the core of the same pulls down the lower arm of the bell'crank lever 77. n, thus causing the upper arm of said lever to push or thrust out the push-pin 19, carrying with it the rack 8, thereby throwing the switch-tongue over to the desired position. Shortly after the push-pin has reached the limit of the thrust the said circuit is broken by the brushes (Z and d com ing out of contact with their respective contact-plates, and the push-pin commences to ICC regain its normal position by means of the force of the recoil-spring q, when the springdog immediately engages or drops into one of the teeth t on said rackthat is to say, the tooth that is nearest to itthereby locking the mechanism, so that the switch'may not be displaced during the passage of the car over the same. Assoon as the brushes d and (1 come in contact with the plates y and y, respec: tively, a circuit is formed including the small solenoid m, thereby causing the fork provided with the tongues 12 and o to be pulled down, and thus releasing or unlocking the mechanism by disengaging the spring-dog from the tooth t. When this circuit is broken by the brushes coming out of contact with the contact-plates, the mechanism in the box H returns to its normal position, ready to be operated by the next car to come along. If it is desired to have the car proceed in the direction of the branch, it becomes necessary to operate the mechanism in the box H, which is a duplicate of that contained in box H, as above stated. The operator or motorman in this event places the switch-handle c in contact with the button a, thus forming a circuit when the brushes d and d come into contact, respectively, withthe plates 6 and e, as follows: from battery, wire 1, switch-handle, 0, button a, wire 7, brush d, contact-plate 6, wire 8, solenoid in box H, wire 9, wire 5, contact-plate 6, brush d, and wire 6 to battery. The subsequent operation of these parts in connection with the mechanism in box H is the same as that above described in connection with box H, it being understood that there are also contact-plates similar to y and 1] located near the branch track and connected by wires g 11 with the small solenoid in box H for the purpose of releasing the locking mechanism.

It will be readily understood that when the car is traveling in a direction opposite to the arrow in Fig. 1 it will be necessary to provide the car with a switchboard and connections similar to those above described on what is now shown as the rear dashboard and that brushes similar to those above'described will be provided and located upon what are now shown as the front trucks.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a track, a vehicle adapted to move thereon, a track switch tongue, electrical means for moving said switch-tongue in one direction, located in box H, electrical means for moving the switchtongue in the other direction, located in box H, contact-plates e, e, 6 in the track-bed, contact-brushes d, d (1 carried on the vehicle, for forming contact with said contactplates respectively, an independent electrical generator carried on the vehicle, in open circuit with said contact-plates, brushes, and means for moving the switch-tongue, a current-switch carried on the vehicle for closing the circuit through brushes cl, (1 contactlates e e and the ton ue-movin mechanp a a a a ism in box H, whereby the switch-tongue is positively moved to form a continuous main line, and for closing the circuit through brushes d, d, contact-plates e, e, and the tongue-moving mechanism in box H, whereby the switch-tongue is positively moved to form continuity with the branch line, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a track, a vehicle adapted to move thereon, a movable switchtongue, a push-pin unattached to said switchtongue,electrical means for moving said pushvpin and tongue in one direction, means for automatically locking said push-pin, means for automatically replacing said push-pin when released, electrical means for unlocking said push-pin, contact-plates e, 6 y, y, in the track-bed, contact-brushes 01, d fixed on the vehicle, for forming contact with said contact-plates respectively, an independent elec trical generator carried on the vehicle in open circuit with said contact plates, brushes, means for moving the push-pin, and means for unlocking the push*pin,'and a currentswitch carried on the vehicle for closing the circuit through brushes cl, d contact plates e, 6 and the means for moving thepush-pin, whereby the switch-tongue is operated and automatically locked, and for closing the circuit through brushes d, (F, contact-plates y, 'y, and the means for unlocking the push-pin, whereby the switch-tongue is automatically replaced on the passage of the vehicle, sub stantially as specified.

3. The combination of a track, a trackswitch with movable tongue, contact-plates in the track-bed, a push-pin unattached to the said switch-tongue, a solenoid with mov able core connected with said push-pin, locking mechanism for holding said push-pin to its place, electrical means for releasing said locking mechanism, means for restoring the switch-tongue to its normal position when released,contact-brushes, a current-switch, and a source of electrical energy in circuit with said brushes, contact-plates, current-switch, and. solenoid, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of a track, a trackswitch with movable tongue, contact-plates in the track-bed,a push-pin unattached to the said switch-tongue, a solenoid with movable core connected with said push-pin, locking mechanism for holding said push-pin to its place, a solenoid for releasing said locking mechanism, means for restoring the switchtongue to its normal position when released, contactbrushes, a currentswitch, and a source of electrical energyin circuit with said brushes, contact-plates, current-switch, and solenoids, substantially as specified.

5. A switch mechanism consisting of a movable tougue, an unattached push-pin bearing against the side of the said tongue, a solenoid for operating the push-pin, means for looking the push-pin in position, means for retracting said push-pin when released, and

a solenoid for unlocking the push-pin mechanism, in combination with a traveling current-switch, anda source of electrical energy in circuit with said current-switch and solenoids, substantially as specified.

6. A switch mechanism consisting of a movable tongue, an unattached push-pin bearing against the side of said tongue, a solenoid for projecting the push-pin against the tongue to move the same, a spring for retracting the push-pin when released, a locking mechanism for holding the projected push-pin until released, a solenoid for releasing the locking mechanism, and electrical means under control for operating said solenoids, substantially as specified.

7. A switch-operating mechanism comprising a push-pin for moving the switch-tongue, operative connections for moving said pushpin, a rack, a spring-dog for engaging the teeth of said rack, means for operating and releasing said spring-dog and means for restoring the said pin and dog to their normal positions.

8. A switch-operatin g mechanism com prising a push-pin for moving the switch-tongue, operative connections for moving said pushpin, a rack attached to said pin, a spring-dog for engaging the teeth of said rack, a solenoid or longpull magnet for releasing said spring-dog, and means for restoring said pin and dog to their normal positions.

9. In aswitch-operating mechanism,a movable switch-tongue, an unattached push-pin for moving said tongue in one direction, a second unattached push-pin for moving the switch-tongue in the opposite direction, independent solenoids for operating each pushpin,automatic means for returning each pushpin, means for locking each push-pin, electrical means for unlocking each push-pin, an electrical generator carried on the vehicle in open circuit with said means for moving and unlocking the push-pins, a current-switch for closing the circuit to operate either push-pin, or to unlock either push-pin, and brushes and suitable track-plate connections in circuit with said current-switch, and generator, and electrical operating means, substantially as specified.

10. In a switch-operating mechanism, a movable tongue, an unattached push-pin for moving said tongue, a spring locking means for holding the push-pin and tongue in the advanced position, a solenoid for releasing the said locking means, a retractile spring for replacing the push-pin, and means for replacing the locking mechanism, substantially as specified.

11. In a switch operating mechanism, a movable tongue, an unattached push-pin for moving said tongue, means for actuating said push-pin, means for locking said push-pin in the advanced position, a solenoid for releasing said locking means, means for replacing the push-pin when the said locking means is released, and means for replacing the locking mechanism, substantially as specified.

12. In a switch-operating mechanism, a movable tongue, an unattached push-pin for moving said tongue, means for actuating said push-pin, means for locking said push-pin in the advanced position, a solenoid for releasing said locking means, means for replacing the push-pin when the said locking means is released, means for replacing the locking mechanism, and a second unattached pushpin, independent of the former push-pin, for replacing the switch-tongue at any interval of time after the former push-pin has been replaced, substantially as specified.

13. In combination, a railway main and branch track, a vehicle adapted to move on said track, a movable switch-tongue in said track, electrical means for moving said switchtongue in one direction, independent electrical means for moving the switch-tongue in the opposite direction, automatic means for replacing the switch tongue, independent locking means for locking the switch-tongue in either position, duplicate independent electrical unlocking means for unlocking the switch tongue in either position, contactplates in the track-bed for forming a closed circuit through either operative means for moving the switch-tongue at will, and through either unlocking means, brushes in circuit borne on the vehicle, for making contact with said contact-plates, an electrical generator in circuit carried on the vehicle, and a currentswitch for closing circuit at will through either switch -operating device, or through eithertongue-unlocking mechanism, substantially as specified.

14. In combination, a railway main and branch track, a movable switch-tongue in said track at the intersection, a vehicle adapted to move on said track, an independent electrical generator borne on said vehicle, fixed brushes on said vehicle, in circuit for forming two diflerent closed circuits, trackplates in the track-bed for forming two dilferent closed circuits in cooperation with said brushes, a current-switch on the vehicle for shifting the current through either closed circuit at will, and independent electromotors for moving the switch-tongue in opposite directions, one in each closed circuit, substantially as specified.

15. In combination, a main and branch track, a vehicle adapted to move on said track, an electrical generator on said vehicle, trackplates in the track-bed, a movable switch-tongue,an electromotortor moving the switch-tongue, fixed brushes on said vehicle adapted to register with two of the trackplates at once, and a current-switch on the vehicle, for forming a closed circuit through the generator, brushes, track-plates, and elec-' tromotor, thereby shifting the switch-tongue, substantially as specified.

16. In combination, a main and branch tor, brushes, track-plates, and unlocking electromagnet, thereby permitting the switchtongne to be replaced, substantially as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereto affixed my signature, this 12th day of August, 1899, in

the presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP E. PERRY. Witnesses:

N. L. FROTHINGHAM, JAMES E. LEACH.

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