US648351A - Train-order signal. - Google Patents

Description

no. 648,35l. Patented Apr. 24, I900.

r. n. ALLEN. TRMN ORDER SIGNAL.

(Application filed Dec. 7, 1899.)

2 Sheets-sheaf I v .(No Model.)

INVEN r09 lfllfllleiz did,

A TTOHN E K5 was 00.. PnOTO-UTHQ, wunmmun. 0. q.

NITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK D. ALLEN, OF STONE CLIFF, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN A. HALLSTED, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

TRAIN-ORDER SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,351, da e Ap 1900- Application filed December 7, 1899. Elerial No. 739,560- (No modeland State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train-Order Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to semaphore or train order signals for railways; and it pertains more particularly to that class of train-signals embodying day and night indicating disks and lamps adapted to be set normally to danger position by gearing devices set to one position by gravity-operated means and adapted to be moved to their other position by lever-and-chain mechanisms operative from the station or signal-box.

My invention particularly seeks to provide a signal apparatus of the character stated having the operating mechanism compactly arranged and capable of being economically constructed, easily set up to an operative position, conveniently manipulated, and which will effectively serve for its intended purposes.

This invention in its general construction comprehends a novel arrangement of a supporting-bracket and signal-lamp and sectional disk members operatively combined with the lamp-signal,whereby the danger or fair signals can be set without disturbing the position of the lamp.

In its more subordinate features my invention embodies certain details of construction and combination of parts, all of which will be hereinafter fully described, and set out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the form shown in Fig. lwith the signals set to a red or danger position or; stop. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the signal set to the clear or proceed position. Fig.

4 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in

X by the bolts M M. Fixedly connected to or formed integral with the bracket M is a vertical shaft F, on the upper end of which is fixedly held a signal-lamp, which may be of any approved construction, the same, however, being set withits bulls-eyes in the direction of the trackway. In connection with the fixedly-held lamp I employ a novel arrangement of sectional disks, comprising a pair of complete circular plates N, each ofwhich has a semicircular plate O fixedly secured thereto and projected at right angles therefrom. Each disk N O is rigidly secured to the bracket-arm E, and both of the bracketarms E form an integral part of the hub E, rotatably held on the shaft F and resting upon the annular seat M of the bracket M.

It will be noticed by reference to Fig. 2 that the two brackets E project one from each side of the hub E and in diametrically-opposite directions, and the hub E has a vertical arm E with which connects the outer end of the pitman-rod D, the inner end of which pivotally joins the short arm 0 of the bell-crank lever, the long arm 0 of which carries a counterpoise or weight K, adjustably held upon the said arm 0 the purpose of which is to normally cause the bell-crank lever to gravitate to the position shown in Fig. 2 and in consequence swing the disks N O to close.

over the lamp for the danger or blocking position.

B indicates a cable-sheave mounted on the post X, and A indicates the pull-rope, which passes through the said sheave and connects to the outer end of the arm 0 of the lever.

So far as described it will be readily apparent that the force of the weight when falling to a vertical position causes the double sets of disks N O to turn at an angle of ninety degrees or a quarter-way round to the position shown in Fig. 2, and the disks N have border circles, in practice painted white, while the disk members 0 have similar circles painted black. It will thus be seen that when the disks N O are swung to the position shown in Fig. 2 the red circles appear to view, showing the signals set to danger, it being obvious that when the tension of the cord A is released the weight K drops to a vertical position and the disks N 0 will be set, as shown distance.

turned to the fair position, asindicatedin' Fig. 3, and when in this position and the lamp is lighted it is evident the said lamp will serve as night-signals and show white in both di rections.

take the position shown in Fig. 3 and indicate a clear way. or no orders. j

The semicircular plate members 0 in prac tice are painted white with a black border, and said plates are added to the disk-plates N as an extra means of indicatinga-clear trackway, as the said plates may be. seen at a greater distance from the office than is possible to see theedges ot the plates N and the lamp .during the day, thereby enabling the engineman of the approaching train tosee at a glance that he has no orders to obtain at the station he may be passing and to enable the red bulls-eye J to be better seen from a The plates 0 have portions cut away,as indicated at O. In practice the supporting-bracket is cast and' made in such shape as to combine lightness with strength,

the same being made of a solid casting, in

which is included thespindle or shaft F upon .the lamp 0 and on which the disks revolve.

To limit the swing of the weighted arm 0 Q and to reduce any unnecessary shock of abutting. of parts, the Weight K is in practice pro- J vided with a rubber impact member D, pro jected from one side, which is adapted to engage with the bracket M when the weightis swung upward, as shown in Fig. 3. I

So far as .described it is thought the com-- plete operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. It will be noger of an improper adjustment of the lampat any time is avoided. Furthermore, thedisks w-hen'to their open position show a positive clear wayand at the same time act as guards to protect the lamp from direct sun-rays,=and thereby keeps the lamps in a proper conditionto be viewed from a great distance;

' The parts are compactly arranged and-are of such character as to be easily set without danger of their readily-becoming out of order. Having thus described my invention, what I- claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat When in this position, the signal" is held secure by the weight until the cord-A is drawn taut, when the signal can instantly 1-. A railwaysignal mechanism, comprising a supporting-bracket; a signal-lamp fixedly mounted thereon with the bullseeyes held in line of thetrackway and a set of signal-disks rotatablymounted upon the bracket; means for automatically setting the disks to close over'the signal-lamp, said disks having righta-ngled projections forming fair or clear-'way signal faces, said projections being arranged to'set in line of the trackway when the disks are'swung over to the clear or open positions, said disks having danger bulls-eye portions constructed to project over the lamp bullseyes when the said disks are held to a danger position and hand-operated means for setting the signal to the clear position'as specified.

2. In a railway-signal of the character described, in combinationga bracket-support having a spindle projecting upwardly there from; a lamp fixedly mounted on saidspindle and having its bullseyes in line of the trackway; a bracket rotatably mounted on the aforesaid spindle and having a pair of oppositely-projecting arms; a danger-faced disk fixedly connected to each arm, said dangerfaced disks having each a danger bulls-eye portion adapted ,to be'brought in line with the lamp bulls-eyes; gravity-operated means connected with the rotatable-disk bracket for turning the two danger-disks at right angles over the bulls-eye-faces of the lamp, saiddisks having right-angled projecting portions forming fairsignal faces, and means for swinging the danger-disks to an open'position with their edges in a plane of .the trackway and their fair-disk projections facing the trackway, all substantially as shown and'described.

'3. The combination of the bracket M, h'avvingan upwardly-projecting spindle ,F; the sheave B andlthe lamp H, said lamp being fixedly held upon the spindle F, and having its bulls-ey'e in line with the track-way; of-

.the bracket E, having oppositely-projecting arms E thedisks N, having right-angle semicircular disk portions .0, said portions 0, having cut-out sections in the planeof the lamp bulls-eyes, the disks: N, having bulls-eye members J; thejbracket E, having-a horizontall y-proj ectin g crank member the bell-crank leverOfihavinga counterpoise K; an operating-cord connected to the upper end. of the bell-crank lever and guided upon the sheave B; a pitman-rod pivotally connected to the bell-cranklever and the crank portion of the bracket E, all being arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described. 1 FRANK D. ALLEN. Q 'Witnesses:

J. H. BOYD, G. P. PERRY.

Images