US65518A - Improved railway switch aid skhtal - Google Patents

Description

@uiten gisten utwt @fitte GEORGE L. WARNER, OIT-ROCHESTER, NEW-YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF ANI) CORNELIA HAWKS, OF SAME PLAGE.

Lam man No. 65,518, @ma ,nm 4,1867.

IMPROVED AILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL. f

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Bc it known that I, GEORG-n L. WAnNi-ni, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful innn-ovcment in Railroad Switches and Signals; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure I a sectional elevation of my improved arrangement.

Figure 2, a plan of the same.

Figure 3, a detached view, showing the contiguous ends of two rails, and the coupling for connecting the same.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consists in combining with the ordinary switch, by means of a cord, a weighted signal, situated in an` elevated frame, and sliding on a suitable guide; also 'employing in connection therewith a lever-shaft fixed to turn in the ends of the switch-rails, and having cams or fingers that couple direct with the ends of the ixcd rails, the whole opera-ting as hereinafter set forth. A

As represented in the drawings, A A arc the ordinary sliding-switch rails, operated by lever B and connectingrod .C as usual. D D and E E are the fixed, diverging rails, with which the switch-rails are made to couple as they are thrown from one to the other. The ends of thc switch-rails are provided with hearings to receive a shaft, Gr, which thus moves with the rails. This shaft is provided with a hand-lever, H, at one end, and also with pairs of cams or ingers, a a, so situated as to correspond in position with the fixed rails. When the lever is depressed cach pair of lingers turns down so as to clamp its rail and hold it in place; but when the lever is elevated the cams arc correspondingly elevated to free the rails. On the opposite side of the track from the switch is situated an elevated standard, I, with a projection, K, preferably extending over the track. This projection is provided with a. guide, b, on which freely slides a signal, L. This signal may he in the form o f a lantern or any other device that will serve the desired purpose. lfVith one side ot' the signal connects a cord, c, which passes over a pulley, d, and attaches to the top of the lever B, and with the other side connects a cord, c', which passes over a pulley, d', and has attached atthe opposite cud a. weight, f, that runs down in the hollow standard I. y

In order to shift the switch the cani-lever H is elevated so as to free the cams from the ends ot the fixed rails. rIlle switch lever is then operated to 'throw the rails, when the cams are again turned downto hold them in place. When the switch-lever is thrown out, as in tig. I, it will he seen that the signal will he drawn out. with it; and when it is thrown back .in the opposite position the weightyl will draw the signal hack hehind the screen g (or signal-hor() out of sight. In this manner the action of thc signal is made automatic with the switch. The projection K made in roof fo`1'ni`tc'protcct the signal from the weather. l

Signals have before been connected with switches in such a. manner as to change their position as the switch is operated. Such, broadly, I do not claim. But in ordinary switches of this kind thc signal is connected directly with 'the switch, and forms a fixture thereof, low down, and cannot he easily seen by thc engineer, especially in turning a curvo, or if any obstruction intervcnes. Byjnxy arrangement I am ena-bled lto elevate the signal toa-ny desired height, and to locate it at a distance from the switch, and also to bring it directly over the track. This effect is especially produced by the employment of thc cords c ey and the wcightf, in connection with thc switch-lover.

A shaft with earns has also been before used to hold the switch-rails inplace as their position 1s changed, hut in such case the shaft has heen stationary or fixed under the sliding-rails, and the cams haresiniply turned up on one or the other side of said sliding-rails to hold them in place. My caux-shaft differs from this in having its hearings in the ends of the sliding-rails and moving with them. and in having thc cams couple over on the ends of the contiguous xcd rails, instead of 'turning up against the edges of the s\vitclx-rails. By this arrangement I elevate the shaft above a position where water will collect around it and freeze, and I cou-plc ,and hohl thc two contiguous ends of the sliding' and fixed rails together, directly at the contact-joint, so as to retain theLn more firmly in linc than could otherwise he the case.

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

The combination and arrangement with the switch B C of the elevated and isolated signal L, connected by the cord c, and provided with counterbalanceWeiglitj; operating in the manner and for the purpose specified.

I also claim specially locating the cam-shaft G in the ends of the` shifting-rails, and providing it with cams that couple the ends of the mils directly together, as herein set foi-th.

I also claim the arrangement us n whole, consisting ofthe weighted signal L, cord c, switoliB C, cuin-slmft and ooms G a a, and the standard-frame I K, With guide b and scieen g, as set forth.

In witness whereof' I have signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE L. WARNE R.

Witnesses z R. F. OsGooD, JAY HYATT.

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