US674032A - Time-schedule indicator. - Google Patents

Description

Patented May l I4, I90l.

"` ATENT Ormea.

CHARLES H. KELLOGG, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

TIME-SCHEDULE. INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 674,032, dated May 14, 1901. Application iiled August 25,1900. Serial No. 28,019. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES H. KnLLocc,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Time-Schedule Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a time-schedule indicator designed to be used more especially by motormen and locomotive-engineers in place of the timepieces ordinarily employed.

The object of my invention is the provision of a reliable indicator of this character which shows at a glance and at short intervals along the line of the railway whether or not the motorman or engineer is running according to his schedule.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of my improved indicator. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the lower portion of the indicator in line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the motor in line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section in line 5 5, Fig. 2, showing one of the belt-tighteners. Fig. 6 is a detached side View of the pulley containing the motor. Fig. 7 is a crosssection of the motor-shaft in line 7 7, Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the stationary gear-wheel of the motor-train and its clamping device.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several iigures.

The parts of the indicator are closed by an upright case A, which is substantially oblong in form. Its front wall A preferably recedes toward the upper end of Jthe case and is provided with an opening a, which is closed by a pane of glass or other transparent material.

B is a traveling indicating belt or band which runs around horizontal guide pulleys or drums B B2, journaled in the upper and lower portions of the case, and which is partly exposed through the opening a. These pulleys are provided with marginal flanges for retaining the indicating-band thereon, and the upper pulley is vertically movable in the case and provided with a suitable tightener for keepingthe belt taut. In the construction shown in the drawings each end of the upper pulley-shaft c passes through a vertical slot o', formed in the side wall of the case and rests in a yielding segmental bearing c2, as shown in Fig. 5. This bearing is arranged at the upper end of a rod c3, which is guided vertically in a barrel c4, secured to the outer side of the case A, and which is pressed upwardly by a spring c5. This spring surrounds the rod c3 and bears at its upper end against a collar o, secured to the rod, and at its lower end against the closed bottom of the barrel c4. The slots c and the yielding shaft-bearings c2 are covered by a housing c7, secured to the outer side of the case.

The endless band B is provided on its face with the names of some or all of the crossstreets or stations along the railway-line on which the indicator is used, and the case is provided at one side of its opening a with a mark or pointer CZ, past which said names move successively as the band travels around its Yguide-pulleys. The'band is moved continuously at a slow uniform speed by a clockwork or other suitable motor, which drives one of the guide-pulleys B B2.

In the construction shown in the drawings the motor consists of a clockwork which is arranged within the large drum B2 and which is geared with said drum in such manner as to turn the same on its shaft, and thereby drive the indicatingband B. The shaft of the drum B2 consists of two sections e e'. The section @forms the winding-shaft of the clockwork motor and is journaled in openings formed in the adjacent side wall of the case A and in a partition E of said drum, said shaft bein@ rovided at its proectinLr end with a 1 knobc2forturningit. Theot-hershattscction e is non-rotary, and its outer end is rigidly secured by a set-screwf or other means in a collarf, having a flange f2, which is secured to the side wall of the case. The inner end of the fixed shaft-section e' is supported in a cylindrical socket f3, formed in the inner en d of the winding-shaft e. The drum B2 is free to turn upon the shaft-sections e e.

gis the motor-spring,surrounding the Winding-shaft e and secured at its inner end to the latter and at its outer end to a cross-pin g, secured at its ends to the partition Eand one of the heads of the drum B2.

h is a gear-wheel secured to the Windingspindle e and meshing with a pinion h', secured to a counter-shaft t'. The latter is journaled in the left-hand head of the drum B2 and in a bearing t", securedto the partition E.

ft2 is a gear-wheel secured to the counter- Shaft '12 and meshing with a normally stationary gear wheel or pinion j, mounted on the fixed shaft-section e. This pinion is arranged loosely on its shaft or arbor and is normally held against turning thereon by a dished friction disk or washer'y'whieh is clamped against the inner side of the pinion by screw-nutsj2j3, applied to said arbor, as shown in Fig. 8. Any other suitable holding or coupling device may be employed, if desired.

When the motor-spring'g is wound up, it tends to turn the winding-spindle c and the counter-shaft i, geared therewith. As the gear-wheelj is stationary and the gear-wheel 112,y which meshes therewith, is compelled to turn by the motor-spring, the latter wheel is caused to revolve around said stationary gearwheel similar to a planet-gear, thereby carrying the drum B2 and the inclosed motor around with said planet-wheel and actuating the traveling indicating-band.

The clockwork is provided with an escapement K of any suitable or well-known construction. The scape-wheel 7a of the escapemeut is geared with a stationary wheel 7c by an intermedare gear-train 702763104 705706. This stationary gear-wheel is formed on or securedl to the stationary gear-pinion j, as shown in the drawings, so as to be held frictionally on the arbor e', like the pinionj. y

M isa movable stop-bolt or catch, whereby the motor-drum B2 may be interlocked with the case A for holding the drum against turning in winding Athe clockwork. This bolt slides in an opening formed in one of the side walls of the case, and its inner end is adapted to enter one of an annular row of holes n, formed in the adjacent head of the drum B2.

The bolt is normally held in its retracted position, in which it clears said drum, by a spring n', applied to the same between its head and the outer side of the case, the bolt being retained in its opening by an enlargement or shoulder formed thereon on the inner side of the. case, as shown in Fig. 3.

The street or station names on the band B are arranged in regular order and are properly spaced relatively to the varying distances between the cross-streets or stations designated by the names and the speed at which the band is moved by the motor, so that the time required .by the band to travel a distance equal to the distance from one name of the band to the next-corresponds to the predetermined period of time allowed the motorman or engineer to cover the distance between the corresponding streets or stations accordingtotheschedule. Forexample,wvhen the name on the band designating Allen street arrives opposite the pointer d of the indicator, as shown in the drawings, the car, if running according to the schedule, should at that time pass said street. If said name has moved beyond the pointer when the car arrives at Allen street, 'the motorman knows that he is behind time, while if said name has not reached the pointer when the car arrives at Allen street he knows that he is ahead of time. He can thus tell at a glance at any point along the line whether heis running according to the prescribed schedule or not without being required to remember at what street or station he ought to be at a given time and looking at his watch for the time, as is necessary under the ordinary system.

By the use of my improved indicator the motorman or engineer is kept informed of his running time at frequent intervals along the line, and he can therefore run closely on schedule time.

The indicating-band B preferably bears two series of street or station names, the second series follo'wing the first and being arranged to read in the reverse order thereto and so that one-revolution of the band covers the running time of a round trip, including the stop at the termini of the line. ln this case a sufficient space is left on the indicatingband between the last street-name of the first series and the first name of the second or return series to allow for the time that the car lays over at the terminus of the line before returning or the time required to change the guards of trolley-cars at either end of the line. The indicating-band can be shifted by hand for properly setting the same with reference to the pointer d by simply turning the winding-shaft by means of its knob e2. The winding-shaft is free to turn in the right-hand side wall of the case A and on the arbor e', and as the drum B2 is connected with the windingsha'ft by the motorspring g and the cross-pin the same is compelled to turn with said shaft. If the normally stationarygear-wheels j and 1c' were fixed to their arbor c', they would prevent this manual turning of the motordrum; but as they are only frictionally clamped upon said arbor by the washer] and nutsj2 jg they turn on the arbor and permit the rotation of the drum. In the normal operation of the indicator the friction between said gear-wheels and their arbor is, however, sufficient to hold the same against turning.

I claim as my inventionl. In a time-scheduleindicator, the combination with an inclosingcase having an index, guide-pulleys arranged in said casing, and a traveling indicating-band applied to said pulleys and provided with the names of stations or cross-streets spaced relatively to the distances between the same, of a motor for imparting a uniform movement to said band, and a coupling device interposed between said motor and one of said pulleys and driving the same in the normal condition of the parts but permitting the driven pulley and the band to be shifted independently of the motor for setting the band with reference tc said index, substantially as set forth.

2. In a time-schedule indicator, the combination'with an inclosing case having anind'ex,

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guide-pulleys arranged in said casing, and a traveling indicating-band applied to said pulleys and provided with the names of stations or cross-streets spaced relatively to the distances between the same, of a motor for imparting a uniform movement to said band, gear-Wheels interposed between said motor and one of said pulleys, one of said gear-wheels being friction ally mounted on its shaft to turn therewith but capable of being turned on said shaft independently of said motor in shifting the driven pulley and the band, for setting the latter With reference to said index, substantially as set forth.

3. In a time-schedule indicator, the combination With an inclosing case having an opening or window in its front Wall and containing guide pulleys or drums, of a motor-springconnected at its outer end With one of said drums and at its inner end With a Winding-shaft, a station ary gear-Wheel arranged concentrically with said drum, a planet-gear carried by said drum and meshing with said stationary gearwheel, gearing for transmitting motion from said winding-shaft to said planet-gear, and a traveling indicating-band running around said drums and provided on its face with the names of cross-streets or stations along the railway-line, substantially as set forth.

4. In a time-schedule indicator, the combination with an inclosing case having an opening or Window in its front Wall and containing guide pulleys or drums, of a motor-spring connected at its outer end with one of said drums and at its inner end with a Winding-shaft, a normally stationary gear-Wheel Which is friction-ally held against turning on its arbor, a planet-gear carried by said drum and meshing with said stationary gear-Wheel, gearing for transmitting motion from said Windingshaft to said planet-gear, and a traveling indicating-band ruiming around said drums and provided on its face with the names of cross-streets or stations along the line of the railway, substantially as set forth.

5. In a time-schedule indicator, the combination with an inclosing case havingan opening or window in its front Wall and containing guide pulleys ordrums, of a motor-spring connected at its outer end With one of said drums and at its inner end With a Windingshaft, a stationary gear-Wheel arranged concentrically with said drum, a planet-gear carried by said drum and meshing With said stationary gear-Wheel, gearing for transmitting motion from said Winding-shaft to said planetgear, an escapement for controlling the rotation of said motor-drum, and a traveling band running around said drums and provided on its face With the naines of cross-streets or stations along the railway-line, substantially as set forth.

6. Ina time-schedule indicator, the combination with an inclosing case having an opening or Window iu its front Wall and containing guide pulleys or drums, one of said drums having a shaft composed of a rotary section forming a Winding-shaft and a non-rotary section secured to the case and carrying a pair of normally stationary gear-Wheels WhichV are frictionally held against turning thereon, of a motor-spring arranged in the drum having the sectional shaft and connected at its outer end With said drum and at its inner end with said Winding-shaft, a planet-gear journaled in said drum geared with said Winding-shaft and meshing with one of said stationary gearwheels, an escapernent which controls the rotation of said motor-drum and Which is geared With the other of said stationary gear-Wheels, and a traveling band running around said drums and provided on its face with the names of cross-streets or stations along the railwayline, substantially as set forth.

7. In a time-schedule indicator, the combination with an inclosing case having an opening or Window in its front Wall and containing guide pulleys ordrums, of a motor-spring connected at its outer end with one of said drums and at its inner end with a Windingshaft, a stationary gear-Wheel arranged concentrically with said drum, a planet-gearjournaled in said drum and meshing with said stationary gear-wheel, gearing for transmitting motion from said Winding-shaft to said planetgear, a traveling indicating band running around said drums and provided on its face with the names of the streets or stations along the railway-line, and a retractable stop-bolt arranged on the case and adapted to engage with said motor-drum for holding the saine against turning, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 21st day of August,

CHARLES H. KELLOGG. Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, JNO. J. BONNER.

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