US695794A

US695794A - Railway-signal.

Info

Publication number: US695794A
Application number: US7627401A
Authority: US
Inventors: James H Clark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1901-09-23
Filing date: 1901-09-23
Publication date: 1902-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 1919-03-18

Description

5 Patented Mar. I8, |902. LH. CLARK. RAILWAY SIGNAL.

gApplicaton fled Sept. 23, 1901,] (No Modek.) 3

Sheets-Sheei I.

'it @oma @mmm SHQ/mcg g No.' 695,794. Patented Mar. la, |9u2 J. H. CLARK.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

(Application filed Sept. S3. 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

@Hor/Inu S No. 695,794. Patnnted Mar. I8, |902.'

J. H. CLARK. l

RAILWAY SIGN-AL.

(Application filed Sept. 28, 1901.)

No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheot 3.

l D \Q ooo .f2 kg JQ l Suunto@ .TMm-amig.. 5l/@lneas E u 1 92( @5.,

Urfa Srarns Arnnr GFFICE.

JAMES ll. CLARK, OF PORTAGE, VISCONSIN.

RAILVVAY-SIGNAL.

SPEGLFEGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,794, dated March 18, 1902.

Application filed September 23, 1.9(l1. Serial No. '76|274. (No model.)

To LIZ 1071/0712/ U; '/.Imfg/ concern:

Beit known that l, JAMES II. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portage, in the county of Columbia and State of Wisconsin, have invcu ted certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suoli as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in signaling devices, more particularly for railroads at street-crossings, bridges, junctions, or other danger-points. It provides for guarding against accidents, as are very liable to occur at said points, and to effect the automatic setting of the brakes of a train upon its approaching the place of danger, whether it be moving slowly or rapidly or forward or backward, to provide for the simultaneous actuation of a bolt, as may be employed at a bridgedrawer with the setting of a signal, and to readily operate or adjust the parts or mechanism in setting the signal.

It consists of sundry combinations and arrangements of parts, including` their construction, substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed, and particularly pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a plan view thereof. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line fc of Fig. l, with the air-brake-setting-valve-actuatingcontrivance orshoe in end elevation. Fig. 4 is a side elevation with the air-brake-setting-valve-actuating contrivance or shoe as adjusted for engagement with the signal apparatus or device. Fig. 5 is a broken longitudinal sectional View with the signal for clean Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the air-brake-settingvalve-actuating contrivance or shoe proper in vertical section with a port-ion of the air-valve removed, disclosing the ports thereof. Fig.

7 is an enlarged detail section taken through said valve at right angles to the section of the last-referred-to gure.

Latitude is allowed herein as to details, as they may be changed or varied at will without departing from the spirit of my invention and the same yet remain intact and be protected.

in carrying' out my invention I suitably arrange, preferably in an excavation under and transversely of a railway-track, as shown, a horizontal rock-shaft l, hung or journaled in a suitable manner upon the lower side, preferably, of a plate or platform 2, adjacently to a street-crossing, junction, bridge-drawer, or other danger-point. Said horizontal shaft has geared thereto by suitable gearing 3a 3 a vertical or upright shaft 3, journaled in a suitable bearing or support et, screwed or otherwise fastened in place, preferably upon the plate or platform 2. Said upright shaft carries the usual conventional signal, comprising a disk 4f and a lantern 4", having bull"- eye lenses, said disk being red and two of the lenses being of a corresponding color and facing in the same direction as said disk and the other two lenses of said lantern being plain glassl and facing at right angles with said colored lenses. Said horizontal shaft l has fixed thereto two cam projections orlugs 5,arranged to occupy positions upon opposite sides of the track, respectively,and having their free ends preferably extended slightly laterally, the plate or platform 2 having openings 5 52L to permit the movement therethrough of said lugs or projections as they are thrown up or depressed, as presently more fully referred to.

Cam plates or levers G are suitably pivoted or hinged alongside of the track, preferably by bending or curving upward one end of each into an eye 6, which receives a pintle 6b, preferably lixed in eye-ended terminals 6c or plates 7, secured or screwed to the rail-ties. The same ends of the plates 7 may have preferably brazed thereto upon the under side the lower ends of npturned metal pieces 8, overhanging the pivoted or hinged ends ofthe levers or plates 6, beneath which extend the terminals of the eyes 6n of said levers or plates and which serve to house the pivotal points of the last-named and to form stops against the possible upward displacement of these levers. The free ends of said levers or arms are preferably curved slightly downward to permit in backing of the car or train when the signal is set the ready passing thereon of the brake-setting shoe or contrivance.

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likewise forked or bifurcated and embracing' and pivoted to a pendent lug 13 of the block or coupling 10. Said link 12 may be and is preferably -passed through an opening invoneA of the brackets 9, the same thus acting as a guide thereto during movement.

To one end of the slide or rod 8, having, preferably, an aperture therethrough, is connected one end of a cable or wire 14, its connection or fastening to said rod or slide being aided by said aperture and is passed over a pulley or wheel 15, hung in a suitable support or bracket 16, preferably seeuredto a plate` or base-piece suitably anchored or embedded in place. Said cable or wire is connected at its opposite endto a hand-lever 15, pivoted a short distance from its lower end to a suitable support 16', suitably secured in place, and to said end of said lever is connected one end of another wire or cable 17, whose oppo-v site end is connected to the other end of said slide or rod 8, preferably having an additional aperture therethrough for aiding the securing of said cable or wire thereto. Said support 16 is preferably composed of duplicate upper yend-curved frames or quadrants 16a, between which the handlever 15a is arranged and which have their curved or arcuate portions provided with coincident or registering apertures 1Gb, through which and an aperture in said hand-lever may be passed the shackle or bolt of. a padlock or other suitable fastening in locking said lever in place to prevent unauthorized movement thereof; also, suitably connected, as presently disclosed, to the hand-lever 152l is a bolt or latch 18 for engagement with a keeper 18a, secured to a bridge-drawer, whereby simultaneously with the throwing of the signal device said drawer-bridge is locked and unlocked, as Will be presently understood. Said bolt or latch, preferably cylndrical,`has a cross-pin fixed therein, the projecting ends of which' form stops to limit the movement of said bolt, said cross-pin engaging the bolt-housing 18b and the upstanding parallel supports 18c for that purpose, both said housing and supports being brazed or cast with a base-plate. To the rear end of said bolt, with which is brazed or cast upon its upper surface a bifurcated or slotted extension S, is connected a centrallypivoted lever 19, fulcrumed between supports 18c at theirl upper ends. Said connection is effected by a pin 18, spanning the space between and fixed on the brackets or arms of the bolt extension 18d and engaging or passing through an elongated slot 19@L of the lever 19, said lever being received between said arms or branches and said slot allowing the requisite differential movement between the parts, as will be appreciated.' The connection between the hand-lever 15 and said latch or bolt is effected 'as follows: Two wires or cables 2O 20 are connected one to the extreme rear end of the bolt extension 18d and the other to the upper end of the lever 19, each preferably having an aperture to aid in effecting this connection. Said wires or cables are then extended back and connected to said hand-lever 15 at points upon opposite sides of its pivot or fulcrum.

Suitably arranged and connected to the airbrake-setting valve 22, located upon the engine-frame, is a contrivance or shoe 23 for actuating said valve, as presently explained. Said valve comprises a cylinder or chamber 22, preferably circular, communicating with the train air-brake pipe and having the usual air-ports, and within this chamber is arranged a central valve stem or spindle 22", turning therein, its inner end bearing in a central seat or socket in the inner wall of said chamber. Said spindle or stem has fixed to it a disk or valve proper, 2, having ports therethrough corresponding with the ports in the chamber 22, said stem or spindle also bearing or passing through the outer head 22d of said chamber or cylinder adapted to be screwed in place. The outer or projecting end of the spindle or stem 22b carries an arm 23, fixed thereon preferably by a pin passed therethrough. To the outer or free end of said arm is pivoted or loosely connected the upper end of a link 23, let into a slot 23b in a bar or slide 24C and pivoted to said bar or slide. Said bar or slide is preferably equipped at its lower end with a wheel of shoe 24, adapted in practice to ride upon or be engaged by either of the pivoted or hinged cam levers or plates, according to the side of the engine upon which it may be arranged. Said bar or slide is housed and moves in a casting or tube 25 integral or cast with the offset portion of a bracket or plate 25% suitably secured to the framework of the engine, and to which is also connected the valve-casing, the same also affording a convenient means for the attachment thereof to said framework. Said bar or slide has preferably cast therewith upon its forward edge a plow attachment 26, reaching down sufficiently to guard the shoe or wheel 24: and to remove snow, dac., in front thereof, as in the winter season, when the train is in motion. The tube or casing 25 has a longitudinal slot 27 through its front portion, into'which the forward edge of the bar or slide carrying the plow attachment extends, permitting said edge to stand flush with the outer surface of said tube or casing and said plow attachment to occupy a IOS IIO

comes position outside of said tube or casing. Said bar orslide has lateral vertical extensions or guides 28, extending into corresponding lateral slots 2S, produced in the tube or casing 25, one of said extensions or guides having upon its outer surface a ratchet or series ot' notches, with which automatically engages a spring pawl or detent 29, carried-by said tube or casing and normally engaging' said ratchet to retain the slide or bar 2st elevated after having been acted upon b y a cam arm or lever 6 as presently seen. The tube or casing 25 has also in its rear side, opening through the lower end or edge thereof, a slot 30, which with the corresponding portion of the slot in the front side of said tube or casing provides for the reception of the wheel or shoe carried by the bar or slide 2l as it is raised to its maximum altitude, as when acted upon by a contacting cam plate or lever 6.

In operation, it being assumed by way of one example of illustrating the operation of the invention it is required, for instance, to open a bridge-drawer, the hand-lever is inanipulated or adjusted and locked in such position so as to set the signal to danger, displayingr the red disk and corresponding lenses of the lantern for use at night in the direction of the line of travel, the drawerbolt at the same time being withdrawn ordisengaged froin its keeper; also, simultaneously with the setting of tho signal, dac., the horizontal or rock shaft will be actuated so as to dispose by the action of its lugs or cams the cam plates or levers in an inclined position. Should even the engineer of an approaching train not happen to discover the displaying of the danger-signal and not open the brake-setting valve, the inclined camplates would intercept the shoe or wheel equipped slide or bar and effectits elevation, and thus be maintained by the spring pawl or detent carried by the inclosing casing or tube of said bar or slide. This action of the cam-plate upon said slide or bar will actuate the air-brake-setting valve and result in the application of the train-brakes, causing the slowing down and duly stopping of the train, thus avoiding what would otherwise have ended in a wreck and in all probability the maiming of limbs, loss of life, and destruction of property or rolling-stock. Of course after the closing of the drawer the signal can be set for clear by oppositely or reversely adjusting the hand-lever, when the horizontal rock-shaft will be so actuated as to depress its cams or lugs, permitting the lowering of the cam-plates flush with the groundsurface or plate containing the same; also, the drawer-bolt will be projected into its keeper, effecting the locking of the drawer against unauthorized opening, the hand-lever being also locked in position.

lt is observed that this device is applicable for use in connection with what is known as the block system, as well as generally in devices of this character.

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

l. The combination of a rock-shaft carrying cam-lugs, its actuating-lever, a slide arranged intermediately of, and connected to, said rock shaft and lever, cam-plates acted upon by said cam-lugs, and means carried by a moving object adapted to he acted upon by said cam-plates, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a rock-shaft carrying cam-lugs, its actuating-lever, a slide or rod, a crank-arm and link connection between said rock-shaft and slide or rod, cam-plates adapted to be engaged by said cam-lugs, means effecting connection between saidslide and said lever, and means carried by a moving object adapted to be acted upon by said cam-plates, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination ofa rock-shaft equipped with cams or lugs, its actuating-lever, aslide or rod, a crank-arm and link connection between said rod or slide and rock-shaft, a Wire or cable compassing a pulley or wheel and connected to said rod or slide and lever, camplates adapted to be engaged by said cams or lugs, and means carried by a moving object, adapted to be acted upon by said cam-plates, substantially as set forth.

et. The combination ofa rock-shaft equipped with cams or lugs, a lever for actuating said shaft, cani-plates adapted to be acted upon by said cams or lugs, a slide or rod carrying a block or coupling at, or near, one end, a crank-arm carried by said rock-shaft, a link connected to said crank-arm and block or coupling, means for connecting said rod to said lever, and means carried by a moving object `adapted to be engaged by said camplates, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a rock-shaft carrying cams or lugs, pivoted or hinged cam-plates adapted to be engaged and moved into an inclined position by said cams or lugs, an actuating-lever for said shaft, a slide or rod, means of connection between said rod or slide and said lever, and means for effecting connection between said slide and rocking shaft, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a rock-shaft equipped with cams or lugs, pivoted cam-plates adapted to be engaged by said cams or lugs, aslide or rod, a crank-arm and link connection between said rock-shaft and rod, a wire or cable compassing a pulley or wheel and connected to said rod or slide and lever, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination ofa rock-shaft equipped with lugs or cams, means for actuating said rock-shaft, cam-plates adapted to be engaged by said cams or lugs, an air-brake-setting valve comprising an axial stem or spindle, a slide adapted to be engaged by said camplate, a crank-arm carried by said stern or spindle, and a link pivoted in a slot in said` slide and connected to said crank-arm, substantially as set forth.

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S. The combination of a rock-shaft equipped with lugs or cams, means for actuating said rock-shaft, pivoted cam-plates adapted to be engaged by said cams or lugs, an air-brakesetting valve, a slide or bar adapted to be engaged by said cam-plates and connected to the stem or spindle of said valve, and having a plow attachment, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a rock-shaft equipped with cams or lugs, means for actuating said rock-shaft, pivoted cam-plates adapted to be engaged by said lugs or cams, an air-brakesetting valve, a slide or bar adapted to be engaged by said cam-plates, means effecting communication between said slide and Valve, a casing or tube carried by an offset of a bracket attached to a moving part, and containing said slide, said slide or bar having lateral vertically-extending portions let into corresponding slots in said casing or tube, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of a signal-displaying v device and means for connecting said device with a bolt or fastening, a centrally fulcrumed lever having pivotal connection with said bolt or fastening, at its rear end, an actuating-lever, and wires or cables connected to said actuating-lever, at points upon opposite sides of its fulcrum and to the firstreferred-to lever, at lits upper end, and said bolt or fastening, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of a signal-displaying device and means for connecting said device with a bolt or fastening, a centrally-pivoted lever, a bracket forming the fulcrum for said lever, said bolt or fastening having upon its upper surface, at the rear end thereof, a slotted or bifnrcated extension receiving the lower end of said lever, a pin-and-slot connection between said extension and said actuating-lever, and means effecting connection between said actuatinglever and bolt and centrally-pivoted lever, substantially as set forth. s

l2. The combination of a signal-displaying device and means for connecting said device with its actuating-lever, a bolt, a centrallypivoted lever having pivotal connection with saidbolt, and means for effecting connection between said actuating-lever and said bolt and cen'trally-pivotedl lever, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of a signal-displaying device and means for connecting said device with a signal-displaying deviceand its actuating-lever, a bolt, a centrally-pivoted lever having pivotal connection with said bolt, and wires or cables effecting connection between said actuating-lever and said bolt and centrally-pivoted lever, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES II. CLARK. Witnesses:

J. M. RUssnLL, F. L. SANBORN.