US702745A - Automatic switch-throwing device. - Google Patents

Description

'.1. N. uulNN. Y AuTomAnc swlTcH THowms nEvlcE.

Patented lune I7, |902.

(Application mea mr. s, 1902.)

l 2 sheets-sheet l."

(No Model.)

i SWW/whom No. 702,745. Patented June I7, |902. .1. N. uulNN. f y

lAUTOMATIC SWITCH/THRUWING DEVICE.

(Application filed' Mar. 8, 1902.)

2 She-ets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED" I PATENT rrfcs.

JOHN N. QUINN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

. AU'toMATlcsw/liTcH-THRowlNeDEVICE.

SPECIFICATIQNformng part of Letters Patent No. 702,745, dated J une 17, 15502.

' Y Application tiled March 8, 1902.` Serial No. 97,221. (No model.) l I' To @ZZ whom t may concern,.- n

Be it known that I, JOHN N. QUINN, a citi"- zen of theUnited States, residing at Cincinnati, in the'conntyof Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Automatic Switch- Throwing Devices, ofwhich the following is a specication.

The objectof my invention is to provide an attachment toaswitch-stand with an operatinglever-rod extended along the track adapted to be operated by a train, so as to secure an effectual closing of the siding-switch,thereby preventing a derailing of the train.

switch-stand `that the'A latter 'can be voperated Without disturbing the supplemental closing' mechanism operatedfrom the ltrainsome distance from the switch-stand.l A

Another object of my invention is to so arrange the train-operating devices with the switch-stand lever that when the switch-stand has been accidentally left open and then closed by the engineer on the train the switchstand cannot b'e operated to open the switchrails withoutreadjusting the connection between thetWo Vswitch-throwing devices,there by acting as a detective to show the delinquency'of the; switchman innot'iclosing the switch or else to showthat it has been unlawfully opened. 1

Other features of my invention are more fully set forth in the descriptionof the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure lis a plan View of my switch-operating devices in position for use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan View of the track-switchoperating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a section on line irgFig. 2. Fig; 4 is a perspective view of sliding frame. 'B`ig.'5isa`pe1'spective View of pivoted lever for operating the switch-bar. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of trip portion of tripp ing-arm.A Fig. 7is van 'enlarged section on line e fr, Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of train-operated links and connectingrod, said parts being detached from each other.

In Fig. l of the accompanying drawings, A Arepresent the ordinary siding-switch rails closing to the main rails B B. C represents the throwing mechanism, which also can be 0perated by the track throwing mechanism. These intermediate throwing devices are composed of the following parts:

p E represents a housing in which are mounted the" ffi'ierati-11sf `ev ff A F represents a sliding frame adapted to move longitudinally in the housing or box. a represents a sill on which is pivoted a locklever G. This lever is pivoted at its forward 'end to the switch-bar and is the instrument c, affixed' tothe sill. b. Between the sills a and b is aspacel. (See Fig. 3.)v In this space is placed Va trip-arm cl, and this is detachably connected tothe lever-arm G', preferably in the following manner:

. ae. represents an open slot, its front face having a knife-edge point f. Upon the trip-arm d is mounted a catch g, tapered rearwardly, as shown at h, soas toform anf incline adapted to catchtheknife-point f at varying distances and secure the engagement of th'etrip-arm d with the lever-arm Grfeithpr -Wlenthe switch is full open or only partially open. In Fig. 2 the partsare shown in the normal position.

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The lever-arm G' extends back and is held from moving by the guard or ledge t' back of the slot in the housing-box. In this position the switch is closed and the trip-bar d is not in engagement with the switch-throwing arm. If now the switch-bar I-I has moved the arm 'G' forward far enough to pass free from the guard or ledge t', it is brought into position so as to engage with the catch 71. of the tripbar cl, operated by the track-throwing mechanism. The parts are so disposed that when the switch is partly open or full open this engagement of the trip-bar d is positively secured by the movement of said trip-arm. In order to hold the trip-bard back or to insure its engagement, a spring .I is interposed between the sill a and said trip-bar. In order to prevent the trip-bar (Z from being thrown too farback, Iprovide stops j 7c, which arrest the backward movement of the trip-bar beyond the desired position.

In order to hold the engagement of the switch-stand bar l-I with the lever-arm G', I provide a spring G2, secured to the sill l and the forward end engaging with arm G', holding the parts in contact for the operation of the switch-stand.

In order that when the switch has been left accidentally open and is closed by the approaching train that this movement may be detected or registered, I provide the following mechanism, so as to keep unshipped the switch-stand connection with the switch-bar, requiring a readjustment or connection ofthe parts. This leaves the switch-rail permanently closed against opening. This is accomplished as follows:

l( represents a catch pivoted to sill Z7. It is shown as provided with two teeth m. Upon lever-arm G' is a tooth a. When the switch has been closed by the track-throwing mechanism, the parts will be in position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, the engagement ot' tooth 7L with the catch m holding the arm G', and consequently the arm G, in the locked position. The switch-bar opens and closes the switch by the longitudinal sliding of the frame within the housing. The track-throwing device closes the switch by the swing of lever Gsolely. Consequently when the switch has been closed by the throwing of lever-arms G G', with movement of the bed-frame, the arm G' will be locked backward, requiring a manual resetting of the parts before the switch can be operated by the switch-stand. Thus au unlawful or an accidental opening of the switch by the switch lever, which switch is closed by the train, will be detected or registered by locking the parts out of position until readjusted. It is preferred to have the housing locked, so that it has to be opened byan authorized person, thus preventing unlawful tamperingwith the switch-stand and switch.

In order to operate the track throwing mechanism from and on the moving train, I provide the following mechanism:

L represents .a link-rod pivoted at one end to the trip-bar b and extending alongside of the track the required distance. The extended end is pivoted to a two-armed lever M, which is in turn pivoted at o to the bed O.

vN represents a connecting-rod pivoted to the arm M' of the two-armed lever M; N', a coil-spring for holding it in its innermost position toward the track. The inner end oi' the connecting-rod is pivoted to link-bars P P', each 4the counterpart of the other, the inner end of said connecting-rod being preferably housed within the links P P'.

p represents a slotted journal in which the pin of the connecting-rod moves laterally. These links P P' are placed alongside of the track at some predetermined height and distance, but in such relation with the moving train that their inner faces are engaged by a trip-lever projected down from the car or locomotive and in the path of the links, so as to engage them and press the said links outward, throwing the connectingrod N outward, which in turn moves the two-armed lever and pulls the link L forward, which moves the lever-arms G G' in the housing-box, operating the switch-bar to close it completely, and whether the switch-stand be fully or partially open it would be closed by the appreaching train in the manner hereinbetore described. I am thus able to obtain means for positively closing a switch whenever it is left' open or partially opened, and thereby preventing the derailing of the train, and when the locking-catches are employed the accidental or purposely leaving the switch open to the side track is detected and registered automatically by the train closing the switch.

The two-armed lever M is shown in the preferred form of construction, the parts being arranged so that when the connecting-rod N is moved the pivot-point u will travel and come to the dead-center line with pivot o, thereby limiting the movement of trip-bar L. By this means any desired distance of travel or throw of the link-bar L is obtained. If the switch-bar must be moved five inches or three and one-half, the lever will be proportioned accordingly, so that it is limited to the distance of movement without regard to the distance the train has moved the links P P'.

Having described my invention, I claim-` 1. A switch mechanism adapted to throw a switch-rail into or out of contact with the main rail, comprising a housing, a sliding frame therein movable to and from the track, `a switch-lever, a bar connected thereto and to the frame, a switch-bar connected to the switch-rail, pivotal connections between the last-named switch-bar and the sliding frame forming a break-joint by means of which the switch can be thrown independent of the sliding frame and mechanism for actuating the said break-joint, substantially as described.

2. A railroad-switch comprising a main rail and a switch-rail adapted to be moved into TOO log

IIO

and out of contact therewith, a switch-lever, a sliding frame actuated therebymovable'inV a direction to and from the main rail, members pivoted on said sliding frame and connected to said switch-rail, rigid in a direction' of movement of said sliding frame and movable in a direction transverse thereto, atrip device adapted lto be actuated by the moving train, and connections between said trip device and one of said pivotalmembers mounted on said sliding frame wherebyv the switch can be closed independent of -said switch-lever, substantially as specified.

3. A railroad-switch comprising a main rail and a switch-rail adapted to be moved into and out of contact therewith, a switch-lever, a sliding frame movable toward and from the main rail, a bar connecting said sliding frame to the switch-rail, a secondbar connecting the said sliding frame to the` switch-lever, pivotal connections on said sliding frame connecting said sliding frame to the bar attached to the switch-rail, said pivotal connections being rigid in a direction of movement of the said sliding frame and adapted to yield to a strain in a direction transverse thereto, to throw the switch-rail independent of the movement of the sliding frame, a trip device adapt- 'ed to be actuated by the moving train, and

connections between the said trip device and pivotal devices mounted on the sliding frame, whereby the switch can be closed independent of the position of said switch device, substantially as specified.

4. In combination with a railroad-switch and switch-stand operating a sliding frame to vthrow the switch, a switch-closin g mechanism comprising a switch-bar, a lever pivoted thereto and to the sliding frame detachably connected to the switch-stand lever and a tripping'mechanism adapted to engage said pivoted lever and connected to an actuated de-l vice alongside of the track in advance of the switch whereby said pivoted lever may be operated from the train to close the switchl 6. In combination with a switch and switch-v bar connected to an intermediate sliding frame of a lever pivoted to said sliding framev and to the switch-bar, mechanism for holding said pivotedlever into rigid position against the throwing strain of the switch-stand lever,

substantially as specified.

'7. The combination with a sliding frame forming the operating parts of a switch-stand of a lever pivoted to said sliding frame andvdetachably connected to the switch-'stand lever,

mechanism for holding said 'pivoted lever against 'movement on its pivot, a stop on the frame-bed for locking said lever in position when the switch is closed and tripping mechanis'm for releasing said lever when the switch is partially open and bringing into engagement a tripping mechanism whereby said le-l ver can be thrown to close the switch by mechanism independentoi:` the switch-stand,

substantially as specified. 1

8. In combination with a sliding frame adapted to be operated by a switch-stand lever, of a switch-closin g mechanism consisting of a lever pivoted tosaid sliding `frame, an arm carrying a tripping device adapted to engage said lever when said sliding frame is switch-stand and its operating-lever, of a sliding frame intermediate thereof, a lever pivoted to the sliding frame and to the switchbar and detachably connected to the switchstand lever, a tripping-arm intermediate,v of

the parts of said sliding frame provided with means for engaging said pivoted lever and' u having connection with actuating mechanism independent of the switch-stand for operating said pivoted lever to close 4the switch, and

mechanismfor locking said lever in positionv after-the switch has been closed by said tripping-arm, substantially as specilied.

10. The combination `with a switch-bar, a

switch-stand and a sliding frame operated by the switch-stand lever, of a switch-closing lever pivoted to the said sliding frame and to the switch-bar, a tripping-arm adapted to be engaged with said pivoted lever, an extendlever adapted to be loperated from a moving train and throw said lever on the sliding frame to close the switch, substantially as specified.

11. In combination with a sliding frame operated by a switch-stand lever, of a lever pivoted to said sliding frame andto the switch- I bar, a tripping-armoperated by an actuatinglever'located alongside-of the track in front of the switch-stand, means located adjacent y,to the track for operating said' actuating-lever whereby the switch may be closedbymoving-said actuating-lever independent ofthe switch-stand, substantially as speciiied.

12. A switchmechanism adapted to throw a switch-rail into or out of lcontact with the main rail comprising a housing, a sliding. frame therein movable toand fromthe track,

a switch-lever, a bar connected thereto and `to the frame, a switch-bar connected to the IIC fed rod connected to an actuated lever located Y alongside of the track and mechanism Aadjacent to said track connected to said actuatingswitch-rail, pivotal connections between said switch-bar and the sliding frame forming a break-joint by means of which the switch can be thrown independent of the sliding frame, mechanism adapted to break said joint and close the switch, and locking means located in the housing adapted to be automatically engaged by one of said pivoted members when the joint is broken, whereby the switch is located in its closed position, substantially as described.

13. A switch mechanism adapted to throw a switch-rail into or out of contact with the main rail comprising a housing, a sliding frame therein movable to and from the track, a switch-lever, a bar connected thereto and to the frame, a switch-bar connected to the switch-rail, pivotal connections between said switch-bar and the sliding frame forming a break-joint by means of which the switch can be thrown independent of the sliding frame, mechanism adapted to break said joint and close the switch, and locking means located in the housing adapted to be automatically engaged by one of said pivoted members when the joint is broken', whereby the switch is located in its closed position, and a slot in the side of said housing allowing a portion of one of the said pivoted members to project externally when the break-joint is operated thereby indicating that the joint has been broken, substantially as described.

14E. In combination with a switch-operating mechanism,an independent safety-trip therefor, consisting of a base-plate located adjacent to the track, a lever pivoted to the baseplate opposing one of the tracks and adapted to be actuated by the moving train, a conmeeting-rod parallel to the track for transmitting motion to the switch-operating devices and a bell-crank lever pivoted respectively to said base-plate, to said trip-lever and to said connecting-rod, the said bell-crank being shaped and fulcrumed so as to form a positive limit to the throw of the connectingrod, substantially as described.

15. In combination with a switch-operating mechanism, a bed-plate, a toggle-lever having its ends pivoted to the bed-plate and its middle joint flexed toward one of the trackrails, means for holding said central joint normally in its position, the said central joint normally in this position, the said central joint forming an abutment adapted to be actuated by a moving train in a direction to and from the rail, a connecting-rod leading from the bed-plate to the switch-operating mechanism, movable in a direction parallel to the track, a bell-crank lever the middle joint of which is pivoted to the bed-plate, one of the ends of said bell-crank lever being pivoted to the end of the connecting-rod, and a link pivoted respectively to the other end of said bell-crank lever and to the said central joint of the toggle-lever, the said bell-crank lever being shaped and fulcrumed to limit the length of throw of the connecting-rod irrespective of the length of throw of the said central joint of the toggle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN N. QUINN. Witnesses:

OLIVER B. KAISER, IDA J. LUcUs.

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