US740788A - Switch stand and lock. - Google Patents

Description

UNi'rnn T.Arns

I ATENT tr es.

Patented October 6, 1903 SWlTCH STAND AND LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 740,788, dated October- 6, 1903. Application filed December 15, 1902. Serial No. 135,346; (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern: H is protected from dust and water by the Be it known that I, HENRY H. WARNER, a V citizen ofthe United States, residing at Ta coma, in the county of Pierce andState of Washington, have invented a new and useful Switch Stand and Loch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in railroad-switch stands in which the switch is operated by means of a handle rotated about a shaft orpivot; and the objects of myimprovements are, first, to cheapen the cost of constructing switch-stands; second, to facilitate the rapid operation thereof, and, third, to pro; tect the locking device so that it may not be readily tamperedwith. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a general view of mysWitch-stand; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the upper portion thereof; Fig. 3, a front view of said upper portion; and Fig. 4 a plan of said upper portion, showing the part over the lock in section.

Similar letters of reference refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views.

A represents the upper plate or table of the switch-stand, through which the target-rod 0 passes. To this rod C is keyed in the usual manner the plate B, resting on the table A. The plate B is provided with a slot F on its outer edge and extending inward adapted to receive the handle D and to allow it to turn therein on the pivot E. PivotE passes through the plate B near its lowerside in a direction at right angles to the line of slot F. The pivot E also passes through the handle D in the slot F, thus allowing it to turn on a horizontal axis in the usual manner. Plate B is provided With a recess (preferably cylindrical) placed at one side of the slot F and projecting inward from the outer edge on a radial line from the target-rod O. This recess is met by a smaller hole passing from slot F at right angles to said recess. Into this recess is placed the cylindrical lock H, having its bolt I in the smaller hole and projecting into the slot F, said bolt I being pressedtoward slot F by the spring L in the other end of said hole. Handle D is provided with a hole J, so placed as to receive the bolt I when said handle is hanging in a vertical position. Lock hanging cover K.

Plate A is provided WllZlI lI-WO or more slots G in its outer edge adapted to receive the handle D in the several positions which said handle and plate 13 must be placed to properly operate the switch. Handle D only engages said slots G when hanging in a vertical 60 position. When the handle D is in said vertical position engaging one of said slots G, the bolt I, being then in hole J, prevents said handle from being turned on pivot E; but on withdrawing said bolt I it is evident handle 0 D may be disengaged from slot Gand rotated on pivot E into a horizontal position, and rod 0 may then be turned by handle D' and the switch thrown. At the present time switchstands are made with the handle projecting upward and provided with a lug having a hole therein, said lug passing through a slotin a projection cast on the top of plate B and with a detachable padlock adapted to engage the hole in said lug. This method is very expensive, because of the constant loss of and damage to the padlock and also because of the time necessary to operate the same, often making it necessary for a long and heavy trainto be brought to a dead So stop before the switch can be thrown, whereas with my improvement the operation is so much shortened that the switch can be thrown in about one-half the time usually taken at the present time, and my improve- 8 ment leaves nothing exposed which can be broken readily with a stone or other light tool likely to be found in the neighborhood. W'ith my improvement the operator seizes the handle D in his left hand and, pushing to 0 one side the cover K with the key held in his right hand, inserts the key, and Withdraws the bolt I, which releases handle 1). He then turns the switch to the proper position and drops handle D in the corresponding slot G and at 5 the same time removes the key from the look,

and in removing the said key the bolt I enters hole J and the switch is locked.

It is evident that this improvement may be of many dilferent forms than the one shown 1:0

and described above. For, instance, the stand may be laid on its side and suitably changed to become what is known as a ground'throw-switch. Also many forms of locks may be used. Also bolt I may be made to engage the back of the handle D instead of the hole J.

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

A switch-stand comprising a frame, atable secured to said frame, notches through said table in the outer edge thereof, a target-rod journaled in said frame, a fiat solid plate resting on said table and secured to saidtargetrod, a vertical radial slot through said plate, a hand-lever pivoted in said slot near the lower outer edge of said plate and adapted to turn on said pivot from a horizontal unlocked position to a vertical locked position and to engage said notches when in the locked position, a spring-actuated bolt within a hole in said plate and pressing against the side of said hand-leverwhen said lever is in unlocked position and engaging a hole in the side of said lever when said lever is in locked vertical position, and a cylindrical lock inserted in said plate and adapted to engage said bolt to withdraw it from said hole in said hand-lever to unlock said hand-lever.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY H. WARNER.

Witnesses: Y

FRED J SHAW, GEO. H. BERRY.

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