US741760A - Locomotive-headlight signaling apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No. 741,760. PATENTED OCT. 20, 1903.

W. S. BLACKBURN. Y LOCOMOTIVE lHEADLIGI-IT SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented October 20, 1993.

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LoCoMoTlvE-HEADUG HT slcNALlNc APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettere- Patent No. 741,760, dated October 20, 1903.

Application filed June 26,1903. Serial No. 163,169. (No model.) I

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN S. BLACK- BURN, of Dumbarton, in the county of Henrico and State/of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive-Headlight Signaling Apparatus; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which :form part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in locomotive-headlight signaling apparatus; and it consists in a novel attachment for locomotive-headlights whereby the latter may be used as a signal-light in approaching blockstations or on sidings and whereby also the light may be blinded when the locomotive is standing on a side track, so as not to obscure adjacent signal-lights. The attachment consists of a casing containing a retractable curtain which can be drawn partially or wholly over the headlight and withdrawn at the willA of the engineer, so that by properly manipulating the curtain the desired signals may be given.

The invention also comprises novel means for cleaning the headlight-glass bythe manipulation of the curtain.

The invention therefore consists in the,

novel construction and arrangement of parte hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus as applied to a locomotive-headlight. Fig. 2 is a front view of Fig. 1. enlarged top view partly in section. Fig. 4: is a view of the attachment detached, and Fig. 5 is a detail section of the cleaner.

In said drawings, A designates a locomotive-headlight (which may be of any ordinary Well-known construction and needs no particular description) which is mounted on the locomotive in the usual Way.

B designates a casing which is of a size to surround the headlight A and' is preferably slipped thereover and supported on the headlight base or stand in any convenient way and is secured by hooks C or other` suitable fastenings, so that it will remain securely in position around the headlight. It may have top anges Z), which rest upon the top of the headlight and cover the space between the `tive parts within the casing.

Fig. 3 is an headlight and casing and protect the opera- The front of the casing may be provided with a large door B', suitably hinged and fastened to permit ready access tothe front of the headlight for cleaning or repairing it without having to remove the casing. In the front of the casing is an opening d, of approximately the same size as the headlight-glass, said opening being protected by a hood-flange D to partly prevent cinders, rain, dac., entering the casing. On the sides of the casing are doors E, provided with suitable fastenings and through which access can be had to the headlight-decreto facilitate placing and lighting the headlight-lamp and alsoto facilitate adjustment or repairs of the working parts of the signaling apparatus. In some cases the casing may be built with4 the headlight and form part thereof, as is obvious. In other Words, the signaling-apparatus may be built within or as a part of the headlight.

The signaling apparatus comprises a curtain F, which is guided over vertical bars or rollers G g at the front corners of and within casing B, as shown. The rear edge of curtain F is preferably stiened by a rod or bar f, which is connected to a retracting spring or springs. As shown in Fig. 3, I connect this bar to rubber bands H, which may pass out through apertures bin the rear wall of the casing and be attached to auadjacent fixed point on the locomotive, or they may be carried around a roller or bar J in one rear corner of the casing and then be attached to the casing at the opposite rear corner thereof, so

that the springs work across the rear of the casing. Instead of rubber bands H, coiled springs I might be used, as indicated in Fig. 3. By arranging the springs within the rear of the casing they are protected from the weather, and the apparatus Will be more sightly.

The front edge of the curtain F is attached to a vertical bar K, which acts as a stop to prevent the curtain being drawn too far in either direction, bar K being arrested by the rollersG g, or other suitable means may be used to regulate the travel of the curtain. Attached to the inner side of bar K is a rubber or cleaner 7c, of felt, sponge, or other suitable material, which as the curtain is moved IOC Awill cleanse the face of the headlight-glass a,

and by manipulating the curtain rapidly two or three times the headlight-glass may be cleaned whenever it becomes fouled with smoke, rain, &c., without the fireman or engineer having to climb out of the cab to do so, and this cleaner is an important feature of the invention. The cleaner also serves to make the signals more clean-cut by holding the curtain closely to the glass. For instance, in displaying a half-obscured light the signal will be much more clearly defined by reason of the bar and rubber than would a looselyitting curtain edge.

The bar K is connected to a cord or cords L, which may pass out through apertures b in the rear of the casing, (see Fig. 3,) being guided around roller G when the curtain is retracted, or the cords may pass out of the side of the casing through apertures 192 and around pulleys b3 on the side of casing. (See Fig. 4.) In either case the cords are led back to the cab in position to be manipulated by the engineer, who by pulling the cords can draw the curtain across the headlight, and on releasing the cords the springs will retract the curtain. Thus the apparatus can be manipulated to give the desired signals, to cleanse the glass, or to obscure the headlight at the will of the engineer.

Having thus described myinvention, what I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

1. In alocomotive-headlightsignaling apparatus, the combination of a casing, verticallydisposed curtain-guides at the front corners thereof, a curtain, springs for retracting said curtain, a bar attached to the front end of the curtain, draw-cords attached to said bar and passing back to the cab, and a cleaner attached to said bar, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a headlight, vertical guides at the opposite front corners thereof, a curtain guided thereby, bars attached to the front and rear ends of the curtain, contractile springs attached to the rear bar and to a fixed part of the casing in rear of the headlight, a cleaner attached to the front bar,

scribed.

4. In combination with a locomotive-headlight, a cleaner for the glass thereof; means for moving the cleaner across the front of the glass operative from the engine-cab; and means for retracting the cleaner, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the headlight,a casing around the same, curtain-guides in the front corners of the casing, a curtain guided thereby, a bar attached to the front end of curtain, a cleaner attached to said bar, drawcords attached to said bar, and retractile springs arranged within the rear part of the casing, and attached to the rear end of the curtain and to a fixed point, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a locomotive-headlight, a casing exterior thereto, provided with a front opening,vertical curtain-guides in the front corners of the casing, a curtain guided thereover, springs secured within and extending across the rear of the casing, connections between said springs and rear edge of curtain, a bar attached to the front edge of curtain, a cleaner attached to said bar, and Y draw-cords attachedto said bar and extending out of the case to the cab, all substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afx" my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WARREN S. BLACKBURN.

In presence of- HoRAcE A. HAWKINS, GEORGE D. WISE.

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