US744372A

US744372A - Overhead switch.

Info

Publication number: US744372A
Application number: US15949303A
Authority: US
Inventors: William Louden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1903-06-01
Filing date: 1903-06-01
Publication date: 1903-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 1920-11-17

Description

No. 744,372. v PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903. W. LOUDLN.

OVERHEAD SWITCH.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 1. 1903.

F0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 744,372. PATENT-ED NOV. 17, 1903.

' W. LOUDEN.

OVERHEAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1903.

NO MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903.

W. LOUDBN. OVERHEAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

No. 744,372. PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903. W. LOUDEN.

OVERHEAD SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 1.1903.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

lIlllllIlll-IIITAA J Z UNITED STATES Patented. November 17, 1903.

WILLIAM LOUDEN, OF-FAIRFIELD, IOWA.

OVERHEAD SWITCH.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 744,372, dated November 17, 1 903.

Application filed June 1, 1903. Serial No. 159,493. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAMLOUDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairfield, in the county of Jefierson and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Overhead Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switches for overhead tracks, such as are used for feed and litter and merchandise carriers, whereby the carrier can be transferred from one branch track to another; and it consists of means for accomplishing this while the tracks are securely held in elevated position and for antomatically locking the switch in operative position. It further consists of means for centrally suspending switch and branch tracks comprising T rails, whereby the flanges of said rails are left free for the passage of thecarrier on both sides; also, of im proved means for preventing the carrier from running off the open ends of the branch tracks should the switch be misplaced, and in other details hereinafter set forth, and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective of a switch embodying my invention I and showing its connection to overhead supports. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2, showing the working parts of the switch in the background. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail view.

Referring to the drawings, A represents overhead joists, to which brackets 13 are'secured. To these brackets ordinary track-.

hangers O are attached, so as to suspend an ordinary T-shaped track. D is the main part of said track, E is the switch-section, and F and G are branch tracks with which the switch-section is adapted to alternately connect. The main part of the track D and the switch-section E are connected together by means of a special depending hanger having a main part Hand a hinged part I, the end of the main track D being secured to the main partH and the switch-section E to the hinged part I. The main part H has an eye or a hook in its upper end, the same as an ordinary track-hanger, by which it is connected to one of the brackets B and by means of which the adjoining ends of the tracksDand :E are supported.

end of the branch track F and the hanger K to the end of the branch track G. i

L is a switch-plate having a raised portion L and a downwardly-projecting lip Z, forming a hook-shaped groove which catches over and slides 11 pon an upwardly-projecting flange J on the supporting-plate J. To the free end of the switch-track E a hanger K is attached, and this hanger K" is secured to the under side of the switch-plate L by bolts X and is provided with a projecting point a, which passes under the edge of the supporting-plate J and prevents the switch-plate L from becoming detached therefrom.

M is a latch provided with an upper stud b and a lower stud e. The outer end of the latch M is passed through a hole in an upturned edge d of the plate L, and its lower stud e is passed through a slot in the body of the plate and is held slidable in this position by means of the washer N. The flange J on the plate J is fitted with two or more notches O, and into these notches the inner endof the latch M is pushed by means of a coiled spring S, which encircles its outer end and rests against the upturned edge cl.

P is a trigger which is pivoted upon the upper stud b so as to move laterally when drawn upon by a cord Q, which is attached to itsouter end and is passed through guideloops R on the ends of raised arms on the plate 1. The trigger P is provided on its inner end with laterally extended points T, which rest upon the its flange J. X.

Fig. 1 shows the switch in operative position,"'the switch-section E being connected with the branch track F. Fig. 2 represents the switch-section half-way between the branch tracks F and G and the switch-plate L mounted centrally on the supporting-plate J. The notches O are located so that each is immediately over one of the branch tracks, and when the switch-plate is drawn to either plate J and bear againstv side, so the switch-track E will correspond with either of the branchtracks F or G, the inner end of the latch M will be pushed by the spring S into the notch 0 above said track, and the switch-plate L by this means will be locked in this position, and the switchsection E will be held in line with the branch track over which said notch is located. To change the switch to the opposite branch, pull the cord Q on that side. The first effect will be to cause the prong T on the same side the cord is pulledflto act as a fulcrum, and by drawing the outer end of the trigger P over to one side the latch M will be withdrawn from the notch in which it is inserted, and the next effect will be to cause the switchplate L to slide over on the supporting-plate M, so as to bring the switch-section in line with the other branch track. The pull on the cord being released, the latch M will be pushed by the spring S into the other notch, and the switch will be held in this position. To change the switch back again to the other branch track, pull on the opposite end of the cord Q.

To prevent the carrier from running off the track should the switch get misplaced, I employ a guard U, having downwardly-projecting and broadened or inturned ends V, one of which is arranged to stand in front of the end of the branch track which is open and prevent the carrier from running 0E. This guard is secured to the hanger K and is moved with it and the switch-plate L in changing the switch. The hanger K is made to firmly grasp and support the head of the track-rail, but to occupy only a limited space laterally, so as to leave the flanges of the rail free on both sides for the passage of the carrier thereon. It is also preferably made of two separable pieces, so as to embrace the head of the track-rail E between them, and a bolt X is used to hold the parts together. The upper ends of these parts have diverging ends, which are made to fit against the under side of the plate L and are secured thereto by bolts Y. The guard U is provided with obliquely-set flanges f, which are made to fit between said diverging ends, and it is held in this position by a bolt X, passed through a hole in the guard between these flanges and also through a cap Z, placed on the opposite edges of said diverging ends and having obliquely-set flange z to fit over the outer sides of the diverging ends of the hanger K. By this means when the bolt X is drawn up tight the guard will be securely held in its fixed position on the hanger K, and by the movement of the switch-plate L and hanger K" back and forth to change the switch it will alternately open and close the ends of the branch tracks F and G. The hangers K and K are made the same as the hanger K" and are secured to the plate J with bolts, the same as the hanger K is secured to the plate L.

To make a three-way switch, three branch tracks will have to be used. The plate J will have to be made longer and fitted with three notches instead of two. The guard U will have to be made longer and provided with additional downwardly-projecting ends V, so as to cover the open ends of the branch tracks and prevent the carrier from running off in case it should happen to be on either of said branch tracks. Other changes and modifications may also be made in the construction of the switch without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is- 1. In an overhead switch, the combination of a main track, two or more branch tracks, a switch-section adapted to aline with the branch tracks, said tracks consisting of abutting sections of an inverted-T rail with suitable supports therefor, a track-hanger embracing the head of the main-track rail near the end thereof, and a two-part clamp pivotally connected to said track hanger, and clamped upon the head of the adjoining end of the switch-section.

2. In a switch of the character described, a

track-hanger embracing the head of the maintrack rail near the end thereof, and having a vertically-disposed pivot portion on its outer edge, a two-part clamp secured to the head of the adjoining end of the switch-section and having semicircular-shaped prongs on their outer ends adapted to embrace and turn on the pivot portion of the track-hanger.

3. In an overhead switch, the combination of a supporting-plate adapted to be secured to the under side of an overhead timber, two or more hangers secured to said plate and each supporting the end of a branch track, a switch-plate mounted on one edge of the supporting-plate and adapted to slide thereon, a hanger secured to the under side of said switch-plate and supporting one end of a switch-section, and permitting its alinement with said branch tracks, and means for shifting the position of the switch-plate upon the supporting-plate.

4. In an overhead switch, the combination of a supporting-plate, two or more hangers secured to said plate and each supporting the end of a branch track, a switch-plate mounted on the supporting-plate and adapted to slide thereon, a hanger secured to said switch-plate and supporting one end of a switch-section, and permitting its alinement with said branch tracks, and means for shifting the position of the switch-plate upon the supporting-plate, and for looking it in posi-' tion thereon.

5. In an overhead switch, the combination of a supporting-plate having an upwardlyprojecting flange thereon, two or more hangers secured to said plate and each supporting the end of a branch track, a switch-plate mounted on the supporting-plate and having a groove adapted to catch over and slide upon the flange on the supporting-plate, a hanger secured to said switch-plate and supporting one end of a switch-section, and permitting its alinement with said branch tracks, and means for shifting the position of the switchplate upon the supporting plate and for locking it in position thereon.

6. In a switch of the character described, the combination ofa supporting-plate, branch tracks connected thereto and supported thereby, a switch-plate mounted-on said supporting-plate and connecting and supporting a a switch-section, and a latch carried by said switch-plate, and adapted to hold said plates in fixed position. v

7. In a switch of the character described, the combination of a supporting-plate having an upwardly-projecting flange with hotches therein, branch tracks connected to and supported by said plate, a switch-plate mounted onsaid supporting-plate and connecting with and supporting a switch-section and a latchbolt mounted on said switch-plate and adapted to enter and be retracted from the notches in said flange.

8. In a switch of the character described, the combination of a supporting-plate having an upwardly-projecting flange with notches therein, branch tracks connected to and supported by said plate, a switch-plate mounted on said supporting-plate and connecting with and supporting a switch-section a springpressed latch-bolt mounted on said switchplate and adapted to enter the notches in said flange and a double-acting trigger pivoted on said latch-bolt and adapted to withdraw it from said notches.

9. In a switch of the character described, the combination of a supporting-plate having an upwardly-projecting flange with notches therein, branch tracks connected to and supported by said plate, a switch-plate mounted on said supporting-plate and connecting with and supporting a switch-section, a springpressed latch-bolt mounted on said switchplate and adapted to enter the notches in said flange and a trigger having oppositely-set laterally-extended arms adapted to act alternately as fulcrums, and when moved in either direction to withdraw the latch-bolt from said notches. V

10. In a switch of the character described, the combination of a supporting-plate having eyes on the ends thereof, and an upwardlyprojecting flange with notches therein,branch tracks connected to and supported by said plate, aswitch-plate mounted on said supporting-plate and connected to and supporting a switch-section, a spring-pressed latch-bolt mounted on said switch-plate, a double-acting trigger pivoted on said latch-bolt, and adapted to withdraw it from said notches, and a trip-cord secured to the free end of said trigger, and passed through said guide-eyes.

11. In a switch of the character described, comprising a supporting-plate, a switch-plate and inverted-T-rail tracks supported by said plates, the combination of track-hangers made in two parts and having upper diverging ends secured to said plates and their lower ends embracing the heads of said rails, and means to hold said hangers in engagement therewith.

12. In a switch of the characterdescribed, the combination of branch tracks, a movable switch-plate, a switch-section, a hanger having its lower end secured to the end of the switch-section adjoining the branch tracks, and its upper end attached to the switchplate, a guard secured to said hanger and projected down in front of the ends of the branch tracks so as to alternately close the passageway on said tracks.

13; In a switch of the character described, the combination of branch tracks, a movable switch-plate, a switch-section, ahanger having its lower end secured to the end of the switch-section adjoining the branch tracks, and its upper end attached to the switchplate, a guard secured to said hanger and having laterally-extended ends, projected down in front of the ends of the branch tracks so as to alternately close the passage-way on said tracks.

14:. In a switch of the character described, the combination of branch tracks, a movable switch-plate, a switch-section, a two-part hanger having its lower end secured to the end of the switch-section adjoining the branch tracks and having its upper ends made diverging and attached to. the switch-plate, a guard having beveled flanges adapted to fit between said diverging ends, and having its ends projected down in front of the ends of the branch tracks so as to alternately close the passage-way on said tracks, and .means' for clamping the'guard upon said diverging ends.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM LOUDEN.

Witnesses:

J nssrn M. STARKEY, CORA E. WEBBER.