US800396A - Switch-throwing device. - Google Patents

Description

10.800,396. PATENTED SEPT. '26. 1905.

R. RAHISER, J. G. GUNINGHAM.& F. B.HALL.

SWITCH THROWING DEVICE;

AEPLIOATION FILED JUNE 10,1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH RAHISEE, JAMES e. CUNINGHAM, 'AND FRANKLIN BL HALL, oE

EvANS CITY, PENNSYLVANIA. v

swlTcH-THRowING. DEVICE.

following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in Switch-Throwing Devices; vand the invention has for its object the provision of novel means for automatically throwing the switch.

' To this end we havedevisedaswitch-throwing device adapted to be automatically actuated bya car passing over a rail adjacent tothe switch. We have also provided novel means whereby the switch can be manually operated and retained in its shifted or adjusted position.

Our improved switch-throwing device is particularly adapted for steam-railways; but we do not care to confine the use of the device alone to this type of railways, as the same can be readily used in connection with electric railways and such railways vWhere switches are employed.

With the above and other objectsin view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,` which will be hereinafter more fully described and thenY specifically pointed out in the claims, and, referring to the drawings accompanying this application, like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in whichf Figure 1 is a top plan view of a section of track intersected `by a siding-track illustrating our improved switch-throwingdevice used in connection therewith.` Fig. 2' is a detail perspective view of a portion of the device. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an operatinglever. Fig.` 4 is a similar View of a lock-releasing lever. AFig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings,`and1Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the automatic switch-throwing mechanism.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application met June 10,1905. sentito. 264,727.

In the accompanying drawings we have Patented Sept. 26, 1.905.

illustrated main'rails 1 1 and siding-rails 2 and 3, which are supported upon suitable ties 4, 4the portion ofthe main rail 1 that is designated 5` and a portion of the siding-rail 2 serving as switch tongues, the tongue proper in each instance being designated 6.

l The tongues are pivotally mounted, as indicated at 7, whereby they can be readily swung or actuated by our improved switchthiowing device. Upon one side of the main track, preferably at the point the siding-l track intersects the main track, we provide a casing 8, in whichis pivotally mountedabellcrank lever 9. The one arm of said lever is connected'to a r'od 10,' that extends through an opening 11, formed in the mainl rail 1, and is connected to the switch-tongues 6 6, as indi'cated at 12 12. In connection with the rod 10 we employ anothery rod 14 to further brace and retain the tongues 6 6 in their proper relative positions. Some distance down the track we mountanother casing 15, and in said casing is pivotally mounted an operating-lever 16, which is connected by a rod, cable, or`ch'ain'1-7v to the bell-crank lever 9. In'order to prevent the operating-lever y-16 from wabbling or moving sidewise, we

provide the casing with longitudinally-disposed ribs 18, and wev preferably mount the operating-lever between said ribs. The casing 15 is providedwith a compartment 19, that is' preferably constructed beneath the casing 15, said compartment being positioned between two -of 'the' ties. 4, whichsupport the casing 15. Upon the bottom of this compartment we secure a substantially Z-.shaped spring 20, that is adapted to engage the shoeshaped end 21 of the operating-lever 16. Pivotally mounted withinthe compartment 20 is a locking-lever 22, the angular end 23 of said vlever being vadaptedto engage the spring20. s The upper end 'of the lever 22 is adapted to project through a slot 24, formed in the bottom and top of the casing 15, as

clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings. The top of Vthe casing 15'is provided with a slot 25 to permit of 'the end of thefoperatinglever 16 extending `therethrough, whereby it may be` conveniently manipulated. f'

To automatically actuate the switch-throw roo ing device, we have provided the siding-rail 3 with an enlarged slotted portion 26, in which is mounted a plate 27, the upper edge of which is normally retained slightly above 'the top of the rail 3 by springs 28 28, mounted upon a suitable base-plate 29 between the ties 4. The forward end and the bottom of the plate 27 are cut away, as indicated at 3l, to permit of the vertical movement of the plate, the cutaway portion 30 being adapted to receive the rod 10, which passes through said rail. Upon the side of the enlarged portion 26 of the siding we journal a shaft 32, suitable brackets 33 33 being secured to the ties 4 to provide bearings for said shaft. The one armof one end of the shaft 32 is provided with a curved arm 34, adapted to extend underneath of the track 3 and be engaged by the plate 27 The opposite end of the shaft 32 is provided with a bell-crank lever`35, the one arm 36 of said lever being pivotally connected to a bracket 37, carried by the rod'l'O, while the other arm of said lever is adapted to engage an angular rod 38, pivotally mounted ina bracket 39, carried within Ithe casing'S. rlhe upwardly-extending end 40 of the rod 38 is connected by a rod, cable, or chain 41 to the locking-lever 22. A spring 42 is employed to normally hold the tongues 6 6 in an open position, whereby the main'track will be maintained in a clear position. y

.Operationr We will assume that the train is moving in the direction of the arrow A upon the main track and it is desired to enter the siding. The train is provided with a suitable projection adapted to strike the operating-lever 16 and move it forward, or the lever may be struck by a trainman, which, through the medium ofthe rod 17, bell-crank lever 9, and rod lO, moves' the switch-tongues 6 6, whereby the siding will be clear. As the train passes upon the siding'the wheels of the rolling-stock engage the plate 27 and depress the same, this operation releasing the mechanism which yhas locked the operating-lever 16 when it was lirst operated. rlhis mechanism, as heretofore Stated, consists of a spring 20, which engages the shoe 21, and upon the plate 27 being depressed the rods 38 and 41 are actuated to operate the lever 22 to release the lever 16. As the plate 27 is depressed during the entire passage of the train over the same, said plate will be released after the last set of wheels has passed over the same, and the spring 42 of the 'tongues will return them to their normal position. We will now assume that the train is upon the siding and desires to enter the main track in the direction of the arrowB. The wheels of the train engage the plate 27, depress the same, and, through the medium ofthe shafti32, lever 35, and rod l0, the tongues 6 6 are moved to clear the siding. These tongues are retained in this position as long as the plate 27 is depressed by the wheels of the train; but when it is released by the wheels of the last car of the train the tongues 6 6 will be returned to their normal position by the spring 42 clearing the main track. It will thus be observed that the locking mechanism contained within the casing l5 is only used to retain the switchtongues in a thrown position until the train reaches the same, the locking mechanism being released immediately upon the train passing onto the siding. The main track is always clear when trains are coming in the opposite direction from the arrow A, the tongues being normally held open by the springs 42.

It will be observed that the main operating mechanism of our improved device is covered by casings, and consequently protected from the forces of nature which tend to deteriorate the material from which the mechanism is constructed, and by so incasing the operating mechanism the chances of the mechanism being deranged or injured are reduced to a minimum.

1t is thought from the foregoing that the construction, operation, and advantages of the herein-described switch-throwing device will be apparent without further description, and various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacriiicing any of the advantages thereof.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a switch-throwing device, of the character described, the combination with a main track and siding-track, of pivotally-mounted spring-depressed switch-tongues connected together, casings located upon one sideol" said tracks, a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted in one of said casings and connected to said tongues, an operating-lever pivotally mounted inthe other of said casings, and connected to said lever, a spring-retained plate mounted in one of said siding-tracks, a shaft mounted adjacentto said track and adapted to be actuated by said plate, said shaft being adapted to move said. tongues, means mounted within one of said casings to lock said operatinglever in its adjusted position, and means mounted within the other of said casings and connected to the first-named means to release said means, substantially as described.

2. In aswitch-throwing device of the character described, the combination with two pivotally-mounted switch-tongues adapted to be connected together, of casings located in the vicinity of said tongues, a bell-crank lever mounted in one of said casings and connected to said tongues, an operating-lever mounted IOO IIO

in the other of said casings and connected to said lever, means contained Within the lastnamed casing to lock said tongues in an adjusted position, means mounted adjacent to the other of said casings to release said firstnamed means, and means to return said tongues to their normal position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We ax our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

RALPH RAI-USER. JAMES Gr. CUNINGHAM. FRANKLIN B. HALL.

' Witnesses:

ERNEST A. MGGEARY, FRED RAHISER.

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