US807726A - Safe block-signal system. - Google Patents

Description

No. 807,726. PATENTED DEG. 19,1905. 0. J. GRONIN.

SAFE BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.12.1904.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed December 12, 1904. Serial No. 236,444.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. CRoNIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and 'State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safe Block-Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improvement in railway block systems; and I declare that the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description thereof suflicient to enable one skilled in the art to-make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts throughout.

My invention has to do with means to be operated in connection with a block system whereby it will be impossible for a train to pass, without the knowledge of the engineer at least, beyond a semaphore set against it.

I illustrate one form which will disclose the features of my invention, although I do not limit myself to any particular arrangement or construction, as a skilled mechanic will be able to make modifications in the same to adapt it most conveniently to the conditions with which he has to deal.

The invention discloses operative connections between the semaphore mechanism and means provided on the engine whereby the said means provided on the engine is operated when the semaphore is set at danger to do one or more of several things which will prevent the engineer from entering the block in ignorance of the position of the semaphore.

My device includes means to operate'the air-brake, to shut off the steam, and to blow a whistle in the cab, doing all or any of these at the same time.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows the location of the semaphore with a track passing it and over the track the outline in section of a locomotive-cab, the View being taken in front of the locomotive. Fig. 2 is a view in section taken from. the side on which the semaphore stands. Figs. 3 and 4 are details of the throttle and the connection of my device therewith. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the air-valve, and Fig. 6 is a detail'view of means to keep the parts in proper operative position.

Referring to the figures more in detail, A represents the track-base with the rail a and the semaphore-post A, which has pivoted at its upper end the semaphore B. On-the posts are shown two bell-crank levers 7) and b with connections therebetween and between 6 and the semaphore and between 6 and the guard 0, comprising wire or chains 6', so that when the semaphore is dropped the lower end of the lever I) will be raised toward a horizontal position and through connection 6 dispose the connected mechanism C out of the path of the corresponding mechanism on the locomotive. The means which are illustrated to be located by the rail comprises aclipO, with an arm O pivoted therein, so that by the operation of the semaphore the upper end can be swung toward the track, out of the way, or be held substantially upright.

On the locomotive I pivotally mount vertical rod D, the lower end of which has a bend D, which is normally held outwardly at substantiallyaright angle to the rail and in which position it is not operative.

E represents the air-brake lever, which is connected with ordinary and well known means to operate the brakes. Adjacent to that I secure on the rod D an arm E, having an outward projection a supported thereon, pivotally or otherwise, with a down bend a, which lies adjacent to the brake-lever E. The turning of the bar or rod D, as would be done if its lower end extended outward to be engaged by the bar C, will force the end e against the brake-lever E and operate the same to set the brakes without interfering with the usual use of the same.

F represents the throttle-valve lever, having usual locking means with grip F for disengaging the same. Adjacent thereto I mount on the rod D an arm G, on which is pivotally mounted a cross-arm Gr, the end of which passes over the end of the throttle-valve lever and its grip. At the outer end of the arm G I mount a strap g, of leather or steel band or other suitable construction, which passes rearward under the bar or arm G around the throttle-lever F and terminates in a loop, which is passed over the grip F and removably mounted thereon to permit independent use of the throttle. The turning of the rod D, as in the former case, pushes the arm G in the .direction indicated in Fig. 3, the effect of which is at first to press the grip F to the lever-handle F and further to swing the throttle-valve to shut off the steam.

In Fig. 2 I indicate, supported on the roof of the cab, whistle H, which comprises a supply-pipe, in which I mount a valve H, the

Valve being supported on the upper end of the rod D. When the rod D is in such position that its lower end is extended outwardly, as shown in that figure, the valve on the end of the rod is in such position to shut off the steam or air from the whistle H; but when the rod D is turned, as above indicated, the valve-plug is turned to admit pressure to the whistle.

In Fig. 6 I'show an arm J mounted on the rod D, with a spring j connected with the same and a fixed portion of the cab, so as to keep the rod in normal position.

Having described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isk 1. In a device of the character described comprising an arm mounted adjacent to the track and adapted to be raised, the combination of means mounted on the locomotive adapted to engage the said arm, the said means comprising a vertical shaft and a lever-arm mounted'thereon to engage the whistle mechanism to blow thewhistle of the engine when the shaft is turned, substantially as described.

2. In a railway construction. the combination with a semaphore and the rolling-stock, of means mounted to be operated by the semaphore to engage means mounted on the rolling-stock, the said means comprising a vertical shaft with an arm projecting to be engaged by the semaphore-operative means and having a lever-arm mounted thereon to engage directly the air-throttle of the engine when the shaft is turned, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described comprising an arm mounted adjacent to the track and adapted to be raised, the combination of means mounted on the locomotive adapted to engage the said arm, the said v means comprising a vertical shaft and a leverarm secured thereon having a clip at its outer end engaging the throttle-valve and automatically operating on the swinging of the shaft to unlock the throttle and shut off the steam, substantially as described.

In a device of the character described having a danger-arm adjacent to the track, the combination of means mounted on the 10- comotive, said means comprising a vertical shaft with a projection adapted to engage the track-arm when in danger position, the said shaft having levers fixed thereon one adapted upon the turning of the shaft to engage directly the air-valve to apply the brakes and the other having a clip thereon adapted at the same time to unlock the throttle-Valve and shut off the steam, substantially as described.

5. In a railway construction, the combination with a danger-arm adapted to be projected adjacent to the railway-track, of means mounted on the locomotive to engage said arm when in danger position, the said means comprising a vertical shaft having lever-arms fixed thereon with connections therefrom to the air-valve,

the whistle and the throttle-valve, the last of said connections being adapted to unlock the throttle-valve and shut off the steam, the said several connections being operative on the turning of the shaft,substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described comprising a danger-arm adjacent tothe track, the combination of means mounted on the locomotive, said means comprising a vertical shaft with a projection adapted to engage the arm when in its danger position, and the said shaft having levers fixed thereon adapted on the turning of the'shaft to operate the throttlevalve to shut off the steam and the whistlevalve to blow the whistle, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described having a danger-arm adjacent to the track, the combination of means mounted on the locomotive, the said means comprising a vertical shaft with a projection adapted to engage the arm when in its danger position, the said shaft having levers fixed thereon adapted upon the turning of the shaft to engage the airthrottle to apply the brakes and to engage the whistle to blow the same, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character described comprising an arm mounted adjacent to the rail, and means for manually raising and lowering the said arm, the combination of means.

mounted on the locomotive comprising avertical shaft with an offset adjacent to the rail and adapted to engage the said arm and operative by contact with the arm to engage danger-warning means on the locomotive, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. CRONIN. Witnesses:

E. T. DE GIORGI, RIoH. A. GEORGE.

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