US828054A - Track mechanism for railroad-crossings. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906.

J. w. RENNER. TRACK MECHANISM FOR RAILROAD GROSSINGS.

APPLICATION IILBD MAY29.1906.

rus NORRIS PETERS C0,, WASHINGTON, n. c.

IINITED srATEs PATENT OFFIGE. 7

JOHN W. RENNER, OF GADILLAOQMICHIGAN, ASSIGNOROF FOUR-FIFTHS TO SAMUEL S. THORPE, OF CADILLAC, MICHIGAN.

TRACK MECHANISM FOR RAILRQAD-CROSSIINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented- Aug. 7-, .1906.

Application filed May 29, 1906- Serial N0r319i322 To. all whom/it. may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. RENNER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Cadillac,-county of Wexford, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track Mechanism for Railroad-Crossings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railroad-crossing track mechanism of the type in which the rails terminate short of the points of crossing to provide passage-ways for the flanges of the car-wheels, and a movable splice-bar or bridge element is located at each point of crossing common to two crossing-rails, which is designed to be automatically shifted to bridge the space between the ends of the rails at the time the rails are in service.

The present invention has particular reference to the mechanism for automatically shifting the bridge element as well as for shifting .a signal arranged adjacent thecross- The object of the invention is to provide such mechanism which is particularly simple in construction and highly durable and effi.

cient in use.

To this end the invention includes thecombination and arrangement of parts to be described, and particularly pointed out in. the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of, my invention,

Figure 1 is a. lan view of a railway-crossing Y equipped wit bridge elements of the type referred to. Fig. 2 is a plan view from the under side, showing the mechanism for actuating the bridge elements and signal.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention one set of tracks is indicatedby a and the other by 1), these tracks crossing each other in a manner to provide a so-called diamond crossing. The rails of each track are interrupted at the points of crossing, and at each of these points a movable bridge member is located which is common to two crossing-rails and is designed to be shifted to preserve the continuity of either. The bridge members (1, located at the ends of the diamond, have a much greater movement or move through a larger arc than the bridge elements e, located at the sides of the diamond g The invention contemplates novel mechanism for shifting vall of the elements 01 e in unison upon the approach ofthe car along either track toward-the crossing if'the rails upon which the car moves at-the time are interrupted at the crossing,the mechanism being actuated. by'the approaching-car from an element located remote from the crossing. The major portion ofthe operating mechanism is preferably located beneath a suitable bed-plate f, upon which the-crossing-rails are mounted. I

Each of the bridge members is mounted to have an oscillating movement and to this end is provided with a depend-ing pivot-pin, find.

ing a bearing in the plate f. Agearor toothed segment g is secure to the pivot-pin of each element d below the platef, andthese gears intermesh with the tooth-peripheries of a 7 double toothed segment h, pivotally mounted below theplate f substantiallycentra-lly of thevcrossing and designed to have an oscillating movement and therethrough oscillate the gears g, which in turn oscillate the bridge members d.- ing pivot-pins of the bridge members 6 and are arranged within the paths of movement of the oscillatingmember h, sothat'they will be struck thereby during'the movement of the same and oscillated toshift'themembers e. A suitable double stop Z is associated with each member '1' to arrest'the movement of the same when shifted by the "elements It, and thus prevent overthrow of'ithebridge members. In arrestingthe-members' 'ipthe double segment is also-arrested and :therethrough the gears g arrested.

'To shift the se ment h and, through" the mechanism described, the bridgemembers cl 6, a pair :of levers m is associated with each track, the members of each-pair being .arranged on opposite' s'ides of'thecrossing. A link connection is interposed between ?-the lower end ofeach lever-and the segment N, the connection between the end of'the 'l-ink and the segment being made eccentrically of the latter andthe links associated with-com panion'leversbeing connectedto the member it upon opposite sides of the 'pivotthereof. The upper ends'of each pair -of levers are adapted to project above the rail-bed a positionto be struck by a part ofthecar'or car-wheels as the car approaches the cross- Arms tare fixed tothe depend loo ing when the bridge members associated with the track upon which the car is assing are not in register with the ends of t e rails of said track. As the upper ends of the le- 5 vers are depressed the lower ends thereof are shifted rearwardly, and through the links n elements h are oscillated and will shift elements 9 i and therethrough shift the bridge members for the purpose stated.

If desired, a signal such as that designated by may be arranged adjacent the crossing and may be actuated from the segment 7L. As herein illustrated, the signal 0 includes a vertical shaft 0, extending below the plate I f and having an arm 8 secured thereto. Be tween this arm and the segment h a link 7 is interposed, so that as the segment is shifted the arm 8 will partake of a like movement.

The operation of my invention will be understood from the foregoing description, and it w ll be appreciated that many changes or modifications may be made from the particular exemplification illustrated and described without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

- I claim- I 1. The combination of a railway-crossing having interrupted rails at crossing-points .and movable bridge members thereat, of means for shifting said brid e members comprising, an oscillating mem er having oppos te toothed ends, means for shifting said oscillating member, a toothed member associated with opposite bridge members and intermeshing with the toothed parts of the oscillating member, and oscillating arms associated with the other crossing members and ar ranged in the path of movement of said oscillating member, substantially as described.

2; In a railway-crossing having interrupted ra ls at the crossing-points and movable bridge members thereat, of means for shifting said bridge members comprisin a double toothed segment, means for oscil ating the same, a toothed member associated with opposite bridge members and. intermeshing with the toothed portion of the segment, 08- cillating arms associated with the other bridge membersand arranged in the path of movement of the oscillating segment to be shifted by the latter and stops arranged to arrest the movement of said arms, substantially as described. 3. In combination a railway-crossing having interrupted rails at the crossing-points and movable bridge-pieces thereat, of means for shifting said bridge-pieces comprising a double toothed segment centrally pivoted beneath the crossing, a gear associated with opposite bridge members and intermeshing with the toothed portion of the segment, an arm associated with each of the other bridge members arranged in the path of movement of the segment and designed to be struck by 65 the sides of the latter in the movement of the same, a double stop associated with each arm, a pair of operating-levers associated with each track and a link connection between the lower end of each of said levers and the double segment, substantially as described.

4. In combination a railway-crossing having interrupted rails at the crossing-points and movable bridge-pieces thereat, of means for shifting said bridge-pieces comprisin a double toothed segment centrally pivotedieneath the crossing, a gear associated with opposite bridge members and intermeshing with the toothed portions of the segment, an arm associated with each of the other bridge members arranged in the path of movement of the segment and designed to be struck by the sides of the latterin the movement of the same, a double stop associated with each arm, a pair of operating-levers associated with each track and a link connection between the lower end of each of said levers and the double segment, an oscillating signal including a vertical shaft, an arm secured thereto and a link connection between the arm and the double segment, substantially as described.

5. In combination in a railway-crossing having interrupted rails at the crossingpoints, a bed-plate and bridge-pieces at each of the crossing-points designed to oscillate and having dependin pivot pins or stems journaled in the beddate, a double toothed segment pivoted to the bed-plate, and toothed members fixed to the pivot-pins of opposite bridge members and intermeshing with the double segment, arms fixed to the pivot-pins ofthe other bridge members located in the path of movement of the double segment to be shifted by the latter, a stop for limiting the movement of said arms and therethrough the movement of the segment, a pair of levers associated with each track and a link connection between each lever and the segment for shifting the segment as the levers are shifted, said levers having portions designed to be ao- 1 I tuated by a car approaching the crossing, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a railway-crossing having interrupted rails at the crossingpoints and movable bridge members thereat, I1 5 of means for shifting said bridge members comprising an oscillating element having operative engagement with opposite bridge members to shift the latter, and means asso ciated with the other bridge members lying 120 in the path of movement of the oscillating element, and designed to be struck by the latter whereby said bridge members are oscillated, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a railway-cross- 12 5 ing having interrupted rails at the crossingpoints and movable bridge members thereat, of means to shift said bridge members comprising an oscillating element, andimeans associated with said members and projecting 1 0 into the path of movement of said element testing Witnesses, at Cadillac, county of WeX- and disconnected therefrom designed to be ford, State of Michigan, this 17th day of May, engaged by said element when the latter is 1906.

oscillated whereby said bridge members are JOHN W. RENNER. shifted, substantially as described. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof I have hereunto W. A. BOWEN,

signed my name, in the presence of tWo ,at- F. A. THOMAS.

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