US850294A - Tramway-switch. - Google Patents

Description

No. 850,294. I PATENTED APR. 16; 11907. v R. H. CARLISLB.

TRAMWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1907.

' 45 rectangular pro ortions and embedded in the rnn anion Rosana n. (imam, OF covINeroN, KENTUCKY.

' TRAMWAY-SWlTCl-l cation.v

-This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tramway-swltches; and it has particular reference to a switch including meansfor restoring the same to normal position after each operation or actuation thereof.

The invention aims as a primary object to provide a switch of the abovetype embodying adjustable connections whereby the nor-' mal position of said switch is determinate and'can be at either side of the rails at their point of divergence.

, The invention aims as a further object to :provide a switch of the above type which shall be simple and inexpensive to manufacture and practical and efficient in use.

The detailed construction will appear in the course of the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a art of this specification, like characters reference designating like parts throughout the several views,

wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a switch and its operating connections,'parts being broken awayto more clearly set forth the details of construction. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and FigTts is a detailed. perspective view of the switch-operating mechanism with its adjustable connec- V tions, to be hereinafter specifically referred to.

' therefrom, and the letter C a pivoted SWllZCll.

- Referring specifically to the accompanying drawings, the letter A desi nates a straight track, the letter B a curve track diver mg interposed between said tracks at their point of divergence in the well-known manner. At one side of the track A there is aeasing 1 of road-bed. i "casing has a removable to 2, which ispreferably flush with the roa bed. The switch 0 is set or operated manually or by automatic means controlled from the car, but, as previously stated, is returned to normal position after each actuation thereof. The novel means for effecting this last floperation aremounted with the casing 1 and comprise, essentially, an actuating-spring, a movable elemcn connected therewith, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 4, 1907. Serial No. 350,882.

LPatented April 16,1907.

' switch connections adapted to be en aged with saidelement on either side 0 the spring, the movement of said connections be- ;mg dependent upon their position with relation-to the spring and the switch being automatically moved after each actuation to the corresponding side of the track A or B. i To the inner side wall of the casing 1 there is rigidly secured b clips 3 one end of a leafspring 4, which is esigned, through the connections to be described, to impart. movement to the other'movable elements of the invention. The end walls of the casing 1 are provided with horizontal brackets 5, which carry bolts 6, the latter being projected loosely through slots 7 ,formed in the ends of a slidable member 8 and serving as a guide for said. member in the axial movement The s rin 4 has a reduced outer endthereof.

9, which is pre erab y projected through the member 8 at a point central thereof, the connection of said spring and said member being practically fixed. ower edge is provided on each side of its connection wit the spring 4 with recesses or notches 10 for the purpose to be described.

Adjacent the inner side wall of the casing 1 lhe member 8 on its a supporting-bar 11 is provided, which extends the entire distance between the end walls to which it is secured and has its ends downturned, as at 12, to rest upon the floor of the casing. -Adjacent the upper portion .of the casing there is provided between the side walls and in parallelism to the end walls a horizontal bar 13. It isto be noted that the rail A forms the outer side wall of the easing'l andis recessed, as at a, the recess a communicating with the interior of said casing.

A vertical rock-shaft 14 is projected through and journaled in the bars 11 and. 13 at-their points of intersection. The shaft 14 has a reduced lower end 14 projected through the bar 11., a shoulder 14" being formed adjacent said reduced end and bearing against said bar to limit the downward-movement of said .shaft. The shaft 14 has fixed thereon by a set-screw 15 a horizontal arm 16, which at its end engages in either of the notches 10, formed in the member 8. Above the arm 16 and extending at a substantial right angle thereto there is fixed an arm 17, having at its end spaced angular ears 18. The switch C has a depending post 0, which projects into I the recess a of the rail A. Between the post 0 and the arm 17 there is a gimbal-joint constituted of a link 19, pivoted at 20 between the ears 18;, and a link 21, pivoted at 22 to the end of the link 19 and at 23 to the post a. It will of course be understood that the pivots 20 and 22 extend at angles to one another.

The shaft 14 in addition to .a partial rota tory or rocking movement in thebars 11 and 13 has an axial sliding movement therein in per end of said shaftis projected through an opening 25 in the top ,2 of the casing 1,. said "projecting end being formed with a round head 26, having'a transverse upper face thereof.

-As shown in Fig. -1,'the switch is forcedby the spring 4 through the connections describedto' a position adjacent the track B.

Each actuation of the switch will therefore tend to move the'same toward the rail A, and

as soon as the switch is released by its actu ating means the spring 4 will restore it to its position adjacent the rail B. This action takes place in the following manner: When the switch 0 is moved toward the rail A, the

' spring 4 is forced toward the side 1*" of the casing, and the arm 16 being engaged with the notch 10 most distant from the side 1 the spring 4 will of its own resiliency move toward the side 1* when the switch is released and in such movement will correspondingly slide the member 8. i The member 8 will transmit a sliding movement to the arm 16, which in turn rocks the shaft 14, and the latter by-means of the armz17 and the gimbal-join't connection above described moves the switch 0 toward the rail B. When it is desired that the switch 0 be normally held in pro inquity to the rail A, the shaft 14 is depresse by a proper instrument engaging in the recess 27 of the head 26. Such depression of the shaft 14 disengages the arm 16 from the notch 10. Said shaft is. then rocked until the arm 16 is forced into the notch 10 adjacent the end wall 1 by the spring 24. When said arm has thus been set, itv will be seen that the relation of the parts is reversed to what has been described.

' clairn recess 27 in the- Each actuation of the switch C will now force .the spring 4 toward then lll so that in returning to its normal position said spring will move toward the wall 1 and correspondingly actuate the parts in the manner described.

While the elements herein shown and described are well adapted to serve the functions set forth, it is obvious thatvarious minor changes may be made in the proportions, shape, and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having fully described myinvention, I

1. A switch of the type set forth comprismovable memberconnected with said spring,'

and operative connections between said.

switch member and said movable member, one member of said connections being adapted for engagement with said movable'menrher at selected points on either side of said spring. 2. A switch of the type set forth comprising a pivoted switch member, a leafspring, a slidable member connected therewith, operative connections between said slidable mem ber and said switch member, one membenci said connections being adapted for engagement with said slidable member. at points on either side of the line of force of said spring.

3. A switch of the type set forth comprising a pivoted switch member, a leaf-spring, a slidable element connected therewith, a rockshaft, angularly-extending arms fixed on said ing a pivoted switch member, a leaf-spring, a

shaft and connections between one of said

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