US851012A - Railway signal-flag. - Google Patents

Description

N0. a51,01 2. PATBNTED APR..23,1907.

J. LANIIIS. I

RAILWAY SIGNAL FLAG.

APPLICATION FILED 1150.20, 1905.

v THE umzms Pan-Is co., WASHINGTON, D. cv

UNITED STATES JOHN LANIUS, OF GALION, OHIO.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-FLAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed December 20, 1905. Serial No. 292,622.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN LANIUs,a citizen of the United States, residing at Galion, in the county of Crawford and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal Flags, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to improvements in what may be styled railway signal flags and staffs.

Said invention has for its object to promote simplicity of construction and to facilitate the manipulating of the parts and otherwise add to the convenience and utility of the same; and to these ends the invention consists of certain features substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed, and particularly pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the same. Fig. 2 is a broken-away enlarged view more especially of the flexible portion or joint in the staff. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are disassembled detailed views of certain component parts of the invention. Fig. 7 is a broken detailed perspective view of one of said parts.

In the disclosure of my invention I form the flag 1 of thin sheet metal or compressed fibrous or equally-durable material, which is in continuation of said flag bent or formed into a slightly-upward tapering tube 1' to constitute a portion of the staff, with a returned flat edge portion or terminal 1 which is suitably secured by rivets, solder, cement, or otherwise to the opposite inner edge of the flag. In the upper end of said tube is inserted a plug or cup 1, preferably of wood or metal, the purpose of which is ob vious. A base 2 is also provided of malleable or pressed iron or of steel having vertical braces or plate-like formations 2" 2, out standing from and at right angles to a central plate-like member 2'. Said base has its upper end portion, or that equipped with the p ate formations 0r braces 2 2, inserted into the lower or larger end of the tube 1", which plates serve tobrace the base in position therein, while the plate ,or brace 2 in addition extends and is in common secured or riveted to and between the flat edge portion 1 of the tube and the opposite portion of the flag 1, as shown in Fig. 1, the purpose of which is apparent. Said casting or base 2 below the braces or plate formations just noted has integral therewith at a suitable interval apart an upper and a lower disk formation 2 2, respectively, intermediately of which and also integral therewith are radialplate formations or braces 2 Still farther down the casting or base 2 has formed therewith additional radial plate formations 2 the same, however, not extending out ward as far as the parts thereabove, and having numerous notches 2 in their edges to provide for the effective engagement therewith of the inner edges or portions of the upper end spirals of a spring 3, compactly coiled into tubular form, as shown, to form, together with said, base or casting 2, practi cally a continuation of the flagstaif, as will be appreciated.

Into the lower end of the tubular spring 3 is inserted an upstanding tubular post formation 4 of a base-plate 4, said post formation also having numerous notched ribs 4* for the like purpose as above noted for the notches 2. The use of the spring 3 provides for the limited flexing or yielding ac tion of the flagstaif of which it is a constituent to prevent the flag being damaged by close-passing trains and from the jar caused by heavy cars or engines.

A bracket 2, for suitably attaching the contrivance or flag to a caboose-car or engine, has an outstanding arm 5*, terminated in a plate 5 having a single notch or recess 5 the function of which will presently appear. The plate 5 of the bracket-arm 5 has extending from its upper surface an axis or pivot 5, which is received within the tubular post 4 of the member 4, and which has suitably riveted or swaged down thereon a washer or annulus 5", effective to prevent the accidental upward displacement of the part 4 4 as readily noted.

A dog or detent 6 is pivoted upon a stud 6 of the bracket-arm 5 for engagement with any one of a number of notches or recesses 4, formed in the plate 4, which may be caused to register with the notch 5 in the bracketarm plate 4 for the suitable retention at the required point of adjustment of the fiagstaff, according to the angle of presentation it may be required to give the flag.

I claim- 1. A device of the character described, comprising a signaling-flag having a tubular r, -l fill formation adapted to constitute the fiagstaff in part, a base member having its upper end insertible in the lower end of said tubularformation and having a wing or plate formation interposed between a lapping edge portion of said tubular formation and said flag and secured in place in common therewith.

2. A signaling-flag having its staff constituted in part of a compactly-coiled tubular spring and a staif-adjusting contrivance comprising a tubular post formation having notched ribs adapted for insertion into the lower end of said spring and effective engagement with the coils or spirals of said spring, and means insertible in said tubular formation for retention in place.

3. A signaling device comprising a flag, its staff constituted in part of a compactlycoiled tubular spring, a bracket having a notched plate or disk terminal, a tubular post formation inserted into the lower end of said spring having its carrying disk or plate portion provided with a number of notches or recesses and resting upon a pivot or axis formation of the notched plate of said disk, and a dog or detent carried by the arm of said bracket and adapted to engage the notches of said plates or disks.

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

JOHN LANIUS.

Witnesses:

C. R. MILLER, C. H. HENKEL.

Images