US851839A - Switch mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

PATBNTED APR. 30, 1907.

T. RUNDORPP. SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- 23.1906.

Wit" case: M

THEODORE RUN DORFF,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF BURLINGTON, IOWA.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE RUNDORFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burlington, in the county of Des Moines and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Mechanism and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in railway switches and mechanism for operating the same.

The invention comprises the production of a housing, a base plate secured to said housing, a pivotally mounted member secured to said base plate and having arms projecting therefrom and a reciprocating member secured to said pivotally mounted member and adapted to operate the switch tongue of a switch.

The invention further comprises the production of a switch mechanism that is adapted to be operated to throw the tongue of a switch and means for operating said mechanism, comprising a lever or shoe adapted to engage said operating mechanism, a system of levers for operating said shoe, a foot engaging member for operating said levers for brin ing into operation said shoe, and a braciet firmly secured to the truck of a car for holding such operating mechanism in operative position.

The object in view is the production of a switch mechanism that is formed with a base plate, a housing therefor, a bar pivotally mounted upon said base plate and adapted to be operated upon by mechanism projecting from a moving car, and a reciprocating rod for connecting said mechanism to the tongue of a switch.

Another object in view is the production of a switch mechanism that may be operated upon from a moving car for throwing the switch in either direction at the will of the operator.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation or a part of a car showing my improved switch throwing means secured thereto. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 23, 1906. Serial No. 331,810.

Patented April 30, 1907.

of my improved switch mechanism, certain 1 parts being broken away to better disclose the construction thereof. plan view of a switch embodying the features of my invention showing how the operating means operates in slots provided therefor. Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary perspective view of a base plate and pivotally mounted member, together with a housing for the same, disclosing part of my invention.

In the production of switches and mechanism for operating the same, it has been found desirable to produce a mechanism that will easily and quickly throw a switch simply by operating suitable levers upon a moving train. It is to this class of devices that the present invention relates.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates a car of any desired construction, and 2 the truck therefor. Secured to the truck 2 is a bracket 3 of any desired construction and having preferably a brace 4 for more firmly holding the same in place. Pivotally mounted upon the truck 2 at 5 is a lever or shoe 6 that is adapted to operate the switch mechanism more fully hereinafter described. Rigidly secured to or formed integral with the shoe 6 is a bracket or arm 7, which has pivotally secured thereto a link, as 8. Pivotally secured to the bracket 3 at 9 is a bell crank lever 10, which has pivotally secured to one end thereof the link 8, and is engaged at the other end thereof by a footlover or member 11, which is adapted to reciprocate in'the bottom of the car.

As will be clearly seen from Fig. 1, when the operator depresses the member 11, the same will operate the bell crank lever 10, which in turn, acting through the lever S, will 0 aerate the shoe 6 so as to depress the point of the operating port-ion 12, which is adapted to come in contact with one of the projections 13 formed integral with or secured to part of the switch operating mechanism hereinafter to be more "fully described. hen the portion 12 is lowered so as to be brought into position for operating one of the members 13, the switch will be thrown as may be desired, after which the member 11 is released and the shoe 6 will resume its normal position above the lower edge of the truck 2 by reason of the weighted member 1 1 secured thereto. If desirable, the weighted member 14 may be removed and a spring substituted therefor, all within the spirit of the present invention. In the drawing, only Fig. 3 is a top cured to the switch tongue 15 is a rod or link 16, which in turn is pivotally secured to a movable member 17. The member 16 may be secured to the tongue 15 at any des1rable point, but I have found it of advantage to secure the same near the outer end or point of the tongue. The member 17 is adapted to pivot or swing upon the base plate 18, preferably formed integral with a housing 19. The housing 19 is firmly secured between the rails of the track in any convenient way, and then the rod 16 is connected-to the tongue of the switch. The member 17 is provided with. suitable projections 13 which are formed integral therewith or secured thereto, and adapted to be operated upon by the portion 12 of the shoe 6. Mount ed upon the housing 19 is a suitable cover 20, which has formed therein curved apertures or slots 21, through which the portions 13 1 3 project any suitable distance, preferably not less than one inch,and operate therein.

As will be clearly seen from the drawings, when the member 11 is depressed, the shoe 6 will be forced to a vertical position and the portion 12 will come incontact with one'of the members 13 and will, consequently, slightly rotate the member 17 :and, consequentl y, reciprocate the rod 16, which in turn will operate theswitch tongue. By-selecting the proper mechanism upon the car, the switch tongue 15 may be thrown either way through the operation of themember 16 and the member 1.7. At night, in case the operator is not able to see whether or not the switch is properly set for the direction in which he desires to travel, all that is necessary for him todo is to depress the proper mechanism to cause the car to travel in the desired direction, and the switch tongue 15 will be thrown into the proper position, if not already in that position. In this way the operator is'always positive that the switch is in proper position for guiding his car in the directi on desired.

What I claim is 1. A device of the character described, comprising a tripping means secured to the truck of a car, a base plate positioned between the tracks of a railway, an inverted substantially U-shaped member pivotally mounted upon said base plate, and a rod loosely connected to the said U-shaped member and serving to operate the tongue of a switch, the tripping means upon the car being adapted to engage with the arms of the before mentioned U-shaped member.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a tripping means secured to the truck of a car, a housing positioned between the tracks of a railway, a base plate secured within. said housing, an inverted substantially U-shaped mem-ber'pivotally mounted on said base plate and a rod pivotally secured to said U-shaped member'for operating the tongue of a switch.

3. A device of the character described,

comprising a bracket rigidly secured to the tioned upon the truck of a car and adapted to be operated from the platform thereof, a mechanism for throwing the tongue of a switch comprising a reciprocating rod, a swinging member secured to'said rod, a base plate for supporting said pivotally'mounted member and a housing for inclosing said members.

5. A device of the character described,

comprising a bracket secured to the frame of a car, a trlpplng member pivotally connected to said frameand normally held in an inoperative position, a bell-cranklever, connecting means between one arm of'the bellcrank lever and the tripping member, means for operating the bell-crank lever to throw the tripping member into operative position, and a mechanismfor throwing the tongue of a switch comprising a reciprocating rod, a swinging member secured tosaid rod, and a base plate for supporting said swinging member.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE RUNDORFF.

Nitnesses M. P. SHAITS, FRED J. 'HERMAEN.

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