US857534A - Means or device for operating tramway and other points and the like. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 18. 1907.

' J. R. PEAGOGK. MEANS 0R DEVICE FOR OPERATING TRAMWAY AND OTHER POINTS AND THE LIKE;

APPLICATION FAILED DEC. 18, 1900.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

JOHN READ PEACOCK, OF NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND.

MEANS OR DEVICE FOR OPERATING TRAMWAY AND'OTHER POINTS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed December 18, 1906. Serial No. 348,400.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN READ PEACOCK, a subject of the King of Great. Britain and Ireland, residing at No. 43 Radford boule' vard, Nottingham, inthe county ofNottingham, England, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Means or Devices for Operating Tramway and other Points and the Like 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 consists of an improved appliance or device for operating tramway and other points from the car or other vehicle traveling on the said tramway, so as to avoid the necessity of having pointsmen at the different junctions for operating these points.

In order that my invention may be fully understood and more readily carried out and into effect, I have appended hereunto one sheet of drawings whereon 1 Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved appliance as applied to a tramway when it is required to turn a tramcar from a curved road on to a straight road. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same appliance showing the position of the point rail before the appliance for operating same is put into operation. Fig. 3 is also a plan of the above showing the position of the point rail after being moved by my appliance. Fig. 4 is a plan of my improved appliance as applied to a tramway whenit is required to turn a tram car from a straight road on to a curved road.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

In these figures R is the main tram rail, P is the point rail to be operatedpivoted at one end P and fitted near the other end with a rod or spindle C fitted with a spring, one end of which takes a bearing against one side of the spring box D, which incloses same and is fitted with a cover. This spring on spindle C keeps the point rail P close up to the rail Ras shown in Fig. 2when in its normal position; and up to the curve rail V in the appliance shown in Fig. 4.

Along the outer side of the main rail R before coming to the point rail P, as shown in Figs. 12 & 3, I have a grooved plate 0 bolted to th tram rail R, made so as to form a groove N parallel with same, and extending nearly upto the moving end P of the point rail I. At the end of this groove I form a similar groove I in the rail head R running in a diagonal manner across same to a little beyond end P of the point rail P. Underneath the tramcar or other vehicle, and in front of one or more of the wheels, I attach to the framing G-or other suitable parta bracket or slide L; in which slides freely a spindle or pusher M-fitted with a suitable springso as to keep'clear of the rail, the lever A and friction roller F at the end of spindle M when out of action. This pusher M is lowered by the driver or conductor on the car depressing a pedal (or by other suitable means) attached to one of the rods B which is coupled to the bell-crank lever T connected to the pusher M.

The normal position of the lever A and friction roller F is as shown in Fig. 2, where the roller F is exactly over the groove N, being held there normally by the spring rod E, and the action of the whole is as follows 2- When the car is approaching the point rail Pin the direction of the arrows shown on the drawingand it is required to turn it ofi one track on to another, the driver or conductor depresses the pusher pedal actuating rod B, bell-crank lever T and pusher M,

so as to lower the roller F into the groove N,

along which it runs until it comes to the diagonal groove N 2 out in the head of the rail R, which it enters and runs diagonally in same to the other side of the rail, until the roller F comes in contact with end P of the point rail P, by which it is pushed away from the rail R and so allows the car to turn off from the track V to the track X. After the car has passed the point rail P it is closed automatically by the spring on spindle C, or by a weight or other suitable means and the pusher roller F is also automatically raised clear of the groove N and rail R by the spring on spindle M, when the driver removes his foot from the pedal, and resumes its normal position as shown in Fig. 2.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 the action is reversed, the roller F in running from the groove N along the diagonal groove N pushes the end P of the point rail P against the rail R, so as to allow the car to turn off from the track X to the track V.

In some cases, and in cases where trailing cars are used, I have one or more runners or guide wheels suspended from the car or cars, in such a manner that they always run in the groove formed in the head of rail R, so as to keep the point rail P open for the passage of all the Wheels of the car or trailing cars.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is y 1 In tramway points the combination of the moving end of a point rail with a spring inclosed in a point box, or taking a bearing against the tram rail, a grooved guide formed alongside the tram rail terminating with a similar groove formed diagonally across the head of the tram rail, to a little beyond the moving end of the point rail, With one or more friction rollers suspended from a tramcar frame which can be lowered into the grooved guide and pass along same and along the diagonal groove in the tram rail until they come in contact with the moving end of the point rail, all for the purposes specified and substantially as described.

2. A tramway point operating appliance comprising a spring attached to the moving end of the point rail and bearing against a point box or a tram rail, a grooved guide formed alongside the tram rail, in combination with a diagonal groove formed across the head of the tram rail, and one or more friction rollers suspended from a passing tramcar which can be lowered in and travel along the said grooved guide and diagonal groove, all for the purposes specified and substantially as shown and described hereinbefore.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN READ PEACOCK. Witnesses:

H. WALKER HILL, FRANK A. DADY.

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