US8689A - Railroad-switch - Google Patents

Description

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A. S. MILLER, OF REPUBLIC, OHIO.

RAILROAD-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent No.18,689, dated January 27', 1852.

T all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, A. S. MILLER, of

` Republic, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved- Mode of Constructing Railroad-Switches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description ofthe construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making part of this specification.

Like letters refer to like parts represented in the different views.

To'enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construct-ion and operation. p

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the switch and c'ar, when in place;` the other views will be referred 'to as they may be required in a further description.

The rails are laid in the usual manner, and I then apply thereto at any point of turn out, my self acting switch, a general outline of which is shown `at A, Fig. l. Theswitch is worked by theshifter B, Figs. 1 and 2, which is secured to the car or locomotive as may be desirable, in such a manner that the shifter B can be turned from the brace C to D so as to act on the levers E or F shifting` the train to the right or left track as the case may be without any delay to the train; which is a great advantage over the common mode of operating the switch.

The shifter B being connected in a solid manner to the wheel G by the standard B may be operated by a chain or cord, passing around the wheel G and extending to the rear cars so as to be operated at any time or at any point, by the conductor, engineer, or brakemen. a

hen the train is on the track I I Fig. l, the shifter in passing operates the lever E which by its connection with the rails L and K Fig. l, is caused to move simultaneously; the rail K is moved close to the rail I, the rail L moving with it from the rail I which `allows the train to pass along the track ner as t-he lever E, moving the rail L, from the track I, and with the same action the rail K, is put in line with the track I. thereby allowing the train to pass over the line I I. A reverse motion is given to the lever P, by the return train on the track N N, which is communicated to the switch rails L and K, thereby making a quick connection from the track N, N, to I, I.

The switch rails L, and K, are retained in place by the tumbler Fig. 4C, Fig. 5 being an end View. The tumbler or key, is placed in a chamber under the switch rails, at Q Fig. l; as the rails L and K, are moved from one side to the other the tumblers are caused to turn on their axis, which throws up one of their arms on the inside and one on the outside of the rails, thereby keying them on either side. The tumblers also ease the movement of the switch rails, Vby being placed directly over the center of its axis; the Vrails drop a little when past the center, so as to be keyed by the arms.

i The lever E, is connected to the cross lever R by means of the connecting rod S, S. The levers F, O, and P are in like manner connected to the cross lever B. By the action of the shifter B, on the lever E, a movement is conveyed to the cross lever R, which acting upon the stay bar T, Figs. l and 3, moves lever B, by means of rods in the same manner as above described in letter E. The connecting rod from the. lever O, is attached to the cross lever R at V and the rod from the lever P is attached to the cross lever at IV. The action of the levers P and O, in moving the switch rails being the same as that of the levers E and F.

The shifter B is made of wrought iron of suitable size, and is made in the form of a plane key, as seen in Figs. l and 2 at B, B, with a shank of suitable strength, with a wheel Gr, Fig. 2, on the top, for the purpose of attaching a chain or cord to work it. When the operator desires to change the switch, he turns this key or shifter from right to left or from left to right as necessity may require, by means of the wheel and cord or chain as above stated. The pressure of the shifter on the lever O, when passing over it causes the switch rails L, and K, to move, whereby the connection is broken at L, and connected at K, which forms a connected line from I to M and from I to I A reverse is caused by pressing the lever P, when the previous connection is broken and one formed between I, and N, and I, and N.

A detached view of the lever and frame is shown at Fig. 6. The metallic frame is firmly secured to the wood work supporting the rails. The cross lever R, is secured in place by means of a bolt which passes through its center into theA girt below. The levers operating the switch rails can be worked by hand when desirable, the result being the same as when worked by the shifter.

It will be seen from the preceding` description that the rods connecting the several levers, cross each other near the center of the track, thus causing a combined transverse action of the several levers and rods to fall rails, as seen in Fig. l, thus causing them to move with ease and precision upon the tumbler lock, which holds them firm against the main rails until again operated upon as above. It will also be perceived by careful examination that this action of the several levers, (upon the switch rails) cannot be obtained in so simple a `form, as the one described above, without crossing the rods connecting them.

I am aware that levers, rods, and eccenitrics, are used for the purpose of changing Placing the tumbler Figs. 4 and 5, under the rails L and K in such a manner as to ease their movement, and when at rest oper* ating as a brace or key to'retain the rails in place.

ABRAHAM s. MILLER.

Witnesses:

B. F. BAKER, E. I-IEssENMUELLER. Q

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