US873368A - Automatic switch. - Google Patents

Description

PVATENTED DEC. 10, 1907;. F. M. HALL. AUTOMATIC SWITCH. APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 31, 1907;

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 873,368. PATENTED DEC. 10, 1907 F. M.HALL. v

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1907.

2 SHEETS-QUIET 2.

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r a, A973 2' amoewcoz UNITE STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

FRANCIS M. HALL, OF POTOMAO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO JOHN GOODWINE AND ONE-THIRD TO ULYSSES S. GOODWINE, OF POTOMAC, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

Application filed August 31- 1907. Serial No. 390.991.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at P0- tomac, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Automatic Switch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail-way switches and has for its object to provide means operable by a passing train for automatically closing the switch when the train is approaching the switch from either direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide pivoted track devices disposed one on each side of the switch and arranged in the path of movement of the train for moving the switch to closed position.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efiiciency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood'that various changes in form, proportions and minor details. of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 isa top plan view of a switch closing mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the switch in open position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, a portion of the casing or housing being broken away to show the construction of the operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the switch in closed position. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the casing or housing with t e cover detached. Figs. 5 and 6 are a side elevation and plan, res ectively, of a modified form of the whee -engaged means for causing the operation of the switch. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a modified form of connections between the switch points and operating means therefor.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved switch operating mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention is principally designed for use in connection wlth steam rail-ways and by way of illustration is shown applied to a rail-way of the ordinary construction in which 5 designates the main line, 6 the siding and 7 the switch points mounted on the cross ties 8, as shown.

Arranged on one side of the track and preferably disposed parallel with the adjacent main rail 5 is a casing-or housing 9 having a standard or semaphore-arm 10 mounted for rotation therein and provided at its free end with a signal-light 11 of any approved con- 7 struction.

Secured to the base of the casing or housing 9 is an over-hanging arm or bracket 12 one end of which is s aced from the base of the casing and provi ed with an opening 13 which forms a bearing for the lower end of the standard 10.

Interposed between the arm 12 and the base of the casing'9 is a cross arm 14 having its intermediate portion ierced by the adjacent end of the standar 10 and to which it is rigidly secured so that any movement imparted to the arm 14 will cause a corresponding movement of the semaphore arm or standard 10.

Pivotally connected at 15 to one end of the arm 14 is a rod or lever 16 which is in turn connected with the switch points 7 by means of a bridle bar 17.

Secured to the o posite end of the arm 14 is one end of a coil dd spring 18 the opposite end of which is secured in any suitable manner to a boss or stud 19 extending vertically of the base of the casingor housing, said spring serving to tilt the cross arm when the locking device is released and thus close the switch.

Secured in any suitable manner to the cross ties 8 on each side of the switch are longitudinal bars 20 having elongated slots 21 formed. therein in which are pivotally mounted on stub shafts 22 suitable track de-- vices or tappets 23.

The stub shafts 22 are provided withterminal crank arms 24 to which are connected longitudinal operatin rods 25 each having its inner ends provide with an eye 26 for the reception of the chains or cables 27 and 28, respectively. The free end of the chain or cable 27 extends over a pulley 29 mounted for rotation in the casing or housing and is operatively connected with the free end of a locking member or bar 30, the chain or cable 28 being also secured to said locking member, as shown, so that a lateral pressure exerted on either of the tappets 23 will efiect the movement of the locking member or bar 30 and thus permit the throwing of the switch.

The bar 30 is provided with a locking notch or recess 31 adapted to receive the extension 32 of the.arm 14, said locking bar being yieldably supported in engagement with the extension of the arm 14 by means of a coiled spring 33.

The connecting rod or lever 16 passes through a guiding loop or keeper 33 while the free end of the bar 30 is slidably mounted on a wear plate 34 which also extends beneath the bar 1.6, as shown.

It will thus be seen that when a train approaches the switch from either direction the tread of the wheel will depress the adjacent tappet 23 and through the medium of the adjacent rod 25 and chain 27 exert a lateral pull on the locking member 30 against the tension of coiled spring 32, thus permitting the spring 18 to tilt the arm 14 and move the switch to closed position, so that the train is free to travel over the main rails without entering the siding.

In order to open the switch it is merely necessary to rotate the operating handle 35 which causes the extension 32 of the arm 14 to be guided by the inclined face or cam 35 of the locking bar into the recess 31 and in which position the bar will be held in engagement with the arm by the tension of the' coiled spring 33.

If desired the rods 25 may extend through a conduit or pipe 37 disposed parallel with the track so as to protect the same against the action of the elements.

Instead of employing the tappets 23 to operate the rods 25 and through them the switch-operating mechanism, I may employ a structure such as shown in Fi s. 5 and 6. In this case there are provided long spring strips 38 alongside of the rail and so bent as to extend up above the rail to be in the path of the rim of the wheel of an approaching train. One end of the strip 38 is immovably secured to a tie 8, while the other end is pivotally secured to one end of a lever 39 which, in turn, is pivoted as indicated at 40 to a tie 8, while that end of the lever 39 remote from the end connected to the spring strip 38 is pivotally connected to the rod 25. Now, when the body portion of the strip 38 is engaged by a wheel rim the strip is depressed, but its ends being held from downward movement and one end being held from any movement, the end connected to the lever 30 must needs move longitudinally and thus impel the lever 39 about its pivot 40, thereby drawing the rod 25 in a direction to cause the operation of the switch. The spring strip provides a somewhat sluggish operating means for releasing the switch-operating mechanism, and, consequently, the connect ing parts are not subjected to sudden impulses which would. tend. to inure the parts.

Instead of connecting the rod 16 directly to the switch points it may be connected thereto through the intermediary ot' a lever 41 as shown in Fig. 7, thus permitting a longer movement of the rod 16 for the required movement of the switch points than in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The waist/ruction shown in Fig. 7 admits oi. greater lev orage between the operating spring 18 and the switch points than does the construction shown in the other named iligures.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a housing, a standard journaled in the housing, a pivoted arm secured to and movable with the standard, a connection between the arm and switch rails, a locking member engaging one end of the arm for locking the switch in open position, and. track devices operatively connected with the locking member For releasing the latter thereby to etl'ect the closing of the switch.

2. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a housing, a standard journaled in the housing, an arm arranged within the housing and movable with the standard, a connection between the arm and switch rails, a locking bar having a recess formed. therein for the reception of the adjacent end of the arm, track devices disposed on opposite sides of the housing and operatively connected with the locking bar, said track devices being operable by a passing train to release the locking bar and ell'ect the closing of the switch.

3. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a housing, a bracket disposed within the housing, a standard journaled in the bracket, an arm interposed between the bracket and housing and secured to the standard, a connection be.- tween the arm and switch rails, a ')ivoted locking member adapted to engage th 1 arm for locking the switch in open position, and track devices connected with the locking member and operable by a passing train for moving the locking member to released position thereby to ellect the movement of the switch.

4. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a housing dis posed on one side of the main rails, a bracket disposed within the housing, a, stainlard journaled in the bracket and. having its upper end provided with a signal, an arm, secured to the lower end of the standard and interposed between the bracket and the housing, a connection between one end of the arm and switch rails, a spring secured to the opposite end of the arm, a locking member having a recess formed therein and adapted to engage the arm for locking the switch in open'position, and track devices disposed one on each side of the housing and operatively connected with the locking member for releasing the latter thereby to close the switch.

5. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a housing arranged on one side of the main rails, a stand: ard journaled in the housing and provided with a signal, an arm secured to and mounted for rotation with the standard, a connection between one end of the arm and switch rails, a spring arranged within the housing and secured to the opposite end of the arm, a pivoted locking bar having arecess formed therein adapted to receive the adjacent end of the arm, means for normally and yieldablysupporting the locking bar in engagement with the arm, and track devices connected with the locking bar and operable by a. passing train to release said locking bar thereby to effect the closing of the switch.

6. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, longitudinal bars disposed parallel with the main rails and having slots formed therein, stub shafts ournaled in the walls of the slots and provided with depending arms, tappets carried bythe stub shafts and extending above the tread surface of the rails, a housing, a standard journaled in the housing and provided with a signal, an arm secured to and mounted for rotation with the standard, a connection between one end of the arm and the switch rails, a locking member adapted to engage the adjacent end of the arm, and a flexible connection between the crank arms and the locking bar for releasing the latter thereby to effect the closing of the switch.

7. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a housing, a bracket secured to the housing and having one end spaced from the base of the housing, a standard journaled in the bracket and provided with a signal, an arm interposed between the bracket and housing and secured to the adjacent end of the standard, a keeper, a rod extending through the keeper and forming a connection; between the arm and the switch rails, a roller mounted for rotation within the housing,a locking member pivoted to the base of the housing and having a recess formed therein for the reception of the adj acent end of the arm, said locking member being provided with a cam face, a spring for normally and yieldably supporting the looking member in engagement with the ad jacent end of the'arm, a track device disposed on each side of the housing, a spring secured to the arm, and a flexible medium secured to each track device and passing over the roller for engagement with the locking member, said track device being operable by a passing train to release the locking member thereby to close the switch.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS M. HALL.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. LEONARD, IRA LARKIN.

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