US897098A

US897098A - Automatic switch and signal.

Info

Publication number: US897098A
Application number: US39879907A
Authority: US
Inventors: Merl I Haulter
Original assignee: BRUCE MCCREARY J
Current assignee: J BRUCE MCCREARY; BRUCE MCCREARY J
Priority date: 1907-10-23
Filing date: 1907-10-23
Publication date: 1908-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 1925-08-25

Description

No. 897,098. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908. M. I. HAULTER.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH AND SIGNAL.

APPLIOATION TILED 00T.23,1907.

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No. 897,098. I PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908. M. 1. HAULTER.

AUTOMATIG SWITCH AND SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED 001223, 1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

MERL'I. HAULTER, OF SHIPPENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF TO J. BRUCE MCOREARY, OF SHIPPENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH AND SIGNAL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERL I. HAULTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shippensburg, in the county of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switches and Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in automatic railway switches and signals, and the object is to provide such a means whereby the train men can draw a certain lever on the car which will strike a projection along the road which will throw the switch, and at the same time turn the signal, and as it passes on to the switch it again returns the switch, so that the main line is clear, and turns the signal to show a clear track, but While it is passing into the switch the signal stands at danger. These switches and signals can be operated by hand as well as automatically.

The invention relates to certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the switch connecting mechanism; Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the switch levers, and Fig.- 4 is a view of the lever tripping mechanism.

A represents the railroad track, and B the side track. Connecting between the main track A and the side track B is a switch C. I

Along the track or road-bed the usual signal standards 1, 1 are placed, carrying the signals 2, 2.

Along the track, and preferably between the end signals and central signals, are switch levers 3, 3. The switch levers near the end signals are preferably provided with a single lever, but the'levers placed near the centralsignal and between the side and main tracks have double levers, and these levers are all supported upon bearing blocks 4, 4.

The double levers are provided on one-side with squared shoulders 5, 5, which bear against flat springs 6, 6 placed on the bearing blocks 4, 4, thereby causing a frictional movement, or a tendency to keep the levers from becoming displaced or being easily Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. October 23, 1907.

Patented Aug. 25, 1908.

Serial No. 398,799.

moved from the position left by the passing train.

The double switch levers are shown preferably with a hook end, and when one lever is down, the other is standing upright, and in position to be struck by the tripping mechanism of the car. These levers are preferably in alinement with each other, so that they are always certain to be struck when the tripping mechanism is in position to trip them. The object in having the hooked ends is to provide the tripping mechanism means for easily sliding over the tops. The single levers are made like the double levers, with the exception that one of the levers is cut off at the base or near the connection to the bearing block, as it is only necessary to have a single lever at or near the end signals. These signals and switch arms are all conne'cted together by means of rods 7, 7. Taking one of the end signals it is first connected by means of the rod 7 to the first single switch lever by any suitable means, and then the rod extends over pulleys 8, S to a cross bar 9, which is pivotally mounted upon a post 10. The rod 11 asses over pulleys 8, 8 to the double switcfi lever beyond the central signal from the cross bar 9. Extending from the cross-bar 9 is the rod 12 passing over the pulleys S, S to the single lever, and from the single lever to the other end signal, thereby rod. 18, and also connected to the main rail of the switch. Between these two connecting ends of the rods 18 and 19 a coil spring 20 encircles both rods and is held between their ends, thereby forming a spring connection and allowing a certain amount of play for the hand lever 14 when the switch is being thrown, if it happens to be thrown by the hand lever, and the same result is obtained when the switch is thrown out automatically,

by reason of the fact that the hand lever 14 is connected to the rod 12 by a coupling 26 and the lever is preferably locked to this coupling. This connection of the two rods can replace the single rod which is now used, and performs an additional function and allows a better leverage instead of a dead pull of the single rod when the switch is being thrown. The central signal, which is placed on the outer side or beyond the rods 11 and 12, is connected to the lever arm 16 by a connecting rod 21.

The tripping mechanism, which is placed on the end of a car or engine, can be any suitable means, but I have shown one form having a trough or chute 22 secured to the car, and in this chute a bar 23 is capable of being slid back and forth by means of a lever 24 and a bell crank 25, the lever operated throwing the bar 23 outward, which is adapted to strike the switch arms for either throwing the switch for the main line or for the side track, as is desired. The rod 7 is made in two parts, and is provided with a spring 27 between the ends to relieve the jar of the en gine upon the rods.

The operation can be ascertained from the foregoing, but to-recapitulate, the operation is as follows :The switch is thrown so that there is a clear main track, but it is desired to take the side track; therefore, the tripping mechanism is thrown outward so that the bar 23 strikes the only standing switch lever, which is one of the levers of the double lever. As the bar strikes this lever it imme diately transmits motion to the rod 12, which causes the hand lever 14 to move, and the-cross bar 9. Through the motion transmitted to the hand lever 14 the switch is caused to be thrown so that the side track can be entered, and by the motion transmitted to the crossbar 9 the double switch lever between the main and side tracks is caused to turn, so that when the train passes through this switch, it can strike the lever and throw the switch back in position, if desired, for a clear main track. This same motion operates both end signals and causes all of the levers along the track to take an upright position, and the central signal is also turned as the hand lever 14 throws the switch in position for the side track indicating danger, but as soon as the train takes the side track and strikes the double lever, it immediately causes the signals to be turned to show a clear track, and at the same time throwing the switch over, so that the main track is clear and safe. Should. it happen that the car should come between the signals, and the tripping mechanism was not used, and it was desired to take the side track, the locking means could be taken from the coupling 26, which holds the hand lever 14, and the hand lever could be thrown, whereby the switch could be thrown independently of the signal mechanism excepting the central signal. The end levers are only used when the switch has been left open by any 7 means, and by the tripping mechanism the switch can be thrown to the position desired.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth, but:

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. I11 an automatic switch and signal, the combination with switch rails and switch op erating mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted hand lever, a lever arm to which one end of the hand lever is pivotally connected, and a rod connected with the switch rails and to which the lever arm is pivotally connected, and means detachably connected with the hand lever adapted to be actuated by the passing train to shift the switch rails, said means comprising switch levers and rods, the switch levers being pivotally sup ported in the path of a passing ocomotive or train, and one of the rods connected to the hand lever.

2. In an automatic switch and signal, the combination with switch rails and switch operating mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted hand lever, a lever arm to which one end of the hand lever is pivotally connected, and a rod connected with the switch rails and to which the lever arm is pivotally connected, and means detachably connected with the hand lever adapted to be actuated by the passing train to shift the switch rails, said means com arising switch levers and rods, the switch levers being pivotally supported in the path of a passing locomotive or train, and one of the rods detachably connected to the hand lever.

3. In an automatic switch and signal, the combination with switch rails and switch operating mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted hand lever, a lever arm to which one end. of the hand lever is pivotally connected, and a rod connected with the switch rails and to which the lever arm is pivotally connected, and means detachably connected with the hand lever adapted to be actuated by the passing train to shift the switch rails,

said means comprising switch levers and v rods, the switch levers being pivotally sup-,

levers and end signals, a lever connected to l of the switch levers, and means connecting 10 said means, a lever arm connected to the lethe switch levers with the signals and switch. ver, means connecting the central signal and i In testimony whereof I EL'l'llX my signature lever arm, and spring-controlled means con-W in presence of two witnesses. nected to the switch and ever arm.

5. An automatic switch and signal, com- 1 MERL HAULTER' prising switch levers, said switch levers havl VVitnSesses:A

A. NGLE I ing squared shoulders, means bearing against t ELMER E. ZINN.

said shoulders for controlling the inovcmen