US905499A - Switch-point lock. - Google Patents

Description

A. D. CLOUD.

SWITGH POINT LOCK. APPLICATION FILED MAY as, 1908.

Patented Dec. 1,1908.

2 sums-sum 1.

iv-MD. Cloud 9 Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ARTHUR D. CLOUD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH-POINT LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application filed. May 23, 1908. Serial No. 434,480.

sists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and efiicient switch point lock for locking the switch points at either of the limits of their throw, and one which can be manufactured and maintained at a'small cost as compared to devices at present in use.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a plan View of a section of a main and side track, show ing theusual switch stand equipment and showing my improved switch point lock applied to lock the switch points. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the locking device and its casing. Fig. 3 is a similar view with parts in changed position. Fig. 4: is a longitudinal vertical section of the locking device. Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal section thereof, with parts shown in changed position. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view, partially broken away, of the lock and its casing. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the lock and its casing in the plane of the lock rod. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a sliding or shifting bar constituting part of the locking device. Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the lock rod showing one form of locking projection for the lock rod. Fig. 10 is a face view of one of the plates constituting the lock rod locking projection. Fig. 11 is a bottom plan perspective view of the movable latch block.

As shown in the drawings, 15, 15 designates the main rails and 16, 16 the switch point rails, which latter are connected or coupled by tie- rods 17, 17.

18 designates a switch stand of any suitable construction which is connected with the switch points by means of a switch rod 19 in the usual manner.

My improved switch point lock embraces a lock rod 20 which is attached at its inner end to a lug 21 bolted to one of the switch points and is provided at its outer end with a locking projection adapted for engagement with a locking latch constituting part of the lock. The said lock rod 20 is screw threaded at its outer end and carries two plates 25, 25 which are separated longitudinally of the rod and constitute the locking projection of the rod. Said plates are provided with apertures 26 through which the rod loosely extends. They are locked on the screw threaded portion 2a of the rod by means of nuts 27, 28 one engaging the inner side and the other the outer side of each of said locking plates. The inner nuts 27 occupy recesses 29 on the inner faces of said locking plates, which are made of such shape as to interlock with the edges of the nuts so as to hold said plates from turning on the lock rod when engaged by the locking nuts. So far as the locking of the rod at either limit of its movement is concerned, the said locking projection may be made solid or continuous. The projection is, however, made of two parts, as the plates 25 herein shown, and fixed to the screw-threaded end of the lock rod in the manner described for the purpose of adjusting said projection on the rod to take up wear of the switch point and main track rails.

It may be here stated that in assembling the plates 25 on the lock rod, the inner nut 28 is first threaded on the screw threaded end of the rod a distance beyond its normal position thereon and thereafter the inner plate 25 is slipped over the rod, against the nut 28, after which the associated nut 27 is threaded over the rod to its proper position. The inner plate 25 is thereafter slipped over the adjusted nut 27 and interlocked there with, after which the nut 28 is turned thereagainst to clamp or look said plate in place. The inner nut 27 of the outer plate is thereafter threaded over the screw-threaded end of the rod to its proper position, after which said outer plate is slipped over the rod into interlocking engagement with its inner nut 27 and is clamped or locked thereagainst by the outer nut 28.

Referring now to the construction of the locking devices which cooperate with the locking projection on the locking rod and the manner in which said parts cooperate to eifect the locking of the switch points, said parts are made as fol'lowsz' 30designates-a supporting frame plate which spans two ad'- jacent ties 31, 31 adjacent to one of the switch points and lies parallel with the adjacent main track rail. The said supporting plate is fixed to said ties by means of spikes 32, 32 driven through spike holes 33 at the ends of said supporting plate. The frame plate is provided with a central, depressed, chambered portion 35, transversely through which the lock rod 20 extends and which partially contains the plates 25 and their locking nuts. The said depressed chambered portion of the frame plate 30 at each side of the rod is provided with interior ledges 36, 36 which are slidingly engaged by downwardly facing shoulders 37, 3.7, of the projection plates 25, whereby the outer end of the locking rod and the devices carried thereby are supported on said frame. 410 designates a sliding bar which rests at its ends on the upper face of the frame plate 30 and has sliding engagement therewith. The central portion 41 of said sliding bar is curved upwardly to bring the same above the plane of the sliding ends of said bar. The said sliding bar is, provided centrally with a rectangular opening 42, near the ends of which are arranged rigidly attached transverse pins or rods43. T hesaid pins or rods 43 constitute supports for a movable latch block 4E5, which cooperates with the locking projection, (the plates 25) of the lock rod to lock said rod at either limit of its movement. The said latch block 45 comprises a generally horizontal portion 416 which is provided at its ends with downwardly facing, transverse channels or grooves 4.7, L7 which are adapted to rest on the rods 43, said grooves and rods constituting pivots about which either end of the latch block may be raised or swung upwardly. The said latch block is formed on its lower side to pro-. vide two downwardly projecting portions or lugs 50, 51 located side by side. At the ends of said lugs are formed two oppositely facing locking shoulders, 52, 53. Said locking shoulders are ofiset or located laterally out of line with respect to each other, one being formed on one end of one lug. and the other on the opposite end of the other lug. Each of said projections 50, 51 is formed in line.

with itslockingshoulder with an oppositely facing oblique or cam surface 54:, 55, the cam surface of one lug lying, adjacent to. the locking. shoulder of theother lug. The said latch block normally occupies. the horizontal position indicated in Figs. 4: and 7. When in this position, andv when the. sliding. latch block carrying bar 40 is at one limit of its movement, one of the. locking shoulders 52 or 53 islocated in line with the locking. projection, or plates 25, of the lock rod. For

instance, as' shown in, Fig. 4, the. locking shoulder 52 of the. latch block is in the path of the locking projection of the lock rod, so

that at this time the lock rod is held from endwise movement and the switch points are locked in place at one limit of their throw. When it is desired to shift the switch points, through the usual operation of the switch stand,'the sliding latch block carrying bar L0 is shifted endwise of the supporting frame 30 so as to carry the locking shoulder at that time in line with the locking projection of the rod out of the path of said locking projection and to carry the adjacent cam surface of the other lug in line with said locking projection of the lock rod. Vhen the parts are thus adjusted it will be evident that the lock rod may be shifted endwise when the switch points are thrown over to the other limit of their movement, inasmuch as the moving engagement of the lock rod projection with that one of the cam or oblique surfaces of the latch block presented in line therewith has the effect to swing one end of the latch upwardly to permit the lock rod projection to pass thereunder. After the locking projection of the lock rod has passed beneath the latch block, said block drops to its horizontal position with the other lock ing shoulder thereof in front of the lock rod locking projection and in position to lock the rod and the switch point in the positions to which they have been thrown or shifted.

As shown in Fig. 5 the lock rod and the locking projection are moving outwardly or towards the observer in contact with the rearwardly oblique portion or cam 54 of the latch block towards the position which the parts finally assume in Fig. 4. It will be observed that said latch block is free to swing upwardly at both ends to permit the locking projection of the lock rod to pass beneath either end of said block, depending upon to which position the latch lock has been shifted by the sliding bar 40. The said latch lock is provided at its, ends with upturned portions or lugs 57, 57 by which the same may be engaged to shift or slide the bar endwise on the frame plate 30. Any suitable means may be employed for locking said bar at either limit of its movement if this be found necessary. As before stated the locking pro jection of the lock rod, consisting of the plates 25, may be made solid or continuous and operate in exactly the same manner to lock the switch points. By making the projection of two parts, however, the device may be readily adjusted to compensate for wear between the parts of the main rails and switch point rails that are brought into contact when the switch points are locked. Such adjustment for wear is effected by loosening the nuts 27 and 28 and moving the plates one away from the other to widen the distance between the same. Thus at all times in the life of the switch point lock its full efliciency to lock the switch points close up to the main track rails may be maintained. The central part of the locking de vice and the latch block are covered by a casing 60 which fits upon the supporting frame over the central portion thereof and is attached thereto in any suitable manner. Said casing is provided in its ends with openings (31 through which the latch block carrying bar is free to slide. Said casing 60 serves, not only to protect the movable parts of the locking device, but also serves to prevent the pivoted end of the latch block from rising when the other end is swung upwardly, as clearly indicated in Figs. 4; and 5, it being observed that the pivoted end of the latch lock is at such time closely adjacent to the upper wall of the casing.

It will be obvious that I have provided an exceedingly simple, economical and efficient v switch point lock. Said locking device may be produced at a small cost inasmuch as but little machine work 1s required 111 the manufacturing and assembling of the device, and

the weight of the metal used is small.

The device, being made of few parts, is not likely to get out of order and is therefore inexpensive to maintain.

I claim as my invention 1. A switch point lock comprising an endwise movable lock-rod adapted for connec; tion at one end with switch points and provided at. its other end with a locking projection, and a latch block movable transversely of the lock-rod and provided with oppositely facing, laterally offset shoulders adapted for sepa ate engagement with said locking projection.

2. A switch point lock comprising an endwise movable lock-rod adapted for connection at one end with switch points and provided at its other end with a locking proj ection, a latch block movable transversely of the lock-rod and provided with oppositely facing, laterally offset shoulders adapted for separate engagement with said locking proj ection, and means for supporting said block with one of said locking shoulders in line with said projection and arranged to permit movement of the block to move said shoulders out of line with said locking projection.

3. A switch point lock comprising an end wise movable lock-rod adapted for connection one end with switch points and provided at its other end with a locking projection, and a latch block movable transversely of the lock-rod and pivotally mounted so that either end may be swung or raised about the other end thereof as a pivot, said lock block being provided with oppositely facing, laterally offset locking shoulders adapted for separate engagement with said locking projection.

4. A switch point lock comprising an endwise movable lock-rod adapted for connecti on at one end with switch points and provided at its other end with a locking projection, and a pivotally mounted latch block movable transversely of the lock-rod and provided with oppositely facing, laterally offset locking shoulders adapted for separate engagement with said locking projection.

A switch point lock comprising an endwise movable lock-rod adapted for connec tion. at one end with switch points and provided at its other end with a locking projection, and a pivotally mounted latch block movable transversely of the lock-rod and provided with oppositely facing, laterally ofiset locking shoulders, and with oppositelyv facing, laterally offset cam surfaces, each located in line with one of said shoulders.

6. A switch point lock comprising an endwise movable lock-rod adapted for connection at one end. with switch points and provided at its other end with a locking projection, and a pivotally mounted latch block located over and movable transversely of the loclcrod, said latch block being provided on its under surface with two lugs located side by side, each formed to provide at one end an abrupt locking shoulder and at its other end an oppositely facing cam sur face, the cam surface of each lug being located adjacent to the shoulder of the other lug.

7. A switch point lock comprising an endwise movable lock-rod adapted for connection at one end with switch points and provided at its other end with a locking projection, a bar located transversely over said rod and movable transversely with respect thereto, and a latch block pivotally supported on said sliding bar and provided with oppositely facing, laterally offset lock shoulders and with oppositely facing, laterally offset cam surfaces arranged one in line with each of said shoulders.

8. A switch point lock comprising an endwise movable lock-rod adapted for connec tion at one end with switch points and provided at its other end with a locking projection, and a locking device comprising a supporting frame, a horizontal bar sliding on said frame transversely to said rod and provided with a central opening and with transverse rods or pins, and a latch block pivotally mounted at its ends on said rods or pins in a manner to permit either end thereof to swing upwardly, said latch block being provided on its under side with oppositely facing, laterally offset shoulders and with oppositely facing, laterally offset cam surfaces arranged each in line with one of said locking shoulders.

9. A switch point lock comprising an endwise movable lock-rod adapted for connection at one end with switch points and provided at its other end with a locking on said frame transversely to said rod and provided with a central opening and with transverse rods or pins, a latch block pivotally mounted at its ends on said rods or pins i, in a manner to permit either end thereof to swing upwardly, said latch block being provided on its under side with oppositely facing, laterally offset shoulders and with oppositely facing, laterally offset cam surfaces arranged each in line with one of said locking shoulders, and lugs or projections extending upwardly from the ends of said sliding bar.

10. A switch point lock comprising an endwise movable lock-rod adapted for connection at one end with switch points and provided at its other end with a locking projection, and a locking device comprising a supporting frame, a horizontal bar sliding on said frame transversely to said rod and provided with a central opening and with transverse rods or pins, a latch block pivotally mounted at its ends on said rods or pins in a manner to permit either end thereof to swing upwardly, said latch block being provided on its under side with oppositely facing, laterally offset shoulders and with oppositely facing, laterally offset cam surfaces arranged each in line with one of said locking shoulders, and a casing removably supported over the central part of said frame and inclosing said latch block.

somaaa 11., A switch point lock comprising an endwise movable lock-rod adapted for connection at one end with switchpoints and provided at its other end with a locking projection, and a latch block movable transversely of the lock-rod and provided with oppositely facing, laterally offset locking shoulders adapted for separate engagement with said locking projection, said locking projection being adjustable to compensate for wear of the switch points and main rails.

12. A switch point lock comprising an endwise movable loclcrod adapted for connection at one end with switch points and provided at its other end with a locking projection, and a latch block movable transversely of the lock-rod and provided with oppositely facing, laterally offset locking shoulders adapted for separate engagement with said locking projection, said locking projection comprising two parallel plates mounted on the lock-rod and clamped between inner and outer nuts having screwthreaded engagement with the said rod.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I afiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 12th day of May A. D. 1908.

ARTHUR D5. CLOUD. Witnesses;

V W L. HALL,

G. R. WVILKI'NS.

Images