US907472A - Cattle-guard. - Google Patents

Description

W. E. DEMENTV I CATTLE GUARD. APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 190B.

Patented Dec. .22. 1908.

. [UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CATTLE-GUARD Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Application filed April 16, 1908. Serial No. 427,344.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALLACE E. DEMENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blaine, in the county of Whatcom and State of /Vashington, have invented a new and useful Cattle-Guard, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cattle guards for use adjacent railway tracks, the same being in a position adjacent the track where it offers no obstruction to the movement of trains but automatically assuming a position above the track when an animal endeavors to travel along the track and past the gate.

The invention is more particularly designed as an improvement upon the structure described and claimed in Patent No. 812,984, granted to me on Feb. 20, 1906.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby the power may be transmitted from a portable platform to the series of gate arms or pickets which are pivotally supported adjacent the track and are designed to be successively extended into position above the track after the manner of a fan.

A further object is to provide means whereby the power necessary to shift the gate into or out of open position is reduced to the minimum.

A further object is to provide means for adjustably connecting the gate with the power mechanism.

l/Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the cattle guard in position adjacent a railway track. Fig. 2 is a section on line 0cm, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the gates, the same being shown extended and the connection between the gate and the platform being shown in section.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 11 designate ties on which rails 2 are mounted and secured to these ties and extending beyond the ends thereof are parallel guide strips 3 between which are mounted tiltable sections 4 which are mounted on bearing rods 5 secured to the strips 3 and adjacent the rails 2. These tiltable sections I extend under the rails 2 and are arranged in pairs, the sections of each pair being disposed in alinement and having arms 6 extending from their inner or adjoining ends. One of these arms has an upturned ear 7 provided with an aperture 8 in which works a tongue 9 extending from the other arm. This tongue is preferably curved as indicated in Fig. 2 and constitutes a movable connection between the two tiltable sections. Each of these sections is preferably provided with a suitable weight 10 at its outer end whereby the tiltable members 4 are held normally in horizontal positions. Connected to one section 4 of each pair is a platform section 11 the same being preferably attached to said tiltable section by means of hinges 12. The platform section 11 loosely rests on the other section 4 as indicated in Fig. 2. It is to be understood that any desired number of these platform sections and tiltable supports therefor may be provided, said sections being located between the ties and adjacent the gates to be operated thereby. Fastened to the tiltable sections 4 at each side of the track is a connecting bar 13 which extends parallel with the track and terminates in a ferrule 14. 'A link 15 is pivotally connected to a holding strip 16 secured longitudinally upon one of the ties and a lever 17 is also pivotally connected to this strip and is connected to link 15 by means of an intermediate link 18. Links 18 and 15 are mounted upon the ferrule 14 heretofore referred to and the lower pivot 19 of link 15 is disposed in alinement with the rods 5 as indicated in Fig. 1.

Arranged upon one of the ties and at each side of the track is an inclined box or housing 20 having a pivot bolt 21 extending transversely through the lower portion thereof and mounted on this pivot bolt is a plurality of arms or pickets 22 designed to fold into the housing when not in use, said arms being connected by chains 23 or other flexible devices and one of the arms being attached to the housing by another flexible connection from one of the end arms while the other end arm, indicated by the character 22, has a hanger 25 pivotally connected to its upper end and designed to swing relative thereto, said hanger having a stop 26 for limiting its movement in one direction relative to the arms. Arm 22 has a finger 27 extending therefrom and across the arms 22 as indi- 24. This connection preferably extendscated in Fig. 1, said finger constituting a device for successively contacting with the arms and returning them to their folded positions as will be hereinafter described. A rod 28 is pivotally connected to arm 22 and is screw threaded. This threaded portion of the rod extends loosely through a sleeve 29 swiveled or otherwise connected to the upper portion of lever 17 and retaining nuts 30 engage the rod at opposite ends of the sleeve 29 so as to hold said sleeve against longitudi nal movement upon the rod.

When the gate is not in use arms 22 and 22 assume positions within and above the housings 20 with hangers 25 supported at one side of arms 22 as indicated in Fig. 2; When an animal steps upon the track with the intention of passing between the gates its weight, as soon as applied to one or more of the platform sections 11, will cause said sections to move downward, thus simultaneously raising the tiltable members 4 supporting them. As these members have the bars 13 fastened to them said bars will describe arcs about the pivots 5 and 19 and will cause the links 15 to push u against links 18 which will in turn swing levers 17 toward each other. Motion will therefore be transmitted through rod 28 to the first arm 22 of each gate and the remaining arms 22 will be successively drawn outward by the flexible connections 23 until they all assume a fan-like position as indicated in Fig. 3. Hangers 25 will of course maintain vertical ositions and will serve to close the space below the arms 22. As soon as the weight is removed from the platform sections the parts will be returned by the weights 10 and arms 22 will be swung backward into the housing and the remaining arms 22 will be drawn thereafter by the fingers 27.

It will be seen that these gates are very simple, durable and compact and their operation is produced with slight power owing to the increased leverage obtained by means of the novel connections between the platform sections and the levers 17.

Vt hat is claimed is:

1. In a cattle guard the combination with vertically swinging guard members having a mutual pivotal support; of tiltable operating members, an oscillating lever connected to one of the guard members, and means rigidly connected to and movable with the tiltable r members for actuating the lever.

2. In a cattle guard the combination with a plurality of vertically swinging guard members and flexible connections therebetween; of tiltable operatlng devices, means A operated by the depression thereof for swingtiltable devices.

8. In a cattle guard the combination with a plurality of vertically swinging members having a mutual pivot and flexible connections between said members; of a depressible platform, means operated by the depression thereof for swinging the guard members into extended osition, means carried by one of said mem ers for successively engaging and returning the other members to their initial positions upon the return of the platform to its normal position, and means for returning the platform to its normal position.

4. In a cattle guard the combination with a plurality of vertically swinging guard members having a mutual pivot, and flexible connections between said members; of a depressible platform, means for automatically raising the platform subsequent to its de' ression, means operated by the depression of the platform for swinging the guard members into extended position, and means upon one of said members for successively engaging and returning the other members to their normal positions upon the return movement of the platform.

5. In a cattle guard the combination with a housing; of vertically swinging guard members mounted therein and having a common pivot, flexible connections between said members and between one of the members and the housing, a projecting finger upon one of the members extending across the other members, and means for swinging said members to extend and to fold the guard.

6. In a cattle guard the combination with vertically swinging guard members and flexi ble connections therebetween; of simultaneously tiltable members, a depressible platform section su orted thereby, a lever connected to one o t e vertically swinging members, a link having a fixed pivot, an intermediate link ivotally connected to said link and to the ever, and means for transmitting motion from the tiltable members to said links to actuate the lever.

7. In a cattle guard the combination with vertically swinging guard members, flexible connections therebetween, and a transverse finger carried by one of said members; of tiltable devices, a depressible platform sec tion supported thereby, a bar connected to one of said tiltable devices and movable therewith, a lever connected to one of the guaid members, and means operated by the oscillation of said bar for transmitting motion to the lever to shift the guard members into extended or folded position.

8. In a cattle guard the combination with vertically swinging guard members, flexible connections therebetween, and a device u on one of said members for returning the ot er members to their folded position; of simultaneously movable tiltable devices, a platform section supported thereby, a bar rigidly connected to and movable with one of said tiltable devices, a lever adjustably connected to one of the guard members, and means operated by the oscillation of the bar for actuating the lever to extend or to fold the guard members.

9. In a cattle guard the combination with tiltable devices, a depressible' platform sec tion mounted thereon, and a bar rigidly connected to and movable with one of said devices; of vertically swinging guard members, flexible connections therebetween, a device upon one of said members for returning the other members to their folded position, a lever adjustably connected to one of said members, and links connected to the lever, one of said levers having a fixed pivot, both of the links being mounted upon and actuated by the bar to extend or to fold the guard members.

10. In a cattle guard a vertically swinging guard member, a contacting device carried thereby and a supplemental pivoted guard member having a flexible connection with the first mentioned member and disposed to be shifted in one direction by the contacting device.

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

WVALLACE E. DEMENT.

Witnesses:

JAMES C. BERTRAND, SAMPsoN B. HUGHES.

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