US932426A - Trolley-replacer. - Google Patents

Description

R E P. 0 0 mm mm n 1. mm TL m UR AT M W APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1907. RENEWED SEPT. 8, 1908.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Jmwbofier WaZZerMAwfah lxhhwo 4 W. M. AUSTIN & S. G. COOPER.

TROLLEY REPLAGEB. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1907. RENEWED SEPT. 3, 1908.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I f @I d 5 vweu l'ouf/ UNTTED STATES PATENT GFFTCE.

WALTERM. AUSTIN, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, AN]? SAMUEL C. COOPER, OF J'OHNSTOWN NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 0F ONE-THIRD T0 SAID COQPER, ONE-THIRD '10 PHILIP KECK, AND ONE-THIRD TO SIDNEY E. TRUMBULL, 0F JQHN 'STOWN,

NEW YORK.

TROLLEY-REPLACER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

Application filed May 3, 1907, Serial No. 371,717. Renewed September 3, 1908. Serial No. 451,572.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Wnurnu M. AUSTIN and Saucer. U. Coornn, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Swissvale and Johnstown, in the counties of Allegheny and Fulton and States of Pennsylvania and New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Replacers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in trolley replacers of the type wherein the replacing element is automaticallyprojected into operative position by the trolley wire immediately succeeding its escape from the trolley wheel.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of means for automatically returning the trolley replacer to normal po sition after its effective service in guiding the wire back to the trolley wheel, whereby the replacer is returned to normal position immediately succeeding its operative function and the probability of interference by said replacer with switch or cross wires is avoided.

The invention will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section, partly in elevation illustrating a trolley pole provided with our improvements, Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the harp and connecting parts, Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same, Fig. 1 is a vertical central section,.partly in elevation through the restoring valve mechanism, F 1g. 5 1s a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 41, Fig. 6 1s a transverse section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4:,

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of the connecting link oining the operating rod and trolley replacer.

Our invention relates specifically to means for automaticallyresetting or restoring the trolley replacer after its automatic projection by the operation of the trolley wire, and for the purpose of illustrating the invention more completely we have shown an accepted type of automatic projecting mechanism,

primarily adapted foruse with ourresetting mechanism. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention is directed broadly to the resetting mechanism and that we contemplate the use of any desired form of projecting mechanism. For the purposes of the present invention, however, the trolley replacer projecting mechanism may be described as including a trolley pole l, preferably of hollow construction and pivotally support-ed upon a turn-table 2 mounted on a base 3 secured to the car top, the usual spring supports 1 being arranged to maintain the trolley pole under pressure in use. The upper end of the pole proper is engaged by a sleeve 5 depending from the harp 6, the arms 7 of which harp are arranged in spaced par allel relation, as is usual. A shaft 8 is supported in the harp arms on which is revolubly mounted a trolley wheel 9, said wheel being of any desired type and preferably formed with a circumferentially arranged wire receiving-groove 10.

The replacer comprises independent members mountedon opposite sides of the trolley wheel, each of said members including a bar 11 terminally connected at one end to a sleeve member 12 formed to receive the shaft 8 and to itself fit within a bearing opening formed in the harp arm. From the sleeve a second arm 13 projects at an angle to the arm 11, the upper end of the arm 13 being provided with a laterally projecting upwardly inclined lip 14 of comparatively broad surface. The lip, or more properly the upper surface thereof, extends slightly beyond the relatively inner surface of the arm 13, as at 15, the projecting portion 15 being designed to overlie the proximate edge of the trolley wheel groove with the efiect to direct the wire engaging either of the lips 14 with certainty into the groove. The relatively lower ends of the arms 11 are formed with inwardly projecting studs 16 designed to engage an elongated opening 17 in the up per end of a link 18, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to a coupling 19 with the upper end of an operating rod 20. The rod 20 extends longitudinally of the trolley pole to a point immediately adjacent the lower end thereof, being provided at a point above the lower end with an adjustable collar 21, and being guided in movement at the lower end through a guide block 22 fixed in the trolley pole. An operating spring 23 is coiled about the rod 20, bearing at its respective ends against the collar 21 and block 22. The link 18 is provided adjacent its connection with the operating rod with a laterally projecting stud 24, designed to reciprocatein the movementsof' the link in a guideway 25 formed in the wall of the harp sleeve 5.

A trip is provided for automatically releasing the replacer to the influence of the spring 23 upon engagement of the trolley Wire with the trip. This trip, as best seen in F ig, 3, comprises a trip bar 26 pivotally supported between ears 27 formed on the harp sleeve 5, said bar above its pivotal connection bGiIIg-fOlHlBClWV'ith an inwardly projecting trip finger 2 8. Immediately above the finger the trip is branched to provide spacedarms 29 disposed beyond and on op posite sidesof the trolley wheel, said arms terminating in their relatively upper pottions in plates 30 curving concentrically with the curvature of the trolley Wheel and formed ontheir respective side edges with projecting flanges 31 extending at a right angle te-the'plane' of the plate 30. Each of the trip plates is thus of approximately U= form in-tra-nsverse section, beingnormally soarranged as to dispose the free edges of the flanges 31 in a planewith the edges-of the trolley wheel, sothat a wire jumping from' the wheel will with certainty be engaged by eith'er'one or the other of the't'rip plates. Below the pivot the trip-bar 26 is formed with a" projection 32 to engage the surface ofthe harp slee've'5, and above'the pivot acoilsp'ring 33-is arranged' between the trip ba-r' and surface of the harp sleeve,

Withthe efie'ct to normally maintain the trip} in one' certain position relativeto the trolley wheel.

The operation of the projecting mechanism may be briefly described as follows: lVi-th thelips 14 of the replaeers arranged belowthe plane of the-relatively upper portion of thetrolley wheel, as shown infull lines in Fig; 1, the a rmail o f said replacers andthe linl-1 8 are alined with the opera-t ingrod 20, thereby maintainii'ig these parts in thisposition the tensiono'f the spring-23, the normal p'ositi' on" of the parts the trip finger 28' rests against thelink 18- atitspoint of connection with-the stud' 1'6 ofthe' repla'eers, so that upon escape oflthe trolley wire from the groove 1 0" it will engage one of the tripplat'es 30; causing the trip} finger to move inward, breaking the joint between the linlr- 1 8-and the arms 11 ofthereplacer, to-rel'ease the replacer 'mem bers through theinflu'ence' of the spring 23'. The spring thereupon automatically acts to" project the rod-u .wardwit-h the 'efl ect to move the lips 140 the replacers-onopposite sidesof the trolley wire and redirec't said wire and trolley wheel grooves into map erative relation, 1 y In connectionv witlr the above descrlloed project-or we provide" means fenret'urningand ail ect the cam.

and thereby resetting the trolley replacer.

The means described comprises a valve cas-' ing 34 securely bolted or otherwise secured to the trolley pole below the relatively lower end of the operating rod. lVithin the casing is formed a chamber 35 in which is mounted a piston 36, the stem 37 of which projects through the upper end of the casing and bears beneath one end of a resetting lever 38, the opposite end of which extends through a slot in the trolley pole, as at 39,

communicates with a channel-45 extending transversely of the offset- 42"and communicating with vertically extending port 46 arranged in rear of the valve chamber'43. The lower end of the port 46 communicates with a transversely extendin port 47 opening directly into the chamber below the piston- 36. In the wall of the offset 42 is 9 arranged a minute escape port 48',- v which 18 in open'comunic'ation'with the port 46. A

valve 49 is arrange'd'in th'e'cham'ber 43 forcoi jperation with the valve seat 45, said valve being spring pressed in a direction to close the seat and having its stem 50 connected to thelow'erend of a controlling rod 51 slida bly HIOHIltQCl'lIl the ofls'ets 42 and 41, the up er end of the rod being rounded for cooperation with a cam 52 secured-upon the ivot pin of-thelever 38. The cam islo'osely mounted u ponthe pivot pin andis formed with an arcuate slot 53 toreceive a pin 54' projecting from an extensionof the lever, sot-hat said lever will, at determinate points in itsmovement in either direction, engage The relatively lower edge of the cam-52 is formedvr'ith t wo' distinct cam recesses 55 and- 56', the former-be ing on relatively lower-plane than the latter longitudinally ofthe cam, and being respectively so disposed that when the cam recess 55 engages the upper end-*of the rod 51 the valve 49" will be heldtfrom engagement with its seat, while when the cam surface 56 isarranged toenga'ge the rod 51, the valve- 49is permitted toengage the seat 46'and thereby" close the valve chamber 43 against the port-44i The offset 42 is'-for1'ned with anipple 57-designed torece'i've' a flexible hose connectionleading from the air brake cylinder 'on' the car, the admittance of the air" to the valve chamber 43 being manually con trolled=byany desired form of valve, not shown.

In operation of the resetting mechanism, and assuming the projecting mechanism as in operative position, the motorman or conductor will aomit air to the valve forming the present invention. in the operative position of the rod 20, it will be noted that the stern engaging end of the lever 38 is depressed, so that the piston is at the lowest plane of movement. is the cam has been operated by the lever in this movement to dispose the cam recess to engage the upper end of the rod 5i, it will be noted that the valve 41) is held ott' its SQ/ztt The air admitted from the cylinder will then find its way directly to the chamber and elevate the piston, with the etlect to draw down the operating rod 20 and reset the replacing members. This movement of the lever 38 also moves the cam to dispose the cam surface 56 immediately above the rod 51, whereupon the spring acts to close the valve d9, thus automatically cutting oti the pressure sup ply to the chamber 35. The excess pressure within said chamber and the ports communicating therewith will equalize with the atmospheric pressure through the vent 4:8, thereby permitting the reverse operation of the piston 36 in the next automatic operation of the rod 20 to set the replacer.

From the above description it will be noted that the motorman or conductor may automatically reset the replacer immediately succeeding its projection, the use of the mechanism described for this purpose resulting in such speedy and ettective resetting as to avoid any possibility of the resetting arms engaging the switch or cross wires of the trolley connections.

It is, of course, obvious that the valve for controlling the admission of pressure to the valve chamber d3 may be automatically controlled by the initial upwaro movement of the rod 20, so that said rod will, in its upward movement open the valve and admit pressure to the valve which will tend to reset the rod. The entire operation may thus be automatically eitt'ected, if desired, by a well understood arrangement of the valve.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new, is

l. A trolley replacer, spring operated means for projecting the replacer into operative position, and means operative independent of the trolley wheel for automatically resetting the replacer.

2. A trolley replacer, means for automatically projecting the replacer into operative position, and fluid pressure means for resetting the replacer.

3. A trolley replacer, means for projecting the replacer into operative position, means for resetting the replacer and a mechanically controlled valve for admitting pressure to operate the resetting means.

a. A trolley replacer, and pressure controlled means for moving said replacer in the resetting direction, and means for relieving said pressure controlled means from the operating pressure.

5. A trolley replacer, a pressure controlled member operating to move the replacer in the resetting direction, and a valve to automatically relieve the member from the operating pressure after operative actuation oi said member.

(3. A trolley replacer, a rod connected therewith, spring means for operating the rod in one direction, and ttuid pressure controlled means for operating the rod, in the opposite direction.

7. A trolley replacer, a rod connected therewith, aspring for operating the rod in one direction, and a member controlled by fluid pressure to operate the rod in the opposite direction.

8. A trolley replacer, a rod connected therewith, a spring for operating the rod in one direction, a. lever connected with the rod, a piston arranged to be actuated by fluid pressure for operating the lever to move the rod in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the lever for relieving the piston of the operating pressure in one position of the lever.

9. A. trolley replacer, a rod connected therewith, a spring for operating the rod in one direction, a lever connected with the rod, a piston arranged to be actuated by fluid pressure for operating the lever to move the rod in the opposite direction, and a valve controlled by the lever for relieving the piston of the operating pressure in one position of the lever.

10. A trolley replacer, a rod connected therewith, a spring for operating the rod in one direction, a lever connected with the rod, a piston arranged to be actuated by fluid pressure for operating the lever to move the rod in the opposite direction, a valve for relieving the piston of the operating pressure, and means carried by the lever for controlling the position of the valve.

11. A trolley replacer, a rod connected therewith, a spring for operating the rod in one direction, a lever connected with the rod, a piston arranged to be actuated by fluid pressure for operating the lever to move the rod in the opposite direction, a valve for relieving the piston of the operating pressure, and a cam carried by the lever for controlling the position of the valve.

12. A trolley replacer, means for normally tensioningsaid replacer for operation, and fluid pressure means for operating the replacer against the influence ot its normal tensioning means.

13. A trolley replacer, means for normally tensioning said replacer tor projection to op erative position, and means automatically operative by fluid pressure for forcing the replacer into normal position after its pro jection.

14s. A trolley replacer, means for normally tensioning saicl replacer for operation in one direction, and fluid pressure means for automatically actuating the replacer in the opposite direction.

15. A trolley replacer, a spring for automatically projecting the replacer into operative position, and fluid pressure means for moving the replacer in the opposite (lireotion against the tension of the spring 16. A trolley replacer, a spring for automatically projecting the rcplacer into operative position, finicl pressure means for moving the replacer in the opposite direction against the tension of the spring, and means to automatically control the fluid pressure means in the movement of the replacer.

In testimony whereof, We aifix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

VALTER M. AUSTIN. SAMUEL O. COOPER.

\Vitnesses JAMES V. Srmrmsn, \VILLIAM K. aiwan.

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