US998525A - Switch-operating mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

A. B. KALTSCHMIDT. SWITCH OBRATING MECHANISM.

Patented July 18, 1911.

r\\\\e\ YX m ALBERT E. KALTSCHMIDT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed February 4, 1910.

h all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that l, ALBERT E. KALT- sorriim'r, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Detroit, in the county of llifayne and State of Michigainhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specilication, reference being had therein to the accompanying draw'iings.

In the customary construction of railway switches and switch stands no provision is made for holding the switch points in position in case the switch stand is knocked out of position.

This invention relates to a switch that is adapted to automatically lock and hold the switch point in position in case of accident to the switch stand itself.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a railway switch and switch stand that embodies features of the invention; Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section through the stand with the parts in released position; and Fig. 3 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of one form of locking device.

Referring to the drawings 1 indicates a portion of a track of standard construction with a pair of switch points 2 coupled b v the usual tie bars 3, the forward one of which is connected by a link et to an upright crank rod 5. The latter is mounted in any preferred form of switch stand 6 so as to be thrown by a handle 7 whose outer end 8 is pivoted to fall into interlocking relation with a quadrant plate 9 on the stand. A push rod 10 is connected at one end to the tie bar 8 and at the other end to a'latch bar 11. The latter is longitudinally reciprocable in a casing 1Q that is pivoted or otherwise made fast to one of the track ties 13 on which the stand G is placed..

A vertical movable pin 14C in the casing 12 is supported by a cross pivot 15 in the forked end 16 of a rock arm 17. The latter is keyed or otherwise secured to a rock shaft 18 journaled in the casing on the outer end of which a lever 19 is secured. A counter-balance weight 2O is secured to the outer end of the lever 19 and a hollow or cupped bearing plate 21 to the other end beneath Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1911.

Serial No. 542,077.

end of a trigger rod 22 that has sliding engagement in a suitable guide plate 23 on the stand with its foot against the bearing plate 21. rlhe upper end of the pin 14C is adapted to enter suitable apertures in the latch bar 11 when the switch is at either end of its throw. To accommodate switches of different throws one opening 2a of the latch bar is elongated and in register always with a smaller' opening 25 formed in a strap 2G whose downturned end 27 is adjustable loir gitudinally on ascrewthreaded stem 28 extending from the adjacent end of the latch bar 11, nuts 29 holding the strap in the dcsired position.

lThe parts are so proportioned that when the switch handle is raised and therefore unlocked from the quadrant plate of the stand, the weighted lever is depressed, thus moving the latch pin out of engagement with the latch bar and allowing the switch pin to be moved freely. When the switch is thrown as desired, and the handle de pressed so as to interlock with the switch quadrant, the weighted lever is free to move down and throw the latch pin into engagement with the latch bar. This holds the switch points fast, and if the stand be overthrown they are still kept rigidly in position.

Obviously, changes in details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and l do not care to limit myself to any particular' form or arrangement of parts.

That l claim as my invention is:

1. In a railway switch, the combination with switch points, a switch stand, a crank rod on the stand operatively connected to the points, and a handle for turning the crank rod adapted to interlock with t-he stand when the points are thrown, of a rod connected to the points, a locking member for said rod, an oscillatory member' turned in one direction by gravity to operate the locking member and lock the rod, said oscillatory member having an end extending beneath the switch stand, and a vertically movable member carried by the handle with its lower end maintained in the path of movement of the end of the oscillatory member beneath the stand and its upper end adapted to interlock with the stand when the handle is moved to inoperative position, said movement of the handle also raising said member out of engagement with sai' end of the oscillatory member` to permit said member to be operated by gravity to lock the said rod.

2. In a railway switch, the combination with switch points, a. switch stand, and a crank rod on the stand operatively connected to the points, of a handle on the stand rotatable upon a vertical axis to turn the crank rod and pivoted to turn upon a horizontal axis into inoperative position, a push rod connected to the points, a lever adapted to lock the rod having an end extending beneath the stand below the lower end of the crank rod` and a vertically movable rod extending parallel with the vertical axis of the crank rod connected to said handle and movable coneentrically about said axis with said handle and having a lower end offset into alineinent with said axis of the crank rod beneath the lower end of the same and above the end ot said lever for locking the push rod, said vertically movable rod being moved vertically by the turning ot the handle upon its horizontal pivot.

8. In a railway switch, the combination with switch points, a switch stand, and a crank rod on the stand operatively connected to the points, ot a handle on the stand rotatable upon a vertical axis to turn the crank rod and pivoted to turn upon a horizontal axis into inoperative position, a push rod connected to the points, a locking' member tor the push rod, a lever for actuating the locking member pivoted inter mediate its ends and provided with a weight at one end and a cup at its opposite end beneath the lower end of the crank rod, and a rod connected to said handle at its upper end to be moved vertically by the turning oi" said handle upon its horizontal pivot and movable with said handle about the vertical axis of said crank rod, saidrod being provided with a lower end to engage the said cup ol'l'set into alinement with said axis beneath tie lower end of said crank rod.

et. in a rail 'av switch, the combination with switch points, a switch stand, a crank rod ou the stand operatively connected to the points, and a handle for turning the crank rod adapted to interlock with the stand when the points are thrown, of a rod connected to the points` a casing` supported adjacent to the base ot the stand, latch bar reciprocable through said casing and connected to said push rod, a rock-shaft in the casing, means in the casing operated by the turning ot the rock-shaft for engaging and locking' the latch bar`r a lever secured intermediate its ends to the outer end ot said rock-shaft, a weight on one end of said level' and a cup upon the opposite end beneath the stand` and a rod pivotally connected to the handle at its upper end to be moved verti- ;ally thereliiy with its lower end above the said cup.

5. ln a raili'ay switch, the combinutimi with switch points, a switch stand, a crank rod on the stand oigieratively connected to the points. and a handle 'for turning the crank rod adapted to interlof-l; with the stand when the pivots are thrown, oi a rod connected to the points. a. casing supported adjacent to the base ot' the stand. a latch bar reciproeable through said easing and connected to said push rod, a rock-shaft in the casing, a longitudinally movable. pin guided in the casing and adapted to engage, openings in the bar, an arm on the rock-sluii't opeatively engaging the pin to move, the salueT a weighted lever secured to the outer end ot the rock-shaft having an cud extending beneath the lower end ot the crank rod. and an actuating rod for the lever on the stand extending parallel with the crank rod and carried thereby :bout the vertical axis thereo2 upon the turning ot said crank rod by said handle, said adjusting rod being Connected. to said handle at its upper end to be moved vertically thereby and otllset at its lower end into the vertical axial line oi' tle crank rod beneath the lower end ot the same to engage the end of the weighted lever. ln testimony whereof l ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

l-NLBEB'I l. KAI/FS(lfllillrl'll Witnesses:

ANNA M. Donn, (t. E. Mcticxxx Copies of this patent may be obtained for ave cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente;` Washington, D. C.

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