US1095000A - Torpedo-setting device. - Google Patents

Description

R. KEPNER; TORPEDO SETTING DEVICE.

4 APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1913. 1,095,000. Patented Apr,28, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- R. KEPNER. TQRPEDO SETTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1913.

1,095,000. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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noY KEIBNER, or en ELMO, ILLINOIS.

TORPEDO-SETTING DEVICE.

To all whom iz may concern: Be it known that I, ROY KEPNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. 7

Elmo, in the county of Fayette and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Torpedo-Setting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for applying or setting signal torpedoes on railroad tracks, the primary object of the invention being to provide a device of this character WhlC-h is adapted to be mounted upon the rear car of a'train and operated while the train is running to afiix a torpedo to the track, to give a signal to a'following train. f

A further object of the invention is to provide a torpedo setting device which may be employed for successively setting two tor: pedoes at a distance from each other along the track when desired, and which is simple, reliable, eflicient and compact in character, adapted to fold up when not in use and to be readily and conveniently manipulated.

The invention consists of the novel features of construction combination and arrangement of ,parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings in whic Figure 1 is a view elevation of the rear platform of a railway car illustrating the application of the invention thereto and showing the device as it appears after setting a single torpedo. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the parts of the device as they appear just after setting a second torpedo. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the device in folded position. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the parts as illustrated in Fig. 2. -Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the mode of holding a torpedo in one of the clamps. Fig. 6 is a detail vie w of a. torpedo. Fig. 7 is a view showing the torpedo applied to a track.

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a torpedo setting device comprising a pair of setting arms 1 and 2, the arm 2 being relatively shorter than the arm 1 and pivotally connected thereto at itsinner end, as indicated at 3. The outer ends of the setting arms re provided with clamps 4, each consisting of a plurality of spring jaws of a character adapted to grip a tor pedo 5 ofthe type to be set. As shown, the torpedo 5 includes a spring clamp 6 having relatively diverging arms 7 adapted on Specification of Letters Patent.

7 Application filed July 1, 1913. Serial No. 776,861.

Patented A r. 28, 1914.

coming in contact with the head of the rail to spread upon and engage over the opposite sides of the rail head allowing the clamp 6 to firmly grip the rail and hold the torpedo 5 in position.

The setting arm 2 is adapted to fold in parallel relation to the arm 1, and to the said arms are respectively connected the outer ends of braces 8 and 9 which are pivotally coupled thereto, the brace 1 9 being pivotally connected at its inner end to the brace 8, as indicated at 10. By this construction the setting arms are adapted to be firmly held against deflection and guided in their setting movements, and the short and long arms are respectively arranged so that said short arm may be employed alone for asetting action or the two arms operated in succession at intervals. to place two torpedoes at desired distances apart along a railway track.

. The inner ends of the arm 1 and brace 9 are pivotally engaged with pivot pins 12 and 13 on brackets 14 and 15 fastened at proper positions apart on the end of the car platform, said pins 12 and 13 facing in opposite directions and so arranged that the said ends of the arm l and brace 8 may be readily engaged therewith, and disengaged therefrom,'so that the device may be applied to and removed from a car with ease and facility.- A coiled contractile spring 16 connects the arm 1 with the brace 8 and tends to draw the same together to hold said arm and brace consequently in engagement with the pins 12 and 13 and to prevent-casual disengagement therefrom. A chain or other lifting or controlling element 17 is attached at one end to the arm 2 and at its opposite end to the end of the ear. By means of this chain the short setting arm may be drawn upwardly, carrying with it the long setting arm so that the arms and their braces may be folded up and secured by means of the chain or otherwise in a vertical position against the end of the car when not in use. When it'is desired to employ the device for setting a single torpedo, the torpedo is fitted iirthe'clamp 4: of the arm 2 and said arm allowed to drop by gravity by letting out a portion of the chain while the arm*1 is held'in an elevated position. In so dropping,

the outer arm 2 will come in contact w1th' one of the track rails and will force the torpedo into engagement therewith in an 0bvious manner. The arm 2 may then be,

drawn up and the device secured again in folded position until'its further service is desired. When two torpedoes are to be set, the arm 2 is first released and dropped to apply a torpedo to the track, and at a suitable distance therefrom the arm 1 isthen dropped to applya seco nd torpedo, the arms operating in this'connection without interference so that two torpedoes may be set in a reliable manner to give successive signals. 'From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of use and advantages of my invention will be readily understood without a further description, and it will be seen that the invention provides a device of the character and for the purpose set forth which will efliciently perform its intended functions and may be applied to and removed from any car equipped with pivot brackets in an easy and ready manner.

Having thus described my invention, I:

clann:

1. A torpedo setting device comprising a pair of long and short pivoted setting arms one of said setting arms being pivoted to the other, torpedo'holding devices at the outer ends of said arms, braces pivoted to the arms and to each other, and means connected with the shorter arm for independently raising :10

a long setting arm pivpivot members, a short to said long arm, said provided at their free ends with torpedo holding means, a brace 40 pivoted to the long setting arm and to the other pivot member, a second brace pivoted to the first-named brace and to the shorter setting arm, a contractile spring connecting the first-named brace with the longer setting arm, and a raising and lowering element connected with the shorter setting arm.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROY KEPN ER.

Witnesses:

C. I. Scorr, S. A. PINKLEY.

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