US1019046A - Electric semaphore-signal for railways. - Google Patents

Description

W. K. HoWB. ELECTRIC SEMAPHORB SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLIoATIoN-.mrm MAY ze. 1910.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912 c to@ w/n rop Howe UTED STATES ATENT @FFCE WINTHROP KEITH HOWE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO `GIE'NE1L/.Ulf RAIL- VJAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF GATES, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC .SEI/.[APHOR'E-SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, i912.

Application filed May 26, 1910, Serial No. 563,493.

To a] Z 'zc/1,0m t may concern.'

Be it l-:nown that i. lViN'rnnor K. Howe, a citizen ot' the- United States, residing at Bottines-ter` county o't Monroe, 'and State of ew York, hare invented certain new and useful Innn'oven'ients in Electric Seniaphore- Signals tor Railways, ot which the following a specification.

This invention relates to electric semaphore signals for railways.

One object ot' my inventionis to provide a niechanirnn which will insure the return ot the semaphore arm from the proceed position to the stop position when the electric energy is withdrawn. v

Much trouble has been experienced in the operation o't sei'naphore signals by the occasional failure of the semaphore blade and spectacle to return by gravity to the stop or danger-indicating position after' the power employed to more it to the proceed posr tion has been removed. This is sometimes occasioned by the binding ot' the operating` shaft in its bearings, but is more frequently due to the collection ot sleet or ice upon the exposed parts. i

it is the purpose ot my invention to insure the proper return inovementot' the semaphore parts under all circumstances whenever the operating power carrying it to proceed "l position has been withdrawn.

For the purpose of lessening the opportunity tor the :ollection ot' sleet vor ice, I preterably inclos'e the spectacle portion in a casing and secure the semaphore blade tio the end ot a shatt projectingr through the casing. To overcome any binding' ot the operating shai't or any locking of the blade due to sleet or ice, l, provide means for delivering a strong torsional hammer-blow upon the shalt carrying the spectacle and blade which will loe sutlicient to tree the operating parte and s ,art themA under the action ot gravity.

My invention will be more cl x.arly understood troni the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in whicln- Figure 1. is a vertical section through the casings, showing the operating; parts ot a semaphore signal l'necl'ianisrn embodyingr my invention; Fig. Q is a detail View of the parts designed to produce-the hammer blow to the shaft carrying the spectacle and blade; and

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing thenianner ot connecting the electrical circnite.

The .spectacle casting l, carrying,l the red, green, and white disks or ronndels`A Q, 3, Il, is mounted npon the operating shaft 6, and is completely inclosed in the asing 8, which is provided with opposite transparent disks 9, which are illuminated by the lamp 10. One end ot the sha'lit G carries the semaphore binde l2. while the other end is operatively eonnectwlto the motor mechanism, which is inclosed in a suitable casing The armature ,shaftlo of the operating electric motor 17, carries a pinion 1S which meshes; with a gear V15), loosely mounted `upon the shaft 5 and connected therewith by means ot a' coiled spring.,T 20, one end of the spring` beine; secured to a lug Qi on the gear, and the other end to a lng, 22, projecting troni an arm Q3, rigidly mounted upon the shaft. llt will he apparent that the rotation of ho motor in the direction ot the arrow c will first cause the gear to rotate in the direction ot the arrowo until the lug 21 moves troni the position lshown in 'full lines to the dotted line pofsitiion, thereby winding up the coiled spring 20, and finally engaging the end of the arm Q3. Further rotation ot' the motor arnmture causes the operating shaft (l to rotate and carry the spectacle and the semaphore blade to the position indicating clear or to the proceed position.

rl"he inner end ot the shaft, (l carries an insulatingg'` disk 27, having' a contact strip QS tl'iereon. which engages the switch contactsl or linggjers lt, except when the-parts have been moved to the proceed position, at which time the contacte rest upon the insulation ot the disk.

Ily referring to Fig. 2l, sliowing; the dialgrain ot circuits, wiil be observed that when the contacts il() hear upon the strip 2S, the brake magnet $72 is short-circnited and the brake lshoe ll is vtree trom the brake dish Il-l. Villen. however, thc'contmts pass from the strip 2S and rest npon the insulat ing dist'. 2T, the magnet :BQ is energized and causes' the brake shce 233 to engage the disk ill. l'this occursl when the semaphore blade and spectacle have been moved to the pro oecd position by ine motor 17, at which time the brake holds the parts in position and the current through the motor circuit net 32 inserted in series therewitl When the current is cut off, as by the short-circuiting of the signaling current by means of thewheels and axles of a car or train entering the block-section, both the brake magnet 32 and the motor 17 will be denergized, and the parts, z'. e., the spectacle casting 4, semaphore blade 12, and arm 23 on shaft 6, being entirely unrestrained, vwill move under the action of gravity and in the direction indicated by the arrow b to danger po sition,. the gear 19', with the lug 2l thereon, making a corresponding movement in the same direction. If, however, the parts are held by ice or slcet, as previously explained, the rotation of the gear under action of the spring 20 in the direction indicated by the arrow Z) will, cause the lugl 2l to impart a hamvmer blow to the arm 23, the shock of the.

imp act breaking up the ice and sleet conf nection. From the above it will be seen that -the hammer blow is only imparted in case the freedom of movementof the shaft 6 is restrained.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have reduced to a minimum the danger of any failure of the semaphore to return to danger position from the proceed position, the several features of my invention contributing to this result. By separating the blade from the spectacle and inclosing the latter in a casing, the surface exposed. to sleet and ice is very materially reduced, and providing for the delivery of a sudden blow to the operating shaft in the event of any restraint, the chances of failure in the operation of the signal are practically eliminated.

I have described somewhat; in detail the particular construction illustrated in the drawings, but it will be evident to engineers that various changes may be made therein Without departingr from the spirit of my invention.

I therefore claim:

l. In a semaphore signal, a shaft carry` ing a semaphore blade, means for actuating. said shaft and blade against the action of gravity and means for imparting a hammer blow to said shaft in the direction of the action of gravity when said lirst named means is not acting.

2. In a semaphore signal, operating parts, means for 'storing energy during the normal parts on movement of the operating parts thereof,

is decreased by the resistance of the magand means for causing said stored energy to deliver a sudden blow to the .partswhen restrained by extraneous means.

3. In a semaphore signal, a shaft carrying a semaphore blade, operating 'mechanism therefor, means for storing 'energy during the normal movement of said mechanism and means for causing said stored energy to deliver a sudden blow to the shaft when the same is restrained by extraneous means.

4. In a semaphore signal, a shaft ing a semaphore blade, operating mechanism therefor, means intermediate said mechanism and said shaft for storing energy during the normal movement of said mechanism, and means for causing said stored energy to deliver a sudden blow to the shaft when the same is restrained by eX-' 75 traneous means.

5. In a' semaphore signal, a shaft carry ing a semaphore blade, a motor for moving said blade to clear position, a brake device to hold the parts in said position, means for storing energy, and means for causing said stored energy to deliver a hammer blow to the operating parts upon the release ofl the brake, when said sliaft is restrained from free movement.

6. In combination with a semaphore signal, means for moving the signal against the action of gravity and means for imparting a blow in the direction of lthe action ofl gravity whenV said signal is free to move under the action of gravity.

7 In combination with a semaphore signal blade, means for moving said signal against the action of gravity, means for holding said blade in a defined position and means for imparting to said signal a blow in the direction of the action of gravity when said holding means is released.

8. In combination with a semaphore signal, a shaft therefor, a lug on said shaft, means for rotating the shaft and for moving the signal against the action of gravity and means for imparting a hammer blow to said lug to thereby assist gravity to move the signal to its normal position;` A 105 In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

WINTHROI KEITH ,H OW'E.

Witnesses:

H. M. Srnnnr, M. A. ONEILL.

carry-

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