US1341161A - Railway-switch apparatus - Google Patents

Description

C. A ALDEN. RAILWAY SWITCH APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED OCT- 1. I919.

Patented May 25, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

gwwwtoz C. A. ALDEN.

RAILWAY SWITCH APPARATUS.

APPLICATIQN EILED OCT-b15319.

Patented May 25, 1920.

' A 3 SHEETS H ET 2 C. A. ALDEN. RAILWAY SWITCH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- I, I9I9.

Patented May 25, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- i any;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES AMES ALDEN, OF STEEL'ION, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-SWITCH APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Application filed October 1. 1919. Serial No. 327.626.

siding at Steelton, Dauphin county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switch Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to railway switch apparatus and more particularly to means for operating the signal in connection therewith.

The usual signal device used in connection with railway switches is so disposed and actuated that the angular movement of the signal is substantially proportional to the lateral movement of the switch. Hence the switch point may be moved either maliciously or because of breakage of the connections a small distance from the fixed rail, without giving a perceptible movement to the signal which usually consists of a target or lamp. This small opening may cause a derailment of a train moving toward the switch, although the signal indicates safety.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a signal and means for operating the same so that the angular motion thereof is accelerated during the first and last portions of the throw of the switch so that the signal will indicate danger unless the switch is in a safe position.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the description taken in connection with the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a switch stand and a portion of a switch embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the signal operating mechanism, certain parts being broken away, showing the position of the arts after the switch has been moved a raction of its throw;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the escapement cam;

Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the operatse i. 1g. 6 1s a perspective view of the operatmg crank or lever; j I

ig. 7' is a sectional elevation through the hub of the operating lever; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of themast supporting member.

ferring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates a switch stand of any desired type having a rod 11 adapted to be connected to the switch to throw the same.

In the present embodiment of the inven tion the signal and means for operating the same are assembled with the switch stand,

I although it will be obvious that the signal and its actuating mechanism might be dis posed in other locations. As shown, the base plate 12 of the switch stand, which is secured to the ties 13 has two parallel spaced bolts 14 and 15 projecting upward therefrom. The outer of these bolts has the hub 16 01 an actuating lover or crank rotatably mounted thereon, the bore having a bushing 17. As clearly shown in the drawings this lever has an arm 18 provided with an operating pin 19 adjacent the free end thereof. Further the hub 16 has a lug 20 into which is threaded a rod 21. The free end of this rod'is adapted to be connected so that movement of the switch will turn the lever. As shown this is accomplished by an adjustable rod 22 at one end secured to the switch point 23 and at the other end to the rod 21. It will be seen that the angular movement of the operating lever may be varied by adjusting the rod 21 in the lug 20.

The signal is mounted on a mast which comprises a shaft 24 rotatably mounted in a bar 25 the ends of which are held in place by the bolts 1%- and 15. A signal sup porting member 26 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 2%. said. member being formed with a socket to receive said shaft, and the two parts being connected for rotation together in any suitable manner as by means UT the pin 9/7. Downward movement of the shaft and associated parts is prevented by the lower end of member 26 rest ing on the boss 28 of the bar 25. The shaft 2 1 projects below the bar 25 and has an operating cam 29 fastened thereto for rotation therewith as by means of the pin 30. As clearly shown in Fig. 5 this cam is provided with a cam groove consisting of the curved portion 31, which is concentric with the axis of bolt 14 when the cam is in central position. At the ends of the curved portion 31, the cam groove has the offset portions 32 and 33 extending in a generally radial direction with respect to the axis of the cam. The cam is also provided with the escapement stops 34 and 35, the function of which will appear hereinafter.

When the switch pionts are at one end of their throw, the parts are in the positions illustrated in Fig. 1. Now if for any reason the switch pointis moved a slight distance away from the rail, the motion thereof will be communicated to the oper-- ating lever and the pin 19 thereof disposed in'the offset portion 32 of the cam groove, will act on the cam member to swing it about the axis of the mast, thereby turning, themast and the signal. The arrangement-oftheparts is such that this slight motion of; 'theswitch points will turn the mast-andsignal through a considerable angle.- Thus 'the'signal will be turned sufiiciently so that the engineer will be warned that-the-switch: is not safe. In Fig. 2 of the drawings the positions of the parts are illustrated afterv the switch point has moved only ;about@20% of its throw from the :position illustrated in: Fig. 1. This slight motion of the-switch point however haswbeen suflicient to -turn the signal mast throughanangle of substantially 45 degrees In throwingthe switch therefore the-first portion-of the motion thereof carries the:pin=19 out of the portion 32 of the cam groove into'the concentric portion 31, the cams and mast 1 having been turned through substantially 45 degrees in this time. Further motion of the switch moves the-pin '19 inthe concentric portion of the cam-groove and therefore transmits no motion to-the'cam. However when thepin 19 comes opposite the ofl'set portion 33 of the cam*- groove, the cam member will be turned and the pin will travel outward to the outer extremity of this offset portion 33, the cam member and mastbeing turned through substantially 4:5 degrees" while the pin is movingin this offset 33. When the switch is turned in the opposite direction, the pin willtravel in the cam groove in-the reversedirection thereby turning the mast through 45 degrees duringthe first portion of the switch. movement, transmittingno motion to-themast during the intermediate portion of theswitch movement and finally turning the-mast through theremaining 45 degrees of its 90 degree movement only at the endof the throw.

It is desirable-to hold the signalmast againstmovementywhen the pin 19 is in the concentric portion ofthe camgroove, that is when the motion of theswitch is not being communicated. to 1 the signal mast. For. this purposean. escapement cam 36 illustratedinFigA isprovided. As clearly shown in-the figures,-'this.-escapement cam" isupivotally-mountedon the bolt 15 between the;bani25..and..a.projection 37 on the housingofthe switchstand 10. This escapementcamis provided with. a concaved edge surface 38. adaptedwto cooperate with the pin 19 as will presently beexplained. 011 its .nnder sideit isformed: .with. the oppo- 40 on the escapement cam, this stop engaging said surface at about the time the pin 19 enters the concentric portion of the cam groove. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen if the operating cam with the signal should beforced to turn in a clockwise direction, the stop 34 would abut the surface 40, but swinging of the escapement cam above its axis would be prevented by the curved surface 38 striking the pin 19. However when the pin 19 reaches an intermediate portion of the concentric portion 31 of the cam groove, it strikes the opposite portion of the surface 38 of the escapement cam and turns it on its pivot, carrying the escapement cam to a position so that it will prevent displacement of the signal when the switch is operated in the opposite direction.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not thus limited, but includes modifications and changes which come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a switch, a member movable with said switch, a signal mast, and means operably connecting said member and mast to turn the latter unequal amounts for equal movements of said. me1nber, the movement of the mast being great est at the ends of the throw of the switch.

2. The combination with a switch, a member movable with said switch, a signal mast, and means operably connecting said member and mast to turn the latter through substantially half of its angle of movement while the switch is moved a small portion only at one end of its throw, and through substantially the other half of its movement while the switch is moved through a small portion only at the other end of its throw, the movement of the switch between said end portions havingsubstantially no effect on the mast.

3. The combination with a switch, a member movable with said switch, a signal mast, and means operably connecting said member and mast to turn the latter unequal movements for. equal movements of said as previously 1 member including a cam associated with said mast.

4. The combination with a switch, a member movable with said switch, a signal mast, and means operably connecting said member and mast to turn the latter unequal amounts for equal movements of said member including a cam associated with said 'mast and means on the member engagmg and operating the cam.

5. The combination with a switch, a lever, means to turn said lever in proportion to the movement of the switch, a sig nal mast, a cam associated with said mast, means on the lever engaging said cam, the cam being formed to give unequal angular movements to the mast for equal angular movements of the lever.

6. The combination with a switch, a meniber movable with said switch, a signal member, a cam associated with one of said members, means connected with the other member engaging said cam, the cam being formed to effect unequal movements of the signal member for equal movements of the switch.

7. The combination with a switch, a member movable with said switch, a signal mast,

means connecting said member and mast constructed and arranged to move the mast only at the end portions of the throw of the switch, and means holding the mast against movement during the intermediate portion of the switch throw.

8. The combination with a switch, a mem ber movable with said switch, a signal member, a cam associated with one of said members, means connected with the other memher engaging said cam, the cam being formed to effect movement of the signal member only at the end portions of the throw of the switch, and means holding the signal against movement during the intermediate portion of the switch throw.

9. The combination with a switch throwing mechanism including a support, a rotatable signal, a member adapted to be movably connected with the switch, said parts carried by the support, means connecting the member and signal to turn the latter only at the end portions of the switch throw, and means holding the signal against movement during the intermediate portion of the switch throw.

10. The combination with a switch throwing mechanism including a support, a rotatable signal, a lever having an arm adapted to be connected to move with the switch, a cam member associated with the signal, the other arm of the lever engaging said cam, the parts being constructed and arranged to move the signal only at the end portions of the switch throw, and means holding the cam against movement during the intermediate portion of the switch throw.

11. The combination with a switch stand having switch throwing mechanism, a rotatable signal on said stand, a two armed lever pivoted on the stand, one arm being adjustable in length and adapted to be connected to be moved with the switch, a pin on the other arm, and. a member having a cam groove associated with the signal, said pin being disposed in said groove, for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination with a rotatably mounted signal, of means to actuate said signal including a member associated with the signal and a member adapted to be actuated by a switch, one of said members having a cam surface and the other means cooperating with said surface, the cam surface being formed to transmit movement from the switch actuated member to the signal member only at the ends of the throw of said switch actuated member.

13. The combination with a rotatably mounted signal mast, of a member having a cam groove connected to said mast, a

lever having one arm adapted to be actuated by movement of a switch and a second arm having a pin disposed in said groove, the cam groove being formed to effect movement of the mast only at the end portions of the switch throw, and an escapement cam cooperating with said pin to restrain movement of the mast during the intermediate portion of the switch throw.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES AMES ALDEN.

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