US1480180A - Railroad-crossing gate - Google Patents

Description

Jam 8 J. MORTKA RAILROAD CROSSING GATE 2 Sheeis-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 9 9,25

A TTORNE Y r m m u 5 5% Q R E Jan. 8,1924. mmo

J. MORTKA 4 RAILROAD CROSSING GATE .Filed Aug. 9, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR A TTORNE Y Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

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JOHAN MORTKA, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

RAILRbAD-CROSSING GATE.

Application filed August .9, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHAN MORTKA, a citizen of Poland, residing at Poughkee sic, in the county of Dutchess and State of ew York, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Railroad-Crossing Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gates for railroad crossings which are adapted to be operated by passing trains, the invention having for an object theprovision of a novel gate of this sort characterized by simple construction.

For further comprehension of the invention, and ofthe objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the follow ing description and accompanying drawings,

and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. a

Fig. 1 of the drawings is aplan view showing my improved gate applied to a railroad crossing.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

F ig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail longitudinal sectipn showing one of the gate-bars and its operating means.

Fig. 5 is a detail transverse vertlcal sectional view showing the device for cutting out the gate operating means at certain times.

1' have here shown my improved gate applied to a'double track railroad, the respective pairs of rails being indicated at and 10. As here shown I provide two sets of gates which are operated respectively by oppositely traveling trains. Each gate comprises a pair of co-operating bars 12 which I are pivoted, to swing vertically parallel to the rails, on posts 13. downwardly into suitable recesses 14 under a top facing plate 15 level with the surface of the roadbed.

The gates are operated by means of sprocket chains 17 looped over upper sprocket wheels 18 mounted co-axially with the gatebars 12, and lower sprocket wheels mounted on stub-shafts 19 carried by the posts 13 in the recesses 14. The shafts 19 have other s rocket wheels fixed thereon which are connected by chains 20, 21' with sprocket wheels on stub-shafts 22, 23 suitably supported by bearings 24 above the plate 15.

Extending transversely under the track These posts extend- Serial No. 656,581.

in vertical alinement with the. stub shafts 22, 23 are shafts 26, 27 which are connected to the respective stub shafts by sprocket chains 28, 29. Upon these shafts 26, 27 are large gears 30, 31 which are adapted to be engaged by suitable elements carried by the train to rotate the said shafts and so operate the gates. The respective bars of each gate are operatively connected together by means of the crossed chains which are looped over suitable sprocket wheels on the various stubshafts 19.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing there are a pair of the gears 31 located between the rails on opposite sides of the crossing roadway, and these gears are operatively connected to one set of gates, while there is a pair of the gears 39 between the other rails 10 which are operatively connected to the other set of gates. A train approaching the crossing. in either direction will thus engage one of these gears and by moving it, close one set of gates, and after passing the crossing will engage the other gear: and close the gates which it had previously opened.

In order to give a signal when a train is approaching I may provide a pair of bells 40 whose hammers are mounted on levers 41 connected by members 42 with eccentrics such as 43 on shafts 44 on which are gears 45 adapted to be engaged by the same or other device on train that engages the gears 30, 31.

As shown in detail in Fig. 4 each gate-bar may be arran ,ed to be operated by the shifting of a weig t therein which is slidable in a cavity 51in the bar and is formed with rack-teeth 52 which engage a pinion 53 on the stub shaft 54 which carries the sprocket wheel over which the chain 17 is looped at its upper end. In this arrangement the movement of the gears 30, 31 b the train causes the weight 50 to shift in te gate-bar and the latter to swing by gravity, it being understood that the gate does not open to vertical position and that it swings freely on the shaft, being stopped at the ends of its swing by pins 54 on the post 13.

I may also provide a means to prevent the gate from swinging closed when anyone is in a position under the gate-bars. To these ends a pair of plates are positioned in the roadbed and are fixed on the upper ends of rods such as 61 whose lower ends connect to hell crank levers such 62, which engage also clutch sleeves such as 655 feathered on the shafts 19, these clutch sleeves being adapted to engage clutch faces on sleeves 65 surrounding the shafts '19. The plate 60 is returned to normal pcsition when released by means of an expansion spring 67.

It is believed that the manner of operation of my improved gate will be readily understood from the above description. When a train approaches the crossing a suitable element, such a rack bar, on the train engages and rotates one of the gears located in the roadbed, for instance the gear 30, imparting movement to one pair of the gate bars through the medium of the sprocket chains 28, 20, 17 and 33. When the train has passed the crossing the other gear 30, at is operated and imparts closing movement to the gate bars through the medium of the other set of chains 28 and *20 and the same chains 17 and 33. A similar operaticn of the other pair of gate bars takes place when the gears 31 on I the other track are en aged by the train.

nasareo vertically swingable gate bar, a shiftable' weight therein, and means adapted for operation by a passing train to shift said weight and cause said gate to swing.

- 2. In a device of the class described, a

by a train and operatively connected to said pinion.

3. In a device of the class described, a set of gates, a pair of" gears adapted tobe engaged and rotated by an element on a passing train, and operative connections between said gears and gates, a pair of vertically movable plates under each set of gates, clutch elements forming part of the said operative connections, and means whereby said clutch elements are released when the said plates are depressed.

In testimony whereof I have a'flixed my signature.

JOIIAN MORTKA.

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