US1507052A - Railway signaling device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 2, 1924.

W. F. FANNON RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Oct. 50, ':922

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W. F. FANNON RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Oct. 30, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Maxi/wf/knm azv.

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

NT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. FANNQN, 0F UI-IRICHSVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-FOURTH TO I WILLIAM G. BAKER, OF PORT WASHINGTON, OHIO.

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

Application filed-October 30, 1922. Serial No. 597,982.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIA F. FANNoN, a citizen of the United States, of Uhrichs ville, in the county of Tuscarawas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signaling Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it laiupertains to make and use the same.

y invention relates to railway signaling devices, and more particularly to new and improved means for signaling to the engineer in his cab the conditionof the section of the road ahead, and the object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction and in its mode of operation and which will avoid the necessity of obstructions of any kind along the side of the railroad, and wherein no part of the electrical equipment is exposed to the changing weather conditions.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a locomotive equipped with my improved signaling mechanism. Figure 2 is a front view with parts broken away. Figure 3 is a plan of a section of a track showing the sliding operating block. Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the signaling mechanism and the resetting device. Figures 5 and 6 are side and front elevations, respectively, of one of the switches.

At 1 I have shown a baserof insulating material which is supported in any preferred manner beneath the fender of the locomotive and on this base I mount any de sired number of separate switches each controlling a signal in the cab of the locomotive. Each switch comprises a depending movable arm 2 and two contacts 3, one in front and theother in rear of the arm so that the signal may be manipulated in nor mal running as well as in backing of the locomotive. The arms 2 are mounted for swinging between two ears 4 fastened to the insulated base 1, the end 5 of each arm being slightly rounded so as to move against a contact plate 6 without friction, the plate 6 being bowed to insure resiliency, and certain contacts with the arm. This plate forms one of the terminals of the signal circuit. Each of the contacts 3, which form the other terminal of the circuit,

r is of U-shape with-its ends turned in toward each other and then bent downwardly a slight distance in parallelism with the sides of the U, this construction insuring a firm gripping of the arm 2 when moved into engagement with the contact. served that when the arm is swung into engagement with either of the contacts 3 current will pass from the contact plate 6 through the arm and through the contacts 3.

The signals may be of any preferred type. I have shown in diagrammatic form, Figure 4, an arrangement including an electric bulb 7 and a bell 8. The bulbs may be of varied colors common to railroad work for signaling danger, caution, and ,clear.- The ,circuit be-= tween the switches and signals includes acommon lead 9 to a source of motive power 10, a second lead 12 to the signals, and appropriate leads 13 to the contacts 3.

Located at appropriate distances along a track are operating blocks 15. These blocks are of a size sufficiently high to strike and throw one of the arms of the signal mecha- V nism into engagement with its complementary contact as the locomotive passes over the block. If the engine is traveling nor,- mally head on then the arm will engage the contact to the rear, but on the other hand, if the engine is backing, the arm will strike against the forward contact. Each block 15 is mounted on a .rod 16 reciprocally supported by the track rails. The rod is connected with a leverage mechanism 17 controlled from a tower, not shown, and is moved into any one, in the form shown, of three positions to engage the arm controlling the danger, caution, or clear signal.

After one of the switch arms has been moved into engagement with its contact by a block 15 it is necessary to restore the arm to normal position. This I accomplish by means of a resetting device which includes a yoke 20 supported beneath the base 1 in such manner as to not interfere with movement of the arms but in a position where i electric signal circuits and means for closing said circuits comprising a base plate carried by a locomotive, a plurality of normally depending switch blades pivotally mounted on said base in spaced relation, a resilient member for engagement with each switch blade, a pair of U-shaped contacts arranged one on each side of each switch blade and mounted on the base adapted to receive the respective blade for closing the corresponding circuit, each pair of contacts being connected in thesame circuit and each switch blade being adapted to close said circuit when engaging either contact, said resilient member frictionally holding the switch blade, means for operating the switch blades to engage either contact through track-mounted instrumentalities and a single means for returning all of said blades to the normal depending position.

2. A railway signaling device including electric signal circuits and means for closing said circuits comprising a base plate carried by a locomotive, a plurality of normally depending switch blades pivotally mounted on said base in spaced relation, a resilient member for engagement with each switch blade, a pair of U-shaped contacts arranged one on. each side of each switch blade and mounted on the base adapted to receive the respective blade for closing the corresponding circuit, each pair of contacts being connected in the same circuit and each switch blade being. adapted to close said circuit when engaging either contact, said resilient member frictionally holding the switch blade, means for operating the switch blades to engage either contact through track mounted instrumentalities, a looped member pivotally mounted ad acent said base and overlying the plate for engagement with the switch blades when in engagement with their contacts, and means for moving said member on its pivot adapted to dis engage the switch arms from the contacts and restore thenr to normal depending position.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

/VILLIAM F. FANNON.

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