US1612701A - Switch-stand lock - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28 ,1926.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1926 INVEN'IOR CN'ox ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Dec. 28 192s. mzym c. N. cox

SWITCH STAND LOCK I v Filed. June 11, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll I 7 v z v H I l I Y! w 18 J .I v 1' I25 I J I t :4: O I

% I I INVENTOR AT'TORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES CHARLES NEWTON COX, OF OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

SWITCH-STAND LOCK.

Application filed June 11, 1926.

This invention relates to railroad appara tus, particularly to switch stands, and has for its object the provision of novel means for locking the switch lever in the proper position so that positive action on the part of the switchman will be necessary to throw the switch, it being consequently unlikely that anytampering with the mechanism could be done by unauthorized or mischievous persons.

It is well known that when the switch lever is thrown there is ordinarily provided an eye through which it is necessary that the switchman pass the shackleof a padlock to effect securing, the reverse operation being followed when it is desired to remove the switch lever. Especially at night, it is in convenient for the switchman to hold a lan tern on one arm, the padlock in .one. hand and then fumble with the keywith the other hand in an endeavor to unlock the stand so that the switch maybe thrown.

It is with the above factsin view that 1 have designed the present invention which has for an important object the provision of a locking device which doesnot need to be touched, the'action being accomplished merely by inserting a key in the proper slot and turning it to release the lever so that itmaybe moved.

Another object is to provide a lock device of this character in whichthe locking action is effected simply by placing the=parts in a desired position and then pressing on a plunger, no key being needed for locking.

Yet another object is the provision of a device of this character in which. guards may be provided on a suitable housing whichqencloses the mechanism,- the guards extending 'respeotively over the keyhole and over the operating plunger to protect the same, it being also contemplated that the guards be made of somc material which will be easily seen or possibly luminous at night soas to guide the switchman properlyv and thereby faciltate the-operation of the mechanism.

An additional object is the provision of an apparatus of this character which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to install or assemble, positive in action, e'tlicient-in'use, durablein service, and agreatitime and laborsaver as well as a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists-in Serial No. 115,345.

the details of construction, and the arrangement and combination of elements to behereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view partlyin section and partly in elevation showing the invention with thelever in one position,

Figure. 2. is a similar view with the lever in the other position,

Figure 3 is a detail section on the line 8.3/of Figure 1,

.Figure 4 is a bottom plan view showing the lock mechanism housing removed from the stand,

Figure -5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;,

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6--6 oi Figure 5, and

Figures 7 and 8;are detail. views.

Referringmore particularly to the drawings, the leter Asfdesignatesa portion of a switch stand having the usual guard plates B notched'at C formthe accommodation oi the switch lever D21Vhlh is pivoted-at E within, a suit-able :ho-using F: or other supporting structure and which terminates at one end in aneye G, asL-iscustomary. It is well known that to effect throwing of the switch it:is necessary to move; the lever D" in one position or the'other andunder necessary circumstances it-has been customary to provide an eye'or staple or hasp co-acting with the eye G for the reception of the shackle of a padlock for effecting securing.

In carrying out the present invention,; provide a suitable, housing 10 .which is adapted to'be mounted upon the-housing or support F and which may vbe constructed in any suitable shape and size and 0tv any proper material. Mounted in one end portion of the housing 10 is a socket 11 disposed oppositethe eye G of the switch lever and adapted to irec'eive one :end of a spring pressed" plunger 12 which is slidable through one sideot the housing 10 and which has its outer end carrying. abutton, knob or head 13 whereby it may :be moved. Suitable coil springs 14 are provided which engage against a collar or projection 15 on the plunger. The plunger,- is of course also slidable through a suitable guide 15 which constitutes an abutment from one of the springs 142, the opposite side of the casing or housing 10 constituting an abutment for the other spring 14:. The guide 15 has a bore 16 therein alining with the socket 11 and the intention is that the plunger be projected through the eye G of the control lever D when the lever is in its vertical depending position as shown in Figure 1. This position is clearly shown in the detail sectional view of Figure 3.

Slidable within the housing 10 transversely of the direction of the plunger 12 and cooperating therewith and mounted in a suitable guide frame structure 18, is a plunger 19 urged toward the plunger 12 by suitable springs 20* between which is mounted a grooved collar 21 engaged by the forked end 01'' a pivoted lever 22 carried by a sleeve member 23 rotatably mounted upon a stem 2 1 adapted to have engaged thereon a socketed key 25 insertible through a slot 26 in the wall of the housing 10. A suitable guard 27 is preferably provided over this keyhole slot. The key is represented as having a lateral projection 28 thereon adapted to engage the curved end 29 ot a retaining spring member 30 which is mounted within the housing 10 and which carries a projection 31 acting normally to prevent rotation of the sleeve 23 and movement of the collar 21 and plunger 19.

Normally, that is when the lever D is locked, the plunger 12 is in its innermost position and passes through the eye G and into the socket 11. At such a time, the collar 15 is located inwardly of the free end of the plunger 19 which therefore acts as a stop to prevent outward movement of the plunger 12.

To effect unlocking of the lever, it is merely necessary that the operator insert the key 25 through the slot 26 and engage it upon the stem 24. lVhen this is done, the lateral extension 28 on the key will engage and depress the curved end 29 of the retaining member 30 so that the projection 31 ot the latter will be withdrawn from engagement with the sleeve 33. hen the key is subsequently turned in a clockwise direction, the rotation of the key will effect corresponding turning movement of the stem 24 and sleeve 23 so that the forked lever 22 cooperating with the grooved collar 21 will act to retract the-plunger 19 from its locking position as disclosed in Figure 7 whereupon the coil spring 14 will act to move the plunger 12 to its outermost position and out of engagement with the eye G of the lever. After the switch lever has been moved as desired and it is desired to relock it, it is not necessary to use the key, the only requirement being that the operator press upon the head or button 13 and move the plunger 12 inwardly through the eye and into the socket 11, the spring pressure on the plunger 19 acting to project it behind the eollar15 into the position shown in Figure 7. By

making the guards on the housing of aluminum or by coating them with some luminous material it is obvious that the switchman may see sufliciently that he may perform the necessary manipulations without difiiculty and without having to carry a lantern. Obviously, the elimination of the usual padlock is a great advantage inasmuch as the time and labor consumed in operating the present device will be greatly cut down. It is really believed that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

l i hile 1 have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim 1. lln combination with a switch stand having a pivoted operating lever provided with an eye, locking means for the lever comprising a spring pressed plunger adapted to pass through the eye, a second spring pressed plunger movable at right angles to the first named and acting normally to prevent retraction thereof, and key operated means for retracting the second named plunger out of cooperative relation to the first named.

2. A locking device for a switch stand embodying a pivoted operating lever having an eye therein, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted upon the stand, a socket within the housing, a plunger adapted to be inserted through said eye and into said socket, spring means normally urging said plunger into extended position out of engagement with the eye, a stop element on the plunger. a spring pressed plunger mounted at right angles to the first named and normally engaging behind said stop member to prevent movement of the first named plunger out of locked position, and key operated means for retracting the second named plunger.

3. A locking device for a switch stand embodying a pivoted operating lever having an eye therein, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted upon the stand, a socket within the housing, a plunger adapted to be inserted through said eye and into said socket, spring means normally urging said plunger into extended position out of engagement with the eye, a stop element on the plunger, a. spring pressed plunger mounted at right angles to the first named and normally engaging behind said stop member to prevent movement of the first named plunger out of locked position, and key operated means for retracting the second named plunger, comprising a grooved collar on the second named plunger, a pivoted lever engaging said collar, and a key insertible into the housing and engageable With the lever for moving the same.

4. A locking device for a switch stand embodying a pivoted operating lever having an eye therein, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted upon the stand, a socket Within the housing, a plunger adapted to be inserted through said eye and into said socket, spring means normally urging said plunger into extended position out of engagement with the eye, a stop element on the plunger, a spring pressed plunger mounted at right angles to the first named and normally engaging behind the stop member to prevent movement of the first named plunger out of locked position, and key operated means for retracting the second named plunger, comprising a grooved collar on the second named plunger, a pivoted lever engaging said collar, and a key insertible into the housing and engageable With the lever for moving the same, a retaining element normally preventing movement of the forked lever and provided With means engageable by the key for efi'ecting movement into inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES NEWTON 00X.

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