US2019189A - Railway switch operating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Get. 29, 1935.

W. C. M WHIRTER ET AL RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1955 THEIR A TTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sme t 2 p 3 x a V Q w I .&w W m NWMM, mm QM. Qm r n 0% u Q g, fix. w w 0 mm? M... w .W. :4 N m u. g Q S m o H g 3 \w Q a? m E. W wN NN MWUQQ B Q Q ww QN r THEIR A TTORNEY Oct. 29, 1935. w. c M WHIRTER ET AL RAILWA? SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed June 13, 1953 Oct. 29, 1935. w. c. M WHIRTER ET AL RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS 3 SheetsShee.t 3

Filed June 13, 1953 Wm m, M 00 m MlIIAM O M lw o M a a Y gm WW I i. L T i WM .6

I VENT O S wallcam C fi wlzm z er Y B y and Edw ijQ iz'zzlg THE/1? ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNETED STATES PATENT OF-FWE RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS of Pennsylvania Application June 13, 1933, Serial No. 675,590

10 Claims.

Our invention relates to railway switch operating apparatus.

In certain mechanical interlockings in which railway switches are operated by means of me- ..5 chanical levers located in an interlocking tower, and connected with the switches by means of pipe lines, the tramc during certain periods of the day is so light, or of such a nature, that the necessity for having an operator in the tower during these 10 periods can be eliminated if means are provided whereby when the towerman is 01f duty, the switch can be left locked in its normal position for main line traffic over the switch, but if it be comes necessary to reverse the switch to permit 15 a siding move, a trainman can, by means of a manually operable switch throwing device located at the switch, unlock the switch and reverse -it until the siding move is completed, and then restore the switch to its normal position and relock it in this position, in such a way that when .the towerman again comes on duty, he can conrol the switch from the tower in the usual manner. One object of our invention is to provide novel means for' accomplishing this desirable 25 result.

We will describe one form of railway switch operating apparatus embodying our invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

00 In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing a railway switch provided with one form of switch operating apparatus embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the switch throwing and locking device B forming part of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l, the several covers of the device being removed to better illustrate the construction of its mechanism. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 2 taken substantially on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of thelever stand D forming part of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l, and embodying our invention. Fig. 6 is a side view of the stand D shown in Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views taken on the "lines VII-VII, and VIIIVIII, respectively, of

Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. l, the reference character A designates a railway switch comprising, as usual, two fixed rails l and l and two movable rails 2 and 2 The fixed rails l and l are laid "on tie-plates S- and are secured -to crossties' l in .rall l the usual manner. The movable rails 2 and 2 are fastened together by a front rod 5 and a head rod 6, and may be moved into a normal or a reverse position by means of a throw rod 1 which is connected with the head rod 6 through the 5 medium of the usual switch basket 8. When the switch occupies its normal position, in which position, it is shown in the drawings, the movable rail 2 engages the fixed rail l, and the movable rail Z is spaced a slight distance from the fixed 10 When the switch is reversed, however, the movable rail 2 then engages the fixed rail l and the movable rail 2 is spaced from the fixed rail 1.

Associated with .the switch A is a switch throwl5 ing and locking device B. This device may be of. any suitable type but, in'the form here shown, this; device comprises a main casing 9 (see Figs. 2 and 3) which is boltedto an adjacent pair of the crossties Land an auxiliary casing Hi which is bolted to a tail-like projection 9 of the main casing 9. The upper end of the main casing 9 is closed by a cover H and a guard l2, while the upper end of the auxiliary casing I6 is closed by .a hinged cover l3. The cover H is secured to 2 themaincasing. Q by means of bolts it while the guard I2 is secured to one of the ties 4 by means of lag screws or bolts I5.

Formed in the main casing 9 is an axially extending rectangular guideway 16 which slidably receives amotion plate H. The motion plate I! is providedon its upper face with rack teeth l8, and on its lower face with a cam slot l9, and is adapted to be reciprocated between two extreme positions by means ofa hand throw lever 29 fixed to a shaft. 2|. The shaft H is journaled in suitable bearings 22 secured to the casing 9, and has fixed thereto a segment gear 23 which meshes with the rack teeth l8. As best seen in Fig. 2, the .cam slot H9 is formed with a portion at each end which is parallel to the direction of move- -ment of the motion plate, and with an intermediate connecting portion which is disposed at an acute angle to the direction of movement of the motion plate. Extending into the cam slot l9 and cooperating therewith is a roller 25 which is mounted on a pin! 26 secured to an arm 21 forming part of a crankZB. The crank 28 is journaled in a vertical bearing 29 formed in the bottom of the casing 9, and has fixed thereto on the underside of the casing, a removable switch operating arm 39.

Extending longitudinally of the casing 9 between the upper side of the motion plate H and theshaft 2| is a lockbar 3| whichis adapted to be reciprocated between a locking and an unlocking position in a manner which we will describe hereinafter. The lefthand end of this look bar is slidably mounted in a rectangular guideway 32 provided in the tail-like projection 8 in the casing 9, and is adapted to cooperate with a lock rod L which is slidably mounted in a transverse guideway 33 formed in the tail-like projection 9 at right angles to the guideway 32. The lock rod L, in the form here shown, is of standard construction, and comprises two longitudinally adjustable bars 34 and 35 attached at one end to the front rod 5 of the switch A, the bar 34 being provided with two notches 35 and 36 which register with similar notches 36 and 36 in the bar 35. The notches 36 are so disposed that these notches will align with the lock bar when and only when the switch A occupies its normal position in which it is shown in the drawings, and the notches 36 are so disposed that these notches will align with the lock bar when and only when the switch occupies its reverse position. The parts are so proportioned that when the lock bar is moved to its locking position, it will enter the notches 36 or 36 according as the switch then occupies its normal position or its reverse position, but that, when the lock bar is moved to its unlocking position, it will be withdrawn from both sets of notches. It will be apparent, therefore, that the switch will be locked in one extreme position or the other, or unlocked, according as the lock bar occupies its looking or its unlocking position.

Cooperating with the hand lever 28 for the purpose of permitting this lever to be locked in either extreme position are two lever latch stands S and S These stands may be of any of the well-known types, and need not, therefore, be described in detail here.

The device B further comprises a circuit controller C which is located wholly within the auxiliary casing ID. This circuit controller may be of any suitable type, but as here shown, this circuit controller comprises a rocker arm 48 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin 4! secured to the casing l8. The rocker arm 48 is formed with two cam surfaces 42 and 44 which cooperate with a cam 45 secured to the upper face of the lock bar. When the lock bar occupies its locking position, the cam 45 engages the cam surface 62, and under these conditions the rocker arm 40 is rotated to its normal position in which it is shown in Fig. 3. When, however, the lock bar is moved to its unlocking position in order to unlock the switch, the cam 45 moves out of engagement with the cam surface 82 and into engagement with the cam surface 44, thereby rotating the rocker arm 40 from its normal extreme position to its other extreme position in a manner which will be obvious from an inspection of the drawings.

Pivotally attached to the lefthand end of the rocker arm 48 is a contact operating member :36 which is guided to move vertically by means of studs 41 which pass freely through holes 48 in the operating member. Secured to the upper side of the operating member 46 are two superposed insulating blocks 50 and 5| between which are clamped the free ends of a plurality of flexible contact fingers 52, here shown as four in number. Each contact finger 52 cooperates with an associated fixed contact member 53 to form a plunger lock contact 5253. Each contact finger 52 and the associated fixed contact member 53 are clamped to the opposite sides of an insulating block 54 by means of terminal posts 55 and 56, and the insulating block Ell, in turn, is supported on lugs 57 projecting inwardly from the sides of the casing l0. Each terminal post 55 is electrically connected with the 5 associated contact member 53 but is insulated from the associated contact finger 52, as will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings, while each terminal post 56 is insulated from both-the associated contact finger 52 and contact 10 member 53. The parts are so proportioned that when the rocker arm 43 occupies its normal extreme position, each plunger lock contact 5253 will be closed, but that, when the rocker arm is rotated to its other extreme position, each 15 contact 5253 will then become opened. It will be apparent, therefore, that the plunger lock contacts will be closed when and only when the lock bar 3! occupies its locking position.

Associated with each plunger lock contact is 20 a point detector contact comprising a flexible contact finger 58 which cooperates with a fixed contact member 59. Each contact finger 58 is fastened at one end to one end of a conducting strip 68, the other end of which strip is 25 clamped against the fixed end of the associated finger 52 to make electrical contact therewith; while each contact member 59 is secured to and electrically connected with the associated terminal post 58. Pivotally mounted below the I0 contact fingers 53 .is a second contact operating member Bl (see Fig. 4) carrying a roller 62 which at times enters a notch 63 in a point detector rod 64. The point detector rod 84 is slidably mounted in the casing 18, and is attached by 35 means of a link 65 and a bolt member 66 with the movable rail 2 of the switch A in the usual and well-known manner. The operating member 6| also carries an insulating strip 551 which cooperates with the contact fingers 58 in such 40 manner that when the roller 62 is within the notch 63, the insulating strip 61 will be clear of the fingers 58, thus permitting the contacts 58-58 to become closed. When, however, the roller 62 is forced out of the notch 63, this strip 45 will engage the undersides of the fingers 58 and raise them to the position in which they are out of engagement with the associated fixed contact members 58, thus opening the contacts 5859. The notch 63 in the point detector rod 50 64 is so disposed, and the parts are so proportioned, that the roller 62 will enter the notch 63 when and only when the movable rails Z and 2 of the switch A occupy their normal positions and the rail 2 is in proper engagement with the fixed rail 5.

It will be noted from an inspection of the drawings that each plunger lock contact 52-53 and the associated point detector contact 58-59 are connected in series between the associated 00 terminal posts 55 and 58, so that in order to complete an electrical circuit which is connected with the associated terminal posts 55 and 53, it is necessary for the lock bar 3| to occupy its normal locking position, and for the movable rail 2 to 05 be properly closed against the fix'ed rail l.

' The switch operating apparatus further comprises two floating lever stands D and D embodying our invention. These stands are similar and a description of one will therefore suflice for 7 both. Referring particularly to the stand D shown in detail in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, this stand comprises a base casting l8 and a top casting H secured together adjacent their ends by means of suitable bolts 12, which bolts also serve to se- 76 cure the device to an adjacent pair of the ties 5 or to any other suitable support. The base casting H3 is formed with a hollow central portion 18 and is provided at its opposite sides with guide surfaces 10 The top casting "H is likewise formed with a hollow central portion N and is provided at its opposite sides with guide surfaces li disposed in parallel spaced relation with respect to the guide surfaces 18 Slidably supported on the guide surfaces 16 and held in place vertically by the guide surfaces 1 l are two levers l3 and 74. These levers are pivoted at or .near their centers on pins i5 and 76 mounted in spaced straps Tl secured together by studs 18, and are guided laterally by means of rollers 19 and 86 which are journaled on the pins 15 and It directly above the levers, and which ride in a guideway 8! formed in the top casting ll. One end of lever 13 is connected, by means of a pin 82, with a pair of links 83, and the links 83, in turn, are connected by means of a pivot pin 8 with a bar which is secured between the top and base castings ill and H in a manner which will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings.

With the lever stand D constructed in the manner just described, it will be apparent that the motion of the upper end of the lever 13 is restricted so that it may be considered as rotating about a fixed point. The lengths of the two levers i3 and is are equal, and since the pivot pins '55 and F5 are located at or near the centers of these levers, it will be obvious that rotation of the lever 73 about the pivot pin 82 will cause the pivot pins 15 and 18 to move along the axis or" the stand D through approximately one-half the distance that the free end of the lever 13 is moved. It follows that if the upper end of lever 74 is constrained to rotate about a fixed point while the lever '53 is being rotated, the lower end of lever 'M will be rotated in the same direction and through the same angular distance that the lower or free end of lever 13 is rotated. Likewise, it will be obvious that if lever 13 is held stationary, the pivot pin 16 will be held stationary, and lever 14 will then be constrained to rotate about the pivot pin 16 as a fixed point, so that if the upper end of lever 74 is then rotated through any angular distance, the lower end of this lever will be rotated through the same angular distance.

Referring now again to Fig. 1, the operating arm 3!] of the switch throwing and locking device B is operatively connected with the free end of the floating lever 13 of the lever stand D by means of a pivot pin Bl, an adjustable connecting rod 88 and a pivot pin 89; and the throw rod 1 of switch A is operatively connected with one end of lever it of stand D by means of a pivot pin 90. pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin 9! with a pipe line 92 of the usual and well-known type operated from an interlocking tower T by means of a lever 93. The motion plate I! of de vice D (see Figs. 3 and 6) is operatively connected with the free end of lever '53 of stand D by means of a pivot pin 94, an adjustable connecting rod 95, and a pivot pin 96, and the righthand end of lock bar 3! of device B is operatively connected with one end of lever H! of stand D by means of a pivot pin 91, a connecting rod 98 and a pivot pin 99. The remaining end of lever 14 of stand D is operatively connected by means of a pivot pin lfii! with a pipe line It] operated by lever lUZlocated in the tower T. The two levers S3 and I92 are each movable between a normal po- The other end of lever 14 of stand D is sition n and a reverse position 1", and will usually be interlocked in accordance with the customary practice in such manner that lever 93 can not be moved from either position to the other position unless lever 32 then occupies its n position.

As shown in the drawings, the hand lever iii of the switch throwing and locking device B and the lever 33 in the tower T both occupy their normal position, but the lever E32 occupies its reverse position. Under these conditions, the 1 switch occupies its normal position and the lock bar 3| occupies its locking position, so that the switch is securely locked in its normal position. Furthermore, since the switch occupies its normal position, the point detector contacts 58-5ii 1 of circuit controller C are closed, and since the lock bar occupies its locking position, the plunger lock contacts 5253 of circuit controller C are also closed.

In explaining the operation of the apparatus as 2 a whole, we will first assume that the parts are in th positions in which they are shown in the drawings, and that it is desired to reverse the switch, and lock it in its reverse position, from the tower. To do this, the operator in the tower first moves lever from its reverse position 1' to its normal position it. During this movement of lever i532, lever 73 or" lever stand D is held fixed so that the lever M of lever stand D is constrained to rotate about the pivot pin it as a fixed pivot, 3 and the parts are so proportioned that this r0- tation of lever i iunder these conditions will move lock bar 3! from its locking position to its unlocking position, thereby unlocking the switch and at the same time opening the plunger lock 3 contacts 52-53 of circuit controller C. The switch now being unlocked, the operator next rotates lever 93 from its normal position to its reverse position. During this rotation of lever 93, lever '53 of lever stand D is also held in a 4 fixed position, so that lever M of stand D is constrained to rotate about the pin iii of lever stand D as a fixed pivot, and the parts are so proportioned that the rotation of lever at of stand D moves the movable rails of the switch from 4 their normal positions to their reverse positions. As soon as the switch moved away from its normal position, the resultant movement of point detector rod actuates the operating member El of circuit controller C to open the point detector 5 contacts 5859. After the switch has been moved to its reverse position, the operator restores lever 5&2 to its reverse position 1". When he does this, the notches 36 in look rod L are then in alignment with the lock bar 3!, and the lock 5 bar enters these notches, thus locking the switch in its reverse position.

To restore the switch to its normal position and lock it in its normal position after the switch has been reversed in the manner just described, 6 the operator first moves lever 532 from its r position to its n positi n, then. moves lever 93 from its r position to its so position, and finally restores lever it?) to its 1" position. The operation of the apparatus, under these conditions, will be ap- 6 parent from the foregoing and from an inspec- .tion of the drawings without further description.

We will now assume that the parts are in the positions in which they are shown in the draw- 7 ings, and that-it is desired to reverse the switch by means of the switch throwing and locking device B. To do this, the operator rotates the hand lever 29 from the position shown in Fig. 1 through an angle of approximately in a 7 counter-clockwise direction to its opposite extreme position. This rotation of lever 20 causes the motion plate ii to move from its extreme left-hand position, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, to its extreme right-hand position, which movement in turn, acts through the pivot pin 94, connecting rod and pivot pin 95 to rotate the lever 13 of the lever stand D about the pivot pin 82 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. During this rotation of lever 13, pin I00 is held fixed by the pipe line IGI, and as a result, this rotation of lever 13 causes lever 14 to rotate about the pivot pin iii) in the same direction and through the same angular distance that lever 13 is rotated, thereby withdrawing lock bar 3i from engagement with the notches 36 in the lock rod L and hence unlocking the switch. The movement of the motion plate toward the right also causes roller 25 on crank 28 to move along cam slot l9, and the parts are so proportioned that while the lock bar 3! is being withdrawn from the notches 36 in the lock rod L, the cam slot 19 will continue to engage the roller 25 at that portion of the slot at its right-hand end which is parallel to the direction of movement of the motion plate so that the crank 28 will remain stationary under these conditions. It follows, therefore, that during that portion of the movement of the motion plate which is necessary to unlock the movable rails of the switch, no force is exerted on these rails tending to reverse them. As soon, however, as this first part of the movement of the motion plate is completed, the roller 25 is then engaged by the curved portion of the cam slot l9, and the crank 28 is then rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. This counter-clockwise rotation of the crank is transmitted to the lever d3 of stand D through the pivot pin 3?, connecting rod 83 and pivot pin 89, thereby causing lever 73 to be rotated in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 82. As a result, pin 9! now being held fixed by the pipe line 532, lever I4 is rotated about the pivot pin 9| in the same direction, and through the same angular distance as lever 53 is rotated, which rotation moves the switch to its reverse position. As soon as the lock bar 3! is moved away from its locking position, the plunger lock contacts 5253 of circuit controller C become opened in the same manner as when the switch is unlocked from the tower, and as soon as the switch points start to move away from their normal positions, the point detector contacts 5859 of circuit controller C become opened.

In order to restore the switch to its normal position by the switch operating device B after the switch has been reversed as just described, the lever 25 is restored to the position shown in the drawings. The subsequent movements of the parts under these conditions are just the reverse of those which take place during movement of the switch to its reverse position by the device B, and it is believed, therefore, that the operation of the apparatus under these conditions will be readily understood from an inspection of the drawings without further description.

It should be pointed out that before operation of the switch can be effected from the tower, it is necessary that the lever 20 of switch operating device B should occupy its normal position in which it is shown in the drawings, and that before operation of the switch can be effected by means of the switch operating device B, it is necessary that the levers 93 and I02 should occupy the positions in which they are shown in the drawings.

It should also be pointed out that when a towerman is on duty in the tower, lever I02 will normally be left standing in its normal position in which the switch is unlocked in accordance with standard interlocking practice, instead of in its reverse position as shown. When the lever I02 occupies its normal position, a signal lever (not shown) is held, by the usual interlocking mechanism, in its normal position, and under these conditions when it is desired to clear the signal governing traffic over the switch to permit a train to pass over the switch it is necessary to first place the switch lever 93 in the desired position for the route which is to be set up, and then operate the lock lever I02 to its reverse position to lock the switch in the position corresponding to the position of the lever I02, which releases the interlocking and thereby permits the signal lever to be reversed and the signal cleared.

Although we have herein shown and described only one form of railway switch operating apparatus embodying our invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described out invention, what we claim is:

1. In combination, a railway switch, a lever stand comprising two floating levers pivoted intermediate their ends for rotation about axes which are fixed relative to each other but which are free to move together along a fixed path, the one end of one lever being pivoted for rotation about a relatively fixed point, a manually operable switch throwing device located adjacent said switch and operatively connected with the free end of said one lever, means for operatively connecting one end of the other lever withsaid switch, a manually operable device located at a remote point, and means for operatively connecting said manually operable device with the other end of said other lever.

2. In combination, a railway switch, a lever stand comprising first and second floating levers pivoted intermediate their ends for rotation about axes which are fixed relative to each other but are free to move together along a fixed path, the one end of said first lever being pivoted for rotation about a relatively fixed point, a switch throwing device located adjacent the switch and including a switch operating member rotatable between two extreme positions, means for operatively connecting said switch operating member with the free end of said first lever, means for operatively connecting one end of said second lever with said switch, a manually operable lever having normal and reverse positions, and means for operatively connecting said manually operable lever with the iree end of said second lever, the parts being so proportioned that when said switch operating arm occupies its one extreme position, movement of said manually operable lever between its normal and reverse positions will move said switch between its normal and reverse positions and that when said manually operable lever occupies its normal position, rotation of said switch operating arm between its one extreme position and its other extreme position will move said switch between its normal and reverse positions.

3. In combination with a railway switch, a switch operating and locking device comprising a casing, a motion plate reciprocable in said casing between a first and a second extreme position, means in said casing for reciprocating said motion plate between its two extreme positions, a lock bar in said casing movable between a locking and an unlocking position, means efiective when and only when said lock bar occupies its locking position for locking the switch in its normal extreme position, a first and a second manually operable lever each having normal and reverse positions, means including a first floating lever stand for operatively connecting said look bar with said motion plate and with said first manually operable lever in such manner that when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position and said first manually operable lever occupies its reverse position said lock bar will occupy its locking position but that if said motion plate is moved to its second extreme position when said first manually operable lever occupies its reverse position, or if said first manually operable lever is moved to its normal position when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position, said lock bar will be moved to its unlocking position, and means including a second floating lever stand for operatively connecting the movable rails of said switch with said motion plate and with said second manually operable lever in such manner that when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position and said second manually operable lever occupies its normal position said switch will occupy its normal position, but that if said motion plate is moved to its second extreme position when said second manually operable lever occupie its normal position, or if said second manually operable lever is moved to its reverse position when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position said switch will be moved to its reverse position.

4. In combination with a railway switch, a switch operating and locking device comprising a casing, a motion plate reciprocable in said casing between a first and a second extreme position, means in said casing for reciprocating said motion plate between its two extreme positions, a lock bar in said casing movable between a locking and an unlocking position, means effective when and only when said lock bar occupies its locking position for locking the switch in its normal extreme position, a first and a second manually operable lever each having normal and reverse positions, means including a first floating lever stand for operatively connecting said lock with said motion plate and with said first manually operable lever in such manner that when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position and said first manually operable lever occupies its reverse position said lock bar will occupy its locking position but that if said motion plate is moved to its second ex treme position when said first manually operable lever occupies its reverse position, or if said first manually operable lever is moved to its normal position when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position, said lock bar will then be moved to its unlocking position, means including a second floating lever stand for operatively connecting the movable rails of said switch with said motion plate and with said second manually operable lever in such manner that when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position and said second manually operable lever occupies its normal position said switch will occupy its normal position, but that if said motion plate is moved to its second extreme position when said second manually operable lever occupies its normal position, or if said second manually operable lever is moved to its reverse position when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position said switch will then be moved to its reverse position, and a icrcuit controller controlled in accordance with the position of said lock bar.

5. In combination with a railway switch, a switch operating and locking device comprising a casing, a motion plate reciprocable in said casing betwen a first and a second extreme position, means in said casing for reciprocating said motion plate between its two extreme positions, a lock bar in said casing movable between a locking and an unlocking position, means eiiective when and only when said lock bar occupies its locking position for locking the switch in its normal extreme position, a first and a second manually operable lever each having normal and reverse positions, means including a first floating lever stand for operatively connecting said lock bar with said motion plate and with said first manually operable lever in such manner that when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position and said first manually operable lever occupies its reverse position said lock bar will occupy its locking position but that if said motion plate is moved to its second extreme position when said first manually operable lever occupies its reverse position, or if said first manually operable lever is moved to its normal position when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position, said lock bar will then be moved to its unlocking position, and means including a second floating lever stand for operatively connecting the movable rails of said switch with said motion plate and with said second manually operable lever in such manner that when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position and said second manually operable lever occupies its normal position said switch will occupy its normal position, but that if said motion plate is moved to its second extreme position when said second manually operable lever o-ccupiesitsnormal position, or if said second manually operable lever is moved to its reverse position when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position said switch will then be moved to its reverse position, and a circuit controller controlled in accordance with the position of said lock bar and said switch.

6. In combination, a railway switch movable between normal and reverse positions, a first floating lever stand comprising first and second floating levers pivoted intermediate their end for rotation about axes which are fixed relative to each other but which are free to move together along a fixed path, said first floating lever also having one end pivoted for rotation about a relatively fixed pivot, a second floating lever stand comprising third and fourth floating levers pivoted intermediate their ends for rotation about axes which are fixed relative to each other but which are free to move together along a fixed path, said third floating lever also having one end pivoted for rotation about a relatively fixed pivot, means for operatively connecting one end of said second floating lever with the movable rails of said switch, a first manually operable lever movable between a normal and reverse position, means for operatively connecting said first manually operable lever with the other end of said second floating lever, a switch operating and locking device comprising a casing, a motion plate in said casing movable between a first and a second extreme position, means in said casing for reciprocating said motion plate between its two extreme positions, means for operatively connecting said motion plate with the free end of said first floating lever, a lock bar mounted in said casing and movable between a locking and an unlocking position, means efiective when and only when said switch occupies its normal position and said lock bar occupies its locking position for locking the switch in its normal position, means for operatively connecting said motion plate with the free end of said third fioating lever, means for operatively connecting said lock bar with one end of said fourth floating lever, a second manually operable lever movable between a normal and reverse position, and means for operatively connecting said second manually operable lever with the free end of said fourth floating lever, the parts being so proportioned that when said first manually operable lever occupies its normal position and said second manually operable lever occupies its reverse position, movement of said motion plate from its first extreme position to its second extreme position will first operate the levers of said second lever stand in such manner that said locking plunger is moved from its locking position to its unlocking position and will then operate the levers of said first lever stand in such manner that said switch is moved from its normal to its reverse position, and vice versa, and that when said motion plate occupies its first extreme position, movement of said second manually operable lever between its normal and reverse positions will rotate said fourth lever about its pivotal axis in such manner that said lock bar is moved between its unlocking and locking positions while rotation of said first manually operable lever between its normal and reverse positions will rotate said second lever about its pivotal axis in such manner that the switch is moved between its normal and reverse positions.

7. In combination, a railway switch, a lever stand comprising two floating levers pivoted intermediate their ends for rotation about axes which are fixed relative to each other but which are free to move together along a fixed path, the one end of the one lever being pivoted for rotation about a relatively fixed point, means for operatively connecting one end of the other lever with said switch, and two separate switch operating instrumentalities one operatively connected with the free end of each of said levers.

8. In combination, a railway switch provided with a lock bar movable between a locking and an unlocking position, said lock bar being effective when moved to its locking position to lock said switch in one or the other of its extreme positions, a lever stand comprising two floating levers pivoted intermediate their ends for rotation about axes which are fixed relative to each other but which are free to move together along a fixed path, the one end of the one lever being pivoted for rotation about a relatively fixed point, two separate operating means'each movable between two extreme positions, the one said operating means being connected with the free end of said one lever and the other said operating means being connected with one end of the other lever, and means for connecting the free end of said other lever with said lock bar, the parts being so proportioned that when said one operating means occupies its one extreme position movement of said other operating means between its two extreme positions will move said lock bar between its locking and unlocking positions and vice versa.

9. In combination, a railway switch, means for operating said switch between its two extreme positions, a lock bar movable between a locking and an unlocking position, means efiective when said switch occupies either of its two extreme positions and said lock bar occupies its locking position for locking said switch in the extreme position which it then occupies, a lever stand comprising twofioating levers pivoted intermediate their ends for rotation about axes which are fixed relative to each other but which are free to move together along a fixed path, the one end of the one lever being pivoted for rotation about a relatively fixed point, means for operatively connecting the other end of said one lever with said switch operating means, means for operatively connecting one end of said other 1ever with said lock bar, and operating means connected with the free end of said other lever.

10. In combination, a railway switch, a first operating means for moving said switch between its two extreme positions, a lock bar movable between a locking and an unlocking position, means effective when said switch occupies either of-its two extreme positions and said lock bar occupies its locking position for locking said switch in the extreme position which it then occupies, a lever stand comprising two floating levers pivoted intermediate their ends for rotation about axes which are fixed relative to each other but which are free to move together along a fixed path, the one end of the one lever being pivoted for rotation about a relatively fixed point, means for operatively connecting the other end of said one lever with said first operating means, means for operatively connecting the one end of said other lever with said lock bar, a second operating means having normal and reverse positions, and means for operatively connecting said second operating means with the free end of said other lever, the parts being so proportioned that when said switch is moved to its normal position by said first operating means and said second operating means occupies its reverse position said lock bar will be moved to its locking position but that if said switch is moved to its reverse position by said first operating means when said second operating means occupies its reverse position or if said second operating means is moved to its normal position when said switch is moved to its normal position by said first operating means, said lock bar will then be moved to its unlocking position.

WILLIAM C. McWHIRTER. EDWIN G. LITTLE.

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