US562929A - Electric signal - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1. G. H. SHERWOOD.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

' No. 562.929. Patented June 30, 18

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No. 562,929. Patented June 30, 1896 ANDREW 168mm.PNOYGUMQWASHINGTUQLDD.

WITNSSES I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. Sl-IERXVOOD, OF UTICA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY G. LYMAN, OF SHERBURNE, NEXT YORK.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,929, dated June 30, 1896.

Application filed October 21, 1895. Serial No. 566,291. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- A represents a case which is suitably lo- Beitknown that I, CHARLES H. SHERWOOD, cated at the street-crossing and is provided of Utica, in the county of Oneida, in the with the laterally-swinging door A. \Vithin 5 5 State of New York, have-invented new and said case is located the bell-ringing mech- 5 useful Improvements in Electric Signals, of ,anism, consisting of the usual magnet c and which the following, taken in connection with its armature provided with the bell-hamthe accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, mer c". A battery B and a circuit maker and and exact description. breaker are also located within said case and 6:1

This invention relates to the class of elecall in circuit. to trio signals which are employed on railroads The bell b is secured to the outer face of and operated automatically by a passing the door A and is provided with a shield I). train; and it consists usually of a bell located Said door isshown thrown part way open and at a street-crossing, an electric circuit, bellpresenting aface view of its free edge thereof. 6 ringing mechanism and battery in said circuit, Near the bell the door is provided with a hole I 5 a circuit1naker remote from the signal and a or slot 1)" (shown in dotted lines) for the recircuit-breake'r adjacent to the signal, both ception of the bell-hammer c". operated by the wheels of a passing train or In a suitable portion of the case is located engine. Said systems require a great deal of a main air-cylinder C, disposed in a vertical 7o wiring and a great number of batteries which position and having its pist0n-r0d e extendrequire a great deal of care and repairing ing upward. On the upper end of said cyland are expensive. ind er is located the circuit maker and breaker, My invention consists of a bell located at consisting of two flexible metal plates (1 (I, the street-crossing, an electric circuit, bellsecured on the insulating-plate g by means 7 5 ringing mechanism, and a single battery in of the binding-post ff, to which one end of said. circuit, a circuit maker and breaker adeach of the two wires of the electric circuit I jacent to the bell, an air-cylinder having its is fastened. The upper-end of the piston piston operating said circuit maker and rod e is provided with a ball 6", by which it breaker, air-pumps and relief-valves controlbears against one of the aforesaid flexible 8o ling the movement of said piston-rod, and a plates d and insulated therefrom, as shown track instrument at each pump actuated by at cl in the drawings.

a passing train or engine operating said Adjacent to the main cylinder C is a vertipumps. Cally-disposed relief air-cylinder D, having The invention is fully illustrated in the no its piston-rod a extending upward. Directly 8 5 companying drawings, in whichabove the relief-cylinder is a reliefvalve a,

5 Figure 1 is a view showing my improved having its stem at" axially in line with the system. Fig. 2 is a detail side view of the piston-rod a,which valve communicateswith main air-cylinder having the circuit maker the top of the interior of the main cylinder 0 and breaker located thereon. Fig. 3 is a plan by means of the pipe 72.. view of the same. Fig. 4 is a side view of the Remote from the case A in opposite direc- 0 pump adjacent to the signal and a relief-valve tions are two air-pumps 2 2, communicating operated thereby and showing the track inwith the bottom of the interior of the main strument which operates the same. Fig. 5 is cylinder by means of the pipes i, j, and k.

aview on line X X in Fig. i. Fig. 6 is an en- Adjacent to the case A is a similar pump 1,

larged side view of a modification of the communicatingwiththetop of the maincylinpump adjacent to the signal and track inder bymeans of the pipes Z, m, n, and h. Adstrument operating the same. Fig. 7 is a jacent to the pump 1 is a relief-valve 3, havlongitudinal section on line "W W, Fig. 6. ing its stem 26 extending upward and oper- Fig. 8 is a transverse section on line YY, Fig. ated by the verticallyswinging finger 2'7, pivmo (5 3 and Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section oted to the lower end of the cylinder of the 50 on line Z Z, Fig. 7. pump, said finger being swung to force down Similar letters and numerals of reference the stem of said valve with its outer end by indicate corresponding parts. means of the plate 5, secured on the lower end of the piston-rod at of said pump-cylinder, striking the inner end of said finger in the upward movement of said plate.

The relief-valve 3 communicates with the bottom of the interior of the air-cylinder O by means of the pipes o, p, j, and 7c, and with the bottom of the interior of the cylinder D by means of said pipes and the pipes t" and h, extending from the pipe 7t. Said pumps are each operated bya track instrument consisting of a horizontal rock-shaft 6, extending from beneath the plate 5 on the piston-rod 4 to the railway-track and provided with a vertical arm 7 on the end adjacent to the track and a horizontal arm 8 and arms 8 8 at, respectively, the remote and adjacent pumps.

Between the plate 5 and pump-cylinder is interposed a spring 9 for the purpose of forcing down the plate 5, thereby drawing down the pump-piston and also throwing the track instrument to its normal position.

The pipes 71. and i are provided with popvalves f f to relieve any excess pressure, and the pipe j is provided with check-valve g g at opposite sides of the connection with the pipe 7c.

The operation of my improved signal system is as follows: As a train from either direction approaches the street crossing at which is located the signal and passing a remote pump 2, the wheels of said train strike the vertical arm 7, which rocks the shaft 6, thereby throwing up the horizontal arm 8, secured on the inner end of said shaft, which pushes up the plate 5 and the piston-rod 4 and piston of said pump, whereby the air is forced through the pipes '11, j, and into the bottom of the interior of the main cylinder 0, and also from the pipe 70, through the pipe i and h, into the bottom of the interior of the relief-cylinder D, whereby its pistonrod a is forced up and pushes up the stem a of the relief -valve a, operating the same, releasing the air from the cylinder 0 above the piston through the pipe h. By forcing the airinto the bottom of the cylinder 0 and releasing the air from the top thereof its piston and rod 6 are moved up, and said rod, bearing against one of the flexible plates d, forces the same into contact with the other plate cl, thereby closing the electric circuit, whereby the bell at the street-crossing is rung as an indication of the approach of a train. The pistonrod 6 remains in its outward position and holding said plates in contact until the train reachesthe crossing and is passing the pump 1. In passing the adjacent pump 1 the track instrument is actuated precisely the same as at pump 2, and the rock-shaft 6 being provided with two horizontal arms 8 8 on its inner end, beneath the plate 5 on the piston-rod of the pump, said pump will be operated by a train moving in either direction. lVhen the adjacent pump 1 is operated, the air is forced through the pipes 1', m, 'n,

.a single-track road.

and 72, into the top of the interior of the main cylinder 0 to force down its piston and rod c in order to allow the adjacent flexible plate (Z to spring away from the other plate (1 to open the circuit, whereby the bell ceases to ring. In order to allow the piston of said cylinder to move down, the air is released from the bottom thereof by means of the reliefvalve 3 operated by the pump 1, as aforesaid, through the pipes o, p, j, and 7c, and the air in the bottom of the cylinder D is released at the same time through the pipes 7t and i into the pipe It. By releasing the air from the cylinder D its piston is allowed to descend, drawing the rod a away from the valvestem a of the relief-valve ato allow the same to close.

The system as herein shown is designed for On a double-track road the described mechanism and arrangement of the cylinder, valves, pumps, &c., is doubled.

The herein-described case A may be of any suitable form or design so as to protect the bell-ringing mechanism, battery, the circuit maker and breaker, c. from the weather. I prefer to employ a dry battery in my improved system to avoid freezing of same.

The pumps 1 and 2 and track instrument I prefer to construct in the form shown in the modification, which construction is as follows From the track-rail extending outward is a horizontal plate 10, suitably secured on the tie T,and on the outer end portion of said plate are bolted the two legs 11 11, which support the pump-cylinder a. The inner side of each leg is formed with a segmental guide 12, in which slides the annular horizontal plate 5, secured to the lower end of the piston-rod 4 of the pump-cylinder A. On the outer end of the horizontal rock-shaft 6 of the track instrument and bearing against the under side of the plate 5 are the two horizontal arms 8 S at the pumps adjacent to the signal, and a single arm 8 at the pumps remote from the sig- .nal, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Said shaft is mounted in suitable journal-boxes 12 12,the lower half of said boxes being formed on the plate 10. In front of the pump-cylinder and secured to the plate 10 are two vertical posts 13 13, and on the tops of said posts is secured a horizontal plate 14:, provided with a hole or guide 15. Below the plate 141 is a plate 16, provided with two holes or guides 24 24 at its end portion, by which it slides up and down 1 on the posts 13 13. Below the plate 16 extends the rock-shaft 6 and has secured thereon two horizontal arms 17 17, provided with rollers R R, which bear against the under side of the plate 16, said plate being provided with a rubber or rawhide facing on its under side. I11 the center of said latter plate is secured or provided a vertical piston-rod 18, which moves in the guide 15, formed in the plate 14:,as afore said, and between said plates is interposed a spiral spring 19. The vertical arm 7 on the end of the rock-shaft adjacent to the track I provide with a roller 20, which is preferably secured thereto by means of a bolt 21, the head 22 of which is countersunk in the roller formed with a shoulder 23. The object of this arrangement is to retain the track instrument in its position in case the pump becomes acci dentally displaced, thereby preventing the arm 7 from being tipped toward the track and thereby cause a train or engine to be derailed.

The plate 10 is preferably formed with a rib 25 around its edge, by which to retain a case or covering over the instrument and pump, not necessary to be shown.

hat I claim as my invention is- 1. in a railroad electric signaling apparatus or system, the combination with the circuit maker and breaker, of an air-cylinder having its piston-rod in proximity to said circuit maker and breaker, air-pumps remote from the signal communicating with the bottom of the interior of said cylinder and moving its piston and piston-rod to operate the circuit maker and breaker to close the circuit, a pump adjacent to the signal communicating with the top of the interior of said cylinder to move its piston and piston-rod to open the circuit, relief-valves relieving said cylinder from compressed air in front and back of its piston and track instruments actuated by a passing train.

operating said pumps as described and shown.

In a railroad electric signaling system, the combination with the circuit maker and breaker, of an air-cylinder having its pistonrod in proximity to said circuit make-rand breaker, air-pumps remote from the signal communicating with the bottom of the interior of said cylinder and a relief-valve communicatin g with the top of the interior of the cylinder to move its piston and operate the maker and breaker to close the circuit, a pump adjacent to the signal communicating with the top of the interior of the cylinder and a relief-valve operated by the adjacent pump communicating with the bottom of the interior of said cylinder to move its piston-rod to allow the maker and breaker to automatically open the circuit and track instruments operated by a passing train operating said pumps as described and shown.

3. In a railroad electric signaling system, the combination with the circuit maker and breaker, of a main air-cylinder having its piston-rod in proximity to said circuit maker and breaker, air-pumps remote from the signal communicating with the bottom of the interior of the main cylinder, a relief-valve communicating with the top of the interior of the main cylinder, a relief-cylinder having its piston-rod operating said relief-valve, a pump adjacent to the signal communicating with the top of the interior of the main cylinder, a relief-valve operated by the adjacent pump communicating with the bottoms of the interior of both cylinders and track instruments actuated by a passing train operating said pumps as shown for the purpose described.

i. In an electric signaling system, the combination of a bell a normally open electric circuit, bell-ringing mechanism and a battery in said circuit, an air-cylinder, a circuit maker and breaker on said cylinder and insulated therefrom, the piston-rod of said cylinder operatin g said circuit maker and breaker to close the circuit in its outward movement, said maker and breaker automatically closing the circuit in the inward movement of said pistonrod, and air-pumps and relief-valves communicating with opposite ends of the interior of said cylinder to control the movement of said piston-rod as described and shown.

5. In an electric signaling system, the combination of abell, a normally open electric circuit, bell-ringing mechanism and a battery in said circuit, an air-cylinder, the circuit maker and breaker consisting of two flexible plates secured on and extending from the end of said cylinder and insulated therefrom, the piston-rod of said cylinder moving and pressing said plates into contact in its outward movement to close the circuit, and air-pumps and relief-valves communicating with opposite ends of the interior of said cylinder controlling the movement of its piston-rod as described and shown.

6. In a railroad electric signal system, the combination with the normally open circuit maker and breaker, consisting of two flexible plates at cl, of a main air-cylinder 0 having its piston-rod 6 operating said circuit maker and breaker, air-pumps 2 2 remote from the signal communicating with the bottom of the interior of the main cylinder and bottom of the interior of the relief-cylinder D, a relief-valve a operated by the piston-rod of of the cylinder D, an air-pump 1 adjacent to the signal communicating with the top of the interior of the main cylinder 0, a relief-valve 3 operated by the adjacent pump and communicating with the bottoms of the interior of both air-cylinders, a plate 5 on the piston-rod 4: of the cylinders of the pumps, a rock-shaft 6 extending from the railroad-track to each pump beneath the plate 5, an arm '7 on the end of said shaft adjacent to the track, a single arm 8 on the inner end of the rock-shaft at the remote pump 2 2, two arms 8 8 on the inner end of the rock-shaft at the adjacent pump 4 and a spring 9 interposed between the plate 5 and pumpcylinder for the purpose described.

7. In an electric signaling system, the combination of a vertically-disposed air-cylinder, the circuit maker and breaker located thereon, the piston-rod on said cylinder moving said maker and breaker to close the circuit in its upward movement, said maker and breaker automatically opening the circuit when released by the downward movement of the piston-rod, a vertically-disposed relief air-cylinder adjacent to the main cylinder, a reliefvalve above the relief-cylinder having its stem axially in line with the piston-rod of the latter cylinder, and communicating with the top of the interior of the main cylinder, remote air-pumps in opposite directions from the signal communicating with the bottom of the interior of both said cylinders, said pumps operated by a track instrument actuated by a passing train approaching the signal only, a pump adjacent to the signal communicating with the top of the interior of the main cylinder, a relief-valve operated by the latter pump andcommunicating with the bottom of the interior of both air-cylinders, a track instrument actuated by a train moving in either direction operating the latter pump and suitable pipe connections between all of said pumps and cylinders as described and shown.

8. The combination with the main air-cylinder C, of an insulating-plate g secured to the end of said cylinder, the circuit maker and breaker consisting of two vertical flexible plates d cl normally apart, secured to said insulating-plate by means of binding-posts ff, the piston-rod 6 provided with the ball 6 on its outer end and bearing against one of plates (1, remote air-pumps 2 2 communicating with the bottom of the interior of said cylinder to force its piston and rod out to spring the adjacent plate at against the other plate (Z to close the circuit, an adjacent airpump 1 communicating with the top of the interior of said main cylinder to force down its piston and rod, to allow the adjacent plate (I to spring away from the other plate, a relief-cylinder D adjacent to the main cylinder, at relief-valve a having its stem to axially in line with the piston-rod c of the-relief-cylinder and releasing the air from the top of the interior of the main cylinder, a relief-valve 3 operated by the adjacent pump 1 releasing the air from the bottom of the interior of both cylinders and track instruments operating all of said pumps and actuated by a passing train as described.

9. In combination with the caseA having a swinging door A of a bell 19 secured to the outer face of the door and having a shield I) over the same, an electric circuit bell-ringing mechanism, a battery B, a circuit maker and breaker consisting of two plates d d secured to the air-cylinder O, a relief-cylinder D and a relief-valve a communicating with the top of the interior of the cylinder 0 all Within said case, the piston-rod e of saidlatter cylinder operating said circuit maker and breaker, air-pumps 2 2 remote from the case communicating with the bottom of the interior of both cylinders O and D, an air-pump 1 adjarcent to the case and communicating with the top of the interior of the cylinder 0, a reliefvalve 3 operated by the adjacent pump and communicating with the bottom of the interior of both cylinders, and track instruments actuated by a passing train operating said pumps as described and shown.

10. In the combined air-pump and track instrument, a combination of an air-cylinder, supports for said cylinder, an annular hori zontal plate or disk secured to the lower end of the piston-rod of said cylinder, a rock-shaft extending outward from the track-rail beneath the cylinder and provided with a horizontal arm or arms bearing against the under side of said annular plate, a vertical arm secured to the end of said shaft adjacent to the track-rail to be actuated by the wheels of a passing engine or train, a spring between the aforesaid cylinder and plate, and guides in said supports for said annular plate as set forth and shown.

11. In the combined pump and track instrument, the combination of an air-cylinder, supports for said cylinder, an annular horizontal plate or disk secured to the lower end of the piston-rod of said cylinder, segmental guides formed in said supports for said plate, a horizontal rock-shaft extending outward from the track-rail and beneath said plate and formed with two horizontal arms bearing against the under side of said plate, a vertical arm secured to the end of said shaft adjacent to the track-rail and provided with a roller arranged in position to come in contact with the wheels of a passing train or engine, and a spring between the aforesaid plate and air-cylinder throwing said shaft and arms to their normal position as set forth and shown.

12. In the combined pump and track instrument, the combination of a horizontal supporting-plate extending outward from the track-rail, two vertical legs forming supports mounted on the outer end portion of said plate and formed with guides in their inner side, an air-cylinder mounted on said legs, an annular horizontal plate or disk secured to the lower end of the piston-rod of said cylinder and moving in the aforesaid guides, a horizontal rock-shaft extending from the trackrail outward beneath said plate or disk and having two horizontal arms thereon provided with rubber or rawhide faced rollers bearing against the under side of said plate, said shaft being mounted in suitable journal-boxes on the supporting-plate, two vertical posts secured to the supporting-plate in front of the cylinder, a horizontal plate secured on top of said posts and provided with a guide in the center, another plate below the latter plate and provided with two guides at its end portion by which it slides up and down on the aforesaid posts, the aforesaid rock-shaft being beneath said sliding plate and provided with two additional horizontal arins having rollers bearing against the under side of the latter plate, which plate is provided with a rubber facing or rawhide cushion, a vertical piston-rod secured to the sliding plate and moving in the guide in the center of the plate above, a spiral spring; interposed between the signed my name this 10th day of September, two latter plates, a vertical arm secured on 1895. 1 the end of the rock-shaft adjacent to the track-rail and provided with a roller to come 5 in contact with the wheels of a, passing train itnesses':

01- engine as set forth. D. 'L. ATKYNS, In testimony whereof I have hereunto H. M. LOOMIS.

CHARLES H. SHERWOOD. [1,. 5,]

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