US797870A - Switch or point for railways, tramways, and the like. - Google Patents

Description

No. 797,870. y

A. J'. SMITH'. SWITCH 0R POINT PUR RAILWAYS, TRAMWAYS, AND THB LIKE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1906.

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No. 797,870. PATENTE-D AUG. 22,1905.

A. J. SMITH.

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ALBERT JAMES SMITH, OF CARDIFF, ENGLAND.

SWITCH OR POINT FOFI RAILWAYS, TRANIWAYS, AND TH LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application led January 9, 1905. Serial No. 240,306.

Tramways, and the Like, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to switches or points of railways, tramways, and the like, and has for its object to provide simple mechanism whereby the driver of the vehicle can operate the points when required and in some cases also can simultaneously manipulate the frog of the overhead system, thus obviating the l necessity for a pointsman, and consequently saving considerable expense.

In carrying the invention into erfect a simple arrangement is provided whereby the point is pressed by a spring, but is held against the action of said spring in the normal position by a plate and catch, means being provided, operated by the driver of the vehicle, whereby the catch may be withdrawn and the plate released when the point is required to be turned to give access to a branch line, while a flange on the last wheel of the vehicle is arranged to depress a cam and pull back the point to its normal position after the car has passed on to the branch line. An

arrangement is also provided directly connected to the point-operating device and adapted to turn the frog of the overhead electrical equipment whenever the point is turned.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l illustrates in plan the principal casting for the point with the point-operating devices applied thereto, the covers of the boxes for said mechanism being removed. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the casting shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section o1Ll the casting on the line A B of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line C D of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line E F of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 illustrates, by way of example, one device applicable to the car itself and adapted to be moved by the driver for operating the point. Figs. 7 and 8 are a cross-section and side elevation, respectively, of the track, showing the manner in which the rear wheel of the vehicle depresses the tumbler for replacing the point. Fig. 9 illustrates a modified form of the appa ratus for replacing the point.

Referring iirst to Figs. 1 to 5, t is the main casting of the point, and 7) is the actual tongue or switch of the point, pivoted at c. On the inside of the track is a box or casting UZ, the

outer walls 10 of which are held up in the example shown bybolts e, said box containing the principal parts of the point-operating mechanism. A slot f is formed in the top of the casting d', said slot being tapered and deepened toward a point in front of the box g, in

which a tumbler is arranged. The tumbler /L g is pivoted at c', and its projection (seen in Fig.

2) normally stands upward in the groove f. The tailpiece j of the tumbler is connected by a rod to a catch Z. This catch is pivoted at n in a box m and is pressed forward by a spring 0, surrounding the rod Zr. In the box m is pivoted at p a plate q, having a tooth thereon (seen in Fig. 1) adapted to be engaged by the tooth of catch Z, and a rod r, pivotally connected at 35 to the plate q, passes through a slot in the tongue Z and into a box s at the outer side of the track. A sleeve t on rod r presses against the tongue Z under the action of a spring u,sur rounding the rod r and abutting against the nut and washer v. A second spring w outside the former presses against the point-casting to force the rod routward into the box s, and so to turn the tongue of the point toward said box. The rod r engages against the rear of the point by a collar formed thereon at 36.

A second. rod fr, provided with an adjusting arrangement y, is pivoted to the plate q at z, and infront of the box 2 said rod .fr is pivoted to the tailpiece 3 of a tumbler 4, adapted to turn on a pin 5. The upper part of said tumbler when the point is in the position shown lies flush with or slightly below a raised part 6 opposite the groove in the rail track. When the point-tongue is turned, however, the back ofthe tumbler projects above the raised part 6, as will be described below, and is depressed by the flange on the rear wheel or' the vehicle for replacing the point.

For draining away any accumulations of mud, water, stones, zc., which may lodge in front of the tongue of the point and might prevent its proper working the box s is made as a mud-box communicating with the point-slot by an opening 7 and havinga drainage-opening at 8.

For operating the mechanism any suitable device may be applied to the vehicle, said device comprising a foot-plate or hand-lever to be operated by the driver and some mechanism connected with said foot-plate and adapted to cause a skate or the like to engage with the tumbler 7L. One arrangement is illustrated as an example in Fig. 6. Pivoted at 11 beneath the platform of the car is a `rocking lever 12, at the forward end of which is a stem 13, carrying a plate 14 and having a projecting pin 15 adapted to engage in the teeth of a pivoted rack 16, which is pressed forward by a spring 17. To the rear end of lever 12 is connected a rod 18, carrying' a roller 19, adapted when depressed to run in the groove f, while an arm 20, projecting' from the rod 18, is adapted to engage with thetumbler in said groove and to turn same. The rod 18 works in a box 21, held by brackets 22, and the said rod has a collar 23, against which a compression-spring 24 bears. With this: jarrangement when approaching the point the driver presses back the rack 16, allowing the plate 14 to rise, whereupon the spring 24 causes the rod 18 to fall and the roller 19 and projection or skate 2O enter the groove f and, as before described, eiect the operation of the pi'nt.vv` After the operation is completed the ldrive'rcan replace the device by depressing the plate'714;l but if he neglects to do so the parts will belrais'ed at least to the roadlevel by the upWardl,v"-inclined part f' of the groove,andthe tooth"`1'5, catching in the rack 16, will hold up the parts Forfreplaci'ng the point'the tumbler 4 is provided, as above described, and. a flange 25, formed or bolted on *the insideofnthe rear wheel 9 of 'the vehicle, is adapted to-depress said tumbler. The flange 25 on the inside of the wheel is of lessdiameter than the bearingflange 26, so that the former will not touch the roadway or inner flange of the rail under normal circumstances. As, however, the inner flange of the rail is raised at 6, the flange on the wheel will just touch the upper surface of'theraised part 6y and will depress the tumbler 4 to the level of said surface, as shown in'Fig'. 8. rlhe additional flange 25 is provided onthe vtwo diagonally opposite end ,wheels'ro'f the car in such positions that in whichever direction the car is vtraveling one of the: wheels will be iat the rear and will effect the'replacing' of the point.

,1n Fig. 9is shown a device which may be used inplace of the flange 25. In this case an arm 2,7, projecting behind the vrear wheel of the vehicle, has pivoted thereto an arm 28, carryinga roller 29. .A rod 30, pressed downward .by a spring 31, ,holds the roller 29 stronglyy against the rail. The roller 29 is of Jsuch width that it will have the functions of the flange 25 and will depress the tumbler 4. The head'32 of rod 30 may, however, limit the downward movement of said roller, so that it will not roll upon the -rail under normal circumstances, but will only roll upon the raised part 6, Fig. 2.

Asis Well known, it is usual for .the frog of the overhead equipment to be pulled in onev direction against the action of a spring by a cord controlled .by the pointsman. According to this invention said cord may be carried stance, at 34-in order to allow for flexibility in operation.

The method of working the above-described y apparatus will be to a large extent obvious from the foregoing description.

hicle approaching a point is to continue in the track without the reversal of the tongue the` driver of said vehicle will not depress his skate or operating mechanism and the tongue will g remain in its normal position. If, however, the vehicle is to pass along the branch or lessused line, the driver will depress his skate, so

causing the tumbler L to turn, whereby the r catch Z is withdrawn, and the plate q being released the rod r is forced outward under the l action of spring w, the tongue being moved with .the rod into the reversed position, owing to the operation of the collar 36, and the vel hicle passes into the branch or less-used track. Further, owing to the action of the rod with plate g, said rod is moved so as to cause the tumbler 4 to project above the raised part 6. 'When all the wheels have passed the tongue,

the iiange 25 on the rear wheel rolls over the projecting tumbler 4 and depresses the same,

forcingv back the plate q until the tumbler is Q level with the raised part 6 and the plate is y held by the catch Z, so that the point now ocl cupies its normal position, in which the spring It will be seen that the point is moved indirectly by the action of I w is under compression.

spring a and sleeve t. Consequently if in closing' theplate moves slightly too far or if any obstruction occurs the mechanism will not be broken, but the spring u will give or become compressed to the required extent.

The modified arrangement shown in Fig. 9 will operate the tumbler 4 in exactly the same manner as the ange 25. 1f the cord 33 of the overhead equipment is connected to the pin 35, said cord will be pulled when the point-*tongue is reversed and will be released again when the tongue is moved back to its normal position. rl`he frog must of course be so placed that the trolley Will pass over it during the interval between the operation of the tumbler it by the device in front of the first wheel and the depression of the tumbler 4 by the flange on the rear wheel.

It must be understood that the above is only one example of a construction in accordance with this invention. The castings and parts might be made differently so long as the vmethod of operation were not interfered with. Further, in case the tongue Z) were provided with a spring tending to compelit to follow y When a vethe rod r in its outward movement the collar 36 would beunnecessary, as said tongue would move after the rod when the catch Z was withdrawn.

What I claim is l. In an operating device for the point of rail-track', the combination with the pointcasting and point-tongue, of a rod, means whereby said rod engages positively with the point-tongue in one direction, spring means engaging the point-tongue with the rod in the other direction of movement, a spring tending to turn said point-tongue, a catch normally preventing said tongue from being turned, means adapted to be operated from a vehicle for releasing the catch, and means adapted to be operated from the vehicle for replacing the point-tongue.

2. In an operating device for the point of a rail-track, the combination with the pointcasting and point-tongue, of a rod, means whereby said rod engages positively with the point-tongue in one direction, spring means engaging the point-tongue with the rod in the other direction of movement, a spring tending to turn said point-tongue, a plate to which said rod is pivoted said plate having a projection, a pivot for said plate, a catch normally engaging the projection and holding the plate in a position in which the point-tongue is held against the action of the spring, means adapted to be operated from a vehicle for drawing back the catch and means adapted to be operated from the vehicle for replacing the plate and tongue against the spring action.

.3.' In an operating device for the point of a yrail-track, the combination with the pointcasting and point-tongue, of a rod, means whereby said rod engages positivel-y with the point-tongue in one direction, spring means engagingthe point-tongue with the rod in the yother direction of movement, a spring tending to turn said point-tongue, a catch nor- Inally preventing said tongue from being turned, a tumbler mounted to rock in the casting and so placed as to project into a slot in the casting distinct from the Wheel-groove, a rod connecting said tumbler to the catch, means for operating said tumbler from a vehicle, and means adapted to be operated from the vehicle for replacing the point-tongue.

4. In an operating device for the point of a rail track, the combination of a point-casting having a raised portion at the inside edge of the rail-groove near to the branching end of said casting, the point-tongue, spring means tending to move the tongue to one side, a catch device adapted to hold the tongue against the action of the spring, means adapted to be operated from a vehicle for releasing said catch device, a tumbler pivoted in a slot in the casting at the raised part thereof, means connecting the tumbler to the point-tongue in such manner that said tumbler is raised above the raised portion of the casting when the tongue is released from the catch device, and means applied to a vehicle adapted to move over the raised part of the casting and depress said tumbler whereby the point-tongue may be replaced.

5. In an operating device for the point of a rail-track, the combination of the point-casting and point-tongue therein, spring' means tending to move the point-tongue to one side, a catch device for holding the point-tongue against the action of said spring means, apparatus adapted to be operated from a vehicle for releasing the catch device, a tumbler and means so connecting it with the point-tongue that said tumbler is raised above the rail-track at the inside thereof when the point-tongue is released, and a flange on the inner side of a vehicle-wheel said flange being of such size that it does not normally run on the track but will serve to depress the tumbler when said tumbler is projected upwardly, whereby the point will be replaced as the flange passes over the tumbler but will not be moved by any other wheel to which the eXtra liange is not fitted. 1

6. In an operating device for the point of a railftrack, the combination of a point-casting having a raised portion at the inside edge of the rail-groove near to the branching end of said casting, the point-tongue, spring means tending to move the tongue to one side, a

catch device adapted to hold the tongue Y against the action of the spring, means adapted to be operated from a vehicle for releasing said catch device, a tumbler pivoted in a slot in the casting at the raised part thereof, means connecting the tumbler to the point-tongue in such manner that said tumbler is raised above the raised portion of the casting when the tongue is released from the catch device, and a flange applied to the inner side of a vehicle-wheel said'liange being of such size that it will not run on the track except at the raised part, whereby said flange may rserve for depressing the tumbler and replacing the point-tongue.

7. In an operating device for the point of a rail-track, the combination of a point-casting having branched rail-grooves, a tongue-slot and an additional slot with inclined ends at the side of the rail-groove, a point-tongue in the tongue-slot, a tumbler adapted to project into the additional slot, spring means tending to move the tongue to one side, a catch device controlled by the tumbler for holding the tongue against the action of the spring means, a vehicle adapted to travel on the rail-track, a rod on said vehicle, a spring tending to move said rod downward, a catch adapted to hold -up said rod, and means supported by the rod adapted to engage the tumbler in the additional slot when the rod is depressed, andto be pushed upward by the inclined end of said slot.

8. The combination with the point-castingV and point-tongue, of the rod 7" with springs u and fw, pivoted plate q, catch Zand means for releasing said catch and for moving back the pointitongue against the action of spring the end of said rod, roller 19, and means for holding up said rod, substantially as hereinbefore described.

In testimony whereofl I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT JAMES SMITH.

Witnesses:

THoMAs THOMAS, JOHN CoRAY.

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