US1695900A - Switch-lock device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1928.

E, w. POWELL swIToH Loox DEVICE V Filed oct. 14, 1927 ZZ W@ Patente-d Dec. 18, 1928.

Unirse y 'saberes enterar omen.,

COMPANY, F' CHICAGO,

ELLINOS, A CORPOEATON OF NEW YORK. A

SWITCH-Loonv DEVICE.

Application filed October 14, 1927.

My invention relatesparticularly to ydevices for releasably locking the point rails of a switch in a predetermined position, as for example and preferably in a position in which the switch is closed to permit the trains in traveling over the main track to freely ypass the switch; my invention having been devised forl use more particularly an adjunct to switch-,throwing mechanism either ot the hand-operated or power-operated type, for locking the switch points in a predetermined position independently ot' any lock provided by the switch-throwing mechanism thereby not only providing means which compels the proper positioning of the switch points in thepredetermined position, before the locking device may be rendered effective, which lock the switch'in such positionl independent of thejswitchthrowing mechanism and which serve to prevent, until manipufl latedto open position, the opening of the switch yby the switch-throwing mechanism either in the normal actuation ot the latter or abnormally as in the case of accident.

My primary object is'to provide a novel, simple and inexp'esive 'construction of lockingk mechanism kwhich may' be readily operated and present the minimum danger oi' impairment, especially duringr freezing weather. y

Referring to the accompanyingdrawing: Figure 1 vis a planv view of` the switchequipped portion of ay railway track'provided with my improved locking mechanism.

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken vView in sectional elevation ont a port-ion ot the locking mechanism, the section being takenV at ythe line 2 onFig. 'l and viewed inthe direction 40 of the arrow, the mechanism being* shown in a 'position `for locking theswitch in closedf position. Figure 3 is a view like Fiory 2 showing the locking member of the mechaw ism in releasingI position; and Fignrevt, a

broken section taken at and viewed'in the directionV of the arrow.

The arrangement ofrailway tracks shown in Fig. l comprisesa pair o'point-rails 4i and 5 oa switch construction, the point rail l comprising a part ofl the switch track and.

the point rail` 5 a part of the main track the point rail 5 being a continuation otthe main but also providing meansy the line l on Fig. y 2

serial No. 226,138.

rail 6. The other main line rail is represented at 7.

The arrang is common in switch constructions, it being understood that when the points 4; and 5 are in the position shown in Fig. 1 thel switch comprising the point laterally deilected extensionV 8 oi' the main 'rail 6 is closed so that kthe trainsmay freely` pass back and forth over the main track.

'In the arrangement l shown the `switch points 4, and 5 which are connected together by a head-rod 9 to be moved as a unitary structure, are connected, through the meev dium of ay connecting-rod l() with a handthrow switch stand which may bel voit any suitable construction.

T he auxiliary locking means for the switchk points comprises a lock-rod l2 which eX- tends crosswise ot thetrack beneath the rail 8 and is connected at its inner end, as represented atl'l, with the end portion. orp a plate lll rigidly secured tothe point rail 5, this rod extending alongside oi the elongated tie l5, to a point remote from thetrack and containing a notch 16 in its upper edge.

Secured lto the outer end of the tie l5 is a guide'meinber 17, t'or therod- 12. This guide member is formed of al plate 1S at whicliit rests uponthe tie 15 and is secured lthereto by lag screws 19. The outer edge portion oi the "plate lSterniinates in a head 2O which is located alongside, and depends vement described is'that which representedl at 11 and rail e and the s below,the upper surface of the gtie l5 and contains aginde opening 2l therethrough in which the rod i2 slidinglyenteinls, the upA per portion of the` head 17 containing a vertical slot 22 intersecting the opening 2l and with which slotthe notched portion 1G ofthe rod l2 registers when the switch points vare in the position shown in Fig. l, namely, ,in switch-closing position.

The plate and. depending head structure just Ldescribed is provided with upwardly extendinxT spaced apart lugs, or ears, Q3, preferably formed integrally with the ,parts just referred to,'the space between these ears 1peindg in registration with the 'slot 22 in-the ica inthe form of a latch 2li for projection into the notch. 16. of the lo'ckrod y12 whenv the The device also comprises a lock member,

latter is in the position above re'lerred to, the member 24, which is located in the space between the lugs 23 and is pivoted between its ends to these lags by the' pivot pin 25, being in the' form of a bar provided with an angularly disposed portion 26 at which it is adapted to enter the notch 16 in the lock-rod l2 and securely hold this rod against movement out of switch-closed position. The pivot 25 is so located that the center of gravity or" the lock member' 24 is between this pivot and the portion ot the loclk-meniber which engages the lock-rod, the member being 'thus gravity operated to locking position. rllhe other end of the lock-membor .i2-l and which extends upwardly an ay troni the plate i8 in the locked positioi'iv oi: nieinber is exposed to be engae'ed the 'oot ol the opera-tor who presses dI n on this end oit the member 24 to lil-'t the latter out ot locking position.

rlhe member 24 is shevkn as provided with an opening 27 extending therethi'ough which, when this member is in locking position, extends just above the upper edge of the lugs 23` and thus is accessible for the insertion therein oi the h-asp of a pad-lock (not shown) by which the member 24 may be locked against unauthorized movement to i'elea'sing'position. Y

To protect the parts of the locking mechanism against the weather, and particularly during stormy winter weather, l the lock-member 24 with lateral flanges which extend laterally in opposite directions from this member along its upper edge and the outer edge oi its angular portions 2G and over the pad-lock-receiving hole 27 as shov-ii in the drawings, these flanges which are preferably formed integrally with the inember 24 overlapping portions of the lugs 225 and the head 22 at their lo'xver ends, and at their upp ends forming, in etect, a hood tor protecting the pivot 25 and the pad-lockrecei ving hole 27. Y

lt will be understood troni the foregoing description that the hielt-member will swing down to locking position only when the locking-i-iotch .6 registers with this member, namely, in the particular arrangement shown, when the switch points 4 and 5 are in' switch-closedposition, and with the pad-lock applied to the member 24 as stated the switch cannot be opened until the padlock has been removed and' the member 24 rocked to the position shown in Fig. 3.

. An arrangement as described thus ensures against lthe switehman leaving' the switch in locked condition unless the switch point 5 is in proper engage lent with rail tfor rendering the switch closed. liirthermore, as this locking device is independent ot the switch-throwing mechanism', torce exerted against the switch point and tending to move the switch to open position, as

lil if.;

provide sometimes occurs in the case of accidents, is ineffective to openthe switch while the lockmember 24 is in locked position.

lWhile l have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying' invention, l do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modiiied and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. ln a railway track, the combination with the point-rails of a switch therefor, of locl'ing mechanism for said point-rails coniprising a lock-rod operatively engaging' said point-rails and provided with notch, a sta"- Vtionary guide-niember in which said rod is sl'idablc iongitudinal'ly, and a pivotc'd locking member having' a portion adapted to enter said notch Llnd provided with flanges' extending from its late 'al ed'es laterally in opposite directions along the upper edge and the iront edge of said member and overlapping said guide-member. l

2. In a raily'vay track, the' combination with the point-rails of a switch therefor, ofV

locking mechanism for said point-rails coin-- prising a lock-rod operatively engaging saidv point-rails and provided with a notch, a staf- 'tionary guide-member in which said rod is .anida-ble longitudinally, and a pivoted locking member having a portion adapted to enter said notch and ceiviine,l opening', said member being' provided with flanges extending from its lateral edges laterally in opposite vdirections along the upper edge and the iront edge thereof and overlapping said guide menrbei' and shielding said opening'.

3. In a railway tracl'f, the combination with the point-rail-sof a switch therefor, ing mechanism for said point-rails eeiii-l prismg a lock-rod operatively engaging said point rails and provided with a notch, a support at one side of said track, a stationary guide-member secured' to 'said support and having a slotted poil-ion extiending alongside of, and below, said support and in which said' rod is longitudinally slidable, spaced apart lugs integral with said guide member and rising from said guide member and extending from a position directly over said support across said Vslotted portion', and a locking-member located between said lugsv and having a notch.

4. ln a railway track, the coi'nbination with the point-rails of a switch therefor, oft

portion adapted to enter said locking mechanism for said point-rails lcomprising a lock-rod operatively engaging said point rails andvv provided with a notch, a support at one side of said track, astationary guide-member secured to said' sup'- port and having a slotted` portioir extendeontaining a' lock-repivoteld thereto andv ing alongside of, and below, said support and in which said rod is longitudinally slidable, spaced apart lugs integral with said guide member and rising from'said guide member and extending from a position directly over said support across said slotted portion, and a locking-member located between said lugs and pivoted thereto and having a portion adapted to enter said notch, said locking-member having flanges extend- 10 ing from its lateral edges laterally in opposite ydirections along the upper edges and the front edges thereof and overlapping said lugs and the front surface of said slotted portion.

EDWARD W. POWELL.

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