US1163689A - Wheel-guard. - Google Patents

Description

F. N. ROOT.

WHEEL GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 191a.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,, WASHINGTON, D. c.

F. N. ROOT.

WHEEL GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2. 1913.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

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F. N. ROOT.

WHEEL GUARD. I APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, ma.

1,163,689. Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANOuRkPH (30., WASHINGTON. D. c. I

FRED N. ROOT, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

WHEEL-GUARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Application filed September 2, 1913. Serial No. 787,650.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FRED N. ROOT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVheel-Guards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wheel guards.

My improved wheel guard is especially designed by me for use on streetor tramway cars, and I have illustrated the same as applied to such a car. My improvements may, however, be readily adapted for use in various relations.

The main objects of this invention are: first, to provide an improved automatic wheel guard; second, toprovide an improved automatic wheel guard which is very positive and effective in its action; third, to provide an improved wheel guard which is not likely to be injured or rendered ineffective by coming into contact with a fixed object, such as a stone or paving block or other obstruction; fourth, to provide an improved automatic wheel guard or fender which is quickly and easily set or returned to its inoperative position; fifth, to provide an im proved wheel guard which is simple and economical in structure and not likely to get out of repair.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a detail vertical longitudinal section of a structure embodying the' features of my invention, on a line corresponding to line A-A of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view, the frame only of the car being shown, parts being broken away to better show structural details. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view similar to that of Fig. 2 of a modified construction, the modification being in the arrangement of the locking toggle by which the guard is held in its inoperative position.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional view is taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section line.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the frame of a car, and 2, the deck or platform thereof. The frame and the body may be of any suitable construction, that illustrated being mainly conventional and shown for the purpose of illustrating an operative embodiment of my invention.

The rock guard shaft 3 is supported by bearings a mounted on the hangers 5 depending from the frame cross piece 6. The bearings 4: are adjustably secured by means of the bolts 7, the hangers having a series of holes 8 so that the rock shaft may be positioned as may be required.

The guard comprises a plurality of curved spring guard members 9 which are rigidly secured at one end, as by the bolts 10, to the rock shaft, the springs being provided with curved seats 11 partially embracing the rock shaft. These spring guard members are of a general C-shape or ofirregular curvature and are mounted facing forwardly. The spring guard members are so shaped and disposed on the rock shaft that they curve upwardly and rearwardly, then downwardly and rearwardly, and then downwardly and forwardly in a curve corresponding to the longer side of an ellipse above and disposed so that when in operative position their lower ends are substantially parallel with the supporting frame and are supported to slide in substantially horizontal position upon and are independently held in yielding contact with the surface below the frame and constitute a scoop. The spring guard members are entirely independent from each other except through their independent connection with the rock shaft.

The lower ends of the spring guard members, when the guard is in operative position, rest on the pavement or road bed, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, their lower ends being at the rear of but adjacent to the vertical plane of the rock shaft. The spring guard members, being entirely inde pendent of each other, conform to the curve and unevenness of the pavement or road bed, and should one spring engage an obstruction such as a projecting stone or paving block, it yields sufficiently to pass over the obstruction without in any wise disturbing the guard as a whole, and one or more of the guard members will pass into a hole or depression in the road bed.

The spring guard members being shaped and mounted as described, are well adapted to withstand strains to which they may be subjected, without injury thereto, and further, effectively pick up any object or a person without undue injury. 7

The guard members are, as stated, of a general Cshape, being, however, elongated, so that the springs will run under an object and it will be picked up and entirely supported within the guard. The ends of the springs are curved upwardly and -rearwardly, as shown, so that they readily pass over an ordinary fixed obstruction.

The guard is held in its inoperative or raised position by means of a locking toggle consisting of the links 13 and 14, the link 13 being pivotally connected to the arm 15 on the rock shaft 3 by means of the pivot 16, while the link 1 1 is connected to the bracket 17 on the frame by means of the pivot 18.

The link 14 is formed of two members with a spacing piece 19 between the same, the end of the link 13 being pivoted between the two members of the link 14: by means of the pivot 20. The spacing piece is adapted to provide a stop 21,see dotted lines in Fig. 1,for the end of the link 13. This stop is disposed so that, when the toggle is extended, the pivot 20 thereof drops below the plane of the pivots 16 and 18.

The toggle is actuated by means of the foot piece 22 which is arranged through the deck 2, as shown in Fig. 1. hen this foot piece is pressed downwardly, the links actuate the rock shaft to raise the guard, and as the pivot 20 passes the plane of the pivots 16 and 18, the toggle becomes locked.

To prevent the toggles being accidentally broken, as by the jar of the car or the like,

I provide a spring 23, one end of which is connected by the link 24 to the rock shaft arm 15. The other end of the spring is connected to the bracket 17. The tension of the spring, as thus connected, tends to hold the toggle in its locking position, but as soon as the toggle is broken, it tends to throw the guard down and to hold it down. While gravity is sufficient to cause the guard to drop when released, the spring quickens the action, and also prevents rebound, and prevents the guard being raised by the engagement of one of its members with a fixed object.

The guard is released by means of the trip 25 which, in the structure illustrated, is in the form of a frame-like bar suspended from the pivot rod 26 by means of the arms 27, the trip being disposed in front of the guard and hanging sufficiently low so that it will engage any object that may be upon the track which it is desired shall actuate the guard.

Extending rearwardly from the trip is a trip bar 28 having an inclined or cam end 29 coacting with the cam block 30 on the link 14. As the trip is swung rearwardly, the bar 28 breaks the toggle, allowing the weight of the guard and the spring to swing it quickly to operative position. The trip bar 28 is, in the structures shown in Figs. 1 and 2, passed through the arm 15, which constitutes a support and guide therefor. The guard is returned to its inoperativeposition or reset by means of the foot piece 22, as stated.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the locking toggle is in front of the guard. In this construction, the link 31 is pivoted to a bracket 32 on the front sill of the car frame, while the arm 33 on the rock shaft is disposed downwardly. The link 3&1 is connected to the arm and is formed of two members with a spacing block 35 between. The foot piece 22is mounted, as in the structure shown in Fig. 1, on the link connecting pivot 20. This brings the foot piece well toward the front of the platform or deck so that it may be operated by the motornian without his leaving his usual position. The spring 23 is, in this'structure, connected at one end, to a lug 36 on the link 34, while it is connected at its other end by the rods 37 to brackets 38 on the front sill of the car frame. The trip is provided with an upwardly projecting arm 39 which engages the link 31 to break the toggle when the trip is swung rearwardly. The operation is substantially the same as that of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

My improved guard is very positive in its action and is not likely to be injured by passing over roughor uneven pavements or road beds or coming into contact with fixed objects in the road bed. Should one of the guard members engage with a fixed object, it will yield sufficiently to pass over the same without raising the other guard members from the road bed.

' The springs are so shaped that a considerable movement is required before any of the springs are raised from their effective engaging position; that is, from a position to effectively pick up any object that may be on the road bed.

i The guard may be raised or reset merely being possible and perhaps desirable in certain conditions, as I believe the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to embody my invention as conditions or circumstances may require. I desire, however, to be understood as claiming my improvements specifically in the form illustrated, as well as broadly within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a wheel guard, the combination of a supporting frame, a rock shaft disposed transversely thereof, a plurality of spring guards mounted by their upper ends to said rock shaft and curved upwardly and rearwardly and downwardly in a curve corresponding to the longer side of an ellipse above and disposed so that when in operative position their free lower ends are substantially parallel with the supporting frame and are supported to slide in a substantially horizontal position upon and are independently held in yielding contact with the surface below the frame and constitute a scoop, the several guard members being normally in alinement and independent from each other except through their connections to said rock shaft, and means for holding said guard in its raised position, all coacting for the purpose specified.

2. In a wheel guard, the combination of a supporting frame, a guard carrying rock shaft disposed transversely thereof, an upwardly projecting arm on said rock shaft, a pair of links pivotally connected to each other, one of said links being pivoted to said arm and the other being pivotally connected to the supporting frame, said links coacting to constitute a locking toggle for said rock shaft, a foot piece mounted on one of said links whereby, by pressing downwardly thereon, the links are carried to their looking position, a spring connected at one end to said rock shaft and the other end to said frame, whereby the tension of the spring normally acts to hold the links in their locked position and when the toggle is broken to actuate the rock shaft, a trip pivotally supported in front of the rock shaft, and a bar pivotally mounted on said trip and disposed through a slot in said arm on said rock shaft, whereby it is guided and supported, the rear end of said trip bar being arranged to engage a tripping cam onto said toggle, whereby when said trip is swung rearwardly on its pivot, said toggle is broken.

3. In a wheel guard, the combination of a supporting frame, a guard carrying rock shaft disposed transversely thereof, an up wardly projecting arm on said rock shaft, a pair of links pivotally connected to each other, one of said links being pivoted to said arm and the other being pivotally connected to the supporting frame, said links coacting to constitute a locking toggle for said rock shaft, a trip pivotally supported in front of the rock shaft, and a bar pivotally mounted on said trip and disposed through a slot in said arm on said rock shaft, whereby it is guided and supported, the rear end of said trip bar being arranged to engage a tripping cam onto said toggle, whereby when said trip is swung rearwardly on its pivot, said toggle is broken.

4. In a wheel guard, the combination of a supporting frame, a guard carrying rock shaft disposed transversely thereof, an arm on said rock shaft, a pair of links pivotally connected to each other, one of said links being pivoted to said arm and the other being pivotally connected to the supporting frame, said links coacting to constitute a locking toggle for said rock shaft, a foot piece mounted on one of said links whereby, by pressing downwardly thereon, the links are carried to their locking position, a spring connected at one end to said rock shaft and the other end to said frame, whereby the tension of the spring normally acts to hold the links in their locked position and when the toggle is broken to actuate the rock shaft, and a trip pivotally supported in front of the rock shaft and provided with a toggle engaging member, whereby, when the trip is swung rearwardly, said toggle is broken.

5. In a wheel guard, the combination of a supporting frame, a guard carrying rock shaft disposed transversely thereof, an arm on said rock shaft, a pair of links pivotally connected to each other, one of said links be ing pivoted to said arm and the other being pivotally connected to the supporting frame, said links coacting to constitute a locking toggle for said rock shaft, and a trip pivotally supported in front of the rock shaft and provided with a toggle engaging member, whereby, when the trip is swung rearwardly, said toggle is broken.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED N. ROOT. 1,. s.]

lVitnesses:

LUELLA G. GREENFIELD, ANNIE E. PARRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

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