US2051128A - Railway switch operating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 18, 1936. H. L. BONE 2 05 RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 27, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l f l I l O O O O j M w a. a

INVENTOR HefibemLBone HIS ATTORN EY Aug. 18, 1936.

H. BONE RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATU Fil ed Nov. 2'7, 1935 3 SheetsSheet 2 VII 86, 4159 v INVENTOR Herbert L B0129 mama HIS ATTORNEY Aug. 18, 1936. H. L. BONE 7 2,051,128

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 27, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet s INV ENTOR HQPbQPt L .Bane

HIS ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Herbert L. Bone, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 27, 1935, Serial No. 51,855

9 Claims.

My invention relates to railway switch operating apparatus, and has for an object the provision of a novel and improved circuit controlling mechanism, commonly known as a point detector, for detecting any failure of the switch points to occupy their proper positions relative to the fixed rails in either extreme position of the switch.

A further object of my invention is the provision of latch mechanism which, in the event that the contacts of the circuit controlling mechanism are improperly forced open, as by a train trailing the switch when the switch points are locked in either extreme position, is effective to latch the contacts in their open positions until the latch mechanism is manually operated to release the contacts. 7

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a circuit controlling mechanism which can be applied with a minimum amount of eiiort to switch operating apparatus which is already in service.

Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The circuit controlling mechanism set forth in my present application is somewhat similar to that set forth in my prior copending application, Serial No. 665,914 filed on April 13, 1933, for Railway switch operating apparatus, and the said copending application contains claims which cover broadly certain features of the invention described in my present application.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing a railway switch A actuated by a switch operating mechanism B provided with a point detector mechanism M embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the switch operating mechanism B shown in Fig. 1 with the circuit controller C and point detector mechanism M removed to better illustrate the construction of the parts.

Fig. 3 is a front view partly in elevation and partly in section of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged righthand side view, with cover removed, of the point detector mechanism M shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top view partly in section, and partly in elevation, of the point detector mechanism M shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4.

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

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character A designatesa railway switch comprising as usual two fixed rails I and I and two movable switch points 2 and 2 The fixed rails I and I are laid on tie plates 3 and are secured to crossties 4 in the usual manner. The switch points 2 and 2 are connected together by a front rod 5, a head rod 6, and a tie rod I, and may be moved into a normal or a reverse position by means of a switch operating mechanism B which is connected with the head rod 6 through the medium of an operating rod 8 and the usual switch basket 9. When the switch occupies its normal position, in which position it is shown in Fig. 1, the switch point 2 engages the fixed rail I and the switch point 2 is spaced a predetermined distance from the fixed rail I When the switch is reversed, however, the switch point 2?- then engages the fixed rail I and the switch point 2 is spaced from the fixed rail I.

The switch operating mechanism B is mounted on a bed plate III which is secured to the ties 4 adjacent the outer side of the rail I, and, in the form here shown, this mechanism comprises a base plate II (see Figs. 2 and 3) bolted to the bed plate III, and carrying a longitudinally movable slide bar I2 consisting of an upper bar In and a lower bar I2 secured together in superposed parallel spaced relation. The slide bar I2 is guided. between rollers journaled on studs which project upwardly from the base plate, and is adapted to be reciprocated between two extreme positions, by any suitable means, here shown as a fluid pressure motor I3. A roller I4 is rotatably mounted between the bars I2 and It", and this roller coacts with an alligator jaw I5 which is journaled at its lower end in the base plate III, and at its upper end in the base I6 of a casing I1 which houses the usual indication circuit controller C. The casing I1 is bolted to the base plate I I, and serves not only as a housing for the circuit controller, but also to prevent vertical displacement of the slide bar I2 between its roller guides. The alligator jaw I5 is operatively connected with the previously described operating rod 8 in the usual and well known manner.

The circuit controller C is of well known construction, and is adapted to be operated by a motion plate 64 secured to the top' of a slide bar I2. This circuit controller forms no part of my present invention, and need not, therefore, be described herein. It should be pointed out, however, that the point detector mechanism M embodying my present invention, which mechanism I will describe shortly, is intended to be attached to switch operating mechanisms, of ,thetypede- Y scribed which are equipped withcircuit controllers of the type shown, or of a similar type, and

the available space within which the point detector mechanism has to be confined and the mannerin which this mechanism has to besecured to the bed plate I0, is limited to a large extent by the presence of the circuit controller Furthermore, the point detector mechanism "*is adapted to be operated by the same motion plate 64 which operates the circuit controller.

Inaddition to carrying the roller M the slide .bar I2 carries two locking dogs l8 and I9. (see Fig-3) which are attached to the upper and lower bars l2 and l2 respectively, and which cooperate withsuitable notc H and [9%, re

spectively, formed in an adjustable'lock rod L. f

The lock rod L isof'the usual and well known construction, and is connectedto the front rod 5 of the switch A in the usual manner. The appaj;

ratus which has thus far been described is in widespread use, and its operation is well under stood, so that for purposes of my present invention, itis believed that the following brief de- 'scription "of this apparatus will be sufiicient.-

When the" slide bar l2 occupies its extreme normal position in which position it is shown in the drawings, the switch points are held in their normal'positions by engagement of the roller I4 with the right'hand side of the alligator jaw I5,

and under these conditions, the locking dog [8 enters the notch I8 in thelock rod L and locks the switch points in their normal positions;

7 When, however, the slide b'ar'is moved from its normal extreme position to its reverse extreme position; the first part of the-movement of .the

' slide bar withdraws the locking dog l8 from the V notch I8 in the lock rod L to-unlock the ,switch, the intermediate partfof the movement of the slide bar causes the switch points to be moved to the extreme position opposite to that in which they" are shownin Fig. 1, and thefinal part of the movement "of the slide bar moves the lock- 'ing dog 19 into engagement with the notch I9 their reverse positions.

in the lock rod Llto lock the switch points in The op'erationgof the apparatus when theslidebar I2 is subsequently restored'to its extreme normal position is exactly the'reverse of that just described, and will be obvious from an inspection of the drawing.

The point detector mechanism M embodying my present invention is mounted in a suitable casing 22 which straddles the slide barjlZ adjanearthe' top of the fcasing are two tubular openings 26 through which electrical conductors may 'be'brought into the casing. One or the other of the openings26 will usually be closed by a suitable closure member not shown, and the remaining one of'these openings'will usually be con nected with the conduit .opening 21 in the hous- 7 'ing of'the circuit controller C (see Fig. 3), by means of 'a flexible conduit 28 and a special adapter housing. 29,130 protect the electrical conductors which will be-led from the circuit c'ontroller to the point detect'or mechanism. The

specialadapter housing 29' is so constructed that it maybe conveniently attached-to the casing I This casing is of the circuit controller C adjacent the conduit opening 21, and is providedwith an opening 30' to receive the usual flexible conduit 3|, as shown in Fig. 3. a

Disposed within the casing 22 on opposite sides Z of the slide bar l2 are two sets S ands of point insulating blocks 38, and the insulating blocks 38, in turn, are clamped between two angle brackets 39 and 4 0 which aresecured by bolts 4| and 7 4:2 to bosses, and 44 formed on the rear wall 22 of the casing 22. The bolts 31 extend through clearance holes in the contact fingers and are insulated from the contact fingers by means of Terminal straps 46 are insulating sleeves 45.

clamped against one sideof each'contact finger,

and each strap is provided at its outer end with an enlarged portion having ascrew-threaded hole which receives a terminal screw 41, wherebyelectrical connection withthe contactfingers may be conveniently made. 7 V Y The contacts of'the two sets S and S of con levers 48' and 49, each comprising a horizontal leg a and a vertical leg 12. These bell crank levers are pivotally supported on pins 50 and 5 secured to the rear wall 21" of the casing'22, and the short leg of each lever is provided at its outer end with a laterally projecting pin 51 which cooperates with an openendslot 58 formed in a metal clip 59 clamped between the lower ends of a pair of laterally spacedcontact-operating links 60. The contact operating links 60 are 'of insulating material, and are operativelyconnected withthe free ends of the flexible contact fingers 33 and 34 of the associated set of contacts by means or transverse pins 63 whichare mounted in the operating links, andwhich extend with some clearance through circular return bends 33 7 and 34 formed on the ends of the contact fingers jointly by a point detector rod D and by the motacts are operated by means: of two bell crankf 'tion plate 64. The point detector rod D is slide 7 ably mounted in the casing'22, and as shown-in Fig. 1, is attached by. meansof a link 65 and a bolt member '66 to'the movable rail 2 of the I switch A. Formed in the point'detector. rod D is a notch 61 (see Figs 4) which aligns with a roller 68 secured to the arm a of'the bell crank lever 48 when and only when the switchA occupies its extreme normal position and the switch point 2 is in close engagement with the fixedrail I, and with a i'oller'69. secured to.arm b of the bell crank lver49when and only when the switch occupies itsfull reverse position and the switch point 2* is in close engagement with the fixed rail l The parts are so proportioned that when tacts controlled thereby willbe closed, butthat, when eitherroller .68. or 69 is forced out of'the notch 61, the contacts controlled by such roller will be open.

The bell crank levers and 49; are operatively I connected with the. motion plate '64- to. be oscillated thereby in unison inithe following man; ner: The le'gbof the bell crankllever 48 is pro.

"either roller 68. or 69 is in the notch 61, the con- 6'5 vided. adjacent its upper end with a hole' 10 which receives the shank of an eyebolt "H with B if this notch then aligns with the roller and tween its eye H and the associated arm b is a compressed coil spring 12 which constantly biases the eyebolt to the relative position with respect to the arm in which the wedge-shaped inner face of a nut 13 which is screwed onto the end of the eyebolt opposite to the eye engages the arm 2) within a V-shaped notch I4. The leg b of the bell crank lever 49 is similarly provided adjacent its upper end with a hole 15 which receives the shank of an eyebolt 16 with some clearance, and surrounding the eyebolt 16 between its eye "5 and the associated arm b is a compressed coil spring 11 which constantly biases the eyebolt 16 to the relative position with respect to the arm I) in which the wedge-shaped inner face of a nut 18 which is screwed onto the end of this eyebolt opposite to the eye engages the arm b within a V-shaped notch 19. The eyes of both eyebolts H and 16 are pivoted on an upstanding pin 80 secured to'one end of a horizontal lever 8| which is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin 82 secured to a horizontal lug 22 formed on the casing 22 directly above the slide bar l2. The free end of the lever 8| is formed with a depending cam follower 83 which extends into, and cooperates with, a cam slot 84 formed in the motion plate 84. As best seen in Fig. 2, the cam slot 84 is provided with a central portion 84*- which extends parallel to the direction of movement of the motion plate, and with oppositely offset end portions 84 and 84 which also extend parallel to the direction of movement of the motion plate and which are connected with the central portion 34 by means of intermediate'connecting portions 84 and 84 which extend at an angle to the direction of movement of the motion plate and which are parallel to each other.

The lengths of the various portions of the cam slot 84 are such, and the parts are so proportioned, that the cam follower 83 will engage the cam slot at the end portion 84 or 84 according as the slide bar occupies its extreme normal or its extreme reverse position, but that, when the slide bar is moved from its normal position to its reverse position, the cam follower 83 will be forced out of the end portion 84 and into the central portion 84 before the locking dog I8 becomes completely withdrawn from the notches l8*- in the lock rod L and will subsequently remain in the central portion 84 until after the locking dog [9 has partly entered the notches l9 in the lock rod L, and that, when the slide bar is moved from its reverse position to its normal position, the cam follower 83 will be forced out of the end portion 84 and into the central portion 84 before the locking dog l9 has become completely withdrawn from the notches I9 in the lock rod L and will subsequently remain in the central portion 8 until after the dog l8 has partly entered the notches l The parts are further so proportioned that when the cam follower 83 engages the cam slot 84 at the end portion 84 the bell crank lever 48 will be biased by the spring 12 to 2. normal extreme position in which the roller 68 will enter the 61 in the point detector rod D if this notch then aligns with the roller, and the bell crank lever 49 will be held by the eyebolt 16 and nut 18 in a normal extreme position in which the roller 69 is moved some distance away from the point detector rod, and that, when the cam follower 83 engages the cam slot at the end portion 84, the bell crank lever 49 will then be biased by the spring 11 to a reverse position in which the roller 69 will enter the notch 61 in the point detector rod the bell crank lever will be held bythe eyebolt H and nut 13 in a reverse extreme position in which theroller 68 is moved some distance away from the point detector rod, but that when the cam follower engages the cam slot 84 at the central portion 84*, both bell crank levers 48 and 49 will then be held by the eyebolts II and I6 and associated nuts 13 and 18 in intermediate positions in which the rollers 68 and 69 are just clear of the point detector rod. With the parts constructed and proportioned in'the manner just described, it will be obvious that during movement of the slide bar from one extreme position to the other, the bell crank levers will normally move in unison.

Mounted in the arm b of the bell crank lever 49 is an adjustable stop screw 90 which cooperates with a portion of the case 22 to limit the position to which the bell crank lever 49 can rotate, in a counterclockwise direction, to that to which this lever is moved by the eyebolt 16, and nut 18 when the cam follower 83 is within the portion 84 of the cam slot 84, and mounted in the arm I) of the bell crank lever 48 in a similar adjustable stop screw 9| which cooperates with a portion of the case 22 to limit the position to which the bell crank lever 48 can rotate, in a clockwise direction, to that to which this lever is moved by the eyebolt H and nut 73 when the cam follower 83 is within the portion 84 of the cam slot 84.

The operation, as a whole, of the portion of the apparatus thus far described is as follows: 'As shown in the drawings, the slide bar l2 occupies its extreme normal position, and the switch points 2 and 2 likewise occupy their extreme normal positions, so that the switch point 2 is held tightly against the associated fixed rail I. Under these conditions, the recess 61 in the point detector rod D aligns with the roller 68 of the bell crank lever 48 and the cam follower 83 on the lever 8| engages the cam slot 84 at the end portion 84 and as a result, both bell crank levers occupy their normal extreme positions. The contacts 33--35 and 3436 of the set S of contacts are therefore closed, while thecontacts 33-35 and 34--36 of the other set of contacts are open.

I will now assume that with the parts in the positions just described, the slide bar I2 is moved from its extreme normal position to its extreme reverse position to move the switch points from their normal positions to their reverse positions. During the first or unlocking part of this movement of the slide bar, no motion of the switch points takes place for the reasons pointed out hereinbefore, but during the corresponding part of the resultant movement of the motion plate 64, the cam follower 83 is forced out of the end portion 84 of the cam slot '84 and into the straight central portion 84 thus causing the bell crank levers 48 and 49 to be'rotated from their extreme normal positions in which they are shown in Fig. 4 totheir intermediate positions. As was previously pointed out, when the bell crank levers are rotated to their intermediate positions,

the contacts of both sets S and S of contacts are open and both rollers 68. and 69 occupy positions in which they are just clear of the point detector rod D. During the intermediate part of the movement of the slide bar, that is to say, during that part of the movement which causes the shifting of the switch points, the cam follower 83 will continue to engage the slide bar at the portion 84 of the cam slot 84, and it will be apparent,

therefore, that the resultant movement of the T crank lever toward itsreverse extreme position. ,When the bell crank lever 49 becomes biasedto its 7 intermediate part of the movement of the slide barhas been completed and the final or looking part of themovement starts to take place, the campiollower 83 will move out'of the straight cenlpointdetector rod D which takes place due to the reversal of the switchpoints will have no effect on the point detector mechanism. When the tral portion of the cam slot 84 and into the inclined portion 84 and just before the final looking part of the movement of the slide bar becomes completed, the'cam follower 83 will enter the straight end portion 84 of the cam slot. The movement of the cam follower out of the central portion 84* of the cam slot and into the end portion 84 willact through 'the'eyebolt'll and nut 13 to positively rotate the bell crank lever 48 in 'a clockwise direction from its intermediate position to its reverse extreme position, andwill also act through thespring 1'! to exert a force on the bell crank lever 49 which force biases this bell reverse extreme position under'these conditions the: point detector rod D will have beenmoved to the position in which the notch 61 aligns with the roller 69 unless the switch points have been damaged or are out of adjustment, and assuming that the notch .61 is then in alignment with the roller 69 as will normallybe the case, the bell crank leverwill move to its reverse position due to the bias of the spring Ti and will thus cause contacts 33'35 and 34-45 of the set S of contacts to become closed. The contacts 33--35 and -3436 of the set S of contacts, however, will remain open for reasons which are obvious.

When the slide bari2 is in its extreme reverse position and theswitch points are in'their full reverse positions, if the slide. bar is then re,- stored to its extreme normal positions to restore the switch points'totheir normal positions, the

operation of the apparatus will be exactly the reverse of that just described, andit'is believed,

'therelore'thatl this operation will be apparent from the" foregoing and from an inspection of the drawings without'further description.

I will now assume that Hie parts are in the positionsin which they are shown in the drawings and that a. train trails the switch. Un-

' derthese conditions, while the train is trailing the switch, the switch points will be displaced from their normal positions a certain amount .by

the wheels of the train, and this displacement .will'cause the point detectorrod D to move toward the right, as viewedin Fig. 4, an amount which depends upon the amount of movement of the closed point, that'is,.the point 2. This moveiment of the point detector rod will cause the bevel'face of'the notch 61 in the point detector rod to engage roller 68 and will thus rotate bell their normal positions.

crank lever 48 in a clockwise direction, as viewed Fig. 4, in opposition to. the bias of the spring 12. This rotation of the bell crank lever, in

turn, will open contacts '33-35 and 34--36 of the set S ot contacts, thereby giving an indicationthat the train is t-railing the switch and that the'point s aredisplaced from their normal,

positions. When the train i has completely trailed the switch, the displacing force on the switch points "will, of course,'be removed, and the'points will then tend'to spring back toward :points toward their normal positions will .move

thejpoint detector rod D toward the left, as

, viewedin Fig. 4, and if the amount of this move-' ment is sufiicient to permit the roller 68,to fully V tector rod will permit.

The movement of the reenter the notch .61. the spring I2 will restore the bell crank leve'nAB to its extreme normal position in which it is shown in Fig. 4, thereby their normal closed positions.

restoring the contacts of the set S of contacts to; r

If, however, the

switch points are so badlydamaged by the trail ing train that the movement lot the point detector rod is insufficient to permit the roller 68 to fully enter the recess 61, or to enter it at all,

the spring 12 will act to return the bell crank lever to such a position'as the position in which the roller 68 engages the point detector rod will permit.

.I will next assume that the slide bar'l2 has been moved to its extreme reverse position so that the switch points are in their full reverse positions,-and,that a train trailsthe switch.'

toward its intermediateposition, in opposition to the bias of 'spring l'l, thereby causing the contacts of the set S to become opened. After the train has completely trailed the switch, if the switch points spring back toward their full reverse positions far. enough to permit the roller 69 to completely reenter notch 61, spring" will act to restore the bell crank lever 49 to its full reverse position, but if the switch points do not spring back toward their full reverse positions far enough to permit the roller 69 to fully" enter 5 the recessBl, or'to enter it at all, the bell crank lever will be retained in such position as the position .in which the roller engages the point de- It is desirable to insure that after a train has trailed the switch the point detector contacts will be retained in their open positions until they are manually released .even though the point detector rod returns to a position which would permit these contacts to becom'eiclosed... The

reason for this isthat it is necessary for clearance reasons to connectthe point detector rod 7 to the switch points somedistance below thev top. of the points where, due to the rolling oflthe points during the trailing; the amount of movement of the pointsmay not be more than one half of thatoccurring at .theltop of the points, and as; a result, the tendencyofqthe points to spring back toward their originalv positions, after the trailing train has passed theswitch, may result in the final displacement of the point detector rod being very little, if any, more than the displacement which would correspond to the maximum permissible opening of the closed point,.which opening isthe setting at which the vice comprises anadjustable latch rod 85, one

end 10f which is pivotally'. attached to the v upper end of the arm b of the'bell crank lever 49, and the other end of which is provided with an enlarged latch head 86 which cooperates with an open end slot- 81 formed in the upper end of the arm I) of the bell crank lever .48., The latch point detector contacts become opened, while the .ol ening of the closed point at thetop might 'be suiiicient to be dangerous; For the] purpose of retainingthe contacts in their open .positions after they have once been opened by atrai'ling 'train, I provide a latching device E whichI will now describe. QAs here shown, this latching derod 85 is so adjusted that when the bell crank levers occupy the relative positions which they normally occupy, that is to say, the positions which they occupy when all parts are in proper adjustment and no train is trailing the switch, the latch 86 will engagethe bell crank lever within the slot 81 in the manner shown in Fig. 4, but that, when the bell crank levers occupy the relative positions which they occupy when one of the rollers 68 or 69 is forced part way out of the notch 61 in the point detector rod D due to a train trailing the switch, the latch head 86 and arm b of hell crank lever 48 will then be moved to such relative positions that the righthand side of the latch head, as viewed in Fig. 4, will be clear of the lefthand side of the arm b of the bell crank lever 48. The latch rod 85 is biased by gravity and by a spring 88 to a downward position in whichthe latch head, or latch rod, as the case may be, is in engagement with the bottom of the slot 81. 7

With the latching device E constructed in the manner just described it will be apparent that during reversal of the switch points due to operation of the slide bar from one extreme position to the other, the latching .device E will have no eifect on the point detector mechanism, since the bell crank levers 48 and 49 move in unison under these conditions, and the circuit controller will therefore function in the manner previously described. When, however, a train trails the switch, if the resultant displacement of the switch points is suflicient to cause one or the other of the rollers 68 or 69 to be forced part way out of the recess 61in the point detector rod D due to engagement of suchroller with one or the other of the bevel faces of the notch 61, the consequent rotation of the bell crank lever 48 or 49, as the case may be, will move the latch head 86 and arm 12 of bell crank lever 48 .to such relative positions that the righthand side of the latch head, as viewed in Fig; 4, is clear of the lefthand side of the arm I) of the bell crank lever 48, and when this happens, thespring 88 will force the latch rod downwardly toa latching position in which the latch rod engages, the slot 81 at the bottom of the slot. After the latch rod has been moved to this latching positi0n,:the latch head will cooperate with the arm I) of hell crank lever 49 to retain the bell crank levers in their displaced relative positions until the latch is manually raised to restore the levers to their normal positions. The parts are so proportioned that when the bell crank levers occupy their displaced positions, the contacts of both sets S and S of contacts will be open regardless of the position whic the switch or slide bar then occupies.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a latching device constructed in the manner just 'described causes theindication contacts of the point detector mechanism to function in accordance with the position of=the point detector rod during the time the switch is actually being trailed, rather than after the train has completely trailed through the switch. It will also be seen that this latching device makes it necessary for a maintainer to go to a switch which has been trailed and manually release the latching device before either set of indication contacts can again become closed. It is assumed that when a maintainer goes to the switch to release the latching device, he will inspect the switch points, and if damaged, repair them, thus guarding against a dangerous condition due to damaged switch points. a 1

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodyingmy in vention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made tlierein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention.

Having thus described my invention, .what I claimis: V I

1. In combination with a railway switch and operating mechanism for said switch including a driving member movable between two extreme positions, a motion plate operatively connected with said driving member to move therewith, said motion plate being provided with a cam slot,

a pivoted bell cranklever one arm ,of-which is provided with a hole, an eyebolt slidably mounted in said hole and provided at the end opposite its eye with a nut, a compressed coil spring disposed on said eyebolt between said one arm of: said bell crank lever and saidreye in such manner that said eye-bolt is constantly biased to the position in which said nut engages said one arm, a second lever pivoted intermediate its ends and provided at one end with a pin which receives said eye and at the other end with a cam follower which co-operates with said cam slot, said cam slot being so constructed andthe parts being so proportioned that said bell crank lever will be biased to one extreme position by said spring when said driving member occupies one extreme position and will be positively moved to another extreme position by said eyebolt and said nut when said driving member is moved to its other extreme position, a point detector rod secured to said switch to move therewith, means secured to the other arm of said bell crank lever andcooperating with said-point detector rod for preventing said bell crank lever from moving to its one extreme position when said driving'rriember occupies said one extreme position unless'said switch occupies its corresponding extreme position and the then closed point of said switch is in close engagementwith the associatedfixed rail, and indication means controlled by said lever.

2. 'In combination with a railway switch and operating mechanism forsaid switch including a driving member movable between two extreme positions for moving said switch between its two extreme positions, a bell crank lever, means for operatively connecting said driving member with one arm'of said bell crank lever in such manner that said bell crank lever will be biased to one position when said driving member'occupies one of its extreme positions, will be positively moved to another extreme position when said driving member occupies its other extreme position, and will be moved to an intermediate position when said driving member is between its two extreme positions, a roller secured to the other arm of said bell crank lever, a point detector rod secured to said switch to move therewith andprovided with a notch which aligns with said. roller when and only when said switch occupies the extreme position corresponding to said one extreme position of said driving memberand the thenclosed point of said switch is in properengagement. with the associated fixed rail; a pin secured to said other arm of said bell crank lever, a set ofcbn tacts each contact of which comprises a fixed contact finger and a movable contact finger, each said movable contact finger being, provided with a return bend, and an insulatinglink provided with a clip having an open endslot which slide ably receives the pin onsaid other arm of said bell crank lever and witha plurality of pins'o'ne of whichicoopcrates with the return bend on each 7 o i sa'id movable contactifingers to connect said link with saidfingersd .3, Incombination with a "railway switch and operating mechanism forsaid switch including a driving member movable between two extreme positions for moving said 'switch' between its two extreme positions, a bell crank lever, means for tion whensaid driving member is between its two extreme positions, a roller secured to the other 7 arm of said bell crank lever, a'point detector rod secured to said switch to move therewith and provided with a notchwhich aligns with said roller when and 'onlywhen said switch occupies theextreme position corresponding 'to' said one extre'me position of said driving member'and the then closed point of said switch is in proper engagement with the associated fixed rail, a set of contacts each contact of which comprises a movable contactfinger and a fixed contact finger, and

it an'insulating link connected with the movable ,finger of each contact and with said other arm rofgsaid lever, whereby movement of said lever willoperate said contacts.

' '1 r 4. In'combination with a railway switch and operating mechanism for said switch including a driving member movable between normal and reverse positions for moving said switch between its normal and reverse positions, two pivoted bell crank levers, means for operatively connecting one arm of each lever with said driving member,

in such manner that the.- onelever will be biased to a normal position and the other lever will be positively moved to a'normal position when said driving member occupies its normal position, that r P theotherlever'will be biased to a reverse posi' '45 tion-and: the-onelever will be positively moved to a reverse position when said driving member occupiesits reverse position, and that'bothlevers will be moved to intermediate positions during 1 movement of said driving:member from either ex-' tremepositionto the other, two rollers one attached'to-the other armoi said one lever and the other attached to theother arm of said other lcver a Point detector rod secured tothe switch to move-therewith and provided with-a notch 7 which receives said oneroller when and only when said cne leverisbiasedto. its normal extreme position and; said switch occupies its proper normal; position and which receives said other rollenwhen: and only when said" other lever is biasedtoits reverse :extremeposition and said switch occupieseits proper reverse position, latch mechanism connectedwith said levers in such mannerthat if.- said one lever is; moved away from its normal positionwhen-the. other lever occupies its normal position or said; other lever is movedaway from its. reverse position when said "one lever occupies; its reverse position said latch mechanism will subsequently maintain said levers in displaced relative positions, and indication meanscontrolled by said two bellcrank levers.

' 5 ln comhination with ai'railway switch and operating mechanism for said switch:v including a driving, member movable betweennormal and reverse positionsefor moving-said switch between its l-$ 9 3 91 at first 1W RiYOt intermediate leads, andfprovided 'at'bn end witha cam ,follower andat'theother end with apin, a motion plate secured to said driving mem;

ber and provided with a cam slot which cooper ates with said cam follower in such manner that said firstlever will be rotated to a normal extreme position, a reverse extreme position, or an intermediate position according as said driving member occupies its normal extreme position,'its

reverse position, or aposition between its normal and reverse extreme positions, two pivoted bell crank levers one arm of each of which is p10- '1 'vided "with a hole, twoeyebolts jo'ne slidably mounted in the hole in eachlever andeach-pro' vided at the end opposite to the eye'with a nut and each having the eye pivoted on said pin, two compressed springs one disposed on each eyebolt between its eyeand the, associated arm, and indi; cation means controlled by the other arm oi each bell crank lever; I

a 'driving member movable between normal and reverse positions for moving said switch between its normal and reverse positions, a firstlever pivoted intermediate its ends and provided at '20 6. In combination with a railway switch and operating mechanism for said switch including one end with a cam follower and at the other: 7

end with a pin, a motion plate secured to said driving member and provided with alcam slot which cooperates with said cam follower inLsuch manner that said first lever will be rotated to a normal extreme position, a reverse extreme po-' sition, or an intermediate position'according as c said driving member occupies its'normal extreme position, its reverse position, or a position between its normal and reverse extreme positions, two pivoted bell crank levers one arm of eachof which is provided with a hole, twoeyebolts one slidably mounted in the hole in each lever and each provided at the endopposite to the eyewith' a nut and each having the eye pivoted on said pin, two compressed springs one disposed on eacheyebolt between its eye and the associated arm,

whereby the one lever will be biased to a normal position and the other lever will be positively movedto a normal position when'said driving member occupies its normalposition, the other lever will be biased to a reverse position and the'one lever will bepositively moved to a reverse position when said driving member occupies its reverse position, and both levers will be moved to intermediatepositions when said driving member occupies a position betweenits normal and 7 reverse positions, and indication means controlled 7 s by the other arm of each bell crank levere "7. In combination witha railway switch and operating mechanism for said switch including a slide'barmovable between normal'and reverse positions for'moving said switch between its normal and reverse positions,a first lever pivoted intermediate its ends and provided at one end with a cam follower and at'the other end with a pin, a motion plate secured to. said slide bar and provided with a cam slot which cooperates with said cam followerin such inannerthat said I first lever will be rotated to a normal extreme position, 7 a reverse extreme position or an fin termediate position according as said slide barroc- V cupies its normal extreme position,- its reverse position, or a'position'betweenits normal and reverseextreme positions, two pivoted: bell crank levers onearm of each of which is providedwith a hole, two eyebolts one slidably mounted in the hole in each lever and each provided at the end opposite to the eye with a nut and each'having the eye pivoted on said pin, two compressed springs one disposed on each eyebolt between its eye and the associated arm, whereby the one lever will be biased to a normal position and the other lever will be positively moved to a normal position when said slide bar occupies its normal position, the other lever will be biased to a reverse position and the one lever will be positively moved to a reverse position when said slide bar occupies its reverse position, and both levers will be moved to intermediate positions when the slide bar occupies a position between its normal and reverse position, and whereby both levers will normally be moved in unison during movement of said slide bar from one extreme position to the other, a point detector rod operatively connected with said switch, means secured to said other arm of each lever and cooperating with said point detector rod for moving said one lever away from its normal position if said switch is moved away from its normal extreme position when said slide bar occupies its normal extreme position and for moving said other lever away from its reverse position if said switch is moved away from its reverse position when said slide bar occupies its reverse position, latch mechanism connected with said one arm of each lever in such manner that if said one lever is moved away from its normal position when the other lever occupies its normal position or said other lever is moved away from its reverse position when said one lever occupies its reverse position said latch mechanism will subsequently maintain said arms in displaced relative positions, and indication means controlled by said two bell crank levers.

8. In combination with a railway switch and operating mechanism for said switch including a slide bar movable between normal and reverse positions for moving said switch between its normal and reverse positions, a first lever pivoted intermediate its ends and provided at one end with a cam follower and at the other end with a pin, a motion plate secured to said slide bar and provided with a cam slot which cooperates with said cam follower in such manner that said first lever will be rotated to a normal extreme position, a reverse extreme position or an intermediate position according as said slide bar occupies its normal extreme position, its reverse position, or a position between its normal and reverse extreme positions, two pivoted bell crank levers one arm of each of which is provided with a hole, two eyebolts one slidably mounted in the hole in each lever and each provided at the end opposite to the eye with a nut and each having the eye pivoted on said pin, two compressed springs one disposed on each eyebolt between its eye and the associated arm, whereby the one lever will be biased to a normal position and the other lever will be positively moved to a normal position when said slide bar occupies its normal position, the other lever will be biased to a reverse position and the one lever will be positively moved to a reverse position when said slide bar occupies its reverse position, and both levers will be moved to intermediate positions when the slide bar occupies a position between its normal and reverse position, and whereby both levers will normally be moved in unison during movement of said slide bar from one extreme position to the other, a latch rod pivotally attached to said one arm of said other lever, an open end slot formed in said one arm of said one lever, and a latch head secured, to said latch rod and cooperating with said slot in such manner that said latch head will remain in said slot when said levers move in unison, but that, if either lever is moved independently of the other lever said latch head will move out of said slot and will subsequently cooperate with said one arm ofsaid one lever to retain said levers in their displaced relation.

9. In combination with a railway switch and operating mechanism for said switch including a driving member movable between normal and reverse positions for moving said switch between its normal and reverse positions, a first lever pivoted intermediate its ends and provided at one end with a cam follower and at the other end with a pin, a motion plate secured to said driving member and provided with a cam slot which cooperates with said cam follower in such manner that said first lever will be rotated to a normal extreme position, a reverse extreme position or an intermediate position according as said driving member occupies its normal extreme position, its reverse position, or a position between its normal and reverse extreme positions, two pivoted bell crank levers one arm of which is provided with a hole, two eyebolts one slidably mounted in the hole in each lever and each provided at the end opposite to the eye with a nut and each having the eye pivoted on said pin, two compressed springs one disposed on each eyebolt between its eye and the associated arm, whereby the one lever will be biased to a normal position and the other lever will be positively moved to a normal position when said driving member occupies its normal position, the other lever will be biased to a reverse position and the one lever will be positively moved to a reverse position when said driving member occupies its reverse position, and both levers will be moved to intermediate positions when said driving member occupies any position between its normal and reverse position, and whereby both levers will normally be moved in unison during movement of said driving member from one extreme position to the other, a point detector rod operatively connected with said switch, means secured to said other arm of each lever and cooperating with said point detector rod for moving said one lever away from its normal position if said switch is moved away from its normal extreme position when said driving member occupies its normal extreme position and for moving said other lever away from its reverse position if said switch is moved away from its reverse position when said driving member occupies its reverse position, a latch rod pivotally attached to said one arm of said other lever, an open end slot formed in said one arm of said one lever, and a latch head secured to said latch rod and cooperating with said slot in such manner that said latch head will remain in said slot when said levers move in unison, but that, if either lever is moved independently of the other lever said latch head will move out of levers in their displaced relation.

HERBERT L. BONE.

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