US3522427A - Automatic switch for a point operated from a running carriage - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IM ETZ ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1970 KAROKU MINE AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR A POINT OPERATED FROM A RUNNING CARRIAGE Filed March 25, 1968 QM LL wmmvj whExm vm L wfi 7: KL T mu A f 26 mm A I aim/mam m EVE w R 5 a a mm mKXJ mm 1 Wm m, m, xv: MN zo; 5mz

4, 1970 KAROKU MINE 3,522,427

AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR A POINT OPERATED FROM A RUNNING CARRIAGE Filed March 25, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

Meow 5M INVENTOR KAROKU MINE Aug. 4, 1970 AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR A POINT OPERATED FROM A RUNNING CARRIAGE Filed March 25, 1968 4 SheetsShet s I NVENTOR mm 6% mm Mm mm \m Mm km 9% k mm vm Nvm Mm ATTORNEY KAROKU MINE Aug 4, 1970.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR A POINT OPERATED FROM A RUNNING CARRIAGE Filed March 25, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

FIG. 8

INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 01 hce 3,522,427 Patented Aug. 4, 1970 3,522,427 AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR A POINT OPERATED FROM A RUNNING CARRIAGE Karoku Mine, 8 Motominami-cho, Fukuoka-sin, Japan Filed Mar. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 715,851 Claims priority, application Japan, Nov. 29, 1967, 42/ 76,156 Int. Cl. B611 /06 U.S. Cl. 246240 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switching arrangement for a switching point of a railroad system where a train running on a main line is switched to a side track or branch line by means of point tracks. The system operation is started by a switch lever which can be operated either on the ground or from the train. A motor is responsive to said switch lever and a stretcher bar is operated by the motor. This bar is connected to the point tracks to move them into and out of engagement with the branch and main lines. Clutch and gearing means are provided between the motor and the stretcher bar and, fail safe means are provided in case the point tracks do not properly make contact with the tracks of the main or branch line. Red and blue signal lights are operated by the system for indicating if the system is functionally operating properly.

The present invention concerns a track switching arrangement for a railroad system and more particularly a track switching arrangement which includes fail safe means if the switching arrangement is not functioning properly.

Generally speaking, the invention contemplates a switching arrangement for a switching point of a railroad system where a train running on a main line is switched to a side track or branch line by means of point tracks. The system operation is started by a switch which can be operated either on the ground or from the train. A motor is responsive to the switch and a stretcher bar is operated by the motor. This bar is connected to the point tracks to move them into and out of engagement with the branch and main lines. Clutch and gearing means are provided between the motor and the stretcher bar, and, fail safe means are provided in case the point tracks do not properly make contact with the tracks of the main or branch line. Red and blue signal lights are operated by the system for indicating if the system is functioning properly.

The object of this invention is to decrease the amount of labor and eliminate the danger caused by the faults of such a generally used switch for the point by improving the device.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent topersons skilled in the art from the following detailed specification and annexed drawings and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a switch lever stand.

FIG. 3 is a view of a switched signal lamp.

FIG. 4 is a plane view of an electrical switch illustrating the inside arrangement of the parts.

FIG. 5 is a cross elevational view inside of the electrical switch illustrating the transmissive relation of the reduction gears.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partly cross sectional plan of a manually operated point.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational partly sectional view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a bearing and a clutch disk.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a guide block.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a cam having a projection.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings is illustrated an electric circuit or track circuit (A) denoted by the reference letter A which is formed with the basic line 4 and the point track having switch toes 16, 20 respectively on the end portions of the point track rails which are connected with the electric point by a stretcher bar 24. The basic line 4 is joined with the main tracks 1, 2 and branch track 3 by means of insulated contact pieces 5, being connected with an electric source 7 through a transformer '16 transforming V. AC. into 6 V. DC. and through a selenium rectifier 8, with a relay TR which is actuated by electric current when the carriage is not positioned on the track circuit A. However 'when the carriage is on it, the relay TR is not actuated owing to the short circuit made by a shaft of the carriage. The insulated contact pieces 5 may be fixed only to a rail at one side of the line 4.

There is a switch lever C on the ground disposed alongside the main track 1 at a proper distance from the track. This switch lever C is high enough to be operated from the carriage passing along the track so as toclose the electric circuit or track circuit. This switch lever will then return to its original open position after the carriage has passed.

One of the contact pieces 9 which are closed by laying down the switch lever C, is connected with one of the wires of an electric source 11 of 24 V. DC. through a contactors HS and TRS which are closed by the relay TR, while the other contact piece 10 is connected with the other wire of the electric source 11 through the contactors R L which are in parallel arranged in a circuit controller of the electric source 11, through time relays L, R which are provided in parallel in the same circuit. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the switch lever device C is provided with indicating lamps of which arrow heads CL, CR indicate the positions of the point tracks. The main track 2 is provided with a contactor DR next to the rail 2 which has contact pieces 12, 13 through which the track circuit is closed by the carriage passing on the main track 2 but generally the contact pieces 12, 13 of the contactor DR are opened.

The branch track 3 is provided also with a contactor next to the rail which has contact pieces 14, 15 through which the track circuit is closed by the carriage passing on the rail 3, but generally the contact pieces 14, 15 of the contactor DL are opened.

The contact pieces 12, 14 of the contactors DR, DL are connected with one of the wires of the electric source 11 through the contactors HS, TRS, while the contact piece 13 is connected with a contactor L in the motor circuit controller. Contact piece 15 is connected with a contactor R in the same controller, and these are connected with the other wire of the electric source 11 through the contactors R, L arranged in parallel and time relays L, R arranged in parallel. Beside a switch toe or point tongue 16 of the point track or closure rail, a point contactor FR is provided which is connected with contact pieces 17, 18. These are opened during the time that the point track is in the normal position but are closed when pushed by the switch toe 16 when the switch toe is attached to the opposite rail. One of the contact pieces 17 3 of the point contactor PR is connected with a wire of an electric source 19 of 24 v. D.C. and the other 18 is connected with another wire of the same electric source 19 through a relay RKR.

On the opposite side of the switch toe 16, next to a switch toe 20 of the point track, a point contactor FL is provided being connected with contact pieces 21, 22 which are opened during the time that the point track is on the opposite side of the normal position, but are closed when pushed by the switch toe 20. One of the contact pieces 22 of the point contactor FL is connected with an electric source 23 of 24 v. D.C. and the other contact piece 21 is connected with another wire of the same electric source 23 through another relay LKR.

The point track is provided with an electric point or switch 25 connected with a stretcher bar 24 and is switched to an opened circuit position or a closed circuit position by means of the positive or counter rotation of the motor M. Next to the track arrangement shown in FIG. 1 are a set of signal lamps of the type shown in FIG. 3. These are located next to the electric point 25. The signal lamps include blue signal lamps GR and GL and a red signal lamp GP. One of the wires 26 of the blue lamps is connected with a wire of a v. A.C. electric source 27 through a contactor LKRS which is closed by the action of a relay LKR while the other wire 28 of the blue signal lam GL is connected with another wire of the electric source 27 of 10 v. A.C. through a contactor RKRS which is closed by the action of the relay RKR. Also, a wire of the red signal lamp is connected with a wire of the electric source 27 through a contactor FMS which is switched by the action of an interrupter FM. Each one of the other wires of the blue signal lamps GR, GL and of the red signal lamp GP, are combined in a code 29 and connected with the other wire of the electric source 27.

The interrupter FM is connected with an electric source 30 of 100 v. A.C., through the contactors RKRFS, LKRFS which closed in case both relays LKR, RKR are not actuated. The wire 26 of the blue signal lamp GR is connected with a wire 31 of one of the arrow head indicating lamps CR and the wire 28 of the blue signal lamp GL is connected with the wire 32 of the arrow head indicating lamp CL, while the other wire 33 of the arrow indicating lamps is connected with a wire 29 which has been connected with the wires of the blue signal lamps and of the red signal lamp GP.

When the point track is in the normal position as illustrated in FIG. 1, the contact pieces 21, 22 of the point contactor FL are closed so that the relay LKR is actuated. This causes the contactor LKRS to be closed to turn on the blue signal lamp GR and the arrow head indicating lamp CR, showing the point track as being in the normal position. In case the point track is on the side opposite to that of the normal position, the contact pieces 17, 18 of the point contactor FR are closed so that the relay RKR is actuated. This causes contactor RKRS to be closed to turn on the blue signal lamp GL and the arrow head indicating lamp CL, showing the point track as being on in the opposite side of the normal position.

However, in case that the point track is positioned neither on the normal position nor on the opposite side, and is not attached to the basic line or track circuit 4, the contact pieces 17, 18 of the point contactor PR and the contact pieces 21, 22 of another point contactor FL remain opened, so that the relays RKR, LKR are not actuated to make the contactors RKRFS, LKRFS closed, the interrupter FM is actuated as well as the contactor FMS to be interrupted which serves to turn on and 01f the red signal lamp GP warning of danger.

One end of a coil of the motor stator 34 is connected with a wire of an electric source 36 of 100 v. A.C. by means of a wire 35 through a contactor R in the motor circuit controller and a contactor LS which is switched 4 by the time relay L. The other end of the coil of the motor stator 34 is connected with the wire of the electric source 36 by means of a wire 37 through a contactor L of the motor circuit controller and a contactor RS which is switched by a time relay R.

A brush 39 of a rotor 38 of the motor M is connected with the wire through a contactor R'S which is switched by the time relay R, at the same time the brush 39 ..:is connected with the wire 37 through a contactor L'S which is switched by the time relay L; while another brush 40 of the rotor 38 of the motor M is connected with the other wire of the electrical source 36.

The stretcher bar 24, by which the electric point 25 and the point track are connected with each other as illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, has a slot consisting of a middle part 41, one end part 42 for setting a normal position and the other end part 43 for setting the opposite position of the point track and bent parts 44, 45 of the opposite sides of the middle part 41. In the slot there is a pin 48 mechanically connected with a switch rod 47 by which the contactors R R R and R in the motor circuit controller 46 are switched to those contactors L L L and L while the pin 48 is positioned in the middle part 41 of the slot, either one group of contactors R R R and R or the other group of contactors L L L and L; are closed, but according to the vertical movement of the stretcher bar 24, the pin 48 as illustrated in FIG. 4 is moved from the left to the right or in the contrary direction through the middle part of the slot to switch one group of contactors as desired.

The stretcher bar 24 is provided with racks 49 on its one side, engaged with a switch gear 50 with Which reduction gears 51, 52, 53 and 54 are engaged. The rotary shaft 55 of the reduction gear 54- is provided with a corn clutch 56 which moves vertically as illustrated in FIG. 5. This trips and engages with a reduction bevel gear 57 which engages a bevel gear 59 arranged on the rotary shaft 58 of the motor M.

In case that the point track is switched, rotation of the motor M is transmitted through the reduction bevel gear 57, com clutch 56 and reduction gears 54, 53, 52 and 51 to the switch gear 50 which engages the rack 49 of the stretcher bar 24 to be moved.

The switch gear 50 is provided integrally with a crank arm 60 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, to which one end of a rod 62 having a seat for a spring 66 is pivotally fixed with a pivot 63, while the other end is slidably inserted into a hole perforated in a small block rotatably set on the electric point with a shaft 64. Be tween the small block 65 and a spring seat 61 of the rod 62, a spring is fixed holding a strong reaction force by which the point track is tightly pressed against the basic line 4 with the stretcher bar 24.

When the stretcher bar 24 is forced to move in the direction which the arrow illustrates in FIG. 4, the switch gear 50, crank arm 60 and the rod 62 rotate biasing the spring 66 until the pivot 63 comes onto the straight line between the shaft 64 and the shaft of the switch gear 50 and at the moment when the pivot 63 of the rod 62 passes the straight line, the spring 66 reacts against the biasing force so as to operate a switching action which prevents the carriage from derailment owing to loose attachment of the point track with the basic line 4.

A reduction bevel gear 57 is provided coaxially with the rotatory shaft 55 of the reduction gear 54, the lower surface of said gear 57 is corn-shaped and removably engages a corn clutch 56. A spring is fixed between the corn clutch 56 and the reduction bevel gear 57, the rotary shaft 55 which includes a key 68 by which the corn clutch 56 is connected with the reduction bevel gear 57 moves vertically. The lower side of the corn clutch is connected through a thrust bearing 69 and a rod 70 with an armature 72 which is attracted by a magnetic coil 71 above.

A wire of the magnetic coil 71 as illustrated in FIG.

1, is connected with a wire of an electric source 73 of 48 V. DC. through contactors L'S RS which are switched by contactors R L and time relays L, R connected in parallel in the motor circuit controller 46 while the other wire of the magnetic coil 71 is connected with another wire of the electric source 73. When magnetic coil 71 is energized, the armature 72 is attracted upwards pushing the corn clutch 56 upwards through the rod 70 and the thrust bearing 69 against the reaction force of the spring 67 to make the corn clutch 56 engage with the reduction bevel gear 57 so that the rotation of the motor M is transmitted to the reduction gear 54 through the bevel gear 59, the reduction bevel gear 57, the corn clutch 56 and the rotary shaft 55.

While, in case that the magnetic coil 71 is not energized, the corn clutch 56 is disengaged from the reduction bevel gear 51 by the action of the spring 67. The rotation of the motor M is not to be transmitted to the reduction gear 54.

Normally for the purpose of switching, when the motor M is enabled, the magnetic coil 71 is energized, while when the motor is disabled, the magnetic coil is deenergized and the rotary inertia of the electric motor M is not transmitted to the stretcher bar 24.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a bevel gear 74 is mounted on the switch gear 50 coaxially and integrally with said gear 74 which is engaged with a smaller bevel gear 75, the gear shaft 76 of which is supported by a bearing 78 fixed to the side wall of the electric pointer with a fixing member 77 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

At a portion of the outer periphery of the bearing 78 as illustrated in FIG. 8, there is a cam 79 having a small diameter and adjacent to the outer surface of the bearing 78, a clutch disk 81 having a concave section 80 for engagement is set on the gear shaft 76 which is fixed to the clutch disk 81 with a key 82 so that the disk '81 can rotate simultaneously with the shaft 76 into which a basic end of a supporting plate 83 is inserted so as to pivot thereon 76. A handle 84 is provided which is fixed with a fixing member 86. In the basic central portion of the handle 84 is a concave section '86 for rotatory transmission into which a guide block 88 is held slidably in a spring 87. One side of the lower end of the block 88 forms a projection 89 as illustrated in FIG. 9 and the other side forms an arched guide surface 90 which is pressed on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing 78 or on the cam 79 adjacent to the outer peripheral surface by the reaction of the spring 87. In case the guide surface 90 is attached to the cam 79, the projection 89 of the guide block 88 engages with the concave 80. But normally, the guide surface 90 of the guide block 88 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the bearing 78, so that rotary transmission between the handle 84 and the gear shaft 76 does not take place.

To one side of the supporting plate 83 of the handle 84 as illustrated in FIG. 10, is fixed a cam plate 92 having a projection 91 which gives a sliding movement to a switch rod 93 by pressing therewith. The switch rod 93 is inserted slidably into a side wall of the electric pointer 25 through the spring 94 and the end portion of the switch rod 93 is connected with the contactor HS which is switched by the sliding movement of the clutch rod 93.

In the case of a breakdown in the electric current or because of trouble, the handle 84 is moved a little so that the guide surface 90 moves the cam 79 from the outer peripheral surface of the bearing 78 and the guide block 88 slides by the reaction of the spring 87 till the projection 89 of the guide block 88 engages with the concave section 80 of the clutch disk 81 to interconnect both guide block 88 and the clutch disk 81, while, by means of the projection 91 of a cam plate 92 a switch rod 98 slides against a spring 94 so as to cause the contactor HS to be opened, and the electric circuit connected with the switch lever C and the contactors DR and DL of the main tracks 2 and 3 are cut off.

By moving the handle 84 further, the action is transmitted through the clutch disk 81, the gear shaft 76, the smaller bevel gear 75 and the bevel gear 74, to the switch gear 50, the rotation of which moves the stretcher bar 24 in order to cause the gear 50 to be switched.

In case of breakdown of electric current, it is possible to switchthe point track manually in one operation very quickly, cutting off the motor circuit for the purpose of security during the operation of the handle 84. Besides, as the magnetic coil 71 is not energized, the corn clutch 56 is disengaged with the reduction bevel gear 57 in order that the rotary action of the handle 84 not to be transmitted to the motor M and the handle operation may be worked very easily.

Now, the function in process of the switch device will be explained.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, for an example, in case that a carriage is to move from the main track X forward to the branch track Z, the switch lever C is turned down by a running carriage so as to cause the contact pieces 9 and 10 to be closed, electrifying a time relay L' to operate and by its operation, the contactors L'S LS are closed, making the electric motor M to rotate positively, while a contractor LS is closed, energizing a magnetic coil 71 which attracts an armature 72 and through the rod 70 raises the corn clutch 56 to be engaged with the reduction bevel gear 57. The rotatory action of the motor M is transmitted to the switch gear 50 through the bevel gear 59, the reduction bevel gear 57, the corn clutch 56, the rotary shaft and the reduction gears 54, 53, 52 and 51 which are arranged on the rotary shaft 58 of the motor M. The rotation of the switch gear 50 moves the stretcher bar 24 so as to switch the point track to the opposite side from the normal position. At the moment just before finishing the switching action, the pin 48 resting in the middle part of the slot 41 which is formed in the stretcher bar 24, moves to the upper part of the slot 43 in FIG. 4, switching from such contactors in the motor circuit controller 46 as R R R and R which are opened through the switch rod 47, to contactors L L L and L, which are to be closed. This cuts off the electric current which closes the motor M and the magnetic coil 71 and disengaging the corn clutch 56 which has been engaged by the attraction of the armature 72 caused by the energized magnet coil 71 from the reduction bevel gear 57 by the reaction of the spring 67. Thus, the rotatory action of the motor is not transmitted to the stretcher bar 24 when the motor stops. However, after the electric current to the motor has been cut off, the rotatory action of the motor due to inertia is not transmitted to the stretcher bar 24 of the point track.

When the point track is attached to the basic line 4 and is then switched to the position opposite from the normal position, the contact pieces 21 and 22 of the point contactor FL are opened as well as relay LKR, opening contactor LKRS by which the blue indicator lamp GR and the arrowhead indicator lamp CR are turned off. Meanwhile, contact pieces 17 and 18 of the point contactor FR are closed as well as relay RKR. Contactor RKRS is closed to turn on a blue signal lamp GL and an arrowhead indicator lamp CL, showing that the point track is in the position which is in the position which is opposite to the normal position.

In case the point track is on the side opposite to the normal position, when the carriage is to move forward to the main track Y from the main track X, the switch lever C is also turned down by the running carriage so as to cause the contact pieces 9 and 10 to be closed, connecting the time relay R to operate with an electric current by the action of which the contactors R'S R'S are closed to rotate the motor in reverse. Meanwhile, the contactor R'S is closed, energizing the magnetic coil 71 to attract the armature 72. The corn clutch 56 is raised because of rod engaging reduction bevel gear 57 so that the rotary action of the motor M is transmitted to the switch gear 50 through bevel gear 59, the reduction bevel gear 57, the corn clutch 56, the rotary shaft and the reduction gears 54, 53, 52 and 51 arranged on the rotary shaft 58 of the motor M. Thus, by the rotation of the switch gear 50, the stretcher bar 24 is moved to switch the point track to the normal position.

At the moment just before finishing the switching action, the pin 48 resting in the middle part of the slot 41 formed in the stretcher bar 24 moves to the lower part of the slot 42 in FIG. 4, i.e. the normal position. Thus contactors L L L and L, are opened and contactors R R R and R are closed. Electric current in the motor circuit and to the magnetic coil 71 is cut off. The corn clutch 56, engaged by the magnetic force of armature 72 through the energization of coil 71 is disengaged from reduction bevel gear 57 by the action of spring 67. Thus, rotary motion is not transmitted to stretcher bar 24 and the motor M will stop.

However, after the electric current Closing the motor M has been cut 011, the rotary action due to inertia is not transmitted to the stretcher bar 24 of the point track.

When the switch toe 16 of the point track attached to the basic line 4 is being switched to the normal position from the opposite side, the contact pieces 17 and 18 of the point contactor FR are opened so as to cause the electric current closing the relay RKR, to be broken, opening the contactor RKRS by which a blue signal lamp GL and an arrow head indicator lamp CL are turned off, while the contact pieces 21 and 22 of the point contactor FL are closed. Relay LKR is enabled to operate and also the contactor LKRS is closed, turning on a blue signal lamp GR and an arrow head indicator lamp CR which indicate that the point track is in the normal position. Thus, the carriage may move forward to the main track Y from the main track X.

When a carriage on the trailing point, is to move from the branch track Z forward to the main track X, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the contactor DL arranged alongside the rail on the ground, is acted by the running carriage, so that the contact pieces 14 and are closed to electrify the time relay L' and thus, contactors L'S L'S are closed, making the motor M rotate. Contactor LS are closed, energizing the magnetic coil 71 which attracts the armature 72 and raises by means of rod 70, the corn clutch 56 which engages reduction bevel gear 57 so that the rotary action of the motor M is transmitted to the switch gear through the bevel gear, the reduction bevel gear 57, the corn clutch 56, the rotary shaft and the reduction gears 54, 53, 52 and 51 which are arranged on the rotary shaft 58 of the motor M. The rotation of switch gear 50 moves the stretcher bar 24 so as to cause the point track to be switched to the side opposite to the normal position.

At the moment just before finishing the switching action, the pin 48 resting in the slot 41 moves to the upper part of the slot 43 in FIG. 4, switching such contactors in the motor circuit controller 46, as R R R and R to the open position through switch rod 47, and, the contactors L L L and L; are closed. This cuts off the electric current closing the motor M and the magnetic coil 71. This in turn causes disengaging of the corn clutuch 56 which has been engaged by the attraction of the armature 73 to the reduction bevel gear 57 by the reaction of spring 67. The rotary action of the motor M is thus not transmitted to the stretcher bar 24 and the motor stops. Thus, after an electric current has been cut off, the rotary action due to inertia is not transmitted to the stretcher bar 24 of the point track.

When the switch toe 20 of the point track attached to the basic line 4 is switched to the opposite side from the normal position, the contact pieces 21 and 22 of the point contactor FL are opened, causing the electric current flow closing the relay LKR to be broken. This opens contactor LKRS by which the blue signal lamp GR and the arrow head indicator lamp CR are turned off, while the contact pieces 17 and 18 of the point contactor FR are closed causing relay RKR to operate and also, contactor RKRS to be closed to turn on the blue signal lamp GL and the arrowhead indicator lamp CL. This shows that the point track is on the side opposite to the normal position. Thus, the carriage may move forward to the main track X from the branch track Z.

There is still another case when the point track is on the side opposite to the normal position. When the carriage on the trailing point, is to move forward to the main track X from the main track Y, the contactor DR next to the rail on the ground is acted on by the running carriage, so as to cause contact pieces 12 and 13 of the contactor DR to be closed. This causes time relay R to operate, by the action of which contactors RS RS are closed to rotate the motor in reverse, while the contactor RS is closed, energizing the magnetic coil 71 to attract the armature 72 so that the corn clutch 56 is raised by rod 70. The cam clutch engages the reduction bevel gear 57, so that the rotary action of the motor M may be transmitted to the switch gear 50' through the bevel gear 59, the reduction bevel gear 57, the corn clutch 56, the rotatory shaft 55 and the reduction gears 54, 53, 52 and 51 arranged on the rotatory shaft 58 of the motor M. Thus, by the rotation of the switch gear 50, the stretcher bar 24 is moved to switch the point track to the normal position.

At this moment just before finishing the switching action, the pin 48 resting in the middle part of the slot 41 formed in the stretcher bar 24 moves to the lower part of the slot 42 in FIG. 4, returning to the normal position therein, so that contactors L L L and L, are opened with respect to switch rod 47. Meanwhile, the contactors R R R and R are closed in the motor circuit controller 46 and the electric current acting to close the motor and the magnetic coil 71 is cut off. The corn clutch which has been engaged by the magnetic motive force of the armature 72, is therefore disengaged from the reduction bevel gear 57 by the reaction of the spring 67.

When the switch toe 20 of the point track is attached to the basic line 4, and is being switched to the normal position from the opposite side, the contact pieces 17 and 18 of the point contactor FR are opened. The electric current closing the relay RKR is thus open. This opens contactor RKRS by which the blue signal lamp GL and the arrowhead indicator lamp CL are turned off, while the contact pieces 21 and 22 of the point contactor FL are closed. This then causes relay LKR to be electrified and also causes the contactor LKRS to be closed, turning on the blue signal lamp GR and the arrowhead indicator lamp CR which indicate that the point track is in the normal position. Thus, the carriage may move forward to the main track X from the main track Y.

There is also the possibility that track circuit A which is to be enabled by the shaft of the carriage when the electric current closing the relay TR, does not function and is broken, this will cause the contractor TRS to be opened due to misoperation of the relay TR. However, even if the contact pieces 9 and 10 were closed by turning down the switch lever C, or even if the contact pieces 12 and 13 or 14 and 15 were closed by the carriage acting on contactors DR, DL, an electric current would not close the relay L or R and not close the contactors LS LS or RS R'S in the motor circuit as well as the contactors L'S or R'S in the magnetic coil circuit. Accordingly, the blue signal lamps GR, GL as well as the arrow head indicator lamps CR, CL would not change. Thus, a driver of the carriage would be warned of danger.

In another case, if the point track should happen not to be attached to the basic line 4 at the last moment when it were switched due to a stone between the rails, the contact pieces 17 and 18 of the point contactor PR and the contact pieces 21 and 22 of the point contactor FL would not be closed, so relays RKR, LKR would not be closed or they might not operate so as to close the c011- 9 tactors RKRFS, LKRFS and operating the switching relay FM. Then the red signal lamp GP would indicate the danger of incomplete attachment of the rails.

Contrary to the above described cases, in which the electric motor M has been operating in a normal condition, in case the motor does not operate due to break down of electric current or some trouble with the contactors DR, DL etc., for an example when a carriage on the trailing point, is going to move from the branch track Z forward to the main track X, the handle 84 is used manually to switch the point track very quickly and safely in one action. In such a case, the handle 84 is moved a little, at first, so as to cause the arched guide surface section 90 of the guide block 88 to move on the cam 79 which has a smaller diameter than the bearing 78. From the outer peripheral surface of the bearing 78 it will slide because of the disperity between the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the bearing 78 and that of the cam 79 and by means of the reaction of the spring 87 until the projection 89 of the guide block 88 engages with the concave section of the clutch disk 81, interconnecting both the guide block and the clutch disk. Then, the handle 84 is moved further, to rotate the gear shaft 76 and the switch gear 50 through small bevel gear 75 and bevel gear 74, moving the stretcher bar 24 so as to switch the point track. However, in this case, the corn clutch 56 is spaced from the reduction bevel gear 57 so that the rotary action may not be transmitted to the motor M.

By moving the handle 84 further, the switch rod 93 is moved slidably against the spring 94 reacting with the projection 91 of the cam 92 which is fixed to the side surface of the supporting plate 83 of the handle 84. Contactor RS is opened by the switch rod 93 so that during the manual operation to switch the point track, even when electric current closes the contact pieces 9 and 10 of the switch lever C or the contact pieces 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the contactors DR and DL, the time delays L and R will not close to operate, and the motor M; thus, the manual switching of the point track is achieved quite safely.

When the carriage on the facing point, is going forward from the main track X to the main track Y or the branch track Z, the point track can be switched in the desired direction of advance simply by the drivers operation from the carriage, switching the switch lever C located on the ground adjacent the track and having the height and the distance so as to be turned down from the running carriage and since the switched direction of the point track is indicated by the arrowhead indicator lamp as well as the blue signal lamp, he is free from the fear that the point track may be switched by mistake.

Besides, when the carriage is on the trailing point, it can proceed in the desired direction, switching the point track automatically by closing the contactor DR or DL provided on the ground adjacent to the track without a manual operation of a points man to switch the point track and since the switched direction of the point track is indicated by the arrowhead indicator lamp and the blue signal lamp, the point track will not be switched by mistake.

These objects and advantages of the present invention are accomplished by the provision of the improved automatic switch for a point described above and illustrated herein.

What is claimed is:

' 1. A switching arrangement for use at a switching point for switching a train from a first line to a second line by track movement so as to cause track toes (16, to move to and from engagement between said first and second line said switching arrangement comprising an combination:

(a) a normally open switch, closed by manual or train contact for closing a circuit;

(b) a circuit closed by said switch;

(c) motor means responsive to said switch in said circuit including a motor drive shaft (58) with driver gearing thereon;

(d) clutch means (56) responsive to said circuit to bring said driver gearing into operable engagement with follower gearing;

(e) follower gearing (50, 52, 53, 54) disposed for operable engagement with said driver gearing when engaged by said clutch means, said follower gearing including a rack driver (50) and a stretcher bar (24) with a bar rack (49) driven thereby, said stretcher bar connecting to said track toes (16, 20) to move said track toes to and from engagement between said first and second line;

(f) fail safe means (62, 63, 66) responsive to said rack driver (50);

(g) hand operable lever means (84) connected to said rack driver (50) to move said stretcher bar if electric power fails; and

(h) signals responsive to said fail safe means to indicate malfunction in the system.

2. A switching arrangement as claimed in claim 1 said circuit including contact points in said first and second lines, said signals being responsive to said contact points to indicate malfunction in the system at any of said points.

3. A switching arrangement for use at a switching point for switching trains from a first line to a second line by track movement so as to cause track toes (16, 20) to move to and from engagement between said first and second lines, said switching arrangement comprising in combination:

(a) a normally open switch lever closed by manual or train contact for closing a circuit;

(b) a circuit closed by said switch lever;

(c) motor means responsive to said switch lever in said circuit including a motor drive shaft (58) with driver gearing thereon;

(d) clutch means (56) responsive to said circuit to bring said driver gearing into operable engagement with follower gearing;

(e) follower gearing (50, 52, 53, 54) disposed for operable engagement with said driver gearing when engaged by said clutch means, said follower gearing including a rack driver (50) and a stretcher bar (24) with a bar rack (49) driven thereby, said stretcher bar (24) connecting to said track toes 16, 20) to move said track toes to and from engagement between said first and second line;

(f) spring means (66) responsive to said rack driver (50) with fail safe means (62, 63) responsive to said spring means (66);

(g) hand operable lever means (84) connected to said rack driver (50) to operate said switching arrangement if the electric power fails; and

(h) signals responsive to said fail safe means to indicate malfunction in the system.

4. A switching arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said rack driver is operatively connected to a crank arm (60) said crank arm having connected thereto one end of a rod (62), said spring means (66) being mounted on said rod, said rod other end being so mounted as to provide compression of said spring means as said rack driver is turned to a predetermined point whereat said stretcher bar (24) pushes one of the track toes (16, 20) into engagement with one of said first and second lines, and releasing said spring means if said predetermined point is exceeded without said track toes engaging one of said lines.

5. A switching arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said hand operable lever means (84) also comprises rotatable bearing means (78) and gear means turning thereon acting on said rack driver (50), a handle having a hollow (86) therein; a guide block (88) in said hollow, spring means (87) disposed for urging said 111 guide block away from said handle, cam engagement means (89, 90) on said guide block outer end, and, cam means, (79) associated with said bearing for cooperation therewith.

6. A switching arrangement as claimed in claim 3, 5

said circuit including contact points in said first and second lines, said signals being responsive to said contact points to indicate malfunction in the system at any of said points.

1 2 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,777,825 10/1930 Bonte. 2,566,946 9/1951 Laze.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner G. H. LIBMAN, Assistant Examiner

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