US365668A - Cash-carrier track - Google Patents

Description

Patented June 28, 1887.,

v`NU m6166661.) 2 sheets-sheet' R E BRAWN CASH CARRIER TRACK.

Patentedlune 28, 1887..

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUEUS ERAWN, or NEwBUHrroHT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSICNOH To NATHANIEL WILSON, OE WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA, AND EYHONA. OSCOOD, OE WAKEEIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CASH-CARRIER TRACK..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,668, dated J'une 28l 1887.

A pplicaiion filed November 24, 1886. Serial No. 219,765. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RU'EUS E. BRAWN, -Of Newburyport, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented a new and useful Improvement in CasnCarrier rIracks; and I do hereby declare that the following isafull, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to cash carriers or what are called in the trade cash and parcel carrier systems, these being well-known devices for moving cash and parcels in retail stores.

The invention relates more particularly to the track, and is designed to be used in con` nection with an automatic carrier or any freely-moving carrier suspended from a Wheel or wheels and adapted to run upon the track.

My invention consists, iirst, of an endless track adapted to allow the carriers Ito go and return without being reversed upon the Way. y It consists, secondly, of a side track or tracks included within the endless track, with switches turning` out any required car.

It consists, thirdly, of mechanism operated by the car itself and arranged above the track, so that any car designed to be turned upon any particular side track will operate the switch automatically for that purpose.

It consists, further, of a special form of stopping device, of devices for raising and lowering the track, of a special form of track, and of Special devices for operating the "switches.

It consists, lastly, of a special construction of the supportingstaudards, whereby the. apparatus may be readily set up and as readily taken down.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the apparatus,one of the switches being Shown as open. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion ofthe apparatus,show ing a 'siding and the mechanism employed in connection therewith. Fig. 3 is a 4sectional view on line a: x, Fig, 2. Figs. i and 4 are detail views of the automatic stopping device. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the stop situated in the siding. Figs. 6,V 7, and 8 are detail views ofthe automatic stop mechanism, that is placed in a different position from that illustrated in Fig. 5.

In the drawings, A represents an-endless 'ings A.

track, designed to reach from the cashiers desk to the reinotest part of the storev from which it may be desired to send cash or parcels. It consists of an outgoing and a return track,which are connected to each other at both ends by a curved track, as shown,so that the car running, for example, from the cashier to the salesman returns to the cashier bypassing around the curve and continuing upon the other track. This track is made,preferably,of brass tubing, the sections of which are counected to each other by suitable interior couplings. It is supported upon arms a,which are attached to a post, B. These arms Inay be adjusted on the post and maybe fixed thereto in any desired manner. The post consists also of tubing,but may beof solid rods. It is provided at the upper Vand lower ends with disks faced lwith rubber or other suitable padding,adapted to bear upon the counter or ceiling andto hold the post in place by frictional contact with the counter or ceiling, or secured with bolts or screws, the pads being soft enough to protect the Surfaces against which they bear.

Inorder thatthe pads may bc pressed with sufiicient force, the post is composed of two Y parts, the upper end having the part a connected to the lower end by a coupling having a right and left hand thread, by turning which coupling the post may be extended. The construction shown allows the post to be put up or taken down without marring the store in which they are placed andrvithout dfculty. Within this endless track I also provide sidcircular ways formed of the same kind of material` as the main track and similarly supported upon a kpost on the saine level with the track. Only two are shown in the drawings 5 but it will be understood that any desired number may be used, according to the number of salesmen. side is provided with a point or switch, b, con tinuous with the main track, to which itis hinged at one end,while the free end is adapted to move from the endv ofthe main track to the end of the siding which is by the side of the main-track end, so that the switch may be shifted to make the main track continuous with itself or with the siding. This arrange- These consist of substantially semi At every siding the track upon each IOC , arm ofthe pendulum.

ment allows the car appropriated to any salesman to run upon the siding at his counter and there to be stopped,and after being there used lo be allowed to continue around the siding and to pass off at the other end upon the main track again to continue toward the cashier. In this way practically at each siding the continuons track is shortened; but the continuity of it is maintained.

The switches might be operated by hand, so as to divert the ear from the main track onto the siding whenever the salesmen so desired; but in order to relieve the salesmen from this duty ofattending to the car I have provided automatic apparatus, by means of which the car itself operates the switch to turn it from the main track to the siding. The special automatic mechanism shown consists of apendulum, C, pivoted upon an arm, c. Its lower end is bent to a horizontal positio`n,and is pivotedto ears on the inside of the switch. The

` upper end is bent at right angles, and is pivoted in the angle to the arm c a little off the center,as shown at d. On another arm,d,ispiv oted the lever D, and the free end of this lever extends away from the siding to which it belongs. The other end is pivoted to the upper This upper arm has a prolongation extending inwardly toward the center of the track beyond the pivot, and this is pressed down by aspring, f, attached to the arm d', and this tends to hold the switch in connection with the main track.

The under side of the free end of the lever is of a cam shape and is adapted to be lifted by means of a curved projection carried upon the car as it passes under the lever, and the lever is shaped and arranged so that the projection upon the car will give sufficient movement to shift the switch from the main to the side track. The eccentric pivoting ofthe pendulum which carries the switch causes the weight of the car when on the switch to aidin the movement. When the car has passed from' the switch onto the siding, the spring and weight of the lever return the switch to the main track. The switch on the other side of the way is constructed in the samemanner; but the lever D projects in an opposite direction and over the track of the siding, so that the car runs underit'jnst before leaving the siding and raises the lever to throw the switch inward into connection with the siding in time to form acontinuation of the siding, so that the car may run onto the main track, and then the spring and weight of the leverreturn the switch to the main track. rThis automatic return of the switches to the main track holds the track practically continuous, it being open only for an instant while a car is passing to or from a siding. The arms which support the levers are fixed to a bracket, F, which is supported adjustably on the post and held by means cfa set-screw. The siding may be fixed upon the post, as shown in Fig. l, or may be vertically movable thereon, as shown in Fig. 3. In the latter figure it is shown as being capable of lowering by means of a cord and pulley, g h, and when so made vthe siding can be lowered to bring the car down to within reach of the operator.

It will be understood that where there are several sidings forming stations for several salesmen the levers which operate the switches are arranged to lower as they operate the sidings nearer to the end of the track. The lever of the second siding being lower than the first, its car will pass under the first and strike the second, and the lever of the third, being lower than that of the second, will pass under the second and strike the third, and so on. The projection on the car is shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, at K, and it is arranged in relation to the lever which it,y operates in such manner as to hold the lever until the car has passed thej unction of the switch with the main track.

It willl be observed that the weight of the lever tends also to throw the switch outward, and the weight of it may be such as to obviate the necessity of a spring. I have also devised a new form of stop adapted to the kind of track described This track may be of tubing threefourths of an inch in diameter. Islot the up per surface ofthe tube and insert init a tongue, L, Figs. 2 and 5, pivoted at one end and adapted to lie fiush with the upper surface of the track.- Underneath the free end of the tongue is a shaft, Z, carrying a cam, m, so that when the shaft is turned the tongue is lifted. Vhen it is lifted, `the wheel runs up on the tongue and is lifted, and this causes a small bar, n, Fig. 1,0m the frame of the carrier to bind upon the lower the car. On the end of the shaft Z is an arm. o, carrying a weight upon one end and a cord upon the other. By pulling the cord the tongue is raised, and it is lowered by the weight when the cord is released. This is placed in suitable position on the siding to arrest the carin a position convenientto the operator. Another stop of similar or `suitable construction is arranged in a similar manner to be operated automatically bythe switchto prevent another car from coming onto the switch or running off the track' while oneeis leaving its turnout.

On the outgoing track the automatic stop is situated in the fixed section at the point of connection with the switch, while upon the return track the said device is placed in themain track at a point adjacent to the free end of the switch. I aim to'utilize the movement ofthe switches as a means of effecting the operation of the pivoted tongues or stops L', and

-for this purpose I have devised special means The manner l for each of the above situations. of operating the tongues L in the position first mentioned is shown in Figs. 4 and 4C, in which A represents the fixed portion of track, and b the switch hinged thereto. The tongue L is arranged in a manner similar to that referred to above. A screwor pin, 1, forms the pi4votal connection between the sections. An arm,

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part of the track and stop vIO 2, projects 'from the end ofthe switch beyond the pivotal point, and carries upon its end a cam-shaped head, 3, which is adapted to have movement laterally across the tube to act upon the tongue L. IVhen the parts A and b are in line, the cam will be at the extreme limit ofits movement and the tongue will be allowed to fall to its normal position by its own weight. IVhen, however, the switchis swung to conneet with the siding, the cam face of the part 3,passing under the tongue,etieets the raising and holding ofthe same until the return movement ofthe section b takes place.

'Ihe'mechanism placed in the return track to prevent a carrier ruiming off while the switch is swung inward is illustrated in Figs. 6,7, and 8. In the former figure the fixed port-ion of track is shown at A and the switch at b, and a portion of the siding at A', the switch being shown as open or in connection with the siding. In this case the tongue L2 is arranged in the under side of the track, and is adapted to fall by gravity to bar the movement ofthe carrier. A springcateh, 5, has lateral movement in the tube across the path ot' the tongue or stop L2, and is adapted to move into position directly over the tongue and hold the same down. This action takes place when the switch 4is open, as shown, and the movement ofthe carrier f rom the track is thus prevented.- Vhcn, however, the switch is returned to its normal position, the projecting stud 6 strikes the catch and 'forces it aside, and the upward movement ofthe tongue is then permitted when a carrier passes along that portion of the way.

I contemplate placing the apparatus over the counter, resting the bases of the posts upon the counter and holding them in the manner aforesaid, or by any suitable expansion devices by which the posts may be held by frictional contact above and below.

As I contemplate using a spring'motor in the car, it is necessary that the switches should operate easily, and in the construction this is effected by the swinging or pendulum movement, which avoids friction.

Vhen not in use, the carrier may remain upon the turnouts between the tracks, where it is ready for use by the salesmen.

l. A store service apparatus comprising a stationary track supported in the described relation to the counters, a wheel-carrier supported thereon,and curved sidings extending across between the portions of the continuous track, the main track being provided with pivoted sections at the sidings, thesaid sections serving as switches to divert the carrier to the sidings, substantially as described.

2. An elevated endless track consisting of straight tracks joined by curves, in combina-- tion with curved sidings placed between the straight tracks, switch mechanism for connecting the main tracks with the sidings, and means for raising and lowering the sidings, substantially as described.

3. In combination, an endless main track composed otstraight portionsjoined by curves, a siding arranged to shorten the circuit of said track and to make it continuous through the shorter circuit, a pivoted section of the main track forming a switch to connect the main track with the siding, and mechanism, suhstantially as described,adapted to be operated by the car for shitting the switch and shortening the circuit, substantially as described.

4. In combination with the main track and siding, a switch to connect the two supported upon an arm, C, pivoted to one side of the center of gravity, a lever connected with said arm adapted to be operated by the car,whereby the switch is moved, and means for returning the switch to its normal position, substantially as described.

5. An endless track consisting of straight tracks joined by curves and curved siding placed between the straight tracks, a switch adapted to connect the siding with the main track, consisting of a hinged section of the main track, a hinged vertical or pendulum support for the switch, a camshaped lever projecting away from the siding and over the main track for operating the switch toward the siding and adapted to be operated by a projection on the car, a similar' switch and -supporting mechanism on the opposite side or other straight part of the track, and asimilar cam-shaped lever projecting over the siding' and adapted to be operated by a projection on the car as the car is leaving' the siding to shift the switch to the siding, all combined substantially as described.

6. Astop mechanism consisting of the tongue inserted in the Lipper surface ofthe track and pivoted at one end and means for raising and lowering the tongue, in combination with the car having a wheel or wheels l adapted to run upon the track, and an arm adapted to bind upon the lower part of the track when the wheel is lifted by the tongue, substantially as described.

7. In combination, the fixed portion of the track, the switch portion pivoted thereto, a tongue or stop positioned close to said pivot, and means, substantially as described, for operating said tongue on the movement of the switch, for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of the fixed portion of the track, provided with atongue or stop pivn oted therein, with a switch provided with a stud or projection for automatically operating the tongue or stop, substantially as described.

' 9. In combination with the fixed portion A and switch b, the gravity-stop L, pivoted in the fixed portion, and means carried in the pivoted end of the switch for positively raising ,the tongue, substantially as described.

10. In combination, the sect-ions A and I), the

Ytongue L, pivoted to the former, andthe arm 2 and cam 3, carried by the latter and adapted to act upon said tongue, substantially as de scribed.

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11. In eombination,the fixed section A, the to act upon said catch, substantially as d etongue L2, pivoted thereto, means for holding scribed. v

the said tongue in its outward position, and In testimony whereof [have signed my nume the switch b, adapted to act upon said means to this speciication in the presence oftwo sub-v 5 for releasing the tongue, substantially as and scribing witnesses.

for the purpose explained. Y

12. In combination, the xed section A, thel RUFUS E BRAWN' tongue L2, pivoted on the under side thereof, Vitnesses: the catch 5, adapted to have lateral move- RODNEY LUND, ro ment, and the free end of the switch b, adapted E. O. HOWARD.

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