US46338A - Improvement in railroad-switches - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATESl PATENTv OFFICE.

MARUELLUS V. CUMMINGS, OF VVINTHROP, MAINE.

IM PROVEMENTA IN RAI LROAD-SWITCH ES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 46.338, (lated February 14,1865.

MINGS, of Winthrop, in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved Railroad-Switch; and I do ,hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this speciication, in whichx Figure l is a side view of my invention; Fig. 2, a pla-n or top view ofthe same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to anew and improved railroad-switch, of that class which is commonly termed selt'acting"thatis to say, is set by the train itself, so asto form a connection with the rails of the track on which vthe train is to pass.

lhe object of the invention is to obtain a reliable switch of the class specified, one which will be actuated with certainty, and at the same time be simple in construction, so as not to be liable to get out of repair.

A A represent the rails of the main road, and B B the rails of a branch road or turn out.

C (l represent the rails of a switch, which are pivoted at one end vin line with the rails A A, as shown at aa, the opposite or free ends being moved in line with either the rails A A or B B, as may be desired.

The switch-rails C C, near their freeor disengaged ends, are pivoted to a cross-bar, l), and one end of the latter is connected by a pivot, b, to one end lot' abent or shaped lever, E, which works on a fulcrum, c, the opposite end of E being pivoted to a sliding bar, F, one end oty which is pivoted to one end of a bent or -shaped lever, G, the opposite end of the latter being connectedby a bar, H, with two frogbars, I I', pivoted, respectively, atd d', one ot which frog-bars I is b y the side of one of the rails A of the main track, and the other frog-bar I', by the side of one of the rails B of the branch track. The position of the parts above described is 'shown clearly in Fig. 2.

The bar F, near the lever E, basa bar or lever, J, pivoted to it, which works on a ful- K K' are two pivoted or suspended arms,

the pins g, of which pass through uprights 1.--

ne at each side of the main track A A-the lower ends ofthe arms being the heaviest, in

order that they may adj ust themselves in an upright position and have their lower ends in contact with or near to the ledges or projections f f of the bar F and lever J. I

The operation is as follows: Suppose, forinh stance, that the switch-rails (l (l are in line with the rails B B of the branch track and a train is passing along on the main track in the direction indicated by'arrow l. In this case the frog-bar I will be in contact with one of the rails A and the flange of the car-wheel will move or forcel I outward from the rail A in the direction indicated by arrow 3, and the switchrails C C will be moved in line .with the rails AA through the medium 0f bar H, lever Gr, bar F, lever E, and bar D, and in case atrainis passing along the branch trackB B in the direction of arrow 4 and the switch rails C (l are in line with the rails A A, the frog-bar I' will be in line with one of the rails B, and the flange of the car-wheel will forcel or move the frog-bar I' in the direction in'dicated by arrow 5 and bring the switch-rails 'i C C in line with the railsB B. In case a train is running onthe main track A A in the lirection indicated by arrow 2 and it is de signed to keep on said track, the switch-rails are in line with the branch rails B B, the engineer adjusts or throws outa bolt or bar from the locomotive, which will strike the suspend,-

.ed arm K and cause the lower end of the lat ter to act against the ledge or projection f' and move the bar F, and thereby throw the switch-rails in line with the rails A A 5 and in case the switch-rails C (l are in line with the rails A A of the main track, and it is designed to pass von the branch rails B B, the engineer actuates the suspended arm K', which causes the switch-rails C C to be thrown in line with the rails B B.

I would remark that the switch-rails C G may be operated by hand at any time through the medium of a le'ver, M, having a weight'at its upper end. This weight serves to assist the movement of the switch'when automatically operated, and also serves to prevent it from casually moving.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The two rogbarS, I I', bent or I -shaped levers E G, connected With the frog'bars and the switch-rails, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2, The suspended arms K K', arranged, respectively, vWith the bar F and lever J, substantially as and for `the purpose specified.

MARGELLUS V. CUMMINGS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. ABBOTT,

JOHN A. REARDON.

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