US516322A - Torpedo signal mechanism - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) I 3 sheets-sheet 1. T. H. WILLSON. ToRPEDo 4SIGNAL vMEGHMIISM.

No. 516,322. Patented Ma1-.13, 1894n 4 lf/3 Sla il MAMM- umomuhvlm COMPMY.

WABMINGYDMID. e.

(No Model.) 3 Sheet-Sheet 3.

T. H.l WILLSON. ToRPEDo SIGNAL MBGHANISM.

No. 516,322( Patented Mar. f13, 1894.

TENT reich.

THOMAS `I-I. WILLSON, OF ODESSA, MISSOURI.

TORPEDO SIGNAL MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,322,'dated March 13, 1894. Application filed May 17, 1892. Renewed January 27, 1894. Serial No. 498.259. (No model.)

To ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. WILLsoN, of Odessa, Lafayette county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo Signaling Mechanism for Railway-Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to that class of railway appliances which serve to indicate the positions of railway switches, or in other words, to indicate whether such switches are opened or closed, and the objects of my invention are to' produce a signaling-mechanism which shall be simple,l strong, durable, and inexpensive in construction, and automatic and reliable in operation, and which shall cause the train or other railway vehicle when moving toward the switch, to cause an audible explosion or signal, in the event of the switch being open; thus warning the engineer and enabling him to stop his train if the switch has been opened through mistake or carelessness or with mischievous intent.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In orderthat my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichr Figure 1 is a plan view of a railwayswitch and `its operating-stand with my signalingmechanism applied thereto; the mechanism being shown in solid lines as out of operation, and in dotted lines as in operative position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, viewed toward the rear of the torpedo-box. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; the torpedomechanism being shown in operative position, in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the same, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; the torpedo being shown as projected from its box. Fig. 5 is a detached perspective View of the torpedo-carrying-arm. Fig. 6 is a view principally in plan, but partially in horizontal section, of a signaling-mechanism embodying certain modifications of con- Fig. 7 is a detached perspective struction.

view of one of the double arms for actuating the torpedo-carrying arm. Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of the torpedo-carryn ing arm used in connection with the structure shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a detached perspective view of a modilied form of the tie-bars for connecting the free ends of the two movable switch-rails. These rails may be of the usual or any preferred type of construction, and are mounted in any suitable or preferred manner upon theties 5; said ties being also of the usual or any preferred type. It will be understood from vthe ensuing description, that the rail 3 may be the rail of a spur, siding, or branch track, as circumstances may require, and also that the switch may be either a single, double, or multiple switch, as circumstances may require. At one 'side of the switch, is located a switch-stand 6, which may also be ofthe usual or any preferred type of construction. As shown, however, the base 7 of the switch-stand supports a suitable 8o standard-frame 8, and also the lower end of the signal-lautern post 9; a signal-lantern l0, of the usual or any preferred type being mounted upon the upper end of the post 9,

and an arrow 11 and target 12 being also car- 8 5 ried'by the upper port-ion of the post 9 in the customary manner. Just above the top of the standard-frame 8 of the switch-stand 6, is mounted a crank-arm13 and an operatinghandle 14; said parts being arranged to turn 9o ywith the post 9, and extending horizontally outward from said post. Near its lower end the post 9 carries a horizontal outwardly extending stud'or projection 15, to which is connected one end of the rod or wire 16, the opposite end of which is connected to the sliding tie-bar 4L of the switch-rails, in any suitable or preferred manner. The arrangement is such that when the switch-stand is operated, the turning of the post 9 inone direction causes the switch to'be opened, andthe turning of the post in the opposite direction causes the switch to be closed; so that the train or other railway vehicle shall be directed IOO from the main line upon the branch, siding, or spur, as the case may be.

At one side of the main line, and at apoint a considerable distance away from th'e switch proper, is located a box or casing 17, which may be either of wood or ot' metal, as preferred and which may be either of the precise form shown, or of any other suitable or preferred form for the purposes to be described. As shown, the box or casing 17 is of rectangular form, closed at its top and sides and having its outer or rear portion provided with a suitable door 18 which is hinged, as at 19, to the top of the box or casing. This door 18 is retained normally in closed position by a hasp 20, a padlock passing through a staple 22 in the body of the box or casing 18, being shown as the means for securing the door in closed position. This door serves to permit access to the interior ot the box or casings, when desired. Nithin this box or casing 17 is placed a vertical standard 23 which is arranged to oscillate axially, and which is surrounded by a stout spiral spring 23. The lower end of this spring is inserted rigidly into or rigidly secured to the bottom of the box or casing 17, and the upper end of said spring is rigidly inserted into or secured to the torpedo-carrying arm 25. As shown, this armv25 is in the form of a skeleton metal casting havingmidway of its length an opening 26 to receive the upper end ot the standard 23, and having at one end an extension or arm 27 to carry the torpedo 28. This torpedo may be ot the usual or any preferred type of construction, and may be attached to the end of the extension arm 27 in any suitable or preferred manner. As shown, however, the torpedo 28 is provided with a stem 29 which enters a socket 30 in the outer end of the arm 27. To the Opposite end of the arm 25, which lies horizontally upon the standard 23, is secured one end of a wire rope 31,01' any other similar appliance; said rope being connected at its opposite end with the outer end of the arm 13 of the switch-stand post 9, as hereinafter more fully explained. A door 32 is hinged, as at 33 to the upper part of the front of the box, and normally closes an opening 34 in said front, and this door is engaged and opened, at times, by the outer end otl an arm 28 which extends obliquely from the carrying-arm 25, at the front portion thereof.

At a point between the switch-stand 6 and the box or casing 17, is located ,a signal-stand 6a, the construction of which is precisely similar to that ot the switch-stand 6 and which carries a signal lantern, arrow and target, it being observed however, that in the signalstand, the operating arm or lever 14 is'omitted. The post 9 of the switch-stand o*L 1s surrounded at its lower portion by a stout spiral spring 36, the lower end ot' which is rigidly Isecured to the base 7 of the stand and the upper end of which is rigidly secured to the lower part of the post 9. The tendency of this spring 36 is to so turn the post 9 as to cause its signal to show that the switch is closed, and the tendency of the spring 211 being to Yso turn the standard 23 as to withdraw the arm 25 within the box or casing 17. The rope 3l extends and is connected to the outer end of the arm 13 of the signal-stand 6 and thence to the arm 13 ot the switch-stand The attachment of the rope 31 to the arm 13 of the switch-stand 6 is preferably accomplished by means of a hook 31, so that the rope may be disconnected from the arm when the switch is intended to be opened, but no alarm-sig nal is to be sounded, as for example, when a tra'in is being side-tracked. If desired, a suitable locking attachment may be employed for connecting the end ot the rope 31 to the arm 13 as shown in Fig. 9 so that said rope cannot be disconnected by unauthorized persons. In this arrangement a staple 40 is mountedA upon the outer end of the arm 13, and hasp-plate 41 is securely connected t0 the wire 31. A suitable padlock 42 is passed through the staple, so as to retain the haspplate in connection with the arm. It is to be understood that if preferred the connection of the rope to the arm 13 may bea permanent one, so that the torpedo arm shall always be thrown.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8, I have shown a modified arrangement in which the torpedo-carrying arm 25 is moved to carry the torpedo upon the rail and also to withdraw the arm Within the box or casing, by the movements of the switch and signal stand posts. In this arrangement two wire-ropes, or equivalent dexible connections 50 are used. One rope 50 is attached to the arm 28, as at 51, and the other rope is attached as at 52, to the opposite end-of the arm 25 from that which carries the torpedo. The post 9 of the switch-stand 6 and also the post 9 of the signal-stand 6, carry each a double arm 53 to the opposite ends of which are connected the two ropes, as at 54. Thus it will be seen that the torpedo-carrying arm 25 is moved in both directions by the movements of the posts of the switch and signal stands, and that the spring 23 of the torpedo-arm standard and the spring 36 of the signal-stand post may be dispensed with.

From the above description,it will be seen that when the switch-stand is so operated as to open the switch, the torpedo 2S will be carried across the1 top ot' the adjacent rail, and the wheels of a passing train, or other railway vehicle, will strike and explode the torpedo, also turning the arrow in the day time and showing the danger light at night ot' the signal stand 6, thus enabling the engineer to stop the train before it has lreached the switch.

It will be seen that the appliances are very simple, strong, durable, and inexpensive in construction and entirely automatic and reliable in their operation.

IOO

IZO

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

A torpedo signaling mechanism for railway switches, comprisinga switch stand composed of a vertical and axially moving standard, having a stud or projection connected by a wire or rod to the sliding tie-bar of the switch rails, a horizontal arm for operating the vertical standard, and a horizontal. arm, connected by a rope or cable to an arm extending parallel therewith of a vertically and axially movable standard of a signal stand, placed a suitable distance from the switch-stand, and a lantern and arrow, which are also carried by the upper end of the signal standard, and a casing having a door at the side adjacent to the rail and a door in the opposite side thereof, and a vertical standard stepped to axially revolve in said casing, having a hori-v THOMAS H. wILLsoN.

Vitnesses:

HARRIET E. PRICE, JNO. L. OONDRON.

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