US768239A - Switch for carrier systems. - Google Patents

Description

No. 768,239. PATENTES AUG. 23, 1904. M. G.RIGHASDS.

SWITCH FOR 'CARRIER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1903.` I N0 MODEL. l 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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M..C. RICHARDS. l

SWITCH POR CARRIER SYSTEMS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 2, 190s.

No MODEL. f zfsHEBTS-SHBET z.

i, UNITED STATES Patented August 28, 1904.

PATnixiT OFFICE.

MARCIUS O. RICHARDS, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH FOR CARRIER SYSTEMS- SPECIFICATION forming part o f Letters Patent No. 768,239, dated `August '23, 1904. Application iledMarch 2, 1903. Serial No. 145,772. (No model.) i

l To @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, MA'RorUs O. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Aurora,-in the county of Kane and State .of

Illinois, have invented certain new and useful or trams radiating from said switch and which avoids the necessity of subjecting the pivot-` ing devices of the switch to the great strain to which the weight of the vehicle on it would subject it and likewise the arduous task of turning the switch when so laden. This I accomplish by the means hereinafter fully described andas particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa plan view of a portion of an overhead carrier system having my improvements applied thereto. Fig.

' 2 is-a longitudinal vertical section taken on dotted line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.l Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on dotted line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and drawn to a larger scale, Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the larger switch shown taken onl the :plane of the straight track extending diamctrically across the face of the same.

In the drawings, A represents the ceilingsA of the building or room to which the trams or tracks B, O, D, E, and F of the overhead carrier system, to which preferably my invention is applied, are suitably secured. These trams may beof any suitable construction;

lbut for the convenience of description vI employ a simple form consisting of a flat bar of suitable width, which is suspended from said ceiling or other superstructure by means of hanger-bolts' c, located at suitable intervals apart, .the lower headed ends of which pass through the center of width of said'bars.

Track B may be considered as the main track .of the system and extends longitudinally and centrally the entire length of the portion of the ceiling A shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and C represents a track, located nearthe lefthand end of said ceiling `arranged at right angles to track B, and D represents .a crosstrack, also intersecting track B at righ-t angles, 'which is located nearer the right-hand end of said ceiling. Tracks E and F are straight tracks arranged in a radial plane to the intersection of tracks D and B and atan angle yof 'forty-dve degrees to the same and at about ninety degrees to each other.

At the intersection of tracks B and O, I pivot in any suitable manner a plate or frame G, which is preferably of a circular form and has suspended from it a straight diametrically extending track c and a curved track c', conforming in curvature to a quarter of a circle and so located that when plate or frame Gr is inthe position shown in Fig. 1 a continuous track Vis formed for the carrier H to .travel when switching from the portion of main track B extending to the right of plate or frame G to track C. The tracks@ and c are'constructed in .the same manner as tracks B and O and are suspended from the plate Gr by hangerbolts .fn m, similar to bolts c except shorter in length, this being necessary in order yto bring the tread of said tracks all on the same hori- Zontal plane.

The carrier I-I referred to may be of any suitable construction, although in the drawings itis shown to comprise a truck made of two U-shaped frames connected at their centers of length by a horizontal reach from ywhich the carrying devices depend. The wheels yof this carrier are journaled in theends of the ,U-frames and travel upon the upper longitudinal marginal surfaces of tracks. This construction, however, may be departed from according to the changed construction of the track or because of other considerations.

In order to turn plate Gr, an ordinary rope or cable m may be attached thereto and depend therefrom. I prefer, however, to connect said rope to the horizontal arm 2 of an y inverted-I -shaped lever, which is fulcrumed or branches of a suitable hanger 4.

at its angle to suitable lugs depending" from l said plate and which has the lower end of the verticalarm thereof weighted. The advantages of this construction are that when the switch-plate has been moved into position and the hold on the rope or cable is released the weighted arm or the lever will restore the latter to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, and raise the dangling end of said rope up out of the way. When the switch-plate has been moved to the desired position, either by means of the rope m or in any other manner, it is desirable to lock it in such position quickly and easily. This I accomplish by providing the edges of said switch-plate or frame with aseries of suitably-located notches or recesses f/ when said plate is circular and engaging these recesses by the end of a shorter branch of a lever 3, which latter extends in a plane radial to the center of plate G and is fulcrumed mediate its ends between the legs T ie longer arm of this lever farthest from plate G is weighted, and the gravity of this arm keeps the extremity of the shorter arm normally bearing upward against the notched edge of said plate, so that when in the same vertical plane it will automatically engage the same and hold said plate stationary. This lever is disengaged from plate G by means of a cord or rope 5, depending downward from the shorter arm thereof to within easy reach of the operator. In order to avoid awkward manipulation and the necessity of two men, one to hold lever 3 down and the other to turn plate G, I have extended the legs of hanger 4 down below the fulcrum of lever 3 and provided the same with parallel arms 6 6 and 7 7, which extend in the same vertical plane as the lever 3. A rod 8, with a nut 9 on it, is secured to and in its natural position, depends down from the shorter arm of said lever 3 between arms 6 6, and in this position, which permits the extremity of the shorter arm of the lever 3 to enter the notches of plate G, the nut will catch under the lower edges of arms 6 6 and prevent said shorter arm from moving upward too far. Vhen it is desired to move the lever so that its shorter arm will not engage plate G, the rod 8 is moved so that the nut 9 will catch under the` lower edges of arms 7 7 of the hanger, substantially as shown.

At the point of intersection of tracks B, D, E, and F, I pivot a switch-plate K, which is similar in principle and construction to plate G and may be moved or turned and retained in its adjusted position by the same or any other means desired. In order to prevent this plate wabbling, I prefer to secure to the ceiling just above said plate K a bearing-plate K, up through which the pivotal bolt if: extends. Switch-plate K has a diametricallyextending straight track which can be used to connect any two alining sections of track,

and on one side of this track 7) has three curved sections of switch-track d, f, and which are respectively of such curvature that the track d of the shortest. radius can he used to connect straight converging tracks l and F, or F and Vl), orI) and E, &c., arranged at au angle of but forty-tive degrees to each other.

The switch-track c of next greatest radius is designed to connect said conve ging tracks arranged at an angle of ninety degrees to each other` and the next track 1^' (having the greatest radius) is designed to connect tracks arranged at an angle of one hundred and thirtyfive degrees to each other. \\"ith these four switch-tracks I), d, c, and 7" switch-plate l( can be used to connect any two of either eight or sixteen converging tracks. ln the latter event the additional eight tracks would he arranged and converge toward the center ol' plate K, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l.

` What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted plate having notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and extendingdiametric.- ally across the same` a curved track suspended from said plate and means engaging the notches in said plate for locking the said plate in any operative position to which it may he adjusted.

2. A switch for an Overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted plate having notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and extending d iametrically across the same, a curved track suspended from said plate and automatic means engaging the notches in said plate for locking said plate. in any operative position to which it may be rotated.

3. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted plate having notches inthe circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and exteudingdiametrically across the same, a curved track suspended from said plate and gravity-oiierated automatic means engaging the notches in said plate for locking said plate in any operative position to which it may he rotated.

4. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted plate having notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and extend i ng d iametrieally across the same, a curved track suspended from said plate alongside said straight track, and means engaging the notches in said plate for locking said plate in any operative position to which it may be adjusted.

A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted plate having notchesl in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and extending' d iametrically across the same, a curved track suspended from said plate alongside said straight track, and automatic means engagingI the IIO ISO

notches in said plate for locking said plate `in I suspended therefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a curved track suspended from said plate alongside said straight track, and gravity-operated automatic means engaging the notches in said plate for locking said plate in any operative position towhich it may be rotated.

7 A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted plate having notches in the circumference thereof, a straight vtrack suspended therefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a curved track suspended from said plate located at one side of and conforming toa portion of a circle struck from a point intersected by a plane atfright angles to said straight track and touching the center of length thereof, and means engaging the notches in said plate for locking the said plate in any operative position to which it may be adjusted.

8. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted plate having notches in the circumference thereof, a straighttrack suspended therefrom, and extending diametrically across the same, a curved track suspend' ed from said plate located at one side of and conforming to a portion of a circle struck from a point intersected by a plane at right angles to said straight track and touching the center of length thereof, and automatic means engaging the notches in said plate for locking said plate in any operative position to which it may be rotated.

9. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted plate having notches-in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a curved track suspended from said plate located at one side of and conforming to a portion of a circle struck from a point intersected by a plane at right angles to saidv straight track and touching the center of length thereof, and gravity-operated automatic means engaging the notches in said plate for locking said plate in any operative position to which it may loe rotated.

10. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted plate having notches'in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and extending diametrically across the saine, a series of curved tracks suspended from said plate, and means engaging the notches in said plate vfor'locking said plate in any operative position to which it may be adjusted.

11. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted plate having notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a series of curved `tracks suspended from said plate, and automatic means engaging the notches in said plate for locking said plate in any operative position to vwhich it may be rotated.

12; A `switch for an overhead carrier system comprisinga pivoted plate having notches in the circumference thereof, astraight track suspended therefrom andextending diametrically-across the same, a series of curvedtracks suspended from said plate, and gravity-operated automaticmeans engaging the notches in said plate for locking said plate in any operative position to which it may be rotated.

13. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising apivoted plate havingnotches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a series of curved tracks of different radii suspended from said plate alongside'said straight track, and means engaging the notches in` said plate for locking the said plate in any operative position to which it may be'adjusted.

111. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising-a pivoted plate having notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and extending diametricof different radii suspended from said plate i ally acrossthe same; a series of curved tracks alongsidesaid straight'track, and automatic means engaging the notches in said plate for locking said plate in any operative position to which it may be rotated.

15.- A switch for an overhead carrier system vcomprising a'pivoted plate having notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a series of curved tracks of different radii Vsuspended from said plate alongside said straight track, and :gravity-operated automatic means engaging the notches in said plate for locking said plate in any operativeV position to lwhich it may be rotated.

16. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted'plate having notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspen ded therefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a series of curved tracks of different radii suspended from said plate along one side of said straight-track, each of which conform to a portionA of a circle struck from a point Y intersected by a plane at right angles to said straight track and touching the center of length of the same, and means en- IOO IIO

gaging the notches in said plate for locking the said plate in' any operative position to which it may be adjusted.

17. As'witch for an overhead carrier system comprising `a pivoted plate having notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and extending diametricallyA-acros'sthe same, aseries of curved tracks of dierent radii suspended from said plate along one side of said straight track, each of which conform to a portion of a circle struck from a point intersected by a plane at right angles to saicl straight track and touching the center of length of the same, and automatic means engaging' the notches in said plate for locking said plate in any operative position to which it may be rotated.

18. Aswitch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted plate having notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspended therefrom and extending diametrieally across the same, a series of curved tracks of different radii suspended from said plate along one side of said straight track, cach of which contorni to a portion of a circle .struck from a point intcrscctml by a plan at right angles to said straight track an l touching' thcI center of length oi the salue, and gravitvwperatcd automatic means engaging' thc notches in said plate for lockingr said plate in any operative position to which it lnay he rotated.

1n testimonyv whcreol" l have hereunto set my hand this 19th (lay ol5 l1`ehrnary, 1903.

MARC/IUS C. R I C l I Ahi ).S.

\Vit11csses:

Louis F. Munnnn E. K. LUNDY.

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