US1730057A - Switch-control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

' C. G. BRADSHAW SWITQH CONTROL MECHANISM Filed June 24. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Inventor Oct. 1, 1929. c. e. BRADSHAW SWITCH CONTROL MECHANISM Filed June 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet v Inventor C'flarfs G ,Bradwfimw Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITE swrrcn-con'rnor. MECHANISM Application filed June 24,

This invention relates to a switching device for mine trackways and aims to provide a highly novel, simple and efliciently operating means whereby the switch is thrown by the car passing along the trackway so that the car may proceed in one of two directions, the device being such that one car may pass in one direction, while the next car will actuate the switch to cause its movement in the other direction and so on in an alternating manner.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided means whereby a suitable element associated with the car will engage means along the main trackway for actuating the switch points and this without requiring a stoppage of the car or the agency of a switch man.

An essential and very simple feature of the device is to provide means for rigidly main- 29 taining the switch points in their opposed shifted positions to preclude any liability of the cars becoming derailed.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mine trackway section equipped with my automatic switch throw mechanism.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of certain features of the device constructed to maintain the switch points in rigid position after being moved in opposite directions.

Figure 3 is an outer side elevation of the mechanism disclosed in Figure 2.

Figure 4: is a fragmentary enlarged plan of one of the car actuated switch throw units, the actuating arm per se being disclosed in position to be encountered by a suitable element associated with the car to cause the throwing of the switch point in one direction, and

Figure. 5 is a similar view disclosing other throw units, its arm being indicated in switch thrown position.

Now having particular reference to the drawing, A designates generally a mine trackway including spaced parallel rails a-a. Located at a predetermined point within the trackway is a siding B consisting of rails 6-5. At the siding one of the rails b is constructed to provide a switch point 6,

1927. Serial No. 201,164;

' while at the siding the opposite rail a of the a transversely extending bar 5 thatextends 5 at one'end beyond the outer rail (1 of the main trackway A and to which outer end is pivotal ly connected a link 6. This bar 5 is arranged between spaced transverse ties 0-0, arranged across the outer ends of which is a bar 7, and beneath which and between the ties 0-0 and in spaced relation therewith is a complementary bar 8, the centers of these bars being bent inwardly to close spaced relation as indicated in Figure 3 and between which at such point is pivotally connected as at 9 an X-shaped rocking lever 10, to the innermost one of which at the inner sides of the bars 7 and 8 is pivotally connected the bar attaching link 6. Pivoted between the bars 7 and 8 at their opposite ends are circular blocks 11-11 formed with horizontal openings through whichare slidable elongated pins 12-12, the outer ends of these pins being yoke and pivotally attached to the ends of one of the cross members of the rocking lever 10, see Figure 2. Surrounding these pins 12-12 between the forward ends thereof and said blocks 11-11 are expansible coil springs 13-13 which when the pins are swung to opposite sides of the bars 7 and 8, will maintain the rocking lever 10 in such position to securely lock against accidental movement the switch points aand b so'that the cars may move through the main trackway or onto the siding B. A

Arranged upon pairs of transverse ties d-(Z and 6-6 at the same side of the main trackway upon which the lever 10 is arranged are pairs of conventional shoe guide rails 14-14 and 15-15, the outer ends of which arediverged outwardly so as to permit a desirable formof shoe carried by the various mine cars to pass therebetween. Pivot ed outwardly of each pair of guide rails 14-14 and 15-15 is an arm 14: and 15 respectively, the innerends thereof adapted toex'tend between the guide rails when the switch points a and b are in various positions, it being no ed from a QQIlSiderationof Figures 1, 4 and 5 that when the inner end of one arm is between its guide rails, the inner end of the opposite arm is in an outwardly swung position. Connected to the arm 14 inwardly of its pivot is one end of an elongated rod 16, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to the inner end of the cross member of the rocking lever 10 opposite from that one to which the pins 12-12 are pivotally connected. Pivotally connected to the opposite end of this cross member of said rocking lever is an elongated rod 17 that is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the outer end of the arm 14. Interconnecting the arms 14 and 15' is a rod 18 pivoted at one end to the arm 14 inwardly of its pivot and at its opposite end to the outer end of the arm 15' outwardly of its pivot, this connection serving to cause the movement of the inner end of one arm between its guide rails and the outward movement of the other arm with respect to its guide rails.

Obviously when the switch points a and b are in the position indicated in Figure 1, a car passing along the trackway and being equipped with a conventional trip shoe will engage between the guide rails 14-14;, and swing the arm 14 upon its pivot so as to throw the X-shaped rocking lever to a position directly opposite to that indicated in Figure 2. This movement of the lever 10 maining pin being pivotally connected to the diametrically opposite arm, and means associated with the remaining arms of the CHARLES G. BRAD SHAW.

will obviously pull inwardly upon the bar 5 I to so actuate the switch point in order that the car will move onto the siding B. This movement of the mechanism will cause the inner end of the arm 15 to move between its guide rails 1515 so that the next car will cause a reversal of operation permitting that particular car to move in a forward direction beyond the siding B.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is A manual track switch operating device, a member interconnecting the switch points and extending at one end outwardly of the track, a pair of bars adapted to be supported by the usual ties of the track bed, said bars being disposed in spaced relation and provided at their intermediate portions with inwardly disposed portions, an X-shaped rocking lever pivotally mounted between said inwardly disposed portions, a pivotal connection between the projecting end of the switch point interconnecting member and one of the arms of the X-shaped lever, blocks having a horizontal bore formed therethrough adapted for pivotal arrangement between the spaced bars and at opposite sides of the X- shaped lever, a pair of pins, said pins being arranged with their outer ends slidable through the openings in the said blocks, the opposite end of one of said pins being pivotally connected to the arm of the X-shaped lever having connection with the said interconnecting member, the other end of the re-

Images