US2006120A - Crossing signal - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1935. T. G. STRYNATKA CROSSING SIGNAL Filed June 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 25, 1935.

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T. G. STRYNATKA CROSSING SIGNAL Filed June 15, 1953 aggy T. G. STRYNATKA CROSSING SIGNAL Filed June 15, 1933 June 25, 1935.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Patented June 25, 1935 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE caossmo SIGNAL 7 a Thomas G; Strynatka, Mirror, Alberta, Canada Application June 15, 1933, Serial No. 675,977 7 6 Claims. (oi 246-313) My invention relates generallyto railway equipment, and particularly to grade or ossingsigand'an importantobject of my invention istoprovldean arrangement of this character I which is simple and efficient, cheap to manufacture and install, and which is automatic and reliable in action.- i I Other'objects and advantages of my invention will-be apparent from a reading of the following is" description in connection with the drawings,

taken through Figure Zapproximately on the line -Flgure4 is a transverse verticalsectional view taken approximately on the line 44 of Figure 2.

-: Figure 5. is a perspective view ofthetrain oper-' bracket engaging plate 22, 23 which has thereon 6 is a. perspeetive'view' of a retaining bracket;

I Figure 7: is (a. side elevationah view-of the signal mechanism. 4 1.

Figure. 8 elevationat view of Figure? taken fromtherighnw f 1 H I .1 Figure 9" is a. has entail sectional view taken approximately on the line 99 of Figure 7 and looking downwardlyin the direction of the- Referring in idetai li'to the drawings, wherein reier to like parts throughout the same, thevnmneral 5-. refers generally to a road or grade. crossing. traversed by a pair of railway tracks- 6; At: either side of the road or crossing 51s located a base plate 1:, 1a on. which is mounted themechanisnm for operating the visible signal mechanism generally designated 8, only one of which is provided to. be operated by the two opermlhrspaced pair. of brackets 9', t0: and intermedi- 5'621 them a plunger casing-H. Each of the brackets 9, Hi includes a foot l2 which is secured to the base plate I by a suitable bolt I3. From the upper side of the foot I2 rises an inverted L-shaped portion M. The foot I2 is undercut as indicated at 5 to overlie and conform to the shape of thebase flange l6 of the rail 6. The horizontal portion ll of the brackets is directed toward but is spaced from the rail head 6 and is depressed therebelow as shown in Figure 3. The brackets 9, it) are utilized for retaining in position in the proper relation to the rail 6' the train operated member or treadle generally designated E8, the form of which is shown clearly in Figure 5. The train operated member [-8 com-" prises the vertical'web portion l9, which is underout as indicated at to clear the casing I I which this portion overlies, when the train operated member is in the depressed position. From one side of the web l9 laterally projects the treadportion 2| which is widest near the middleof the member .as shown in Figure 5 and tapers toward each end. On the lower edge of the web l9 at either end thereof there is arranged a a laterally outwardly projecting finger 14 which engages outside of the brackets 9, M, respectively, so as to maintain the treadle l 8 againstlongitudi nal movement, while permitting vertical and rocking movement thereof. The end portion adjacent the finger 24 rides against the inside of the brackets, while the inward lateral extension 26 on. the opposite side of the web i9 rides against the web 21 of the rail 6 and in the elevated posi tion of the member l8 engages under the head 28'of'the rail as shown in Figure 3, thereby preventing further rising of the treadle.

The tread portion of the member i8 rises from each end upwardly toward the middle, each end portion being normally on a level with the top of the rail head, and the middle portion elevated above the top or the rail head, so that the menber i8 will not be fully depressed until the trainwheels have rolled upon the center portion of the treadle I8.

Located between the foot I2 of each of the brackets 9, l0 and the underside of the plate portion 22 of the treadle I8 is an expanding helical spring 29 which maintains the respective ends of the member [8 and consequently the entire member 3- normally in the elevated position in which it is ready to be operated and depressed by the train wheels.

The plunger casing II which is located adjacent the rail 6 as shown in Figure 4 at a; point on the base 1 intermediate the brackets 9, W

comprises a block 29 which has therein a transverse triangular opening 35 in which is vertically slidable a triangular cam 3! which is formed on the lower end of a plunger 52 which works in an opening in the top plate 33. For maintaining the plunger 32 normally in an elevated position so that its head 35 engages the underside of the middle portion of the web 2! of the treadle is, there is provided circumposed on the plunger a helical spring 34 which operates between the head 35 and the top plate 33 of the casing H. Slidable laterally in an opening in the block 29 is rod 36 which has an angular inner end portion 31 presented to the cam Si in such a way that whenever the treadle i8 is depressed so as to depress the plunger 32, the cam 3| will cause the rod 36 to move outwardly, with consequences to be described.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the outward end of the rod 36 has a clevis 3? which has pivoted therein one end of a rocker 38 which is pivotally mounted at 39 on the base I. The remaining end of the rocker 38 is pivotally connected as indicated at 39 to one end of a second rocker lil whose remaining end is pivotally connected as indicated at M to an intermediate portion of a longer lever 42. The long lever 42 is pivotally mounted in a bracket 43 near one end of the base I, and it is also pivotally connected as indicated at 43 near its inward end with a piston 44 which operates in a dash-pot t mounted on the base and whose function is to resist and delay the return of the mechanism immediately described above to initial position after the passage of a train over the treadle has operated the same. The outward end of the long lever -32 has a connection 45 for a cable 4"! which is trained over suitable pulley carriers 48, 49 located at one side of the long lever and which conduct the cable 4i to, the visible signal mechanism 8.

The visible signal mechanism 8 comprises a suitable elongated narrow base 53 from which rises an inverted Y-shaped standard 5|. On opposite sides of the standard 5| and of the base 50, are pairs of vertically spaced journal brackets 52, 53, each pair supporting a rotatable mast 54, 55, respectively. Mounted on the upper part of the standard 5! above the brackets are coiled springs 56, 57, each of which has a portion circumposed on its respective mast 54, 55, and a loop arranged to engage a stop finger 58, 59 on the mast. The opposite ends of the springs are anchored by suitable means 65 to the side of the standard 5| at the same side of the mast in a manner to hold the targets El, 52 normally in the positions shown in the drawings which indicate that vehicles and foot passengers may safely cross the railway tracks 6. The targets SI, 62 are arranged to point in opposite directions in parallel planes, except when one of the operating cables has broken. In the latter case the target corresponding to the broken cable will be disposed at right angles to the other target.

A lateral arm 63 is fixed to the mast 54 between the legs of the standard 5|. A similar, but oppositely directed arm 54 is fixed on the mast 55. To the arm 53 is connected the end of the cable 41a, and to the arm 5 the cable 47. When the cable 47 is pulled to the left in Figure 1 as the treadle of the left hand mechanism is operated the mast 55 will be turned with its stop finger 59 engaging the loop of the spring 5'2 and stretch this spring until the target 52 reaches a right angular position, thereby warning foot passengers and vehicles intending to cross the tracks, that a train is approaching the crossing from the left. Of course, the signal operating mechanisms will be located at suitable distances from opposite sides of the grade crossing 5. Operation of the right hand mechanism operates the mast 54 with its target 6| in the same way as the mast 55 and target 62, except that the swing of the target 52 is in an opposite direction. As soon as the respective cables 4'! and 41a are released by the rising of the treadles after passage of the train, the springs on the masts will return the targets to initial position, slightly delayed by the retarding action of the dashpot 45.

Should either of the cables break or some other accident occur to one of the operating mechanisms, the respective one of the springs 56, 5'? in unwinding to a greater extent than is permitted while the cable is intact and connected to the arm of the mast, will independently operate the related one of the targets into Warning position in which the end of the target rests in the warning position against the mast of the other target. This arrangement unfailingly warns of an inoperative condition of the affected mechanism.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment, of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in material and structure and arrangement of parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. The combination with a track rail, of visible signal means including a rotary member, a train operated member mounted adjacent the rail for operation by a train, cam and lever means op-,

eratively connected to the train operated member, cable means operatively connected to the cam and lever means and to the visible signal.

means for operating the same, helical return spring means axially aligned with said rotary member and attached thereto and to another part on the visible signal means tensioning said cable means and operative for returning the visible signal means to initial condition when said train operated member has returned toward initial position after operation.

2. The combination with a track rail, of visible signal means, a train operated member mounted adjacent the rail for operation by a train, cam and lever means operated by the operation of the. train operated member, cable means connected to the cam and lever means and vto the visible signal means for operating the same, return spring means on the visible signal means tensioning said cable means and operative for returning the visible signal means and said cam and lever means to initial condition when said train operated member has returned toward initial position, said spring means being arranged toplace the signal means in another warning position upon breakage of the cable means.

3. The combination with a track rail having a base flange resting upon horizontal support means, of brackets having a portion of their bottom resting on said base flange and another portion of their bottom supported on said support means at one side of said rail, a treadle normally elevated above the head of said rail and having a portion engaging under the head of the rail and a second portion engaging under a part of said brackets while the treadle is in its normal elevated position, said treadle being located between said part of the brackets and the rail, spring means expanding between the under part of said treadle and said brackets and maintaining the treadle yieldably in the normal elevated position, and signal operating means having a member under an intermediate portion of said treadle so as to be actuated when said treadle is depressed by the passage of a train over said rail.

4. In combination with a track rail, a depressible treadle supported adjacent the rail and arranged to be depressed by the passage of a train over said rail, signal operating means supported adjacent said treadle comprising a block having a vertical slot therein, a slide in said slot having a cam face, a plunger on said slide having operative engagement with said treadle so that said slide is depressed when the treadle is depressed, a horizontal rod slidable in an opening in said block substantially at right angles to said rail, said opening communicating at its inner end with said slot, said rod having its inner end bevelled to cooperate with the cam face of the slide, the outer end of said rod being arranged for operative connection to a signal.

5. The combination with a track rail having a base flange resting upon a supporting surface, a

pair of brackets supported adjacent said rail on said surface, a treadle yieldably elevated between said pair of brackets and said rail, signal operating means supported on said surface adjacent said rail and treadle and between said brackets, a vertical plunger operatively engaged by said treadle, a cam on the lower part of said plunger, a horizontal rod supported so as to slide toward and away from said rail, said rod having its inner end bevelled to cooperate with the face of the cam, spring means yieldably maintaining said plunger in normally elevated position, a rocker pivoted intermediate its ends outwardly of said rail and having one end pivoted to the outer end of said horizontal rod,

a second rocker pivoted intermediate its ,ends

outwardly of the first rocker, a link having one end pivoted to the remaining end of the first rocker and its remaining end pivoted to said second rocker between the pivotal point of said second rocker and one end of said second rocker, a dash-pot operatively connected to the last mentioned end, and signal means having an operative element connected to the remaining end of the second rocker, for operation thereby when said treadle is depressed and released.

6. In combination, a track rail, a pair of depressible treadles, said treadles being spaced and located adjacent said rail and arranged to be depressed by the passage of a train on said rail, signal means comprising a standard, a vertical mast on each of two opposite sides of said standard, each of said masts being rotatable on its vertical axis, a target on the upper end of each mast, each of said targets being sufiiciently horizontally elongated to engage the mast of the other target when rotated to a certain position, a lateral arm on each mast, means operatively connecting one of said treadles with one of said lateral arms, second means operatively connecting the remaining treadle with the remaining one of said lateral arms, spring means on each of said masts and connected with the standard, said spring means tensioning said first and second operating means while the same are in their initial position so that should either of said operating means break said spring means will rotate the corresponding mast in a direction opposite to that in which said mast would normally be rotated by positive operation of said operating means by the treadles, said spring means being arranged to have tension imparted thereto when the masts are rotated by depression of the treadles, so that when said treadle is released the masts will be rotated toward their initial positions by said spring means by reason of the imparted tension therein.

THOMAS G. STRYNATKA.

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