US319622A - Geoegb a - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

G. A. REYNOLDS.

COMBINED GATE AND SIGNAL FOR RAILWAY GROSSINGS.

No. 319,622. Patented June 9 1885.

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GEORGE A. REYNOLDS, OF UTICA, NE'W YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letteis Patent No.3l9,622, dated June 9, 1885.

Application filed July 8, [884.

(No model .To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. REYNoLDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Gate and Signal for Railroad-Crossings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement upon the railroad-signal and crossing-gate forming the subject-matter of Patent No. 305,331, granted to me on the 16th day of September, 1854. In said patent I have shown a swinging gate or bar that is mounted on a supporting post or column, and is raised and lowered by the action of a sliding weight or collar that encircles the upper part of said column, and is combined with devices for raising the weight by an approaching train and releasing the same by a departing train. In the present invention I have made provision for perfectly protecting from the weather the devices that operate the gate or signal, there being as few exposed parts as possible; and I also provide a weight and cord and pulley mechanism which is inclosed within the column. or post that supports the gate and signaling devices. The function of said interior weight is to elevate the exterior weight, that encircles the column or post, so as to effect a lowering of the gate or bar and guard the approaches to the railroad-track. The interior weight operates in a frame or shell, and is held in an elevated position by a retaining device that is connected with a treadle or springsupported bar arranged alongside the track-rail at the side from whence the train is approaching. This retaining device isreleased at the proper time before the train reaches the crossing, and the weight then descends and brings the gate into a horizontal position through the intervention of the devices that act directly upon said gate. After the train has departed from the crossing it brings into action devices for restoring the interior weight eter than the upper portion.

to its original or elevated position, in which position it is held by the aforesaid retaining device, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, and then set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of my improved railroad-crossing gate and signal, the parts being shown in position when the gate is guarding the approaches to the track. Fig. 2 is 'a vertical sectional view showing the gate in a raised position and the interior operating mechanism ready to be tripped for lowering the gate. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the sliding weight operating inside the hollow column. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a retaining device for said sliding weight that is released by an approaching train to trip the weight. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of another form of retaining device for the sliding weight that operates inside the hollow column.

The reference-numeral 1 designates a verti cal column or post, the lower or base portion of which is made considerably larger in dian1 The column is made tubular or hollow throughout its entire length, and is designed to inclose the operat ing devices hereinafter referred to- The up per reduced portion of the column is encircled by a collar, 2, that is capable of sliding vertically and rotating on said column, and its object is to carry and properly display or bring into service an indicator-vane or semaphore signal, 3. upward direction by the elevation of a hollow weight, 4, that encircles the column ll beneath said collar 2. The rotary movement of the latter is effected by a pin thereon that travels in a spiral groove in the column. A bracket, 5, rising from an exterior ledge of the column 1, serves as the support for a swinging or ris ing and falling gate, 26, and said bracket may also bear a gong or bell, 6, that is sounded when the gate is descending. The gate is guided in its movement by a curved slotted arm, 7, and is made long enough to extend across the road leading to the-track.

Within the hollow base of the column 1 is fitted or arranged a vertical frame, 8, that may consist of a cylindrical shell having top and bottom plates or flanges. This frame receives a vertically-sliding weight, 9, which has ribs The collar is 'causedto. slide in an .8

10, that fit in grooves or ways made in the frame 8. The lower end of'the weight has a projection, 11, which descends or fits into a socket constituting an air-cushioning device for breaking the fall of the-weight. A cord or chain, 13, connected with the top of the weight 9, passes in an upward direction and runs over a pulley, 14, journaled in a bracket or arm, 15, wit-hin the upper portion of the column, and from thence said cord passes to a lug or eye, 16, on the'exterior sliding weight, 4, to which it is secured. This lug or eye 16 projects through and travels in a vertical slot, 17, made in the column 1. A second-cord or chain is attached to the top of the weight 9, and runs over a pulley, 19, journaled in the top of the frame 8, and from thence it passes over a guide-pulley, 20, on the interior of the hollow base of the column through an opening. in the latter. This cord or chain 18 is connected with devices that lead to,

a treadle or spring-bar, arranged alongside the track-rail at some point beyond the crossing, so that when the train is departing .therefrom it will depress the treadle, draw up the cord or chain, and elevate the weight 9 into the position shown in Fig. 2. When the weight is thus elevated, it is engaged by the rod 21, that plays through the base of the column, and the interior frame, 8, and is held beneath the weight by a spring, 22, that encircles said rod. Its inner end bears aroller, 27, that is adapted to enter a vertical groove, 28, made in the weight 9, so as to allow said weight to move past the rod 21 with as little friction as possible. The rod 21 is connected by means ofa rod or chain with a treadle device or spring-bar arranged at a suitable dis- .tance from the crossing alongside one of the track-rails, so as to be depressed or actuated by an approaching train. When this is done, therod 21 is released from the weight 9, and thelatter is free to descend to the bottom of the frame 8, so as to raise the exterior sliding weight through the medium of the connecting cord or chain. This operation results in closing or lowering the gate, as will be readily understood. It should be observed that the withdrawal of the weight-retaining device by an approaching train will cause said weight to be tripped instantaneously, and the gate is thus closed in a most positive manner.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of the weight 9that is, it has a spring-pressed bolt, 23, which bears a beveled nose-piece, 24-, that is normally projected into the vertical groove in the weight. The rod 21 is also beveled reversely to the nose of the bolt 23, sothat when the weight is raised said nose can glide past the rod 21, after which its spring projects the nose of the bolt under the rod 21, to hold the weight in an elevated position. A horizontal hole, 29, is made in the weight 9 for the reception of the spring-bolt, and at the end of said hole is an offset or recess, 25, for receiving the nosepiece when it is in a retracted position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v v 1. The combination, with a vertical post or column having a chamber or recess, an exte rior-encircling weight or collar on the upper portion of said post, a swinging gate adapted to be engaged by said weight, a weight: adapted to be moved vertically in said cham-.

her or recess, pulleys, and cord or chain guided thereby located in the post orcolumn and connecting the interior weight to theencircling weight, a retaining and trippingde vice in said chamber or recess for releasing and retaining said interior weight by approaching and departing trains, substantially as set forth. 1 g

2. A hollow column or post having an interior frame in its base portion, a weight fitted to slide in said frame, and a retaining or tripping device, in combination with devices for raising said weight, a swinginggate, and. a sliding collar or exterior weight adapted to operate said gate, and connected with the interior weight, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

cnoncn A. REYNOLDS;

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