US368680A - bueley - Google Patents

Description

' (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. I

I. NASH 82; T. BURLEY.

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UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE...

ISAAC NASH AND THOMAS BURLEY, OF NEl/V YORK, ASSIGNORS TO JAMES H. SWIFT, OF SOUTH AMENIA, NEl/V YORK.

RAI LWAY-SIG NAL..

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,680, dated August 23, 1887.

Application filed February 20, 1886. Serial No. 192,735. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ISAAC NAsH and THOMAS BURLEY, both citizens of the United States, and residents of the city, county, and State of New York, have jointly invented certain Improvements in Railway Signals, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a combined semaphore and audible signal wherein the setting of the semaphore or visible signal acts to set the mechanism for operating the audible or sound signal, so that the wheel of a passing car or locomotive will sound the latter signal and warn the engineer in case he has not seen the semaphore.

The main object of our invention is to prevent collis'ions in foggy weather and atnight, when the engineer is unable to see the visible signal usually employed.

Our invention will be hereinafter fully described, and its novel features carefully defined in the claims.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate our invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of our signal arranged alongside of a railway, the

cross-ties of which are shown in section. Fig.

2 is a plan view, the audible-signal post being in cross-section in line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section in the plane indicated by line 3 3 in Figs. 1 and -2. Fig. 4 is avertical transverse section in the plane in dicated by line at 4. in Figs. 1 and 2, showing the semaphore in elevation, as'seen from an approaching train. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the rear face of the base of the semaphore-post, on a larger scale than the remaining figures. This view illustrates the bell-crank where the operating-rod coming from the audible signal is connected to the semaphore. Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form of the mechanism for changing the direction of the motion at the audible-signal post. This view corresponds to Fig. 2.

We will preface the detailed description of our invention by explaining that we employ by preference a semaphore-signal hinged to a post, and means for elevating or setting? this signal, so that it will be visible from approaching trains. We usually employahandlever for setting the semaphore. We. also employ an audible signal, usually a gong with a striking apparatus mounted on a post at the side of the track. This signal is operated by the wheels of the locomotive and cars through the medium of a treadle, over the 5 end of which the wheels run when the signal is set. We connect the moving semaphore with the operatingtreadle of the audible signal in such a manner that when the semaphore is set it acts through the connecting mechan- 6o ism to move the end of the gong-operating treadle into the path of the car-wheels, and thus they are caused to sound the signal. When the semaphore is dropped or otherwise rendered invisible, this movement acts to withdraw the end of the gong-operating treadle out of the path of the wheels, and thus no signal will be given to the engineer.

A represents an ordinary semaphore-signal as a whole, and B represents, as a whole, the 7caudible or sound signal. These are shown as I arranged at a little distance apart along the track 0; but the exact distance is not material. The se'maphoresignal comprises the post a, the pivoted signal-arm b, and the lever 0, which is connected to the signal-arm b by a connecting-rod, d. The lever c is provided at one end, Fig. 4:, with a weight, 0, and is coupled at its other end, through the medium of a chain, 0 Fig. 1, and rod 0", with an operatinglever, D, pivoted to an upright frame, D, arranged at any suitable distance from the semaphore. WhenleverD stands asshown in full lines in Fig. l, the weight 0 acts to set the semaphore-arm b in its displayed or visi- 8 5 ble position, as seen in Fig. 4. The chain 0 passes under a guide-sheave, 0', so that when lever D is pushed over to the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1 the weighted end of lever a will be thrown up and the display end of arm I) lowered. This indicates a clear track.

We will now describe the mechanism whereby the setting of the semaphore-signal simultaneously sets the audible signal.

The lever c is connected by a rod, 6, to the 5 arm f of a bell-crank lever, F, (seen best in Fig. 5,) pivoted to post a on stud .f, usually near the ground. The other arm ,7 of the bell-crank lever is connected by a rod, to

the audible signal B, which we will now de scribe. The signal B comprises a post, j, or other suitable support or frame, on which is in operative mounted a gong, h, or other sounding device. The striking mechanism may be of any suitable kind. We have shown a wellknown construction in Fig. 3, which comprises a hammer, 0, provided with an actuating-spring, q, and an operating-lever, 0, provided with the usual hinged trip on its end to engage the heel of the hammer-arm, and with a retracting-spring, g. To the rear end of the operating-lever 0 is loosely coupled the upper end of a slide-bar or connecting-rod, I, which is guided in its longitudinal movements in a guide or keeper, J, on post 7'. The upward movement of rod I sounds the gong by its action on lever 0.

We will now describe the mechanism whereby the wheel of the car effects the sounding or striking of the gong h, and the mechanism whereby the setting of the semaphore controls this last-named mechanism.

G is a plate arranged to slide in guides or ways, or between two of the ties of the track 0 and at right angles to the latter, and n is a treadle orlever pivoted in bearings n,mounted on plate G.

H is the rear prolongation orarm of treadle n, the rear end of which arm loosely engages an aperture, 0, in rod I. The treadle n, when position, (as seen in Figs, 2 and 3,) stands near the rail or track 0, and the wheel of a passing car strikes on its convex upper surface and depresses it. This depression throws up the rear end of treadle-arm H, which drives up the rod I and sounds the gong. When plate G is moved back in its ways, treadle n is carried back or away from the track out of the path or" the car-wheel. The arm H plays through hole 0 in rod I when the treadle n is moved back. To effect the movement of plate G toward and from the track by means of rod 9 from the semaphore, which rod moves in a path at right angles to that of plate G, we mount a plate, E, to slide in keepers m m over and across plate G, and

couple it to rod 9. This plate E has formed in it an angular slot, is, which is engaged by a pinor screw, Z, that projects upward from plate N ormall y G. The operation is as follows: the parts stand as shown in the drawings that is to say, the arm b of the semaphore projects out at right angles to the post a, signifying danger, and the treadle n stands close to the track-rail and in the path of the wheels of a passing train. Should a train pass the audible signal B, each wheelwill sound an alarm .on the gong and warn the engineer, if he has failed to see the semaphore. If the track is clear, the attendant or signalman will pull over lever D, as explained. This movement will simultaneously turn the semaphore-arm 6 down to a vertical, or nearly vertical, position, and through rod e,bell-crank lever F, and rod 9, move plate E longitudinally. This movement of plate E, owing to the engagement of pinlwith slot 70, will move plate G away from the track, and with it the treadle n, so that a passing train will get no signal.

The continued hammering of the wheels on the treadle/will soon wear the treadle out and destroy it if it be left, as in some signal mechanisms, constantly in the path of the wheels; and we consider it one of the important advantages of our signal that the treadle is only thrown or moved into the path of the wheels when the signal is set to danger.

Although herein represented as an isolated signal, to be set by hand, it will be obvious that our signals may be connected to form a block system, so called, the semaphore to be set and dropped by passing trains on entering and passing out of the block. We have not considered it necessary to describe any of the various methods of effecting this.

In Fig. 6 we have shown abell-crank lever, E,which performs the same functions as the slotted plate E. (Seen in Fig. 2.) The object is to change the direction of the movement ofrod 9 and transmit it to plate G at right angles, and this will be effected by the lever E,which has a slot in its arm that engages the pin or stud Z..

We do not wish to limit ourselves to the precise construction and arrangementof parts herein shown, as these may be varied to some extent without departing materially from our invention. For example,therod Imight besimply coupled to the end of arm Hand the guideJ be omitted. The lever or treadle n H might also be a simple bar in one piece, instead of arm H being socketed in the treadle-head, as shown. The construction shown is merely adopted for convenience of manufacture. Other minor changes of construction, all within the knowledge of those skilledin such eonstructions, may be made without departing from our invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim 1. In combination, the sight signal, its lever a, connected with the operatinglever by a suitable operating-rod, the sound-signal,the plate for positively sliding the sound-signaloperating lever toward and away from the track, the said plate being connected with the said sight-signal lever by suitable rods, the sliding plate carrying the sound-signal-operating lever, the sound-signal-operating lever with its treadle-arm, and its gong-operating arm extending in opposite directions from its pivotal support, and suitable connecting mechanism between the said sound signaloperating lever and the gong, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the sound-signal, its operating-treadle n H, adapted to receive impact from the tread of the wheel, connecting-rod 'I, and plate G, on which said treadle is mounted, the semaphore-signal A, and the mechanism, substantially as described, connecting the movable arm of the semaphore with the plate G, whereby the movement of the semaphore-arm. is transmitted to said plate G, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the sound-signal,

of the sliding plate G, the operating-treadle In witness whereof we have hereunto signed 10 mounted thereon and connected with the our names in the presence of two subscribing striking mechanism of the signal, the slotted witnesses. plate E, mounted to slide in guides at right 5 angles to plate G, and the pin or screw Z in g E i R plate G engaging the oblique slot in plate E, whereby the endwise movement of plate E Witnesses: effects the movement of thetreadle into or out JOHN B. HIBBARD,

of the path of the car-wheel, as set forth. PHILIP STEVENS.

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