US1034730A - Warning-signal for street-cars. - Google Patents

Description

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F. A. PPANNENSGHMIDT.

WARNING SIGNAL FOR STREET CABS. APPLICATION FILED JAN.16, 1911.

1,,O3,730.- Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH 00.,WASHXNG10N D c FFC FREDERICK A. PFANNENSCHMIDT, OF DETROIT, 1VIICHIGAN,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WALTER, R lVIACADAM, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, FREDERIOK A. PFAN- NENSCHMIDT, citizen of the United. States, residing at'Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigam'have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Warning-Sig 'nals for Street-Cars, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptlon a warning signal to be displayed from the rear of the car and under the control of the motorman, to indicate the approach of a car on the adjacent track that passengers alighting fro-m the car. or others attempting to pass back of the car may be warned of an approaching can-the construction providing both an audible and visible warning signal. I g

In the drawings accompanying this speci-. fication: Figure l is a detail view of the device with parts broken away and in section, also indicating a fragmentary portion of the front and rear platforms and frame of the car upon which the device is mounted. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a car indicating the signal arm raised to warn against crossing the adjacent track. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the tubular signal arm, a cover plate attached to its wall being removed to disclose the dash pot buffer check housed within the arm. Fig. 4 is a detail of the dash pot check in longitudinal section. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the tubular signal arm indicating the electric light bulbs housed therein. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a fragment of the signal arm mounted in its supporting hanger, also the switch carried thereby for closing the electric circuit in order that the arm may be lighted and the electric hell or buzzer sounded. I

Referring now to the letters of reference placed upon the drawings :A indicates the front, and B the rear platform of the car.

0 is one of the sills or frame of the car, and D is the rear dash board.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 16, 1911. Serial No. 602,827.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

E is thebifurcated hanger secured to the dash in which is journaled the tubular signal arm F.

F is the shaft on which the arm is mounted, and F 2 is a crank arm for actuating said shaft.

f is a weight secured to the end of the arm todassist in 'counterbalancing its opposite en G is a bell-crank pivoted in a suitable supporting bracket secured to the frame C.

is a rod connecting the crank arm F with the bell-crank G,the rod being provided with a suitable turnbuckle by which it may be adjusted should it become necessary through wear or for other reasons.

H is a lever journaled in a segmental frame H secured to the floor of the front platform and in convenient position for op eration by the motorman.

H is a spring actuated dog. adapted to enter notches provided in the segmental frame H,the dog being under the control of the hand operatedreleasing rod 72.

I is a rod connecting the bell-crank lever G with the swinging lever H;

I is a turnbuckle by which the rod may be adjusted.

'J is a switch adapted to be actuated upon raising the signal arm thereby closing the circuit (not shown) to the electric bell or buzzer K, whereby the bell may be sounded and the signal arm illuminated,the letters of the warning sign being preferably cut out of the side walls of the arm that the warning notice may more easily be read at night.

L is a dash pot check supported between the walls of the signal arm at its free end. L is its piston, and L a. projecting rod provided with a knob at its outer end adapted to contact with the buffer plate L secured to the dash of the car.

M is a spring to force the piston to the limit of its stroke when the arm is raised to its horizontal position.

f is a cover plate secured to the wall of the arm by removing which access may be had to the check L.

N is a hood secured to the dash of the car designed to inclose the upper end of the signal arm, protecting the latter against the effects ofthe weather and guarding against injury to passengers or others through carelessness in handling the parts.

Having indicated the several parts by reference letters, the operation of the device will be readily understood. I Vhen stopping at a crossing, and upon the approach of a car on the adjacent track, the motorman will rock the lever H to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby raising the signal arm F to a horizontal position by means of the connecting rods G and I, and levers F and G,-the weight f reducing the effort required to raise the arm jar that the arm would otherwise sustain upon dropping to the position indicated, the check L is provided :-the rod L of which upon contacting with the bulier plate L serves to force back the piston L in the cylinder compressing the air therein, thereby reducing the jar as will be readily understood. The spring M serves to force the piston to the limit of its stroke ready for the next operation when the arm is raised to its horizontal position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 2- 1. In combination with a car, a bifurcated bracket secured to the car, a hollow swinging signal arm having its inner end pivotally mounted within the bifurcation of the bracket, spring contact fingers secured to the car and disposed within the bifurcation of the bracket, electric lamps carried within the hollow signal arm, electric circuits leading to said lamps, a switch blade carried by the inner end of the signal arm and so positioned thereon as to engage between the spring contact fingers on the car when the signal arm is swung to horizontal position, means to swing and retain the arm in a horizontal position, and a hood secured to the rear end of the car and partly inclosing the inner end of the signal arm.

2. In combination with a car, a hollow signal arm pivotally mounted at its inner end on the car and normally disposed in a vertical position, a counterbalancing weight carried by the inner end of the arm, spring contact fingers secured to the car, a switch blade carried by the counterbalancing weight on the inner end of the signal arm and positioned to be out of contact with the spring fingers when the signal arm is in its normal position, an electric lamp in the signal arm, an electric circuit leading to the lamp, and means for raising the signal arm to horizontal position and swinging the switch blade between the contact fingers for closing the circuit to the lamp.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK A. PFANNENSCHMIDT.

Witnesses:

GRACE E. WVYNKooP, SAMUEL E. THOMAS.

Copies of this natent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing. the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. i

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