US1394713A - Switch-operating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

R. V. COLLINS.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1915.

1,394,713, Patnted Oct. 25, 1921 r 5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A TTOH/VEYS R. V. COLLINS.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1915.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

.R. v. COLLINS.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21,1915.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921..

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

R. v. COLLINS.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2!, I915.

Patented 0013. 25, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

n. v. coums.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JULY 21. 915.

1,394,713. Patented Oct. 25, 1921 snszrs.

A TTOR/VEYS and the contactor may be as short as de- OFFICE.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

rename.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

Application filed July 21, 1915. Serial No. 41,064.

provement in Switch-Operating Mechanism, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a switch operat-.

ing mechanism and has for its object to provide a switch automatically controlled by the condition of the car operating circuit of an approaching car. Other and further objects of my invention are to provide a .switch having the following characteristics:

The switch is controlled by a car approaching the switch without stopping the car, but cannot be controlled by a second car approaching the switch until the preceding car has passed the switch; 7

The actual switch-operating mechanism is adapted to be installed in a water-tight and fool-proof street box adapted to permit ready access to the mechanism for inspection without making any pipe or wire disconnections Only part of the full car system voltage is permitted to pass to the actual switchoperating mechanism;

The speed of the switch operating motor can be regulated;

The operation of the switch-throwing mechanism is instituted by light, quick-acting parts, although the operating mechanism itself moves comparatively slowly;

The time of engagement between the car sired, as the operation of the mechanism does not depend upon maintaining such engagement for any appreciable length of time;

The switch may be thrown'by hand even though the switch-operating motor is rum ning;

The switch cannot be jarred over between the trucks of a car;

The electrical mechanism cannot burn out, no matter how long the trolley wheel may rest on the contactor; and

The invention is applicable to railroads of any type although particularly advantageous fortrolley railroads.

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent from the following'description of one embodiment thereof and from an inspection of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings of said embodiment as applied to a trolley railroad, in which Figure 1 is a view showing an apparatus embodying my invention, with the operating mechanism in normal position, that is, with the switch-operating motor at rest and the parts in position to be controlled by an approaching car;

Fig. 2 a. plan view of the first contactor (A) Fig. 3 a side elevation of the first contactor (A) Fig. 4 a longitudinal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 a longitudinal section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows Fig. 6 a plan of the second contactor (B) Fig. 7 a side elevation of the second contactor (B) Fig. 8 a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 a plan of the street box containing the actual switch-operating mechanism;

Fig. 10 a section approximately on line 1()l0 of Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 11 a section approximately on line 11-11 of Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

lVhile I have illustrated my invention by the best embodiment thereof known to me, it is not to be restricted.- to such-embodiment which is to be regarded only as typical of many embodiments and uses.

The embodiment illustrated, described generally without reference to structural details, comprises a switch-point P controlled by the direction of rotation of a motor )1. The rotation of motor M in one direction (as clockwise) always will insure that switchpoint P' is set for straight ahead, and the rotation of motor M in the opposite direction (as anticlockwise) always will insure that switch-point P is set for the curve. Thus whenever motor M revolves in clockwise direction, switch point P will be thrown for straight ahead unless it already is in that position, in which case the motor will revolve without affecting the switch-point; and whenever motor M revolves in an anticlockwise direction, switch-point P will be thrown for the curve unless it already is in that position, in which case the motor will revolve without affecting the switch point.

The direction of rotation of motor M in the embodiment illustrated is accomplished by changing the direction of the current sent through its fields without changing the direction of the current sent through its brushes. This is effected primarily by armatures s and s which are connected to the field of motor M by wires 21 and 22 respectively. If, therefore, armature s is connected to a source of current, and armatures is connected to ground, the current will be sent through the field of motor M in one direction; while if armature s is connected to a source of current and armature s is connected to ground, the current will be sent through the field of motor M in a reverse direction. As the current through the brushes of the motor always flows in the same direction (through wire 23 to ground), the movement of armatures s and 8 determines the direction of rotation of motor M. The current for armatures s and 8 always comes from-contact bar C which is connected to wire 20; and the ground for armatures s and .5 always is through contact bar C which is connected to ground;

The desired position of armatures s and s is effectuated by magnets or solenoids S and S respectively. In the embodiment illustrated, when magnet or solenoid S is energized, armature s is moved to send current along wire 21 through the field of motor M and back along wire22, and when .magnet or solenoid S is energized armature s is moved to send current in the opposite direction along wire 22 through the field of motor M and back along wire 21. It is evident, therefore, that the position of switch-point P is determined by the energizing either of magnet S or of magnet S This selective energizing is accomplished by electrically connecting said magnets or solenoids (in a mannerto be described later) to contactors A and B on the main feed conductor as trolley wire These contactors are so arranged in the embodiment illustrated that when the collector of a car as trolley wheel T passes under the contactor A with the car operating circuit closed (current on), magnet or solenoid S will be energized, and switch-point P set for the curve;

and when said trolley wheel T passes under contactor A with the car operating circuit open (current off), magnet or solenoid S will be energized and switch-point P set for straight ahead. Contactor B is adapted to cooperate electrically with contactor A under certain conditions, and also is adapted to return all the parts to normal position when it is engaged by trolley wheel T.

It is not necessary for the motorman of an approaching car to know the condition of the switch-point in order to proceed in the desired direction, If he passes under contactor A with his car operating circuit open (current off) he can proceed with the assurance that the switch is set for straight ahead; and if he passes under contactor A with his caroperating circuit closed (current on) he can proceed with the assurance that the switch is set for the curve. Contactor A is located on trolley wire l/V ahead of the switch a sufiicient distance to allow the mechanism time in which to throw the switch before the car reaches it, even though the car be moving at maximum speed, and at the same time to permit the mechanism to operate slowly enough to prevent injury to the parts by a too-sudden movement thereof, or to cause the switch to splash water on passers-by. Contactor B- is located on trolley wire W at a point with respect to the switch to insure that the last wheels of the car engage with or pass over the switch beforeBtrolley wheel T engages said contactor Having described the general method of operation of the embodiment illustrated, the structural details thereof are as follows:

Referring to Fig. 1, which shows the parts in normal position, one embodiment of the electrical controlling system is illustrated as follows: A movable contact C is provided, adapted to be raised into contact with contact bar C by armature s or .9 according to whether solenoid S or S first is energized effectively. A contact bar C is provided, adapted to connect armature s or s to a source of' current when either of said armatures is in raised position. A contact.

bar C is provided, adapted to connect armature s or s to ground. Armatures s and s normally are 111 engagement with contact bar C The port-ion c of armature s which first by trolley wheel T of an approaching car, is provided with an integralstrip a which thus will be insulated from trolley wire TV, and with the sides of which strip trolley wheel T is adapted to contact without touching trolley wire TV; and the other end of frame a is provided with a pivoted lever a which also thus will be insulated from trolley wire W, and with which the inside of the trolley wheel T is adapted to contact while'in contact with trolley wide W, thus forming an electrical connection be tween said lever and wire. Insulation a also is provided between strip a and frame a, and insulation 0, is provided between lever 64 and framed. This insulation will prevent current flowing to frame a when the parts operate as set forth-hereinafter. When trolley wheel T engages strip a with the car operating circuit closed (current on), an electrical connection is made from wire 2 through bolt a strip (1 trolley wheel T, and the car to the ground; and when trolley wheel Tengages lever a or contactor A an electrical connection is made from trolley wire W through trolley wheel T, lever a and bolt a to wire 30.

Referring toF-ig. 1 and Figs. 6, 7, and 8, contactor B is shown as comprising a frame Z2 securedto trolley wire Wand insulated therefrom in any desired manner, as by insulation 5 rame b is provided with a lever 6 adjacent trolley wire W adapted normally to hold a contact finger b in engagement with a contact piece 5 by means of an arm 5 carried by said lever Z2 and bearing on the under side of said contact finger 5 An electrical connection normally is maintained from trolley wire W through contactfinger 5 contact piece if, and bolt 6 to wire 1 in any desired manner as through mounting b lever b andarm 6 When a trolley wheel T passes along trolley wire XV it engages the inside of lever Z2 and .IDOVGS it outward, which causes its arm 5* to be lowered a sufiicient distance to permit contact finger b to fall away from contact piece Z), thereby breaking the electrical connection just described from trolley wire W to wire 1.

-The wiring, electrical connections, and electrical controlling system between contactors A and B and the actual switchoperating mechanism, are illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1;

in the present embodiment, the apparatus is arranged to set the switch for the curve iftrolley wheel T engages contactor A with tlie car operating circuit closed (current and to set the switch for straight ahead 11' trolley wheel T engages contactor A with the car operating circuit open (current ofi? In other words, the motorman or": an approaching car controls the switch by the position of his controller, without stopping by insulation 5 of armature 8 the car, or ascertaining the condition of the switch point. If the switch point already is in proper position, it will remain so; if it is not in proper position, it will be thrown to proper position.

Assuming first, in the embodiment illustrated, that a car approaches a switch set for straight ahead (Fig. 1) and the motorman wishes to set the switch for the curve. He will, therefore, pass under contactor A with the car operating circuit closed (current on). As trolley wheel T engages contact strip a (trolley wheel T being out of engagement with trolley wire W), an electrical connection is made from wire 2 through contact strip a trolley wheel TN, and the car, to ground. This electrical con nection completes what may be termed a first initial circuit, starting from contactor B as follows:

Trolley wire W, contact finger 72 contact piece wire 1, solenoid S wire 2, contact strip a trolley wheel T, and through the car to ground.

The energizing of magnet or solenoid S by this first initial circuit raises armature s which engages an extension of movable contact C and raises member G into contact with contact bar C This movement of armature s and movable contact C establishes a holding circuit to maintain armature s in raised position, and a branch therefrom supplies current to switch-operating motor M to operate the same. This holding circuit, which also starts from contactor B is as follows:

Trolley wire WV, contact finger 6 contact piece wire 1, solenoil S wires 2, 10, fuse 11, wire 12, contact bar C movable contact- C, wire 13, solenoids S wire 14:, where the circuit divides, part of the current going through resistance R and connecting bar r to ground, and the remainder of the current going from wire 14, through connecting bar 1, resistance R connecting bar r resistance R connecting bar 1*, resistance connecting bar r and to the ground.

This circuit energizes solenoid S and raises armature s which engages underneath armature .9 thereby holding armature s in raised position, the circuit operating as a holding circuit to maintain the parts in position after the first initial circuit has been broken by trolley wheel T passing the insulated strip 0: of contactor A. It will be noted that armature s is in contact with contact bar C (receiving current) that armature s is in contact with contact bar C (connected to ground), that armature s is insulated from movable contact C by insulation 2' of armature s and that armature s is insulated from armature 8 With the parts in this position, current is sent through the field of switch-operating motor M by wire 20 which branches from resistance R as follows:

Resistance R wire 20, contact bar C armature 8 wire 21, field of motor M, wire 22, armature .9 contact bar C and to ground.

At the'same time, current will be fed to the brushes of motor M by a circuit branching from the holding circuit just described at connecting bar 1' as follows:

Branching from said connecting bar 1", wire 23, through the brushes of motor M, and to ground.

This operates motor M to control the position of switch-point P, in manner to be described hereinafter, so that the car will go around the curve.

The engagement of trolley wheel T with lever a of contactor A after it first has engaged contact strip a with the car operating circuit closed (current on), will have no effect on the electrical controlling system except to increase the holding and switch operating motor circuits. In other words, after the electrical controlling system has been placed in position to throw the switch in one direction it cannot be placed in position to throw the switch in a different direction until trolley wheel T engages contactor B. In the present instance, the circuit which will be closed between said lever a and trolley wire WV by trolley wheel T, passes from contactor A along wire 30, fuse 31, wire'32, movable contact (1, wire 13, solenoid S wire 14, and through resistance to ground and to motor M in the manner described above. Not only is this car unable to change the position of the electrical controlling system, but it is evident, for the same reasons, that a following car will be unable to change the position of the electrical controlling system, until the first car has passed the second contactor B, which is adapted to return the parts to normal position.

This return to normal position is brought about by trolley wheel T engaging lever b and pressing it outward, thereby lowering the arm of lever Z2 (Figs. 7 and 8) which permits contact finger 5 (Figs. 7 and 1) to fall away from contact piece 6 This opens the circuit which is energizing solenoids S and S through wire 1, solenoid S wires 2, 10, fuse 11, wire 12, movable contact C, wire 13, solenoid S wire 14, and to ground and to motor M, and all the parts return to'normal position as shown in Fig. 1. Arniatures s and 8 fall back by gravity, thereby permitting movable contact C also to return by gravity to lowered and normal position. As soon as trolley wheel T leaves contactor B, lever Z2 of said contactor B will fall back into normal position, thereby lifting contact finger Z2 into contact with contact piece 6 thus reestablishing an elecemar-1 s (current off and the car proceeding by its own momentum). No circuit from wire 2 through the car to ground will be closed, therefore, when trolley wheel T engages contact strip a of contactor'A, as previously described, and the parts remain in normal position. As trolley wheel T engages lever a of contactor A, however, an electrical connection is closed from trolley wire W through trolley wheel T to wire 30. This electrical connection completes what may be termed a second initial circuit starting from contactor A as follows: 1

Trolley wire W, trolley wheel T, lever c of contactor A, wire 30, fuse 31, wires 32, 13, solenoid S wire 14, and through resistance to ground in the manner described above.

The energizing of solenoid S by this second initial circuit raises armature 3 which engages the extension of movable contact C and raises contact 0 into contactwith contact bar C This movement of armature s and movable contact C establishes a holding circuit to maintain armature s in raised position, and a branch therefrom supplies current to switch operating motor M to operate the same. This holding circuit which starts from contactor B, is asfollows:

Trolley wire WV, contact finger 5 contact piece 6 wire 1, solenoid S (this circuit will not energize magnet or solenoid S sufiiciently to cause said magnet or solenoid S to raise armature .9 wires 2, 10, fuse 11, wire 12, contact bar C movable contact C, wire 13, solenoid S wire 14, and through resistance to ground in the manner described above.

Armature 8 now is in contact with contact bar C (receiving current); armature s is 21, armature 8 contact bar C and to ground. r

At the same time, current will be fed to the brushes of motor M by a circuit branching from the holding circuit just described at connecting bar 77 and in the same man-- armature 8 wire 22, field of motor M, wire 7 ner and in the same direction as the brush circuit previously described when the motor was turned in the opposite direction, as follows:

Branching from said connecting bar 1*, wire 23, through the brushes of the motor M to ground.

. As this sends the current through the field of switch operating motor M in'the opposite direction to that in which it was sent when the trolley contacted with contactor A with the car operating circuit closed (current on), and as the current through the brushes of motor M flows in the same direction as before, the direction of rotation of switch throwing motor will be reversed, and the switch will be controlled for the position of straight ahead.

If a closely following car passes under contactor. A with its car operating circuit.

closed (current on) before the car just described above reaches contactor B, the second car will have no effect on the electrical controlling system, other than to energize magnet or solenoid S and raise armature 8 As armature 8 already is in raised position, armature s will strike the bottom of armature .9 Armature 8 still will remain in contact with contact bar 0 however, and armature s will be insulated from armature s y insulation 2' of armature 8 The current flowing along wire 10 from wire 2 and thence through fuse 11, and wire 12 to contact bar will tend, therefore, merely to increase the current already flowing through these parts. 7

It will be seen from the above arrangement that the current for operating switch operating motor M in either direction, always passes through resistance (part of R and also is grounded by a circuit in parallel thereto through resistance (part of R R R and R at all times. The current for the brushes likewise always passes through resistance (part of R and R and R being taken from a tap wire leading from connecting bar a This introduction of resistance in the motor operating circuit reducesthe voltage of the current operating said motor M, which is of great advantage where the switch operating motor is in a street box, as the dampness in a street box invariably causes great deal of electrical.

disturbance in a high voltage .motor. In order further to reduce and also to control the current going to switch operating motor M, resistance R and B may be provided with one or more tap wires connecting said resistance to ground Three such tap wires l0 (shown in dotted lines) are illustrated connecting-resistance R to ground, which will weaken the field current of motor M; and three such tap wires 41 (also shown in dotted lines) are illustrated connecting resistance'lil to ground, which will weaken feeding the brushes.

the current to the brushes of motor M, as resistance R is in parallel with the circuit These tap wires normally are disconnected, but if the current is too heavy, any desired number may be connected or added to reduce and regulate the current passing to motor M. It will be noted that resistance B may perform a double function, it reduces the voltage and may be utilized by means of tap wires to to regulate the current going to the field of the motor over wire 20.

An. embodiment of the actual switch-operating motor and mechanism, and the street box in which they are contained, is illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. Box 100 is provided witha channel 101 (Fig. 10) in which is adapted to fit flanges 102 of inner cover 103. This channel is filled with'mercury, which makes the box absolutely watertight. To prevent mud or water. collecting above the inner cover, the street box is placed at such a height with respect to the track, that the top of the inner cover will be above the bottom of the switch point, thus preventing the mud and water flowing from the track along the passage provided for theconnections'between the switch point and the switch operating mechanism, to the top 'of the inner cover (bolt 129 and bar 130). The wires run to box100 through a pipe 104 opening into a small compartment 105 which is separated from the main compartment by the same mercury-ditch, watertight construction. The wires may pass to themain compartment by any desired water tight constructiomor may be connected to one part of a plug set in the wall between the compartments, the other part of which plug is connected to the wires in the main compartment. In the embodiment illus trated, the wires pass to the main compartment from small compartment 105 through packing 140, and end in spring contacts 141.

sulation 144. When the cover is inplace contacts 1&3 engage and make electrical connection with spring contacts'l il, and when the cover is removed it is not necessary to disconnect the wi'res, from the motor. This renders the motor and switch operating mechanism readily accessible for inspection or repair, and. the motor and switch operating mechanism is protected, even though water should enter pipe 104, for it will be confined to the small compartment and can not enterthe; main compartment. The switch operating mechanism shown in this embodiment is arranged as follows:

The shaft of motor M- is provided with a beVcltd P liOJJ- 106 ich m he with a ge r wheel 107. This. gear wheel 107 has two centrifugal pins 108 slidably mounted therein (Fig. 10) and through these pins normally is connected to an extension 109 of pinion 109. Pinion 109 meshes with gear 110, which is mounted 011 the same shaft with a pinion 111, which, in turn, meshes with gear 112 mounted on shaft 117. Gear 112 (Fig. 9) meshes with gear 113, which has on the under side thereof a clover-leaf cam 114. Gear 113 and cam 114 are mounted on a shaft 115, which is connected by a link 116 to shaft 117 on which gear 112 is mounted. The movement of link 116 is limited by stops118 and 119 mounted in any desired place as on inner cover 103. Shaft 115 is carried by arms 120 mounted in a pin 121', on which pin also is mounted an arm 122 having a roller 123 at the end thereof adapted to engage with clover-leaf cam 114. Pin 121 on which arms 120 and 122 are mounted is carried by arm 124 keyed to a shaft 125. A compression spring 126 is mounted to bear between arm 124 and arm 122, thereby constantly forcing roller 123 against clover-leaf cam 114. Shaft 125 extends up through the cover of the street box and has secured thereto an arm 127, to which is pivoted a block 128 having an adjustable bolt 129 therein swiveled to a bar 130 (Fig. 9) connected to switch-point P.

If the motor is started in such a direction that gear 112 turns in a clockwise direction (Fig. 9), it will benoted that link 116 being held against stop 118 cannot move farther in that direction, and, therefore, gear 113 will rotate on its shaft 115. Clover-leaf cam 114 on the bottom of gear 113 therefore will rotate and force up roller 123 and its arm 122; against the action of spring 126.

The load on the motor due to this action is taken off as soon as the highest point of said cam 114 passes the center of roller 123, and

the speed of the motor and connecting gears immediately is greatly accelerated, thereby causing centrifugal pins 108 (on gear 107, Fig. 10) to be thrown outward, which disconnects gears 107 and 109. The motor, its load thus removed, continues to revolve at a speed sufficient to maintain centrifugal pins 108 in outward and disconnected position. The motor will continue to run until con tactor B is reached by a car, but as all load is removed from the motor, and only a low voltage ever reachesit, the motor will not become overheated or otherwise injured.

If the motor is started in such a direction that gear 112 turns in an anticlockwise direction (Fig. 9), the tendency of gear 113 to'rotate will be overcome by the pressure of roller 123on clover-leafcam 114, so that gear 113 will bemoved upward bodily until link 116. engages. stop119. This upward movement. of. gear 113 is communicated to switchrp'oint P by arm 120, pin 121, arm

124, shaft 125, arm 127, block 128, bolt 129, and bar 130. As soon as link 116 contacts with stop 119, gear 113 will be rotated, and motor M disconnected in the manner described above.

It will be seen that when trolley wheel T contacts with the cont-actor A either with the car operating circuit closed (current on), or open (current oil), motor M will be started and will continue to run until trolley wheel T engages contactor B when the circuit to motor M is opened. Switch-point P is thrown inone direction by one direction of rotation of motor M, and in the other direction by the other direction of rotation of motor M, said direction of rotation being controlled by the condition of the car operating circuit. In other words, if the car operating circuit is open (current off), motor M always will be revolved in the same direction: if the switchpoint is in its proper position, the motor will disconnect itself in the manner described above, and if it is not in the proper position the switch-point will be thrown to proper position and then the motor will disconnect itself. It thus is pos sible to throw the switchby hand at any time. If the motor is not running, the motor will, of course, be turned when the switchpoint is thrown by hand; and if the motor is running, it is not connected to the switch-operating mechanism, so. that the 111, 110, and 109Ywould have to turn. To 7 move roller 123 requires sufficient force to overcome spring 126, and to turn all the gears mentioned requires suiiicient force to overcome the toggle. effect of spring 126, which must be compressed before gear 113 can be moved from either of its normal positions- I I Many modifications of the embodiment of my invention disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled. in the art without departing therefrom or from the scope of the claims. I j 7 Having described one embodiment of my invention, what I claim is: r

1. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means tocontrol a circuit to operate said motor from said main feed conductor comprising means to reduce the voltage between said main feed conductor. and said motor forming part of a resistance device grounded in parallel thereto. 7

2. In combination, a switch, a. motor, connections between said switch and said motor,

a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor from said main feed conductor comprising means to reduce the voltage between said main feed conductor and said motor forming part of a resistance device having a branch wire therefrom to said motor.

3. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor from said main feed conductor comprising means to reduce the voltage between said main feed conductor and said motor forming part of a resistance device grounded in parallel thereto and of a' resistance device having a branch wire therefrom to said motor.

4. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor from said main feed conductor comprising means to regulate the voltage between said main feed conductor and said motor.

5. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor from said main feed conductor having means to regu late the current between said main feed conductor and said motor comprising a tap adapted to take current from said first named means.

6. In combinatioma switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor from said main feed conductor comprising means to reduce the voltage between said main feed conductor and said motor comprising a resistance device, and having means to regulate the current between said main feed conductor and said motor characterized bya tapfrom said resistance device.

7. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor,

' a main feed conductor, contactors on said main feed conductor, a collector device car ried by a car, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor by electrical circuits taken from said main'feed conductor comprising armatures adapted to be moved by the closing of a circuit through a contactor by said collector device and maintained in position until a circuit is opened through a second contactor by said collector device.

8. In combination, a'switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor,

. a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor in either direction from said mainrfeed conductor comprising means' to reduce the voltage between said main feed conductor and said motor forming part of a resistance device grounded in parallel thereto.

9. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor in either direction from said feed conductor comprising means to reduce the voltage between said main feed conductor and said motor forming part of a resistance device having a branch wire therefrom to said motor.

10. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor in either direction from said main feed conductor comprising means to reduce the voltage between said main feed conductor and said motor forming part of a resistance device grounded in parallel thereto and a resistance device having a branch wire therefrom to said motor.

11. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor in either direction from said main feed conductor comprising means to regulate the current between said main feed conductor and said motor.

12. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor in either direction from said main feed conductor having means to regulate the voltage between said main feed conductor and said motor comprising a tap adapted to take current from said first named means.

13. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor in either direction from said main feed conductor, having means to reduce the voltage between said main feed conductor and said motor comprising a resistance device,

and means to regulate the current between said main feed conductor and said motor characterized by a tap from said resistance device.

i i. In combination, a switch, a motor. connections between said switcl and said motor, main feed conductor, contractors on said main feed conductor, a collector device carried by a car, and means to control. a cir cuit to operate said motor in either direction by electrical circuits taken from said main feed conductor comprising armatures adapted to be moved. by the closing of a circuit through a contactor by said collector device and maintained in position until a circuit is opened through a second cont actor by said collector device.

15. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor trom said main feed conductor in either d1- rection comprising a first contact bar connected to said main feed conductor, a second contact bar connected to ground, a pair of movable armatures each of which is connected to said motor, means adapted to move said armatures whereby the first armature will be connected to said first contact bar and the second armature to the said second cont-act bar, and means to move said armatures whereby said second armature will be connected to said first contact bar and said first armature will be connected to said second contact bar.

16. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit and operate said motor from from said main feed conductor in either direction comprising a first contact bar connected to said main feed conductor, a second contact bar connected to ground, a pair of movable armatures each of which is connected to said motor, means comprising a magnet adapted to move said armatures whereby the first armature will be connected to said first contact bar and the second armature to saia second contact bar, and means comprising a magnet adapted to move said armatures whereby said second armature will be connected to said first contact bar and said first armature will be connected to said second contact bar.

17. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, a contactor on said main feed conductor having a lever, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor comprising means to close a circuit through said lever.

-18. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, a contactor on said main feed conductor, means normally to maintain electrical connection between said conductor and said contactor comprising means whereby said electrical connection can be broken by the contact of a collector device with said contactor.

19. In combination, a switch, a motor, connections between said switch and said motor, a main feed conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said motor from said main feed conductor comprising; a collector and a contactor device adapted to close a circuit through said motor in a direction controlled by the condition of the circuit in said collector. V

20. In combination, a switch, a motor,

means to control a circuit to operate said motor, and means to connect said switch and said motor comprising means to disconnect said motor from said switch and to hold said switch against jarring over.

21. In combination, aswitch, a motor, means to control a circuit to operate said motor, andmeans to connect said switch and said motor comprising means to speed up and disconect said motor when said switch is in proper position.

22. In combination, a. switch, a motor, means to control a circuit to operate said motor, and scans to connect said switch and said motor comprising, means including centrifugal pins to speed up and disconnect said mot-orwhen said switch is in proper position. V v V 28. In combination, a switch, a motor, means to control a circuit to operate said motor, and means to connect said switch and said motor comprising means including a cam and .a pressure roller to speed up and disconnect said motor when said switch is in proper position. v

24. In combination, a switch, a motor, means to control a circuit to operate said motor, and means to connect said switch and said motor comprising means including centrittugal pins adapted to be thrown out by the release ota pressure rolleron a cam to speed up and disconnect said motor when said switch is in proper position.

25. In combination, a switch, a motor, means tocontrol'a circuit to operate said motor, means to connect said switch and said motor comprising a pair of gears one of which has a cam thereon, a link connecting said gears, stops to limit the movement of said link, and spring-pressed means maintained in contact with said caml 26. In combination, a switch, amotor. means to control a circuit to operate said motor, means to connect said switch and said motor comprising a pair of gears one of which has a cam thereon, a link connecting the pivots of said gears, stops to limit the movement of said link, and spring'pressed means maintained in contact with said cam.

27. In combination, a switch, a motor, means to-control acircuit to operate said motor, means to connect said switch and said mot-or comprising a pair of gears one of which has a cam thereon, a link connecting said gears, means to limit the movement of said link, a pivot, an arm onsaid pivot carrying said gear and cam, a second arm on said pivot carrying a roller adapted to bear on said cam,a third arm mounted on said pivot, a spring between said-third arm and said second arm, and'm'eans to connect said third arm to said switch.

28. In; combination, a switch, a motor, means to control a circuitto operate said motor, means to connect saidswitch and said motor comprising a pair of gearsone'of which has a cam thereon, a link connecting the pivots of said gear, means to limit the movement of said link, a pivot, an arm on said pivot carrying said gear and cam, a

second arm on said pivot carrying a roller adapted to bear on said cam, a third arm mounted on said pivot, a spring between said third arm and said second arm, and means to connect said third arm to said switch.

29. In combination, a switch, a motor, two contact devices, a collector, means to control a circuit to start said motor by the contact of said collector with one oi" said contact devices, means to control a circuit to stop said motor by the contact of said collector with the other of said contact devices, and means between saidswitch and said motor adapted to disconnect said switch from said motor when the switch is in determined position and while said motor is running.

30. In combination, a switch, a motor, two contact devices, a collector, means to control a circuit to start said motor by the contact of said collector with one of said contact devices, means to control a circuit to stop said motor by the contact of said collector with the other of said contact devices, and means comprising centrifugal pins between said switch and said motor adapted to permit said switch to be disconnected from said motor when the switch is in determined position and while said motor is running.

31. In combination, a switch, a motor, two contact devices, a collector, means to control a circuit to start said motor by the contact of said collector with one of said contact devices, means to control a circuit to stop said motor by the contact of said collector with the other of said contact devices, and means between said switch and said motor comprising a device adapted to permit said motor to speed up and adapted to permit said switch to be disconnected from said motor when the switch is in proper position and while said motor is running.

32. In combination, a switch, a motor two contact devices, a collector, means to control a circuit to start said motor by the contact of said collector with one of said contact devices, means to control a circuit to stop said motor by the contact of said collector with the other of said contact devices, and means between said switch and said motor comprising a device adapted to permit said motor to speed up and to permit connecting centrifugal pins to be thrown out to disconnectsaid switch from said motor when the switch is in proper position and while said motor is running.

33. In combination, a switch, means to operate said switch, a box comprising two compartments, a channel around one of said compartments, mercury in said channel, a cover having a flange adapted to fit in said channel, the compartment having said channel around it adapted to contain said switchoperating means, and the other of said compartments having wires leading thereinto, said wires connecting with said switch opcrating compartment by means of a watertight connection.

34. In combination, a switch, means to operate said switch, a box comprising two compartments, a channel around said compartments, mercury in said channel, a cover having a flange adapted to fit in said channel, one of said compartments adapted to contain said switch operating means, and the other of said compartments having wires leading thereinto, said wires connecting with said switch operating means compartment by means of a water-tight connection.

35. In combination, a switch, means to operate said switch comprising a motor, a box inclosing said motor provided with a cover to which said motor is secured, wires from said motor secured to said cover, wires leading to said box through a water-tight connection, and spring contacts on said wires adapted to be engaged by the wires secured to said cover.

36. In combination, a switch, an electrical device to operate said switch, connections between said switch and said device, a conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said device through said conductor to throw said switch in either direction comprising make and break devices and a contact piece of sufiicient size to receive only one of said make and break devices at a time.

37. In combination, a switch, an electrical device to operate said switch, connections between said switch and said device, a conductor, a contactor on said conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said device through said conductor to throw said switch in either direction comprising electrical circuit s. having only three make .and break devices between said contactor and said device.

38. In combination, a switch, an electrical device to operate said switch, connections between said switch and said device, a conductor, a contactor on said conductor having a lever adjacent said conductor, and means to control a circuit to operate said device by closing a circuit through said lever.

39. In combination, a switch, an electrical switch operating device, connections be tween said switch and said device, a conductor, a contactor on said conductor having a lever, a collector, and means to control a circuit to operate said device by closing a circuit from said conductor to said lever through said collector.

40. In combination, a switch, an operating mechanism therefor, and centrifugalmeans to disconnect said mechanism from said switch, when the latter is initially in the desired position.

41. In a switch mechanism, a contact strip, a solenoid adapted to be energized by engagement of a collector with said strip, an electric switch actuating device controlled by said solenoid, a second contact strip, and means for establishing a holding circuit from said last mentioned strip through said solenoid.

42. In a switch mechanism, a contact strip, a solenoid adapted to be energized by engagement of a collector with said strip, an electric switch actuating device controlled by said solenoid, a second contact strip, a circuit closing device associated therewith adapted to establish. a holding circuit from said strip through said solenoid, said circuit closing device breaking circuit upon engagement of a collector with said second contact strip.

- 43. Ina switch mechanism a solenoid, an electric switch actuating device controlled thereby, a normally closed circuit closer contained in a holding circuit for said solenoid, said circuit closer being opened upon engagement of a collector therewith.

44. In combination, a switch actuating device, a pair of solenoids having armatures controlling circuit to said device, and a pair of contactors adapted selectively to energize said solenoids to actuate said switch in opposite directions.

45. In combination, a switch actuating device, a pair of solenoids having armatures controlling circuit thereto, said armatures being alternatively engageable with current and ground contacts, and means for selectively energizing said solenoids to actuate said switch in opposite directions.

. 46. In combination, a switch actuating device, a pair of solenoids having armatures controlling circuit to said device, a pair of contactors in circuit respectively with said solenoids, and means whereby said solenoids may be selectively energized upon engagement of a collector with said contactors.

47. In combination, a switch, an operating motor therefor, a pair of contactors, and means in circuit respectively with said contactors for energizing said motor selectively in opposite directions.

48. In combination, a switch, an operating motor therefor, a pair of c'ontactors, means in circuit respectively with said contactors for energizing said motor selectively in opposite directions, and a third contactor for cutting said energizing means out of circuit.

49. In combination, a switch, an electrical actuating device therefor, a pair of contactors, and means in circuit respectively with said contactors for energizing said device to actuate said switch in opposite directions.

50. In combination, a switch, an electrical actuating device therefor, a pair of contactors, means in circuit respectively with said contactors for energizing said device to actuate said switch in opposite directions, and a third contactor for cutting said energizing means out of circuit.

51. In combination, a switch, an operating motor therefor, solenoids having armatures connected to the field of said motor, contactors, and means wherebyupon the engagement of a collector with said contactors, said armatures may be alternatively connected to ground and current.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

7 ROY VINSON COLLINS.

Witnesses: V

RALANoT GAMMoNs,

/VILLIAM W. HANINGTON.

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