US1705828A - Snubbing device - Google Patents

Description

March ,19, 1929. w, SEARL'ES l1,705,828

l i SNUBBING DEVICE Filed March 15, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet l l 'y V billiges s i@ l INVENToR. :I mw W SEARLES,

l ATTQRNEY.

March 1".;J .392% L W. SEARLS SNUBBING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l5. 1928 I yf/wv WT ,5E/WM5,

ATTORNEY.

March '19, 1929. l.. w. sEARLnz-:s

' SNUBBING DEVICE Filed March 15, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 i INVENTOR. L//V/V W SEARLES,

` TToR/vmf,

March 19, 1929.

L.. w. sEVARLEs SNUBBI NG DEVICE Filed March 15, 1928 6.Sheets-Shee1:v 5

Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES A 1,705,828 PATENT OFFICE. l

III/NN W. SEARLES, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

` sNUBBiNe DEvIcE.

. Application led March 15, 1928. Serial- No. 261,864.

tioned character, which will automatically re turn the road arm of the gate to the normal position, after being shifted laterally, and

when the load is removed therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatusof the above mentioned character, embodying an anchor element having a plurality of prongs, so arranged and associated with a support or housing that the anchor element will be automatically adjusted to bring o'ne of the prongs to an uppermost vertical position, when the anchor element is i returned to the normal starting position.

A vfurther object 0f the invention is to provide a snubbingdevice of. the above mentioned-character, which is automatic and reliable in operation. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a snubbing device of the above mentioned character embodying an anchor element so lconstructed that the road arm of the gate, when lowered,'may rest upon the anchor element without locking engagement therewith, to permit of the raising of the road aim, such locking engagement automatically occurring when the road arm is shifted laterally. `Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. i v

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, i

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a snubbing device embodying my invention, the same being associated with a railway crossing gate,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, Figure 3 is an enlarged plan View ofthe snubbing device,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same, Figure 5-.is a rear end elevation of the snubbmg device,

Figure 6- is a front end elevation of the same, g

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertjicalsection taken on line 7 '-7 of Figure 3,

Figure 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8-.8 of Figure 4,

Figure 9 is a transverse section taken on `line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a similar view taken online 10Q-10 of Figure 8,

Figure 11 is a similar view taken on line 11-11 of Figure 8, and

Figure 12 is a detailed section taken on line 12-12 of Figure 8..

. In the drawings, whereln for the purpose of'illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 15 designates the body portion or road arm of a gate, which body portion is capable of swinging both vertically and horizontally. The gate is preferably of the construction shown and described in the co-pending application of Charles H. Gage and Arthur E. Searles, Serial No. 133,152, liled September 2, 1926, for railway gate. The body or road arm portion 15 is formed of an integral or continuous metal rod, bent upon itself between its ends, into a generally U-shaped form.

This rod t-hus bent provides a pair of main side rods 16, connected at 'their free ends by a loop 17. The rod 15 is preferably formed of piano wire steel.

The numeral 18 designates a vertically swinging support or block, arranged at the opposite end of the bodyportion 15. This support or block is rigidly mounted upon a horizontal rockshaft 19, ournaled in stationarybearings 2Q. The shaft 19 may be turned by any suitable means, for raising and lowering the gate. Pivoted upon the vertically swinging support 18 is a horizontally swinging block 21, pivoted thereto by means lof a pin 22. IThe rear ends of the rods 16 are anchored or rigidly attached to the block 21. Attached to the block 21', forwardly of the pivot 22, is a shifting pin 27, engaged by leafsprings 33. attached to a Vportion of the support 18. These leaf-springs serve to return the body portion 15 of the gate to the normal se, is thought to be necessary.

The snubbing device embodies a housing or frame 35, including sides 36,'yconnected by a top portion 37. This housing or frame may bein the form of. a casting. As more clearly shown in Figures 4 and 8, the numerals 38 and 39 designate bearings, which are substantially identical. .These bearings carry flanges 40 and 41. The bearings 38 and 39 are each square in cross section and are -substantially identical. These bearings are, therefore, nonrotatable and are held within openings 42,.which are also square in cross section, and these openings are formed in the sides 36. The bearings 38 and 39 Vare held in place by plates 43, attached to the sides 36 by bolts 44.

The numeral designates a. stationary non-rotatable shaft, having an intermediate cylindrical portion 46, and end portions 47 and 48, which are square in cross section, and held within the bearings 38 and A39, whereby the shaft can not rotate, and it is also incapable of moving longitudinally perceptibly. The cylindrical intermediate portion '46 has its outer or free end ,screwthreaded, as shown at 49, and-the diameter of the turns of the: screw-threads are slightly smaller than the diameter of the unscreW-threaded portion of the cylindrical portion 46. The numeral 50 designates a drum, including a hub 51, which is rotatable upon the cylindrical portion 46, and has its bore smooth and free from screw-threaded engagement with the screw-threads 49. The hub 51, see more particularly Figure 9, is provided in its outer face With a recess 52, which is square in crossv section, and receives a traveling nut 53, engaging upon the screwthreads 49. As the hub 51 is rotated, it turns the traveling nut 53, and this traveling nut will shift the hub 51 longitudinally upon the shaft 45.

A friction clutch device is provided for coaction with the drum 50 and the same includes a non-rotatable friction disc 54, having a hub 55, Figure 10, 4andfthe bore of this hub is square in cross section, to slidably receive the square endl ortion 48 of the stationary shaft. Theftp fore, can not rotate upon the end portion 48 but may move "longitudinally .of theV same.,

- .The friction clutch device. embodies a col actingfriction disc'56whichfis rotatably l'but when the drumis ,turned inthe reverse direction, to rewind the cable, the pawl will trip over the ratchet teeth, and the friction disc 56 will remain stationary. The drum 50 1s provlded with an internal annular flange riction disc 54, there#v is the ,initier end of the'spiing 77 inwardly for' ,the

62, having an annular groove or raceway 63, vformed` therein, co-actmg with the annular groove or raceway 64, formed in the friction disc 54, receiving bearing balls 65. It Y1s thus seen that the friction between` the nonthe cable, without liability of the drinn sticlring or locking.

Resilient means are provided to effect the proper frictional engagement between the friction discs 54 and 56, and this resilient means includes a cylindrical keeper or holder 66, having a hub 67, provided with a bore 68, Figure 11, which is square in cross `seetion, to receive the outer portion 69 of the hib 55, which outer portion is exteriorly square in cross section. Hence, the keeper or holder 66-may slide longitudinally upon the hub 55, but can not turn thereon. The keeper 66 is provided .with recesses 70, receiving compressible coil springs 71, of suitable stiffness, and any suitable number of these springs may be used. These springs project outwardly beyond the inner ends of the recesses 70, and engage a ring 73, the inner edge of which is provided with an opening square in cross section to engage with the portion 69 of the hub 55, which portion is square in cross section. The ring 73 is, therefore, non-rotatable with the carrier 66 and is capable of moving longitudinally upon the hub 55. A This ring simply serves as a. cap for the springs 71, A

so that they do not directly engage the frictiondisc 565 When thel friction disc 56 is formed of steel, I would preferablyV form the ring 73 of copper or bronze for reducing the friction between these parts. A ring unut 74 is arranged Within a recess or notch 75,

, formed in the flange 41, and has screw-threaded engagement with the flange,- at 76, and this ring nut bears against the keeper 66, and by suitable rotation of the ring nut, the keeper 66 -nay be advanced toward the friction disc 56,

thereby permanently adjusting the-tension of the springs 71.

- Mounted within the drum 50 is a torsional coilspring 77 one-end of which is anchored to the;;.pylindrical portion 46 of the shaft 45, as i' "ly shown in Figure 12. This ate'ected by bending preferably producing a hook 78, which hookengages bcneath thelip 79, formed in. the shaft. VThe hookV is -held in place, by a block 80, secured to the shaft by a screw 81. The opposite end of the spring is suitably attached to the peri.

amm o is shifted longitudinally, which movement is ordinarily relatively slight, the

spring 77 will flex laterally sufficiently, to permit of (this operation.

The drum has its periphery grooved, as

lshown at 82, and the cable 83 is wound upon is attached to an anchor element 86..

The anchor element embodies a shank 87, having a bore 88, receiving the end of the cable 83, held in the bore by a lead casting or filling 89, as is well known.' The shank 87 is cylindrical. The free end of the shank is tapered at 89, Formed integral with the outer or free end of the shank is a head 90, having three connecting elements or prongs 91, arranged in a triangular group, the same being equi-distantly spaced. Each prong 90 has an .undercut portion or recess 92 and an inclined face92. T he shank 87 is adapted to slide within a tubular guide socket 93, the bore ofwhieh is cylindrical, to receive the shank.l The forward end of the top 37 0f thc housing is shown at 94, and this portion is curved in a vertical plane, both longitudinally and transversely. As a result of this arrangement, the prong or prongs, when first brought into engagement with the end portion 9.4 will automatically adjust the anchor element, turning the same upon its longitudinal axis, so that one prong will always be in an u permost vertical position,when the shank 8 has completed its movement into the guidelsocket 93. The loop 17 of the body portion or road arm 15 is adapted to engage over and behind the verticall arranged prong 91, being guided toward tie same by the inclined surface 92 of the socket 93, if necessary.

The inclined face 92 may also serve to guide the loopa17 to its resting position on the shank 87 ,if it should descend slightly laterally displaced due to the iiexing of the body portion or roa arm 15. When the arm is thus in the lowered position, with the loop 17 resting upon the shank 87, saidloop is in alinement with the recess 92, but out of the same. This permits the road arm to be raised, without locking with the prong 91. However, when the arm 15 is shifted laterally, as when struck by a vehicle, the loop 17 enters the recess 92, and the loop is locked tothe anchor element.` y

Thesnubbing device has lits longitudinal axis arranged dlagonally with relation tothe longitudinal axis of the road arm 15, which will permit the cable topayrout with the minimum lateralfriction between the engaging parts. The operation of the apparatus. is as fo lows:

When the body portion or road off the loop- 17 is arranged behind the upstanding vertical prong 91. If the bod )ortion 15 of thegate should now be struckI by an approaching vehicle, it will swing horizontally in the direction of travel of they vehicle. The lateral pull upon the loop 17 will be transmitted to the cable 83, causing the drum 50 to rotate in the direction to pay out the cable. At the beginning ofthis paying'out rotation, the same is opposed by the friction clutch device embodying the friction discs 54 and 56 and as this paying out rotation continues, the friction clutch device offers a progressively increasing resistance to the paying out rfotation ofthe druml This increase in resistance is caused by the rotation of the nut 53 by the, hub 51, the nut 53 traveling inwardly upon the portion 46 of the stationary shaft 45, shifting the drum 50 in the samedirection. This longitudinal shifting of -the drum is transmitted to the friction disc 54, through the medium of the bearing balls and associated elements, whereby the friction disc 54 is urged against the friction disc 56, whichin turn is urged against the springs 71, whereby the extent of frictional, engagement between the frictional discs 54 and 56 is increased.

The bodyportion 15 will thus yield laterally is removed from the body portion or road` arm 15, the .spring 77 will automatically rotate the drum 50 in areverse direction, the pawl 59, then trip ing over the ratchet teeth 58, both friction 4discs 54 and 56 being then stationary. Upon this return rotation of the drum, `the bearing balls 65'produc'e the least frictional engagement between the drum 50, and the friction disc 54, whereby the spring 77 will at all times be' capable of returning the drum. Upon the reverse rotation of the drum and its hub 51, the nut 53 will rotate and travel in a reverse direction, thus progressively reducing the extent of friction'al enga ement betweeil the friction discs 5,4 and. f course, the bodvl'po'rtion or road arm A.

56. 15 of the gate is raise and lowered by any suitable means, and the loop 17 will 'readily pass from behind the Iprong 91, during this operation.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, lis to be taken yas a -preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size ahd arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

the gate is ir the closed or lowered position claim Having thus described my invention, I-4

lao l 1. In a snubbing device, a rotatable member, a flexible element carried thereby, a friction clutch device having connection with the rotatable member in a manner to oppose its rotation in a direction to pay out the flexible element and to render the member free to iotate in an opposite direction Without being opposed by said friction clutch device, and means to progressively regulate the action of the friction clutch device including a traveling nut rotated by said rotatable member.

2. 1n a snubbing device, a shaft, a rotatable member mounted upon the shaft, a iiexible element, carried by the rotatable member, a clutch device, pavvl and ratchet means connecting'the clutch device with the rotatable member so that the clutch device will opposey the rotation of said member in a direction to pay out the iiexible element,means for exert-` ing increasing pressure upon the friction clutch device including a traveling nut having screw-threaded engagement upon the shaft, and rotated by the rotatable member.

3. In a snubbing device, a shaft, means for supporting the, shaft and holding the same against rotation, a drum rotatable upon the shaft, a flexible element carried by the drum, a spring-arranged within the drum and attached to the shaft and to the drum, 4a friction clutch device carried by the shaft and including a rotatable friction clutch disc and a non-rotatable friction clutch disc, pawl and ratchet means eonnectingthe rotatable friction clutch disc With the drum, means for applying increasing pressure to the friction' clutch device including a traveling nut having screw-threaded engagement With said shaft, and rotated by the drum.

'4. In a snubbing device, a shaft, means for supporting the shaft and holding the same against rotation, a drum rotatable upon the shaft, a flexible element carried by the drum, a spring arranged within the drum and attached to the shaft and drum, a friction clutch device carried by the shaft and including a rotatable friction clutch disc and a nonrotatable friction clutch disc, anti-friction means arranged between parts of the drum and the non-rotatable friction clutch disc, pawl and ratchet means connecting the rotatable friction clutch disc and drum, and means for applying increasing pressure to the friction clutch device including a traveling nut having screw-threaded engagement with the shaft and rotated by the drum.

5. In a snubbing device, a shaft, means for supporting the shaft and holding the same against rotation, a drum rotatable upon the shaft, a spring Within. the drum and con:

nected with the shaft and drum, a flexible element carried by the drum, a friction clutch device mounted upon the shaft and including a non-rotatable friction clu'tehdisc and a rotatable friction clutch disc, said drum and friction clutch disc being shiftable longitudinally of the shaft, pavvl aiid ratchet means connecting the rotatable friction clutch disc and drum, resilient means engaging the'friction clutch device and adapted to apply ini creasing pressure to the same When the friction clutch device is shifted longitudinally of the shaft toward the same, means whereby the friction clutch device is shifted longitudinally by the longitudinal movement of the drum, and a traveling nut having screwthreaded engagement with the shaft and driven by the drum and serving to shift the drum longitudinally of the shaft in one direction. l

6. In a snubbing device, a shaft having an intermediate cylindrical portion and end portions Which are polygonal in cross section, a support receiving said end portions to hold the vshaft against rot-ation, a drum having a hub rotatable upon the intermediate cylindrical portion of the shaft, said hub having a polygonal opening and the hub being shift.

able longitudinally of said shaft, a traveling nut having screw-threaded engagement With the shaft and arranged Withinl the recess S0 that'the nut is turned by the shaft and effec'tsl the longitudinal movement of the drum in onedirecion, a spring arranged Within the drum and connected with the shaft and with the drum, a flexible element carried by the drum, a nonrotatable friction clutch dise having a hub provided with a. bore which is polyg` onal in cross section to receive the adjacent end portion of the shaft, the last named hub having a cylindrical portion and a portion which is polygonal in cross section, a rotatable friction clutch disc mounted upon the last named cylindrical hub portionl and engaging the non-rotatable friction clutch disc, paWl and ratchet means connecting the rotatable friction clutch disc and the drum, the hub of the non-rotatable friction clutch disc being shiftable longitudinally of the shaft, a carrier mounted upon the last named polygonal hub portion, springs mounted upon the carrier and exerting pressureupon the friction clutch discs; and a non-rotatable ring interposed between thevsprings and the friction clutch device and having a part engaging the last named polygonall hub portion.

7. The combination with a crossing gateincluding a movable road arm provided at 4'its end with a loop, of a snubbing device for coaction with said arm, including a support positioned near the path of travel of the free end of the arm, an anchor element guided in its movement upon said support and embody- Iing a shank and a prong providing a recess at its rear, the arrangement being such that p isp flexible element connected with the anchor, and paying-outmeans mounted upon the support and connected with the ilexible element. v 8. In a snubbing device, a support provided near its top with a generally horizontal guide socket, said support having its face forwardly of the guide socket inclined vertically inv longitudinal and transverse sections, an anchor element embodying a shank to ente;1 the guide socket and three prongs carried by the shank and arranged in a triangular group, said prongs being adapted to engage with the inclined faces of the support when the shank is moved toward and into the guide socket whereby one of the prongs automatically assumes an upper vertical position, a flexible element secured to the shank, `and winding means carried by the support and connected with the flexible element.

9. The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying an arm capable of. swinging vertically and horizontally, of a snubbing device for co-action therewith, including a support, an attaching element mounted upon the support and movable with relation theretoV and adapted -for detachable engagement with the free end portion of the arm, a rotatable member mounted upon the support,A a flexible element wound upon the rotatable member and connected with the attaching element, and means to oEer increasing resistance to the rotation of the rotatable member in a direction to pay out the .flexible element.

10. The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying an arm capable of swinging vertically and horizontally, of a snubbing device for co-action therewith, including a support, an attaching element mounted upon the support and movable with relation thereto and adapted for detachable engagement 'with tlfe free end portion of the arma rotatablefmember mounted upon the support,

a flexible element wound 'upon' the rotatable A member and connected with the attaching element, .means te offer increasing resistance lto therotation offithe rotatable member in a. direction to pay out the 'flexible element,- and means tdrotate the rotatable membe in a reverse direction to wind the flexible -ele ment thereon.

11. The combination with a railway cross ing gate embodying an arm,l capable-of swinging -vertieally and horizontal vof -a snubbing device for. co-action therewith, including a support, an \fattaching element mounted upon the support andmovablewtl relation thereto and adapted..v for detachable engagement with the free-end portion of the arm,

a rotatable-member mounted uponrth'e support, a flexible element wound upon the rotatable member and connected withthe attaching element, a friction clutch device, and

,pawl and ratchet means connecting the fric- `tiomclutch device with the rotatable member..

12. The combination with a railwa crossing gate embodying an arm capable o swin ing vertically and horizontally, of a snu ybing device for co-action therewith, including a support, an attaching element mounted upon the support and movable with relation thereto and adapted for detachable engagement with the free end portion of the arm, a rotatab member mounted upon the support, a iiexible element wound upon the rotatable member and connected with the attaching element, a friction clutch device, pawl and ratchet means connecting the friction clutch device with the rotatable member, and means to rotate the rotatable member in one direction with relation to the friction clutch device.v

13. The combination with a railwa crossing gate embodying an arm capable o swinging vertically and horizontally, of a snubbing device for co-action with the arm, said snubbing device embodying an attaching element, means whereby the arm is locked to the attaching element when shifted hori-` zontally and the arm being free from connection with the attaching element to move upwardly when it is in the normal transverse position, a rotatable drum carried by the support, a flexible element wound upon the drum and connected with the attaching element and means to oppose the rotation of the drum in a direction to pay out the flexible element. e 14S. The combination with a railway crossing gate, embodying an arm ca able of swinging vertica ly and horizonta ly,- said v100 armhaving a loop near its free end, of a snubbing device arranged for co-action with the loop of said arm, said snubbing device including a support, an attaching element having an upstanding part to enter the loop,

the arrangement being such that the upstanding 4part when the arm is shifted horizontally with the upstanding part ,within said p, a iiexible ent connected with the ttaching elemen nd winding means conv ted with the, bleA element and adapted o offer a resista v to the paying out of the Mflexible element.

. 15. The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying an arm adapted to swing vertically and horizontally, of a snubbing device `for co-action with the arm, said snubbing device embodying a support,-an attach-gif?? ing element carrled by the support and movable with relation thereto, means Wherebythe attaching element may have detachable locking engagement with the arm, and

friction clutch means to oppose the movement of the attaching element.

l16. The combination with a railway cross- 13o y. ing gate embodying an arm adapted to swing vertically and horizontally, of a snubbing device for co-action therewith comprising a support having a socket, of an attaching element movable into and out of the socket,

'means whereby the attaching element may have detachable locking engagement with the arm, and eans to oppose the movement of the attachin l,element out of the socket.

17, The combination with a railway crossing gate embod ing an arm adapted to swing horizontally, o a snubbing device for co-action therewith including a support having a socket, an attaching element movable longitudinally within the socket, means for eli-'ectingl a detachable engagement between the attaching element and arm, aiiexible element secured to the attaching elementiand means to oppose the paying out of the iexible element. I

18. In a snubbing device, a rotatable member, a exible element carried bythe rotatable member, a friction clutch device, pawlv and ratchet means connecting the friction clutch device with the rotatable member so .that the friction clutch device will oppose the rotation of said member in a direction to pay out the iexible' element, means for exerting increasing pressure upon the friction clutch device including a traveling nut rotated by said rotatable member, anda spring to turn the rotatable member in a direction to wind the flexible element thereon.

19. The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying a road armcapable of swinging vertically and horizontally, of a l snubbing device for co-action therewith, in-

' cluding a support, an attaching element mounted upon the support andmovable with relation thereto, and adapted for detachable interlocking engagement with the road arm, a :flexible element connected with the attaching element, and means to control the paying out movement of the flexible element by oieringresistance to such paying out movement.

20. The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying a road`arm capable of I by` offering resistance to such paying out movement.

2l.' The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying a road arm capable of swinging vertically and horizontally, a snubbing device for co-action therewith, includ-` ing a support, an attaching element mounted upon'the support and movable with relation thereto, and adapted for detachable interlocking engagement lwith the road arm, a"

flexible element connected with the attaching clement, a movable member engaging the flexible element for controlling its paying out movement, and means for odering resistance to the movement of said member in one direc-v tion.

22. The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying a road arm capable of swinging vertically and horizontally, a snubbing device for co-action therewith, including a support, an' attaching element mounted upon the support and movable generallyl in the directionol:l traiic approaching the road arm and adapted for detachable interlocking engagement with the road arm, and means to control the movement of the attaching element in one direction by offering resistance to such movement( i In testimony whereof I aHX my signature.

LINNv W. SEARLES.y

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