US804952A - Railroad-switch. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

0. W. HUNDL EY.

RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17,1905,

TEE

UNITED STATES PATENT FFIOE.

CHARLES W. HUNDLEY, OF IRVINE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LEONARD A. WVEST, OF IRVINE, KENTUCKY.

- RAILROAD-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Nov. 21, 1905.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OHARLEs W. HUNDLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Irvine, in the county of Estill and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switches for railways, and has for its main object the provision of simple means whereby cars may be run through the locked switch without derailment of the car or the breaking of the switch-points.

Further objects of the invention are, first, to provide a cheap and efiicient means for protecting the operating-springs and so arrange the same as to reduce to a minimum any possibility of the parts comprising the switch becoming deranged or broken; second,

to provide a construction wherein the points of the switch will not stand open from the main or stock rail should the main or stock rails spread from the switch-points; third, to so construct and arrange the switch that if the same is thrown to the main or side track it will work without bending or breaking the switch -points; fourth, to so construct the switch as to do away with the plurality of rods, bolts, and goosenecks and so arranged that the one rod performs the function of several; fifth, to so arrange the different parts of the switch that after the cars have passed through the switch the points of the same readjust themselves automatically to their proper position.

The invention consists of the novel constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like characters are used to refer to like parts throughout the several figures, Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is anenlarged sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 2.

1 and 1 designate the main rails; 2, the rails of the side track.

8 s are the usual ties for supporting the rails, and 3 and 3 designate the switch-points, which are removable toward and from the main rails, being preferably pivoted, as indicated at 4. A casing 5, having upwardlyprojecting flanges 6 6 at opposite ends, is rigidly secured. to the webs of the switch-points by bolts 7, passing through the webs and flanges. A downwardly-extending abutment 8 is provided on the casing about midway the length thereof. Said abutment8is apertured, as indicated at 9, through which aperture passes a switch-rod 10, supported in suitable bearings 11 11, one of the ends of the switch- .rod being connected to a switch-lever 12, pivoted on a switch-stand 13, by means of which lever 12 the switch-points are moved and locked in one position or another.

The switch-rod is provided with shoulders or abutments 1 1 and 15, which may be of any desired form. As shown in the drawings, shoulder 14 consists of an annular casting integral with the rod 10, while shoulder 15 is shown in the form of a washer secured from longitudinal movement by a pin 16.

Coiled springs 17 and 18 are placed around the switch-rod 10 between the abutment 8 and the shoulders 17 and 15, one of which springs is always under compression, while the other is under no tension.

As indicated in the drawings, the switchlever 12 has been thrown to move the switchpoint 3 into contact with the main rail 1", thus placing the coiled spring 18 under tension. It is clear that in this position of the parts the main track is closed and the side track open; but cars coming from the direction indicated by arrow (4 on the main track may pass freely, the'flanges on the car-wheels wedging between the rails 1 and switch-point 3 and moving the switch-point 3 against the tension of the spring 18. As soon as the switch-point 3 has been released spring 18 immediately returns it to its former position. In the same way when the side track is closed cars may nevertheless move from the side track to the main track.

WhileI have herein described one means of eifecting my invention, it can be seen that other and similar means may be readily suggested for accomplishing the same purpose and operating in the same manner as mine without a departure from the invention herein disclosed.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A switch mechanism comprising main rails, movable switch-points, a movable switchrod for controlling the position of the switchpoints relative to the main rails, a movable casing secured to both of the switch-points and having a downwardly-extending abutment, an aperture in said abutment through Which the switch-rod passes, collars on the switch-rod, and yielding means between said collars and said abutment to hold the switchpoints yieldingly against the main rails.

2. A switch mechanism comprising main rails, pivoted switch-points adapted to be moved into and out of contact therewith, a

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