USRE17830E - Switch - Google Patents

Description

wf-G. WEHR SWITCH Original Filed Sept. 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 14, 1930. w. G. wEHR Re. 17,830

SWITCH Original FledSept. 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f l l5 Reissued Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM G. WEHR,'OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE CLEVELAND CRANE & ENGINEERING CO., 0F WICKL-IFFE, OHIO,` A CORPORATION OF OHIO SWITCH Original No. 1,580,546, dated April 13, 1926, Serial No. 58,732, filed September 26, 1925. Application for reissue filed May 26, 1927. Serial No. 194,500.

This invention relates to switches for overhead monorail carrier systems and more particularly to switches of the type in which a pivoted rail section is employed to connect a main line selectively with either a right or a left branch or with a single right or leftv branch only.

In over head carrier installation, switches of the pivoted type are commonly employed at the junction of a main Vline with branch lines to the right and left thereof to permit carriers to pass along the main line or to be deflected to one of the branch lines at the right and left thereof. Other switches of the same type are employed for connecting a main line with a single branch line which may be located either' to the right or left thereof and also for connecting the end of one line to either of two lateral branches. Heretofore it has been necessary to provide different switches for each of the four different connections, i. e., there have been threeway switches kand two-way switches of theY right hand type, of the left hand type and of the Y type.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a single switch of the pivoted type which may be used as a threeway switch, as a right orrleft hand two-way switch, or as a Y switch, lso that when track layouts are changed the switch is adaptable to any'of the four positions. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch of the pivoted type in which Y the end ofthe main track rail is so joined to the end of the pivoted rail section that there is no gap between the adjacent ends of the carrier suppcrting flangesfof the fixed and pivoted rail sections when the switch rail is positioned at an angle to the main rail.

With the above-and other objects in view, the inventionmay be said to comprise the switch asillustrated inthe accompanying drawings hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims, to-

gether with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification. Fig. l is a' top plan View ofthe switch; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; -Figuis afront elevation; and Fig. 4 isa longitudinal section ktaken through the pivoted switch member.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the main track section leading to the switch is indicated by the numeral 1 and the aligned main track section at the opposite end of switch is indicated bythe numeral 2, and the lateral branch tracks leading away from the switch are indicated by the numerals 3 and 4. r["he tracks are monorail tracks each rail being in the form of a T bar, the rail l having a web la and lateral flanges 1"` upon which the carrier wheels run, and the rails 2, 3 and 4 being4 of the same cross section as rail 1 Vhaving webs 2, 3a and 4a, and lateral flanges 2", 3b and 4b.

The switch ias a rigid supporting frame which is substantially triangular in shape and has converging side bars 5 and 6 which are secured together at the apex of the frame, the frame being supported at the apex by means of a suspension rod or bolt 7 and the end of the rail l being supported from the apex of the frame by means of a hanger 8 rigidly secured to the under side 'of the frame. and 6 are connected by an arcuate angle bar 9 which has an inwardly extending horizontal flange 10 and a vertical flange l1. 'Three spaced rail hangers l2 `are rigidly secured to the under side of the bar 9 and supportvthe ends of the rails 2, 3 and 4 leading away from the switch, each hanger l2 being connected to the lower end of asuspension rod 13,. The switch supporting frame is supported by the 'susoensipn rod 7 at one end and by the three suspension rods 13 at the opposite end and The opposite ends of the side'bars 5A also supports the ends of all the rails leading to and from the switch.

A pivoted switch member is mounted upon the triangular supporting frame and this switch mernbercomprises anupper supporting y `bar 14 and a rail section 15, which is rigidly secured to the upper bar and lies beneath the same in the plane of the fixed track ralls. The

switch member is pivoted adjacent the apex 'of the supporting frame andthe yfree end f thereof is slidablysupported upon the arcuate angiebar 9 the free end of the upper bar 14 vbeing slidably upon` the inwardlyextendmg fla-nge ofthe arcuate bar. .The rail section 15 is suspendedadjacent the free end there-"` ofby a hanger 16` which is rigidly secured to@ y the under side ofthe upper bar 14. At the ltaxis of the switch member; 1 .is cut to substantially the same curvature oppositecendof the rail jsection a vertical" plvotpost lisrlgldlysecured,tothe top there- .20.

of and 4this pivot posteXtends through and is rotatable in a fixed horizontal plate 18 secured to the hanger 8 and a horizontal plate 19 secured'to the under sides of the side bars 5 and (y of the frame `adj acent the apex thereof.

Theinnerend of the upper bar 14 rests upon the top ofthe plate 19 andthe post 1T extends `throughthe end of the bar 14 and-is provided witha-nut 20` at `its upper end by means of. which the pivot post andthe rail section to which it is rigidly attached are supported.`

The switch section swingsA about the post 17 @as pivot and the `free endfthereof maybe "moved along the supportingbar 9to position `the lrail sect-101115 inahgnment with any one of the rails 2, 310124 leading rfrom the switch.

I The pivot post 17, as will be readily seen in 'Figs'. 1 and 2, is positioned a short distance `from the end of the rail section 1 and adjacent the end-of the railsection 15 whichjis cut upon an arcthe center of which is at the pivotal The rail section so that the convex end of the rail section 15 fitsinto the concave end of the rail 1, and, since the contiguousend faces are concentric with their' center'of curvature `at the pivotal axis about which the rail section `15 swings,

thetlanges 1b of the rail land k15"` ofthe rail section 15 will alwaysbe contiguous to each otl'i'er'regardlessof the angle atwhich the rail section 15 is positioned with respect to the fixed rail 1,` and carriers will pass `smoothly from the fixed raily to the switch 'raildnany position of adjustment of the switchrail. n

At its free end',.the upper bar 14 of the piv` ot'ed switch member, carriesa latch bolt 23 vwhich extends longitudinally of the. bar 14 a'ndfjs slidably mounted in a, casing.` secured upontheupper side of the bar.' 'The latch boltv normally projects beyond the i end fthe bar `14 and is pressed outwardly by a coil springf interposed between the rear yend of casing and the bolt. f The outer end 27of they bolt 23 is reduced and tapered to enter apertures 28 in vertical flange 11 of the bar 9. The apertures 28 are located one directly above each of the three rails 2, 3 and 4, and when the latch bolt 23 engages in one ofy these apertures, the rail section 15 is locked inalignment with one of the outgoing rails. The bolt 23 has attached thereto a transverse abutment bar 29 which projects laterally to opposite sides of the bolt and is movable upon the top surface ofthe casing 24,

"thebar 29 being attached to a` lug 29 fixed to the bolt andv projecting through a slot 30 inthetop ofthe casingt.` Aleverl `is v'mounted toswing upon vertical pivot 32 "upon the top of 'casing' 24"'forwardly of the yabutment bar 29, and this lever has a widened inner end which bears against the abutment bar 29, the ,widenedv inner; end of the lever providing actuating projections 33 upon opposite sides of pivot 32 so that `when the lever "31 is rocked in eitherdirection the latch bolt cured tothe tops ofthe side bars 5 and 6 andl extend outwardly and v 'downwardly therefrom. The free'jends of'the'cablesffi vhang vertically from the'chan'nel guides 35 and have handles 36 attached to their lower ends. f

By pulling downwardly uponl one `or the other of the cahier-134, the lever 31 is` rocked upon `its pivot to push the latch bolt 23 to retracted position freeing the pivotal switch member fromthe supporting bar 9 and after the bolt l'j is released further pull will shift the switch member about its pivot towardv the side of the supporting` frame from which the operating ` cable 3,4, which is being pulled, hangs. The

switch member maythus loe released and swung to the right or left by pulling upon the operating cable which hangs from the right or left side of the supporting frame The? switch may he used as a three-'way switch leading to the three outgoing rails 2,

3 and 4as shown 1n Fig; 1, orany one of the three rails may be omitted and the switch may be usedas a right'hand', aleftY hand or a Y switch, dependingon the rail whichis omitted! lin order to;` adapt the switch toy be Y used as yatwo-way right or lefthand switch, means is provided for limiting the movement of the pivoted switch member sothat therail "15 aligns with-the two outgoing rails when in its `-ez tremepos1t1ons on they arcuate sup- "Q25 portirngbar.9.l The horizontalffl'ange 10 of `ther supporting bar `9is providedwlth vfou-r apertures37 which are adapted to receiveremovable stop members 38'which are engaged by, and limit` the movement ofthe upper bar` the rail 15 is in alignment with the rails o and 4. If the switch is to be'used as a twoway right'hand switch, thestop member 38y at the left hand end of the supporting bar 9 is moved to the aperture 37 immediately to the left of the center rail 2 so that the switch member be permitted to move from a position in alignment with the rail 2 to position in alignment with the rail 3. If the switchvis to be used as a left hand two-way switch,`the stop member 88 at the right hand end of supporting bar 9 will be moved to the intermediate aperture immediately gto the right of center rail 2, permitting the switch member to be moved from a position in alignment with the rail 2 to a position in alignment with rail 4. If the switch is to be vused as a Y switch, the center rail 2 will be omitted and the central aperture 28 in the vertical flange 11 of the supporting bar will be closed by a suitable plug so that the switch member will p not be locked in the intermediate position.

In order to prevent carriers from running off the ends of the two rails connected to the supporting bar 9 which are not in alignment with the rail section 15 of the switch, the upper bar 14 of the switch member has rigidly attached thereto a pair of oppositely extended blocking arms 39 which'have downwardly and outwardly curved inner end portions 40 and horizontal end portions 41 which extend in front of the ends of the rails to either side of the switch member, the curved or arched portions 40' of the' arms providing suflicient clearance upon opposite sides of the rail section 15 to permit carriers to pass over the rail section 15 beneath the arms. When the rail section 15 is in the central position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the horizontal portions 41 of the arms 39 lie immediately in front of the open ends of the rails 3 and 4. When the switch is shifted to extreme left or right hand position, the arm 39 extending to the left or right, as the case may be, blocks both the rails to the left or right of the switch member. In order to rigidly support the arms 39 and withstand the impact of carriers against the arms, the outer ends of the arms are connected by rigid braces 42 with the support bar 14.

Having described my invention, claim is:

1. A switch for overhead tracks of the monorail type comprising a rigid substantially triangular supporting frame having converging side bars secured together at one end and anarcuate angle bar connecting the opposite ends, said bar having a vertical ange and an inwardly extending horizontal flange, a hanger for a fixed rail secured to the apex what I of the triangular frame, a plurality of hangers for fixed rails secured to the arcuate bar, a movable switch member mounted on the fixed supporting frame, said switch member comprising an upper bar pivoted at one end to the supporting frame adjacentv the apex thereof and having its opposite end slidably supported on the horizontal flange of the arcuate bar, a rail section beneath the upper bar and rigidly secured thereto, and a latch carried by said upper bar and engageable with the vertical flange Aof the arcuate bar to hold the switch member in different angular positions on the supporting frame.

V2. A switch for overhead tracks of the monorail type comprising a rigid substantially triangular supporting frame having converging side bars secured together at one end and an .arcuate bar connecting the opposite ends, a depending rail hanger rigidly secured to the apex of the supporting'frame, a plurality of rail hangers rigidly secured to the arcuate bar, a movable switch member comprising an'upper bar and a rail supported beneath the upper bar, a hanger rigidly connecting the upper bar and rail section at one end, and a pivot post rigidly connected to the opposite end of the rail section and extending upwardly therefrom, a plate connecting the converging bars of the supporting framev and a seco-nd plate beneath'the first and rigidly secured to the hanger fixed to the apex of the supporting frame, said upper bar resting upon the first mentioned plate andsaid pivot post passing Vthrough said platesand -said upper bar.

monorail type comprising a rigid substantially triangular supporting frame having converging side bars secured together at one end and an arcuate bar connecting the opposite ends, a ydepending rail hanger rigidly secured to the apex of the supporting frame, a plurality of rail hangers rigidly secured to the arcuate bar, a movable switch member comprising an upper bar and a rai] supported beneath the upper-bar, and means adjacent the apex of thesupporting frame for pivotally supporting said switch member, said upper bar of the switclrmember having Iits free end slidably supported on said arcuate bar, a spring latch carried by said upper bar and engageable with the arcuate bar to hold the switchmember in y plurality of laterally spaced track rails hav-fi said guard member to the saidcross member.

8. "In afswitch` `for suspended track 1n combination, ftvvo supporting membersl spaced apart .horizontally'y fromk each other-,fla cross j member supported on one member and slidfable'. onthe other member, amovabletrack "section beneath' the cross member, `and brackets connecting the cross memberand track section, one of tliesaid brackets being jpivotally joined to avfxed track.

T l WILLIAM Gr'.` VEHR.

curing the switch member in positionsfink y which the rail section bridges the space between the irst mentioned track rail andone of the laterally spacedtrack rails, and adjust- I lable stop members on thev arcuate bar in ther path of movement of theupper'ba-r of: the' .angular movement thereof.

the switch member.`

5. A switch comprising a supporting fra-me switch member forlimi'ting` the movement of lhaving an arcuatebar at one end provided with spaced apertures, afswitch member pivoted to theiframe 'and having free'end slidf y 'able onsaid arcuate bar, and stoppins adapted tolbe secured in anyof the apertures fof the arcuate bar solas to"projectintoY the path of Y movement of saidiswitch member to limit the j `6. 'A switch* comprising a supportingframe with a series'of spaced latch receiving aperttures and a secondaperture adjacent certain i of the latch receiving apertures, a switch` having` an arcuate bar., at one"I end provided member pivoted atone end* of 'the framea'nd. having,r its opposite end slidableuponxsaid j' arcuate bar, :a latchv carriedbythesvvitch member andadapted to engage anyone of the f latch receiving apertures of the bar to lock the switchrmember in itsfdift'erent positions, and a pin adapted to be detachably secured iny any one of the apertures adj acenta latch receiving aperture soas to project into the path of movement of" said jsvvitchmember to limit f the movement of said direction. y 1 7 In a switch for suspended traclrin comswitch member in either vbination, vtwo supporting members spaced aparthorizontally` from eachl other,Y a cross 'member supported byand spanning space y betWeenf-the'said spaced members, aI movable f i track section connected toand disposed bes neatliV the` said vcross member in position to span the 'spacebetvveenastationary traclandv j i any onev 'of a-plurality'of oppositel'y disposed` stationary tracks, and'trackguard means car riedby the said cross memberin position to obstruct tracks out of alignment Witli'thesaid *i movable track section, the said' track' guard means including a guard member disposed transversely of the said cross memberjin` guarding position With respect `to a stationary track, and a brace member extending from the

Images