Patent GB-190220502-A (GB)
Title: Improved Means for Operating Rail and Conductor Points from the Vehicle on Electric and other Tramways and the like.
Inventor: GOORD CHARLES GEORGE
Filed: 1902-09-19
Granted: 1903-09-17
Abstract: 20,502. Goord, C. G. Sept. 19. Electric railways and tramways; points and switches.-Relates to means for operating rail and conductor points from the vehicle on electric and other tramways and the like. The point tongue is normally held so that the left track is always clear, the car being fitted with means for moving the tongue to open the right track and also with means for again closing the tongue. The car is fitted with a shoe h, i for releasing the mechanism operating the point w and with a roller carried by a spring lever for returning the point. The shoe h, i is carried by a lever g connected to a rack f which is acted on by a spring j and is engaged by a pinion d and locked by a detent b engaging a cam e. The box containing the operating-mechanism is fixed to the rail, the groove of which is deepened to receive a lever 14 and the projection on a cam y fixed to a pinion 1 engaging a rack 2 acted on by a spring 3. When the shoe h, i is lowered into the rail groove, by releasing the detent b by means of the handle a, the cam y and pinion 1 are rotated, and the rack 2 is moved against the pressure of the spring 3 to release a plate 4, which is then moved over by the action of a spring 5 and operates the point tongue w through the spring rod 6, 7. The plate 4 also moves a rack 8 which rotates a pinion 9 and raises the hinged cover 12, Fig. 9, of the box 38 through the action of a second vertical rack 11. The movement of the rack 8 also closes a spring switch 13 which completes an electric circuit for operating the overhead conductor points. The roller carried by the car depresses the cover 12 as it moves forward, and thus returns the point and the parts of the operating-mechanism to their original position, the point being fully returned, after the car has passed, by the action of the compressed spring 6. The lever 14 pivoted in the rail groove returns the shoe h, i to its inoperative position where it is again held by the detent b ; the shoe may also be raised by a hand-wheel l fixed on the spindle of the pinion. The point w moves in a case v, Fig. 6, which is recessed at the side x to receive any stones &c. which may fall into the tram-line groove, and would obstruct the movement of the point. In a modification shown in Figs. 17 and 19, both boxes are placed on one side of the rail, and the operating-shoe is depressed by means of a foot-lever. The poiut tongue w is moved by means of a recessed block 7 sliding within the rack 8 and acted on by a spring 6 ; the rack is itself moved by a spring 5. A retaining- bolt 2 actuated from the cam y through a crank and connecting-rod, normally retains the rack against the pressure of the spring 5 by engaging a notch 65, and thus keeps the left track always clear. The rack 8 is returned by the action of the rear roller m on the hinged cover 12 of the box 38. The roller m is carried by a lever o the rear arm of which is connected by a spring bolt q to a crank arm 53 mounted on the lever pivot and connected by a link 55 to the nut s by which the roller may be adjusted. The overhead conductor points are operated through an electromagnet 26, Figs. 21 and 22, which is energized when the movement of the rack 8 completes the electric circuit. The conductors are connected to arms 16, 17, 18 on a base 15, and contact pieces or strips 23, 24 for connecting the arm 16 to either of the arms 17, 18, are carried by a drum 39 which is rotated slightly, to bring either strip into position, by the action of the electromagnet. A weight or spring 25 on one end of the drum always tends to keep the strip 23 in position to connect the arm 16 to the arm 17. When the electromagnet is energized, the drum is slightly rotated through a pivoted armature 28 and linkage 46, 44, 45, and 47 to bring the strip 24 into position to connect the arm 16 to the arm 18. A. pivoted and weighted catch holds the drum in this position until it is released by the action of the trolley wheel passing over it.