Improvements in "Switch Throwers" for Steering Electric Tramcars and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in "Switch Throwers" for Steering Electric Tramcars
and the like.
I, OSCAR WARD, Junior, of New Canton, County of Pike, and State of Missouri,
in the United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in "Switch Throwers," and it consists
in the novel combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more
particularly described and pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings, Fig. 1, is a side elevation of my complete invention as applied
to the platform of a car, Fig. 2, is a front view of the same, and Fig. 3, is a
bottom plan view thereof.
The object of my invention is to construct a simple and effective switch thrower
which may be readily attached and carried by the platform of an ordinary street
car and in convenient reach of the motor-man or operator whereby the throwing
of the switch to direct the direction of the car is greatly facilitated and without the
necessity of stopping the car.
Briefly stated the invention consists of a shaft located below the platform of the
car and journalled thereto, a foot lever in movable connection with said shaft
and located slightly above the floor of the platform, a spring for holding said foot
lever in an elevated position, a thrower which cooperates with the ordinary
switch forming a part of the track and hinged to one end of the shaft, a hand
lever pivotted to the dash board of the platform and projecting through the plat-
form, and suitable connection between said thrower and lever.
Referring to the drawings, 1, represents the platform of an ordinary street car
and 2, the dash board of the same. To the lower or under surface of the platform 1;
is secured two bearings 3, which loosely receive a short shaft 4, one end of which pro-
jects a suitable distance from one of said bearings and is flattened and received by
the fork end 5, of the horizontal member 6, of the switch thrower 7 a pin S, being:
passed through said flattened end of the shaft and fork forming a hinged con-
nection. To the outer free end of the horizontal member of the switch thrower
is rigidly secured or formed with the same a depending wedge shaped extension 9,
which co-operates with the switch. Secured to the dash board 2, of the platform
is a fork 10, to which is hinged the medial portion of a hand lever 11. the lower
end of which extends through an opening in the platform and a suitable distance
below the same. To the lower end of the lever 11, is movably secured one end
of a connecting rod 12, the opposite end thereof being attached to the depending
wedge shaped extension of the switch thrower. Secured to the shaft 4 and located
between the bearings for the same is a fork 13, to which is movably secured the
lower end of a vertical rod 14, the latter passing loosely through an opening
formed in the platform of the car and its upper end similarly connected to the
medial portion of the foot lever 15, one end of which is loosely hinged to a bear-
ing 16, secured to the dash board of the platform. Encircling the rod 14, and

page_text: interposed between the foot lever 15 and upper surface of the floor of the platform
is a coiled spring 17, which operates to hold said lever in an elevated position
when not in use.
When the device is not in use the wedge shaped end of the switch thrower is
in an elevated position or out of contact with the track, but should it be desired
to throw the switch the foot lever 15, is depressed causing the wedge shaped
end of the switch thrower to be lowered and brought in contact with the track,
or in a position to co-operate with the switch, after which the hand lever 11, is
operated which gives the switch thrower a lateral movement and in consequence
throw the switch in the direction desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what
I claim is:
A switch thrower comprising a shaft journalled to the platform of the car to
which the said thrower is hinged, a rod passing through said platform, one end
of which is movably attached to said shaft, a foot lever, one end of which is
hinged to the platform and to which the said rod is movably secured, a coiled
spring encircling said rod and interposed between said lever and said platform,
a hand lever hinged to the dash board, and a connecting rod attached to the said
thrower and lower end of said hand lever, substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of February 1899.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
.
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.