IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO A COMBINED RAILROAD SIGNAL AND CROSSING GATE
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst P.A. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and
323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO A
COMBINED RAILROAD SIGNAL AND CROSSING GATE," (a communication from abroad
by George A. Reynolds of Utica, in the State of New York, United States of
America Inventor) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention is an improvement upon the rail-road signal and crossing-gate,
forming the subject matter of patent No 12441 of 16th day of September 1884.
In said patent is shown a swinging gate or bar, that is mounted on a supporting
post or column, and is raised and lowered by the action of a sliding weight or
collar, that encircles the upper part of said column, and is combined with devices
for raising the weight by an approaching train, and releasing the same by a
departing train.
In the present invention, there is made provision for perfectly protecting from
the weather the devices that operate the gate or signal, there being as few exposed
parts as possible, and a weight and cord and pulley mechanism provided which is
enclosed within the column or post that supports the gate, and signalling devices.
The function of said interior weight is to elevate the exterior weight that
encircles the column or post, so as to effect a lowering of the gate or bar, and
guard the approaches to the rail-road track. The interior weight operates in a
frame or shell, and is held in an elevated position by a retaining device that is
connected with a treadle or spring supported bar, arranged alongside the track rail
at the side from whence the train is approaching.
This retaining device is released at the proper time, before the train reaches the
crossing, and the weight then descends and brings the gate into a horizontal
position, through the intervention of the devices that act directly upon said gate.
After the train has departed from the crossing, it brings into action devices for
restoring the interior weight to its original or elevated position, in which position

page_text: it is held by the aforesaid retaining device, all as will be hereinafter more fully
described and set forth in the claim.
In the drawing—
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved rail-road crossing gate and
signal, the parts being shown in position when the gate is guarding the approaches
to the track.
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the gate in a raised position, and the
interior operating mechanism ready to be tripped for lowering the gate.
Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the sliding weight operating inside the hollow
column.
Fig. 5 is a detail view of a retaining device for said sliding weight, that is
released by an approaching train to-trip the weight.
Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of another form of retaining device for the
sliding weight that operates inside the hollow column.
The reference numeral 1 designates a vertical column or post, the lower or base
portion of which is made considerably larger in diameter than the upper portion.
The column is made tubular or hollow throughout its entire length and is designed
to enclose the operating devices hereinafter referred to.
The upper reduced portion of the column is encircled by a collar 2, that is
capable of sliding vertically and rotating on said column, and its object is to carry
and properly display or bring into service an indicator vane or semaphore signal 3.
The collar 2 is caused to slide in an upward direction by the elevation of a
hollow weight + that encircles the column 1 beneath said columa 2. The rotary
movement of the latter is effected by a pin thereon that travels in a spiral groove
in the column. A bracket ŏ rising from an exterior ledge of the column 1 serves
as the support for a swinging or rising and falling gate 26, and said bracket may
also bear a gong or bell 6 that is sounded when the gate is descending.
The gate is guided in its movement by a curved slotted arın 7 and is made long
enough to extend across the road leading to the track.
Within the hollow base of the column 1 is fitted or arranged a vertical frame 8
that may consist of a cylindrical shell having top and botton plates or flanges.
This frame receives a vertically sliding weight 9, which has ribs 10 that fit in
grooves or ways made in the frame 8.
The lower end of the weight has a projection 11 which descends, or fits into a
socket constituting an air cushioning device for breaking the fall of the weight.
A cord or chain 13 connected with the top of the weight 9 passes in an upward
direction and runs over a pulley 14 journalled in a bracket or arm 15 within the
upper portion of the column, and from thence said cord passes to a lug or eye 16
on the exterior sliding weight 4 to which it is secured.
This lug or eye 16 projects through and travels in a vertical slot 17 made in the
column 1.
A second cord or chain 18 is attached to the top of the weight 9, and runs over
a pulley 19 journalled in the top of the frame 8, and from thence it passes over a
guide pulley 20 on the interior of the hollow base of the column, through an
opening in the latter.
This cord or chain 18 is connected with devices that lead to a treadle or spring
bar, arranged alongside the track-rail at some point beyond the crossing, so that
when the train is departing therefrom it will depress the treadle draw up the cord
or chain and elevate the weight 9, into the position shown in figure 2.
When the weight is thus elevated it is engaged by the rod 21 that plays through
the base of the column and the interior frame 8 and is held beneath the weight by
& spring 22 that encircles said rod. Its inner end bears a roller 27 that is adapted
to enter a vertical groove 28 made in the weight 9 so as to allow said weight to
move past the rod 21 with as little friction as possible.
The rod 21 is connected by means of a rod or chain with a treadle device or
spring bar, arranged at a suitable distance from the crossing alongside one of the
track rails, so as to be depressed or actuated by an approaching train.

page_text: When this is done the rod 21 is released from the weight 9, and the latter is free
to descend to the bottom of the frame 8 so as to raise the exterior sliding weight
through the medium of the connecting cord or chain.
This operation results in closing or lowering the gate as will be readily under-
stood. It should be observed that the withdrawal of the weight retaining device
by an approaching train will cause said weight to be tripped instantaneously and
the gate is thus closed in a most positive manner.
In figure 6 is shown a modified form of the weight 9, that is, it has a spring
pressed bolt 23 which bears a bevelled nose piece 24 that is normally projected into
the vertical groove in the weight.
The rod 21 is also bevelled reversely to the nose of the bolt 23, so that when the
weight is raised said nose can glide past the rod 21 after which its spring projects
the nose of the bolt under the rod 21 to hold the weight in an elevated position.
A horizontal hole 29 is made in the weight 9, for the reception of the spring
bolt, and at the end of said hole is an offset or recess 25 for receiving the nose
piece when it is in a retracted position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
First. The combination with a vertical post or column having a chamber or
recess, an exterior encircling weight or collar on the upper portion of said post, a
swinging gate adapted to be engaged by said weight, a weight adapted to be moved
vertically in said chamber or recess, pulleys and cord or chain guided thereby,
located in the post or column and connecting the interior weight to the encircling
weight, a retaining and tripping device in said chamber or recess for releasing and
retaining said interior weight by approaching and departing trains, substantially
as set forth.
Second. A hollow column or post having an interior frame in its base portion, a
weight fitted to slide in said frame, and a retaining or tripping device, in combi-
nation with devices for raising said weight, a swinging gate, and a sliding collar or
exterior weight, alapted to operate said gate and connected with the interior
weight, substantially as herein set forth.
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