An Improved Method of Manipulating Switches for Railway and other Purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Manipulating Switches for Railway and
other Purposes.
A communication from DANIEL BOLAND, of 10 Avenue, corner 29 Street, New
York, in the United States of America, Gentleman.
I, JOHN BOLAND, of Farnastack, Liselton Cross, in the County of Kerry,
Ireland, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manipulation of switches for railroads, tramways,
electric cars, and such like, and has for its object to provide means whereby a
switch-point may be turned in the desired direction through the medium of levers
or their equivalents located beneath the car, said levers being capable of
manipulation so as to throw the switch in either direction in advance of the car,
tram, or train as the case may be.
In carrying out my invention I propose to arrange between the rails of the track,
and at a suitable distance from the switch to be operated, two platforms which
when closed fill suitable apertures or openings in the surface between the rails.
These platforms are hinged to the surface at their inner edges, their outer edges
being free to drop downward within a conduit or chamber located beneath the
track. This downward movement of the platforms is limited by suitable stops
arranged beneath them.
Each platform at its outer or free end is connected by a link with an essentially
crescent-shaped lever attached at its centre to a shaft, which shaft extends longi-
tudinally within the conduit or chamber, and carries at its free end a system of
levers which are connected with the switch-point on the track surface, whereby
the said system of levers when properly acted upon by pressure brought to bear
upon either of the platforms, will move the switch-point, and throw it in engagement
with a rail of the main track, or a rail of the siding as may be desired, it being
understood that a fixed point is arranged at the opposite side of the track to the
movable point.
The switch throwing device herein described being adapted especially for use
upon street car tracks is intended to be operated from the car, before said car
reaches the switch, and the switch throwing mechanism attached to the car may be
of any approved construction, but preferably consists of an arm located beneath the
car, preferably at the platform, which arm is capable of being raised or lowered,
and when lowered is adapted to engage at its lower or free end with one of the .
platforms and depress saine.
To avoid friction a roller is introduced at the free end of the arm, which is
normally held in its lower position through the medium of a spring, and may be
raised by a rope or chain connected therewith, and with a brake stem, so that when
the latter is permitted to turn, the spring acts to force the arm downwards, and
this operation is performed when the car is in such position that the arm will strike
one of the platforms forcing same downwards, and thus raising the other platform,
and simultaneously throwing the switch-point in a position to carry the car
upon a siding, or permit it to travel upon the main track, the position which the
switch-point will assume being regulated by the position of the platform to be
operated upon.
Darad the 2nd day of November 1893
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9, Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Method of Manipulating Switches for Railway and
other Purposes.
A communication from DANIEL BOLAND, of 10 Avenue, corner 29 Street, New
York, in the United States of America, Gentleman.
I, JOHN BOLAND, of Farnastack, Liselton Cross, in the County of Kerry,
Ireland, Farmer, 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 :-
This invention relates to the manipulation of switches for railroads, tramways,
electric cars, and such like, and has for its object to provide means whereby a
switch may be turned in the desired direction through the medium of levers, or
their equivalents, located beneath the car, said levers being capable of manipulation
so as to throw the switch in either direction in advance of the car, tram, or train as
the case may be.
In carrying out my invention, I propose to arrange between the rails of the
track, and at a suitable distance from the switch to be operated, two platforms
which when closed fill suitable openings in the surface between the rails. These
platforms are hinged at their inner edges, their outer edges being free to drop
downwards within a conduit or chamber located beneath the track. This downward
movement is limited by suitable stops arranged beneath.
Each platform at its outer or free edge is connected by a link with a crescent-
shaped lever attached at its centre to a shaft, which shaft extends longitudinally
within the conduit or chamber, and carries at its free end a system of lovers which
when acted upon by pressure, upon either of the platforms will move the switch
point and throw it in engagement with a rail of the main track, or a rail of the
siding as may be desired, it being understood that a fixed point is arranged at the
opposite side of the track, to the movable point.
The switch throwing device herein described being adapted especially for use
upon street car tracks, is intended to be operated from the car before said car
reaches the switch, and the switch throwing mechanism may be of any approved
construction, but preferably consists of an arm located beneath the car capable of
being raised or lowered and when lowered to engage with and depress one of the
platforms.
1
To avoid friction a roller is introduced at the free end of the arm, which may be
raised by a rope or chain connected with a brake stem, so that when the latter is
turned, the arm will be pressed downwards, and this operation is intended to be
performed when the car is in such a position that the arm will strike one of the
platforms, forcing same downwards, and simultaneously throwing the switch point
in a position to carry the car upon a siding, or upon the main track; the position
which the switch point will assume being regulated by the position of the platform
to be operated upon.
In order that my said invention may be more readily understood, I will describe
the accompanying drawings
:-
Fig. 1, is a vertical section taken between the rails of a track, illustrating the
operative mechanism of the switch in side elevation, and the means employed for
manipulating the same;
Fig. 2, is a plan view of the track shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the space
between the rails of the track being broken away.
Fig. 3, is a transverse section taken through the conduit in front of the shifting
lever; and Fig. 4, is a transverse section taken at the other end of the conduit.
Between the rails at a suitable distance from the switch A to be operated are
the two platforms 1 and 2, hinged on their inner edge, and which when closed fill

page_text: the apertures in which they work. Their downward movement is limited by the
stops 3, arranged beneath. Each platform is connected by a link 4 with the ends
of the crescent-shaped lever 5 which is attached to the longitudinal shaft 6, which
is journaled by the horizontal supporting bar 7 at one end, and at the opposite end
in a like supporting bar 8 located at a predetermined distance from the former
named and corresponding bar 7.
Near the brace bar 8, another bar 9, is located, and through this bar, the
longitudinal shaft 6 passes (Fig. 4).
Upon one face of the bar in question (9) the switch lever 10 is fulcrumed, and
has its lower end connected by a link 11, with a crank arm 12, keyed upon the
shaft 6. The upper end of this switch lever 10, is connected with the movable
switch point A, whereby the said lever 10, when properly acted upon by pressure
brought to bear on either of the platforms 1 or 2, will carry the switch point A, in
the direction of, or throw it in engagement with a rail of the main track, or of the
siding as may be desired.
The switch throwing mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 1, which shows portion of
a street car moving from left to right. 13, is an arm hinged underneath the car
which when lowered engages at its free end with one of the platforms depressing
same. This arm may be held in its lower position by the spring 14, and may be
raised by rope or chain 15, operated by the brake stem 16.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it
understood that what I claim is :-
First. In a switch operating device, the combination with a switch rail, of
platforms hinged at one edge a shaft below the platforms, a curved lever secured
to the shaft, links connecting the ends of the said lever with the platforms, a
pivoted lever having one end connected with the switch rail, and a connection
between the said pivoted lever, and shaft, substantially as described.
Second. In a switch operating device, the combination with a switch rail, of
platforms, a crescent-shaped lever, links pivoted at the ends of the lever, and to
the platforms, substantially as herein described and set forth.
Dated the 3rd day of August 1894.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9, Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.