Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct.. 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Nov., 1888
We, JAMES S. TOPPAN, GEORGE B. MARSH and MARSHALL M. S. MARSH,
Gentlemen, of the City of Chicago in the County of Cook, State of Illinois,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention consists of an improvement in a rotary railway track crossing
and it has for its object the improvement of the means by which such a crossing
is operated.
Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,
Fig. 1, is a perspective view in detail,
Fig. 2, a similar view, broken away to show the improvement in detail, and in
placing in a track, and
Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, details.
Referring to the drawings, A, is a rotary track crossing constructed of two heavy
steel or boiler plates a¹, a², fastened together with an angle iron forming one half of a
square. B, B, are heavy iron castings through which the supporting shaft D, passes
and to which it is fastened rigidly. On one face is a straight rail b, and on the other
face a siding rail c.
The shaft revolves in boxes or journals at each end and is supported at all points
underneath the shaft by saddles babbitted the same as the journals, which makes a
solid bearing from end to end, the whole length underneath the crossing, and yet
permits the same to be easily rotated.
The shaft is rotated by means of a chain passed over wheel E, on one end of the
shaft and connected with switch pulleys F, F1, and switch levers G, G¹.
The bearings of the plates forming the crossings and the supporting shaft are
perfectly firm to withstand vertical strains or side thrusts from wheel flanges; but
to guard against possible forcing out of line, a simple lock is provided.
This consists of a T-shaped piece of metal projecting upward from a short shaft I,
journalled on one end of the crossing. The cross arm of the T is held by two

page_text: spiral springs 8, s, against the end of the shaft. The shaft end is deeply recessed
hoth vertically and horizontally and into these recesses the vertical member of the
T-shaped piece is drawn by the action of the springs the moment the crossing is
turned to either one of its two positions. The locking is quick and unfailing in
its action.
To unlock the crossing when it is desired to throw the switch is but the work of a
It is accomplished by the following means:-
moment.
To the lock T, is secured a wire cable L, which runs over pulleys m, m³,
mounted on blocks M, M¹, and back to the switch stand H, where it is passed
over a pulley S, secured to a vertical rod V. This rod V extends up through a
bearings, in the standard s, and the switch stand and terminates in a longitudinal
arm V, constituting a handle.
This handle is adapted to be held within a latch recess v², in the switch stand. The
rod V, is free to move up and down a slight distance, and its lower end extends
through a slight distance below the pulley S. On the upper side of the large switch
pulley F, is secured a lug s2, having a curved upper face.
recess v².
When the crossing is locked the handle V₁, is held out of and above the latch
When it is desired to unlock and turn the crossing the handle V¹, is
given a quarter turn and pushed down or dropped into the latch recess v². By this
movement the lock T is withdrawn from the crossing shaft and held out of it. The
switch is then thrown, and this movement carries the lug 2, on the switch pulley F',
under the end of the rod V, thus lifting the handle V₁, out of the latch, whereupon
the strain upon the lock cable being released the springs pull the lock into the
recessed shaft thus automatically locking it, and at the same time the handle V¹, is
thrown back against the switch lever in position to be operated when the crossing is
to be turned.
D
1
L A
1000
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improveщения Ivaliway
We, JAMES S. TOPPAN, GEORGE B. MARSH and MARSHALL M. S. MARSH,
Gentlemen of the City of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, United
States of America, 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 :—
Our invention consists of an improvement in a rotary railway track crossing
and it has for its object the improvement of the means by which such a crossing
is operated.
Our invention is illustrated in the drawings annexed to our Provisional Specifi-
cation and which Fig. 1 is a perspective view in detail,
Fig. 2 a similar view, broken away to shew the improvement in detail, and in
placing in a track, and
Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, details.
Referring to the drawings, A is a rotary track crossing constructed of two heavy
steel or boiler plates a', a², fastened together with an angle iron forming one half of
a square. B, B, are heavy iron castings through which the supporting shaft D, passes
and to which it is fastened rigidly. On one face is a straight rail b, and on the other
face a siding rail c.
The shaft revolves in boxes or journals at each end and is supported at all points
underneath the shaft by saddles babbitted the same as the journals, which makes a
solid bearing from end to end, the whole length underneath the crossing, and yet
permits the same to be easily rotated.
The shaft is rotated by means of a chain passed over wheel E, on one end of the
shaft and connected with switch pulleys F, F, and switch levers G, G¹.
The bearings of the plates forming the crossing and the supporting shaft are
perfectly firm to withstand vertical strains or side thrusts from wheel flanges; but to
guard against possible forcing out of line, a simple lock is provided.
This consists of a T shaped piece of metal projecting upward from a short shaft I,
journalled on one end of the crossing. The cross arm of the T is held by two spiral
springs s,s, against the end of the shaft. The shaft end is deeply recessed both
vertically and horizontally and into these recesses the vertical member of the
Tshaped piece is drawn by the action of the springs the moment the crossing is
turned to either one of its two positions. The locking is quick and unfailing in its
action.
To unlock the crossing when it is desired to throw the switch is but the work of a
moment. It is accomplished by the following means:-
To the lock T, is secured a wire cable L which runs over pulleys m, m², mounted
on blocks M, M', and back to the switch stand H, where it is passed over a pulley S,
secured to a vertical rod V. This rod V, extends up through a bearing s³, in the
standards, and the switch stand and terminates in a longitudinal arm V' constituting
a handle.

page_text: This handle is adapted to be held within a latch recess v², in the switch stand. The
rod V, is free to move up and down a slight distance, and its lower end extends
through a slight distance below the pulley S. On the upper side of the large switch
pulley F¹, is secured a lug s², having a curved upper face.
When the crossing is locked the handle V₁ is held out of and above the latch
recess. When it is desired to unlock and turn the crossing the handle V¹ is given
a quarter turn and pushed down or dropped into the latch recess v². By this
movement the lock T is withdrawn from the crossing shaft and held out of it. The
switch is then thrown, and this movement carries the lugs on the switch pulley F¹,
under the end of the rod V, thus lifting the handle V₁ out of the latch, whereupon the
strain upon the lock cable being released the springs pull the lock into the recessed
shaft thus automatically locking it, and at the same time the handle V¹ is thrown
back against the switch lever in position to be again operated when the crossing is to
be turned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. A rotary track crossing provided on its face or faces with rails placed respectively
to form a close and continuous connection with the rails of a main or branch track, in
combination with switch lever mechanism for operating the said track crossing and
locking mechanism to automatically lock the crossing in position when turned,
substantially as described.
2. In a rotary track crossing, an automatic locking device, comprising a spring bar
adapted to enter the end of the shaft on which the crossing turns, and connected to
the switch lever in such a way that the act of operating the crossing sets the locking
device free to engage with the track crossing as soon as the latter is in proper position
substantially as described.
3. The automatic locking device for rotary track crossings, constructed arranged.
and operating substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
4. The rotary track crossing, with or without the automatic locking device,
constructed arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to the
drawings.