Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Opening and Closing Barriers for Level Crossings of Railways.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Opening and Closing
Barriers for Level Crossings of Railways.
I, OSKAR PEIN, of No. 10, Viehmarkt, Königsberg, Prussia, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to an apparatus for automatically closing and opening
barriers of level railway crossings by means of the action of a passing train.
I will describe the said invention with reference to the accompanying draw-
ings in which Figs. 1" and 1b shew an arrangement thereof for two barriers,
partly in perspective and partly diagrammatically Fig. 1 shewing the right
hand continuation of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 shews the appliance for actuating the appara-
tus by means of a passing train. B and B are two pivotted barrier beams having
weighted tails WW2 for balancing the leverage of the beams. These are car-
ried on pivots H and H² turning with the barriers in bearings on the posts A', A².
On the pivot His fixed an arc-shaped lever D having a longitudinal slot r. On
cach side of the lever D is situated a sliding piece E and E which are connected
together by pins G₁ and G2 passing through the slot of the lever, so that the
slides can be shifted along into two opposite end positions. Each slide pin
carries a loop and g with cord and weights R' and R.
The upper slide pin G is somewhat extended and is embraced by the forked
arms and of the two-armed lever K rotatably mounted on a pivot on the
post A', so that on the partial rotation of the lever K the lateral slides E¹ E2
are moved either upward or downward along D.
The lower arm of lever K has a slots into which takes a pin d on the lever P
pivotally mounted on a pin 2 on the post A¹.
A double loop q pivoted at e to this lever serves as attachment to two cords o
and p, of which passes over rollers to the arm m of the shaft N having
a lever while cord 1 passes over rollers to the arm m of the shaft N
(Fig. 1) having a lever 7.
When the lever 72 is pressed downwards either by the rim of a carriage wheel
or by a lever F (Fig. 2) provided on the locomotive, of a train running from right
to left on the rails VV, the lever P will be pulled by the cord p', and thereby
the lower arm of lever K will be drawn to the right. This will cause the
weights R and R2 and their slides E and E² to be moved into the position shewn
at Fig. 1, in which position the barrier beam 13 will be brought down into the
closed position.
The train which has closed the barrier now passes the same and on passing
beyond it, it acts upon the lever Z which it depresses in the same way as 7 by
means of a wheel rim or a lever F, and thereby pulls the cord and turning
lever P to the left, as indicated by the arrows.
shifts
Lever K is thereby moved in the same direction, so that the fork
the slides EE and with them the weights R¹R2 to the right, in which position
the weights R R act upon the barrier beam B¹ so as to raise it.

page_text: By the depression of the lever 7 the resulting pull exerted on the cord pl
will cause the lever Z to be raised again, and conversely, by the depression of
lever the lever will be raised again. The barrier beam B₁ also effects the
opening and closing of barrier beam, 12. If the former be closed by lever Z
it will carry 12 down with it by means of the cord passing from the attach-
ment over rollers St and St and under the permanent way to attachment T
while when B is opened by lever it also raises B2 by means of the cord
passing over rollers S2 and S3 and underneath the permanent way to the attach-
ment 13.
The slides E¹ E are advantageously made to engage with their pins G¹ Gº
in notches at the ends of the slot of lever D, when arriving at the end of their
motion, so as to prevent any unintentional shifting thereof.
To a bracket of the post A2 is pivotally attached an air brake cylinder or
dash pot C, the piston rod of which is pivotally attached at a to the beam B².
It can be regulated and serves to control the motion of the barrier beams B' B
so as to render such motion uniform and gradual. If a train advances from the
left hand side of the same line of rails, it will close the barriers by means of a
lever similar to 72 (not shown) and cord 2 in the same way as when coming
from the right and acting on lever 7 and after passing, it will open the barriers
again by means of the lever and cord o².
The levers 77% are fixed to the shafts N N N situated below the perma-
nent way: These shafts may have as many levers Z as there are lines of rails.
The construction of the levers 777 is shewn clearly at Fig. 2; they have
a tumbling arm n turning on the pivot and carrying at its end the axis e of
a broad roller for facilitating the depression of the lever. The tumbling device
is provided in order that those levers that do not require to be actuated may be
rendered inoperative by having their tumbler arm turned over by the train,
passing in the direction of the arrow Fig. 2 the tail of the arm (which also
serves as stop, bearing against lever Z) being weighted so as to automatically
raise the arm again after the train has passed.
Each rod NNN³ has a fixed lever m to which the wire cords o¹², p¹² are
attached and which is consequently actuated by the depression of levers 777
for effecting the above described operations.
The lever Fig. 2 fulfils the same purpose as the wheel rim of a carriage:
it may be used for railways with a single line or with several lines of rails, and
its action is preferable to that of the wheels, because it can be lowered or raised
so as to be thrown in or out of action by a lever on the engine, as may be re-
quired, which cannot be done by means of the wheels. The lever F is made
with a double incline, as shewn, so that it will act whichever way the train is
running.
7
1
P
1
1000
ABEL & IMRAY, ·
Agents for the Applicant.
* Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Opening and Closing
Barriers for Level Crossings of Railways.
I, OSKAR PEIN, of No. 10, Viehmarkt, Königsberg, Prussia, in the Empire of
Germany, Merchant, 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:-
1
This invention relates to. mechanism by means of which railway barriers may

page_text: be automatically opened or closed by an arrangement of weights, pulleys and
wire ropes actuated by the passing train.
The essential difference between the device which forms the subject of this
invention and known devices of a similar kind consists in the special arrange-
ment for displacing the centre of gravity of the weights employed for causing
the barrier to open or close, whereby an easy working, noiseless displacement
of the barrier is effected, thus greatly prolonging the life of the mechanism.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 shews an arrangement with two barriers in accordance with my
invention, the same being represented in perspective and in partial diagram-
matic view.
Figure 1 is. a detail view.
Figure 2 shews the mechanism by means of which the device is operated by
the train, and
Figures 3 to 5 represent diagrammatically the displacement of the weights.
B and B are two barriers each of which is provided upon its shorter end or
arm with a counter weight. W W to balance the weight of the lever or beam.
These barriers are mounted upon axes H₁H² in uprights A A Upon the
axis is rigidly fixed a lever 1, made of shape of an. are of a circle and slotted
in the direction of its length (see Figure 1). Upon each of the lateral faces of
the lever D is mounted a lateral slide EE which slides are connected one with
the other by means of the slide axes GI G, the latter axis being passed through
the slots of the lever D so that they are displaced over this lever in unison.
In addition to this, each of the slide axes is provided with a bow-shaped strap g¹gª
to which is attached a rope g° 9° carrying a weight RR.
The upper slide axis G₁ is slightly prolonged, this prolongation being em-
braced by the two arms of a double armed lever, K rotatably mounted upon
a pin on the upright A¹, in such a manner that upon the rotation of the
lever K the lateral slides E upon the lever D. are caused to move either up-
wards or downwards (see Figures 3 to 5 which clearly shew the mutual engage-
ment of the said parts and the movement of the levers for the two extreme
positions of the barriers and also for, an intermediate position).
to the
When
In the lower arm of the lever K is formed a slots which serves as a guide
for the pin d of a lever P oscillating around a pivot upon the upright A
Upon a pin c on this lever P is mounted a bow-shaped strap q for two ropes o¹¹.
The first of these ropes runs over rollers to the arm m of a rod N which is
also provided with a lever ¹, whilst the rope runs over rollers
arm m of a rod Nwhich is also provided with a lever
the lever 22 is depressed by the flange. of a carriage wheel of a
train travelling upon the rails from right to left or by means
of a special lever F arranged beneath the locomotive of such a train,
(see Figure 2), the lever P is acted upon by means of the rope and the lower
arm of the lever K is thereby withdrawn in a left hand direction, thus causing the
weights RR and their slides to occupy the position represented in
Figure 1, in which the barrier B¹ is closed.
The train, which has now closed the barrier, passes by this latter and eventu-
ally strikes against the lever z which is depressed, in the same manner as the
lever, by means of the wheel flange or by the special lever F; thereupon the
rope o is acted upon, and the top end of the lever P drawn towards the left hand
in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in Figure 1 of the drawing.
The lever follows and its arm pushes the slides E¹² towards the right
hand, thus displacing the weights R R in such a manner as to cause them to
raise the barrier. Upon the depression of the lever z¹ the lever is again raised
by means of the rope p', and inversely, upon the depression of the lever the
lever is again raised.
When the barrier B₁ opens or closes it also causes the barrier B² to correspond-
ingly open or close. If the barrier B' is closed by means of the lever ³, the said

page_text: barrier causes the barrier B to close also by means of the rope ¹ passing from T
over the rollers St S to T, beneath the track; upon being opened by means of
the lever, the barrier B causes the barrier 332 to open also by means of the
rope passing from T2 over the rollers S S to T and carried beneath the track.
According to the position occupied by the lever D, the axes GG of the
slides EE enter recesses formed at the extremities of the slot in order to
prevent them from sliding backwards.
On a bearing u upon the upright A is pivotally mounted an air buffer C which
is attached to the barrier B2 by means of the bearing in a movable manner.
This air buffer is capable of adjustment and serves to produce a uniform dis-
placement of the barriers B B
If the train should approach from the left hand direction upon the same track,
it closes the barriers by means of a lever, not shown, (in the same manner as
that in which this operation is effected upon the right hand side with the lever ²)
and of the rope 7, and opens the said barriers after its passage by means of the
lever and the rope o².
The levers are rigidly mounted upon rods N¹ N³ N³ arranged beneath
the track. Upon the rods may be provided as many levers as there are tracks.
The operation of the levers will be clearly understood by reference to
Figure 2 they are provided with a tilting lever n which pivots upon the axis c
and carries upon its free extremity upon a pin el a broad roller which facili-
tates its depression. The object of this tilting lever is that those levers which
it is not intended should be operative should be tilted over and rendered idle
whilst they automatically become erect owing to the weight of their lower
extremity, which likewise serves as a stop for the lever . Each rod N N N³
is also provided with a fixed lever m to which the wire ropes are attached and
which is displaced upon the displacement of the lever .
The lever F (Figure 2) fulfills the same purpose in the case of lines composed
of a number of tracks as is served by the wheel, flange in the case of lines consist-
ing of one track only. The said lever F may, however also be used in the case
of a single track, and in many ways this is more advantageous as for example
shunting operations in proximity to a barrier, when the lever P may be rendered
inoperative by means of a second lever upon the locomotive actuated by the
driver, whereas when the wheel flange is the operating medium this cannot be
done. The lever F is bow-shaped upon both its sides in order that it may act
in the same manner when the locomotive is travelling either backwards or for-
wards. The levers may be arranged at varying distances from the barriers
and may be operated in different ways in respect to the same; in determining
this arrangement regard should of course be had to the most rapid and the longest
train which will pass over the line, the levers = being placed at suitable dis-
tances from the crossing.
As a notifying device a lamp pivotally mounted upon the upright of the bar-
rier may be employed, such lamp being caused to rotate upon the opening and
closing of the barrier, as is already usual in such cases; when the barrier is open
this lamp shews a white light and when it is closed a red light in the direction
of the crossing. During the closing of the barrier a mechanical bell arranged
upon the same is rendered operative, preferably automatically by means of gear
wheel transmission, in the same manner as in barriers of the known kind.
These two last mentioned known devices are not represented in the drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
Mechanism for automatically opening and closing railway barriers upon the
passage of trains over levers arranged upon the track and acting upon wire
ropes the said mechanism being characterised by the fact that a slide (E¹ E2)
which is submitted to the action of two weights (RR) is displaced in the

page_text: slot (r) of a lever (D) attached to the barrier, by means of levers (PK) acted upon
by the wire ropes, the barrier being caused to open or close owing to the dis-
placement of the centre of gravity so produced.
Tall the 11 T 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.