Improvements in and relating to Railway and Tramway Switches, . and Mechanism for Operating same.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Railway and Tramway Switches, .
and Mechanism for Operating same.
1, WILLIAM DENNIS MURPHY, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at 106 West Third Street, South Boston, in the County of Suffolk and
State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Compositor, 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 certain new and useful improvements in railway and
tramway switches, and it has for its objects among others to provide a simple and
cheap construction of switch and operating mechanism, adapted to be operated
from the car by the foot of the motorman, whereby both hands may be free to
handle the brake and motor cranks or operating devices.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the
novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with
the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in
which,
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improvement.
Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section through the dash-board of a car..
Figure 4 is a sectional detail, and
Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several views.
Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the car,
adapted to be propelled in any suitable way, by electricity or otherwise, and
mounted upon the end thereof upon the dash-board, or other fixed part, are the
vertically reciprocatory arms or rods B and C, movable in suitable guides b
and c, and at their lower ends provided with shoes or feet D, while between their
ends are the laterally projecting portions E, which work through slots in his dash-
board and are adapted to receive the foot of the motorman, so that when his foot
is placed upon either one of these the shoe is forced down into the path of the
switch brake and the switch actuated, a suitable 'spring F being provided to return
the rod to its normal position when pressure is removed from the foot lever. G is
a switch lever pivotally mounted between the tracks, as at g, within a recess G₁
in the roadway, and having the armis or portions H in which the shoes D are
adapted to engage when the latter are pressed downward sufficiently to travel in
the path thereof. This switch plate has its end pivotally connected as at h with
the rod I, which in turn is connected with the switch J. On the under side of the
switch plate J is a spring K which serves to keep said switch-plate in its opened
or closed position, when adjusted.
With the parts constructed and arranged substantially as above described, the
operation will be apparent. Normally both of the rods B and C are, in their
uppermost position, where they are held by the spring. When the car approaches
a switch, all that it is necessary to do is for the motorman to place his foot upon
the foot lever of the rod B or C, according to the direction in which the switch-
plate is to be turned, and when the car approaches the switch-plate the shoe of the

page_text: depressed rod engages in one of the hooks H thereof, and turns it on its pivot so
as to actuate the switch, and the car passes on. When pressure of the motorman's
foot is removed from the foot lever the spring returus the rod to its uppermost
position, leaving the switch in its adjusted position, when it is ready to be actuated
by the next car going in the opposite direction.
The advantages of such a construction will be apparent and will be appreciated
by those familiar with this class of devices.
Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of
the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.
If desired, the switch can be arranged so as to be worked from the cab of the
steam engine, the same being placed under the cow-catcher, any suitable mechanism,
such as a crank and connections being provided for the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with the switch and the pivoted switch-plate connected
therewith, of the vertically movable rod carried by the car and provided with a
shoe and a foot lever, substantially as specified.
2. The combination with the switch and the pivoted switch-plate connected
therewith, of the vertically movable rod carried by the car and provided with a
shoe, and a foot lever, and a spring acting on the rod to normally hold it in its
uppermost position, substantially as specified.
3. The combination with the switch and the pivoted switch-plate connected
therewith, of the vertically movable rod carried by the car and provided with a
shoe and a foot lever, and a spring acting on the rod to normally hold it in its
uppermost position, said switch plate being provided with oppositely disposed hooks,
substantially as specified.
4. The combination with the car and the independently movable, vertically
disposed rods provided with shoes and foot levers, and the springs acting upon the
same to normally hold them in their uppermost position, of the switch plate pivoted
between the tracks and having oppositely disposed arms, the switch pivotally
mounted, and the rod pivotally connected with said switch and with the switch-
plate, substantially as specified.
Dated this 9th day of June 1896.
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.