IMPROVEMENTS IN GATES FOR RAILWAY AND SIMILAR CROSSINGS
Year: 1885

page_text: DE BUITICATION,
I PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature
of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GATES FOR RAILWAY AND SIMILAR
CROSSINGS. A communication to me from abroad by the Copeland Manufacturing
Company (Incorporated) of Syracuse, New York in the United States of America
Manufacturers 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 gates designed to be placed at railway and similar
crossings for the purpose of preventing persons from crossing the track in front of
approaching trains The invention is an improvement upon that form of gates
in which pairs of weighted bars are pivoted by the side of the railway (one pair
being on each side) and are provided with mechanism whereby the arms of each
pair are brought down towards each other across the street or road. :
The objects of the invention are, first, to reduce the size of the bars secondly,
to provide improved means for lowering and raising these arms thirdly, to guard
against obstruction of the working mechanism of the gate by the accumulation of
ice; and further to more effectually bar the passage across the railway. The
accompanying drawings illustrate the invention and show the details of the
construction,
In these drawings
Figure 1 shows in perspective the apparatus as complete, and in proper
position.
Figure 2 shows a vertical section through the post, holding the winding drum,
representing the drum in side elevation and the gate bar down with the balance
weight in position nearly or quite over the pivotal point.
Figure 3. is a transverse section through the drum holding post, showing also
the post on the opposite side of the track partly in section, and the connection
between the two.
Figure 4. is a detail sectional view showing the arrangement of the sheaves.
around which the chain fl passes at the base of the post B.
Figs. 5. 6. and 7. are detail views of a modified form of balancing mechaniam

page_text: The gate on each side is composed of a single pair of bars pivoted on posts and
provided with counter-weights adapted to return the bars to an upright position,
when the gate is to be opened. The gates are closed by means of chains or ropes
which are fastened at one end to each of the posts on one side of the carriage or
foot way, and thence pass up to and over sheaves on the upper ends of the bars 5
on that side thence across to, and over sheaves on the upper ends of the bars on
the other side of the carriage or foot way and down therefrom over suitable sheaves
to a drum.
By turning this drum, the chain is wound thereon and draws down the bars
across the way.
The bars are not intended to reach to the middle of the carriage way as the
space between the ends is occupied by the ropes or chains, and thus the whole
passage is barred, and the bars need be only long enough to hold the chains or
ropes when raised to a vertical position at a sufficient height above the way.
Referring to the drawings for further illustration of the details of construction,
the bars are shown at A. A They are four in number as usual, and are placed on
each side of the carriage or railway those of each pair being pivoted so as to tip
towards each other, and in the same vertical plane.
They are made long enough to support the chain at proper height above the way
but need not be longer than the purpose requires.
These bars consist of a cast iron frame a. which forms part of the counterweight,
and of wooden bars b. which support the chain when up, and assist in obstructing
the way when lowered. The frame is made of side pieces 1, pivoted on the base
or post B by means of a bolt 2, and of a cross bolt 3. at the lower end The upper
ends of the frame sides are recessed to receive the ends of the forked bars A, A¹
which are made of light and strong wood and, held in these recesses by bolts.
The frame sides are bent backwards so that the lower part stands in an inclined
position when the bar is in vertical position. A supplemental counterweight E is
mounted upon the lower end of each frame by means of upright arms 4 pivoted on
the cross bolt 3. The upper ends of these arms are connected by a rod on which
is placed the counterweight.
This weight may be composed of iron discs so that the weight may be adjusted
easily to the weight of the bars, and that of the chain or rope.
The arms may be made adjustable and set at any suitable angle.
In the position shown, they act with greatest effect when the bars are near
their vertical position, and with less as the bars approach a horizontal position.
When in the latter position, the weights are nearly over the pivots of the bar
frames and consequently exert very little force, the frame only, acting as a weight.
The chains or ropes which draw down the bars, and form part of the gate, are
shown at f. f¹.
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The chain f. is attached to the post opposite to that having the drum and on the
same side of the railway.
This chain runs up over the sheave O in the upper end of the bar, thence across
to the opposite bar on the same side of the railway, over a sheave in the end of
that bar, and thence downward over a sheave in the post or base of that bar, and
to the winding drum, which is within the base or post. It will be apparent that
by winding the chain' upon the drum the bars will be brought down to or nearly
to, a horizontal position, the chain being drawn in a nearly straight horizontal
line from its point of attachment on one post, to its point of entrance into the
other: The chain itself therefore forms a part of the obstruction, and as shown
in the drawings, the bars are not required to extend all the distance across the
roadway. The main function of the bars is to hold the chain in an elevated
position when the way is to be left clear. The other chain f' is attached to the
post diagonally opposite from that which holds the drum. It runs in the manner
heretofore described to the top of the bar of that post, thence to the top of the
opposite bar on the same side of the railway and downward over sheaves in the
base of the bar. Thence it is conducted in a pipe across to the bar which holds
{

page_text: the drum, to which it is carried over suitable pulleys so that the turning of the
drum draws simultaneously on both the pairs of bars and brings them down to
a closed position.
The posts or bases to which the chains are attached are solid. That through
which the rope or chain f¹ is run is hollow at the base, and has a sheave 7 partially
exposed, to receive the chain which runs over a second sheave 8, and under sheave 18,
and thence to the pipe 9.
The chamber in which these sheaves are located has an opening closed by a
hinged cover 10, so that no water is liable to enter to cause clogging of the chain
in cold weather. The pipe 9 is screwed into this base, and forms water tight
connection therewith and also with the base which holds the drum on the other
side of the railway. Depressions or sinks are formed at the ends of the pipes as
shown at e. e. into which all dirt or frost, which may have accumulated in the pipe
will fall when the chain is drawn through, thus aiding to keep the pipe clear of
obstruction. The pipe may be located just underneath the rails and need not be
covered and as no other connection is required for the conveyance of the power, the
ordinary extension and troublesome excavations are avoided. The base which holds
the drum is made large for that purpose, and the drum 11 is located in the upper
part. The chain f¹ is carried to it by a sheave 12 underneath and in line with
the pipe. The base is covered by a removable cap made to fit over the drum..
A pawl 13 engages with teeth on an overhanging flange 14 on the drum, and a
handle is attached to the shaft of said pawl which shaft projects outside. The drum
has a crank 15 by means of which it is turned. Buffers or stops consisting of plugs
of wood 16 set in short sections of tubing are secured to the posts B at or near
their bases in proper position to arrest the bars when they assume a vertical
position and thus prevent them from vibrating. The frames of the bars are
provided with stopping pieces 17 adapted to impinge against the ribs on the posts B
and arrest the bars, in a horizontal position. The bars stand normally in raised or
open position when they are brought down to close the gate, the attendant turns
the crank and by winding the chains on the drums draws down the bars. Where
they are horizontal or nearly so, they and the connecting chains obstruct the way
and they are held in this position by the pawl or by the hand of the operator until
the gate is to be opened.
This is done by the weights, and is this direction the apparatus is automatic.
Manifestly instead of chains, ropes may be used, or wires in whole or part. In
Figs 5, 6, and 7 a device is represented for dispensing with the weights and levers
should this be desirable or necessary for any reason.
In these figures, the bars are represented as fixed to a shaft having bearings in
the post, and squared between the journals a' to which squared portion d' the ends
of coiled springs D' are secured the outer ends of the springs being carried off.
tangentially and secured to the side of the post at e¹. The drum E¹ to which the
cords are secured in the ordinary manner is in this form placed in the lower part of
the post or casing. A crank K is secured to the shaft of the drum E It will be
obvious that the winding of the drum will wind up the cords and bring the bars
to a horizontal position against the tension of the springs which will re-act to raise
the bars to a vertical position.
Stops 91 91 are provided to act with a tang f¹ on the end of the bar to limit the
movement of said bar.
The other bars and posts are of course arranged in a similar manner when this
construction is to be used,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents and in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1st A gate consisting of bars pivoted on suitable posts, on opposite sides of the
road way, said bars being provided with weight and combined with a rope attached
to one bar passing over a suitable pulley on the other bar and connected to a drum

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whereby the bars are pulled down together, and the rope forms a part of the gate
when the bars are down, substantially as described.
2nd In combination with the pivoted bars adapted when lowered, to obstruct the
road by the side of the railway, the rope connecting them and forming part of the
gate, when the bars are down, the pulley drum for drawing the rope, the bars, and
the rope fattached to the bar A¹ and connected to one of bars A. whereby both
bars A. A¹ are drawn down simultaneously all substantially as described.
3rd The bars pivoted on suitable posts on both sides of the rail road and both
sides of the railway and provided with suitable weights, a drum, rope or ropes
connecting the top of the bars and forming part of the gate when the bars are
down, suitable pulleys, and the passage way for the rope under the track or rails,
said ropes being connected to the drum, all combined substantially as described.
4th In combination with the pivoted bars and the chains attached to the posts
or bases and running across between the ends of said bars, the chambered bases
having sheaves, the pipe connection, and the drum all substantially as described.
5th The cast iron frames pivoted on the bases, and combined with the wooden
bars all substantially as described.
6th The pivoted frames, the bases, and the bars, and the counter weights
supported on arms and arranged to move over the pivotal points, as the bars are
lowered substantially as described.
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