US614915A - Cattle-guard gate for railways - Google Patents

Description

Patented Nov. 29,1393;-

J. WILHE LM. CATTLE GUARD GATE FOR BAILWAYS.

( AppIication filed. Mar. 16, 1398.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH \VILHELM, OF IVHEATON, MINNESOTA.

CATTLE-GUARD GATE FOR RAlLWAYS.

SPECIFICATION fbrming part of Letters Patent No. 614,915, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filed March 1 6, 1 89 8.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH WILHELM, residing at Wheaton, in the county of Traverse and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cattle Guard Gates for Railways, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to train-operated and self-closing gates for cattle-guards for railways.

The object of the invention is to produce a gate which will close by gravity and will be opened by approaching trains by the weight of the wheels pressing on a suitable treadpiece, which serves to lift the gate or gates by mechanism hereinafter described.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a gate and connections and so much of a railway-track as is needful to show the general relation of parts. Fig. 2 is a perspective of one rail,

showing a portion of the tread, rock-shaft,

and connections to the rail. Fig. 3 is a cross section showing rail, tread-piece, rock-shaft, and connections. Fig. at is a similar section showing rail in difierent position.

A indicates one rail of a railway, of usual construction. This rail has holes through its vertical web, and loops or eyebolts B are passed through the holes and secured by nuts B, the eye or loop 13 resting against the outer side of the rail. Two or more of these loops B form the bearing for a rockshaft'O, which rock-shaft lies substantially under the headof the rail and is free to rock in its bearings.

The rock-shaft C may be of considerable length, and as it lies close to the rail and may have as many bearings as desirable it need not be very heavy. The loops or bearings B may be simple coils in a threaded metallic bolt or rod, and the end B? of this rod after passing around the rock-shaft projects in the opposite direction to form a means for securing the guard or covering piece herein-' after referred to. A screw-ended rod with nuts at both ends and a turn or', loop in its center is a cheap and convenient means for holding the rock-shaft and its shield to the rail.

At convenient distances along the rockshaft 0 there are fixed sleeves E or other suit- Serial No. 674,007. (No model.)

able means for holding rigid arms F to the rock-shaft. These arms F are actually leverarms and are connected by pivoted links G to the tread-piece H, which lies alongside the head, of the rail. The links G may be bent to secure adjustment of parts. The treadpiece H is supported on the upper ends of these links G, so as to be close to the head of the track, and in its normal position the central portion of the tread-piece His above the top of the rai1,-while the ends of the piece H are inclined, so that a wheel rolling on the track will first encounter the inclined portion of the tread-piece H and by passing along the track will depress the tread-piece H, and by reason of the described connection by links and lever-arms this depression of tread-piece H will rock the shaft 0. Both ends of treadpiece H are inclined, so that a train passing in either direction along track A will depress piece H and rock shaft 0. The longer piece H is made the longer may be the inclines nearits ends and the slower may be the rocking of shaft 0 by a train moving along the track and serving to depress piece H.

The rock-shaft O has a rigid lever-arm I projecting away from the track. The rocking of shaft 0 swings the arm I in an arc. Arm or lever I is connected by a link K with the short arm L of a lever,,which lever has its-fulcrum on a post M, and its long arm extends across the track and bears a gate 0,

preferably of wire or light framework. The

swinging of arm I downward by a Weight on tread-piece H, as has been explained, draws on link K and the short arm of lever L, and this swings up the long arm of lever Land the gate, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1. The weight of parts can be so proportioned that this movement is easily effected, but the gate should somewhat overbalance, so that it will drop to the closed position (shown in full lines, Fig. 1) as soon as the weight of the wheel or train shall have passed off from tread-piece H; or, if desirable, springs may be connected to act instead of weight for closing the gate, such a use of springs being common.

To cover and protect the mechanism, a guard-strip -D, of wood or metal, may be connected to the rails by the outer ends B of the loops B or the guard may be otherwise supported. This guard-piece D may have a slot or opening for 1he passage of arm. I, so as not to interfere with the operation of the working parts.

From the foregoing description it is thought the construction and operation of this device will be readily understood. The approaching train bears down on tread-piece H, which works shaft 0, which, through the connections described, swings up the gate. As long as weight rests on the piece II the gate stays up, and it closes and restores piece II to normal position as soon as the weight is removedthat is, when the train has passed off piece H. The piece can be long enough to secure easy movement and ample time for movement.

YVhat I claim is- 1. In a railway guard-gate, the combination with the track-rail, of a rock-shaft supported thereon and having rigid arms, a treadpiece alongside the track and connected to the arms of the rock-shaft, a lever rigid with the rock-shaft, and a gate supported on a pivot alongside the track, and connected to the lever of the rock-shaft, all combined substantially as described.

2. In a railway-gate, the combination with a track-rail, of a rock-shaft alongside the rail, under the head and supported in bearing eyes having extensions through the web, arms on said rock-shaft, links connecting said arms said gate by the depression of the tread-piece,

all substantially as described.

3. In a railway-gate, the combination, with the track-rail, of the rods each having a central loop as a bearing for a rock-shaft, the retaining-nut at one side of the rail, the shield or guard held to place by nuts on the looped rods at the other side of the rail, and the rockshaft and connections whereby the gate is operated, all combined substantially as described.

4. In a railway cattle-guard gate, the rockshaft in bearings secured to a rail, said shaft having rigid arms, the tread-piece alongside of said rock-shaft and connected by links to the rigid arms of the shaft, the ends of said tread-piece being inclined and its centralportion extending normally above the track, and a lever-arm connected to said rock-shaft and connected by a link to the short arm of a piv otally-supported gate, all combined substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH \VILlIELllI.

\Vitnesses:

T. K. MoRK, L. P. DEAL.

Images