480

THE AMERICAN ENGINEER

[October, 1895.

545.409, dated August 27, of which he has assigned one—half
to Samuel M. Felton, of Cincinnati. _ _ .

One of the principal objects aimed at in this design is to use
ordinary shapes of I beams, channel bars and plates in its con-
struction, which are a common article of m_erchandise in the
open market, and which can therefore be obtained at lower cost
than special forms could be. _

The side frames 1 of the truck shown consist of I beams
with openings or " jaws” cut into their lower sides to receive
the boxes 2- 2. These openings are then reinforced by angle
bars 3 bent into the form of an inverted letter [1, and which
are riveted to the web of the I beam as shown. The lower
portion of the jaws are then held together by pedestal braces
4 bolted to the lower flanges of the I beam 1. Fig. 11 IS a
transverse section through the transoms and fig. 12 is a hori-
zontal section on the line as 11:. _

The transoms consist of channel bars 10 10, which are fast-
ened to the side frames by angles 11 11, to which they are_ rivet-
ed. These channel bars are braced on their under side by
diagonal braces 12 12, which hold them in position and keep the
truck square. The bolsters consist of a pair of I beams, a
sectional view of which is shown in fig. 11. The springs are
supported by plates 15, which are bent into U shape and are
riveted to the channel bars. The design seems to be an excel-
lent one, and as only ordinary standard shapes are used in its

16'

FIG. 10.

    

2.3
VI. G. 12.
THE MANSFIELD CAR TRUCK.

construction, and as little or no special machinery would be
required for the manufacture, this truck should have the ad-
vantage of cheapness ; and if the cost is lessened and the en-
durance lengthened there it will have the happy collocation of
merits which all are striving to obtain.

ILLUMINATED SEMAPHORE SIGNAL.

Mr. Jacob W. Lattig, of West Bethlehem, Pa.. has patented
a form of illuminated semaphore arm, shown in figs. 13 and
14, which he describes as follows :

“ Extending along the longitudinal centre of the semaphore
arm is a row of incandescent electric lamps, it. These lamps
are secured by their sockets to the semaphore arm, and are
placed preferably at intervals apart of a foot throughout the
length of the blade.

“ The lamp terminals on one side are connected to a wire, 1,
common to all. On the other side each lamp terminal has its
individual wire leading and connected to a stationary brush
pertaining to that lamp terminal alone, there being as many

brushes (numbered 2 to 7, inclusive) as there are lamps. These
brushes are arranged as the stationary contacts of a commu-
tator around a rapidly rotating contact or trailer, 8, which
meets the brushes successively, preferably making contact with
the one in advance just before it quits the one next in rear, to

THE LATTIG ILLUMINATED SEMAPHORE SIGNAL.

prevent arcing at contacts. The rotating contact is intended
to revolve continuously when in action, being driven for this
purpose by any suitable motor, electrical or otherwise. Where
direct currents are employed, I prefer an electrical motor to
run the commutator. Where alternating currents are em-
ployed, I prefer a mechanically operated commutator, the
mechanical motor in the present instance being clock-work
typified by the cord and weight X. The wire 1, by a flexible
cable, 7:, is connected to the wire 9 on the post leading to one
pole of the source of electrical supply, the other pole of which
is connected to the revolving commutator contact disk 8 by
wire 10. There is a similar flexible connection, :1,“ :v9, etc., be-
tween the individual lamp terminal wires and their respective
stationary contact springs or brushes 2, 3, etc. The flexible
connections re a;’ re’, etc., are for the purpose of permitting the
free movement of the semaphore arm on its pivot. A switch,
Y, is provided to make and break the circuit, as desired. When
the circuit is closed at Y and the commutator in action, the
lamps will successively be brought into circuit, one during
each revolution of the commutator disk. The effect upon the
eye of the observer, owing to the rapid rate of the movement
of the trailer 8, will be a streak of light running from end to
end of the semaphore blade intermittently, no matter what
may he the position of the arm, whether inclined or straight.
The light may be white, red, green, or any other color desired.

“The arrangement, while producing the impression of a
continuously moving streak of light, econoniizes current mate-
rially, as the quantity of current consumed will not exceed
materially, if at all, that required to maintain a single constant
light. A light may be placed behind the spectacle glass in
the casting b. if desired, and this light may be made to take its
turn along with the rest by providing suitable commutator con-
nections for it.

“ Under my improvements the same line of lights are ex-
posed to the train at all times, and those lights are not continu-
ous, but intermittent. Not only is there economy in this last
feature, but alsoa new etfect is produced in railway signalling.
The rapid running intermittent streak of light produced by
the rapid mo vement of the trailer contact makes a very much
more distinctive signal and will more readily attract the atten-
tion of the engineer. The signal becomes in effect an auto-
matic flagman, to stop or start a train by movements similar
to those employed by the flagman with his lantern or flag for
the same purpose.”

The patent is dated September 3, and numbered 545,071.