GB899086A - Improved railway control system - Google Patents

Abstract

899,086. Railway control systems. PATERSON, F. C. March 10, 1960 [March 11, 1959], No. 8348/59. Class 105. In a railway control system, the motive power to a train is supplied under the control of a relay 18 mounted in the train and energized by respective members of two groups of conductors 1, 2 disposed along the railway line; the supply of electricity to the conductors being controlled by train operated switch means. One conductor of each group 1, 2 is provided in each section of the railway line; and each conductor of group 1 is electrically connected to the conductor 2 lying in the next-but-one succeeding section. Each train carries a shorting member 17 to connect the conductor 2, in the section through which the train is passing, to a continuous earthed conductor 3 lying along the railway line; and a relay 18 in each train is connected between conductors 1b and 2b of this section. A track-side control unit 4a, 4b, &c. is provided for each section of the railway line, and comprises relay switch means whereby an energizing line voltage is connected to the associated conductor 1, the relays being energized or deenergized by trip switches 5a, 6a, &c. actuated by the train. If no trains are on the railway line, the line voltage is applied, by way of each control unit 4, to each conductor 1; and hence to each conductor 2 by the interconnection of each conductor 1 to the next-but-one succeedng conductor 2. A train 19 now placed at B will short 2b to 3, and the consequent current flow in track side unit 4d actuates a relay therein so that 1d and 2b are disconnected from the line voltage. The line voltage is now across relay coil 18, since 2b is earthed and hence motive power is fed to the train, through the actuation of relay 18, and it can proceed along the railway line. If another train 20 attempts to enter section d whilst the first train is still in section b, the shorting member 17 will earth conductor 2d and, since conductor 1d is already earthed by train 19, relay 18 of train 20 will be deenergized and the train deprived of motive power. When train 19 reaches the end of section b it momentarily actuates switches 5b, 6b, whereby conductors 1c and 2a are reduced to zero potential, and conductors 1d and 2b are reconnected to the line voltage; train 20 will now be connected, by energizing of relay 18, with motive power and enabled to proceed. The system is adaptable to railway junctions.