US1027047A - Automatic train-stop. - Google Patents

Description

L. A. HAWKINS. AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1910.

1,027,047, Patented May 21, 1912 DUE] Fig: l.

7 G HillllllllllllllllllllI! C Witnesses lnvenffor Laurence AJ-lawkins Hi,s Afi'tfarney.

Tra1n-Stops, of which the following is a of rail of non-magnetic material, such as core, means for supplying alternating curresponsive-to a decrease in the reactance of inagnet on the locomotive or other vehicle neticcircuit of the alternating current coil change=-in= the reactance or in the terminal voltage'ofthe coil may be utilized to acturent magnet 1s instantaneous, and, second,

1,027,047. Specification of Letters Patnt- Patented May 21, 1912. Application filed July 26, 1910. Serial No. 573,908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAURENCE A. HAW- KINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1' shows diagrammatically a locomotive carrying a coil arranged in accordance with my invention, the coil casing being omitted; Fig. 2 .is a diagram of circuit connections, and Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic view, partly in cross section, of lguitable apparatus for moving the magnetic In the drawings, A represents the'track rail in which is inserted a short length of rail B of non-magnetic material, such as manganese steel; Adjacent to this rail length 13 is placed a magnetic bar C (shown in outlines in Fig. 2) which acts as a magnetic bridge or shunt for the rail length B and is movable into a position close to the head of the rail length B, as shown in Fig.

3, or away from the rail head against the 7 stop 0. For moving the magnetic bar C I have indicated a small electric motor D connected to the bar through speed reducing gearing. The bar C may be held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by a retaining magnet E and returned to its other positiony gravity. The bar may be partly counterweighted, asfindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The motor D and retaining magnet E may be controlled by a contact f on a signal F adjacent. to the rail length B. When the signal F is cleared, the circuit is closed as indicated in Fig. 2 and the motor Ddrives the car to the position shown in Fig. 3,in which position it is held by the magnet B. When the signal F goes to stop position, the circuit of magnet E is opened and bar 0 falls away from rail B by gravity.

G represents a laminated core of the horse-shoe type which is carried on the 1000- motive with its poles as close to the rails as mechanical conditions will permit. H represents a winding on this core which is supplied with alternating current from a small alternating current generator I on the locomotive. This generator may be driven in any suitable manner as, for in stance, from a small direct c urrentmotor J supplied from a small storage battery K on the locomotive.

L represents an impedance in'series with the magnet winding H.

As long as the core G is passing over the magnetic rail A, the air gap in the magnetic clrcuit is comparatively small, so that the specification.

My invention relates to automatic train stops for use in connection with block signal systems, and particularly to that type of system in which the magnetic continuity of the'rails is interrupted at certain points as, for instance, by the insertion of a length manganese steel, and in which means is provided for magnetically bridging the spaces which producethis continuity.

y invention consists in providing a mag netic core carried on a vehicle with its poles adjacent to the track rails, a (3011 on the rent to the coil, and a device on the vehicle the coil. When the alternating current is passing over the magnetic running rails, its magnetic circuit is nearly closed, so that the-reactance of the winding of the magnet is high: In passing over the non-magnetic rail lengths if these lengths are not magnet-ica-lly bridged, the reluctance of the mag- '18 very greatly increased and its reactance is, therefore, greatly diminished. This ate a device on the locomotive for giving a warning i'ndication or for applying the brakes. -I :he advantages of using such an alternating current magnet are, first, that very quick action is obtained, since the change in reactance of the alternating curthat, sincethsignaling or brake controlling device andall movingparts may be placed in the locomotive cab, where they are well protected from injury and are conveniently accessible for inspection, the coil itself, which is the only part of the apparatus which is carried near the rails and is exposed to the weather, having no moving parts and, consequently, requirmg no inspection, may be placed in a well sealed casing.

My invention will best be understood byy will ticular construction means for magnetically cuited, notice will at once reaetance of winding H is'high. -When the core passes over he non-magnetic rail length B, if the signal F is clear and the magnetic bar C iscclose to the head of rail B, the reluctance of the magnetic circuit 0 coil II will not be greatly changed, but if bar G is in its other position the air gap in the magnetic circuit ofwinding H will be very greatly increased, so that its reactance will be greatly diminished. A greater current would then tend to flow, but the impedance L, is made high enough so that the current is not greatly increased. The net result is to decrease the terminalvoltage of winding H- and the flux in ,core' G. If a magnet M is connected in" shunt towinding H the voltage on the terminals of this magnet will be very greatly reduced, if the locomotive passes over the rail length B with signal 1* at stop. Under these conditions magnet M will release its armature m, which in turn releases a valve N which is then moved by a spring so as to open the train pipe 0 to atmosphere and apply the brake. A resetting handle n may be provided on the valve.

\Vith the arrangement above described, a quick and positive application of the brakes be obtained whenever an attempt is made to pass a signal in stop'position. The coil'I-I. and its core-may beincased so as to be well protected from the weather, since no inspection of this coil is required: This casingisnotShown in'th'e drawings. If the coil should becomein any manner short-cirbe given by the magnet m. which will release its armature and apply the brake. Furthermore, if the voltage of the terminal I should fail, for any cause, or the circuit of the generator should be opened, the magnet M will also give an indication. The bar C. and its actuating mechanism may also be well inclosed from the weather. The casing both for this bar and fort-he magnet .H should be of non-i'nagnetic material such, forinstance, as manganese sheet steel.

I do not desire tolimit myself to the parand arrangement 0 parts shown and described, but aim in the appended claims to cover all modifications which are within the spirit. and scope of my invention. i

- \Vhat I claim as new and=desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In combination with the track rails of a railway, non-magnetic spacesin said rails,

bridging the non- Gopies of this patentmay be obtained'for coil on said core, means magnetic spaces, a magnetic vcore having an open magnetic circuit carried on a vehicle with its poles adjacent to the track rail, a coil on said core, means for supplyingalternating current to said coil, and a device on said vehicle responsive to a decrease in the reactanoe of said coil.

2. In combination with the track rails of a railway, non-magnetic spaces in said rails, means for magnetically bridging. the none magnetic spaces, a magnetic core having an open magnetic circuit carried on a vehicle with its poles adjacent to the track rail, a

for supplying alternating current to said coil, and a device on said vehicle responsive toa drop in the terminalvoltage of said coil. I e I I 3. In con bination with the trackrails of a railway, non-magnetic spaces in said rails, means for magnetically bridging the nonmagnetic spaces, 'a magnetic core having an open magnetic circuit carried on a vehicle with its poles adjacent to the track rail, a coil on said core, means for supplying alter.- nating current to said coil, a device on said vehicle responsive to adecrease in the re actance of said coil, and speed-controlling means on said vehicle controlled by said device.

4. In combination wit-h the track rails of a railway, non-magnetic spacesin said rails, means for magnetically bridging the non: magnetic spaces, a magnetic core having an open magnetic circuit carried on a vehicle with its poles adjacent to thetrack rail, a coil on said core, a source of alternating current on said vehicle connected to said coil, an impedance device in series with said coil, and. a magnet winding in shunt to' said coil.

5. In a railway, non-magnetic means for magnetically magnetic spaces, a magneticcore having an open magnetic circuit carried on a vehicle with its poles adjacent to the track rail, a coil on said core, a source of alternating current on said vehicle connected .to said coil, an impedance device in series with said coil, a magnet winding, and connectionsfor impressing on 7 age varying directly as the flux in said core.

In witness whereof, I have my hand this 25th day. of July, 1910.

LAURENCE A. HAWKINS.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. I-IULL,

HELEN Onronn.

spaces in said rails,

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents. Washington, D. C.

bridg ng the non- I hereunto set i

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