US1069027A - Track-relay for electric signal systems. - Google Patents

Description

i J. J.'RUDDIOK. 'TRAGK RELAY FOR ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1912.

1 ,O69,027. Patented July 29, 1913.

COLUMBIAPLANOGRAFH :6 WASHINGTON, D. Q

WITED STATES PA TENT JOHN J. RUDDICK, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED STATES ELEC- TRIC SIGNAL COMPANY, OF WEST NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1913.

Application filed August 17, 1912. Serial No. 715,565.

Yb all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. RUnnIoK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Track-Relays for Electric Signal Systems, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to track relays such as are used in connection with electric block signal systems for electric and other railways of that class in which the signal is set or restored by a car passing onto an insulated rail section. In many block signals of this type the signal-operating circuit, whether it be a signal-setting or signal-restoring circuit, is normally open but is adapted to be closed by a track relay which includes a magnet in a relay circuit connected at one end to the trolley wire and at the other end to an insulated section of rail, the construction being such that when the car passes onto said insulated section of rail the relay magnet is rendered operative thereby to close the signal-operating circuit. a

The present invention relates to a track relay of this nature and has for one of its objects to provide a relay constructed so that the relay magnet is in a normally-closed circuit, but is nevertheless maintained inoperative until a car passes onto the insulated rail section.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a track relay which is comparatively simple in its construction and which has other advantages thatwill be more fully hereinafter described and then pointed outin the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have illustrated a track relay embodying the invention, Figure 1 shows a double relay adapted for both setting and restoring a signal circuit; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the principle of wiring the relay.

In the drawings 5 designates the trolley wire or main conductor and 3, 4 designate the rails of a railway track on which the car runs, said tracks constituting the return for the main conduct-or as usualin electric railway systems. One of the rails 3 has therein two insulated rail sections 6 and 7.

8 designates the signal-setting circuit and 9 the signal-restoring circuit. These two circuits are normally open and extend to a signal box or boxes of some suitable character which it is not necessary to show herein, but which are arranged so that when the signal-setting circuit 8 is closed the signal will be set, while when the signal-setting circuit 9 is closed the signal will be restored. The signal-setting circuit 8 is shown as having two contacts 10 therein which are adapted to be closed by a movable contact or switch member 11 that is carried on an arm 12 pivoted at 13 and having associated therewith an armature 1 1 for a signal-setting magnet 15. The signal-restoring circuit is also provided with two normally-open contacts 16 which are adapted to be closed by a movable contact or switch member 17 carried by an arm 18 pivoted at 19 and having associated therewith an armature 20 for a signal-restoring magnet 21. Both the signalsetting and signal- restoring circuits 8 and 9 lead to a common connection 22 which connects with the trolley wire or main con ductor 5. The insulated rail section 6 co operates with the signal-setting magnet 15 to set the signal when a car moving toward the right, Fig. 2, passes onto the insulated rail section 6, and the insulated rail section 7 cooperates with the signal-restoring magnet 21 to restore the signal when the car moving in the opposite direction passes onto said section.

Inasmuch as this invention does not relate to the signal itself or the manner in which windings 23 are also connected to a comconnection 28 for the magnet 21 leads to the rail section 7. Under normal conditions the insulated rail sections (3 and 8 have no connection with the return, and the current, therefore, will flow through both windings of each of the magnets and thence through the return connection 25 to the return 3. A resistance 29 is interposed in the connection 26 for the purpose of cutting down the voltage of the magnet windings. Since under normal conditions the current is flowing through both windings of each magnet, said magnets are neutral or inactive. l/Vhenever a car passes onto the insulated rail section 6, then the trucks connect this rail section with the return 4:. IV hen this occurs the current in the windin 23 passes directly to the return through the connection 28, insulated rail section 6 and car trucks, and the winding 2st is thereby short-circuited. The shortcircuiting of the winding 21 destroys the neutral condition of the magnet and the latter then becomes energized by reason of the current in the winding 23. The energizing of the magnet attracts its armature 14 thereby closing the signal-setting circuit at the contacts 10.

Then a car passes in the opposite direction and runs onto the insulated rail section 6 the same result is attained relative to the magnet 21.

The device shown in Fig. 1 is made noninterfering by providing the arms 12 and 18 with fingers 30 so situated that when either armature is attracted the finger 30 corresponding thereto stands in the path of the other finger 30, thus preventing the other magnet from being operated.

I have shown in Fig. 1 means for electrically connecting the insulated rail sections 6 and 7 whenever a car passes onto either section. The object of this is to prevent any possibility that the relay circuit will become broken while the car is passing over the insulation between the sections 6 and 7, for it this should happen the passage of the car from the rail section 6 onto the rail section 7 would restore the signal which had been set. when the car passed onto the insulated section 6. The means for accomplishing this comprises a circuit 31 connected at its ends to the two ail sections 6 and 7, respectively, through the connections 28, said circuit 31 having therein the two pairs of contacts 32, 33 arranged in parallel relation. The arms 12 and 18 carry contacts 34 and 35, respectively, adapted to bridge the contacts 32, 33 when the arms are operated.

Vhenever either pair of contacts is bridged, then the circuit 31 is closed thereby connecting electrically'the two rail sections 6 and 7. It will thus be seen that whenever a car passes onto either insulated rail section the circuit 31 is closed and will remain closed so long as the car is on either section.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a track relay for electric signal systems, the combination with a main conductor and return, of a normally open signaloperating circuit, a magnet for closin said circuit, said magnet having connected in series two windings that are opposed to each other, a relay circuit including said windings and connected at one end to the main conductor and at the other end to the return whereby normally the magnet is neutral or inactive, and means to short-circuit one of said windings when the car enters a block thereby rendering the other winding operative to energive the magnet.

2. In a track relay for electric signal systems, the combination with a main conductor. of a track constituting a return and provided with an insulated rail section, of a normally-open signal-operating circuit, a magnet for closing said circuit, said magnet having connected in series two windings that are opposed to each other, a relay circuit including said windings and connected at one end to the main conductor and at the other end to the return, and means for shortcircuiting one of said windings when the car passes over the insulated rail section.

3. In a track relay for electric signal systems, the combination with a main conductor, of a track constituting a return and provided with an insulated rail section, of a normally-open signal-operating circuit, a magnet for closing said circuit, said magnet having connected in series two windings that are opposed to each other, a relay circuit including said windings and connected at one end to the main conductor and at the other end to the return, and a connection from said relay circuit at a point between the windings to said insulated rail section.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. RUDDICK.

\Vitnesses LOUIS C. SM TH, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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