US1126778A - Automatic signaling and train-stopping device. - Google Patents

Description

E. M. JONES. AUTOMATIC SIGNALING AND TRAIN STOPPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 13, 1910. 1,126,778, Patented Feb. 2, 915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F I L'T ZZ/j/ZEEEEZ liil ZZZUEZZZUJT' M MN y WM Mw/Q M. JONES. AUTOMATIC SIGNALING A-ND TRAIN STOPPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1910.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

w; 2 SHEETS-SH KHz/52715.2- 6% ELMER JUKES, 033 ATLANTA, GEORGIA,

iaUTUMAlLL'G SIGNALING AND TEAIN-STUPPING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedltehc 2, 112915,

eaplteaaen henn 13, 1910. Serial no. tet er.

To allay/tom it may concern 2 Be it, known that l, Era/ nn M, Jonas, a citizen of the. United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county, of tulton and State of Georgia, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Signaling and 'firainrStopping'Devices, oi which the following is a full, clear, and exact, description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates generally to railway signaling devices. and more particularly relates to automatic. stop signalsoi thesemaphore type, i

In general it be said that in the, signaling device here disclosed, the semaphore is adapted to show under normal conditions a danger signah'which will hem hanged, to indicate clear when the trainrcaches aposition a predetermined distance away from the signal or tower, provided that the track ahead. is clear and thatthe usual trapk circuits. for settingv in operationthe, semaphore signal are in working order.

The device further comprisesmechanism which will ordinarily project into the path of travel of a lever or otheractuator on the locomotive, which actuator may. operate. a signal in the cab, or the actuator be operatively connected with a valve in the: line of the train. This. actuator ugpon the locomotive will be. moved by its. engagement with the mechanism which projects in its path and accomplish its intended function, unless the train has not been stopped before passing the signal tower.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises'the elements. and combinations there; of set forth in the accompanyingclaims and explained in the description, by, reference. to a preferred embodiment as an example:

Reference should behad to the accomg panying' drawings forming a part; oi this sgecification, in Which- Figure 1 represents, in a more or. less diagrammatic manner, a signal tower with a semaphore located at the top thereof and also illustrates'the, manner of engagement between the signal-actuator on the locomo; tire and the arm which normally stands in its path of travel; 2 is aside, elevation of the mechanism which onerates. the signal arm or semaphore of the tower, this mechanism being shown-in position to operate the semaphore to show a clear track; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in lfig. 2 in its normal position-that is, the position where the arm is at danger; Fig. l is a front elevation or edge view of the operating mechanism, showing also the arm which projects into the path of travel of the actuator upon the locomotive; Fig. 5 is a detail of the electric switch; and Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the cushioning device for the semaphore operating rod.

The mechanism here shown and described is intended for use in connection with a track circuit which normally, when the track ahead is clear, maintains a relay 1 deenergized. When the train comes within a predetermined distance of the signal tower, the relay 1 will remain denergized in the event that the track conditions. ahead are not clear; but, on the contrary, if the track conditions are proper for, the further progress oi? the train, therelay becomes energized to operate the mechanism for setting the semaphore to show a cleartrack and to more the arm which the loeomotive might operate into a position to permit the locomotive to pass without. operatingv the same.

' Tillie frame of the operating mechanism shown includes an. L-shaped bracket or plate 2. having a back portio'n 2 and an extending helli 2?." Near. the upper part oi the back 2% the arm 3- of a second L-shaped bracket 3 is secured ,An arm 3 of the latter bracket depends for. a certain distance in a direction parallel with. the portion 2 the bracket 2. shaft i is journaledat one of its ends in the depending arm 3". referred to, and atits opposite end. is mounted upon'the portion of the bracket 2. Upon the shaft 4 is mounted a wheel- 5,'the periphery of which is provided with a groove. Surrounding thefwheel and within the groove, is a sprocket ehain 6r This chain, while retained' againstlateral displacement, by the walls of the groove, is not afhxed to the wheel in any manner, so that while ord1-- narily the Wheel and chain may move together, they may under certain conditions have. independent movements, the wheel merely forming a support for the chain.

. the repair of the chain) Accordingly, if, for any reason, thewheel should become caught, the mechanism would not thereby beimpaired, for the chain would move on the wheel and the operation of the Inechanisnibe completed; j 1

An opening 5, provided near-the periphcry of the wheel in one ofthe walls of the groove, permits theflpassage of links and pins to enable assembling anddisassembling of the chain upon the ,wheel' and facilitates end of the shaft 12 is a gear 13 which, in

,f'turn, meshes with a gear 14 carried upon the shaft of, a motor 15. It will be apparent Ithat as the motor is operated, the gears 14,

13, 11 and 10, and the sprocket wheel 9, will be driven, which will thereby cause the movement of the sprocket chain 6.

A bent lever 16 is mounted near its central portion upon the shaft 4. This lever (which, by mechanism to be hereinafter described, operates the semaphore arm) is composed of two'partswhich straddle the wheel 5 and are secured together at their outer ends by-means of a pin 17 and a pin 31", for the latch 31, to be later described. Upon the shaft 4 is pivoted an arm 18 which is likewise secured to the pin 17, and moves in unison with the lever 16. A shaft 19 is suitably mounted beneath the mechanism.

previously described and upon its end is a crank arm 20 which, at its free end, is pivotally connected with a rod21, which, in turn, is pivotally secured at substantially the central ortion of the member 18.

At a poinhnear the track an upright shaft 22 is mounted upon which is secured a contact arm 23, which normally projects toward the track. Upon, the shaft 22 is a bevel gear 22*, which meshes with a bevel gear 19 the last mentioned gear being secured upon the shaft 19. The gears 22 and 19?, aswell as a portion of the shaft 22, may be secured .within a suitable housing 22", which will protect the elements just mentioned from wear and tear incident to their use and also provide a suitable means for mounting the shaft 22. lit will be apparent, however, that other connections may be employed between the rod 21 and the arm 23 without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the am 23 projects in the path of travel of a lever 24 which is pivotally carried upon the locomotive and may be operatively connected with the air line for the brakes upon the train or may operate a cab signal or accomplish both of these or other results.

Upon the opposite end of the lever 16 from that already described, a sprocket wheel 25 is mounted which engages with the sprocket chain 6. This sprocket wheel is rigid upon a shaft journaled in the two side pieces of the lever 16, and upon this shaft is a notched disk 26. The lever 16 also carries an electromagnet 27 anda. pivoted armature 28 therefor. The armature 28 is provided with an elongated arm 29, which has a tooth 30 so positioned that it may engage with one of the notches of the disk 26 when the armature 28 is acted upon by the magnet. This structure I term a magnetic latch.

-The lever 16, at its extreme end, is provided with a latch 31 which is weighted'at the upper portion thereof, 31, so as to normally throw the toe of the latch in an outward direction. Upon a suitable .support 33, carried by the plate 2, is pivoted a lever 34, which is provided with a weighted portion 35, normally tending to throw the lever proper 3 1 away from its vertical position. The upwardly extending arm 34' of thislever is adapted to be engaged at certain times by a latching arm 36. This latching arm is pivoted upon an upright portion 33 of the support 33; it is weighted atits rear portion so that it normally stands out'of engagement with the arm 34. This latchingv arm acts as the armature for an electromagnet 37, the operation of which will be later described.

40 designates the semaphore blade, which is pivoted at the top of the towerand connected with the up-and-down rod 39in such manner (well known in this'art) that when the rod is shoved upward the blade swings downward or into safety position, While when the rod descends it returns the blade to its horizontal or danger position. 9n the lower end of the rod' 39 is a head 39 from which depends a rod 39 connected at its lower end, by a loose play connection, with the lever '16.

An arm 39 is carried by the head 39 an extends downwardly and at its lower end is provided with a hook 39 The lever 16 likewise carries an arm 16 which is provided with a hook 16". The arms l6 -and 39 are so mounted that when the parts of the mechanism are in the position shown in Fi g. 3, the hooks 16* and 39 will be in engagement, thereby locking the rod 39 in its down position. When the lever 16 is moved from the normal position shown in Fig. 3, by'the operation of the device, the hook 16 releases the hook 39 so that the rod 39 may be raised. The loose play between the pin 16 on the lever 16 and the top of the slot in the rod 39, allows suficient idle movement of the lever 16 to cause the hooks 16 and 39 to unlatch before the rod 39 is engaged and shoved upwardly. The rod 39 cannot operate the lever, due to the lockand the loose play below the pin 16..

The normal locking of the rod 39 against upward movement, as described, is an im portant feature, as it positively locks the semaphore blade in danger position and prevents its accidental displacement by external forces, such, for instance, as the accumulation of ice or snow on the semaphore blade, which in the past has sometimes caused the blaoe to droop,'thereby wrongly indicating safety.

A suitable dash pot is provided for use in connection with the rod 39 for securing a steady and slow return of the rod to its normal position. As here shown, the arm 3 ofthe bracket 3 carries the dash pot cup 41 in which is a piston 42, the piston being connected with the head 39 by means of a link 43, which is pivoted thereto.

A knife switch 45 is mounted upon an in sulating block 44 which is upon the arm 3 of the bracket 3. This switch comprises a comparatively long arm 45 and a shorter arm 45*. The arm 45 is one terminal of an electric line and adapted to cooperate with a stationary terminal 46, which is also-carried upon the block 44. A spring'47 is connected with the arm 45 and with the block upon which it is mounted, in a manner to throw the switch completely in onedirection or the other. That is to say, if the arm 45 be removed out of engagement with the terminal 46, the spring will tend to carry it entirely away from such terminal, whereas, if the arm 45 be moved into contact with the terminal 46, the spring will tend to hold it in such engagement. 1 The arm 45 extends in a path of travel of two stops, 48 and'49, which are upon the rod 39 so that, when this rod is raised, the stop 49 will engage with the lever 45 and rock the same to cause the disengagement of the arm 45 with its companion terminal 46, and when the rod39 descends, the arm 45 will be engaged by the stop 48 to close the' switch, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The relay 1 is provided with an armature 1 which is electrically connected with the battery B, or other source of electric power, by means of'a conductor 0. The battery is also. connected with one of the poles of the motor 15 by means of a conductor 0 and the other pole of the motor is connected with the stationary terminal 46 of the switch by a conductor 0. A conductor f connects the conductor d with one of the poles of the electroinagnet 27, the other pole of this electromaguet being connected with the switch terminal 46 by means of a conductor 9. The arm 45 of the switch is connected with a conductor it, and when-the armature l is closed, the conductors in and c"becom'e connected, closing battery circuits in parallel through the motor and the magnet 27 of the magnetic latch.

A conductor j connects one pole of the electromagnet 37 with the conductor f, and the other pole of this electromagnet is connected by a conductor is with the conductor 72.. This magnet accordingly is in a shunt around the motor and switch and the magneticlatch and switch.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that when the relay 1 is energized and its armature is raised, an electric current passes from the source of electrical energy B through the conductor 05, motor 15, conductor 6, terminal 46, switch arm 45*,

conductor 72., conductor 0, and thence to the battery. This will operate the motor and cause the rotation of the sprocket chain 6. Simultaneously, a portion of the current passing "over the conductor d will pass over the conductor f, through the electromagnet 27, and via the conductor 9, the switch and conductors h and c to the battery. This will cause the armature 28 of the magnetic latch to be drawn toward the magnet causing the detent 30 to engage with one of thenotches in the disk 26. This will prevent rotation of the sprocket wheel 25 and willthereby lock it to the chain 6, causing the sprocket wheel and the end of the lever upon which it is mounted to be raised by the continued travel of the chain. This, in turn, will cau'se'the rod 39 to be pushed upward and thereby will raise the rod 39 and cause the semaphore to assume a depending or safety position. This same operation causes the rod 21 to be pushed-down, which rocks the shaft 19, and, through the intermediacy of the gears 19 and 22, rotates the shaft 22 and turns therarm 23 into a position parallel with the track so that the signal lever carried by the locomotive will not be engaged by the arm 23. The current which passes over the conductor f will divide and a portion thereof will pass over the conductor j, through the electromagnet 37, and the conductors it, h and c,' to the battery B. This will cause thearmature 36 to be pulled down and engage with the arm 34 of the latch 34. When the end of the lever 16 reaches a certain elevation, the stop 49 engages with the switch arm 45 and separates the switch member 45 from the member 46. This operation opens the circuit through the motor, as well as the circuit through the electromagnet 27, so that the It will'be understood that the motorcannotbe stoppedimmediately by simply ceas =ing the supply of the current,. for the momentum will cause it to rotate for a short time, ,-after the current has ceased. This, therefore, will cause the wheel to continue itsrotationfor-a period, after'the'motor simplyturn idly until it comes-to 'rest, and

prevent any-jamming of the motor. How-- ever, 'thelev'er 16 cannot return to its normal ,position immediately, because of the engagei-ment of the latch 31 with the catch .34,and will be. held in its elevated position until such time as the relay 1 becomes deenergized.

At that time-the armature 1 drops and opens the circuit and deenergizes thelelec:

,trom'agnet'37, whereupon thelatching arm 36-rises and the.weight of the rod'39, which isf supported from the lever 16 upon the catch 34, causes the latter to move about its pivot, thereby releasing the latch 31. The rod 39 will then be free to return to its ini- -tial position, but its return will be gradual and under control of the dash pot.

The arm 29 of the armaturem28n is made long so that it will mechanically engage .with the knock-out bolt 29; upon the bracket 3 and thereby release the toothed disk 26 and the sprocket wheel 25 in the event thatthe switch should fail to operate, as for example, by the current arcing its separated terminals.

The whole mechanism, just described, is -usually protected by a housing, represented at D inFig. 1, andthe shaft 19 extends from the housing I) to the point at, which -it is desired to mount the arm 23:

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 2-. k

1. The combination of a driving'chain, a wheel loosely carrying saidchain about its periphery, a rotatable bodily movable device cooperating therewith, means for controlling the rotation of said device whereby it may be either turned on its axis or be moved "bodily by the driver, a signal, and a connection between the same and said device,

whereby the movement of the latter may operate the-signal.

- 1 withthe chain, means for holding said mem- .60

2. The combination, with a motor, of an endless chain, a circular support therefor, a lever pivoted at the axis of said support, a rotatable member upon said lever engaging ber against rotation, whereby the leverwill be operated as the motor is energized, means for automatically releasing the member when the lever is at a predetermined position, whereby the member may turn idly upon the {lever as the lever returns to nor- ,-'mal';pos1tion.

3. Theacombination'with a motor, of a rotatable member operatively connected therewith, a (pivoted lever, a wheel upon the: lever adapted to contact with said rotatable member, a latch carried by the lever adapted to holdthe wheel against rotation,

whereby .the lever may be moved as the motor is operated,- and means for unlatching the wheel-whereby it may run idly upon the rotatable membenand means for holding the lever initsmoved position.

.Thecombination with a rotatable mem- 4 her mounted upon an axis, of a lever pivoted upon the axis of the rotatable member, means carried upon the lever-engaging with the rotatable member, a latch for preventing independent movement of said means,

whereby the lever will be moved as the rotatable member is moved, and means for dis connecting the latch after the lever has the rotatable member, a latch for holding [said -means against movement, and means for disconnecting the latch after the lever has moved a redetermined distance.

' .6. The com ination of a driving member consisting of a wheel carrying loosely about its entire periphery an endless freely mov-.

able driver, a-rotatable bodily-movable device cooperating therewith, means carrying said device and pivoted on the same axis with the wheel, means for controlling the rotation of said device, whereby it may either turn on its'axis or be moved bodily by the driver, means for holding said device in a position into which it has bodily traveled, and a signal operated bysuch travel a p 7. The combination with a driver, a rotatable bodily-movable member connected therewith, ,an electromagnetic latch for holding the rotating member against rotation, an electriccircuit of which the said magnetic latch is a part, a lever carrying said rotatable member, means for opening said circuit when the'lever reaches a predetermined position,-,whereby the magnetic latch will be deenergi'zed, "and means for ,holding'the lever in its operated position.

' 8., The combination with a motor, of a device driven therebyin avertical plane, a lever, a rotating member carriedby said lever and engaging with said device, an electromagneticlatch' carried by the said lever and adapted to hold the rotating member against rotation, whereby the rotating member will be raised bodily, an electric circuit controlling the motor, a second electric circuit com trolling the magnetic latch, means for opening the circuits before mentioned when the lever reaches a predetermined position, a detent'adapted to hold said lever in its elevated position, an 'electromagnet controlling said detent, and means controlling the electric circuitof which the last mentioned electromagnet is a part.

9. The combination of a rotatable wheel, a driving sprocket chain loose in a circular course about the periphery'thereof, a ro tatable sprocket wheel engaging such chain, a signal and connection between the same and the sprocket wheel.

10. The comb'nation of a rotatable wheel, a driving sprocket chain embracing the periphery thereof but loose thereon, a rotatable sprocket wheel engaging such chain, a signal, a connection between the same and the sprocket Wheel whereby the signal may be thrown by the travel of the sprocket wheel bodily, and means for preventingthe rot-arun idly upon the chain.

12. The combination with a rotatable wheel having a groove in the periphery thereof, of a sprocket chain encircling the said member and loose within the said groove, a bodily movable sprocket wheel engaging with said chain, means for holding said sprocket wheel against rotation, and a signal operated by the body movement of said wheel when 'so held;

13. The combination with an annular member, of an axis upon which said member is rotatably mounted, a sprocket chain carried by said annular member upon the periphery thereof, a sprocket wheel meshing with said chain, means for driving the sprocket chain, a lever pivoted upon the same axis as the annular member,'a sprocket wheel carried by said lever and meshing with the chain, a notched member connected with the sprocket wheel upon the lever, a pivoted detent upon the lever adapted to engage with the said notched member, whereby the sprocket wheel will be held against rotation and the lever will be moved as the chain is operated, means for releasing the detent after the lever has moved a predetermined distance, a latch adapted to the rod for locking the two together when the rod is in an extreme position, and means for operating the-lever.

15. The combination, with a semaphore signal, of a rod operatively connected to said signal, a lever with which said rod is connected for raising and lowering the said rod, a hook connected with said rod and a cooperating hook connected with said lever, said hooks engaging each other when the rod is in its lowermost position, and means for operating the lever first to release the .hooks and then raise the rod.

16. Tn a mechanism of the class described,

the combination of a rotatable wheel, an

endless chain loose on theperiphery thereof, a lever pivoted concentric of the wheel, a pinion carried by the lever and adapted to coiiperate with the chain, means for locking or releasing the pinion, and mechanism operated by the movement of the lever.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination of a rotatable wheel having a grooved periphery, a sprocket chain loosely mounted in said periphery, a device movable concentrically of the sprocket chain, a rotatable pinion carried by the device and engaging the chain, means for holding the pinion against rotation or allowing it to rotate, and mechanism operated by the movement of said device.

18. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a rotatable wheel having a grooved periphery, an endless traveling chain loosely mounted on said periphery, a device movable concentrically with the.

chain, a pinion mounted so as to be rotatable adjacent to said periphery and bodily movable with said device,-said pinion meshing with the chain, means for holding the pinion against rotation to compel its movement by the chain bodily or for releasing it to allow it to rotate on its axis, and mechanism operated by the movement bodily of the pinion. l

19. The combinationof a wheel mounted to turn on its axis, an endless member looselymounted on the periphery thereof, a motor geared with said endless member, an arm pivoted concentrically of the wheel, a device carried ,by the arm and adapted to be locked to the endless member, and mechanism connected with the arm.

20/ The'combination of a rotatable wheel, achain loosely mounted on the periphery of the Wheel, a motor geared with the chain, an arm pivoted concentrically of the wheel,

a device carried by the arm and adapted to of, a device carried by said arm for lockengage the chain and lock the arm thereto, ing the arm to the chain, and mechanism and mechanism connected with the arm. operated by the movement of said arm.

21. The combination of arota'table wheel In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my 5 having1 an alnnular groove in i(t1s peripheryi, signature in the presence of two witnesses. 1-3 I an en ess ciain seating in sai groove an adapted tomove independently of the wheel, ELMER JONES a driving device geared with said chain, an Witnesses: arm pivotally mounted on the axis of the JESSE DRAPER, 10 wheel and extending to the periphery there- W. F. FRASER.

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