US1152953A

US1152953A - Means for the prevention of accidents on railways.

Info

Publication number: US1152953A
Application number: US84466714A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas Currie Kerr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1914-06-12
Filing date: 1914-06-12
Publication date: 1915-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 1932-09-07

Description

T. C. KERR.

MEANS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1914.

L152,953. Putvnted Sept. T, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

THOMAS CURRIE KERR, OF

STEVENSTON, SCOTLAND.

MEANS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS 0N RAILWAYS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS CURRm KERR, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improved Means for the Prevention of Accidents on Railways, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the prevention of collisions on railways between two or more moving bodies, by which term I mean to cover and include, a train, a part of a tram, a car, or a locomotive, and the characteristic feature of the invention is that each moving body has a source of electric energy together with means whereby, as the speed of the body varies, the effective electric potential will also vary. If there are two such moving bodies on the same track and traveling at different speeds, it follows that the effective electric potential thereof will be dissimilar and this dissimilarity is taken advantage of, under this invention, to prevent possibility of a collision. The means, employed to this end are simple and efiective and comprise track or other conductors, one, or more than one, electric device on each body operable from the source of electric energy and adapted to control or apply the brakes or to give visible or audible signals and means connecting the electric device or devices with said track conductors so that when the bodies approach within a predetermined distance of oneanother, a current will flow from the body traveling at the greater speed through the electric devices on both bodies and cause the operation of the signals and or) the application of the brakes. In order that the invention may be clearly understood I will now describe the same with reference, to the accompanying drawings which show, simply by way of example, one mode of carrying it into eli'ect or practice.

On the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective and diagrammatic View of a length of track having two engines thereon traveling in the same direction, said track and engines having the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View of the track and train circuits and Fig. 3 shows the insulated conductors a, b, enlarged and in cross section. Fig. a shows a modification.

In carrying the invention into effector practice, according tov the arrangement shown'on the drawings, parallel conductors Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed June 12, 1914. Serial No. 844,662.

Patented Sept. F, 1915,

a: and Z2 are carried by insulatorsc (see particularly Fig. 3) suitably located at intervals along the track, these insulators being constructed of insulating material so that the conductors are insulated from the track. The conductors are not continuous but are each divided into a number of sections insulated from one another and the opposite conductor and are so arranged, in staggered relationship, that a gap between any two sections of the same conductor shall not, under any circumstances, fallopposite a gap between two sections of the opposite conductor. The gapsfall some distance apart and the distance between a gap in the one conductor and the next gap in the other conductor represents the distance over which protection is obtained. These conductors, preferably, extend the entire length of the track but, if desired, may be arranged only in suitable lengths, at each signaling area and (or) adjacent to each station or other stopping place. At each signaling area and (or) station a partial track circuit extends from a section of the conductor 6, by means of a wire 03 to a switch e'and from thence, by wire ,f'to a running rail or other return. The switch a is under the control of the Signalman or other oficial and is, preferably, connected with the usual semaphore signaling apparatus and adapted to be closed when a danger signal is set and opened when a clear signal is set.

The train portion of the arrangement may be located on any suitable part (or on several parts) of the train but is, in the present instance, located in the engine cab and comprises a collecting bow, trolley, or equivalent 9 connected, by means of a wire z','with one terminal of a time switch it, the other terminal of which is connected with one pole ofa i multiple cell battery A. A pole of each cell, or group of-cells, of the battery A, is connected with a stud or contact of a controlling switch B the arm of which is connected, by means of wire y,

with the engine framing through a suitable electric device, in this case, a solenoid C. The switch Bis operable by a rod is connected with a centrifugal governor D which is adapted to be driven from the wheel axle s, or other suitable part of the train, which varies in speed in accordance with the speed of the train, by, anendless I chain Z or other driving arrangement.

is suitably The core m of the solenoid G connected, either directly or indirectly, with a valve located in the air or vacuum pipe a connected with the brake mechanism. Preferably, in all cases, the core of the solenoid would have a dash pot in connection with it'to regulate its action. In some cases, if so desired, the solenoid may be arranged to actuate a trip lever or the like which, in its turn, would bring into operation spring or weight mechanism suliiciently powerful to operate the brake valve.

Instead of the multiple cell battery A. a dynamo may be employed in which case the switch Bwould be replaced by a rheostat E (see Fig. l) In some cases it may be found desirable to use a dynamo and drive it direotly or indirectly from a wheel axle.

The modes opemmli of the device is as .follows: When a train is at a standstill the governor is at rest and the switch B includes but one cell or group of cells in the partial train circuit, or, if a dynamo is employed as a source of current, the rheostat E in cludes the maximum resistance in said partial circuit. If desired, the switch or rheostate may be adapted. to cut all source of power out of the partial train circuit when .the train is at a standstill, but, as will be hercinafcr apparent, such is not a preferable arrangement. When the train is set 339 in niotion the governor D is driven from the Wheel axle, or other suitable part of the train, by the chain or equivalent Z and, as the speed of the train accelerates, the weights of the governor move outward under cent'ifiugal action and rotates in substantially circular path of increasing radius. This XllOVGl'flfilltOf the governor ag'hts causes the switch B or rheostat E move over number of studs or contacts d. i elude one or more cells of the batter in partial train circuit or cut out a iber of resistances from and circuit. ten the speed of the train ceases to accele, the switch or rhecstat arm takes up iefinite position, dependent upon the speed efthe train, and maintains a number of cells of the battery A inthe partial train circuit, or maintains a number of resistances eut of said partial circuit and the greater the speed or the train the larger is the number of cells included, orresistances excluded, from said. partial circuit, and vice versa;

Now, assume a to have moved over a section of the conductor 72 with which a switch 6 is connected. If the switch a is maintained open by the setting of a clear signal there will be no effect, as no circuit can be completed from the battery 15. (or dynamo) and the train will be allowed to proceed. If, however, the switch 6 has been closed by'tlie setting; of a danger signal, a circuit is completed as follows (see particularly Fig, 2) from battery A (or dynamo), time switch it, (closed), wire i. bow or equivalent 5 conductor 5, wire 03, switch 8,

'sistances excluded from,

wire f, through running rail and engine frame to solenoid Q, and from thence through wire j and switch B, or rhccstat E, to battery A, or dynamo. The completion of this circuit energizes the solenoidC and causes its core m to open the valve in the air or vacuum brake pipe a and apply the brakes, also, if desired, at the same time, sound an alar Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, if the engines F and being each over the same section of the conductor Z, are

traveling at the same speed each will have the same number of cells included in, or reits partial train circuit and, consequently, owing to equal voltage being in each source of supplyyno current will flow from either engine and, provided their signals are clear, both will be allowed to proceed. If, however, the engine increases in speed and tends to overtake the engine G, the governor D will cause the switch B of the former engine to include more cells in, or exclude more resistances from, the partial train circuit thereof and thus cause the electric pressure in one battery to exceed that of the other and a current will flow tollow battery A, or dynamo, through time switch.

(closed) wire 2' and collecting how 9 of engine F, along conductor 5, to engine G through how g, wire 2', time .Witch it (closed), battery A, or dynamo, switch E, or rheostat E, wire j, solenoid C, and frame sa atter engine to the running rails by which it returns to engine and thro solenoid C, wire j, and switch B, or rhea; E, to battery A, or dynamo, oi same. Th s current energizes the solenoids J oi both engines and causes the brakes to be applied on both trains bringing both to a standstill. and preventing possibility of a col. on.

it will, of course, be obvious that a cur rent would flow in the same manner, and have the same effect, if the engine G were stationary.

The battery or dynamo employed in connection with the present arrangement may, if desired, be the same as that used to effect the lighting of the train, or portion of the train, or may, of course, be entirely dis tinct from same.

The function of the time switch it, which. is controlled by clockwork, or dash pot, or equivalent, solenoids to be broken, for a predetermined time only, to allow oi movement for shunting, movement of train out off an area, or such like, even if the train should be over the same section of cond ctor as another train on the seine track. his switch may be opened manually but is closed auto1natically at expiration of a short and. prcdetermined interval.

A number of simple czmnecting cables of is to enable the circuit to the suitable length or lengths, the ends of each being provided with clips or hand clamps adapted to be detachably secured to the conductors and running rails are, preferably, provided on each train. In case it should become necessary to stop the approach of trains in either, or both directions owing to a train, or part of a train becoming derailed, or for other reasons, these connecting cables may be utilized as temporary local switches to block the approach of trains by connecting same across one or more of the conductors and its or their juxtaposed running rail, or other return.

,In all cases, I prefer to arrange an installation on the engine and anothersimilar or modified installation in the guards van in case one installation should fail to operate from any cause.

If desired, in some cases, I may arrange for the electrical conductors to be carried on posts at the side of the track, and the bow (or trolley) would be suitably arranged to w rk in conjunction therewith. D

' n all cases where I refer to tram or trains it is to'be understood I intend to include portions of trains, whenever it may be deemed necessary or advisable .to provide such portions with an electric installation.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim and desire to secure by Letters.

" Patent is a partial circuit,

1'. The combination, on a moving body, of a multi-cell battery and means whereby as the speed of the body varies a varying number of cells of said battery will be included in said partial circuit.

2. The combination, on a train or part thereof, of a partial circuit, a multi-cell battery, a governor operable from a movable part of the train and a switch, operable 'from said governor, adapted to include a number of cells in said partial circuit.

3. Means for preventing collis ons on railways between two moving bOdlGS comprising electric conductors for the track, a partial circuit on each body, means connecting said partial circuits with the track conductors, an electric device in each partial circuit, a 'multi-cell battery on each body and means,- on each body, for including a num- 1 her, dependent upon the speed of the body,

of cells of circuit.

4, Means for preventing collisions on railways between two trains comprising electric conductors for the track, a partial circuit the battery in thatbodys partial on each train, means connecting said partial circuits with the track conductors, ancelectric device in each partial circuit, a source of electricity connected with each partial circuit, a governor on each train operable from a movable part of the train and means, on each train, operable from said governor, for varying the potential of the electric energy transmitted from its source of electricity to its partial circuit.

5. Means for preventing collisions on railways between two moving bodies comprising electric conductors for the traclr, a partial circuit on each body, means connecting said partial circuits with the track conductors, an electric device in each partial circuit, a source of electricity connected with each partial circuit, a governor on each body operable from a movable part thereof, and switch means, on each body, operable from said governor, for varying the potential of the electric energy transmitted from its source of electricity to its partial circuit.

6. Means-for preventing collisions on railways between two movmg bodies comprising a partial circuit on each body, an electric device in each partial circuit, a source of electricity connected with each partial circuit, a governor on each body operable from a movable part thereof, means on each body,

operable from said governor, for varying the potential of the electric energy trans-