US1181343A - Train-signal system. - Google Patents

Description

L. L. PARKHILL.

TRAIN SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION mu) JAN. 20, 1915.

1,181,343. Patented May2,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Z/I 0H0 3 I 3 F J6 18 3 if I 1 14 3 i 16' O o L 17 1 20 z 0 /|'l'M J nh 2 m ";\\Y\' 1 g 3 1 a m WWW L. l. Par/()1 1'22,

THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co, WASHINGTON. n. c.

L. L. PARKHILL.

TRAIN SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1915.

1 1 8 1 ,343 Patented May 2, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

sropf 3 BACK V 15 4 (FALL JELAGMVAVN 4;; IT A SECOND W V Elwwutoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE L. PARKHILL, OF DAWSON, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRAIN-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Application filed January 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE L. PARK- HiLL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Dawson, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Train-Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signal systems for trains and has particular application to a combined signal and telephone system.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a system of the class described whereby the conductor in the caboose of the train may have talking communication with the engineer and vice versa and whereby a trainman on any car of the train may signal the engineer.

It is also my purpose to provide a system of the class described which will operate efficiently and effectively under all conditions, which will embody comparatively few parts and these so correlated and arranged as to reduce the possibility of derangement to a minimum and wherein the wiring and circuit connections will be simple and durable.

\Vith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a train signaling system constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view showing the circuit arrangement and instruments in the cab of the locomotive. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through a connecting device for connecting the wires of adjacent cars of the train. Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of a key controlled switch. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View therethrough. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the key. Fig. 7 is a face view of a plate containing information relating to the signal code.

In accordance with my present invention, each car of a train is equipped with conductors 1, 2 extending along the bottom of the car and secured thereto in some suitable manner. These conductors are insulated from each other and secured to each end of the car is a connector 3 formed of a block of insulating material provided with a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Serial No. 8,325.

socket 4 opening onto the outer end thereof and a plug 5 secured to the outer end thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom. The connectors 3 at the ends of each car are reversely disposed relatively so that when the cars are coupled the plugs of the connector on one end of one car will enter the socket of the connector on adjoining end of the coupled car and vice versa. The ends of the conductors 1 and 2 carried by each car are terminally connected with the sockets and plugs respectively of the connectors so that when the cars of the train are coupled together and the connectors coupled up as just described the conductors carried by the individual cars of the train will be electrically connected with one another in circuit formation.

Located in the cab of the engine is a signal which, in the present instance, is in the form of a bell 6 having the terminals thereof connected respectively to the conductors 1 and 2 on the engine and connected in the conductor 2 is a suitale source of electrical energy as a battery 7. Located in each car of the train is a signaling device or circuit closer 8 comprising a substantially rectangular casing 9 having one side wall thereof formed with a keyhole slot 10 and secured to the inner surfaces of opposite edge walls of the casing 9 are contacts 11, 11 adapted to be bridged by a bridging strip 12 carried by a key 13 and adapted to be passed through the keyhole 10 into the casing 9. The contacts 11 of each signaling device or circuit closer are connected in parallel with the conductors 1, 2 on;the particular car by wires 14. These signaling devices are conveniently located in each car and secured to the car adjacent to the signal device is a plate 15 upon which are inscribed instructions indicating the number of times the circuit must be closed to transmit various signals to the engineer. For instance, when the circuit is closed once and immediately opened the bell 6 will be sounded once to indicate stop while when the circuit is closed and opened and again closed and opened, the bell 6 will be sounded twice to indicate go ahead. When the circuit is alternately closed and opened three times and the bell sounded a similar number of times the engineer is signaled to back, while four sounds of the bell advises the engineer to call flagmen, etc.

When a trainman in a car of the train desires to signal the engineer, the bridging strip 12 carried by the key 13 is passed through the keyhole slot 10 in the casing 9 of the signaling device in the particular car and rotated under the action of. the key to bridge the contacts 1.], thereby closing the circuit to energize the bell G. The bridging strip is alternately moved into and out of engagement with the contacts so as to make and break the circuit the required number of times to transmit the desired signalto the engineer.

In accordance with my present invention, telephone sets 15 are located in the cab of the locomotive and the caboose of the train respectively and one terminal of the telephone set in the cab is connected to the conductor 2 by way of a conductor 16, while the other terminal of such set is grounded upon the wheels and axles of the locomotive by means of a conductor 17. Similarly, one

side of the telephone set 15 in the caboose of the train isgrounded upon the wheels and axles of the caboose by Way of a conductor 18, while the other terminal of the telephone set is connected to the conductor 2 by way of a conductor 19. By means of this ar rangement, it will be seen that one of the conductors 2 forms one side of the talking circuit, while the other sideof such circuit is formed by the rails of the trackway, and such circuit supplied with energy from the battery 7 In the present instance, a visible signal 20 in the form of an incandescent lamp colored red is located in the cab of the locomotive and connected in parallel with the bellG so as to guard against failure of the bell. Also located in the cab is a voltmeter 21 which may be connected in series with the battery 7 by means of a switch 22 so that the voltage of the battery may be tested by the engineer whenever it is deemed advisable.

In practice, the conductors 1. on the cars 01 the train are colored differently from the conductors 2 so as to insure the proper connecting of the conductors in circuit formation.

I claim:

In a train signal system, conductors carried by each car of the train and insulated from each other, means for connecting corresponding conductors of coupled cars to one another in circuit'formation, a source of energy in the circuit, a cab signal in the circuit, circuit closing devices located in each car of the train and connected in multiple in the circuit whereby the circuit may be closed from any car of the train to energize said; signal, the circuit closing devices in each car being located upon opposite sides thereof, a key for actuating said devices. a telephoneset in the cab of the locomotive, a connection between one terminal of said set and one line of the conductors of the circuit, a ground circuit for the; other side of said telephone set, a telephone set in the caboose of theitrain, a connection between one side of the-last telephone set and the line of the conductors of saidwcircuit connected with the first mentioned telephone set and a ground connection for the last mentioned telephone set.

In testimonywhereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LAWRENCE L. PARKHILL.

Witnesses:

JNo. W. GiBsoN, W. C. BOYD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

Images