US1192566A - Block-signal system. - Google Patents

Description

W. V. RYDER.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION r|LD1uNE2s.19o8. RENEWED Nov.27.191s.

Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W/TNESSES A TTOH/VEYS W. V. RYDER.

BLOC-K SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLlcMfoN FILED JUNE 25! 190s. RENEWED Nov. 21. 1915.

Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Illl-l v yder W/TNESSES if? A TTOHNEYS W. V. RYDER.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM. APPLICATION `FILI-ID JUNE 25.1908. RENEVIED NOV. 27. 1915.

l ,l 92,566 Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

Y Mfg..

Anon/vers v W/ TNE SSE S W. V. RYDER.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE 25. 190s. IIENEwED Nov. 27. I9I5.

l ,1 92,566.. Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Bymr.

A TTOHNE YS W. V. RYDER.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE 25. 1908. RENEwED Nov. 21. 1915.

1,I92.,j566. Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

W/TNESSES /NVENTO/' ,4 TTOHNE YS me :miams mens ca.. naam-umu. .usmuc mu, n. a.

lilhl llilil PATENT FFlQFi.

WILLIAM VERNON RYDER, F NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratenteu Jury es, isis.

Application filed .Tune 1908, Serial No. 440,256. VRenewed November 27, 1915. Serial No. 63,906.

Hampshire and State of ll/lassachusetts, have invented a new and improved Block-Signal System, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to block signal systems, my more particular purpose being to maintain signal lamps in condition to show danger when a block is occupied. and at no other time, the signaling to be as nearly as practicable independent of the number of trains which may occupy the block, and controllable by the direction in which these trains are traveling.

Briefly summarized, my invention comprises trolley switches at each end of the .f block, to be operated automatically by movements of the trains, and a main switch and two auxiliary switches located intermediate the ends of the block and operated electrically from the trolley switches; the purpose of the main switch being tocontrol the signal lamps which are stationary, and also to control` in a supervisory capacity the auX- iliary switches, the. latter being used only when a car enters or leaves a block from the opposite direction while other cars are occupying the same block and have previously obtained control of the main switch, so that the intruding car has no el'ect upon n the .main switch and signal lines but controls one or the other of the auxiliary switches.

The arrangement of the switches and wiring is such` that when the last car .leaves the block thc lights are extinguished, and so lono as any one or more cars occupies the i block a red lamp is burning at one end of the block and a white lamp at the other end thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyingl drawings :l'orming a part of this specification. in \-.'h ich similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a diagram of the system coinplete. showing thelccation of the twotrolley switches, one at each end of the block, the main switch and two auxiliary switches sabstantially in the center of the block, a white and a red lamp at each end of the bloclr, and wiring for connecting up the lamps with the switches and with the trolley line; Fi 2 is a plan view of the main switch carrying s'x contact arms, the latter being adapted to engage and disengage stationary sectors, the view further showing the magnets and their connections for turning the main shaft of the switch in either or both of two directions as the case may be; Fig. 3 vis a side elevation of the main switch; Fig. 4 is a vertical section upon the line 4*/l of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showing one of the Contact arms carried by the revoluble shaft of the main switch and arranged to open and close one of the circuits; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the main switch, showing how the magnets when energized at different times cause the shaft to turn step by step and to be locked after each step, the direction of rotation of the shaft depending upon which magnet is energized; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the auxiliary switch shown at the left of the main switch in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the auxiliary switch shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section upon the line 8MS of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrow and showing mechanism for turning the shaft of the auxiliary switch step by step in one direction, the movement, however, not taking place until after the magnet shown is energized and completely denergized; Fig. 9 is a section upon the line 9-9 of Fig. 6, locking' in the direction of the arrow, and showing means for turning the shaft of one of the auxiliary switches in a direction opposite to that indicated in Fig. 6.

For convenience (see Fig. 1) 1 designate the trolley switches as 14, 15, the lamp signals as 16, 17, the rmain or counting switch as 18 and the two auxiliary switches as 19, 20. The two trolley switches 14, 15 are alike and may be of the usual or any approved construction of double acting switches controllable by motions of the rolling stock. Each of these trolley switches is provided with two contact springs 42, 44 and between them is a swinging block 31 carrying two contacts 43, 45. When a car moving in one direction passes one of these switches, it swings the block 31 in one direction, and when the car passes the switch going in the opposite direction, it swings the block 31 in the opposite direction. The contact springs 44, 42 of the trolley switch 14 are connected respectively with wires 49, 50. The contact springs 42, 44 of the other trolley switch 15 are connected with wires 65, 66. A trolley wire is shown at 56 and is engaged by a trolley wheel 61 which is mounted in the usual or any preferred mannery upon a trolley harp 62. The trolley wire 56 is provided with turn-out forks 63, 64, as indicated in Fig. 1. Two wires 65, 66 (see right of Fig. 1) are connected with the trolley switch 15 and have the same relation thereto that the two wires 49, have to the trolley switch 14.

rlhe lamp signals 16, 17 (see Fig. 1) comprise lamp ca sings 67, 68 disposed one at each end `-of the block. Mounted within the lamp casing 67 are ared lamp 69 and a white lamp 70, both being connected with a ground wire 71. Mounted within the lamp casing 68 are a red lamp 72 and a white lamp 73, both being connected with a ground wire 74. The main switch 18 can best be understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 3.

Mountedrupon a board 75 are electromagnets 76, 77 provided with rocking armatures 78, 79, the latter being provided with upwardly projecting stems 80, 81. The roeking armatures are supported by bearings 82. A slide rod 83 is connected with the stem 80 of the armature 78 by aid of a pin 85. A slide rod 84 is similarly connected with the stem 81 of theJ armature 79 by aid of a pin 86. A spiral spring 83a is connected with the rod 83 for retracting the same to its normal position when the armature 78 is released. A similar spring 88 performs substantially the same function for the slide rod 84. y

Posts 87 connected together by an Xfframe 88a support most of the parts just described. Two toothed wheels 89,90 are so disposed that the teeth of the wheel 89` incline oppositely to those of the whel 90. The slide -rod 83 is provided (see Fig. 5) with a downwardly turned portion 91 tofacilitate the movement of the rod under the impulse of the armature 78, and the slide rod 84 is provided with a downwardly turned portion 84a for a similar purpose.

Pawls 92, 93 are mounted upon the slide rods 8 3, 84 and are adapted to engage the toothed wheels 90, 89. A toothed wheel 94 engages a spring 95 having its middle portion bent upwardly for the purposeV of retaining the wheel 94' and parts associated therewith in definite positions. Side strips 96 are connected with the posts 87 and serve to support the slide rods. The X-braces 8 8a (see Fig. 2) merely serve as braces for vthe posts 87 . Y Bearings 99, 100 are mounted upon the board 7 5-and support the main shaft 101.,` The latter carries the various toothed wheels above described. A number of rods 102 connect together partitions 103 spacedequidistant. The first of these partitions (that is, the one nearest the magnets 76, 77) is provided with metallic sectors 104,

105, of considerable length, and with shorter sectors 106, 107, of insulating material, all of the sectors together forming a complete circle, as Awill be understood from Fig. 1. Mounted upon the neXt partition are metallic sectors-108, 109, and sectors v110, 111,

ofy insulating material, the sectors last mentioned being shorter than the sectors 108, 109. Mounted upon the third partition is a single metallic sector 112, and a single sector 113 of insulating material, these two sectors together constituting a circle. The next partition is provided with a semicircular sector 114 of insulating material and a semicir'cular sector r115 of metal. rfhe fifth partition is provided with a comparatively long sector 116 of insulating material, and

is connected with a spiral metallic spring,

120 whereby its resilience is increased.

X-braces 127, 128 are mounted upon the rods 102. Springs 129, 130 are connected with the contact arms 121, 122, as will be understood from Fig. 3. These Contact arms are mounted pivotally and are provided at their lower Vends with portions 131, 132. Mounted rigidly upon the X-braces 127 128, are cams 133, 134, each having substantially the form of a semicircle. As the main shaft 101 is turned, the portions 131, 132 of the contact arms 121, 122 engage these cams and the contact arms are therefore moved out of engagement with their sectors. The purpose of this arrangement is to open 4positively such circuits as may be controlled by the contact arms in question and to prevent areing. Metallic plates 136 are mounted upon disks 137 of insulating material. Each X-brace 127, 128 is provided with a back rib 136iL whereby it isstrengthened. Each meico tallic plate 136 is engaged by a contact spring 135 whereby current is supplied to it. Each disk 137 carries a metallic plate 139 upon which is journaled one of the direction, according to Fig. 5, the degreeof rotation representing the length of one tooth in any one ofthe wheels. The action of the spring contact arms above described. Me-

spring is to prevent too easy rotation of the shaft in either direction, the movable parts thus being practically locked. 1f, now, the saine magnet be energized again, the shaft makes a second movement like the one just described, but progressive in relation thereto. 1f, however, the magnet 76 is energized, the shaft turns in the opposite direction a distance representing the length of one tooth. If either magnet 76, 77 be energized in succession a number of times, the shaft and parts carried by it will travel step by step. If the magnets be energized alternately, each tends to undo the work of the other.

From the above description of the main switch not much trouble need be experienced in understanding the mechanism of the action of the auxiliary switches. As these switches are exactly alike, with the ex ception that they are reversed in every detail, only one of the auxiliary switches will be described, the relation of the other being clear from the diagram in Fig. 1.

The auxiliary switch 19 is provided with a base 141 and mounted upon this base are electromagnets 142, 143. The magnet 142 is provided with an armature 144 mounted upon av stem 145, the latterl being pivoted upon the base 141. The upper end of the stem 145 is provided with a bent portion 146 which engages a downwardly turned portion 147 of a slide rod 148. This slide rod is drawn to the left according to Fig. 9, Whenever the magnet 142 is energized. A spring 149 is connected to a lug 150 carried by this lslide rod and is also connected with a stationary bar 151. The armature 144 is provided with a stem 152 projecting upwardly from it. A revoluble shaft 153 is mounted in bearings 154, 155. The magnet 143 is provided'with a rocking armature 156, and extending upwardly from it is a stem 157 provided at its top with a cylindrical portion 158. Mounted adjacent to this portion and supported by the rods 151, 155 is a slide rod 159 provided with a downwardly turned portion 160. This portion may be engaged by the cylindrical portion 158 of the stern 157 whenever the armature 156 is attracted by the magnet 143, as will be understood from Fig. 8. Mounted upon the under side of the slide rod 159 is a pawl 161. A spring 162 is connected with this pawl. A toothed wheel 163 mounted upon the shaft 153 is in the same plane as the pawl 161 and is adapted to be engaged intermittently thereby. A wheel 162a is supported on the shaft 153, to be engaged by the pawl 154.

The slide rod 159 is provided with a screw 164 projecting upwardly and serving as a limiting stopfor preventing excessive travel of this slide rod when the latter has been displaced from its normal position and is being retracted to the same. A slide rod 159m is provided, and mounted over it is a spiral spring 165, which is connected with the bar 155 constituting a part of the framework. A leaf spring 166 (see Fig. 6) is carried by the slide rod 159a and yengages a dog 167 having generally the form of a latch. A spring 167 used for retracting this dog extends from the dog to the stationary bar 151. This dog is pivotally mounted upon the top of the slide rod 1591. A stop pin 168 is also mounted upon the slide rod 159a and projects upwardly from the same.

A cam 169, having generally the form of a triangle, is mounted upon the bar 151. Mounted upon the slide rod 159 and projecting upwardly therefrom is a lug 170 mating the dog 167 and adapted to be engaged thereby. A stop pin 17 Oa is mounted upon the slide rod 159 and serves to limit excessive travel of this slide rod. An X-brace 171 is connected with posts 156; another X-brace 171b is similarly connected with posts 185 for the purpose of bracing these posts. A

toothed wheel 171 is mounted rigidly upon the shaft 153 and is engaged by a spring 17:2 for the purpose of holding the shaft 153 and parts accompanying the same in definite positions after the various successive movefr ments of the shaft.

A metallic sector 173 and a sector 174 of insulating material are mated together and formed into a circle. Somewhat similarly a sector 175 of insulating material and a metallic sector 176 are placed together so as to form a circle. The sectors 173, 174 are mounted upon a partition 177 and the sectors 175, 176 are mounted upon a second partition 178. The relative positions of the four sectors are indicated in the lower lefthand corner of the diagram shown in Fig. 1.

Contact arms 179, 180 are mounted upon the shaft 153 and are turned by the rotation thereof. Connected with these contact arms are springs 181, 182 serving as conductors and connected with insulated disks 181, 189a of metal, these disks being engaged Aby contact springs 183 in order to supply current to the contact arms 179, 180. The magnets 142, 143, in acting upon their arma'- tures and ultimately causing the rotation of the shaft 153, do not perform alike. lVhenever the magnet 142A is'energized, the shaft 153 turns in a clockwise direction according to Fig. 1, this being a contraclockwise direction according to Fig. 9, and this movement takes place the instant the magnet 142 is energized. When, however, the magnet 143 is energized the shaft 153 does not move immediately, as will be understood from Fig. 8. It is only after the magnet 143 is denergized that the pawl 161 engages the toothed wheel 163 and turns the shaft 153 in a clockwise direction.

When the magnet 143 is energized so as to attract its armature 156 and to push the slide rod 159, the lug 170 engages the dog 167, swinging the latter to the left foran instant, according to Fig. 6, until the dog catches above the lug. the spring 166 then forcing the dog back into its normal position so as to hold thelug. The parts remain in this position so long as the current flows, the shaft 153 meanwhile being motionless.

As soon, however, as the magnet 143 is de energized the slide rod '159 moves back tolits normal position, carrying with it the -slide rod 159L (see spring 167, Fig. 8) and in doing this the dog 167, by its engagement with Ais released from engagement with the lug 170, as above described, the slide rod returns to its normal position thus removing the pawl 161 from the wheel 163. It will thus be seen how the rotation of the shaft 153 in a clockwise direction, according to Fig. 8, is retarded. The partitions 177, 178 are cut away inside of the circles represented by the sectors 173, 174, 175, 176, in order to allow the springs 181, 182 to extend through the partitions. These partitions are connected'together and supported by rods 184.

The metallic sector 104 (see Fig. 1) is connected by a wire 189 with two wires 187 a, 187), the wire 187a leading to the white Vlamp 70, and the wire 187b leading to the red lamp 72. A wire 188 is connected with the metallic sector 105 and with wires 189, 190, the wire 189 leading to the white lamp 73 while the wire 190 is connected with the red lamp 69. A wire 191 is connected with the contact arm 121 and also with the trolley wire 56. rlhe magnet 77 of the main switch is grounded through wires 192, 193, 194. The wires 192, 193 form a junction with the wire 195 which is connected by a wire 196 with the magnet 142. The wires 195, 196 form a junction with a wire 197 which leads to the magnet 143. This magnet is connected by a wire 198 with the sector 176. A wire 199 joins the wire 50 and is connected withvthe contact arm 180 of the auxiliary wire 201 with a wire 202, the latter leading'Y to the contact arm 122 of the main switch. v

From the magnet 142 a wire 203 leads to the metallic sector 117,'V A wire 204 leads from Vto the sector 118.

the contact arm 125 to the vwires 49, 193. Connected with the magnet 77 is a wire 205l anda wire 206 connects the wire last mentioned with the metallic sector 109. A wire 207 is connected with the metallic sector 112 and with the wires 205, 206.

From the magnet 76 a wire 208 leads to a wire 209, the latter being connected with the ground wire 194. The magnet 76 is connect- 19 are shown in the lower right hand corner of Fig. 1. Sectors 217,218, 219, 220 and the contact arms 222, 224,'having their analogous counterparts in the auxiliary switch 19, are shown in the lower right hand corner of Fig. 1. Sectors 217, 218, 219, 220 and the contact arms 222, 224, having their analogous counterparts inV the auxiliary switch 19, are shown in the lower right-hand corner of Fig. 1. Connected with the wires 208, 209 is a wire 225. The magnets 215, 216 are connected with this wire by aid of wires 226, 228. A wire 227 leads from the magnet 215 The ynfiagnet 216 is connected with the sector 218 by a wire 229.

The operation of my system is as follows: lThe various parts being connected up as indicated in Fig. 1, and occupying their respective normal positions, we will assume that a single Vcar enters the block from the left. The trolley wheel 61 carried by the car causes the rocking block 31 to swing sp as to force the contact plate 45 momentarily into engagement with the contact spring 44.

The following circuit is thereby completed: w itrolley wire 56, contact plate 45, contact springr44, wire 49 (see Fig. 1) wire 1,93, contact arm 123 (now resting on sector 112), wires r207, 205, magnet 77 of main 'switch 18, wires 192, 193 and 194 to ground. rllhis energizes the magnet 77 and by turning the revoluble shaft of the main switch 18'v causes all of the contactarms 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, carried by said main shaft to turn onestep to the left or in a contracloclrwise direction, according to Fig. 1. In rdoing this the changed relation of the contact armsy to the sectors produces certain changes in the various electrical circuits. For convenience in vtracing 'the circuits the mechanism shown in Fig. 12 will not be mentioned piece by piece but they circuits will be traced directly from the trolley wire to the various wires 49, 50, 65, 66. The movement of the v.contact arm 121 into engagementwith the y ing from the left repeats the operation above metallic sector 104 completes the following circuit: trolley wire 56, wire 191 (center of Fig. 1), contact arm 121, sector 104, wire 189, whence the current divides, a portion passing through wire 1671D to red lamp 72 and thence through wire 74 to ground; anotherl portion passing through wire 187a to the white lamp and thence through wire 71 to ground. The red lamp 72 in front of the car and the white lamp 70 at the rear of the car, which is now in the block, are thus lighted and lrept burning so long as the car remains. Suppose, now, that a second single car, also arriving from the left, enters the block. There is no danger of a collision between these cars for the reason that the operator in charge of the second car has the lights before him and is there fore apprised as to the condition of the block, so that he exercises caution. The car in passing the trolley switch 14 again causes the contact mechanism contained in this switch to be actuated as before, so as to momentarily place the trolley wire 56 in communication with the wire 49. rThe circuit above traced is now closed again. The magnet 77 is energized as before and the contact arms 121 to 126 inclusive are severally turned one step farther to the left according to Fig. 1. Each successive car now enterdescribed so that each car entering the block from the left causes each and every contact arm to move one step farther to the left, this step representing, as above described, the length of a single tooth upon any one of the toothed wheelscarried by the main switch, but causes no change in any circuit. The number of cars which can be accommodated in the block is limited only by the sizes of the metallic sectors in the main switch and the number of teeth which can be given the various toothed wheels, or rather those parts of the toothed wheels which represent the dimensions of the metallic sectors. During all the time while the block is wholly or partially filling up with cars, the lamps as hrst lighted continue to burn. Suppose, now, that a single car leaves the block, moving off toward the right. In doing this it passes the trolley switch 15 (identical in construction with the trolley switch 14) and establishes momentary communication between the trolley wire 56 and the wire 65. The following circuit is thus completed: trolley wire 56, wire 65, wire 223, contact arm 224 of switch 20 (this switch not having been disturbed), sector 220, wire 214, wire 202, contact arm 122 (for the time being to the left o-f its normal position), sectorl 108, wire 211, wire 210, magnet 76, wires 208, 20.9 and l194, to ground. The completion of this circuit energizes the magnets 76 and causes the shaft of the main switch to turn one step to the right or in a clockwise direction according to Fig. 1. Any other car moving out of the block toward theright, according to Fig. 1, repeats the operation just described, the net result being that the contact arms 121 to 126 inclusive severally can move one step in a clockwise direction. Up to this stage the step-by-step movements of the contact arms in the direction indicated have no effect upon the circuits. As soon, however, as the last car leaves the block, the contact arms in moving their last step resume their respective normal positions and in doing so the circuit through the lamps 70, 72 is broken and the lights are extinguished. This is because the contact arm 121, in moving out of engagement with the metallic sector 104, opens the circuit through these lamps. 1t seldom happens, however, that cars move into the block and out again in the order above described. Frequently several cars may be in the block and the last car to enter may back out of the block. In this instance it is desirable that the shaft of the main switch shall be turned one step so that the contact arms 121 to 126 inclusive are all turned slightly toward their' respective normal positions. Unless this is done the lamps will not behave properly-that is, the lights must become extinguished when the last car leaves the block, and if the car in backing out of the block produces no recording effect anywhere, the subsequent departure of the last car in the block might fail to affect the lights.

In order that a car, entering while the block is occupied and then backing out from the block, may be sure to have its appropriate effect in maintaining the status of the switch mechanism, and thereby avoid the trouble above indicated, the main switch is operated in like manner as if the car left in the opposite direction. Suppose, for instance, that there are several cars in the bloclr, all having entered from the left, and that the last car to enter backs out of the block, moving, of course, toward the left. lVhen the car passes the switch 14 communication is established between the trolley wire 56 and the wire 50, the following circuit being thus completed: trolley wire 56, wire 50, wire 200, contact arm 179, metallic sector 173, of auxiliary switch 19, wires 201, 202, contact arm 122 (now to the left), contact sector 108, wires 211, 210, magnet 76, wires 208, 209 and 194 to ground. This energizes the magnet 76 and actuates the shaft of the main switch so as to move the same one step in like manner as if the departing car had left in the opposite direction. The main switch therefore registers the retrogression of the car and assumes a condition commensurate with such departure. lVhen, therefore, the cars still occupying the blt-ck leave one by one, the departure of the last car its normal condition and thereby extinguish the light of the lamps 70, 72- Suppose, again, that two cars are upon the block, arriving` from opposite directions and facing each other. This may happen, for instance,

when two cars approach the block Jfrom opposite directions and one cary enters, say from the left, a second or two earlier than the other car enters from the right. The car first entering obtains, in a sense, control over the main switch 18, and the car last entering does so in technical disregard of the signal given by the lights. This signal may be flashed so suddenly that the car last entering has no time to stop and is already in the block before any opportunity is given to recede. The second car to enter the block, f

as just described, in passing the switch 15, establishes communication between the trolley wire 56 and the wire 66, thereby completing the following circuit: trolley wire 56, wire 66, wire 213, contact arm 126 (temporarily moved to the left), sector 11S, wire 227, magnet 215 of auxiliary switchV 20, wires 226, 225, 209 and 194 to ground. This energizes the magnet 215y and causes the contact arms 222, 224 to move to the left according to F ig. 1. The lights are not affected. The car may now back out of the block, that is, move out toward the right according to Fig. 1. 1n passing the trolley switch 15, the trolley wire 56 is brought into electrical communication with the wire Vand. the following circuit is thus completed:

trolley wire 56, wire 65, wire 211 contact arm 222 (temporarily to the left), sector 218, wire 229, magnet 216, wires 225, 209, 194 to ground. This energizes the magnet 216 and the subsequent denergizing of this magnet restores the switch 2O to its normal condition. This operation has no eifect upon the lights. The auxiliary switches 19, 20 thus act in a sense as a protection to the main switch. That is to say, the auxiliary switches, acting in conjunction with the main switch make it possible for a car, having accidentally entered a block regardless of the warning given by a danger signal, to back out again without a'ecting the main switch. Except for the auxiliary switches 19, 2O thus acting conjointly with the main switch, a car might enter the block traveling in the so-called wrong directionthat is, Jfacing and traveling toward one or more cars which had previously stopped in the block and in backing out, the car thus accidentally or improperly in the switch, by acting in much the same manner as any other car coming through the block would actuate the main switch one step toward the extinguishment of the lights. By acting thus, the car intruding in the block and coming in the wrong direction would dismesse@ turb the system and cause the lights to give a false indication.

" By my arrangement above described, any

car which enters the block obtains possession, as it were, of the main switch and other cars entering from the same direction having no effects whatever upon the lights as established by the first car moving in. If, now, another car enters the block from the opposite direction and backs out again, it is necessary toV have something for this lastdirection contrary to that described in connectionl with it, the action of the system is the same, with the exception that the movements of the various contact arms is in the opposite direction and that the auxiliary switches 19, 2O are substituted for each other; that is to say, each half of the system being an exact duplicate of the other half, anything a car may do in traveling toward the right or toward the left as the case may be, it can do if traveling in the contrary direction and under conditions otherwise the same.

1n describing the auxilia-ry switch- 19 (which is analogous in every way to the switch 20) it was stated that the contact Vmentioned car to operate upon in order to arms 180, 179 were retarded a little in their movements under the impulse of the magnet 148. The purpose of this arrangement is to maintain the arm 179 out of engagement with the sector 173, so that the dying current through the auxiliary switch 19 could not energize magnet 77. Similarly,

when the circuit is through the auxiliaryV switch 20, thc Contact arm 224 must be kept out of engagement with the sector 220, u ntil the current ceases to flow.` Except for these provisions, one or the other of the magnets 76, 7 7 might be accidentally ener- -gized, and cause the lights to be extin- The Contact arm 122 differentiates between the magnet 76, 77, and is controllable only by cars leaving the block, unless the auxiliary switches have been brought into play. The contact arm 123 serves to maintain temporary communication between itself and the magnet 77 in order to control the direction of movement of the shaft of the main switch whenever cars enter from the left. n

The contact arm 124; is for the purpose of temporarily establishing communication between itself and the magnet 76, its operation being' otherwise analogous to that of the contact arm 123. 1t is used only when cars enter the block from the right. The contact arm 125 serves to establish temporary communication between itself and the auxiliary switch 19, in order to arrange this switch ready for immediate service in case another car should move so as to require the service of this switch.

lThe contact arm 126 serves to maintain temporary communication between itself and the auxiliary switch 20, in order that a car under certain conditions, above described, may affect the switch. The contact arm 222 controls the magnet 216, while the contact arm 224, under normal conditions, controls communication between the trolley wire 56 and the magnet 76 or 77, according to the condition of the block. The contact arm 180 is sometimes a factor in the control of the magnets 143, and consequently of the movement of the auxiliary switch 19. The action of the contact arm 180 is analogous to that of contact arm 222, and that of the contact arm 179 is analogous to the contact arm 224.

It will be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction of the various parts shown, as reasonable changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention. While 1 preferably employ lamps as signaling members, any other suitable alarm mechanism may be employed in this relation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. 1n a block signal system, the combination of signals at each end of the block, a main switch for controlling said signals, electromagnetic means for moving the switch in one direction, a second electromagnetic means for moving the switch in an opposite direction, each of said electromagnetic means having two circuits, means for closing a circuit through one of said electromagnetic means when a car enters the bloc/lr at one end and for closing the other circuit therethrough when a car leaves the block at that end, the circuits of the other electromagnetic means being similarly controlled at the other end of the block, the circuits closed by cars entering` the block including contacts normally closed at the main switch and the circuits closed by cars leaving the block including contacts normally open at the main switch, the operation of the main switch by one of said electromagnetic means breaking the normally closed contacts and closing the normally open contacts included in the circuits of the other electromagnetic means'.

2. 1n a block signal system, the combina-- tion of signals at each end of the block, a main switch for controlling said signals, electromagnetic means for moving the switch in one direction, a second electromagnetic means for movingthe switch in an opposite direction, each of said electromagnetic means having two circuits, means for closing a circuit through one of said electromagnetic means when a car enters the block at one end and for closing the other circuit therethrough when a car leaves the block at that end, the circuits of the other electromagnetic means being similarly controlled at the other end of the block, an auxiliary switch and electromagnets for moving the same in opposite directions, connections operated by the main switch when moved by one of said electromagnetic means for disconnecting the other electromagnetic means from the circuit closed by a car entering the block and connecting in said circuit an electromagnet for moving the auxiliary switch, and connections operated by said auxiliary switch when so moved for disconnecting said other electromagnetic means from the circuit closed by a car leaving the block and connecting therein an electromagnet for moving the auxiliary switch in an opposite direction.

3. 1n a bloelr signal system, the combination of signals at each end of the block, a main switch for controlling said signals, electromagnetic means for moving the switch in, one direction, electromagnetic means for movingl the switch in opposite direction, each of said electromagnetic means having two circuits, means for closing a circuit through one of said electromagnetic means when a car enters the block at one end and for closing the other circuit therethrough when a car leaves the block at that end, the circuits of the other electromagnetic means being similarly controlled at the other end of the block, an auxiliary switch formed with a rotatable shaft, a plurality of contact arms radiating therefrom, a metallic segment for each of said arms, and an insulating segment for each of said arms co-acting with said metallic segment for making a complete circle over which said arms are adapted to move, electromagnets for moving said shaft in opposite directions, connections operated by the' main switch When moved by one of said first mentioned electromagnetic means for disconnecting the other of said first mentioned electromagnetic means from the circuit closed by e car entering the block7 and connecting` in said circuit one( of Said electromagnets to move said auxiliary switch, and connections operated by seid auxiliary switch when so moved for dis- 10 connecting said other irst mentionedy electromagnetic means from the` circuit closed by e car leaving the block and connecting therein an electromegnet for moving the auxiliary switch in an opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses'.

WILLIAM VERNON RYDER.

.Witnesses WALToN HARRISON, JOHN P. DAVIS.

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

f Y Washington, D. C. Y

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