US1222634A - Signal device for electric-railway cars. - Google Patents

Description

J. E. KEPPEL.

SI'GNAL DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. 21. 1914 Lgg mo Patented Apr. 17, 1917;

JESSE E. KEPPEL, OF ST. LOUIS. MISSOURI.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC-RAILWAY CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr, 1?, 1917.

Application filed November 21, 1914. Serial No. 873,267.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn E. KEPPEL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices for Electric-Railway Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal devices for electric railway cars. It has for its principal object to prevent the collision of a moving car with one on which the power has failed so as to render it incapable of proceeding, and without light. Another object is to indicate to the crew that the source of power outside of the car has failed, or that the connection between the lead into the car and the power transmission line is broken. A still further object is to facilitate the placing of the trolley on the power line wire in the darkness. Other objects and advantages will hereinafter more fully appear.

T 1e accompanying drawing shows a representation of a trolley-electric motorcar equipped with signal devices according to the invention.

The numeral 1 designates the body of the car, projecting above the hood 2 of which, at either end, is a light-box or lantern 3, having a lens 4 disposed so as to direct the rays of the light lengthwise of the track or in the line of travel of the car. On the roof 5 of the car are light-boxes or lanterns 6, having lenses 7 at their tops, and being arranged so as to direct the rays of light upward in the region where the trolley 8 is applied to the power line wire 9.

The lead wire from the trolley pole into the car is indicated at 10. This wire is connected with the controller 11, as at 12, said controller being located at any convenient place according to the station of the motorman. From the controller leads a wire 13, having branches 14, 15, to the motors 16, 17, which are mounted on the trucks 18, 19, in the usual manner. Wires 20, 21, lead from the motors to ground.

The normal or regular lighting circuit in the car includes a wire 22 which is connected to the lead wire 10 by a wire 23. The wire 22 is adapted to be connected to the lighting circuit wire 24 through a switch 25, the lights 26 being connected in series to said wire 24, and the wire running to ground, as at 27. In practice, the lead to ground is effected through the metallic parts of the truck, wheels and track rails.

The wire 23 leads to a magnet coil 28, from which leads a wire 29 to ground. Normally, when the trolley 8 is on the power line wire 9, the current is flowing constantly through the magnet 28 whether the car is in motion or not, and whether or not the lights are turned on. The magnet thus energized constantly holds open a switch in an auxiliary or emergency electrical circuit carried on the car. As shown in the diagram, the switch comprises two pole-connectors 30, 31, which are pivotally connected by a bar 32 so as to be operated simultaneously, said bar being located in a position to be attracted to the core of the magnet 28 when the latter is energized. Attached to this bar 32 is a spring 33, said spring being adapted to retract the bar when the magnet 28 is deenergized, and thereby close the auxiliary circuit.

The auxiliary circuit includes a battery 34, from one pole of which leads a wire 35 to the switch member 30, and from the opposite pole leads a wire 36 to the switch member 31. The switch member 30 connects the wire 35 with a wire 37, said wire 37 having branches 38, 39, leading to electric bells 40, 41, located at either end of the car or in proximity to the stations of the motorman andconductor. Leading from the opposite poles of the respective bells 40, 41, are wires 42, 43, which are connected to a wire 44, said wire 44 being connected to the wire 36 by the switch member 31. By the arrangement just described the bells 40, 41, will be sounded immediately the connection between the car and the power line wire is broken and the magnet 28 deenergized, said bell circuit being at all times efiective, either day or night.

The wires 37 and 44 are respectively connected to wires 45, 46, of an auxiliary lighting circuit, by switch members 47, 48, said switch members being thrown to break the lighting circuit in the day time or whenever it is so desired. Connected in multiple with the wires 45, 46, are a series of lights, two of which, 49, 50, are respectively located in the light-boxes 3 on the hood of the car, two others, 51, 52, being located in the lightboXes in the roof of the car, and two others, 53, 54, or more, being located within the car to illuminate the interior in the emergency due to the failure of the normal or regular lighting circuit.

From the foregoing description it is readily seen that the attention of the crew is directed to the break in the connection between the power line wire and the lead into the car, and that in the night time a signal is provided to indicate to the motorman of an approaching car that there is danger of a collision with a disabled or dead car. Also, the interior of the car may be instantly relighted when the regular lighting circuit is rendered ineffective by the break in the power current. The spot-lights in the roof, while primarily provided to facilitate the restoration of the trolley to the power line wire in the darkness, also serve, because of their upwardlydirected rays to indicate to the motor-man of an approaching car the location of a car when disabled in a deep cut or ravine, or under certain conditions wherethe hood lights 3 would not be visible.

Obviously many changes in the construction of the parts, and in the arrangement of wiring for-the respective circuits, may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shown and described.

'I claim:

1. In an electric railway car, a signal de vice thereon for the attention of the motorman or the crew in charge, a signal device on said car for the attention of those on a car approaching, both of said signal devices being normally inactive, said first-mentioned signal device being continuously in operable condition, means for placing said second-mentioned signal device in operable condition at will, and means for rendering said signal devices active automatically upon the failure of the electrical current in the lead from the main source of electrical energy to the motive equipment of the car.

2. In an electric railway car having a trolley connection with a power line wire, a light projector arranged on the roof of the car in a positionto project light in the region of thepower line wire wherethe trolley is applied thereto, and electrical controlling means on the car in connection with the main electrical circuit from the trolley lead, said controlling means maintaining said light projector normally inactive,- and whereby,

upon failure of the electrical current in said.

main circuit, said illuminable device is rendered active automatically.

3. In an electric railway car having a trolley connection with a power line wire, an electrical illuminable device arranged on the roof of the car so as to project light in the region of the power line wire where the trolley is applied thereto, a local source of electrical energy on said car for said illuminable device, a normally open self-closing circuit closer for efiecting a connection between said illuminable device and said local source of electrical energy, and an electrical controlling device for maintaining said circuit closer in normal open position, said controlling device being electrically connected to the main electrical circuit from the trolley lead whereby upon failure of the electrical current in said main circuit said illuminable device is rendered active automatically. V

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JESSE E. KEPPEL.

Witnesses G. A. PENNINGTON, V STELLA HILL.

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

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