US1305757A - Traih-cohtk - Google Patents

Description

L. R. WALLAEE.

TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM. APPucAnma FILED JULY 15.1912.

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TRMN CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED Jun 15,1912.

1 ,35,?5?. I Patented June 3, 1919.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

LEWIS IR. WALLACE, 0F WALTHAIM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORTO NEVENS-WALLAGE TRAIN CONTROL COMP ANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

TRAIN-CQNTROL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters iatent.

Patented June 3, 1919.

Application tiled July 15, 1912. Serial No. 709,346.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, LEWIS R. W'ALLACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waltham, county of Middlesex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train- Control Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the positive control of railroad trains and the like, for the purpose of preventing the neglect or disobedience of the. usual signals employed in such systems. The invention is particularly adapted to be used in block systems where trains are to be kept absolutely within certain block limi'm; My invention is capable of independent useand also as an auxiliary to the usual block system, or indeed by a simple matter of Wiring it may embodied as part'thereof. By ita train proceeding "either intentionally or unintentionally past a signal will be under absolute control.

. In the form of my invention, to which I shall especially refer herein, the train controlling means is a tripper adapts. to be thrown across thetread ofthe rail just after a wheel has passed in order to engage and actuate a tripping device which operates the braking system of the train.

In the specificationwhich follows, I shall make particular reference to a form of stopping mechanism which I have found well adapted for practical use, and which is capable of effective operationunder the ord nary circuit conditions of railroad signals.

This device together wlth the connections shown will serve as an illustrative embodiment of'the principles involved in my invention. Throughout specification and drawings like reference numerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts, and inv the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sectionof track equipped with my stopping device and with the connections indicated for the operation thereof,

Fig. 2 is a transverse. section through my stopping device'showing the parts in non interfering position to indicate that there 13 a clear track ahead, I

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts from each other at a, Z) and c. lhe sections are, on account of the limited space, shown very short, but it will be understood that each one is intended to represent a block of more than a train length in extent.

Within the section B, and at a suitable distance from the beginning section C, I mount my tripping mechanism which may be supported on two ties, as indicated at T, T. The tripping device comprises a tripping finger 1 pivoted at 2 in suitable ears 3 on a rail plate 4:. The tail of the lever 1 is pivoted at 5 on a cross rod 6 running transversely of the track and guided by a plate 7. Between the flange of the plate 7 and the collar 8 on the rod 6 is coiled a spring 9 which tends to thrust the finger 1 into its tripping position in which it overlies the rail.

' Mounted adjacent the rail opposite the rail near which the finger 1 is located is a depressible device, :the efiective position of which is controlled by the condition of the block C. Thi structure consists of a depressible plate 10 positioned parallel with and adjacent to the nail on the outside thereof so as to be withinthe path of the overhanging tread of the car wheel in passing. The plate 10 is provided at each end with arms 10 which are connected to a bar 10 positioned substantially parallel to the plate 10 and provided with studs 11 at each end which are received in bearings 12 on the ties "1. Depending from the bar 10 is an arm 13, the lower end of which is pivoted at 14 in the bifurcated end of the rod 6. When the plate 10 is positioned ininterfering relation to the train wheels, a depression'of said plate will through the connections 10 ment to the rod 6 thereby moving the finger 1 away from the opposite rail and out of tripping position just before it would be struck.

The finger 1 is thrown across the rail just after each wheel passes. The corresponding wheel on the opposite side of the track begins to depress the plate 10 and thus withdraws the finger 1 just before the finger 1 would be struck. The action of the device is therefore to pull the finger 1 off of the track just before the wheel hits it and drop it back on to the rail just after the Wheel has passed. As a train therefore moving in the direction of the arrow passes over the plate 10 on section B it Will depress that plate andv throw the tripper 1 unless the plate 10 be held in depressed position. As it is'not desired to have the tripper elfective unless there is a train already on block section 0, I therefore provide a locking mechanism for holding the plate 10 in depressed position and the tripping finger 1 away from its engaging position on the track.

This locking mechanism comprises a. pair of magnets 20 with an armature pivoted at 22 and working against a stop 2-3. A spring 24: tends to hold the armature 21 away from the magnets 20 in which position the end of the armature 21 clears the notched end of the lever 25, permitting it to drop as shown in Fig. 3, thus releasing the end of the lever 26 pivoted at 27 which is normally held within a recess 28 formed between the arm 25 a spur 21:

In the position shown in F 1g. 2, the lever 26 has an end resting within the recess 28 and is held in this position by the arm or I lever 25. This lever 25 is held by the armature 21 which supports it and prevents it irom d'rbpping as long as the armature is held against the magnets 20 by the closed circuit. When the circuit is broken, however, the armature 21 is thrown out by the spring 24: and thelever 25 dropped, thus permitting the drop of the end of the lever 26 and allowing the rise of the plate 10 under the action of thespring 9.

The lever 26 beyond the pivot 27 is pivoted at 51 to a link 52 fastened at 53 to the arm 10 of the plate 10, see 6. The movement of the plate 10 is therefore transmitted to the lever 26.

Each time the plate 10 is depressed the end of the lever 26 passing the spur 29 lodges within the recess 28. and raising the lever 25 makes it possible for the armature 21 to be drawn under it and supported if the circuit is closed at the time.

It will thus be seen that as long as'the circuit is closed the plate 10 will remain locked in depressed or non-operative posi tion, or if it is not already locked at theitime the circuit is closed it will become lr :ked as soon as the plate 10 is depressed b a car wheels of the train which is run over it.

As 'a train approaches section C, if the track is clear, the circuit in section C Will be complete. If the stopping device is in the position shown in Fig. 1 nothing will happen and the train will simply pass by into section C. If it should happen that the tripping device. has been left in the position shown in Fig. 3, prior to the completing of the circuit of section C and that circuit had thereafter become completed so that the block C was in reality clear, then the first wheel which passes over the plan. 10 would restore the tripping device tr. the position shown in Fig. 1 so that no actual tripping would take place butthe train would be permitted to pass into the block C.

As soon, however, as the train has passed insulation Z) and entered block C, the current from the battery 3 1 in that block is short circuited across the track C by the wheels and thearmature 21 released so that the spring2elth-rows it out from its supporting position, allowing the lever 25 to drop, releasing the lever 26 and permitting the plate 10 to be raised by the spring 9 to its contacting position. 7

As long as there is a train on the block'C, any train approaching the tripping device will find the plate 10 in engaging position so that as soon as a wheel comes incontact with the plate 10 the tripping finger I will be snapped down behind the wheel to engage the tripping mechanism for setting the brakes. This tripping mechanism for setting the brakes and stopping the train may beof any desired construction, as that set forth in the application of Herbert H. Nevens, filed June. 19, 1911, serially numbered 634,010. It will thus be seen that my device constitutes a positive stop for a train approaching a block already occupied or in which the'circuit is broken by any accident to the rails, or if connected with the ordinary signaling circuit it will be effective if the signaling circuit is outof order.

While I have shown and particularly described the features of my present invention as embodied in a positive control s stem, yet it will be readily understood is at they may be utilized in a system in which signals for control or the like are to be transmitted. i

Various modifications may obviously be made in the details and construction and operation of my device all without departable finger positioned over the opposite rail of said trackway, and means effective upon the engagement of said plate by said wheels to automatically remove said finger from over the rail.

2. A deviceof the class described comprising movable arm positioned adjacent to one rail of a trackway within the in- .fluence of the wheels of a passing train, a

movable ringer positioned over the Opposite rail of said trackway, means effective upon the engagement of said plate by said wheels to automatically remove said finger from such operating position, and means for locking said arm and said finger away from their operative positions;

3. A device of the class described comprising a pivoted plate positioned adjacent 'to one rail of a trackway ,within the influence of the wheels of a passing train, a movable finger pivoted for movement over the opposite rail of said trackway for engagement with the braking system or a train, a link connecting said plate and said finger to move the latter from across the rail upon the engagement of said plate by said wheels and a resilient member efi'ective to return said-finger to operative position across said rail upon the passage of a wheeh 4. A device of the class described comprising a pivoted plate positioned adjacent to one rail of a trackway within the influence of the wheels of a passing train, a movable finger pivoted for movement over the opposite rail of said trackway for engagement with the braking system of a train, a link connecting said plate and said finger to move the latter from across the rail upomthe engagement of said'plate by said wheels and a resilient member effective to return said finger to operative position across. said rail upon the passage of a wheel, and means for locking said plate and said -finger away from their operative positions.

5. A device of the class described comprising a movable plate operatively mounted adjacent" to one rail of a trackway within the influence of the wheels of a passing trainta movable finger positioned over the opposlte rail of said trackway for operatively influencing the brake system of a train moving along said trackway, means effective upon the,engagement of said plate by said wheels to automatically remove said finger from such operating position and automatic means for returning said finger when said arm is released from the influence of said wheels.

6. A device of the class described comprising a movable plate positioned adjacent to one rail of a trackway within the influence of the wheels of a passing train, a movable finger positioned over the opposite rail of said trackway and effectively disposed when in operating position in the path of a brake setting mechanism carried by said passing train to actuate said mechanism, an

operating connection between said plate and said finger, and an operating system in control of the movement of said plate and finger for operative and inoperative positions.

7. A device of the class described comprising a movable plate operatively mounted adjacent to one rail of a trackway within the influence of the wheels of a passing train, a. movable finger positioned over the opposite rail of said trackway for operatively influencing the brake system of a train moving along said trackway, and means effective upon the engagement of said plate by said wheels to automatically remove said'finger from such operating position.

8'. In combination with a trackway an actuating device for establishing a communication with a train movingthereon and comprising tripper movably mounted relative to one rail of said trackway and normally disposed in the path of the wheels of a train on said trackway, an operating mechanism operatively associated with the opposite rail of said trackway, connecting means between said operating mechanism and said. tripper and effective to withdraw said tripper from the trackway.

9. A device of the class described comprising a 'l'noving member normally positrm it as a wheel passes and returning it immidmtely upon the passage of the wheel.

10. In combination with a track an actuating arm for an air brake system said arm bein movably mounted in relation to said tracfi and normally lying in the path of the wheels of a train in passing thereon, and operating means disposed in the path of such wheels and operatively connected to said arm to remove the same from the path of the wheel while the wheel is passing.

11. A signaling device of the class described comprising a vmovable arm positioned adjacent to one rail of a trackway and normally in the path of the wheels upon said rail. an operating device operativ elv assoc ated with the opposite rail and adapted to be e fl'ectively engaged by wheels 133S7 mg on said opposite rail, and a connection its ' and to return the arm to normal position wh the wheel has passed,

12. In a signaling device of the class dea on with an insulated section of track a l t tripping member associated with ore rail of said track and adapted to lie the path of the Wheel thereon or to removed from said position, wheel contacting member on the opposite rail and operatively connected to said tripping member to remove said member from the path of the wheel when engaged with the opposite wheel, an electrically controlled catch for holding said tripping member in withdrawn position, including a circuit connectedwith another section of said track.

13;111 a device of the class described a dcpressible plate, means for mounting said plate adjacent to a rail, a laterally movable finger, means for mounting said finger adjacent to said other rail, means for scribed in combin mally holding finger over s ran '1 connection between said l ting for moving said finger upon the r aeration of said plate, a locking ccnnectionya lock- I, f movable relative there tween said plate and said finger for mov- :1ng said finger upon the operatn ing device adapted to receive said locking connection to-hold said depressed, including'a normally efiective electric? ctionf, and'means for unlocf ng sa 7 ing connection when the circuit of said electrical connection is broken 14, a device of described, a pressible plat to one rail, a finger adjacent 1 and laterally U, a connection bov of said plate, a lever pivotec between its I and connected to said plate at one end, =2 proted notched locking piece adapted to eiv the other end.of said lever when held u to 391d said plate depressed, a pivoted armature having its free end movably mounted under said locking piece, a magnet for moving said armature unde said locking piece, and

a'spring' for throwing said armature out from under said locking piece,

15. In combination with a trackway,,an airbrake actuating device movably mounted relative thereto and having an interfering position in the path of the Wheels of a passing train and a non-interfering position out of the path of the Wheels, and an operating device disposed in the path of the wheels of said t ain and operatively connected to saidactuatmg de ice to withdraw the actuating device during the passage of the Wheels and immediately restore it after such passage.

16,-"A device of the class described comprising a moving member, normally positioned over a track, a Wheel engaging mem access? her, and an operative connection between said moving member and said Wheel engaging member for removing it from the track as a wheel passesand returning it immediately upon the passage of the Wheel, and means for locking said moving member and said wheel engaging member in said removed position. v

17. In a deviceof the class described, the combination of an insulated section of track, a movable member normally positioned over one rail of said track, a Wheel contacting member, and an operative connection between said movable member and said Wheel contacting member, an electrically controlled catch for holding said movable member in withdrawn position, including a circuit operably associated with another section of said track.

18. In. a device of the class described, in connection with an insulated section of track, a moving member normally positioned over an "approaching section of the track, a Wheel engaging member adjacent to the moving member, an operative connection between said moving member and said Wheel engaging member for removing the moving member from the track as a Wheel passes and returning it immediately upon the passage of the Wheel, an electrically controlled locking device for holding said movlief member actuator located along thetraclrway and adapted to be moved into and out oi actuating relation to the relief member, comprising a controlling device disposed adjacent the trackway and adapted 'to be actuated by a train, and having an interfering and a non-interfering position relative thereto, a lock normally holding said control device in its non-interfering position, a release for said lock allowing said control device to move to its interfering position, and an operative connection between said control device and said actuator effective to maintain said actuator in non-actuating position when said control device is locked and moving said actuator to its actuating position when the control device is released. a

20. In automatic train stop apparatus, a control mechanism for a brake system lief member actuator located along the traclnvay and adapted to be moved into and out of actuating relation to the relief member, comprising a controlling device disposed adjacent a rail of the trackway and adapted to be actuated by a Wheel of the train, and having an interfering and a noninterfering position relative thereto, an electromagnetic lockf'normally holding said remove said actuator trol' device to move to its interfering po-,

sition, and an A operative connection between said control device and said actu-' ator eflectlve to mamtam said actuator in its non-actuating position when said control device is locked and. mov1ng" said actuator to its actuating position when the control device is released. 21. In automatic train stop apparatus, a

member actuator located along the trackway and adapted to be moved into and out of actua ting relation to the relief member, comprlslng a track trip having an actuating and a non-actuating relation to a train-carried 'part, an oscillatable support for saidtrack trip, an automatic locking mechanism nor mally maintaining said tracktrip in nonactuating position relative to said traincarried part, and -'a motion transmitting connection from said track trip to saidrelief member actuator adapted to move said actuator to actuating position relative to the re-- lief member upon movement of the track trip to interfering position relative to said trip-actuating device.

22. In automatic train stop apparatus, a

control for a brake system relief member actuator located along the trackway and having a variable position relativeto the path of the relief member, comprising a train-operated controlling element for the actuator disposed at the trackway, and a motion transmitting connection between said control element and actuator "and actuated by the operation'of said control element to relief member.

from the path of said 23, In automatic train stop apparatus, a,

control mechanism for a brake system relief member actuator located at the trackway and having a variable positionrelative to the path of the relief member, comprising a track trip adapted to be actuated by a train wheel,and a motion transmitting connection from said trip tosaid actuator for removing'said actuator from the path. of said relief member upon actuation of the track trip by atrain wheel. control mechanism for a brake system relief v 24'. In automatic train stop apparatus, a control mechanism for a brake system relief actuator disposed adjacentone rail of the trackway and adapted to be moved into and out of actuating relation tothe relief member, comprising a control device for said relief member actuator disposed adjacent the other rail ofthe trackway and having an actuating and a non-actuating relation to a train-carried part, a'releasable lock for said control device, and an operative connection between said control device and said relief member actuator includinga s ring normally maintaining said relief mem er actuator in non-actuating positionrelative to said relief

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