US1421249A - kelsea - Google Patents

Description

C. H. KELSEA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING SIGNAL APPARATUS FROM FALSE COLORED SIGNALS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 28,1921.

Patented June 27, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET T.

EveTKLOY C. H. KELSEA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING SIGNAL APPARATUS FROM FALSE COLORED SIGNALS.

APPLlC'ATlON FILED JULY 28,1921.

1,42 1,249. Patented June 27, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

In ventor' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE H. KELSEA, OF BELMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'IO PETER GRAY & SONS INC., OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING SIGNAL APPARATUS FROM FALSE COLORED Application filed July 28,

To all to]; 0972 it may cow 0cm Be it known that I, CLARENCE H. KnLsEA, a citizen of the United States, residing in Belmont. in the county of Middlesex and State of idassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Methods of and Apparatus for Protecting Signal Apparatus from False Colored Signals, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a novel method of and ap mra'tusfor protecting signaling apparatus from false colored signals due to light rays from an extraneous source entering said signaling apparatus.

Railways and especially steam railways have been seeking to obtain a safe and reliable signal lantern or apparatus which can be used in the daytime as well as at night and avoid the use of the usual semaphore or movable arm. Lanterns for daylight signaling have been provided with an opening covered by a colored glass, a light source and a reflector within the lantern in line with the colored glass and cooperating therewith to project a beam of light through the colored glass and out of the lantern to give the signal desired.

Daylight lanterns of the character described are open to the objection that false signals are liable to be given by rays of light from an extraneous source which pass through the colored glass into the lantern, and, striking the reflector, are reflected back through the colored glass. Attempts have been made to overcome these false signals by means of shutters or other movable parts, which are more or less objectionable on account of the liability of the movable part failing to operate under all conditions. The present invention has for its object to protect the signaling apparatus from false signals produced by light rays from an extraneous source in a novel manner and with a novel apparatus, as will be described.

In accordance with my improved method, the rays of light from the extraneous source are caused to produce a colored beam of light within the lantern, and said colored beam is reacted upon by light to be completely masked thereby within the lantern. The masking light, preferably a wh1te light,

Specification of Letters Patent.

SIGNALS.

Patented June 2'7, 1922. 19 21. Serial No. 488,051.

may be obtained from the same or different sources, as will be described, and it may be preferred to obtain a portion of the masking light from the extraneous source of light and another portion from an auxiliarv source, as will be described. I

The method above referred to may be practiced with a lantern having an opening through which the extraneous rays of light pass into the lantern and which is preferably covered by a clear glass. Within the lantern in line with said clear glass, is located a colored glass, a light source and a reflector cooperating with said light source. Within the lantern and between the clear glass and the colored glass, is interposed a light transmitting screen or member, preferably one or more pieces of clear glass, which screen is arranged on an incline to the axis of the clear glass covering the opening in the lantern, and by means of which a portion of the incoming rays of light from the extreme ous source, such as the sunlight or a locomotive headlight, is deflected substantially at right angles to said axis, while the re maining portion of the extraneous rays pass through the light transmitting member and through the colored glass behind the latter and is reflected back by the reflector to form a false colored beam of light, which in accordance with this invention is partially or wholly masked by light rays which are projected upon the front face of the inclined light transmitting screen or member. The masking rays of light projected upon the light transmitting screen, may be composed wholly of the deflected rays of the incoming white light as will be described, or they may be composed of only a part of the deflected rays and a part from another source of light or wholly from another source. It is preferred to obtain the masking rays of light from two sources, to wit, from the incoming extraneous light and from an auxiliary light. The masking rays from the incoming light are obtained by reflecting back upon the inclined light transmitting screen, rays of the incoming light which are deflected by the said screen, and to this end an auxiliary reflector is provided which is located above the light transmitting screen and preferably cooperates also with the auxiliary source of li ht.

Provision is preferably made whereby under one condition of use the false colored beam produced by the extraneous light is only partially masked and under another condition of use is completely masked, as will be described.

These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end ofthis specification.

Fig. 1 represents a block signaling system provided with a signaling lantern or apparatus with which the railway is safeguarded against false signals in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a modification of the circuit shown in Fig. 1, and Figs. 3, 4, and 5,'modifications to be referredto.

Referring to ig. 1, I have shownone construction of lantern which may be preferred and in which a represents a compart- I'nent within a lantern casingb, provided in its front Wall with an opening which is covered by a clear glass 10, and containing an electric lamp 12, a reflector 13 cooperating therewith and a colored glass 14, through which a beam of light from the lamp 12 is projected to form a colored beam within the lantern which is projected out therefrom through the clear glass 10. The

glass 14 may be of any suitable color, such as used in railway signaling and such as red, green, yellow or purple. To facilitate description, the color of the glass 14 may be supposed'to be red to indicate Stop. False stop signals are liable to be given by rays of light from an extraneous source, such as the sunlight or the headlight of an approaching locomotive, which rtays pass through the clear glass 10 into the lantern and striking the reflector 13 are reflected back through the red glass 14.

Within the lantern is a light transmitting member or screen 20 preferably one or more pieces of clear glass, which screen is interposed between the clear glass 10 and the colored glass 14, is inclined with relation to the axis of the clear glass 10, and is of sufficient size to intercept the rays of. light projected by the reflector 13' and those passing through the clear glass 10 from the extraneous source. It will. thus be seen that the colored beam produced by the signallamp '12 passes through the screen 20 and out through the glass 10 under normal conditions, and may be designated the norma] colored beam, and that the false colored beam produced by the extraneous rays of light striking the reflector13 would, if permitted, pass through the screen 20 and out of the lantern through the clear glass 10 and give 'a false signal. To prevent the false colored beam passing out of the lantern, I have provided the latter with means for masking said false colored beam by a light which is projected upon the screen 20. The masking light in the construction of the lantern shown in Fig. 1 is obtained in part from the extraneous source of light, a portion of whose rays are deflected upward by the screen 20 substantially at right angles to the axis of the incoming rays of light and to that of the clear glass 10. The deflected rays are indicated by the arrows 21, and they are reflected back and projected upon the screen 20 by an auxiliary reflector 24, and react upon the colored beam of light. These reflected or masking rays are indicated by the arrows 22. The reflector 24 may and preferably will be constructed and arranged so as to reflect back upon the screen 20 a volume of light which is only suflicient to partially mask on the screen 20 the false colored beam, which is desirable under certain conditions of use, as will be described, and under certain other conditions of use, it is highly desirable to completely mask the false colored beam, which is effected by projecting upon the screen 20 an additional volume of light, which may be obtained from an auxiliary source of light 25 with which the auxiliary reflector 24 cooperates to project the light from the lamp 25 down onto the screen 20 and reenforce the rays of light from the extraneous source, which are projected by the same reflector upon the screen. It is preferred to protect the auxiliary lamp 25 by the usual clear glass 26.

The main and auxiliary lights 12, 25 may and preferably will be electric lamps, and in order that the invention may be clearly comprehended, I have shown in Fig. 1 the signal lantern as included in a signaling system, which includes block sections of a railway track as a part of the signaling system.

In the present instance 40, 41 represent the rails of a railway track, which latter is separated into block sections, of which three are herein shown and numbered 42, 43, 44. which are electrically separated by suitable insulation 45. The rails of eac block are supplied with current from a suitable source and as shown, eaclr block is provided with a track battery 47, which is connected by wires 48, 4.), with the rails 40, 41. The rails of each block have also connected with them by wires 50, 51, a relay 52 designated the track relay, which is preferably located near the outgoing end of the block. Each succeeding block is provided near its entrance end with a signal relay 53, which is connected with its rails 40, 41, by wires 54, 55, and each succeeding block is also provided'near its outgoing end with a track relay 52.

The track relay 52 in a preceding block as 42, cooperates with the signal relay 53 of a succeeding block as 43, to govern the main and auxiliary lamps 12, 25 of the signaling apparatus guarding the succeeding block 43.

To this end, the track relay 52 is provided with an armature 56, which cooperates with a terminal 57 of a signaling circuit including the electric lamps 12, 25, and the signal relay 53 is provided with an armature 58, which cooperates with two terminals 59, 60 ot the signaling circuit. One terminal as 59 is connected by wire 61 with one terminal of the auxiliary lamp 25, the other terminal of which is connected by wire 62 with a wire 63 leading from one pole of a battery 64, the other pole of which is connected by wire 65 with the terminal 57. The wire 63 is connected with one terminal of the main lamp 12, which has its other terminal connected by wire 66 with the terminal 60. The armature 56 of the track relay is connected by wire 67 with the armature 58 of the signal relay. Under normal conditions with the block sections of the track clear, the track and signal relays 52, 53 are energized, and the armature 56 of the track relay 52 is attracted and removed from contact with the terminal 57, whereas the armature 58 of the signal relay is attracted and contacts with the terminal 59. It will thus be seen that under normal track conditions, that is, with the block sections clear, the circuit of the main signal lamp 12 is open at two points, to wit, between the armature 56 of the track relay and its terminal 57, and between the armature 58 of the signal relay and its terminal 60, and the circuit of the auxiliary or masking lamp 25 is open at the track relay between the armature 56 and its terminal 57 and is closed at the signal relay between the armature 58 and terminal 59.

It now a train should enter the block 42 as indicated by the arrow 70, the track battery 47 of said block is short circuited by the wheels of the locomotive, and the relay 52 is deenergized, thereby permitting its armature to engage the terminal 57 and complete the circuit of the auxiliary lamp 25, which is thus lighted and its rays are utilized to neutralize or mask any false signal which may have been produced by an extraneous source of light, thereby placing the signal lantern governing the succeeding block 43 in normal condition to display the proper 'signal according to the condition of the succeeding block, that is, whether the latter is clear or occupied. If the succeeding block is clear, the signal relay 53 remains en'ergized.

lVhen, however, the train in block 42 enters the succeeding block 43, the battery 47 of block 43 is short circuited and signal relay 53 is deenergized, which causes its armature 58 to leave the terminal 59 and open the circuit of the auxiliary lamp 25, and to engage the terminal 60 and close the circuit of the main lamp 12, thus lighting the latter to show the stop red light as long as a portion of the train is in the block 42. When the train passes out of the block 42, the track relay 52 for said block is again energized and attracts its armature 56, thereby opening the circuit of the main lamp 12 between the armature 56 and terminal 57. As long as the train remains in block 43, the signal relay 53 for said block 43 is deenergized, and the circuit for the main lamp 12 remains closed between the armature 58 and terminal 60, but is open between the armature of track relay 52 for the preceding block 42 and the terminal 57 as long as the block 42 is clear. It a second train should enter the block 42 while block 43 is occupied by the first mentioned train, the track relay 52 for the block 42 is immediately deenergized and the circuit of the mainlamp 12 is closed between the armature 56 and terminal 57, and the stop signal is displayed to the engineer of the train. ap proaching the signal.

It will thus be seen, that the main lamp 12 and the masking or auxiliary lamp 25 are controlled by the conjoint action of the track relay of a preceding block and the signal relay of a succeeding block in the system shown in Fig. 1, for when both block sections are clear, both relays 52, are energized and their armatures 56, 58 are attracted, which opens the circuit of both lamps 12, 25 between the terminal 57 and the armature 56 of the track relay 52, closes the circuit of the auxiliary lamp 25 between the terminal 59 and the armature 58 of the sig nal relay 53, and opens the circuit of the signal lamp 12 between the terminal 60 and the armature 58. hen the block 42 is occupied by the train indicated by the arrow 70, the track relay 52 is deenergized and the circuit of the auxiliary lamp 25 is closed, and this lamp is lighted and shows a white light. lVhen the train enters block 43, the relay 53 is short circuited and the circuit of the lamp 25 is opened between the terminal 59 and the armature 58, and the circuit of the main lamp 12 is closed and the stop signal is shown. hen the train passes out of block 42 and into block 43, the track relay 52 is energized and the circuit of the signal lamp 12 is opened, as long as the preceding block 42 is clear. It a train enters the preceding block 42 while block 43 is occupied, the track relay 52 is immediately deenergized and the circuit of the main lamp 12 is closed, thereby showing a stop signal to the engineer of the train entering block 42. hen the block 43 is cleared by the train passing out therefrom, the signal relay 53 is again energized, and the circuit of the lamp 12 is opened between the terminal 60 and armature 58 and the circuit of the auxiliary lamp 25 is closed between terminal 59 and armature 58. The stop signal is no longer shown and the auxiliary lamp merely shows a white signal to the engineer of the train With the block 43 clear, the signal is protected against'a false signal from an extraneous source, for if sunlight or other extraneous light should enter the antern, and form a false colored beam as in. block above described, said beam would be parmasked by a portion of the rays of the incoming light being deflected upwardly by the screen and then projected back by the auxiliary reflector thereby reducing the aprmrent intensity of the colored beam pr jected out of the lantern, which would be entirely masked by the volume of light from ti lamp 525 as soon as a train enters the preceding block 42.

If the extraneous light should enter the lantern while block 4-3 is occupied, the false colored beam produced would only augment the intensity of the stop signal, as the lalse signal would be only partially masked by the reflected rays from the extraneous source.

It will thus be seen that with the system shown in Fig. 1, a false stop signal created by light rays from an extraneous source, is partially masked by rays of light projected upon the screen 20, under all conditions of the block guarded by the signal lantern, that is, when the block is clear or occupied, and is completely masked when the block is clear.

it is preferred to use the track relay 52 and have its armature 5G govern the circuit of the auxiliary lamp and main lamp 12, but the track relay 52 may be dispensed with and the armature 58 of the signal relay directly connected with battery G l. as indicated in Fig. 2. In. this latter case, the auxiliary lamp 525 would be lighted as long as the block 43 is clear, and would be extinguished and the main lamp 12 lighted when the block is occupied. hen the track relay 52 is employed, as shown in Fig. 1, both lamps are out until. an approaching train enters the preceding block 42, whereupon the auxiliary lamp is lighted if the succeeding block is clear, or if occupied the main signal. lamp is lighted, which arrangement enables the engineer of the approaching train to know the condition of the succeeding block and is also economical.

From the above description, it will be seen that with the construction of lantern shown in Fig. 1, the volume of light by which the false colored beam is completely masked, is obtained from two sources, a portion being obtained from the extraneous light source and a portion from the auxiliary lamp, and while this arrangement may be preferred, it is not desired to limit the invention in this respect, as the complete maslc ing light may be obtained from a single source, as, for instance, from an auxiliary lamp or from the extraneous rays.

In Fig. 3, is shown a lantern with which the masking rays are obtained wholly from the auxiliary lamp 525. To this end the lantern is provided with a reflector ranged above the screen 20 and substantially parallel therewith, and is further provided with a light-absorl'ring surface 71, such as a dull black surface, which is located with respect to the reflector 70 to have the extraneous rays 21 reflected by the reflecter 70 upon the absorber 71 by which they are absorbed and are not returned to the screen 20.

The auxiliary lamp 25 in this case is a naked lamp and when lighted, under conditions as above described, the light rays 22 therefrom strike the reflector '70 and are projected upon the upper surface of the screen 20 and mask the false colored beam created by the portion of the extraneous rays which pass through the screen 20 and are reflected back through the colored glass 14 by the reflector 13.

In Figs. 4 and 5, is shown a lantern with which the masking rays are obtained wholly from the extraneous rays. To this end, the lantern is provided above the screen 20, with a mirror reflector 75, which is pivoted at 76 so as to be turned from a horizontal posi' tion shown in Fig. 4 into an inclined position shown in Fig. 5.

This movement of the reflector is effected by a suitable device, which is shown as a solenoid 7 7 whose core 78 is pivoted at 79 to a bracket 80 on the reflector 75. The solenoid 77 is pivoted at 81 to facilitate move ment of the core 7 8 and reflector 7 5.

The lantern is also provided with an absorbing surface '71 on the same character as that shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. at, the reflector '75 is shown in what may be considered its masking position, wherein the rays of light from the extraneous source which are de tlected by the screen 20 are reflected back by the mirror reflector 75 and mask the false colored beam produced by those extraneous rays which pass through the screen 20 and are reflected back by the reflector 13 through the colored glass 1.4.

\Vhen the mirror reflector 75 is in the position shown in Fig. 4-, the signal lamp 12 is not lighted and the solenoid 77 is not energized as the latter is in multiple with the signal lamp.

hen the signal lamp 12 is lighted, the solenoid 77 is energized at the same time, and it attracts its core and turns the mirror reflector75 into the inclined position shown in F 5. In this position, if rays from an extraneous source should enter the lantern through the clear glass 10, the portion deflected by the screen 20 strikes the inclined mirror reflector '75 and is projected upon the absorber 71, whereas the portion passing through the screen forms a colored beam which augments the signal beam.

The mirror reflector 75 is provided with a counterbalance 84 on an arm 85 attached to the reflector 75, which facilitates movement of the latter by the solenoid.

It will thus be seen that with the lantern shown in Figs. 4. and 5, the masking light is obtained wholly from the extraneous source of light and is under control of the signaling system.

In railway practice it is customary to use red, green, yellow and sometimes purple lights, and it will be understood that with the daylight lantern system of signaling, there is provided a lantern for each color, and the color of the signal is determined by the color of the glass 14- in each lantern.

In practice, the signal lanterns are arranged in a group, usually comprising three lanterns, to show a red light to indicate Stop; a yellow light to indicate Proceed with caution, and a green light to indicate Proceed at will.

It will be understood that it is highly de sirable to safeguard each of these colored signals from false colored signals produced byan extraneous light. For instance, if the succeeding block 43 is clear, the green light should show and the red and yellow lights should not show. In this case, if an extraneous light should enter the red or yellow lantern, the false red or yellow colored beam would be masked and a false signal thus avoided. The white light produced in the red or yellow lantern by the masking light would then serve as a distinctive marker by which the signal lanterns could be located by the engineer.

In the construction of the signal lantern,

the walls of the compartment a will be made dust-tight and provided with suitable openings which are covered by the glasses 10, 1a, and 26, which are secured dust-tight to said walls.

It is not desired to limit the invention to the particular means herein shown for accomplishing the complete masking of the false colored beam.

Claims.

1. The method of protecting signaling apparatus from false signals produced by light rays from an extraneous source, which consists in partially masking the false signal light produced by said extraneous rays under one condition of use, and completely masking the false signal light produced by said extraneous rays under another condition of use.

2. The method of protecting signaling apparatus from false signals produced by light rays from an extraneous source, which consists in causing a colored beam produced within the signal apparatus by the extraneous source of light to pass through a light transmitting screen or member, projecting a given volume of light upon said screen to partially mask said colored beam on said screen under one condition of use, and increasing the volume of the light projected upon said screen to completely mask said colored beam under another condition of use.

The method of protecting signaling apparatus from false signals produced by light rays from an extraneous source, which consists in causing a colored beam produced within the signal apparatus by the extraneous source of light to pass through a light transmitting screen or member, and projecting a light upon said screen to react upon the colored beam produced by said extraneous source of light to more or less mask the same.

l. The method of protecting signaling apparatus from false signals produced by light rays from an extraneous source, which consists in masking the false signal light with rays of light from said extraneous source.

5. The method of protecting signal apparatus from false signals produced by light rays from an extraneous source, which con sists in interposing a light transmitting screen in the path of the false colored beam produced by said extraneous rays of light, and projecting upon said screen a light to react on said false colored beam and mask the same.

6. The method of protecting signaling apparatus from false signals produced by light rays from an extraneous source, which consists in masking the false signal light with rays of light from an auxiliary source.

7 The method of protecting signaling apparatus from false signals produced by light rays from an extraneous source, which consists in masking the false signal rays with light rays.

8. In a signaling apparatus, in combination. a casing provided with a clear glass, a light source in line with said clear glass, a colored glass within the casing between said clear glass and said light source, a reflector cooperating with said light source to project rays of light therefrom through said colored glass and then through said clear glass, a light transmitting member interposed. between said clear glass and said colored glass and inclined with relation to the axis of said clear glass, to deflect rays of light from an extraneous source passing into said casing through said clear glass, means located at an angle to the axis of said clear glass for reflecting back upon said light transmitting member rays deflected thereby, and an auxiliary source of light cooperating with said reflecting means.

9. In a signaling apparatus, in combination. a casing provided with a clear glass, a light source in line with said clear glass,

a colored glass within the casing between said clear glass andsaid light source, a reflector cooperating with said light source to project rays of light therefrom through said colored glass and then through said clear glass, a light transmitting member interposed between said clear glass and said colored glass and inclined with relation to the axis of said clear glass to deflect rays oi light'fro'm an extraneous source passing into said casing through said clear glass, and means located at an angle to the axis of saidclear glass for reflecting back upon said light transmitting member rays deflected thereby.

10. In a signaling apparatus, in combination, a casing provided with an opening, a light source, a colored glass between said opening and light source, a reflector cooperatin'g with said light source to project rays of lighttherefrom through said colored glass and out through said'opening, means located at an angle to the axis of said opening fordeflecting rays of light from an extraneous source which pass into the casing through said opening, and means for reflecting upon the said deflecting means rays of light deflected by it.

11. Ina signalingapparatus, in combination, a casing providedwith an opening. means within said casing for forming and projecting a normal colored beam of light out' throughsaid opening, a light transmitting screen located within the said casing and through which may pass rays of light frorn'an extraneous source to form a false colored beam. of light which is projected back onto said screen. and means for projecting avolume ofliglit upon said screen to mask the said false colored beam of light.

12. In a signaling apparatus, in combination, a casing provided with an opening, means within said casing for forming a normal. colored beam of light and for projectingzit out through said opening, and capable pof forming and projecting afalse colored beam from rays of light from an extraneous source which may pass -1nto said casing,

and means for masking with light rays said false colored beam of light.

13. In a signaling apparatus, in con1bination, a casing provided with means capable of forming a normal colored beam of light and of projecting it outside of said casing and. also capable of forming a false colored beam by rays of light from an extraneous source, and means for masking with light rays said italse colored beam of light.

14;. In a signaling apparatus, in combination, a casing provided with means capable of forming a normal colored beam. of light and of projecting it outside of said casing and also capable of ifOlHllHg a false colored beam by rays of light from an extraneous source, and means for partially masking said false colored beam with a given volume of ligl'lt under one condition of use, and for completely masking said false colored beam with an additional volume of light under anothercondition oil use.

15. In a signaling apparatus, in combination, a casing provided with means capable of forming a nori'nal colored beam of light and of projecting it outside of said casing and also capable of forming a false colored beam by rays oi? light from an extraneous source, and means for utilizing a portion of the rays of light from said extraneous source for the production of a masking light for said false colored beam.

16. In a signaling apparatus, in combination, a casing provided with means capable of forming a normal colored beam of light and of projecting it outside of said-casing and also capable of forming a false colored beam by rays of light 'lrom an extraneous source, an inclined screen interposed in the path of said? extraneous rays andsaid false colored beam, and means for projecting light rays upon said screen to mask said false colored beam.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CLARENCE H. KELSEA;

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