US1517784A - Automatic railway-crossing signal - Google Patents

Description

D. HILLIARD AUTOMATIC RAILWAY CROSSING SIGNAL Filed Jan; 15, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 D. H. HILLIARD AUTOMATIC RAILWAY CROSSING SIGNAL 2 Sheens-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 1 1924 Inventor D. H. ILLIARD 3 (fiL-ziz dhm gin- Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES nhvrn rain-swan, or Arms, IOVTA.

AUTOMATIC- RAILWAY-CROSSING sIGNAL.

Application filed January 15, 1924. Serial 686,260.

To all 207mm 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that 1,:DAVID H. I-IILLIARD, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Ames', Story County, Iowa, have invented a new and useful Automatic Railway-Crossing Signal, of which the fol1owing is a specification The object of this invention is to provide improved means, adapted tobe operated by the passageof a train, for actuating; a sigm1 and guard device relative to a highway crossing;- a

A further object of this invention" is to provide an improved crossing signal and guard device for a crossing, adapted to be operated automatically by a train entering a block from either end and to be released by the entrance of the train to an inner block coinciding substantially with the boundariesot' the crossing.

A nrther object of this invention is to provide an improved crossing signal and guard device for crossing, adapted to be operated automatically by a train entering a block from either end and to be released by the entrance of the train to inner block coinciding substantially with the boundaries of the crossing, with further means" to prevent a second actuation or? the signal: and guard device upon passage of the train from the inner to the outer or encompassing: block.

A further object of this invention is to provide an: improved construction t'or an automatic railway crossing signal, including an electro-Inagnet adapted to be placed in circuit by entrance of a train to a certain section or block of track, said magnet having; a slid-able" armature operatively connected with a signal and guard device.

A further object of this invention is to provideimproved connections between asignal" and guard device and the movable armature of an" electrdm-agnet.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved automatic signalling device'involiving a plurality of magnets so arranged and connected that the mainor signal-actuating magnet is ener ized by entrance of a train to an outer block from either direction; a second magnet is employed tobrealr the circuit to the first net upon entrance of the'train to an inner block aid second magnet also acting to carry lever arn'iature into position for attraction: by a third magnet which serves to maintain the break in the. first circuit from the time the train leaves the inner block un'-' til it leaves the outer block, thus preventing a second actuation of the signal device.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in whi'ch- Figure 1 is a plan view, partly diagrammatic, showing a section of railway track and a' highway crossing the same, as equipped with my improved signal device; Figure 2 is an elevation of the signal device proper in nonoperative position, portions beingbrOken away to economizespace, Fig} ure 2' being on a larger scale than Figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical section, on a further enlarged scale, on the line 33 of Figure 1', also showing a diagram of the electrical connections.

The numerals l0, l1 designate track rails of a railway, cross which extends a highway designated at 12. An outer block is provided in the t 'ack by means of breaks in the rails 10,- 11, at points designated by the letters A and B, which breaks or joints are transversely alined in the two rails 10, 11 of the track; The block defined by the joints A, B' may be of any desired length, one joint or break being on each side of the highway crossing to which the signal system applies, and said joints or breaks are located sulliciently remote from the crossing thatthe signal will be actuated by a train entering the block, at a considerable interval before the train reaches the crossing, to provide suflicient warning to persons on the highway. Included within and en compassed by the outer block A B is an inner block CD, defined by breaks or joints in one or both of the track rails, preferably located adjacent the boundaries of the crossing with the highway 12. j

The signalling and guard device is placed in any suitable location near the crossing of the highway 12 and railway track, and includes a base 18 and a l'iousing 14 mounted thereon and containing most of the actuating mechanism. A shaft 15 is journaled for rotary oscillation in the housing 14 andprojects at one end therefrom, said shaft being arranged transversely with respect to the trend olithe tr: ck rails 10,11. A cylindrical electromagnet 16 is suitably mounted in horizontal position in the housing 14, preferably below the shaft 15 and having its axis at right angles thereto. An armature 17 is provided, movable toward and away from one end of the magnet, and has a bar 17 extending within the hollow core thereof. Attached to and extending laterally from'the armature 17 is an arm 18 carrying a rack 19 extending across the plane of the shaft 15, and operatively engaging a toothed segment 20 loosely mounted on said shaft. The rack is provided with suitable guiding means to maintain its alinement, in this instance longitudinal slots 21 therein engaged by pins 22 carried by the housing. Fixed to the hub of the toothed segment 20 is a radially extending arm 23, on the extremity of which, and within the housing 14, is a weight 24, and said arm engages a stop 25 carried by the housing or frame, to limit its downward movement. Fixed to the projecting end of the shaft 15 is a guard and signal arm 26, adapted to extend across the highway 12 at times in substantially horizontal position as shown in Figure 1, and normally to rest in elevated position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The guard and signal arm 26 is fixed to the shaft between its ends, and a weight 27 is mounted, preferably adjustably, on the short end thereof and serves to counterbalance said arm and compensate for a portion of the excess weight of the longer arm thereof. A flange or hub 28 is formed on or fixed to the shaft 15 adjacent the toothed segment 20, and is formed with spaced stop shoulders 29, 30, approximately ninety degrees apart and opposed to each other. The shoulder 29 is engaged by a pin 31 (dotted lines Figure 3) on the weighted arm 23, whereby the signal and guard arm is carried to elevated position by normal movement of said weighted arm to its position of rest; and the shoulder 30 is adapted to engage a stop 32 projecting downwardly from the top of the housing 14, to limit movement of the signal and guard arm to its normal elevated position. Movement of the guard arm 26 to operative position, and of the weighted arm 23 to uppermost position against the influence of gravity, is limited and cushioned by engagement of the latter arm with a resilient stop or spring 33 carried by a downwardly or inwardly projecting portion of the top of the housing, thereby absorbing shocks and preventling injury to the movable parts in the ac tuation of the device. The loose connection between the actuating means and the arm 26 is to prevent injury to the latter and its connections during operation in either direction, which might occur were a rigid connection employed.

A battery 34 is suitably located, and is connected by a conductor 35 to one of the track rails, such as 10, within the limits of the block AB but outside of the inner block CD. The opposite terminal of the battery is connected by a conductor 36 to the electro-magnet 16. A releasing magnet 37 and a retaining magnet 38 also are mounted within the housing 14, in parallel but opposed relation, the latter magnet being of less power than the releasing magnet 37. The magnets 37, 38 are provided with a common armature 39, pivoted between its ends at the point 40, and so arranged that a longer or heavier arm is adapted to be att acted at times and held by the weaker magnet 38 when moved into position for such attraction by action of the magnet 37 on the opposite end of said armature, which is normally held in the position shown in Figure 3 by force of gravity upon its longer or heavier end. A contact member 41 is arranged in the housing and is adapted to be engaged by the shorter arm of the pivoted armature 39 when in its normal position. A conductor 42 connects the electromagnet 16 to the contact point or member 41, and the circuit is completed through the pivoted armature 39 by a conductor 43 attached to the pivot 40 thereof and extending to the opposite track rail, 11. The conductor 43 prefeably is connected directly at its terminal with a shunt conductor 44 having its ends attached to opposite end portions of the rail. 11, on opposite sides of the inner block C-D and within the block AB, but any other suitable arrangement may be made for forming a broken circuit between both end portions of the block AB through the other members described. A sub-circuit also is established through the weaker or retaining magnet 38 in connection with the open circuit just described, by means of conductors 45, 46 connecting said magnet to other conductors of the circuit, in this instance to the conductors 36 and 43 respectively.

The releasing magnet 37 is in a ditlerent circuit, having one terminal connected by a conductor 47 with the battery, in this instance through the conductors 45 and 36, and the opposite terminal of said magnet 37 is in open circuit with the inner block CD by means of a conductor 48 attached to one of the rails of said inner block, in this instance 11, which portion of the rail is separated from the other or outer portions of said rail constituting the end portions of the outer block AB. A signal light 49 preferably is mounted in the longer end portion of the guard and signal arm 26, and is connected with the main circuit by a conductor 50 attached to the battery or to the wire 35 adjacent thereto and by a conductor 51 extending to a contact member 52 within the housing, adapted to be engaged at times by a spring switch 53 adapted to be engaged by the weight 24 of the arm 23 and held in open position when said weighted arm is at rest or the guard arm is in inoperative position, said switch having connection with the battery by means of a conductor 54, in this instance attached to the conductor 36.

In practical use the main circuit is closed by a train (or locomotive) entering the outer block A-B from either end, the metallic parts bridging the space between the track rails 10, 11, thus energizing the operating magnet 16 which attracts the armature 17 and moves it inwardly. Such movement causes a corresponding movement of the arm 18 and rack bar 19, thus oscillating the toothed segment 20 and lifting the weighted arm 23 to the position indicated by dotted lines in. Figure 3. This moves the pin 31 away from the shoulder 29 and permits the signal and guard arm 26 to fall to substantially horizontal position across the highway 12, and the parts are held in such position so long as the main circuit is closed through the operating magnet 16. Upward movement of the weight 24: releases the spring switch 54, closing the circuit through the light 49 in the guard arm and causing it to be illuminated, thus furnishing additional warning to pedestrians or drivers on the highway as to the approach of a train to the crossing.

As soon as the train has entered the crossing, the guard and signal, under ordinary circumstances, is no longer needed, hence the provision of the releasing magnet in open circuit through the inner block C-D which is substantially coincident with the boundaries of the crossing. As soon as the train enters the inner block from either end the circuit is closed, through the conductor 48 and other members and the releasing magnet 37 is energized, drawing to it the shorter arm of the pivoted armature 39 and breaking the circuit through the operating magnet 16 by moving said armature 39 out of engagement with the contact member 41. Thereupon, the magnet 16 being de-energized, the weighted arm 23 drops by gravity, the weight 24 being sufficient to elevate the signal and guard arm 26 by ongagement of the pin 31 with the shoulder 29. As the weight 24: passes to a position of rest it engages the spring switch 53, moves it to open position and breaks the circuit to the light 49. The releasing magnet 37 continues its function of holding the pivoted armature 39 until such time as the circuit therethrough is broken b passage of the train from the inner block D, but in the meantime the weaker magnet 38 has begun to function through movement of the longer and heavier end of the armature within its range, and the latter magnet continues to hold the pivoted armature in its oscillated position, wherein the main circuit through the operating magnet is broken, until such time as the train clears the outer block A-B and causes a further break in the main circuit through removal of the connection between the track rails. t is to be understood that the retaining magnet 38 is energized simultaneously with the main or operating magnet 16, by entrance of the train to the outer block ih--B but that it has not suiiicient power to lift the adjacent end of the pivoted armature 39 from its normal gravity-held position; and that upon the break in the main circuit y movement of the armature 39 from the contact member 41 through the energization of the releasing magnet 37 (the circuit through the retaining magnet 38 not being afiected by such break), said pivoted armature is moved within the range of said magnet 38 and is thereafter held in such position by said magnet until the train has cleared the outer block. This makes it possible to release the guard and signal device through the action of the releasing magnet, before the train has cleared the outer block, and yet make sure that the train will not again energize the operating magnet and operate the devices by its passage from the inner to the outer block; but a second actuation of the devices, after a train has once entered the outer block, can only occur after the train has left the outer block.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a railway crossing-signal, the combination with spaced track rails of an electro-magnet in open circuit therewith, a shaft, a signal member mounted on said shaft, a rack bar connected with the armature of said magnet, a toothed segment on said shaft engaged by said rack bar, a movable member normally in circuit with said rails and electro-magnet, a second electromagnet for breaking the circuit through the first electro-magnet by oscillating said movable member, and a third electro-magnet for retaining said movable member in circuitb-reaking position.

2. In a railway-crossing signal, the combination with spaced track rails of an electro-magnet in open circuit therewith, a shaft, a signal member fixed to said shaft, a rack bar adapted to be operated by the armature of said magnet, a toothed segment loosely mounted on said shaft and in engagement with said rack bar, and operative connections between said segment and shaft for operating the latter in one direction.

3. In a railway-crossing signal, the combination with spaced track rails of an electro-magnet in open circuit therewith, a shaft. a signal member fixed to said shaft, a rack bar adapted to be operated by the armature of said magnet, a toothed segment loosely mounted on said shaft and in engagement with said rack bar, operative connections between said segment and shaft for operating the latter in one direction, and means for returning the segment, rack bar and armature to their normal positions after an actuation.

4;. In a railway-crossing signal, the combination with spaced track rails of an electro-magnet in open circuit therewith, a shaft, a signal member fixed to said shaft, a rack bar adapted to be operated by the armature of the magnet, a toothed segment loosely mounted on said shaft and in engagement with said rack bar, connections between the segment and shaft for operat ing the latter in one direction, a weighted arm on said segment for returning it and the rack bar and armature to normal positions after an actuation, and a light carried by said signal member in open circuit through a spring switch adapted to be engaged by said weighted arm and held in open position except while said signal device is in operative position.

5. In a railway-crossing signal, the combination with spaced track rails of an electro-magnet in open circuit therewith, an oscillating signal device, a movable member normally in the circuit with said rails and electro-magnet, a second electro-magnet for actuating said movable member and breaking the circuit through the first electro-magnet, and a third electro-magnet for retaining said movable member in circuit breaking position.

6. In a railway-crossing signal, spaced track rails divided into an outer block and an inner block within the limits of the outer block, an operating magnet in open circuit with said outer block, said circuit including a contact member and a movable member normally in contact therewith, a signal device adapted to be actuated through energization of said magnet by a train entering the outer block, a releasing magnet in open circuit with said inner block and adapted when energized by a train entering said inner block to actuate said movable member and break the circuit through said operating magnet, and a retaining magnet also in open circuit with said outer block and adapted to hold said movable member in circuit-breaking position until the train leaves the outer block.

7. In a. railwaycrossing signal, spaced track rails divided into an outer block and an inner block within the limits of the outer block, an operating magnet in open circuit with the outer block, said circuit including acontact member and a movable member normally in contact therewith, a signal device adapted to be actuated through energization of: said magnet by a train entering the outer block, a releasing and a retaining magnet each adapted to act on. said movable member at times, said releasing magnet being in open circuit with the inner block and adapted when energized by a train entering said inner block to actuate said movable member and break the circuit through said operating magnet, such actuation of the movable member bringing it into position for attraction by the retaining magnet, said retaining magnet being in open circuit with the outer block and being adapted to hold said movable member in circuit-breaking position from the time of its actuation by the releasing magnet until the train leaves the outer block.

Signed at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, this 21st day of December, 1923.

DAVID H. HILLIARD.

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