US1655364A - Signaling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3, 1928. 7 1,655,364

R. GROSS SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY WlTiESS: 7M

Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

' i Y "RALP Gross, on NEW Yoitx', N. Y. I

SIGNALING PPARATUS.

. Application filed February 12, 1927. Serial No. 167,806;

This invention relates to signaling apparatus and is an improvement over my U. S. Letters Patent No.- 1,628,663, dated May 19th, 1927 and has for its primary object the provision of an electrically controlled device actuated by means carried on the locomotive of a train for warning the engineer of the locomotive of any impending danger. v n Another'object is to provide colored signa-l lights within the cab of a locomotive, these lights beingcontrolled by the same current and which indicate the entrance and exit of the train from the signal zone, these signals being visible to an engineer irrespective of darkness.

A further object is to provide a mechani: cally operated'register, also under the control of the same current, and having a recording means actuated thereby. 7

Another, object is to provide such apparatus in the form of a small compact attachment readily applied to a locomotive cab without any material change therein and without interference with the usual paraphernalia contained therein. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide agenerator on the locomotive from which the signal apparatus may obtain its energy instead of taking it from the live Wire or third rail usually disposed along the track.

A still vfurther object resides in a signaling apparatus which includes a danger signal with which a suitable means is employed for automatically applying the brakes of a train to bring the same to a complete stop,

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly 7 pointed out in the appended claim, and are which v Figure l is a side. elevational view of a conventional locomotive operating on a track, and illustratingthe application of the invention.

illustrated in the. accompanying drawing, in

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 4 isIa diagrammatic view showing the signaling device as-used in connection with a railroad switch.

Figure 5 is a 'diagrammatic view showing railroad crossing signal.

60,. the inventionas used in connection with a,

In the draw-ing, the numeral 10 designates the road bed or trackway supplied with railsv on which thereis alocom'otive 11, shown as advanomgtowards a signal mast 12having an arm .13 of the usual typec pivoted near its top. 7 The arm 13 is movable by an. arm 14,-

entering a switch box 15 secured to the mast,

and connectedto a slottedlever 16 pivoted at 17, this pivot being the terminal fora conductor 18 leading toa conductor-rod 18-.

The lever 16 may beiactuatediby anyjofi the usual'trackside. signal control devices,

adapted to engage either not shown, and is of threecontacts 19, -;20 and 20Hwithin the box 15.

Alongsidethe trackway are {masts 21 lh aving downwardly bent spring loops22 at theirupper ends, the downturned portion of these loopsbeing uniformly directed towards the rails and provided with spaced insula- 5 tors for carrying contact rods 23,24, 24 and conductor rod 18, the contact rods 23,

24and 24 jbeing connected by conductors;

25, 25 and 26 1 with the contacts 19,, 20 and 20 respectively.

A'hollow-casing 27 having a transparent front 28 is secured in the cab of theTlocomo-T tive closelyadjacent its wall 11 andmount-v ed on the: outer side of the wall 11 are bowedspring cont-actors29, 30, 30 and 49 1 adapted to make wiping contact respectively with the rods 23,24, 24 and 18. i

A small electro-motor 31 is mounted in the casing 27, the same being bolted to a trans I "verse partition- 32 in the lower part of the casing, this motor driving a. reducing gear train 33, the last gear ofwhich is' fixed on] a spindle 34 mounted in the casing.

Fixed onthe spindle is a drum 35 towind a blank strip of paper 36 acting as a register, the blank being wound from another drum 37 mounted on a spindle near the top of the casing.

Three styli 38, 39 and 39 arepivoted on a rod 40, each being counterbalanced by a weight 41, and carried by the styli are armatures 42, 43 and 43, respectively operated by electro-magnets 44, 45 and 45 carried on p the partition 32.

On top of the casing are light signals 46,

47 and 47, respectively red, green and yellow and these, together -with the electromagnets 44, 45 and 45 and motor 31, are

wired to receive current from the main conductor rod 18, as conveyed from the locomotive through spring contactor 49.

The wiring is so arranged that when the semaphore arm is in a lowered position current is conveyed from the conductor 18,.

lever 16, contact 19, conductor 25 and rod 23 to the contactor 29 and thence to the lamp 46, motor '31, electro-magnet 45 and dynamo /Vlmn this contact becomes broken, the

current is cut oil and the motor ceases running; at thesame time the red light 46 I ceases to display a signal.

It will be appreciated that it" the semaphore arm is moved into engagement with either of the contacts 20, 20 the circuits which they control will be closed when the contactors and 3O engage the respective rods 24. and 24 to actuate the respective lights and other apparatus in these circuits.

Also employed in each of the parallel circuits of the lights, is an electric bell or audible alarm 50 which will sound when each respective circuit is closed to notify the engineer of the exhibition of a signal, in the'event that his attention is not attracted by the lights and the movementof strip 36.

To bring the train to an abrupt stop when the danger signal is operated and not observed, I provide an electro-magnet 51 which is arranged in a circuit, is parallel with the red light 46 and which magnet when energized, attracts one end of a pivoted armature 52. The other end of the armature is provided with a valve head 53 which normally seals the air brake line, 54, of the train. The valve is held in closed position by a spring 55, the tension of which is overcome by the energizing of the ma net 51. VVhen' the magnet 51 is energized, the valve head 53 opens the air line, permitting the air to exhaust which automatically causes the brakes of the train to be applied.

The valve is held opened by a latch member 56 which automatically engages the armature 52 when actuated by the magnet, and in order to release the valve to permit it to return to a closed position, it is necessary for the engineer to manually disengage the same from the armature 52.

A manually operable switch 57 is arranged along the track some distance in advance of the switch 61 so that if a rail road switch is open, the switch 59 is closed which in turn closes the circuit 58 and forewarns the engineer by the lighting of the yellow light so that he may proceed with caution.

In Figures 1 and 5, I have shown an additional conductor 62 which is carried by the locomotive and which is arranged in an electrical circuit 63 with the generator 48, conductor rod 18, contac-tor 49 and an added rod 64, which rod together with the rod 18 is adapted to be mounted about one-quarter of a mile in advance of a railroad crossing. Also arranged in the circuit 64 is a signal 65 in the nature of a bell, and a visible signal 66 in the form of a light, The bell and light are disposed at the crossing to warn automobilists and persons that a train is approchiug the crossing and beware of the same.

What is claimed as new is In combination with a trackway having roadside signals including a movable semaphore arm and a locomotive and the air brake line thereof, of masts arranged adjacent the roadside, spring arms on said masts, rods insulated from said spring arms and extending contiguous to the path of the locomotive, contactors carried by said locomotive to engage with said rods respectively, a casing on the locomotive, lamps respectively red, yellow and green carried on said casing, an electric motor in said casing, a drum driven by said motor, a rolled strip of. material capable of receiving marks actuated by said drum, an electro-magnet arranged in circuit with each lamp, a stylus controlled by each magnet to mark selectively on said strip, means controlled by the position of said semaphore arm to energizesaid motor and selectively actuate the styli, said means also causing selective illumination of said lamps, and means operable by said semaphore arm when moved toone of its positions for exhausting the air from said air line.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

RALPH GROSS.

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