US1695313A - Automatic block signal system - Google Patents

Description

- Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,313

H. ARNDT AUTOMATIC BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed March 1927 Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,695,313 ArsNr OFFICE.

HERE/[ANN ARNDT, OF BERLIN. GERMANY, ASSIGNOR- TO SIEMENS & IIALSKE, AKTIEIhF GESELLSCHAFT, OF SIEMENSS'IADT, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GER-MANY.

AUTOMATIC BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Apphcation flied March 1, 1227, Serial No. 171,772, and. in Germany February 22, 1926.

My invention relates to an automatic block signal system in which the. various signals are given by means of rcundcls in spectacle castings in front of signal lamps.

One object of my invention is to provide means for controlling the signals by relays in dependence upon the state of the track sections.

A further object of my invention is to provide means of rendering the relays, apart from the state of the section, also dependent upon the state of the signal of the next block in advance. a

A still further object of my invention is to provide means for protecting the block by the signal located in the rear, in the event of failure of one of the signals or when the signal lamps go out.

A still further object of my invention is to design the signal lamp in such a manner that the spectacles can be operated directly by the section relay appertaining to them..

In order to attain a dependence etween the successive signals of the individual block sections the apparatus is according to my invention designed in such amanner that when the spectacles of any signalshow red the auxiliary phase of the rear section relay receives current. It a signal behind the train. remains in the'proceed position the advance signal is not given clear and thus protects the train. Only when the signal behind the train passes into the stop position and shows the red roundel does the auxiliary phase of the rear block relay receive current, thus attracting its armature and placing the green roundel in front of the respective lamp in the advance block. Preferably the arrangement should be such that when the red roundel is shown the respective si nal lamp or lamps are connected in series with the relay of the rear block.. The arrangement must be suchthat the roundels are moved in dependence from the block relay, so that when the relay has attracted its armature the green roundel. of the spectacles appears in front of the signallamp, but when the armature has dropped OE and thus 0n short-circuit of one of the windings of the relay, the red roundel passes infront of the signal lamp. .l Vhen the relay has responded i. e. when the green round-e1 is in working position, the line leading from the signal lamps to the auxiliary winding ofthe rear relay is broken and the lamps must receive current over another line or ground. This may, for in tance, be attained by providing in the block l ne a contact which interrupts the line between the signal lamps and the auxiliary winding when the armature of the relay has been attracted and simultaneously connects the lamps to ground, the contact being closed or opened either directly by the armature of the relay or of the spectacles. This dependence of the closing of the contact from the spectacles themselves has the ad vantage that even when the armature of the relay has dropped cit, but the spectacles are stuck for some reason an operation of the rear block relay is rendered impossible. Preferably the arrangement will be such that the spectacle castings themselves are operated by the armature of the relay. This may be attained ina particularly simple manner it elliptic reflectors are employed which require a very small opening only for the passage of the rays and thus onlysmall spectacle castings. Such elliptic reflectors are particularly adapted for the purpose because they also permit of the provision of two sources oflight so that one serves always as standby source of light Without the necessity of doubling the spectacle mechanism.

The drawings aflixed hereto show diagrammatic representations of an embodiment of my invention byway of example.

In the drawings Fig. 1 shows the state an alternating current system when the train has "entered the middle one of three blocks indicatechand Fig. 2, the state of the system when the front portionof the train has reached the last of the block sections. p

. Like numerals of reference; indicate like parts in both figures of the drawing.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1, 2 and 3 are three consecutive block sections. The train s ust at the beginning ofthe block section 2. The block 2 is protected by the signal. 4r, the block 3 by the signal 5. Each otthe signals consists of an elliptic reflector 6, 7 respectively and two respective sources of light 8, 9 and 10,11 located in'the r'oci of the reflector. Tntront of the openings of the reflectors which for the sake of clearness are shown in perspective view in the drawing, are located the spectacle castings 12, 13 with the red roundelsor lenses 14, 15 respectively and the green roundels 16,

17 respectively. The spectacle -astings disposed to rock on pivot pins 13, 19 and are respectively coupled by a connecting rod 20, 21 with the respective arn'iatures 22, 23 out the block relays2el and As pointed out before the spectacle castings can easily be operated by the relays since due to the small openings oi the elliptic reflectors they may he made so small that very little power is required to op erate them. In order to make the spectacles still more easily movable they are preferably so balanced that they are nearly in 'cquil' iuin in any position so that substantially 0.. y the necessary power for acccle the masses need be supplied. The respecti v e ta l nds of tl1espectaclestorm contact levers 26, i. which in one position when showingagrcenlighasee spectacles 13, bridge over the stationary contacts 28 and 29, and when showing a red light,

see spectacles 12, close the contacts 30. Each of the block relays 24 and 25 possesses two windings 31 and 32, one winding 31 receiving current across the rails of the block section 2 or 3 from the transformer 33. while the other winding 32 of each relay is connected in series with the lamps, or at least one out the lamps ot the light signal ahead. For instance, in case of relay 24, its winding 32 is connected in. series with lamp 10 of signal 5. This connection is made across the line 34 and the contacts 30 of signal 5. For the supply of current to the relays and the signal. lamps two lines 35 and 36 are provided which may sin'iultaneously feed the transformers In order to attract its armature each relay must have both of its windings energized. The train is indicated by two axles 3'2 and 38. In this figure the train has just entered the block section 2 and has shirt-circuited the winding 31 of relay 2%, the armature 22 of the relay has dropped oil and has placed the spectacles 12 into the position in which the red roundel 14 appearsin frontof the opening of the reflector. In this position of the-armature winding 32 of relay 2%- is likewise deenergized, since new contacts 28, 29 are open, so that this winding cannot receive cur rent from mains 35. 36 this way or receive current from these mains by way o't line 34 atorementioned since contact 30 of signal 5 is then open. In this way the block section 2 is protected. The signal lamp 8 receives now current from the line 35 across line 39, the contacts 30 on the spectacles 12 and the auxiliary phase of theblock relay in the rear, not illus trated. In the foregoing it assumed that the bloel 3 is clear, the armature of the relay 25 has been attracted and the green roundel 17 is in front of the reflector ot the signal The lighting current flows here from line across the line 4:0 and lamp 11 to the return line 36, or lamp 10, line 41, contacts 23 to the return line 36. Naturally the "earth may equally well. be used as return line.

Referring to Fig. 2 showing the state of the system after the train has entered the block section 3, it will be observed that the front axile 33 of the train has short-circuited the winding 31 of the relay 25, so that the armature ot the relay has dropped oil and the red roundel 15 has appeared in front of the opening of the reflector 5. So long; as one of the rear axles 37 oi the train is still within the block section 2 the winding 31 of the relay 24: remains dead and the armature 22 in the dropped off state. Only when all antics of the train have left the block section 2 the winding 31 of the relay 2% receives current again. The relay can however attract its armature only when the winding; 32 of the relay 2% also receives current. do long as armature 22 of relay 2d has not been attracted, its Winding 32 cannot receive current directly from mains 35, 36 by Way of contact 29, then still open. This winding can, however, as aforementioned, receive current across the line 3 and the contacts 30 oi Slillill 5 provided armature 23 of relay 25 has dropped off and the signal shows red Should the relay 25 stick or the supply o current to the signal lamp l0 fail, the win oil the relay 2 1- would receive no current and the nal a would continue to show a red light and thus protect the block 3. Only after the armature 23 of the relay 25 has dropped oil as shown in 2 of the drawing, the winding 32 of the relay 2st recees current first along' the following path: line 35, line 4-0, signal lamp 10, line 41, the contacts 30, line 34:, winding line a2 and return line Relay 24.- an n w attract its ariinatureand signal Q- will now sh ow green lightand clear block As soon as the block 3 also becomes clear of the axles of the train, the armature 23 of the relay 2! is attracted again the connection through line 3 lis interrupted and the wint oi relay now receives current GXCll ively along its normal path: line 35, line 43, the contacts 29, line l l, windino' 32, line 42 and the return. line 3.

If one of the signal lamps, for ins-stance lamp 9 or 11, as shown in the drawings, is directly connected to the current supply system, this has the advantage that when the control; controlled lamp. such as 8 or lOhas burned out or the contact 30 or 28 has failed, the

block signal does not remain completely dark,

but is illuminated by its directly connected posed at the entrance of each block and a spectacle device carrying a red and a green roundel, and being movably disposed to place either of said roundels before the lamp, a relay for each block having an armature for operating the pertaining spectacle device, to clear or block its track section, said relay having a main energizingwinding connected to the rails of that block to be short circuited by a train in that block, and an auxiliary winding, both windings being required jointly to energize the relay, means for supplying current to the relays, signal lamps and to the rail section of each block, and means for con necting the auxiliary winding of the relay of the block signal about to be cleared in series with the signal lamp of the next block entered by the train when the red roundel of that next block appears before its lamp, to complete the -energization of. said relay, so that even when the first-named block is cleared by the train, the signal clearance of that first block is initiated by and rendered dependent from the correct blocking signal position of the newly occupied block.

2. In a. block signal system, in combination a railroad track electrically divided into independent block sections, a signal lamp disposed at the entrance of each block and a spectacle device carrying a red and a green roundel, and being movably disposed to place either of said roundels before the lamp, a

relay for each block having an armature for operating the pertainingspectacle device, to clear or block its track section, said relay having a main energizing winding connected to the rails of that block to be short circuited by a train in that block, and an auxiliary winding, both windings being required jointly to energize the relay, means for supplying current to the relays, signal lamps and to the rail section of each block, and a contact device operated by the signal spectacle of the next block entered, and line connections therefor for connecting the auxiliary Winding of the block signal about to becleared in series with the signal lamp of the newly entered block when the signal spectacle of that block shows the red roundel, so that even when the firstnamed block is cleared by the train, the sign clearance of that first block is initiated by and rendered dependent from the correct blocking signal position of the newly occupied block.

3. In a block signal system, in combination a railroad track electrically divided into in dependent block sections, ai'signal lamp disposed at the entrance of each block and a spectacle device carrying a red and a green roun del, and being movablyvdisposed to place either of said roundels betore the lamp, ares lay for each block having an armature for operating the pertainingspectacle device, to show green light when the relay is energized and red light'when it is de-energized, to clear or block its track section, said relay having a main energizing winding connected to the rails of that block to beshort circuited by a train in that block, and auxiliarywinding, both windings being required jointly to energize the relay, means for supplying current to the relays, signal lamps and to the rail section of each block, and means for connccthe signal clearance of that first block is initiated by and rendered dependent from the correct blocking signal position of the newly occupied block.

l. In a block signal system, in combinatio arailroad track electrically divided into independent block sections, a signal lamp disposed at the entrance of each block and a spectacle device carrying a red and a green roundel, and being movably disposed to place either oi said roundels before the lamp, a relay for each block having an armature for operating the pertaining spectacle device, to clear or block its track section, said relay having a main energizing winding connected to the rails of that block to be short circuited bya train in that block,a nd an auxiliary winding, both windings being required jointly to energize the relay, means for supplying current to the relays, signal lamps and to the rail section of each block, and a contact device operated by the signal spectacle of the next block entered, and line connections therefor for connecting the auxiliary Winding of the block signal about to be cleared in series with the 7 signal lamp of the newly entered block when the signal spectacle oi that block shows the red roundel, so that even when the firstnamed block is cleared by the train, the signal clearance of that first block is initiated by and rendered dependent from the correct blocking signalposition of the newly occupied block, and additional contacts operated by the spectacle of each relay when fully energized for connecting its own auxiliary winding directly to the current supply to tree the relay from the controlling influence of the block signal ahead.

5. In a block signal system, in combination a railroad track electrically divided into independent block sections, a signal'lamp disposed at the entrance of each block and a spectacle device carrying a red and a green roundel, and being movably disposed to place either of said roundels before the lamp, a relay for each block having an armature for operating the pertaining spectacle device, to

clear orblock its track section, said relay having a main energizing'winding connected to the rails of that block tobe short circuited by a train in that block, and an auxiliary Winding, both windings being required jointly to energize the relay, means for supplying current to the relays, signal lamps and to the rail section of each block, and a contact device operated by the signal spectacle of the next block entered, and line connections therefor for connecting the auxiliary Winding of the block signal about to be cleared in series With the signal lamp of the newly entered block when the signal spectacle of that block shows the red roundel, so that even When the first-named block is cleared by the train the signal clearance of that first block is initiated by and rendered dependent from the correct blocking signal position of the newly occupied block, and additional coir tacts operated by the spectacle of each relay when fully energized for connecting its own auxiliary winding directly to the current supply to tree the relay from the controlling); influence of the block signal ahead, and further contacts also operated by the spectacle oi each relay when fully energized for/connecting its own signal lamp directly to the current supply.

In testimony Whereoi I ai'lx my signature,

HERMANN riR-NDT.

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