US1711570A - Apparatus for controlling railway switches - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1929.

H. S'. LOOMISA APPARATUS FOR-CONTROLLING RAILWAY SWITCHES Filed Feb. 11, 1927 2 sheeis-sneet 1 INVENTOR I 11-11-1111: -------IIL May 7, 1929.` H. s'. LooMls 1,711,570

l APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING RAILWAY SWITCHES l I' l Filed Feb. 11,. 1927 2 Sheets-sheetl 2 L J\ 410 A I 'Y 6:6 61. 6,6 '71566 26 J66266656' 636 i l ,58 59 25% '6g gg ./g T y 601,. "-{Kg 25a 63 69 25 `-`HI I fig?. 4,0

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Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATESA PATENT oFI-u'cE.

HAROLD S. LGOMIS, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0V THE UNION SWITCH`& SIGNAL COMQPANY, 0F S'WISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA., A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING RAILWAY SWITCHES.

Appli-cation led February 11, 1927.

My invention relates to apparatus for controlling railway switches, and particularly to apparatus suitable for operation from a distant point with a minimum number of line wires between such point and the switch.

I will describe several forms of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel Jfeatures thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views showing several modiiications of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 and also embodying vmy invention.

Similar reference characters rei'er to similar `parts in each of the several views.

' Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference characters 1 and 1El designate the rails at a stretch of railway track which is provided with a switch 2 of the usual and well knownk form. This switch is operated by a fluid pressure motor A comprising a cylinder 3 containing a reciprocable piston 4. Attached to the piston l is a plunger 5 which is operatively connected with the movable pointsl of the switch 2 through suitable mechanism which is indicated by the dotted line 5a.

The motor A is controlled byva switch valve C. vThis valve comprises a slide valve 7 operating in a valve chamber 6 which, in the form here shown, is constantly supplied with fluid pressure from a source not shown in the drawing through pipe 11. yWhen the slide valve is in its normal position, in which it is illustrated in the drawing, fluid pres` sure is supplied from chamber 6, through pipe 10 to the lower end of cylinder 3 of motor A, and the upper end of kthis cylinder is connected with atmosphere through pipe 8 and port 9. IVith the valve in this position, therefore, piston l is moved upwardly and the switch then occupies what I shall hereinafter term its normal position. When the slide valve 7 occupies its reverse position, pipe 3 is connected with chamber 6 and pipe 10 is connected through port 9 to atmosphere. The piston 4 is then driven downward and the switch 2 is moved to its reverse position.

Valve 7 is provided with two spaced Serial N0. 167,523.

notches 15 and 16 arranged to receive a locking rod 17 when the valve is in the reverse or normal position, respectively. Rod 1.7 is constantly urged toward the slide valve I 18 associated with a lock magnet 19.' When the lock magnet 19 is energized', armature 18 1s' moved outwardly, thereby withdrawing the rod 17 from the notch 15 or 16 in the slide valve and permitting theV valve to be shifted by means which I will describe hereinafter. It will be plain, however, that the valve can be shifted only when the lock magnet 19 is energized to lift the rod 17 clear of the valve.

The switch valve C also comprises two oppositely disposed axially aligned cylinders 12 and 12a. Cylinder 12 contains .a piston 13 carrying a stem 14 which engages' one end of the slide valve 7, and the cylinder 12L contains a piston 13a carrying a stem 142L which engages the other endof the slide valve. Cylinder 12 is at times supplied with fluid pressure by a valve 21 comprising a valve stem 23 controlled by a reverse magnet 25 having an armature 24 associated therewith. VJ hen reverse magnet v25 is deenergized the valve stem 23 occupies its letthand position and cylinder 12 is connected with atmosphere. When reverse magnet 25 of valve21 is energized, however, the valve stem 23 is moved to the right and cylinder 12 is disconnected from atmosphere and is connected with a source of iuid pressure. In

by-a spring 20, and it carries an armature similar manner, the valve 22 controls the j supply ot fluid pressure to cylinder 12a in such manner that when the normal magnet 252101l valve 22 is cle-energized, cylinder '12a is connected with atmosphere, but that when this magnet is energized cylinder 1 2a is supplied with Huid pressure. It will be plain from the drawing that when cylinder 12a is supplied with Huid pressure, piston 13a is moved upwardly to drive valve 7 to its normal position. When cylinder 12k is supplied with fluid pressure however, piston 13 moves downward and drives the valve 7 to its reverse position. In either case, oi'

course, movement of valve 7 .is possible only ,i

iithe loclr magnet 19 is energized.

The normal magnet 25a, the reverse magnet 25 and the lock magnet 19 are controlled by a manually operable switch lever designated in general by the reference character L. This lever may be located at a. point distant from the switch and may, for example, be one of a plurality of such levers located in an interlocking machine in an interlocking cabin. The switch lever L has the usual normal and reverse positions, corresponding to the normal and reverse positions of the switch, and as shown in the drawing the lever is in its normal position.

The normal magnet 25a is provided with a circuit which may be traced from the upper terminal of a. suitable source of energy such as a batteryB, through wire 32, norinal contact 33 of lever L, wire 34, conductor 35, wires 36 and 37, asymmetric unit 28, wire 38, normal magnet 25, wire 39 and conductor 40, bach to the mid-point 27 of the battery B. The circuit for the reverse magnet 25 may be traced from the 1mid-point 27 of `battery B, thro-ugh conductor 40, wires 41, 42 and 43, .reverse magnet 25, wire 44, asymmetric unit 29, conductor 35, and wire 50, vreverse contact 51 of lever L, and wire 52 back to the lower ter-minal of battery B. The lock magnet 19 is provided with `one circuit which may be traced from the upper ter- 'minail of battery B, through wire 32, normal contact 33 of lever L, wire 34, conductor 35, wires 3G and 37, asymmetric unit 28, wires 38 and 53, Contact K2, wires 54 and 48, lock magnet 19, wire 47, asymmetric unit 30, wires 75, 41, and conductor v40, back to the midpoint 27 of `battery B. The lock magnet 19 is provided with another circuit over which current at times flows from the inid-point 27 of battery B through conductor 40, wires 41 and 42, contact K1, wires 46 and 47, lock magnet 19, wires 48 and 49, asymmetric unit 31, wii'e 36, conductor 35, and wire 59, reverse contact 51 of lever L and wire 52 back to the lower terminal of battery B.

The contacts K1 and K2 are operatively connected with the movable points of switch 2 and are controlled in such manner that contact K1 is open when the switch occupies its extreme reverse position but is closed at all other times, and `Contact K2 is open when the switch occupies its eXtreme normal position, but is closed at all other times.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: As shown in the drai'ving, the lever L occupies its normal position so that current is supplied tothe normal magnet 25a through the asymmetric unit 28, but the asymmetric unit 29 prevents the supply of current to the reverse magnet 25. One circuit for the lock magnet 19 is open at contact K2, and the asymmetric unit 31 prevents the flow of current through this magnet over the remaining circuit. 1t follows that the normal magnet 25 is energized but that the reverse magnetv 25 and the lock magnet 19 are cle-energized. The slide valve 7 therefore occupies its normal position and is locked in this position by the locking rod 17. Under these conditions fluid pressure is supplied to the lower end of cylinder 3, and piston 4 occupies its upper position so that the switch 2 is normal.

If, now, the operator in charge of lever L -unit 28 prevents the iio'w of current to the normal magnet 25. Contact Kl is closed and current therefore flows to the lock nia-gnet 19 over contact K1 and asymmetric unit 30, thereby disengaging the locking rod 17 from the slide valve 7. Viitli the reverse magnet 25 energized, fluid pressure is supplied to cylinder 12 and the slide valve 7 is shifted to the reverse position. Fluid pres sure is then supplied to the upper end of cylinder 3 and the switch 3 is moved to its reverse position. Vhen the switchfis fully reversed, Contact K1 opens, thereby deenergizing the lock magnet 19 and permitting the spring 2O to move the locking rod` 17 into the notch 15 to hold the slide valve in the position which it then occupies.

1n similar manner, if trie operator wishes to restore the switch to its normal position he returns the lever L to its normal position in which it is illustrated in the drawing. Current then again flows to the normal niagnet 25 and the reverse magnet 25 becomes de-energized. The contact K2 is closed, however so that current Hows to the lock magnet 19 through contact K2 and asymmetric units 28 and 30. rlhe locking rod 17 is therefore withdrawn from engagement with the slide valve 7 and the slide valve is shifted to its normal position, thereby supplying fluid pressure `to the lower end of cylinder 3 and moving piston 4 upwardly -to restore the switch to its normal position. When the switch reaches its extreme normal position, Contact K2 opens, thereby interrupting the circuit forlock niagnet19 and causing this magnet to'become ele-energized.

Each of the asymmetric units 28, 29, 30

and 31 .may for example be of the type dis- ,closed and claimed in an application for Letters Patent ofthe United States, Serial No. 1111, filed Jan. 7, 1925, by Lars 0. Grondahl, for Unidirectional current carrying devices, and which has matured into Patent Number 1,640,335, dated August 23, 1927 although I do not wishto be limited to any specific type of unit.

1t will be plain that by the use of the asymmetric units in conjunction with the contacts K1 and K2, the normal, reverse and lock magnets of the usual switch valve may be controlled from a distant point in accordance with my invention over a single pair of conductors 35 and 40 without sacrificing any of the usual elements of safety.

Another arrangement or circuits for con- 'and 19 are omitted tor the sake of simplicity,

only the magnets themselves and their controllingcircuits being illustrated 1n the drawing. In Fig. 2 when the lever L is in its normal position, current from battery B flows over normal contact- 33 ot the lever, conductor 35, wires 61 and 62, asymmetric unit 28, normal magnet 25, wires 63, 61 and 65, asymmetric unit 55, wires 66, 67, 68, conductor 40, normal contact 51 of lever L and back to battery B. It the switch is in its reverse position when this circuit is closed so that contact K2 is also closed, current Hows from battery B, over normal contact 33 ot lever L, conductor 35 and wire 61, asymmetric unit 59, contact K2, Wire 72, lock magnet 19, wire 73, asymmetric unit 60, conductor 40, and normal contact 51 of lever L, back to battery B. Under these conditions the lock magnet is energized and the normal magnet 25a is also energized so that the switch is shifted to its normal position. When the switch completes its stroke, contact K2 opens and the lock magnet 19 then becomes de-energized- It now the lever L is moved to its reverse position, current from battery B flows over thereverse contact 33 of the lever, conductor 40, wires 68 and 67, asymmetric unit 29, reverse magnet 25, wires 69, 64 and 70, asymmetric unit 56, wires 71, 62, 61, conductor 35, wire 76, reverse contact v51 of lever L and back to battery B. The reverse magnet 25 is theretore energized and t-he lock magnet 19 is also energized but the normal magnet 25a is de-energized because asymmetric units 28 and 55 prevent the flow of current to this' magnet.

The slide valve 7 is therefore moved to its reverse position and the switch 2 is shitted to its reverse position whereupon contact K1 opens and cle-energizes the lock magnet 19. The operation of the apparatus when switch lever L is restored to its norma-l position will` be manifest ytrom theforegoing, without `lurther explanation.

In Fig. 3 the circuits for the normal yand reverse magnets 25L and 25 are similar to the circuits for these parts shown in Fig. 2, but the locking magnet 19 is provided with two circuits, one of which passes from conductor 35, through asymmetric unit 59, locking magnet 19 and contact K2 back to conductor 4G and the other circuit may be traced trom conductor 40, through asymmetric unit 57, locking magnet 19 and contact K1 to conductor 35. In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4E the normal and reverse magnets 25a and 25 are connected in parallel across the conductors 35 and 40. The asymmetric unit 28 is interposed between conductor 35 and magnet 25a and the oppositely disposed lasymmetric unit 29V is interposed between the Conductor 35 and reverse magnet 25. The normal magnet 25a is therefore energized when the switch lever occupies its normal position and the reverse magnet 25 is enen gized when the switch lever occupies its reverse position. In the torzmfhere shown the lock magnet is provided with two windings 19a and 19h. When contact K2 is closed, winding 19b of the lock magnet is connected in parallel with the normal magnet .25ay and when contact K1 is closed, the winding`19 oi the lock magnet is connected in parallel with the reverse magnet 25. The apparatus is so arranged that when energy is supplied lto either of the windings 192 or 19b of the lock magnet over vone of the circuits just described, the locking rod 17 is withdrawn from the notches in the slide valve to permit the valve to be shifted.

In the modiiica-tion shown in Fig. the normal and reverse magnets "L and 25 are connected in parallel across the conductors and 10 through asymmetric units 28 and 29, respectively, in the manner described in connection with Fig. 4. The apparatus shown in this view differs from that ot Fig. 4, however, in that the locking magnet 19 is a single winding which is connected across the conductors 35 and 40 through an asymmetric unit 59 when contact K2 is closed and is` connected across these conductors through an oppositely disposed asymmetric unit 57 when contact K1 is closed.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 8, 4 and 5 is similarv to the operation of the apparatus shfnvn inthe two preceding views and will 'be readily understood without tracing the cycle of operation in detail. Although I have herein shown and dcscribed only a few forms ot apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modilications may be made therein within the scope of theA ape pended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thusdescribed my invention what I claim is:

1. In combination, a switch valve comprising a normal, a reverse and a lock magnet, a railway switch controlled by said valve, a switch lever having ynormal and reverse positions, a circuit for the `normal magnet including a normal contact ci the switch lever and a first asymmetric unit, a circuit for the reverse magnet including a reverse. contact of the switch lever andl a second' asymmetric unit, contacts operated by Asaid switch, and .circuits for said lock magnet controlled bysaid switch lever contacts and by said switch operated contacts and including asymmetric. units.

2. In combination, a switch valve comprising a normal, a reverse and a lock soy lmeans etlective magnet, a. ailway switch controlled by said valve, a switch lever having normal and reverse positions, a circuit for the normal magnet including a normal contact of the switch lever and a irst asymmetric unit, a circuit tor the reverse magnet including aA reverse contact ot the switch lever and a second asymmetric unit, two contacts op- @rated by the switch, and two circuit-s tor the lock magnet controlled by the switch lever and each including one of said contacts and an asymmetric unit.

3. ln combination, a switch valve coinprising a normal, a reverse and a lock magnet, a rail'miy switch controlled by said valve, a switch lever having normal. and reverse positions, a circuit for the normal magnet including a normal contact ot the switch lever and a iirst asymmetric unit, a circuit for the reverse magnet including a reverse contact of the switch lever and a second asymmetric unit, two contacts responsive to the position of the switch, means etlective when one of such circuits is closed and when one ot said contacts is closed tol supply energy to the lock magnet, and when thel other circuit is closed and when the other contactis closed to supply current to the lock magnet.

Ll. In combination, a Vswitch valve comprising a normal, a reverse and a loch magnet, a railway switch controlled by said valve, a switch lever having normal and reverse positions, a circuit 'lor the normal magnet including a normal contact of the switch lever and a first asymmetric unit, a circuit for the reverse magnet including a reverse contact or the switch lever and a second asymmetric unit, two contacts controlled in accordance with the position ot the switch, and means including` said two contacts for supplying current to the lock magnet in parallel with the normal or reverse magnet'depending upon the position or the lever.

5. In combination, a pair ot conductors, means for reversibly supplying current to the conductors; a switch valveV comprising a normal magnet, a reverse magnet, and a lock magnet having two windings;V means including two oppositely disposed asymmetric units for connecting the normal and reverses magnets in parallel across the conductors, a railway switch controlled by the switch valve, and two contacts controlled in accordance with the position of the switch Y and connected in series with tho windings respectively of the loclr magnet across said conductors.

`G. In combination, a pair ot conductors, means for reversibly supplying current to the conductors; a switch valve comprising a normal magnet and a reverse magnet connected in parallel across the conductors and a lock magnet having two windings, a lirst asymmetric unit interposed between the normal magnetrand one conductor, a. second asymmetric unit interposed between the reverse magnet and one of tle conductors, a railway switclrcontrolled by the switch valve, two contacts controlled in accordance with the position of the switch, means including one et' said contacts for connecting one winding oit the lock magnet in parallel with the normal magnet, and means including the remaining contact :tor connecting the other winding ot the lock magnet in pa 'allel Awith the reverse magnet.

"l". ln combination, a railway switch having normal and reverse positions, means for operating the switch including a normal and a reverse magnet, a pair oit conductors connected withl both said magnets, a source of current, a manually operable lever for reversiibly connecting` the source with the conductors, a first asymmetric unit interposed between the normal magnet and a conductor tor preventing the flow or 'current et one polarity through the normal magnet, and a second asymmetric unit interposed bctween the reverse magnet and a conductor for preventing the flow of current ot the opposite polarity through the reverse magnet.

8. In combination, a switch valve com-- prising a normal, a reverse, and a lock magnet, a railway switch controlled by the switch valve, a pair etv conductors connected with the normal and the reverse magnets, manually controlled means for reversib-ly supplying current to the conductors. a lirst asymmetric unit interposed between the normal magnet and a conductor for preventing the llow of current of one polarity through the normal magnet, and a second asymmetric unit interposed between the reverse magnet and a conductor for preventing the flow ot' current of the opposite polarity through the reverse magnet, a contact controlled bv the switch, and means controlled by the Contact for at times connecting the lock magnet with the conductors.

9. In combination, a switch valve comprising anormal, a reverse, and a loc-lf. magnet, a railway switch controlled by the switch valve, a pair of conductors connected with the normal and the reverse magnets, manually controlled means for reversibly supplying current to the conductors, a lirst asymmetric unit interposed between the normal magnet and a conductor tor preventing the flow of current ot one polarity through theV normal magnet, and a second asymmetric unit interposed between the reverso magnetand a conductor tor preventing the liow of current of the opposite polarity through the reverso magnet, two contacts controlled by the switch and means controlled by each contact for at times connecting the loclr magnet with the conductors.

llO

10. In combination, with a railway switch, two windings for controlling the switch, two contacts controlled by the switch, two asymmetric units, means including one of said contacts and one of said units for supplying current to one winding, and means including the other contact and the other unit for supplying current to the other winding.

11. In combination, a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a iirst Contact open only when the switch is normal, a second contact open only when the switch is reverse, two asymmetric units, two windings for controlling the switch, aV circuit for one'winding including the rst contact and one of said asymmetric units, and a circuit for the other magnet including` the remaining asymmetric unit and thc second contact.

l2. In combination, a pair of conductors, means for reversibly supplying current to such conductors, a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a first contact open only when the switch is normal, a second contact open only when the switch is reversed, two windings for controlling the switch, two asymmetric units, means including one of such units and said first contact for at times supplying current of one polarity rom the conductors to one of the windings, and means including the other asym-` metric unit and the second contact tor at times supplying current of the other polarity from the conductors to the remaining winding.

13. In combination, a railway switch, contacts controlled in accordance with the position of the switch, a manually operable lever, two windings for controlling the switch, and means including asymmetric units for controlling the windings selectively in accordance with the condition of said leverk and of said contacts.

14. In combination, a pair of conductors, means for reversibly supplying current to such conductors, a railway switch, two mag-- nets for 'controlling the switch, a first asymmetric unit for connecting one magnet across the conductors, and a second asymmetric unit for connecting the other magnet aci-css the conductors.

15. In combination, a motor, means including a magnet for controlling the supply of energy to said motor, two contacts responsive to the condition of said motor, and means including asymmetric units for controlling the magnet by a selected one of such contacts.

1G. In combination, a pair of conductors, means for reversibly supplying current to the conductors; a switch valve comprising a normal magnet; a reverse magnet, and a lock magnet having two windings; a railway switch controlled by said switch valve, means for connecting one ,terminal of each said winding and one terminal of the normal and reverse magnets with one of said conductors, means including a first asymmetric unit for connecting the free terminal oi the normal magnet with the othercon-` ductor, means including a second asymmetric unit for coni'iecting the free terminal of the reverse magnet with said other conductor, and two contacts controlled in accordance with the position of the switch for separately connecting the free terminals of the windings of the lock magnet with saidffree terminals of the normal and reverse magnets respectively.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HAROLD S. LOOMIS.

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