US1746725A - Highway-crossing-protection apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 11, 1930.

H. w. WOLFF HiGHWAY CROSSING PROTECTION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1929 INVENTOR:

Patented Feb.'11, 1930 I HENRY W. WOLFE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO THE UNIONI BWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA HIGHWAY-CROSSING-PB-OTECTION APPARATUS Application filed January 31, 1929. Serial 1T0. 338,441.

My invention relates to apparatus for the protection of crossings of highways and railways, and particularly to crossing protect on apparatus of the type involving light signals.

5 One feature of my invention is the provision of a signal comprising a plurality of electric lamps arranged in a circle, and means for successively lighting such lamps to give an indication which is highly distinctive and arrestive in character.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of crossing protection apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a developed view of the drum 2 forming part of the circuit controller C .shown in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character S designates a signal comprising a plurality of main lamps L arranged in a circle, with an auxiliary'lamp X located at the centerof the circle. As here shown, each main lamp L is diametrically opposite another main lam L, and the two lamps of each diametrica 1y opposed pair are provided with the same exponent. The lamps are all mounted on a background 5 in any suitable manner, but the mechanical con-.

struction of the signal is not illustrated in the drawing for the reason that it forms no part of my present invention.

The lamps L in the signal S are provided with circuits which are governed by a circuit controller 0. This circuit controller com- 40 prises a cylindrical drum2 of insulating material provided with contact segments 3 which co-operate with fixed contact fingers 4. The drum 2 is at times rotated by an electric motor -M, which is controlled in a manner explained hereinafter. As illustrated more fully in Fig. 2, the contact segments are progressively disposed around the surface of the-drum 2, so that as this drum rotates the pairs of contact fingers 4, 4", 4 and 4 so are successively bridged.

The motor M and the lamps of signal S are controlled by a track relay R connected with the rails of a track section T and normally energized by a track battery B The relay R is provided with two back contacts 6 and 7, which are normally open, but which become closed when the relay R becomes deenergized due to the entrance of a train into section T.

The operation of the apparatus isas follows: Assuming that track section T is unoccupied, relay R is energized so that contacts 6 and 7 are open, motor M is at rest, and all of the lamps of signal S is extinguished. If, now, a train enters section T, track relay R will become de-energized, thereby closing both of its contacts 6 and 7. The auxiliary lamp X will then be lighted by virtue of a circuit which passes from battery B through back-contact 6 of relay R and the lamp X to battery 13. This lamp will therefore remain lighted as long as relay R remains de-energized. Main lamps L will also become lighted by virtue of a circuit which passes from battery 13, through re-, lay contact 6, contact fingers 4, segment 3,

--UN ITEo STATES PATENT O-FF ICEn.

and lamps L to batteryB Motor M will also become energized by virtue of a circuit which includes a battery B and contact 7, so that the drum 2 of circuit controller C will rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. At the moment that segment 3 leaves the contact fingers 4, segment 3" will bridge contact fingers 4, so that lamps L will become extinguished and the two lamps L will become lighted, thecircuit for these lamps being obvious from thedrawing. Upon further travel of the drum 2, segment 3" will leave the contact fingers 4 and segment 3 willsimultaneously engage contact fingers 4; lamps L will then be extinguished and lamps L will be lighted. Upon further travel of the drum 2, segment 3 will leave contact fingers 4, and segment 3 will engage contact fingers 4; lamps L will then become extinguished and lamps L will become lighted. In similar manner, the several pairs of diametrically o posed lamps will be successively lighted as long as motor 7 M continues to rotate, and so the signal will give the optical illusion of a revolving row of three lights thereby providing an indication which is unique and highly arrestive in character.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Apparatus for highway crossing protection comprising, a slgnal having electric lamps arranged in a circle, each lamp being diametrically opposite another lamp, and means for successively lighting the diametri cally opposite pairs of lamps.

2. Apparatus for highwa crossing protection comprising a signal aving a group of main lamps arranged in a circle, each lamp being diametrically opposite another lamp, an auxiliary lamp located at the center of such circle, means for successivelylighting the diametrically op osite pairs of main lamps, and means for 'ghting said auxiliary lampwhile said first means 1s in operation.-

3. Apparatus for highway crossing protection comprising a signal having electric lamps arranged in a circle, each lamp being diametrically opposite another lamp, a circuit controller having a plurality of contacts one for each diametrically opposed air of lamps, a circuit for each such pair 0 lamps including the associated contact of said circuit controller, and means for operating said circuit controller to close its contacts serially and thereby to successively light the diametm rically opposite pairs of lamps.

In testlmony whereof I aflix my signature.

IHENRY W. WOLEF.

Images