US1776299A - Electric signal system - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 23,- 1930. T. H. THOMAS 9 ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTBI Filed Sept. 22, 1927 INVENTOR THOMASHJ'HOMAS' BYWW ATTORNEY of said devicesis selectively Patented Sept. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES THOMAS H. THOMAS, or nnen'woon,rEnNsY veniA, Assienon 'ro mnn-wns rme- HOUSE AIR BaAKncoMrn IY, or ILMERD NG, PENNSYLVANIA, AconronA'rIoN OF PENNSYLVANIA 1 ELECTRIC SIGNAL sYsrnM .Appli cation filedisepteinber 22, 1927'. "seminal 221,151.

9 This invention relates to signalsystems, and more particularly to an electrics'ignal adapted for use on railway trains.

An object of my invention is to provide a train signal system by the useof which the trainmanmay signal the'engineman from any car of a train and by which the engineman may cause his reply signal to be transmitted to the car station from which the trainmans signal, originated and furtheryby which the engineman may cause a signal origmated by him to be transmitted to every car station on thetrain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a train signal system in which each car of a train is providedwith'ja signal device operable by direct current and a signaldeviceoperable by alternating current and in which the flow of current to one or the other controlled from the locomotive of the train.

These and other, objects and advantages willappear in xthe following moredetailed description of the invention.

In theaccompanying drawing the single figure is a diagrammatic view of a train signal system'embodying my invention. a

According to my'invention, the locomotive or controller car of a railway train maybe provided with a source of alternating electric ,current,tsuch as the ordinary generator 1, to which is connected a transformer 2 adapt.- ed to reduce the voltage ofthecurrent flowing from the generator, to thatdesired for the operation of the signal system. One end of the coil 3 of this transformer is connected to groundat 4 and the other end connected to a contact 5 of the enginemans switch. The enginemans switch also has a contact 6 which is connected to' ground at 7and further, has a pivotally mounted arm 8 adapted .to be normally held in contact with-the contact 6, bya spring!) and is adaptedtobe operated manually, against the resistance of thespring9, into contact with the contact 5. llhis switch arm 8 is connected to one terminal of a signal indicating device which may comprise a motor 1 0 havinga vibrator disc 11 mounted on and rotatable withthe armature shaft of the motor; Which-disc is" adapted to engage with a diaphragm12,-associated with a horn 13, so

that, upon theoperatio'n ofthe armature,,the

disc'willhe rotated causing the diaphragm t'o vibrate and" produce a sound through the horn which-willbe audible to the engineman.

The other terminal of the signalindicating device is connected to a train wire 14 which may be, ineflect, continuous throughout the 1 length of the train.

as thebattery 19. 5 The signal indicating de- 7 vice '17 may comprise 9011820" and 21, a core 22iand a pivotally mounted vibrator arm 23 adaptedg'tonormally: engage acontact 24 which is connected,.by a wire 25, toia terminal contact 261 of the trainmans switch device 18. One'terminal Ofthe coil 20.is con nected to the train wire 14am; the other end is connected with the wire 25. Qne end of the coil 21 isconnected to a terminal contact 27 of the trainmans switch device 18 and the other end is connected to the arm 23 which is normally held in contact 24 by a-spring'28. v

Thetrainmansswitch device 18 comprises a casing containing a contact member 29jhaving an operatingstem 30 1adapted to be op erated by a lever 31 havingoperating arms 32 and 33, each having an operating'cord 34 connected therewith. 'Mounted on the casing, there arel fulcr um pins 35 and 36, which are so disposed, that when the arm 32 is operated, the lever 31 turns .aboutthe pin 35 and when the arm 33 is operated the lever turnsabout the pin 36, in either case the stem with the contact 30 isoperated." V

The contact member 29 is. provided with contacts 37 and 38 and is normally maintained in the positionshown' in the drawing terminalis connected to i by the action of a spring39fmounted in the casin ThismembQrQB; Whcnit is moved a.

predetermined distance, engages a yielding stop member 40 which is subject to the pressure of a spring 41 mounted in the casing. In order to prevent rotative movement of the contact member 29, a guide bushing,

havingscrew-threaded engagement with the casing of the switch device 18, is

provided with apin 42 which engages in a ro ed f med n th ntes m m e. The "contact "37 ofthe trainmansswitch device "l8',controls circuit wires connected to 7 the terminal contact 27, and to a terminal contact 43 connected to ground at 44. The

contact 38 controls circuit wires connected to the terminal contact 26, and toe terminal contact 45 connected to the positiveterminal ci iesatten. 9 ib i e ati rm i of which battery is connected ,to ground at 46.

"jfAs suming the several parts' of my inventionto: be in normal positions, as shown 1n ,the drawing-and the trainman deslresjto signal the engineman, the-trainman pulls the 7 operating cord 34unti1 the ontact member a 29 engages the stop memberv4Q, in which posicause the motor to: operate solthat the diaphragm 12 of the enginemanssignal device will be vibrated and produce sounds audible to the enginema'n. ,If thetrainman holds the Contact member 2 91111 this position, a sub staiitially continuous sound is produced, but the trai'nman by operatingh-is switch-up and d'o'wnto openiandclo'se the circuit, may cause the fenginemans signal device to operate intermittently andthereby convey to the enginein'a'n any predetermined signal.

[It will'herei be noted that when current flows through 'theceil 20 of the trainmanis signal device 17,. the armature- 22 is magnetizedgwhichcauses the'arm 23 to'be attracted to it, thus moving the arm 23 out of contact with thecontact 24'. v l

Slibu'ld the'trainma-n d'esireto receive the engineimanfsre ly; signal fat. the car station froni' whichghefinitiated his signal, he causes thefcoi ita'c'tg member1.29. to be moved to its finaldepressed positioinin which,the contact 31', connects the terminal; contacts 43 and; 27 thus connect-ing the'aimi23flnd coil 21 of the trai'nma S Signal device 17,to ground this p osi t-ioniofz the; contactv meniber f29, ag contacti38still gonna-as the ben actg and 45 and the circuit for operating the-errgine zmansv signal is maintained nosed as hereinbefore described. I To: reply i the trainmans signal, the enginenian moves the arm Sfot switch device out of contact w'i'thfth contactdwhich opens the circuit described, which permits the core 22 to become demagnetized, thus permitting the spring 28 to move the arm 23 into contact with the contact 24, and when in such contact, current will flow from the contact 24, through the arm 23, coil 21 and contact 37 toground 44. Current thus flowing through the coil 21 causes the core 22 to become magnetized and the arm 23 is attracted to it, againsttheinfiuence of thespring 28, thus opening the circuit again, which permits the arm 23 to be moved again, by the action of the spring'28, into contact with the contact 24, and these operations continue so long as the 'arm'8 is maintained out of contact with thecontact 6, and the signal? device 17 will produce asubstantially continuous sound. By'opening and closing the circuit by the use of the enginemans switch,- the engineman mayqcaus'e :the intermittent. operation of the trainman s signal device 17, and thereby transmit to the trainman any predetermined signal. 1

Should the engineman desireto-initiate a signal to "be sounded at, every car station throughout the length ofthetrain, he moves the arm 8v of his ,switch,so that it contacts with the contact 5, which permits alternating current to flow, from the generator 1 and transformer 5 2, through; the enginemans V switch device, andlenginemans signal indicatingwdeviceto the. trainlwire 'andmfrom thence through each. of the signal devices :15 to, groundl16. thus operatingfrall of the signal devices 15. By. opening and closing this circuit throughthe operation of the arm 8, the engineman may cause any desired, signal to betransmitted to thetrainman: It will here be understood that the signal-device's 15 are operable'by alternating current only, so that he' hs a ma s is el i n n man or when the engineman 1s replyingzto thesignal initiatedbythe trainin an, the di-. rect I current, vfrom the battery, flowing througr theftrain wire14, will not cause the signal device s 15"to operate.

While one illustrative embodimentfof the invention has been described in detail, 5 is not m-y intention to limit-its scope to that embodiment 'or otheriwise than by the terms of theiappended claims V n a. a j

HI-Iaving now described my invent oluwhat I. claim as new'and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, is

7,1. In a train signal system, the combination with aisingle tram wire,'of an electrically contro lled signal indicating device{ on the head" vehicleiof a train andconnec'td to said train} wire, an electrically controlled signal indicating-device oneach of the other vehicles 1 of the train an d connected'to said. train wire and each: comprising anQelectro-magnet, switch device on-the head vehicle normally train wire to greund;,.-a source of: current. on each of said other vehicles per manently connected to ground, aswitch on each of said other VlllClQS operative to one position to connect the local',source of current in circuit with said train wire to cause the signal device on the head vehicle to op'- crate, and operative "to" another position to maintain said local source of currentconnected to said train wire and to connect the local signal device on the vehicle to ground, the switch device on the head vehicle being operative to disconnect said train wire from ground, and means included in each electromagnet operative tointermittently connect and disconnect the local source of currentto and from ground and cause a signal to sound when said train wire is disconnected from ground and the local switchdevice is second mentioned position. V

2. In a train signal system, the combination with a single train wire, of an electrically controlled signal indicating device on the head vehicle of a. train and connected to the train wire, an electrically controlled signal indicating device on each of the other vehicles of the train and each connected to said train wire, a source of current on each of said other vehicles permanently connected to ground, a

switch device on the head vehicle of the train normally connecting said train wire to ground, a switch device on each of said other vehicles for closing a circuit through the local source of current and the signal device on the head vehicle, and having a position for connecting the local signal device to ground and connecting said local source of current to said train wire, and to the local signal device, the switch device on the head vehicle being operative to a position to disconnect said train wire from ground, and means included in the local 7 signal device operative to intermittently connect and disconnect the local source of current to and from ground and cause a signal to sound when said train wire is disconnected from ground and the local switch device is in its second mentioned position.

3. In a train signal system, the combination with a single train wire, of an electrically controlled signal indicating device on the head vehicle of a train and connected to said train wire, an electrically controlled signal indicat- 'ing device on each of the other vehicles of the train, a source of current on each of said other vehicles permanently connected to ground, a switch on the head vehicle normally connectin said train wire to ground, a switch device on each of said other vehicles operative to one position to connect the local source of current in circuit with the signal device on the head vehicle, and operative to another position to connect the local signal device to ground and to connect said local source of current to said train wire, and means included. in the signal device of each of said other vehicles for rendering it inoperative when the train wire is connected to ground through the switch on in its menti'oned position.

' the head vehicle and operative, when the switch is operated to disconnect the train wire from ground when the localswitch device is in its secondmentioned position. '4. Inatrain signal system, the combin'a "tion with a single train wirenormallyconnected to groundjatthe head of the trairf, of an electrically controlled signal indicating device on the head vehicle Ora train connected I each having another position to connect the local source of direct current tosaid train wire and to connect the direct current operated signal device'on each pram other vehicles toigro'und, means ODBITatiYB o: one position fromithe head vehiclefor disconnecting said trai .Wire-imm g und ndon l vs i nt l t i n. fo n ccfinsis e i e'e alternating. current in'circuit with the alter: nating current operatedl'signal devicespand means included in} each. of the directgcurrent operated signal deyiccsfoperative to control the flow of currentthrough the local source of direct current and the local} signal device when the local switclrdeviceisin i1 3 second 5. In a train signal systemjthe combinaion wi h ajrsingl it i enmm Hy C0 1.-

nected' to ground at the head of the'train, of an electrically controlled signal indicating device on the head vehicle of a train, and connected in said train wire, an electrically con trolledsigrial indicating device'oneach of the other vehicles of the train, the 7 last. men'- ztionecl signal devices comprising i an electro'- ma n t having a p ity coils andl vi ibrator,

one ofsaid coils being connected at 'onejend to jsaid train wire anda't the. other fend to ac1rcu'1tw1re,a source of current connected to ground each lo f the other vehicles, a switch device on 'eachof. said other vehicles having means operative ,to a position for cutting the local source; of current m'circult-wit-h said circuit wire, connectedcoil and the signal device. (on the head vehicle, andanother position for connecting said local sourceofcurrentto said train wire and to'connectthe other coil .of said floca'l signal device to ground,the current flowing to s'aidtr'ain wire through "the circuit wire and first mentioned coil' causing said vibrator of the local signal device to operate to prevent the flow of current through the second mentioned coil to ground, and .means operativefrom the head vehicle-for disconnecting said train wire from ground to permit the vibrator to 'operatelto intermittently make and break the circuit through the second mentioned coil. v f V r 6. In a train'signal system, the combina- 7 tion with a train wire normally connected, to

ground at the head ofthe train,.'of a source of electric current on each vehicle'ofthe train having one terminal permanently connected ground when the switch device on the head vehicle is operated to disconnect saidtrain wire from ground. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. i V k THOMAS H. THOMAS.

tohground, an electrically controlled signal indicating device on each vehlcle of a train,

each signal indicating device having onejof its terminals permanently connected to said train wire and another of its terminals normally dlsconnected from ground, means'on eachvehicleoperative to a position to connect the local source! of current in circuit with said signal device and to connect the last mentioned terminal of the-local signal device to ground,-meansincluded in each signal device operative by current flowing from said source to ground through said train wire for rendering each signal, device inoperative to efi'ect a signal, and operative by current flowing from said source when the first-mentioned means is in positionto 7 I connect the signal device in circuit with sa1d source and,ground to effect a s gnal upon the disconnection of said train wire fromv ground, and a switch device at the vehicles of thetrain and each having one terminal connected to. said train wire and another terminal normally disconnected from ground, means on each of the last mentioned vehicles 7 operative to V a position to 4 connect local signal device and to connect the; last r @the local source ofcurrentincircuit with a mentionedterminal of the local signal device I to ground, andcmeans included in said local signal device for rendering the signal device inoperative to effect a signal when the-current from saidsource isfiowing to ground through said train wire and theswitch on the headvehicle, and additional means for rendering" said local signal device operative by current. flowing; from said "source to I

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