US1779418A - Remote control apparatus - Google Patents

Description

- Oct. 28,3930 Q w BELL 1,779,418

REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1929 IM 2 Q5 64 INVENTOR I OJ V-Bell Q- a $41 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28,. 1930 v l barren STATES PATENT err ice PENNSYLVANIA oHAnLEs WVBE'LL, or wInKINsBuRG, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNon r 'rrrn UNION swrron: & SIGNAL CQMPANY, or swrssvALE,

PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF REMOTE CONTROL. APrAR-ATUs Application filed January 31, 1929. Serial No. 336,413.

My invention relates to remote control apparatus, and particularly to apparatus for.

safely controlling traffic govermngdevices such as railway switches and signals from a distant point.

repeater relays,

' ters S S S and S One feature of my invention is the provision ofmeans including'non-coded currents of different characteristics for separately con-' trolling a switch and a signal and two approach indications over one pair of conductors.

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

The accompanying drawing is a diagram-.

matic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Referring to the drawing, the reference characters 1 and 1 designate the rails. of a stretch X of railway track connected by means of a switch F with a siding Y. Switch F, in its normal position as shown in the drawing, directs traflic over stretchX only, and, in its reverse position, directs traflic over stretch X to or from siding Y.

The rails of stretch X are divided by insulated joints 2 to form an approach track section A-.B west of switch F and which as shown in the drawing is to the left, and section CD east of switch F and which as shown in the drawing is to the right. Each of these track sections is provided with a track circuit, which issupplied with current by a battery 3 connectedacross the rails,ad jacent one end of the section. Thetrack circuit for section AB includes the track relay G and the track circuit for section C'D includes the track relay G Slowreleasing tively by front contacts of track relays G and G I Signals designated by the reference characgovern movements of and S governtrafiic over switch F, signals S and ing over switch F in its normal position, signals S and S governing over switch in its reverse position. as here shown is of the semaphore type.

As indicated in the drawing, s'witchF is 'tacts 8 and 44 which designated by the reference characters 9 and 9?, are controlled respecmary winding F. ing relays K and E. Each of these signal operated by a motor M comprising an armature 5 and a field winding 6, which is con trolled inany suitable manner by the polarized relay E. An example of such control is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings included in my co-pending application filed May 19, 1928, Serial No. 279,086 for remote controlling apparatus, in which motor M is controlled by a polarized relay R and a circuit controller a.

A polarized signal relay H, having windings 51'and 52, controls signals S S S and S in accordance with the position of switch F. WVindings 52 is continuously supplied with alternating current from a suitable source over wires .2? and 0.

. Switch control relay E and signal control relay H are controlled over a pair of conductors 11 and 17 by manually operable levers V and V respectively, which may be included in a group of such levers at some central location, such as a train despatchers office. Lever V has a normal position N and a reverse position R, and is provided with conare closed only while lever V is in its N or its R position respectively. LeverV has anormal position N, a reverse position to the left designated by the reference L, and a reverse position to the right designated by the reference B. LeverV is provided with contacts 22, 80' and 32 which arevclosed only while lever L, N, or R positions respectively.

Indication of the approach of a train in sections A.B or C-D is provided by lamps e and 6 which are controlled -by relays K and K respectively. A transformer T suplies current through the contacts of lever Q for operating relays K and H. The pri- 18 of transformer T is continuously supplied with alternating current from the wires m and 0. The secondary side of transformer T is provided with two windings 19 and 20 having a common terminal 7 6.

BatteriesQ and Q supply direct current through the contacts of lever V for operat- V Condensers 25 and 26 prevent direct current, from batteries Q and Q", from reaching relays K and H. Impedance winding 13 and the'winding ofrelay K V occupies its LII have sufficient reactance to prevent more than a small amount of alternating current from flowing through relays E and K respectively.

A battery Q", located adjacent switch F, supplies current for operating repeater relays g and g and signals S S S and S Having thus described, in general, the arrangement and location of the various parts comprising my invention, I will now proceed to explain the operation of the apparatus.

As shown in the drawing, all parts are in their normal condition, that is, track sections AB and C-D are unoccupied, levers V and V are in their normal or N position, switch F is in its normal position, and each of the signals S S S3 and S indicates stop.

With track sections A-B and C-D unoccupied, relays G and G are energized. Relays g and g are energized by their control circuits including battery 3 and pass ing through contacts 61 and 63 of relays G and respectively.

lVith lever V in its N position, relay E is energized in its normal direction by current flowing from battery 0 through wire 7, con tact 8 of lever V wire 9, winding of relay K wires 10, 11 and 12, impedance 13, wire 14, winding of relay E, and wires 15, 16 and 17 back to'battery Q The current flowing in this circuit, although of sufficient magnitude to cause relay E to close its front contacts, is not great enough to cause relay K to close its contact 74 which is therefore open.

With lever V in its N position, a circuit is completed passing from secondary winding 20 of transformer T, through wire 29, contact 30 of lever V wire 23', winding of relay K wire 24, condenser 25, wire '11, condenser 26, wire 27, winding 51 of relay H, and wires 28, 17 and 73 to terminal 76 of transformer T. The current flowing in this circuit is, however, of insuflicient magnitude to operate either relay H or K 7 Since the front contacts of relays K and K are open, indicator lamps e and e are unlighted.

I will assume that an approaching eastbound train de-energizes relay G which then opens its front contact 61 in the circuit of relay g and closes its back contact 58 completing a branch path around winding 51 in the circuit previously traced for relay H. This branch path passes from condenser 26, through wire 56, contact 57 of relay 9 contact 58 of relay G and wire 59 to wire 28. Relay 9 being of a slow releasing type, retains its contact 57 in the closed position for a short period of time after cont-act 58 of relay G has been closed. Meanwhile, the branch path ust traced permits sufficient current to flow to cause relay K to close its front contact 70. Indicator lamp 6 then becomes lighted by its circuit passing from battery Q through wires 68 and 69, contact 7 0, wire 71, lamp c and wires 72 and 73 back to battery Q As soon as relay g opens its front contact 57, thereby opening the branch path around winding 51 of relay H, the current flowing through relay K is so reduced that contact 70 again opens, thus extinguishing lamp 6 If, on the other hand, when again in their normal condition as previously described, an approaching westbound train tie-energizes relay G the circuit for relay is opened at contact 63 of relay G and a branch path around relay E is complet ed through back contact 54 of relay G This branch path passes from wire 14, through wire 53, contact 54, and contact 55 of relay g to wire 16. By the completion of this branch path, the resistance in series with relay K is so reduced as to permit sulficient current to flow to cause relay K to close its front contact 74, thereby completing the lighting circuit of lamp 6. This lighting circuit passes from battery Q through wire 68, contact 74, wire 75, lamp c and Wires 72 and 73 back to battery Qf. Lamp 6 is thus lighted, indicating to the despatcher that an approaching train has entered section C-D.

I will now assume that all parts are again in their normal condition as previously described, and that the despatcher desires to clear signal S for an eastbound train to move over switch F. He accordingly operates lever V to its R position, thus completing, through contact 32 of lever V a circuit for relay H passing from secondary winding 20 of transformer T, through wire 31, contact 32, wire 23, winding of relay K wire 24, condenser 25, wire 11, condenser 26, wire 27, winding 51 of relay H, and wires 28, 17 and 73 to terminal 76 of transformer T. Sullicient current then flows to cause relay H to close its contacts to the left position, but not to cause relay K to close its front contact; Relay H, upon closing its contacts to the left position, completes, through its contact 40, the operating circuit for signal S passing from battery 6)}, through Wires 33 and 34, front contact 35 of relay E, normal contact 36 of relay E, wire 37, contact 38 of circuit controller a which is operated by switch F, wire 39, contact 4O of relay H, wire 41, operating mechanism of signal S and wires 65, 66 and 67 back to battery Q Signal S is then operated to its proceed position. If, now, an approaching eastbound train de-energizes relay G, the branch path around winding 51 of relay H becomes closed as previously described, causing relay K to close its contact 70 and lamp 6 to become lighted by the circuit already traced.

I will next assume that all parts are again in their normal condition and that the despatcher desires to reverse switch F for a all parts are train to move from stretch X to siding Y.

He accordingly operates lever V to its R position, thus completing a circuit by which current flows in the reverse direction through the winding of relay E. This circuit passes from battery Q}, through wires 17, 16 and 15, winding of relay E, wire 14:, impedance 13, wires 12, 11 and 10, winding of relay K wire 9, contact 44 of lever V and wire 43 back to battery Q}. Relay E then closes its polar contacts in the reverse position, caus-' ing switch F to be operated to its reverse position. a

If, then, the despatcher desires to clear signal S he will operate lever V to its L 51 of relay H in a reverse direction with respect tothe current flowing through winding 52. The circuit, by which this current of reverse relative polarity travels, passes from terminal 7 6 of transformer T, through wires 7 3, 17 and 28, winding 51 of relay H, wire 27 condenser 26, wire 11, condenser 25, wire 24, winding of relay K wire 23, contact 22 of lever V and wire 21 to secondary winding. 19 of transformer T. Relay H then closes its contacts toward the right, completing the operating circuit for signal S passing from battery Q through wires 33 and 34C, front contact 35 of relay E, reverse contact 36 of relay E, wire 15, contact ltd-4:6.

of circuit controller a and which is now closed on account of switch F beingin its reverse position, wire 47, contact 48 of relay H, wire 50, operating mechanism of signal S and wires 66 and 67 back to battery Q The arm of signal S is then operated to its proceed position. If now a train deenergizes relay G lamp 6 will become lighted as previously described.

From the foregoing descriptions for typical traffic moves, the operation of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing will be readily understood for other trafiic moves.

Although I have herein shown and .described only one form of remote control 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.

I claim is: i

1. In combination with a railway switch and a signal for governing the movement of traffic over said switch, a first manually operable lever, a second manually operable lever, a pair of line wires extending from a point adjacent said levers to apoint adjacent said switch, a first source of current, a second source for supplying current of a different character than current supplied by said first source, means for controlling the operation of said switch by current from said'first source ond I approach indication means controlled through a contact of the second of said track relays by current from said second source supplied to said line wires by said second lever. position, sending current through winding 2. In combination with a railway switch and a signal for governing the movement of tralfic over said switch, a first manuallyoperable lever, a second manually operable lever, a pair of line wires extending from a point adjacent said levers to a point adjacent said switch, a first source for supplying direct current, a second source for supplying alternating current, apolarized first control relay responsive to direct current from said first source, a second control relay responsive to alternating current from said second source, a first and a second approach track section for said switch, a track circuit for each of said sections each including a'track relay, a

slow releasing repeater relay for each of said track relays each controlled by a front contact of its track relay, a first indication relay responsive to direct current, a second indication relay responsive to alternating current, a circuit including said first control relay and said first indication relay as well as said line wires in series and an impedance between said first control relay and one of said line wires having high reactance to alternating current but only low resistance to direct current, means for supplying said circuit with current of normal or reverse polarity from said first source by said'first lever and of suificient magnitude to operate said first control relay but not said first indication relay, a branch path around said first control relay in said circuit including a back contact of the first track relay and a front contact of its repeater relay, which branch path when closed permits sufiicient current to flow'to operate said first indication rela a second circuit includ- Havlng thus described my invention, what I ing said second control relay and said second indication relay as well as said line wires in series and a condenser between said second control relay and one of said line wires and also a condenser between said second indica-- said second control relay in said circuit including a back contact of the second track relay and a front contact of its repeater relay, which branch path When closed permits sufiicient current to flow to operate said second indication relay, indication means controlled by said first indication relay, indication means controlled by said second indication relay, means for controlling the operation of said switch by said first control relay, and means for controlling the operation of said signal by said second control relay.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES W. BELL.

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