US1793184A - Railway signaling system - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 17, 1931. MQCANN ET'AL 1,793,184

RAILWAY S IGNALING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 15, 1930 Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RONALD A. MCCANN AND CHARLES A. BROOKS, SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, AS- SIGNORS TO THE UNION SVIITCH 82; SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SN'ISSVALE, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM Application filed February 13, 1930. Serial No. 428,144.

Our invention relates to railway signaling systems of the type involving a switch and a signal governing traffic over such switch. One feature of our invention is the provision of novel and improved means for automatically causing said signal to give progressive indications as a train passesprogressive distances beyond the signal.

We will describe one form of signaling system embodying our invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form of system embodying our invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference characters 1 and 1 designate the track rails of a stretch of main track N, which rails are divided by insulated joints 2 to form a plurality of successive track sections, of which only two sections AB and B-C, are shown in the drawing. Located in the section AB is a switch Q leading into a yard track Z. This yard track is provided with a track section DE, the end D of which is located beyond the fouling point of the switch Q.

Traflic into the section AB, and therefore through the switch Q, is governed by a signal S. This signal comprises a main group of lamps V, and an auxiliary group of lamps W, each group comprising a green lamp Gr, a yellow lamp Y, and a red lamp R. The signal also is provided with a calling-on lamp Y The indications given by the signal S will be explained during the explanation of the operation of the system as a whole.

The switch Q, is actuated to normal and reverse positions by a switch mechanism 4:, which in turn is controlled by a manually operable lever P having normal and reverse positions corresponding to those of theswitch.

' This lever comprises a pair of pole-changing contacts 5 and 6, whereby current of normal polarity is supplied to the mechanism 4: from terminals X and 0 when the lever is in the normal position, and current of reverse polarity is supplied to the mechanism from these contacts when the lever is in the reverse position. Lever P is also provided with additional contacts 7 and 8, the functions of which will be explained hereinafter.

The signal S is controlled in part by a manually operable lever P having a middle position and a right-hand position, which positions we will for convenience refer to as the normal and reverse positions. This lever is provided with a contact 9 which is open when the lever is in the normal position, and is closed when the lever is reversed. Associated with the lever P is a normally open push button 40 of the type which may be closed by hand, but which immediately returns to the open position as soon as it is released. That is to say, this push button is of the non-stick type.

Each track section is provided with a track circuit comprising a track battery 3, and a track relay designated by the reference character T with a distinguishing exponent.

The reference character U designates a repeater relay, which is controlled in part by the track relays and in part by the switch lever P l/Vhenthe switch lever is in the normal position, the circuit for relay U is from terminal X, through contact 7 of switch lever P contact 10 of track relay T contact 12 of track relay T and the winding of relay U to terminal 0. It foilows that with lever P in the normal position, relay U will be energized if and only if both track sections AB and BC for the main track N are unoccupied. iVhen lever P is reversed, thecircuit for relay U is from terminal X, through contact 7, contact 11 of track relay T contact 12 of track relay T the wind ing of relay U to terminal 0. It follows that when lever P is reversed, relay U will be energized if and only if track sections A-B and DE are unoccupied;

The reference character M designates a relay which is controlled in part by the track relays and by relay U, as well'as by the switch lever P The circuit for relay M is from terminal K, through contact 8 oflever P contact 13 of track relay T back contact 14: of relay U, and the winding of relay M to terminal 0. It follows that relay M will be energized when and only when lever P is in the reverse position, track relay T is energized, and track relay T is cleencrg izcd; that is, when and only when lever P is reversed and section D-E is occupied by a train.

Signal S is directly controlled by a home relay H, a distant relay F, a yard relay J, and a calling-on relay K. This signal is also controlled in part by a circuit controller L opcratively connected with the switch Q, and con prising two normally closed contacts 17 and i9, and a mn'n'lally open contact 18.

Ti e will assume that all the track sections A-l%, BC and D hl are unoccupied, that switch Q is in the normal position and that the despatchcr desires to admit a. train moving toward the right into section Al3. To do this he will. move the signal lever P to the right-hand or rererse position thereby energiaiug relay H, the circuit being from terminal X, through contact 9 on lever P contact of relay U, back contact 28 of yard relay J, back contact 32 of calling-on relay K, and the winding of relay H to terminal O. The circuit for the distant relay F includes the normally closed contact 19 of the circuit controller L, as well as other controlling contacts to the right of section B-C, and for present purposes we will assume that this relay is energized. Green lamp in group V of signal S will then be lighted by a. circuit which passes from terminal X, through the trout point of contact 22 of relay H, front point. of contact of relay F. and lamp G to terminal 0. At the same time the lamp G in group VJ will be lighted by a circuit which includes the front point of contact 22 of relay H and normally closed contact 11' of switch operated circuit controller L. nal S will then give the proceed indication. If the distant relay F is deener ized, lamp c; of group V] will be ighted as before, but lamp Y instead of lamp G in group V will be lighted, the circuit for lamp Y including the trout point of contact 22 of relay H, and the back point of contact 23 of relay F. When the train enters section it B, it will deenergizc track relay T and this in turn will decnerg ize relay U, thereby opening the circuit for relay H at contact 15 ct relay U. The two red lamps R of signal. S will then be lighted by a. circuit which includes the back point of contact 22 of relay H and back contact 26 of relay J, as well as the two red lamps it in multiple. Signal S will then indicate stop.

If switch reversed, and all three of the track sections are unoccupied, reversal of the signal lever P will result in lighting lamp G or lamp Y in group V, but lamp G in group V will remain extinguished be 'ause its circuit *ill be open at switch operated contact 17.

Yo will now assume that switch Q isreversed, that section AB occupied by a train, and that the despatcher desires to admit a second train into this section. Relay U will now be deenergized, because its circuit will be opened at contact 12 of track relay T, and relay hi will be dccnergized because its circuit will be opened at contact 123 of the same track relay. The dcspr. 'cher will then reverse the signal lever P and will also close the push button l0. The calling-on relay K will then ecome energized by virtue ot a circuit which passes from terminal X, through contact 9 on the signal lever P push button etO, back point of contact 16 of relay M, back contact 21 of relay H, bacl: contact of relay .l, and the winding of callingpon relay K to terminal 0. When relay ll becomes energized, lamp Y of signal S will become lighted by virtue of a circuit which in cludes the trout point o't contact- 33 of relay K, and the signal will then give the calling-on indication. We will now assume that before the calling-on indication accepted by a lollowing train, the train which occupies section A-B passes the point D, thereby permitting track relay T to close and causing track relay T to open. Relay U will continue to be deenergiaed because its circuit will now be open at contact 11 of: track relay T, but relay M will become energized because its circuit will be closed at both contacts 13 and 14. Relay J will then become energized by virtue of a circuit which passes from terminal X, through contact 9 on lever P contact 31 of relay K, front point of contact 16 (it relay hil, back contact 20 of relay H, and the winding of relay 3' to terminal 0. Relay 1';

is slow-releasing in characteristic. so that its front contact 31 will-remain closed for a briei interval of time after the circuit for this relay becomes opened at back contact oi lay J. During" this intervalot time a stick circuit for relay J will become closed, which circuit passes from terminal X, through contact 9 of lever P front contact 27 oi? relay J, front point otcontact 16 of relay M, back contact 20 of relay H, and the winding of relay J to terminal 0. It will be observed that this transfer from relay K to relay J is entirely automatic, and does not require manual operation or the push button 40. With relay J energized, the yellow lamp Y of group V will be lighted by virtue of a circuit which includes front contact 24 of this relay. Lamp Y will also be lighted by virtue of a circuit which includes front contact 30 of relay J, and back contact of relay K. Signal to will then give what is known as a yard indication, that is, it will indicate to the following train that the switch Q is reversed. that section 1 -l3 is unoccupied, but that track section D-E of the yard trace: Z is occupied.

Signal S can be caused to give other indications than those specifically referred to, but such other indications have nothing to do with our present invention, and, eonsetpiently,

it is notnecessary to explain them in detail.

Although we have herein shown and described only one form of signaling system embodying our invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention. what we claim is: v

1. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided to form sections AB and BC provided with track relays T and T respectively, a switch leading from section AB into a yard track divided to form a section DE which is provided with a track relay T a signal governing traffic through said switch, a manual lever for said switch having normal and reverse positions, a manual lever for said signal having normal and reverse positions, a repeater relay U energized when said switch lever is normal provided track relays T and T are closed and energized when said switch lever is reverse provided track relays T and T are closed, a relay M energized when said switch lever is reversed provided track relay T is closed and relay U is open, a home relay and a yard relay and a slow-releasing calling-on relay for said signal, means for energizing said home relay when said signal lever is reversed provided said yard and calling-on relays are,

open and relay U is closed, a manually operable normally open push button, means for energizing said calling-on relay when said signal lever is reversed and said push button is closed provided said home and yard relays and relay M are all open, means operating when said calling-on relay is energized to energize said yard relay if relay M closes, means for subsequently keeping the yard relay energized as long as relay M remains closed and the signal lever remains reversed, and means for causing said signal to give a calling-on or a yard indication according as said calling-011 or said yard relay is closed.

2. In combination, a section of railway track, a switch leading from said section into a yard track, a manual lever for the control of said switch, a signal governing traiiic through said switch, a relay M, means for energizing said relay requiring that said switch lever be reversed and that said section be unoccupied and'that said yard track be occupied by a train, a yard indication relay and a slow-releasing calling-on relay, a signal lever and a normally open push button for controlling said signal, means operating when said signal lever is reversed and said push button is closed to energize said yard indication relay or said calling-on relay according as relay M is closed or open, means operating if relay M closes while said calling-on relay is closed to energize said yard indication relay without necessitating closing of said push button, and means for causing said signal to give a calling-on or a yard indication according as said calling-on or said yard relay is closed.

3. In combination, a stretch ofrailway track, a signal governing traflic through said stretch, a manual lever for the control of said signal, a relay M controlled by traific conditions in advance of said signal, a home relay and a yard indication relay and a calling-on relay for said signal, a manually operable normally open push button, means for energizing said calling-on relay when said signal lever is reversed and said push button is closed provided said home and yard relays and relay M are all open, means operating when said calling-on relay is energized to energize said yard relay if relay M closes, means for subsequently keeping the yard relay energized as long as relay M remains closed and the signal lever remains reversed, and means for causing said signal to give a calling-011 or a yard indication according as said calling-on or said yard relay is closed.

4. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a signal governing traflic through said stretch, a manual lever for the control of said signal, a relay M controlled by traffic conditions in advance of said signal, a home relay and a yard indication relay and a calling-on relay for said signal, a normally open push button for controlling said signal, means operating when said signal lever is reversed and said push button is closed to energize said yard indication relay or said calling-on relay according as relay M is closed or open, means operating if relay M closes while said callin on relay is closed to energize said yard indication relay without necessitating closing of said push button, and means for causing said signal to give a calling-on or a yard indication according as said calling-on or said yard relay is closed.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures. v

RONALD A. MoCAN-N. CHARLES A. BROOKS.

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