US1794569A - Train-dispatching system for railroads - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1931. s. N. WIGHT 1,794,569

TRAIN DISPATCHING SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS Filed March 18. 1 929 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1931 V iIUM EDSTATES snnewicx 1v. w enir, or'nocnnsrnit, NEW ironxf; Assielvonfro eEnnnAI-i sAiLwAY i gieivnn Icomramr; or nocnns'rnn, NEW-YORK TnArn-nrsrmonmesysrrnm ron:an nnonns v I Application filed Mar-ch13, 1929.; Seria1 No; 347,910. I

This invention relates to train dispatching systems of the synchronous selector type, and more particularly to the provision of means forstoring a" momentarily existing indica tion until such indication has actually been transmitted over the synchronous selector system, A

Intram dispatching and OS-ing systems, it

is possibleto transmit an OS indication over the j synchronous selector system in a direct way if theOS condition exists for aperiod of o time greater than the time required to complete one cycle of operation of the synchronous-selectorsystem. If, on the other hand,

the OS condition persists forless than'the time required to complete the cycle of operation of the/synchronous system, it is possible for the OS condition to belost and not'transmitted to the di'spatchers' ofiice- Ingdispatching systems ofthe synchronous selector type it is the practice to indicate in the'dis patchers oflice theioccupancy of a detector track circuit associated With-a switch'ma chine. In the case of a very short train, such as an engine andtender running along, moves over the detector track-circuit, these detector track circuits usually being very short, may result in the de-energization of thecdetector track relay for .a very; short time, probably as short as2 or, 3 seconds. It; is obvious that if a synchronousselector system is used in which the cycle of operation is'more than'this time it is possible that the OS condition is not transmitted tothe dispatchers oflice, but is lost, because itfdoes not exist at the time the particular vOS channel over which it must be transmittedis available for use,

In accordance with the presentinvention it is proposed,1in view of the above-mentioned and other important considerations, to. employ a stick relay which is re-enegize'd upon occupancy ofcthe detector track circuit, and

which cannot be vre-energizejdfuntil the synfi chro'nous selectorv system has passed the chan- ,nel over which the'condition otthe detector track relavis transmitted to the dispatchers oflice, from which it appears that occupancy of the detector track circuit can be transmitted to the dispatchers oflice'through the med umof said sti k relay ev th ugh thisd e tector track circuit is occupied only momentarily. g E As anotherobj ect of the present invention, it isproposed to transmit a change in. the position of the switch machine. flSWell as the con dition of occupancy of the detector track cir cuit through the medium of the same stick relay above referred to. I v V e Other objects, purposes, and characteristic features of the present invention, will in part be apparent from the accompanying drawings and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

polarneutral control relay Z :(see Fig. 3B of saidapplication) controls theswitch machine and associated signals at one end of apassing siding. Inaccordance with thepresentinvem tion itis proposed to control a similarpolar neutralrelay Z over a synchronous selector system of control, and it is proposed to trans mitan OS indication to the dispatchers ofiice over the same synchronous selector system even: throughthe duration of the OS condition persists for. less than the time required tocomplete a single cycle ofoperationof the synchronousselector system. Since the complete circuit arrangement from the polar neutral control relayZ to the switch machine and signals has been disclosed in-my prior application to which reference may be had, thexdisclosureotthe present application will be confined to ,the manner of controlling the control relay Z, and the manner in which an OS indication is stored by a. stick relay.

Referring to the accompanying drawings the east end of a passing sidingPS of a single -tracl: rallway, system has been shown, 1ncludinga switch machine SM for operat ng the'track switch S, a main starting signal 2,

1a; dwarf, starting signal 2 a main entering Signal 1,,and a vtake s d ng. signal 1 ,The

switch S has associated therewith the usual detector track circuit including a track battery 3 and a track relay TD 'shown conventionally by a dotted line. The control relay Z is controlled in accordance with the position i of the two two-position direct current polar relays of the permanent magnetstick type,

that is, polar relays which will remain in the last position to which they were-operated by permanent magnets forming. part thereof.

The relay WP is a switch machine repeater relay, and is energized if the switch machine assumes either extreme position. The relay- OS is controlled in accordance with the con ditions of the track relay TD 'andtheswitch machine repeated relay \VP, in [a manner as will appear from the operation of the system.

In the dispatchers ofiice is shown a minia ture passing siding PS forming part of a miniature track layout conforming with the railway system to which the train dispatching system is applied, an indicating lamp I being provided to indicate the occupancy of the detector track circuit at the right hand, or east end, 0.1" the passing siding. For each'waystation, such as the way-station for controlling the switch machine SM- and theassociated signals, there is a lever suitably associated with the miniature track layout, of

which the lever L only; has been shown. 3

rotated in synchronism in any suitable way.

Opcrat0n.1n order to get a more clear understanding or" the present invention, as illustrated in a single embodiment, it is believed'ex'pedient to consider the operation of the particular system selected for illustration. Let us assume, thatthe dispatcher wishes to operate'thecontrol relayZ toits right hand energized position, in order to cleara certain signal by circuits moreclearly shown and described in'my prior appllcation. In order to so energize the control relay Z the operator will move his lever L, and its associated contacts CM and UN, to the right hand position,

and will thereby apply current of'positive polarity 'to the relay M each timethe *message circuit of the synchronousiselector system is closed, that is each time the" rotating contacts RC and RC engage the contacts 11' and 11 through the following circuit be- I ginning at the positive side of the'battery 20, wire 21 and'22, contacts CM, contact 11, wire 23, contact RC", line wire 24, contact RC contact '11 wire 25, relay M, Wire 26 and 27, to the common return wire C connected to the mid point of battery 20. Since, however, the relay M already assumes the right hand position, this relay M is not operated- ,Similarly this movement'of the lever L causes the application of current. of negative potential to the relay N during each cycle of operation of the synchronous selector system through the following circuit: beginning at the negative side-of battery 20, wires 28 and 29, lever contact CN, wire 30,'contacts l2 and RC, line wire 24, contacts RC and 12 wire 31, winding of the relay N, wire 27, to common return wIre'C connected to the mid point of battery 20. The application of current of negative polarity to the relay N operates it to the left hand position, thereby applying current of positive polarity to the control relay Z through the following circuit:: beginning at the positive side of battery35, wire 36, contact '37 of the relay M, wire 38, contact 39 of the relay N, wire 40 and 41, winding of the relay Z, wire 42', back to the mid point of battery 35'. The completion of this circuit will energize the relay Z to its right hand energizedposition. T Let us now assume that the dispatcher wishes to derenergize the control relay Z, and inoyes his lever L back to the intermediate posit on Under this condition of the lever L 'po's1t1v-e potential will be ap'plied'to both th'e relays M and N, thus operating the relay N tothe right hand position, the relay M already assuming the right hand position, thereby breaking the circuit for the relay Z heretofore traced and notcompleting'another cniegit, I

- it us now assume that the lever L is move to the left hand position, Under this condi tion current of negative polarity is applied to the relay M, and current of positive polarity is applied to the relay N,- thereby operatingthe relay M to the nagative position, the relay-N already assuming the right hand position, under which condition the following'circuit for the control relay Z is completedzbeginning at the negative'terminal of the battery'35,.wire 43, contact 44 of relay N 1n its right hand position, wire 45, contact 46, of relay'M in its left hand position, wire 47 and 41, winding ofthe relay Z, wire 42 to the mid point of battery 45, thus operating,

the control relay Z to'its left hand energized position.- It is thus seen that with the lever L inthe right hand position the relay Z is energizedl to its right hand position, with the lever- L in its'left hand position the relay Z assumes 'itsleft ha'nd position and with the de-energized. 1 I 'Let us'nowsee'h ow operation of the switch machine; is indicated in the dispatchers of fice: It' is noted that thecontact 49 of the lever L in itsneutral position the relay Z is switch machine opens the circuit'for the switch repeater relay'VVP from the time the switch machine is initiated untll it has com- I pleted its'ooerating stroke, so that the relay lVP isde-en'ergizedso long as the switch machine 1S operating from one to'the other extreme position. The normally closed en- 7 ergizing circuit for the relay OS maybe tracted as 'follows:'- beginning .at the ter? minal. B of a suitable source of current, front contact 50 of relay DT, wire 51, front con.-'

tact 52 of relay. VVP,,wires 53and 54,stick contact 550i the relay OS, wires 56 and 57,

winding of the relay OS, to common return wire O connected to the mid pointof said bat- I tery. It'should be noted that the indicat ing relay IR is intermittently energized with current of positive polarity during rotation of the arms RC" and RC of the synchronous 1 selector system, through the following. circuit beginning at theterminal B of a suitable battery, front contact 58 of the relay OS,

wire 59, contacts 13 and RG Wire 24, contacts RC": and 13, wire 60, \vindingof the I relay IR, wire 61 to common returnwire O WP is de-energized at the beginning iofthe switch machine stroke, thus breaking the stick circuit for the relay OS heretofore traced and applying current of negative polarity to the wire 53 derived from the neg-' ative terminal N ofsaid battery. Therelay OS of course assumes its ole-energized position because the magnetic flux of its magnetic circuit must pass through zero in order to flow in the rcversedire'ction. With the relay OS once de-energize'd and itsstick'contact 55 open, it will not be re-energized by'the application of current of negative polarity until the synchronous selector system has completed the indicating channel-over which the indicating relay IR is operated. This indicating relay IR is operated to the negative position in response to the contact 58 a ssuming itsretracted position. At thesam'e time when this occurs the following pi'ek up cirfcuit for the relay OS iscompleted beginning at thenegative-terminal N of the bat--- tery heretofore mentioned, contact 52 of relay WPin its de-energized-position, wires 53 and 62,contacts 13 ,63, and 13', wires 64:

and 57, winding of therelay OS to common return wire O connected to the mid point of, said battery. With this circuit completed the relay OS ispickcdup, and is stuckfup through a stick circuit readily tracedand including the contact 52 01? relay WP in'its de energized position. .During the next rev-'- OllliilOIl ofthe synchronous selectorarms RC and ROthe indicatin rela IR is a 'ain. o

erated to its right hand position in response to the contact 58 of the relay OS assuming its raised position. It thus seen that the indieating'lamp 1 is flashed momentarily upon initiationot the switch machine on its oper-' ating stroke. This indicating lamp I is similarly illuminated momentarily when the switch machine completes its stroke and in response thereto energizes the relay XVI and again reverses the polarity of current applied to. the relay OS, which reverse polarity causes-the relay OS to drop long enough-to energize the indicating relay IR to its left Fhand position after which'the relay OS is picked up and again operates the indicating relay, IE to its'right handposition. It is -thns noted'that the indicating lamp I in the dispatchersoffice is illuminated at the beginningof the stroke and at the end of the stroke of operation of t-his'switch machine, thus" giving the dispatcher a distinctive signal, from which he may-interpret the'operating characteristic of the switch machine as well as the position to which it hasbeen moved, considering therewith the position of the lev'erL. V

In a similar way as just pointed out in connection with; de-energization of the relay W'P, de-energization of the track relay'TD effects de energization of the relay OS and transmits a negative impulse to the dispatchers oflice to illuminate the indicating lamp Land in the event the track relay DT has been de-energized only momentarily, asl'by 'reasonof the passage of a very short train at high speed, this de-energization of the track relay TD is manifested in the tower byrthe illumination of the indicating lamp I even though the contact 50 of track relay 'DT is opened momentarily, this by provi-' sion of the stick relay OS, which if once deenergiz'ed cannot pick up until the synchronous selector system has had an opportunity to transmit an indication to the dispatchers office;

' Although the present invention'has been shown applied to a synchronous selector system-infwhichrotating contact arms are employed for synchronously completing message channels sequentially, it is desired to be understood that the invention is applicable to other systems in which the message channels are sequentially closed by'other apparatus, such as sequentially-operated channelselecting relays:

' II'avingthus shown and'described one spe- 'cific embodiment of" the present invention,it is 'desiredto be understood-that the particular embodiment of; the invention illustrated has been selected for the purpose of facilit'ating describing the nature thereof and its operating principles, and not with theintent of limitingthe invent on to thezpartcularf "arrangement shown, and it is to be under stood thattvarious changes, modifications,

and additions maybe madeto adapt-the in vention to'th'e particular dispatchingi 'aroh lem encountered in practicing the. invention,

all without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, or'the idea of means underlying the same, except as demanded by the scope of the following claims.

hat I claim is V I 1. In a train dispatching system'of the synchronous selector type, the combination with meansfor closing a large number of message circuits each including'the same line wire sequentially, of an OS-lng relay which if energized supplies oneof said message cir cuits with current of one polarity and when die-energizedsupplies such message circuit with current o-f'the opposite polarity," and means effective if. said OS-relay is ,de-ener gized for preventing reenergiza'tion thereof until said one message circuit has been supplied with current of said opposite polarity.

2. In a train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type, the'combination with means for closing a large. number of message circuits each in'cludingthe same line wire semeans for closing a large number of message.

circuits each including the same line wire sequentially, of an OS-ing relay whichif energized supplies one ofsaid message circuits "VltllCUll'BI-lt of one polarity and when deenergized supplies such message circuit with current of the opposite polarity, a normally closed energizing circuit for said OS-ing relay including a front contact of said relay thus constituting a stick circuit, and a pick up circuit for said OS-ing relay including contacts only when said one message circuit OS-ing relay a front contact of a switch mais closed. a

4. In a train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type, the combination with means for closing a large number ofmessage circuits each including the same line wire sequentially, of an OS -ing relay which if energized supplies-cue of said message circuits. with current of one; polarity and when de-energized supplies such message circuit with current ofthe opposite polarity, a nor-- mally closed stick circuit for'saidOS-ing relay including a :front contact of said chine indicating relay and "a front contact of a track relay, and a pick-up circuit for said OS-ingv relay including contacts of said synchronous selector closed only momentarily during each cycle of operation of said synchronous selector and front contacts of said track relay.

5. In a train dispatching system of the synchronous'selector type, the combination with means for closing a large number of message circuits .each including the same line wire sequentially, of an OS-ing relay which if energized supplies one of said message circuits with current of one polarity and when de-Zenergized supplies such message circuit with current of the opposite polarity, a nor mally closed stick circuit for said OS-ing relay including 'a front contact. of said OS-lug relay a front contact of a switch machine indicating relay and a front contact of a track relay, and a pick-up circuit for said OS-ing relay including contacts of said synchronous selector closed only momentarily during each cycle of operation of said synchronous selector and including front contacts of said switch machine repeater relay.

6. In a train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type, the combination with means for closing a large number of message circuits each including the same line wire sequentially, of an OS-ing relay which if energized supplies one of said message circuits with current of one polarity and when de-energized supplies such message circuit with current of the opposite polarity, normally closed stick circuit for said OS ing relay including a front contac of said OS-ingrelay a front contact of'a switch machine indicating relay and a front contact of a track relay, and a pick-up circuit for said OS-ing relay including in series contacts of said synchronous selector closed only momentarily during each cycle of operation of said synchronous selector and including front contacts of said" track relay and said switch machine repeater relay.

7.111 a train dispatching system, of the synchronous selector type, the combination with means for closing a large number of message circuits each including the same line wire sequentially, of an OS-ing relay which if energized'supplies one of said inessage circuits with current of one polarity and when de-energized supplies such message circuit with current of the opposite polarity, a normally closed stick circuit for said OS-ing relay including a front stick contact of said OS-ing relay a front contact of a switch machine indicating relay and a front contact of a track relay, another stick circuit for said OS-ing relay including the saidfront stick contacts of said OS-ing relay and back contacts of said switch machine relay, the first stick c' cuit of which ener- 'gizes said OS-ing relay with direct current of positive polarity and the second stick circuit of which energizessaid OS-ing relay with direct current of negativepolarity, a pick-up contact for shunting said front stick it is assuredthat this de-energized condition of the OS-ing relay is transmitted over the selector system eventhough the OS-ing re lay Was cle-energized only for an instant;

8. In a synchronous selector train dispatching system, the combination with means for closing a'large number of message circuits each including the same line wire sequentially and extending from a local dispatchers ofiice to a distant way station, apolar neutral control relay at said distant way station, athree-position lever at said dispatchers office, and means-for causing said polar neutral relay to assume any one of its three conditions depending on the position assumed by said three-positioned lever and including two of said message circuits.

9. In a synchronous. selector train dispatching system, the combination with means for closing a large number of message circuits each including the same line' wire sequentially and extending from a local dispatchers office to a distant way station, three-position lever at said dispatchers 015- fice, a control relay at said distant way station, two direct current polar relays of the permanent magnet stick type located near :said control relay, acircuit and a source of current for causing said control relay to as sume one energized position when one of said polar relays assumes one polar position and the other polar relay assumes the reverse polar position, another circuit including said source for causing said control relay to assume the opposite energized positions when the first mentioned polar relay assumes the reverse position and the second mentioned polar relay assumes said one polar position and for causing-said polar neutral relay to an extreme position and said track relay is deenergized. Y

11. In a centralized traflic controlling system of the synchronous selector type, the combination with a synchronous selector system including means for sequentially rendering available a large number of message circuits connecting a central oflice' and a distant way station during each cycle of 'operation of said selector system, a switch machine operated through the medium of said selector syste1n, a stick relay at said way station' for controlling an indicator at said central office through the medum of said selector system, and means effective to pick up said stick relay in each cycle of operation 1 of said selector system if said switch machine assumes an intermediate position.

In testimony whereof I aliix mysignature.

SEDGWICK NPWIGHT.

assume the de-energized positions when said i two polar relay assume like polar positions.

10. In a centralized trafic controlling system of the synchronous selector type, the combination with a synchronous selector system including means for sequentially rendering available a large number of message circuits connecting a central office and a distant way station during each cycle of operation of said selector system, a switch machine operated through the medium of said selector system, a stick relay at said way station for controlling an indicator at said central .ofice through the medium of said selector system, a track relay, and means etfective to pick up said stick relay during each cycle of operation of said selector system except when both said switch machine assumes

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