US1795084A

US1795084A - Train-dispatching system for railroads

Info

Publication number: US1795084A
Application number: US354881A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oscar H Dicke
Original assignee: General Railway Signal Co
Current assignee: SPX Corp
Priority date: 1929-04-13
Filing date: 1929-04-13
Publication date: 1931-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 1948-03-03

Description

March 3, 1931. p c E 1,795,084

TRAIN DISPATCHING SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS Filed April 13. 1929 s sheets-sheet 1 fiiwa '3 BYMZZM March 3,1931. OfH. DICKE 1,795,084

TRAIfi DISPATCHING SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS Filed April 13. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Way 5ta.Na.1

TORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFECE OSCAR H. DICKE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL I COMPANY, 011" ROCHESTER, NEW YORK TRAIN-DISPATCHDNG SYSTEM FOR R-AILROADS Application filed April 13, 1929. Serial No. 354,881

The present invention relates to train dispatching ystems, and more particularly to synchronous selector control apparatus for controlling wayside signals of such dispatching system. In the prior application of Dicks and Hitchcock Ser. No. 846,731 filed March 13, 1929, ways and means have been snown whereby channel selecting relays at various way stations will be rendered active first at one way station, then at the next etc. Tn said prior application the control was transferred from one way to the next succeeding way station only after each of the channel selecting relays at such one way station had all been operated sequentially, the organization of circuits being such that line relay at only one way station could be operated at one time.

In accordancewith the present invention it is proposed to render the line relay at only one way station of a large number of way stations active at one time to control its sociated channel selectin relays the line relays at all way stations unctioning, but the circuits controlled thereby being rcnderec operable at one way station at a time only. Also in accordance with the present invention it is proposed not only to select the way stations one at a time, but it is proposed to selec: such way station distinctively and irrespective of channel selecting relay control and to interrupt all of the channel or message circuits at such way station separately by the way station selecting means at all other times except when such a way station is selected.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of way station selecting means which require no additional line circuits or wires. Another feature of the present invention resides in a novel bank of channel selecting relays of the neutral type which channel selecting relays may be rendered operative one at a "time sequentially for successively closing distinctive channel circuits.

Other objects, purposes and characterisic features of the present invention will ap pear as the description thereof progresses and will in part be obvious from the companying drawings.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1A shows the apparatus in the dispatchers office of one system embodying the present invention;

Fig. 1B illustrates the apparatus at two successive way stations of the same system, so that Figs. 1A and 1B laid end to end constitute the complete system;

Fig. 2 snows the station selecting means of a modified system, the channel selecting relays and other features of this modified system being the same as that shown in Figs. 1A and 18.

Referring first to Fig. 1B of the drawings, this figure shows one passing siding PS of a railway system having many such sidings as well as diverging routes, crossings, and alike, of which the remaining portion of the system has for convenience been omitted. The track switch at the east end of this passing siding PS is preferably operated by suitable poweroperated means such as the switch machine Shi l), the switch at the west end being con trolled by a similar switch machine SMV.

he east end of this passing siding PS has associated therewith two starting signals 2 and 2, an entering signal 1 and a take siding 1 whereas the west end of this passing siding is provided with starting signals 7 and 7 an entering signal 8 and a take siding signal 8 There is also provided a message wire over which the wayside signals and switch machines are controlled and indications are transmitted, a stepping wire whereby the various relays are controlled in step-by-step fashion in synchronism with relays in the dispatchers ofiice, and a common return wire, as

-well as a (SO-cycle transmission line TL, ex-

tending through the entire railway system. As will appear hereinafter, the switch machines and signals at many passing sidings may be controlled over these comparatively few line wires.

At each way station are employed a number of relays used for various purposes, and for convenience it is necessary only to mention the relays at the second way station, the corres onding relays of oth r Way statiODS being designated by like reference characters having distinctive exponents. At way station No. 2 are provided a signal relay CR a direction oftravel relay DB and a switch machine relay SMR for the purpose of controlling the signals and switch machines located at that particular way station, a de tector track relay DT being employed to indicate in the dispatchers office the passage of a train by such-way station. The way station selecting relays include a high frequency relay HFR a polar line relay LE a low frequency relay LFR and a repeater relay BB whereas the channel selecting relays of this particular way station have been designated E F G and H Referring nowto the dispatchers office equipment (see Fig. 1A) wherein the railway system, to which the dispatching system embodying the present invention is applied, has

been reproduced in miniature, of which the and 53MB through the medium of the synchronous selector system in a manner as more clearly described hereinafter. a

The dispatchers office equipment also includes commutator. apparatus including the rotatable arm 10, which is rotated through the medium of suitable means such as a direct current motor M, and a high frequency 1 generator HFG, as well as-a source of 60-cycle alternatin current illustrated b the transto .V

former 12. The dispatchers oflice equip ment also includes a high frequency relay HFR", polar line .relay LR", and a series of way station selecting relays SE SE SE and SR. Each of these way station selecting relays is adapted to connect the line relay LR to "a particular group of channel selecting relays. The channel selecting relays for the way station selecting relay SR being designated A, B, C, and D, the channel selecting relays for the way station selecting relay SR being designated E, F, G, and H and the channel selecting relay for the way station selecting relay SR- being designated 1, J, K, and L.

The stepping line heretofore mentioned is also used as a transfer line, in that the control is transferred from one way station to another through the medium of alternating current superimposed on this same stepping line. It will be noted that adjacent to each line relaythere is contained in series with the stepping circuit an inductive reactance 15, containing an exponent corresponding to the exponent of the associated relay, .and

bridged around this line relay and reactance is a tuned unit comprising an inductance 16 and a condenser 17 having the properexponents, this tuned unit being tuned to resonate to the high frequency of the generator HFG, so thatthis high frequency readily flows around the line relay LR. It will be noted that the high frequency relays HFR are connected in multiple between the stepping line and the common return wire C through a condenser 18, these condensers being so small as not to allow the GO-cycle current to flow freely therethrough, and of course blocking the flow of direct current. In addition to the high frequency relay HFR having an exponent corresponding to the station there is a low frequency relay LFR having a similar exponent for each way station, these low frequency relays being picked up through a circuit connecting such relay with the next preceding way station, through the medium of the same stepping line as will more clearly appear hereinafter. It may be pointed out here that the circuits for carrying the low frequency'GO-cycle current to these low frequency relays LRF having suitable exponents include units resonated to this 60-cycle frequency, the first of which comprises condenser 37 and inductance 38, the second unit comprises condenser 39 and inductance 40 and the third unit comprises condenser 41 and inductance 42, each of these reference numbers having an exponent corresponding to the particular way station at which they are located.

With this apparatus in mind, it is believed that the detail construction of the system, as well as its operating characteristics and features, are best understood by considering the operation of the system.

Opemm'0n.Let us assume that the motor M is started by connecting it to its source of current, such as the battery 43, shown through a suitable switch 44, thereby causing the contact arm 10 to be rotated in a clockwise direction. When'the arm 10 engages the contact 21, the bridging contact 45 engages the stationary contacts 46- and 47 so that simultaneously there are completed two alternating current circuits one including a high frequency source HFG and the other including the low frequency -cycle source 12. The first or high frequency circuit may be traced as follows :beginning at the generator HFG blocking and tuning condenser 48,

wires

49, 50, and 51, stationary contact 21, contact arm 10, wire 52 to the stepping line over which the high frequency may readily flow by reasonof the tuned units 1617, having exponents corresponding to the way station at which they are located, which units are tuned to resonate to the high frequency, and from whence the circuits divided through the high frequency relays HFR, HFR HFR etc., through their associated condensers 18, 18 18 etc., to common return Wire C connected to the other side of high frequency generator HFG. The second or low frequency circuit may be traced as follows :lbeginning at the secondary winding of the transformer 11, condenser 6, wire 55, contacts 64:547, wire 56, from whence the circuit divides through the upper winding of the relay SR through condenser 57, back to the transformer 11, and through wire 58, the stepping wire to the first way station, the wire 59, front contact of the high frequency relay HFR wire 61, contact 62 of line relay LR in its left hand position, wires 63 and .64, winding of the low frequency relay LFR wire 65, condenser 41 inductance 42 to the common return wire 0 back to the transformer 11. Attention is directed to the fact that there is no circuit relay for LFR atthis time because the contact 108 of relay LR is to the left.

lhe first or high frequency circuit picks up the station selecting relay SR the upper.

winding being designed for high frequency alte:n. ting current, in the dispatchers office, which relay is then stuck up through the follOW-ingcircuit;+beginning at the terminal B of a suitable battery, back contact 66 of the nelay SR wire 67, back contact 68 of the relay SR- wire 69, back contact 70 of the relay SR wire 71, stick contact 72 of the relay SR through the lower winding of this relay SE to the Wire C connected to the other terminal of said battery. With the relay SR energized it will be noted that current may flow from the contact 73 of the line relay LR through contact 74 and 7 5 of relay SR to the channel selecting relays A, B, C, and I) located in the dispatchers office,

Similarly, as the rotating arm 10 advance-s a little further, the high frequency relay H B- at the way station No. l is de' ncre gizecl, causing completion of a stick circ it for the, low frequency relay LFR may be traced as follows :starting secondary winding 77 of the tra 78, wires 79, back contact- 80 of the HFR wire 81, stick contact 82 of the frequency relay LFR wires 83 and 64., winding of, this low frequency relay LFR wires 65, condenser 41 inductance 42 common return wire C, inductance 38 condenser 87 back to the secondary winding 77. It is thus seen that the low frequency relay LFR is stuck up through the medium of its contact 85 and allows the channel selecting relays at the way station No. 1 to be conurolled through the medium of the contact 86 of the line relay L B- in a manner as hereinafter more clearly explained in connection with way station causing the channel selecting relays A, B, C, and D, and the corresponding channel selecting relays (not shown) at station 1 to be operateo sequentially and in synchronism.

Let us now see how the control in the dispatchers oliice is transferred from the group of channel selecting relays A, B, C, and l) to the group of channel selecting relays if, F, G, and H, and see how the control is transferred from the way station No. 1 which way station is effective because its low frequency relay Ll R is energized, is transferred to the way station No. 2 by energizing the low frequency relay LFRZ and simultaneously therewith (lo-energizing the low frequency LE Since the stepping current applied to the line relays LR", LE and LE from the battery 44 through the medium of inductance 54:, consists of a series of 5 impulses, the first of which was positive and the last of which was positive, leaves the line relays LR", LE and Llt all in their right hand position, these line relays being of the direct current PC1 manent magnet stick type, so that if operated to a particular position the contacts thereof will remain in such position in spite of de-energization of its winding until the relay has been energized by current of the reverse polarity.

With these line relays assuming their right hand position and the contact arm 10 engaging the stationary contact 27, the high frequency relays HFR", HFR and HFR will be energized. Energization of the high frequency relay HFB", effects energization of the relay SR through the following circuit:beginning at the terminal B of a suitable battery, front contact 90 of the relay HFR wire 91, contact 92 of the line relay LR assuming its right hand position,

wires

93 and 94, front contact 95 of the relay SR wires 96 and 97, winding of the relay -lt to common return wire C connected to the other terminal of said battery. As soon the. relay SR picks up it is stuck up through the following circuit :-beginning at the terminal B of said battery, back contact 66, of the relay SR wire 67, back contact 68 of the relay SR wires 39 and 98, stick contact 9.9 of the relay SR wire 97, winding of the relay SE to common return wire C. As soon as this relay SR picks up, the relay SR is de-energized because its stick circuit is broken at the back contact 70 of the relay SR Let us now see how momentary energization of the high frequency relays HFR and HFR causes the station selection low frequency relay LFR to be energized and the station selecting relay LFR to be de-energized, remembering that the line relays Li 1 and LE now assume their right hand position, and bearing in mind that the repeater relay BB which is a slow-dropping relay is ion ' assuming its right'hand energized through the front contact 85 of the relay LFR As the high frequency relay HFR and HER pick up the low frequency relay LEE is de-energized becaused its stick circuit is broken at, the back contact 80 of the relay HERE Since, however, the repeater BB is slow-dropping the low frequency relay LFR at the way station 2 is pickedup through the following circuit before the repeater relay EH drops2-beginning at the secondary winding 101 of the transformer 78, Wire 102, front contact 103 of the repeater relay RB}, wire 104, stepping line, it being noted that the alternating current is blocked in both directions by the line relays LE LE having in multiple therewith a unit resonated to high frequency which blocks the flow of low frequency current, wire 105, front contact 106 of the relay HFR wire 107, contact 108 of the relay LE position, wires 109 and 110, relay LFR wire 111 condenser 41 nductance 42 common return wire, inductance 40 condenser 39 back to the secondary wlnding 101 of the transformer 7 8. i

As soon as the way station selecting relay EFR is energized, bearingin mind that the high frequency relay HFR is immediately de energized, causes the following stick cir cult for this relay LFR to be completed beginning at the secondary winding 113 of the transformer 1'14, wire 115, back contact 116 of the relay HFR wire 117, front'stick contact 118, of the

relay LFRZ wires

119 and 110,'winding of the relay LFR wire 111, condenser 41 inductance 42 ,-common wire C, inductance 38 condenser 37*, wire 120, back to secondary winding113,

The way station selecting relay LFB is now energized and all other low frequency waystation selecting relays are de-energized,

so that the only channel selecting relays which are operated at any of the way statlons are those located at way station No, 2, these channel selecting relays being controlled through the'niedium of the front contact 121 of the relay LFR as will directly appear. In this connection it should be remembered that in the dispatchers office the only one of the SR relays energized is the relay SRZ'and this relay SR through the medium of

contacts

122, 123, and 124 con ditions the channel selecting relays E, F, G, and H for operation in synchronism with the channel selecting relays E F G and H located at the way station No. 2. i

Let us now observe how these two groups of 7 channel selecting relays are operated sequentiallyand relays of like reference letter are operated in synchronism. When the contact arm 10 engages the stationary contact 28 direct current of negative polarity is applied to the line circuit thus operating the line relays LE LE and LE to their left hand position. With the contact 7 3 of channel selecting relay E, wire 131, back contact 132 of the channel selecting relay F, Wires 133 and 134, back contact 135 of the relay G, wires 136 and 137 back contact 138 of the relay H to common return wire C connected to the other terminal of said battery.

Similarly, the corresponding channel selecting relay E is energized simultaneously with the energization ofthe relay E through the following circuit :beginning at the terminal B, front contact 121, of the

relay LFR wires

140 and 141, polar contact 142 -of the relay LE assuming its left hand position, wires 143, contact 204 of

relay F wires

144 and 168 winding of the channelselectlng relay E wire 145, back contact 146 of the chan nel selecting relay F wires 147 and 148, back contact 149 of the

relay G wires

150 and 151, back contact'152 of the relay H to common return wire C connected: to the other terminal of said battery. 7 The channel selecting relays E and E are thus energized simultaneously and message circuit including front contacts of these relays may connect suitable. apparatus at waystation No. 2 and suitable apparatus in the dispatchers ofiice, in a manner as more clearly described hereinafter. It should be noted that the relays E and E are stuck up through the following stick circuits, respectively, as soon as they assume their energized condition :(1) B, wire 158, stick contact 159, Wire 160, winding of relay E, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, and 13s to" o; and (2) B, 165, 166, 167, 168, winding of the

relay E

145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151,and 152 to G. Let us now observe how the movement of the contact arm 10 of the dispatchers oflice into contacting relationship with stationary contact 29 causes the relays F and F to be picked up simultaneously. This shifting of the contact 10 applies current of the positive polarity to the line circuit thus operating the line relays LR, LR and LE to the right. Also, not only are the relays E and E held up through a stick circuit, but the relays F and F are picked up. The pick up circuit for the relay F may be traced as follows :beginning at the terminal B, contact 73 of the relay LR to the right, wires 155 and 156, contact 122 of the relay SR wires 157, and 170, front contact 171 of the relay E, wires 172 and 173, winding of the relay F, wires 174 and 134, back contact 135 of the relay G, wires 136 and 137, back contact 138 of the relay H to common return wire 0 connected to the other terminal of saidbattery. It will be noted that with the relay F picked up the energizing and stick circuits for the relay E are broken at the back contact 132 of therelay F causing the relay E to assume its ale-energized position. Similarly, with the line relay LE moved to the right pick-up circuit is completed for the channel selecting relay F which may be traced as follows :beginning at the terminal front contact 121 of the

relay LFR wires

140 and 141, contact 142 of the relay LE assuming its right hand position,

wires

163 and 164, front contact 177 of the relay E wires 178 and 179, winding of the relay Fri wires 180 and 148, back contact 149 of the relay G wires 150and 151, back contact 152 of the relay H to common return wire 0. Also, picking up of the channel selecting relay F breaks the energizing and stick circuits of the channel selecting relay E by opening its back contact 146, so that now only the channel selecting relays F and F areenergized andcontrol channels may be completed through front contacts of these channel selecting relays.

The relays F and F are now stuck up through the following stick circuits :(1) B, 185, 186, 187, 173, winding of relay F, 174, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, and (2) B, 190, 191, 192, 179, winding of the

relay F

180, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, to common return wire C.

.Movement of the contact arm into engagement with the stationary contact effects operation of the line relays LR LE etc. to the left thereby causing closure of the following pick-up circuits for the relays G and G (1) beginning atthe terminal B, contact 7 3 of the line relay LE to the left, 126, 127, 12s, 123, 129, 196, 197, 198, 199, winding of the relay G, 200, 137 and 138, to common return wire C; and (2) beginning at the terminal B, front contact 121 of the

relay LFR

140, 141, contact 142to the left, 143, 204, 205, 206 winding of the

relays G

207, 151 and 152, to common return wire 0.

Vfith the relays G and G energized the following stick circuits for these relays are closed -(l) beginning at the terminal B, wire 211, contact 212,

wires

213 and 199, winding of the relay G,

wires

200, 137 and i l 138, to common return wire C; and, (2) beginning at the terminal B, wire 215, contact 216, wires 217 and 206, winding of the

relay G wires

207, 151 and 152 to common return Wire C. The relays G and G are thus stuck up.

As the rotating contact arm 10 moves to the next stationary contact 31 the various line relay LR", LR and LE are moved LO theiright hand position thereby completing the following pick up circuits for the relays H and H respectively :'(1) terminal B, contact 73 of the line relay LR to the right 155 156, 122, 157, 210, 221, 222, 223,

224, winding of the relay H, 225, to common return wire C; and, (2) beginning at the terminal B, front contact 121 of the relay LFR 1.40, 141, contact 142 in its right hand position, 163, 214, 236, 237, 238, 230, winding of the relayH wire 231, to common return wire C. The relays H and H are thus simul taneously energized to complete suitable channel circuits as more clearly described hereinafter. Also, picking up of relays H.

and 1 breaks the stickcircuits of relay G and G at

back contacts

138 and 152, respectively.

With the relays H and H now energized the following stick circuits for these relays are closed :(1) beginning at the terminal B, contact 73 to the right, 155, 156, 122,

wires

157, 210 and 232, stick contact 233 of the relay H,

wires

234 and 224, winding of the relay H, wire 225, to commonreturn wire C, and (2) beginning at the terminal B, contact 121 of the relay LFR wires 140 andv 141, contact 142 to the right,

Wires

163, 214 and 236, front stick contact 237 of the

relay H wires

238 and 230, winding of the relay H wire'231, to common return wire C. If the rotating contact arm now engages the next stationary contact 32, the line relays LR", LE and LR? are moved to the loft, thereby de-energizing the relays H and H because their stick circuits include the right lTiand contacts of these line relays LR and BB As the rotating contact arm 10 engages the next and longer stationary contact 33,

high, frequency current will be applied to the stepping line thereby energizing the high frequency relays HFR", HFR? and HFR Since the line relay LE now assumes the left hand position, it having assumed the right hand position the last time the high frequency relay HFR was energized, the control will be transferred from the relay SR to the relay SR in that the following pick-up circuit for the relay SR is closed :beginning at the terminal B, front contact of the relay HFR", wire 91, contact 92 of the relayLB to the left, wire 240, front contact 241 of the relay SP3, wires 242 and 243, winding of the relay SR to common return wire Q. As soon as this relay SR is energized, the following stick circuit therefore is closed :beginning at the terminal B, back contact 66 of the relay SR wires 67 and 244, front stick contact 245 of the relay SR, wires 246 and 243, winding of the relay SB, to common return wire C. With the relay SR now energized the stick circuit for the relay SR is broken at the back contact 68 of the relay SR so that the relays I, J, K, and L, the circuits of which have for convenience been omitted, may be controlled by the line relay LR" through front contacts 247 and 248 of relay Simultaneously with the shifting of the control from the front contacts of relay SR to the front contacts of relay SR the control is transferred from contacts. of the relay LFR to contacts of therelay LFR (not shown). This'shifting of the control from the way station No. 2 to way station No. 3 through contact 1O3' 'of the relay BB is accomplished in a manner as explained in connection withthe contact103 of the relay BB As just mentioned thehigh frequency relay HFR is now energized because the rotating contact arm 10 engages the stationary contact 33, from which it appears that back contact 116 of therelay HFR is picked up, thereby opening-the stick circuit for the relay LFR bearing in mind that the pick-up circuit for this relay LFR is now open because the contact 108 of the relay LE is now to the left. his thus seen how thecontrol may be shifted from one waystation to another, and simultaneously will be shifted from one group of channel selecting relays to another in the dispatchers oilice.

Reviewing this matter briefly, the relays A) B7 G91) a F7 a Hi I: J and L'WiH be successively energized one at a time and simultaneously with each energization of a relay there will be energized, av corresponding relay at one of the way stations, this corresponding relay having the same reference letter having a distinctive exponent corresponding to the number of the way station applied thereto. Of these Way station relays the relays E F G and H only have been illustrated. Inpractice, there will be a sufii- 'cient number of stationary contacts engageable by the rotating contact arm 10to take care of all the station selecting relays and channel selecting relays of the system, and these stationary contacts will be spaced around" the entire circumference through which the contact arm 10 rotates; From this it appears that'each time that the contact arm 10 starts upon a new revolution, the channel selecting relay system will be started on a new cycle of operation through the meclium' of contacts 46,45 and 47. 7

As already mentioned it is proposed to carry channelcircuits through front contacts of corresponding channel selecting relays, so that a large number of distinctive control circuits'are sequentially set up eachof which includes the same message line wire. It readily appears that should one of these channel selecting relays be energized, or its front contacts remain closed for some reason or another, that one of the channel branches might be held closed continuously thereby setting up false indication and control circuits,'were it not for the fact that the channel circuits, as hereinafter explained are also carried through front contacts of the way station selee-ting relays, such as, relay LFR and similarly these message circuits are carried through front contacts of the dispatchers selecting relay such as SR In other words, the message line circuit by the selection of a particular way station is continued throughthis way station so long as this way station'is selected, it being carried through the particular channel selecting relay of such way station so long as such particular channel selecting relay is energized, from which it appears that a wrong channel or message circuit could not be set up unless there were two failures, one of which resided in the unauthorized closing of a way'station selecting relay contact and the other of which resided in the unauthorized closing of the contact of a channel selecting relay. r

Also, it will be noted that if one of the channel selecting relays should get out of step, as in response to an impulse due to a lightning discharge or the like, that these channel selecting relays will be resynchronized and brought back into step in the next following cycle, this because the channel selecting relays are initiated in response tothe first impulse of proper polarity as the particular way station has been selected, so that'they are necessarily resynchronized. Also, the selection of a particular way station at the proper point during the rotation of the contact arm 10 is assured, even though such way station selection should get out of step; falsely as by a lightning impulse, or the like, in that at the end of the cycle ofoperation the various high frequency relays HFRBI-IFR etc. are energized several times by the contact arm 10 engaging the stationary resynchronizing contacts 250 and 251, from which it ap pears that if a way station is still selected when contact arm 10 reaches contact'250 it will be brought back in step by being cutout, so that at the beginning of the next cycle, the way station No. 1 will be selected at the pro per time, namely when the contact arm-10 engages the stationary. contact 21.

Let us now observe the operation of the system and see how operation of the switch machine lever SML in the dispatchers office will cause operation of the switch machine SME located at way station No. 2. Let us assume that the lever SML is moved to its left hand dotted position, underwhich condition when the'way station No.2 has been selected and the relays H and H are simultaneously energized, the following circuit for the switch machine relay SMR is momentarily closed thus operating the relay SMR to the left :beginning at the terminal B minus of the battery 252, contact of lever SML, wire 253, contact 254: of the relay H, wire 255, back contact 256 of the relay Gr,'wire 257, back contact 258 of the relay F, wire 259, back contact 260 of relay E, wire 261, front co.n tact'12l of relay SR WlEGQGQ, message line wire, wire 263, front contact 264 of the relay LFR wire 265, back contact 266, of the relay E Wire 267, back contact 268 of the relay F wire 269, back contact 270 of the relay G wire 271, front contact 2'72 of the relay H wire 273, winding of the relay SMR-

wires

274, 275 and 276, to common return wire C connected to the mid point of battery 252. The switch machine relay Eli ill is thus operated to its left hand dotted posi tion, and in turn through suitable circuits as more fully described in the prior application of S. N. Flight, Ser. No. 326,185, filed November 22, 1928, operates the switch machine SME to its take-siding position.

Similarly, movement of the signal lever SL to its right-hand position will clear an east bound signal by reason of the application of positive polarity to each of the following message circuits, which are closed sequentially as the relays F and G assume their onergized positions sequentially :(1) beginning at the positive terminal of battery 252, contact 9 of lever SL in its right-hand position, wire 280, contact 258 of relay F in its raised position, wire 259, contact 260, wire 261, contact 12%, wire 262, message wire, wire 263, contact 264 of relay LFR wire 265, contact 266 of relay E wire 267, contact 268 of relay F 2 in its raised position, wire 281, winding of the relay CR wires 282 and 2. 6, to common return wire C connected to the mid point of battery 252; and (2) beginning at wire 259, contact 260 of relay F1, wire 261,

contact 1%, wire 262, message wire, wire 263, contact 264 of way station selecting relay LFR wire 265, contact 266 of relay E in its lower position, wire 267, contact 268 in its lower position, wire 269, contact 270 of relay G in its raised position, wire 284-, winding of the

relay DB wires

285', 275, and 276, to common return wire C connected to the mid point of said battery 252. With the 're- 1 lays CR and DB assuming their right hand position, and with the switch machine EMF assuming 1ts take-siding position traffic is set up for east bound movement off of the sidthrough the medium of the clearing of signal 2 1 Similarly, if the detector track relay DT is deenergized in response to the passage of a train thereover, the following circuit is mementarily closed through each cycle ofoperation of the synchronous selector system beginning at the negative terminal of the bat 287, contact 288 of the track relay DT in its retracted position, wire 289 contact 266 of relay E in its raised position, wire wire 291, common return wire C, wire 292,

tion of this circuit causes the indicating relay IR, which is a relay of the permanent magnet stick type, to be operated to its left hand position, whereby an energizing circuit for the indicating lamp I is closed, thereby illuminating this lamp I and informing the dispatcher that the detector track circuit at the east end of the passing siding PS is occupied.

Applicant has thus disclosed a train dispatching system of the synchronous selector counting relay type, in which one way stat-ion after another is selected sequentially through the medium of the same stepping circuit which controls the channel selecting relays, so that only 3 line wires including a common return wire are required, this on the assumption that there is already a 60-cycle source of current available at each way station. If no reliable 60-cycle source of current is available a local source of distinctive alternating current may be provided from battery driven generators or tuned vibrating circuit interrupters instead of the transformers 11, 78, and 114. Also, attention is directed to the fact that not only are the way station channel selecting relays resynchronized with the way station selecting relays, but the way tion selecting relays are resynchronized with the dispatchers oifice equipment at the end of each cycle of operation of the system all in a manner as heretofore explained.

Modified construction-Justead of passing the control from one way station to the next way station by the provision of the chokes or inductances 15 15 etc, these chokes may be omitted and the control may be transferred from one way station to the next way station through the medium of a separate wire 800 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Also, instead of connecting the various high frequency relays HF, HFR etc. in multiple as illustrated in Fig. 1B of the drawings, these relays l-IFR and HFR will be connected in series as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, each of these relays HFR and HFR (see Fig. 2) being connected in multiple with its associated line relay L11 or LE as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this connection it is desired to point out that the high frequency relay HFR and HFR shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings are connected in series with an inductance 301 and 301 and a condenser 302 and 302 respectively, the constants of these relay inductances and condensers being such that each group is tuned to resonate at the high frequency, the inductance of the line relay LR being suflicient to prevent the flow of high frequency current therethrough and with the high frequency relays tuned, as just explained, substantially all of the high frequency current will flow through the high frequency relays. Similarly, since the condensers 302 and 302 are respectively llii I the left.

connected in multiple with the line relays LE and LE (see Fig. 2) all of'the direct current will flow through these 'line relays LE andLB-t The arrangements for transferring the control from one way station to by the terminal B and G in Fig. 2 of the' drawings, instead of alternating current. In tiis connection it should be noted that there is a slight difference in the transfer circuit arrangements at the way station No. 1 as compared with way station No. 2, in that the direct current selecting relay D011 is picked up only whentlie line relay LR is to the right, whereas the direct current station selecting relay DCR is picked up only when the corresponding line relay LE is to In other words, all of the stations having an odd number assigned thereto are selected when the line relays are in their right hand position, and all way stations having an even number assigned thereto are selected when the line relaysassume their left hand position, this principle is taken advantage of in order to avoid the selection of more thanone way station at a-time. Obviously, instead of connecting the high frequency relays HFR etc. of Fig. 1B in multiple they may be connected in series in a manner as shown in Fig. 2, if desired. In view of the great similarities between the way station selecting circuits shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings to that shown in Fig. 1B, and because the operating characteristics and prin ciples are the same, it is believed unnecessary to specifically describe the operation of the modified construction shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus shown and described several" embodiments of the present invention and having shown a rather specific circuit arrangement for carrying out this invention, it is desired to be understood that the particular circuit arrangements selected have been selected for the purpose of facilitating:

a; description of the underlying principles of the invention as well as its operating characteristics and features, and not with the intent of showing the scope of the invention or the exact construction preferably employed in practicing the same, and that various additions, modifications, andalterations may be made to adapt the invention to the particular problem encountered in practi'cing the same, all without departing from the spirit or scope of t .e invention or the idea of'means underlying the same, except as demanded by the scope of the following claims. 7

What I claim as new is:

1. In a synchronous selector system for controlling railway traliic controlling devices; the combination with a line circuit in cluding a plurality of line relays in series; se arate circuit selecting device-s controlled by said line relays, and means for rendering only one of said circuit selecting devices res onsivc to its asscciatedrelay at one time comprising; a link circuit extending from one wa station another, and means for transferring the control from a previously responsive way station to the next adjacent way station .including said link circuit and a contact of one of said line relays.

2.111 a synchronous selector system for controlling railway trafiic control ing devices; the combination with a line circuit including a-plurality of line relays in series; separate circuit selecting devicescontrolled by said line relays, and means for rendering only one of circuit'selecting devices responsive to its associated relay at one time comprising; a link circuit extending from one way station to another, and meansfor transf rring the control from a previously esponsive way station to the next adjacent way station including said link circuit and a contact of the line relay located at said next adjacent way station. 7

3. In a synchronous selector system for controlling railway traffic controlling devices; the combination with a line circuit including a plurality of line relays in series; separate circuit selecting devices controlled by said line relays, and means for rendering only one of said circuit selecting devices responsive to its associated relay at one me comprising; a link line wire for each way station extending from such Way station to the next preceding way station, a way station selecting relay, a transfer relay, a pickup circuit for said way station selecting relay includin said linkv line wire, a con-' tact of the way station selecting relay of the next preceding way station, a contact of a line relay and a contact of said transfer relay. v v v Y 4.- In a synchronous selector system for controlling railway trafic controlling decontact of said'transfer relay, a pick-up cir-- the next-preceding way station, a contact of ,a line relay closed only; when said line relayassumes one of its two positions and a cuit for the next adjacent way station selecting relay including the samewires and contacts of such next way station as the aforementioned pick-up circuit except that the contact of the line relay is one closed only when such line relayassumes the other .ofits two. positions; whereby it is impossible to pickup several-way station selecting relays successively without changing the positions of said line relays.

.5. In a train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type; the combination Withasteppingwire,a message wire and a common return wire connecting the dis.- patchers oflice andeach of a plurality of way stations; of a line relay and a transfer relay at the dispatchers office and at each. way

.station operated distinctively by the flow of currents over said stepping wire, a way station selecting relay at each way station, mean-s for energizing one of said way station relays by current distinctive from the aforesaid distinctive currents over that portion of said steppingwire connecting said one relay with the next preceding way station, synchronous selector.means controlled by said line relays, and way side signals controlled by said synchronous selector meansover. said message wire.

-6. In a train dispatching system of synchronous selector type the combination with a stepping wire, a message wire and a common return wire connecting the dispatchers oflice and'each of a plurality of Way stations; of a line relay and a transfer relay at each way station operated respectively by the flow of distinctive direct and alternating currents over said stepping wire, a way station selecting relay at eachaway station, means for energizing one of. said way station relays by current distinctive from the aforesaid dis tinctive currents over that portion of said stepping wire connecting said one relay with the next preceding way station, synchronous selector means controlled by said line relays, and way. side signals controlled by said synichronous selector means over said message wire. V

7. In a. synchronous selector system for controlling. railway traffic controlling devices; the combination-with a stepping wire,

a'message wire and a common return wire 7 connecting. a dispatchers oifice and a plurality of way stations; a separate multiple channel synchronous way station selector at each way station station selecting means for selecting only one of said way station selectors controlled over said stepping and common wire, acircuit for operating the selected way station synchronous selector including said stepping-wire and common wire, and a stepping and common wire, a circuit for operating by direct current the selected Way station synchronous selector including said stepping wire and common wire, and a master synchronous selector means in said dispatchers office operated in synchronism successively with the various way station synchronous selectors.

9. A synchronous selector of the stepping relay type comprising; a line relay; a plurality of channel selecting relays arranged in order; a pick-up circuit for each odd numbered channel selecting relay; including a front contact of the next preceding channel selecting relay, aback contact of the next succeeding channel selecting relay and a contact of said line relay closed when it assumes one extreme position; a pick-up circuit for each even numbered channel selecting relay including a front contact of the next preceding channel selecting relay, a back contact of the next succeeding channel selecting and a contact. of said line relay closed when it assumes the other extreme position; and a stick circuit for each channel selecting relay including a back contact of the next succeeding channel selecting relay.

10. A synchorous selector of the stepping relaytype comprising; a line relay; a plurality of channel selecting relays arranged in order; a pick-up circuit for each odd numbered channel selecting relay including a front contact of the next preceding channel selecting relay, and a contact of said line relay closed when it assumes one extreme position; a pickup circuit for each even numbered channel selecting relay including a "selecting relay, and a contact of-said line relay closed when it assumes one extreme position; a pick-up circuit for each even numcorresponding channel selecting relays of the 'dispat-chers relay bank and said way station bered channel selecting relay including a front contact of the next preceding channel selecting relay, and a contact of said line relay closed when it assumes the other extreme position; and a stick circuit for each chan nel selecting relay including its own front contact and acontact opened upon the next .change in the position of said line relay.

I I IA synchronous selector ofthecounting relaytype compris ng; a polar line relay; a

plurality of channel selecting relaysarranged'in order; a pick-up circuit for each odd numbered channel selecting I relay in' eluding a front contact of the next preceding channel selecting relay and a contact of said line relay closed when it assumes one polar position; a pick-up circuit for each even numbered channel selecting relay including a front contact of the next preceding channel selecting relay anda contact of said line relay closed when itjassumes the other polar position; and a stick circuit foreach channel selecting relay including a hacl: contact of the neXt'succeeding channel selecting relay.

18. A synchronous selector. of the counting in order ;a pick-up circuit for each odd num- V bered channel selecting relay including a front contact of the next preceding channel selecting relay and aconta'ct of the next preceding channel selecting relay and a-contact of said line relay closed when it assumes one polar position; a pick-up circuit for each even-numbered channel selecting relay includingga'front contact of the next preceding channel selectingrelay and a contact of 'saidline relay closed when it :assumes; the other polar position; anda stick circuit for each channel selecting relay including its own front contact anda contact opened upon the next change in the. position of said line relay. 1 14.5111 a synchronous selector train dis patching system,the combination with a bank 7' of neutral channel selecting relays in a dispatchers ofiice, another neutral bank' of chan dispatchers officeand a linefrelay at said way station, an organ zat on of circuits and contacts of said relays at said dispatchers office and at said way station for causing simultaneousenergization of the first relay of the neutral bank at said dispatchers 'oflicc andat the first relay of the neutral bank of relays at said way station'when saidline re-,

lay isvenergized by current of one polarity,

' and for causing simultaneous energization of the second relay OZEStllCl dispatchers ofiice neutral bank and the second relayof the way station neutral bank when said line relay is energizedby current of the reverse polarity,

of group selecting relays; a compound group of relays along the track way including groups of channel selecting relays and abank of group selecting relays; means controlled over said stepping wire for causing the relays of saidtwo banks of group selecting relays to operate-sequentially in synchronismand 1 for causing the relays of the selected groups of channel selecting relays to be operated sequentiallyvand in synchronism; and ayside signals controlled over said messagewire including front contacts of corresponding groupselecting relays and front contacts of corresponding channel selecting relays.

' 16. In a synchronous selector train dispatching system; the combination with a stepping line Wire, a message line wire and a 'com1non return wire; a plurality of direct currentline relays connected in series in said stepping line wire; an alternating current relay connected in multiple with each direct current relaythrough a condenser, whereby said direct current relays and said alternating current relays maybe controlled distinctively over said stepping line wire; synchronous selector meanscontrollcd bysaid alterhating current relays; other synchronousfselector means controlled by said direct current relays; and waysidev signals controlled through channel circuits: includingcontacts controlled by said' first, mentioned and said second mentioned synchronous selector means;v V v 17. lna centralized traffic controlling sys tem' of the synchronous selector type, the combination th a control circuit-and a message circuit, means at a centralolfice for applying a pluralityof dlstinctivecurrents to said control circuit, one relayfo'r each distincti'ye current at a distant way station responsiveonly to such distinctive current, contacts at said way station in saidiness'age circuit closed when said relaysassume their energizedpositions, contacts in said message circuit an'd at said dispatchers office closed when said firstmentioned contacts are closed, and means tortransmitting a message current over said message circuit. v w K 18. A centralized traflio controlling system'for railroads comprising; aiseries of stepping relays interconnected so that they may he successively energized, a'pick-up circuit successively energized, a pick-up circuit for each of said stepping relays including a front contact of the next preceding stepping relay and a back contact of the next succeeding stepping relay, a stick circuit for each stepping relay including a front contact of such stepping relay and back contact of the next succeeding stepping relay, and means for energizing said pick-up circuits one at a time.

20. A centralized traffic controlling system for railroads comprising, a series of stepping relays interconnected so that they may be successively energized, a pickup circuit for each of said stepping relays including a front contact of the next preceding stepping relay and a back contact of the next succeeding stepping relay, a stick circuit for each stepping relay including a front contact of such stepping relay and back contact of the next succeeding stepping relay, and means for energizing the pick-up circuits of said stepping relays in successive order.

21. A centralized traffic controlling system for railroads comprising, a series of stepping relays interconnected so that they may be successively energized, a pick-up circuit for each of said stepping relays including a front contact of the next preceding stepping relay and a back contact of the next succeedingstepping relay, a stick circuit for each stepping relay including a front contact of such stepping relay and back contact of the next succeeding stepping relay, a line relay controlled from a distant point, contacts associated with said line relay which are alternately closed, one contact of said line relay included in the pick-up circuits of all odd stepping relays, and another contact of said line relay included in the pick-up circuits of all even stepping relays. v

22. In a centralized traffic controlling system for railroads the combination with a line wire and a common return wire, line relays included in series in said line wire, a filter including an inductance and a condenser in V series shunted around each line relay, other relays responsive to alternating current of a frequency which readily flows through said filters, and selector apparatus controlled by said line relays and said other relays.

23. In a centralized traific controlling system for railroads the combination with a line wire and a common return wire, line relays includedwin series in said line wire, a filter including an inductance and a y condenseriin series shunted around each line relay, other relays responsive to alternating current of a frequency which. readily flows throughi'saidi filters connected in multiple betweenwsaid line wire and said common wire, and selector apparatus controlled by said'line'relays and said other relays.

24. In a centralized'traffic controlling systemfor railroadsthe combination with a line wire and a commonreturn wire, direct ourrentpolar relays included in series in said line wire, a filter including an inductance and a condenser in'ser-ies shunted around each polar relay, other relays responsive to alternating current of a frequency which readily'flows through said filters, and selector apparatus controlled by said'Polar relays and said other relays. p

25. In centralized traffic controlling system for railroads the combination with a line wire and a common return wire, direct current polar relays included in series in said linewire, a filter including an inductance and a condenser in series shunted around each polarhrelay, other relays responsive to alternating current of a frequency which readily flows through said filters connected in multiple between said line wire and said common wire, and selector apparatus controlled by said polar relays and said other relays.

26. In a centralized trafiic controlling system for railroads the combination with a line wire and a common return wire, line relays included in series in said line wire, a filter including an inductance and a condenser in series shunted around each line relay, a plurality of way stations each having a line relay associated therewith, another relay located at each way station and responsive to alternating current of a frequency which will readily flow through said filter, a series of stepping relays at each way station each controlled by the associated line relay only when such particular way station has been selected, and way station selecting means for selecting one particular way station at one time controlled by said other relays.

27'. In a centralized traific controlling system for railroads the combination with a line wire and a common return wire, line relays included in series in said line wire, a filter including an inductance anda condenser in series shunted around each line relay, other relays responsive to alternating current of a frequency which readily flows through said filters connected in series with said filter, and selector apparatus controlled by said line relays and said other relays.

28. In a centralized traflic controlling sys tem for railroads the combination with a line wire and a common return wire, direct current polar relays included in series in said 12 Y I .'i,?95,684

line wire, a filter including an inductance and a condenser in series shunted around each polarr'elay; other relays responsive toalternating current of a frequency. which'readily p 5 flows through said filters included in series with said filters, and selector apparatus controlled by said polar relays andsaid other relayspl t a 29. Ina centralized traific controlling sys- 10 tern forcrailroads the combination with aline V v 29 series with said filters, a series of stepping V relays ateach way station each controlled by Y the associated line relay only when such par tioular way; station has been selected, and way stat-ionselecting means for selecting one 25 particularway station at one timecontrolled by; said. another relays. I p

, In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. OSCAR H. DICKE.

DIS'OLAIM ER 1,7 95,084.Oscar H. Diclce, Rochester, N. Y. TRAIN-DISPATCHING SYs'rEM FOR RAILRoADs. Patent dated March 3, 1931. Disclaimer filed February 16, 1934, by the assignee, General Railway Signal Company.

Hereby enters the following disclaimer:

1. Your petitioner hereby disclaims from claim 7 any system, except wherein the station selecting means for selecting only one of said way station selectors is controlled b-y alternating current.

2. Your petitioner hereby disclaims claim 11 which is in the following words, to

11. A synchronous selector of the counting relay type comprising; a line relay, a plurality of channel selecting relays arranged in order; a pick-up circuit for each odd numbered channel selecting relay including a front contact of the next preceding channel selecting relay, and a contact of said line relay closed when it assumes one extreme position; a pick-up circuit for each even numbered channel selecting relay including a front contact of the next preceding channel selecting relay, and a contact of said line relay closed when it assumes the other extreme position; and a stick circuit for each channel selecting relay including its own front contact and a contact opened upon the next change in the position of said line relay.

- [Ofiicial Gazette March 18, 1.934.]