US1842393A

US1842393A - Apparatus for working railway points and signals by means of electrical energy

Info

Publication number: US1842393A
Application number: US484102A
Authority: US
Inventors: Downes David Gordon
Original assignee: Union Switch and Signal Inc
Current assignee: Hitachi Rail STS USA Inc
Priority date: 1929-09-30
Filing date: 1930-09-24
Publication date: 1932-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1949-01-26

Description

G RAILWAY POINTS AND SIGNALS Jan 26, 1932.

DOWNES INVENTOR D43, Dow/1&5,

Filed Sept. 24, 1930 BY MEANS OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY aooooom APPARATUS FOR WORKIN aooaooeo QN NM a o o o o A w\\\; n R =========n=============ll w w BY dbl-1f ALL; ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 26, 1932 "-QI I ST TES, N

mm eonnoN nowNEs, or no noN, NGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, ,ro THE UNIONSWITGH & SIG1\TALQOMPA1\TY, on SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF", PENNSYLVANIA ArrnnyrnsronwoRkINeRAIILwA roINTs AND sIGNALs BYMEANs or ELECTRICAL 1" ENERGYU kpplieation filedfseptember a4, 1930, seriarnaesema, and iirGreat Bi'itain Se tember 30,1929. j

This invention relates to apparatus for "working grailway points or signals wherein the fmovement is; effected by means of an electro-motor,through suitable gearing.

{It is well known in conne ctioirwith the electrical operation of points and signals that i when the source of electrical energy is limited in voltage, such as, for instance when derived from aprimary battery, arelatively long period is required by the electro-motor to complete the movement ofthe points and signalsin order that the currentoutput may be reduced to such proportions as to be readi maintained by the battery. In the caseof pointoperation especially, this slow motion introduces an'element of danger arisingfrom the fact that should a train inadvertently approach the points while being moved the train wouldbe derailed. It isdesirable,therefore, that the actual movements of the points should be made as quickly as possiblefso as to allow as short a time as possible during which the pointsmay be in an unsafe condiw tion. Likewise, the movement vof a signal should be madeas quickly as possible in order that a "deliberate and unmistakable indicae tion may be given to a driver. ,j According to the invention, the energy provided by the battery through its electros motor is storedwupin a spring or weight, which inturn is electrically released to move the points or signals quickly at the appropr a t e. ii i v f In. order th t the invention maybe it ly understood it will nowbe described jwith referenceto the single figure of the accorn- Peerin r w n s wh h a a ramm i view showmgthe general arrangement of an are arranged to be actuztted'byfa point op,-

eratingslidel adapted to be coupled by mechanism hereinafter described to a'sliding'me n ber 2 rnounted in suitable guides (not shown).

The slide 2 is surroundedby a helical spring a 3 interposed between abutments 4, 5313;013- posite ends thereof. Also engaging with the 60 endsjofzthe spring 3 are projections 7 8 carriedbyj i liding f me th end, p ion 10 threaded shaft 11. The shaft llis connected by any suitable gearing such for instance as a bevelgear 12 toan electric motor 13'supplied with operating current from a battery lLI s I i The motor circuit includes a switch device 15 ofiany suitable construction adapted to completethe circuit' 'of the motor 13 so long as the sliding frame 9 occupies the position shownin thedrawing and until this frame has been moved to the right so as to compress the spring 3 to a predeterminedcxtent. 'As here shown, the switch device comprises pairs of-nba rs 15!?and 15 respectively.

Thesl-ide 2 is providedwith slots or

recesses

16,17 adapted to be engaged by a locking bolt 18 operated by an electromagnet 6 so as to maintainithe slide 2 stationary during the compression of the spring 3. The slide 2-is also provided with a recess or aperture 19 adapted to register witha corresponding aperture 20 in the point operating slide 1. v The

apertures

19, 20 are adapted to accommodate a'sliding bolt 21 actuated by an electromagnet 22 carried by the slide 1 in such a manner that when the electromagnet 22 is energized the bolt 21 is raised so as toprojectthrough both apertures-l9 and 20 and thereby couple the point operating slide 1 to the slide 2. w i

The bolt21 is provided with a projection or extension 23 the lower end of which is adapted to enter one or the other of two recesses24, 25 formed in a stationary-locking element 26, I jj The projection 23 is also provided with a contact 27 adapted when the bolt, 21 is in its raised position to engagewith fixed contactsj28 included in the circuit of the electromagnet6, the latter of which derives current from the battery 80. j

tact 32 controlled by a point operating lever, so that when this'contact is closed the electro magnet is energized, f

The circuit for the electromagnet 22 includesa batteryBl and a normally open cona 65 two bridglng members 15 and 15 operatively connected, to frame 9 and coacting with In order to ensure the rotation of the motor 13 in the desired direction to compress the spring 3 in readiness for the desired movement of the points the motor circuit includes a reversing switch device 29 operated by the point operating slide 1.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: c

l/Vith the parts of the mechanism in the position shown in the drawing, current flows from battery 14 through the reversing switch device 29, wire 33, contact 15"-'15*-15 of switch device 15, motor 13, and wire 34 to" battery 14. This causes the motor 13 to rotate in a direction ellecting the corresponding rotation of the screw threaded rod ,11 to cause the sliding frame 9 gradually to'move towards the right;

As a result the arm 7 of the frame 9 engages the left-hand end of the spring 3 and effects the gradual compression of the spring, the opposite end of this spring being held stationary by its engagement with the projection 5 on theslide 2 which is held fixed during this action-by the locking bolt 18, which engages with the recess 16 in the normal deenergized conditionof the electromagnet 6. As soon as the spring 3 has been compressed by the movement of the frame 9 to a predetermined extent thebridging members 15 will leave the contact bars 15 and this will open the circuit of the motor 13 with the result that current is no longer supplied to the motor which accordingly ceases to operate. I

The mechanism is now in a condition for operating the points this being effected in the following manner:

The signalman by operating the point lever closes the energizing circuit of the electromagnet 22 at contact 32, with the result that the locking bolt 21 and its projection 23 are raised so as to cause the bolt 21 to enter the recess 19 in the slide'2 thereby coupling the point operating slide 1 and the slide 2 together.

Simultaneously the end of the projection 23 is raised out of the recess 24 in the locking element 26 so as to free the point operating slide 1 for movement. The final movement of the projection 23 to its upper position causes the contact 27 to engage with the contacts 28 and thereby supply energizing current to the electromagnet 6 with the result that the locking bolt 18 being lifted out of engagement with the recess 16, the slide 2 under the action of the compressed spring 3 is moved rapidly and positively towards the right carrying with it the point operating slide 1 which is coupled tot he slide 2 by the bolt21 as already explained.

It will be observed that the electrom-agnet 22 being mounted upon the point operating slide 1 is moved towards the right as the slide 1 moves and as soon as the slide-1 has simultaneously disengaged from the aperture 19 in the slide 2 so that the point operating slide 1 is uncoupled from the slide 2.

The reversal of slide 1 will reverse the switch device 29, and current will'then flow from battery 14, through switch device 29,

wire 35, contact 15, 15 15 motor 13,

and wire 34 to battery 14. Thiswill'cause motor 13 to rotate in the opposite direction, thereby moving frame 9 to the left, and this will compress spring 3 between abutment 4 and projection 8. When the spring is fully compressed, the motor circuit will be opened at switch device 15, and the apparatus will be readyv for the return of the switch points when contact 32 is closed to energize electromagnet 22.

It'will thus be appreciated that the energy for operating the points is derived from the compression of the spring 3, this compression being gradually eifected by the operation of the motor 13 during the periods of time between'the successive operations of the points, the energy thereby stored in the spring 3 serving to efiect the rapid and positive move- -ment of the points from one position to another without necessitating a sudden relatively heavy load'upon the operating motor13. v

Arrangements of any suitable type may also be provided for effecting an indication at the point of control of the movement of the points to their respective positions and arrangements may also be provided for causing the points to be returned to one or other of their extreme positions in the event of their movement being obstructed from any cause during the setting operation.

The invention is evidently not limited to any particular construction or arrangement of mechanism which may be varied in order to meet particular conditions without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. In combination, a switch actuating member, a slide bar'having abutments, a spring located between said abutments, means for compressing said spring against one abutment or the other, means for locking said slide bar, and means for simultaneously coupling said slide bar with said actuating member and unlocking the slide bar to allow said spring to operate the actuating member. I 2. In combination, a slide bar having abutments, a spring located between said abutments, means for compressing the spring against one abutment or the other, means for blocking and releasing said slide bar, and a a switch actuating member controlled by said slide bar.

3; In combination, a switch actuating member, means including a spring for moving said memberin opposite directions, a motor for storing energy in said spring, and

19 means responsive to movement of said mem+ berby the spring for operating said motor I to storeen-ergyin thespringfor the return movement of the member.

4. In combination, a switch actuating member, means including aspring for moving saidmember in opposite directions, a i k motorfor storing energy in said spring bev tween movements of said member, andmeans for controlling said motor by said member.

go 5. In combination, a switch actuating "member, means including a spring'for moving said J member in opposite directions, a

I frame forstoring energy in said spring, a a motor foroperatingysaid frame, means readsponsive to an operation of said member for energizing said motor in such direction as to store energy inthe spring for operation of the member in the other direction, and means controlled bysaid frame for stopping so said motor after the storing of energy in the sprin iscompleted. 6. In combination, a switch actuating member, means including a spring for mov-- ing said member in opposite directions, a V

3 motor for storing energy insaid spring between movements of said member, and means for locking said member dur ng the storing of energy in the spring.

In testimony whereof I a flix my signature.

40 a DAVID GORDON ,DOWNES."