US1946187A - Remote control apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 6, c w LL REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed Feb; 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m I? F 01 93 151 92 I Lg;

INVENTOR: Charles W- 581/,

Me ATTORNEY Feb. 6, 1934. Q w BELL 1,946,187

REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

Charla 3 W. Ba,

M ATTORNEY l l'l l W l l l l l patented Feb. 6, 1934 'FFICE REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS Charles W. Bell, Wilkinsbnrg, Pa, assignor to The Union Switch dz Signal Company, Swissvale, ha, a corporation of Pennsylvania,

Application February 14, 1929, Serial No. 339,824

Renewed April 1, 1933 27 Claims.

My invention relates to remote control apparatus, and particularly to apparatus for safely controlling trafiic governing devices such as railway switches and signals from a distant point.

5 One feature of my invention is the provision of means for separately controlling over three conductors a railway switch and each of a pin-- rality or signals associated with said switch, and also for separately controlling over the same three conductors each of a plurality of indicators associated with said switch and signals.

Specifically my invention is an improvement on that disclosed and claimed in my prior application, Serial No. 279,636, filed May 19, 1928. for Remote controlling apparatus, and also on that disclosed and claimed in an application for Letters Patent Serial No. 279,962, filed May 19, 1928, by Lester Spray, for Remote controlling apparatus.

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

The accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, when placed end to end with Fig. l on the left. constitute a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character Y designates a stretch of main railway track connected with a siding Z by means of a switch F. Rails 1 and la of stretch Y are divided by means of joints 2 to form approach track seciions rl-B and C-D, and detector track section BC. Each of the sections AB, B-C,

and 0-D is provided with a track circuit, which supplied with current by a battery 3 connected across the rails adjacent one end of the section, and which includes track relays G1, G2, or G3. respectively, connecte across the rails adjacent the opposite end of the section. Relay G2 is provided with a pick-up circuit including a back contact of relay designated by the reference character H, and with a stick circuit including a contact of relay G2. Slow releasing r peater relays g1 and g3 are contr -led by front contacts of "rack relays G1 and G3, respectively.

Switch F, as here shown, is operated by a motor M comprising an armature 155 and a field winding 181. A circuit controller a is operated by switch F, comprises contacts 1%, 172, and

52, which are closed only while sw ch F is in its normal position, that is, while 5 tch F in a position for traffic to move over stretch Y only; and contacts 154 and 170 which are closed only while switch F is in its reverse position, that while switch F is in the position for traihc to move over stretch Y to or from siding Z. A- contact 32 which is operated in conjunction with switch F is closed at all times except for a brief period just after the beginning, and for a second brief period just before the end, of the operation of switch F from one of these positions to the. other. A contact 160, which is operated in conjunction with motor M, engages a segment 15% at all times except while switch F is in its reverse position, and engages a segment 159a at all times except while switch F is in its normal position.

arms S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, and S7, which as here shown are of the semaphore type, control the movement of traffic over switch F. 70 Each of the signal arms S1, S3, S5, and S6, when in its clear position, provides a normal proceed signal indication, whereas each or" the arms S2, S4, and S7 when in its clear position provides a call-on signal indication. Eastbound moves, that is, moves toward the right as shown in the drawings, are governed by signal arms S3 and S4. when switch F is normal, and by signal arms S1 and S2 when switch F is reversed. Signal arms S5 and S7 govern westbound moves, that is, moves toward the left as shown in the drawings, over switch F normal, and arms S6 and S7 govern westbound moves over switch F reversed. Signal arms Sl, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 and S7 operate circuit controller contacts 74, 80, 72, '78, '70, 69 and 76, respectively. Each of these contacts is closed only while the respective signal arm is in its stop position.

The operation of switch F by motor M is controlled by a polarized relay p, which is in turn controlled in part by a slow-releasing polarized switch relay P and in part by relays designated by the reference characters E and R. The op eration of switch F is toward the normal or the reverse position according as relay 1) is energized in its normal or its reverse direction. Relay E is so controlled and in turn so controls relay 1) as to provide approa h locking of switch F when signal arm S3 or S5 is cleared, and to provide stick locking of is cleared. The approach and stick locking of switch F can be released by the energization of relay E through a pick-up circuit controlled by a manually operable device L which as here shown is of the push-button contact type. Re- 105 lay R is of a type having quick release and slow p l -up characteristics. One form of relay of this type, upon becoming (lo-energized, opens its front contacts after the lapse of only a fraction of a second of time, but upon becoming 11f switch F when arm S1 or S6 energized does not close its front contacts until a period of from twenty-five to thirty seconds of time has elapsed. Relay R is so controlled by call-on arms S2, S4 and S7, and in turn so controls relay p as to provide time locking of switch F when any one of the callon arms S2, S4 and S7 is cleared. The control of relay p by relays E and R is accomplished by means of front contacts of relays E and R included in a pick-up circuit for relay p, and by back contacts of relays E and R included in polarized stick circuits for relay p.

Signal arrns S1, S3, S5 and S6 are controlled by a slow-releasing polarized. signal relay H, arms S1 and S3 being governed by relay H energized in one direction, and arms S5 and S6 being governed by relay H energized in the opposite direction. Call-on arms S2, S4 and S7 are controlled by a stick relay 7? as well as by signal relay H. Relay t is in turn controlled in part by a call-on relay T.

A signal back locking relay K is controlled by contacts 74, 72, and 69 which are operated by arms S1, S3, S5 and S6, respectively.

Switch relay P is controlled by current supplied cver a first conductor 27 and a common conductor 37 by means including battery Q1 or Q2, and a manually operable device here shown as lever V1. Signal relay H and call-on relay T are controlled by current supplied over a third conductor 34 and the common conductor 37 by means including battery Q1 or Q2, and a second manually operable lever V2. Levers V1 and V2 may be arranged in some central location such as a train despatchers office.

Lever V1 has two positions 12 and T, and operates contacts 25 and 149 which are closed only while lever V1 is in its 17. or its r position, respectively. Lever V2 has three positions m, n, and r, and operates contacts 90, 1 10 and 137 which are closed only while lever V2 is in its m, n, or r positions, respectively.

Indication relays, designated by the reference characters N1 and N2, are supplied with current in series with the winding of relay P, relay N1 being responsive only to current of greater mag nitude than that which is required for the operation of relays N2 or P. Current of suflicient magnitude to operate relay N1 is supplied through the windings of relays N1 and N2 only when relays G1 and g1 form a shunt path around the winding of relay P, thus reducing the resistance of the circuit. Relay N2 responds to the opening of the circuit through its winding by a cong3. becomes energized by current from a battery Q5 -tery Q1 or Q2 while a front contact of a callon push-button, designated by the reference character U, is closed when lever V2 is in either its m or 1" position, respectively. Relay N3 is responsive only to current of greater magnitude than that which is required for the operation of relay H, and therefore does not close its front contacts until a branch path is formed around the windings of relay H and T by relays While lever V2 is in its 12 position, relay N3 when a branch path is closed around the windings of relays H and T by relays G3 and 93.

While a resistance unit 91 and the winding of relay N3 are included in the circuit through the winding of relay T when the front contact of p ush-button U is closed, the current flowing through relay T is not of sufficient magnitude to cause relay T to close its front contacts. If, however, the despatcher depresses p ush-button U,

opening its front contact and closing its back contact, and thereby completing a branch path around resistance 91 and relay N3, the resistance of the circuit is so reduced as to permit sufficient current to flow to cause relay T to close its front contacts.

Indicators, here shown as electric lamps e1, c2 and 63, are controlled by indication relays N1, N2 and N3, respectively.

Batteries Q3 and Q4 supply current for operating switch F, signal arms S, and relays g, p, t, K, R and E.

Having thus described, in general, the arrangement and location of the various parts comprising my invention, 1 will now describe the operation of the apparatus.

As shown in the drawings, all parts are in their normal. condition, that is, each of the levers V1 and V2 is in its n position, sr itch F is in its normal position, signal arms S are in the stop position, and track sections A-B, B-C, and CD are unoccupied. With the track sections unoccupied, relays G1, G2 and G3 are ener ized. Current flowing through the winding of relay G2 passes through its pick-up circuit including wires 47 and 49, contact 59 of relay H, wires 51 and 52, the winding of relay G2, and wire 53. At the same time, a stick circuit for relay G2 is closed, passing from wire 47, through contact 43 of relay G2, wire 52, and the winding of relay G2 to wire 53. With relay G1 energized, relay g1 is energized by its cir cuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11, contact 12a of relay G1, wire 13,

- winding of relay g1, and wires 14, 15, 16 and 17 back to battery Q3. Relay g3 is energized by a similar circuit which is controlled by front contact 19a of relay G3.

With signal arms S1, S3, S5 and S6 in their stop position, relay K is energized by its circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6,

7, 9, 10, 13 and 68, contacts 69 and 70 of arms S6 and S5 respectively, wire 71, contact 72 of arm S3, wire 73, contact 74 of arm S1, wire 75, winding of relay K, and wires 22, 15, 15 and 17 back to battery Q3. With signal arms S2, S4 and S7 in their stop position, relay R is energized by its circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 18 and 63, contact 76 of arm S7, wire 77, contact 78 of arm Si, wire 7 9, contact 80 of arm S2, wire 31, winding of relay R, and wires 32 and With switch F in its nor- 46 back to battery Q3. inal position, and with relays K, G1, and G3 energized, relay E is energized by its pick-up circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, contact 55 of relay K, wires c6 and 57, contact 58 of relay G1, wire 59, contact 60 of relay G3, wire 61, contact 62 of circuit controller a, wire 63, winding of relay E, and wires 64 and 46 back to battery Q3.

With lever V1 in its n position, relays N2 and P are energized by current iiowing from battery Q1, through wires 23 and 24, contact 25 of lever V1, wire 25, windings of relays N2 and N1, wire 27, contact 28 of relay G2, wires 29 and 30, winding of relay P, wire 31, contact 32, and wires 33, .1;

35, 36' and 37 back to battery Q1. With relay N2 energized, lamp c2 is lighted by current flowing from battery Q1, through wires 23, 83, 84 and 85, contact 86 of relay N2, wire 87, filament of lamp e2, and wires 88 and 89 back to battery Q1, thus indicating to the despatcher that detector section B-C is unoccupied. Relay P is energized in the normal direction while lever V1 is in its 9 position, and relay p is therefore energized in its normal direction by current flowing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 38, contacts 39a and 40a of relay P, wire 41, contact 42a of relay E, wire 43, contact 44a of relay B, wire 45, winding of relay p, and wire 46 back to battery Q3.

I will assume that with all parts in their normal condition as described, an eastbound train deenergizes relay G1. Relay N1 then becomes operated by current flowing in the circuit previously traced, from battery Q1, through wires 23 and 24, and contact 25 of lever V1 as far as wire 29, thence through wire 123, contact 124 of relay G1, wire 125, contact 126 of relay g1, and wire 37 back to battery Q1. With contact 129 of relay N1 closed, lamp e1 is lighted by its circuit passing from battery Q1, through wires 23, 33, 84, 127 and 123, contact 129 of relay N1, wire 130, filament of lamp c1, and wires 131, 88 and 89 back to battery Q1. Relay G1, upon becoming deenergized, not only opens its contact 12a in the circuit previously traced for relay 91, but also closes its contact 12b which completes a shunt path across the winding of relay g1. This shunt path passes from the winding of relay g1, through wire 13, contact 12?), and wires 264, 82, 46, 17, 16, 15 and 14 back to the winding of relay 91. After a brief period of time has elapsed following the cle-energization of relay G1, slow releasing relay g1 opens the branch path at contact 126, causing relay N1 to open its contact 129 and thus extinguish the light of approach lamp e1.

If, with all parts again in their normal condition, a westbound train de-energizes relay G3, relay N3 becomes energized by its circuit passing from battery Q5, through contact 1225 of relay H, wire 121, contact 120 of relay g3, wire 119, contact 113 of relay G3, wi e 117, contact 116 of relay G2, wires 115 and 94, front contact of push button U, wire 93, winding of relay N3, wires 92 and 14 1, contact 140 of lever V2, and wires 139, 39, 37 and 36 back to battery Q5. With relay N3 energized, lamp e3 is lighted by its circuit passing from battery Q1, through wires 23, 83, 34, 127 and 132, contact 133 of relay N3, wire 134, lamp e3, and wires 135, 131, 38 and 39 back to battery Q1. Relay G3, upon becoming deenergized, opens its contact 19a in the control circuit for relay g3, and closes its contact 195 which completes a shunt path across the winding of relay g3 similarly to the manner in which contact 12b of relay G1 completes a shunt path across the winding r relay oi as already described. After a brief period, slow releasing relay g3 opens its contact 129, thus breaking the circuit for relay N3, which thereupon opens its contact 133, extinguishing lamp e3. Relay g3 also closes its contact 991;, thereby completin around its contact 99a and contact 97a of relay G3, a branch path including contact 935, wire 203, and contact 975 of relay G3.

I will now assume that, with all parts again in their normal condition, the despatcher desires to clear signal arm S5 for a move over switch F in its normal position. He therefore operates lever V2 to its m position, causing relay H to become energized in the normal direction by itscircuit passing from battery Q1, through wires 23 and 83, contact 90 of lever V2, resistor 91, wire 92, winding of relay N3, wire 93, front contact of push-button U, wire 94, winding of relay T, wires 95 and 96, contact 970. of relay G3, wire 98, contact 99a of relay g3, wire 100, winding of relay H, and wires 34, 35, 36 and 37 back to battery Q1. Relay H, upon becoming energized, completes around contacts 97a and 99a of relays G3 and g3 respectively, a branch path passing from wire 95, through wire 101, and contact 192 of relay H to the winding of relay H. With relay I-I energized in its normal direction while switch F is in its normal position, signal arm S5 becomes operated to its proceed position by its circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10, contacts 103 and 104a, of relay P, wire 105, contact 106 of circuit controller a, wire 107, contacts 108 and 109a of relay I-I, wire 110, contact 111 of relay G1, wire 112, operating mechanism of arm S5, wire 113, contact 1142) of relay t, and wires 147, 16 and 17 back to battery Q3.

11, now a westbound train de-energizes relay G3, relay N3 is operated by current flowing from battery Q1, through the circuit traced for relay H as far as wire 94, thence through wire 115, contact 116 of relay G2, wire 117, contact 118 of relay G3, wire 119, contact 120 of relay g3, wire 121, contact 122a of relay H, and wires 35, 36 and 37 back to battery Q1. With relay N3 energized, lamp 23 becomes lighted by its circuit as previously traced. After a brief period of time has elapsed, slow releasing relay 93 opens its contact 126 causing relay N3 to again become de-energized and extinguish lamp e3.

1 wiil now assume that, with signal arm S5 in its proceed position and with relay G3 deenergized by an approaching westbound train, the despatcher finds it necessary to change the route and send the train to siding Z over switch F reversed instead of along stretch Y over switch F normal. He therefore operates lever V2 to its in position, lie-energizing relay H and causing arm S5 to return to its stop position. Relay E, having been de-energized by the previous opening of contact of relay K, continues de-energized due to contact of relay G3 being open, and hence a stick circuit for relay p is closed, passing from battery Q3, through wire 4, contact 196a of relay p, wires 197, 198 and. 200, contact 42b of relay E, wire 43, contact 44a of relay R, wire 45, winding of relay and wire 46 back to battery Q3. In order to energize relay E so as to permit relay p to be energized in its reverse direction, one of the trainmen will now operate push-button L, thus completing a pick-up circuit for relay E, passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, contact 55 of relay K, wires 56, 57 and 65, contact of pushbutton L, winding of relay E, and wires 64 and 46 back to battery Q3. With signal arms S1, S3, S5 and S6 now in their stop position, relay K is energized, and relay E, after being energized by its pick-up circuit just traced, continues energized by its stick circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, contact 55 of relay K, wires 56, 57, and 66, contact 67 of relay E, winding of relay E, and wires 64 and 46 back to battery Q3.

The despatcher now operates lever V1 to its r position, causing relay P to become energized in the reverse direction by its circuit passing from battery Q2, through wires 37, 36, 35 and 33, contact 32 of switch F, wire 31, winding of relay P,

wires 30 and 29, contact 28 of relay G2, wire '27,

winding of relay N1, winding of relay N2, wire 26, contact 1 19 of lever V1, and wire 150 back to battery Q2. With relay P energized in the reverse direction, relay p also becomes energized in the reverse direction by its circuit passing from battery Q4, through wire 46, winding of relay p, wire 45, contact 44a of relay R, wire 13, contact 42a of relay E, wire 41, contacts 40d and 39b of relay P, and wire 205 back to battery Q4.

With relay p energized in its reverse direction, current is supplied to motor M by batteries Q3 and Q4 in series, through a circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 1, 5 and 151, and contacts 152 and 1541) of relay wire 155, armature 156 of motor 1V1, wire 157, contact 1582; of relay p,

segment 15% and contact 160 of motor M, field winding 161 of motor M, and wire 162 to battery Q4. Motor M now operates switch F to its reverse position. Just aiter the beginning, and again just before the end of the operation of switch F, contact 32 opens the circuit for relay P, causing relay N2 to open its front contact 86 for similar brief periods after the beginning and before the end oi the operation of switch F. The opening of contact 86 causes lamp 622 to go out for a brief period after the beginning and again for a brief period before the end of the operation of switch F, thus indicating to the despatcher by the two unlighted periods of lamp c2 that switch F has started, and afterward completed its operation. As the operation of switch F is being completed, contact 166 disengages segment 15%, thus opening the operating circuit of motor M.

The despatcher now operates lever V 2 to its m position, causing relay H to become energized in its normal direction. With relay H thus energized and with switch F in its reverse position, signal arm. S6 is operated to its proceed position by its circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires l, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 16, contacts 163 and 1642) of relay P, wire 163, contact 164. of circuit controller a, wire 165, contacts 166 and 167a of relay H, wires 166 and 169, operating mechanism of arm S6, wire 113, contact 11 12) of relay t, and wires 147, 16 and 17 back to battery Q3.

When the train, upon passing signal S6, deenergizes relay G2, the circuit through the windings of relays N2 and P is opened at contact 26 of relay G2, causing relay P to be de-energized and also causing relay N2 to become de-energized and extinguish lamp 62. Since lamp e2 continues unlighted for a considerable period or time, the despatcher knows that section B-C is occupied. Relay P, upon becoming de-energized,

opens its contact 40a in a reverse pick-up circuit previously traced for relay p, and then closes its contact 407). Relay P, upon becoming de-energized, also opens its contact 103 in the operating circuit for arin S6, and arm S6 therefore returns to its stop position, closing, at its ccntact 69, the circuit for relay K which is then again energized. A third pick-up circuit is now completed for relay E comprising the first pick up circuit for relay E except passing from wire 56, through wire 193, contact 194.- of relay and wire 195 to wire 63. When relay becomes energized, as just described, another reverse stick circuit is completed for relay p, passing from battery Q4, through wire 16, winding of relay p, wire 45, contact 44a of relay R, wire 43, contact 42aof relay E, wire 1, contact 16b of relay wires 199, 198 and 197, and contact 19617 or" relay 1) back to battery Q4.

If, while relay G2 is de-energized, the despatcher desires to give a call-on indication for a train to enter section B-C, he will depress push-button U for a brief period, and, assuming that lever V2 is still in its m position, he will thus cause relay T to become energized by the circuit previously traced for relay H except including, around resistor 91 and the winding of relay N3, a branch path passing from contact 96 or lever V2, through wire 136, and the back contact or" push-button U. Relay T, upon becoming energized, closes a pick-up circuit for relay t, passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, contact 160 of relay K, wires 181 and 162, contact 183 of relay '1, wire 184, winding of relay t, and wires 189 and 17 back to battery Q3. Relay 15, upon becoming energized, completes its stick circuit which includes its ick-up circuit just traced as far as wire 181, thence through wire 185, contact 186 of relay E, wire 187, and contact 188 of relay t to the winding of relay t.

With relay t energized, and with relay H energized in the normal direction, signal arm S7 now becomes operated to its call-on position by its circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 1, 5, 6 and 196, contact 191 of relay 1', wire 1592, contact 1641) or relay P, wire 163, contact 164 of circuit controller a, wire 165, contacts 166 and 167a of relay 11, wire 168, contact 170 of circuit controller a, wire 173, operating mechanism of arm S7, wire 17%, contact 114a of relay t, and wires 1 7, 16 and 17 back to battery When arm S7 leaves its stop position, the circuit for slow pick-up relay R is opened at contact 76 or" arm S7, and hence relay R opens its front contact isa in the pick-up circuit for relay p, and closes its back contact 442) in a reverse stick circuit for relay p passing from battery (.234, through wire -16, winding of relay 10, wire 15, contact 441; of relay R, wire 197, and contact 1516b of relay 39 back to battery Q4.

11", after section B--C is again unoccupied, the despatcher returns lever V2 to its "/z position, causing arm S7 to return to its top position, having the intention of at once returning switch F to its normal position, the time locking of switch F becomes effective through slow pick-up relay R which will not close its front contact for a measured interval of time after arm S7 has returned to its stop position and completed the circuit for relay R.

Stick operation of signal arms S1, S3, S5 and S6 is rovided by the circuit for relay G2. When a train has moved through section B--C, caus ing arm S1, S3, S5, or S6 to indicate stop, relay G2 will become energized again only when lever V2 has been returned to its a position causing the pick-up ci cuit for relay G2 to be completed at contact 50 of relay 1i. As long as section B C is unoccupied, relay G2 will then con tinue energized by its stick circuit, after relay H again becomes energized and opens the pickup circuit for relay G2.

in order to clear eastbound signal S1 or S3, the despatcher operates lever V2 to its 1' position, thus supplying current in reverse direction from battery Q2, through wire 138, and contact 137 or" lever V2 to the circuit previously traced for relay H.

The operation of call-on arm S2 or S4. while lever V2 is in its 1* position is accomplished by the manipulation of push-button U, similarly to the manner in which the operation of call-on arm S7 is accomplished by push-button U while lever V2 is in its m position.

If the despatcher should desire to return switch F to its normal position, lever V2 having been previously returned to its n position and each of the relays E and B being energized by one of its circuits previously traced, he will return lever V1 to its a position, thereby causing relay P to be energized in its normal direction. With relay energised in its normal direction, relay 3) is also energized in the normal direction, causing operating current to be supplied in the normal direction to motor M by batteries Q3 and Q4, through a circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5 and 151, contacts 152 and 158a of relay p, wire 157, armature oi motor M, wire 155, contact 154s of segment 159a and contact 16% of motor winding 161 of motor M, and wire 162 to battery Q4. Motor M then moves switch F to its normal position. Just before the completion of this op eration, contact 160 disengages segment 159a thereby breaking the motor circuit.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that my present invention, employing only three conductors extending between the despatchers office and the location of a switch and accompanying signals, provides control of the switch, control of each normal proceed signal and of each call-on signal separately from that of each other normal proceed signal and each other call-on signal and also separately from that or" the switch, separate control of each of two approach indications, a detector circuit indication control, and a switch indication control. It will be noted that my invention also provides approach locking of switch F when signal arm 53 or so is cleared, stick locking of switch F when arm S1 or so is cleared, and time locking of switch 1 when callon arm S2, S4, or S7 is in its call-on position.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of remote control apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A remote control system comprising a railway switch, a signal for governing the movement of traffic over said switch, a first and a second and a common conductor, a first and a second manually operable means, a first and a second and a third track section, a switch relay, a signal relay, afirst and a second and a third indication relay, a circuit including said first and common conductors and said first and second indication relays as well as a source of current and said switch relay in series, means for controlling said switch relay by said first manually operable means, means for controlling said first indication relay by said switch and according to trafiic conditions in said first track section, means for controlling said second indication relay according to traific conditions in said second track section, a second circuit including said second and common conductors and said third indication relay as well as a source of current and said signal relay in series, means for controlling said signal relay by said second manually operable means,

means for controlling said third indication relay according to traffic conditions in said third track section, indication means controlled by said first and second and third indication relays respectively, means for controlling said switch by said switch relay and according to trafiic conditions in said first and second and third track sections, and means for controlling said signal by said signal relay when said switch is in a given position.

2, A remote control system comprising a railswitch, a signal for controlling the movement of traific over said switch, a first and a second and a common conductor, a and a second oually operable lever, a first and a second apch track section and a detector track section, ack circuit for each of said sections each including a track relay, a switch relay, a first and a and a t indication relay, a signal rea circuit including said first and common conductors and said first and second indication relays as well as a source of current and said switch relay in series, means for controlling said switch relay by said first lever, means for controlling said first indication relay by said switch and by said detector track relay, means for controlling said second indication relay by said second approach track relay, a second circuit including said second and common conductors and said third indication relay as well as a source of current and said signal relay in series, means for controlling said signal relay by said second lever, means for controlling said third indication relay by said first approach track relay, indication means controlled by said first and second and third indication relays respectively, means for controlling said switch by said switch relay and by said detector track section relay as well as by said first and second approach track section relays, and means for controlling said signal by said signal relay when said switch is in a given position.

3. A remote control system comprising a railway switch, a signal for controlling the movement or" traffic over said switch, a first and a second and a common conductor, a first and a second manually operable lever, a first and a second approach track section and a detector track section, a track circuit for each of said sections each includa track relay, a switch relay, a first and a second and a third indication relay, a signal relay, a ci'cuit including said first and common conductors and said first and second indication relays as well as a source of current and said switch relay in series, means for controlling said switch relay by said first lever, means for controlling first indication relayby said switch and by said detector track relay, means for controlling said second indication relay by said second ap- 7 proach track relay, a second signal relay, a manually operable contact, a second circuit including second and common conductors and said third indication relay as well as a source of current and said and second signal relays in series, means for controlling said first signal relay by said second lever, means for controlling said second signal relay by said manually operable contact, means for controlling said third indication relay by said first approach track relay, indication means controlled by said first and second and third indication relays respectively, means for controlling said switch by said switch relay and by said detector track section relay as well as by said first and second approach track section relays, means for controlling a first indication of said signal by said first signal relay when said switch is in a given position, and means for controlling a second indication of said signal by sa d second signal relay.

4. In combination with a railway signal capable of displaying either a normal proceed indication or a call-on indication, a home relay, a call-on relay responsive only to current of greater magnitude than that which is required for the operation of said home relay, a resistance unit, a circuit including said home and call-on relays and said resistance unit in series, a manually operable contact by which a shunt path of low resistance can be closed around said resistance unit in said circuit, a source which while said shunt path is open supplies said circuit with current of sumcient magnitude to operate said home relay but not said call-on relay, but which source while said shunt path is closed supplies said circuit with current of sufiicient magnitude to operate said call-on relay as well as said home relay, means for controlling said normal proceed signal indication by said home relay, a stick relay, a pick-up circuit for said stick relay controlled by a front contact of said call-on relay, a stick circuit for said stick relay controlled by a front contact of said home relay, and means including said stick relay for controlling said call-on signal indication.

5. In combination with a railway switch, a signal capable of displaying either a normal proceed indication or a call-on indication for governing the movement of traific over said switch, means for controlling the operation of said switch, means for controlling said normal proceed signal indication, means including a manually operable device for controlling said call-on signal indication, locking means for at times preventing the operation of the switch when said signal has ceased to display said proceed indication, and

means including a slow pick-up relay for preventing the operation of said switch until a measured interval of time has elapsed after said signal has ceased to display said call-on indication.

6. In combination with a railway switch, a normal proceed signal arm having a proceed and a stop position, a call-on signal arm having a proceed and a stop position, means forcontrolling said normal proceed signal arm, means for controlling said call-on signal arm, a locking relay controlled by said proceed signal arm for at times preventing the operation of the switch, a contact operated by said call-on arm and arranged to be closed when said call-on arm is in its stop position, a slow pick-up relay controlled by said contact, a switch control circuit including a source of current and front contacts of said slow pick-up relay and of said locking relay, and means for controlling said switch by said switch control circuit.

7. In combination with a railway signal capable of displaying either a proceed or a stop indication, a control circuit for said signal, manually operable means for at times reducing the resistance of said circuit, means for causing said signal to display said proceed or said stop indication according as the resistance of said circuit is reduced or is not reduced, and means effective only so long as said control circuit remains closed for causing said signal to continue to display said proceed indication after the resistance of said circuit is restored.

8. In combination with a first and a second railway signal, a control circuit for said signals, means for at times reducing the resistance of said circuit, means for operating said first or said second signal according as the resistance of said circuit is reduced or is not reduced, and means effective only so long as said control circuit remains closed by maintaining said first signal in operated condition after the resistance of said circuit is restored.

9. In combination with a first and a second railway signal, a relay, a second relay responsive only to current of greater magnitude than is required for the operation of said first relay, a circuit including said first and second relays in series means for at times supplying said circuit with current of sufiicient magnitude to operate said first relay but not said second relay, means for at other times supplying said circuit with current of sufiicient magnitude to operate said second relay as well as said first relay, means for operating said first signal when a front contact of said first relay only is closed, means for operating said second signal when a front contact of said second relay as well as a front contact of said first relay is closed, and means effective when said second signal has been operated for maintaining it in its operated condition so long as the front contact of said first relay is closed.

10. In combination, a railway track switch, a main signal governing trafiic movements over said switch, a second signal governing traffic movements over said switch, a manually controllable device, a releasing device controlled by said manually controllable device and by said main signal for controlling said switch, and a slow-acting device controlled by said second signal independently of said releasing device for controlling said switch.

11. In combination, a railway track switch, a main signal governing traiiic movements over said switch, a second signal governing trafic movements over said switch, approach locking means for said switch controlled by said main signal, and a slow-acting device controlled by said second signal but not by said main signal for controlling said switch.

12. In combination, a railway track switch, a v

main signal governing traffic movements over said switch, a second signal governing trafiic movements over said switch, approach locking means for said switch controlled by said main signal, and a time locking device controlled independently of said approach locking means by said second signal for controlling said switch.

13. In combination, a railway track switch, a main si nal governing traffic movements over said switch, a second signal governing tramc movements over said switch, a track circuit including a track relay, a stick relay having a pickup and a stick circuit one of which is controlled by said track relay and the other of which is controlled by said main signal, a slow-acting device controlled by said second signal independently of said stick relay, and means controlled by said stick relay and by said slow-acting device for controlling said switch.

14. In combination, a railway track switch, a

main signal governing traflic movements over said switch, a call-on signal governing trafiic movements over switch, a manually controlable device, a stick relay having a pick-up and a stick circuit one of which is controlled by said manually controllable device and the other of which is controlled by said main signal, a slow acting device controlled by said call-on signal but not by said main signal, and means controlled by said relay and by said slow-acting device for controlling said switch.

15. In combination, a railway traflic governing device, a second railway trafiic governing device controlled by said first device, a track circuit including a track relay for controlling one or the an cal other of said devices, a second track circuit including a track relay for controlling one or the other of said devices, a first and a second and a third conductor, a first and a second indication instrument, a circuit including said first and third conductors for controlling said first device and said first instrument, and a circuit including said second and third conductors for controlling said second device and said second instrument.

16. In combination with a stretch of railway track, a main signal and a second signal for governing the movement or" traffic through said stretch, a main relay and a second relay adjacent said signals, a signal lever a point for governing said signals, a line circuit including both said relays and contacts conti lied by lever, said circuit also including a source of en-- ergy and a resistor so proportioned with to said relays as to permit the main relay to pick up when the circuit is closed but to not permit the second relay to pick up unless said resistor is shunted, a manually operable key adjacent said lever efiective when closed to shunt said r sistor, a circuit for clearing the main signal closed when the main relay is picked up provided the stretch is unoccupied, a circuit for clearing the second signal closed when the second relay is picked up provided the main signal does not clear, and means for maintaining said second circuit closed irrespective of the condition of said second relay, provided the main relay is picked up and the main signal does not clear.

17. In combination, a railway track switch, a main signal and a second signal for governing the movement of traffic over said switch, manually operable means for controlling said switch, means for governing said main si nal, means in cluding a manually operable device for governing said second signal, approach locking means for said switch controlled by said main signal, a slow acting device controlled by said second signal but not by said main signal, and means including said approach locking means and said slow acting de vice for at times preventing the operation of said switch by said manually o" erable means.

18. In combination with a railway track switch, a main signal and a second signal for governing the movem nt of trafiic over the switch and each having a proceed and a stop position, manually operable control means for operating the switch and for governing said signals, appreach locking means effective to delay the operation of the switch provided said main signal is restored to its stop position by the operation of said control means when a train is approaching within a predetermined distance of the switch, and time locking means effective to delay the operation of the switch for a fixed time interval after said second signal is restored to its stop position even though no train is approaching within such predetermined distance of the switch.

19. In combination with a detector section of railway track including a track switch, a main signal and a second signal for governing the movement of tramc through said cete tor section, an approach section of track adjacent said detector section occupied by a train approaching said main signal, means for operating said switch, approach locking means for preventing the op eration of the switch provided signal is operated to its most restrictive condition when said approach section is occupied and said detector section is not occupied, means for preventing the operation of the switch when the detector section is occupied, and means for delaying the operation of the switch for a fixed time interval after said second signal is restored to its loo-st restrictive condition even though said approach and detector sections are both unoccupied.

21' In combination with a railway track switch, a main signal and a second signal for governing the movement of tradic over the switch, each having a contact closed only when such signal is in its most restrictive condi on, a locking relay controlled by the contact or" the main sigial, a slow acting device controlled by the contact of the second signal but not by the contact of the main signal, and a circuit for controlling the switch including contacts of said locking relay and of said slow acting device.

21. In combination, a railway track switch, a main signal and a second signal for governing the movement of over the switch, approach locking means for said switch controlled by said main signal, and a slow pickup relay controlled said second signal but not by said main signal for controlling said switch.

22. In combination, a railway track switch, a first railway signal governing trafiic over said switch, a stick relay controlled by said signal and by traffic conditions, a second railway signal governing traffic over said switch, a time element device controlled by said second signal but not by said first signal, and means controlled by said stick relay and by said time element device for governing said switch.

23. In combination, a stretch of railway track including a main track section and a siding joined to a single tracl; section by a section containing a track switch, a main signal and a second signal for governing the movement of traffic over said switch from said main track section and from said siding, respectively, into said single track section, approach locking means controlled in accordance with the condition of said main signal and the condition of main track section for controlling said switch, and a slow acting device controlled in accordance with the condition of said second signal for controlling said switch.

24. In combination, a stretch of railway track including a main tra k section and a siding joined to a single tracir section by a section containing a track switch, a main signal and a second signal for governing the movement of traffic over said switch from said main track section and from said siding, respectively, into said single track section, approach locking means controlled in accordance with the condition of said main signal and the condition or" said main track section for controlling said switch, and a time element device controlled in accordance with the condition of said second signal independently of said approach locking means for controlling said switch.

25. In combination, a stretch of railway track including a main track section and a siding joined to a single track section by a detector section containing a track switch, a main signal and a second signal for governing the movement of traflic over said switch from said main track sec tion and from said siding, respectively, into said single track section, circuits for said signals controlled in accordance with the position of the switch arranged to permit only one signal to be cleared at a time, manually operable means for controlling said circuits, switch locking means effective when a signal has been cleared to prevent operation of the switch, means efiective when the main signal is restored to its most restrictive condition to release said locking means provided only said main track section is unoccupied, and means effective when the second signal is restored to its most restrictive condition to release said locking means at the end of a predetermined time interval.

26. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a main signal and a call-on signal for governing the movement of tramc through said stretch, a control relay and a stick relay, a signal circuit for clearing said main signal including a front contact of said control relay and a contact controlled in accordance with trafiic conditions in said stretch, a signal circuit for clearing said callon signal including a front contact of said stick relay, means including a signal lever at a remote point for energizing said control relay, means associated with said lever for picking up said stick relay provided said main signal is in its most restrictive condition, and a stick circuit for said stick relay including its own front contact and closed only when said control relay is energized and said main signal is in its most restrictive condition.

27. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a main signal and a call-on signal for governing the movement of trafiic through said stretch, a control relay, a signal circuit for clearing said main signal including a front contact of said control relay and a contact controlled in accordance with trafiic conditions in said stretch, a signal circuit for clearing said call-on signal including a front contact of said control relay, means including a signal lever at a remote point for energizing said control relay, a call-on relay, and manually operable means associated with said lever for energizing said call-on relay and a stick relay controlled by said call-on relay for eiTecting the closing of the circuit for said call-on signal in the event that said main signal fails to clear when said control relay is energized.

CHARLES W. BELL.

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