US1964819A - Train control system - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 1934. H. c. HORST- 1,964,819

, TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 27. 1926 $ECONDARY INVENTOR v Herbert C. HOVST A TORNEYS patented July 3, 1934 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFIQE TRAIN CQNTROL SYSTEM Applicaticn December 27, 1926, Serial No. 157,143

41 Claims.

This invention relates to train control y em and has special reference to provision cf an improved train control system of the ndu t o type.

c; More specifically, the present invention relates to the type of system described in the application for Letters Patent filed by Theodore BOQ-iie on October 30, 1926 under Serial No. 145,119.

The application referred to above discloses a 1:3 train control system of the induction type which embodies cooperating vehicle carried and roadside inductors in which an activating condition is produced in the vehicle carried inductor to effect some active operation of the train 0 1tI 1 ppa- 1 3 ratus by the movement ;or positioning of said vehicle carried inductor relative to a roadside inductor which embodies circuit control means devoid of an energy source.

In prior induction train control systems 9f which I am aware, an activating operation of the vehicle carried circuits was produced by the transmission of some energizing influence from the roadside inductor to the vehicle carried in.- ductor obtained by energizing the roadside in- =35 ductor either directly by means of a source of energy located on the roadside or indirectly by locating the source of energy on the moving ve- .hicle and reflexing or ,retransferring said energy "through cooperating vehicle carried and roadside inductors from the vehicle :to and through the roadside inductors and back to the vehicle ape paratus.

In the system described in the co-pending application referred to above, the principal objec- 5 tions to the type of system described in the paragraph immediately preceding are eliminated. The objections to the older type of system have their origin either in the necessity of using roadside energy for the roadside inductors, or in the necessity of using amultiplicity of inductors for .reflexing energy where the energy source is lo.- .cated on the vehicle.

One of the primary features of the system described in the above mentioned Bodde application, andalso in the invention disclosed and described hereinafter resides in the provision of an improved induction train control system in which a single roadside inductor may be employed and selectively operated to produce in a vehicle carried inductor means a number of operations corresponding to the conditions of the roadside, which operations comprise the production of a condition in the vehicle carried inductor means -to produce a tripping .or train control stopping 55 operation in the train controlapparatus or/ and a condition in the vehicle carried inductor means to permit a passive state in the vehicle carried apparatus, that is, to permit the vehicle to pass a roadside controlling station without any modifying operation being produced in the vehicle (39 carried apparatus. In the Bodde application referred to above, these operations are combined with a third condition .producible in the vehicle carried inductor means for effecting some other operation therein in response, for example, to a 65 clear, pr caution roadside condition.

In the system which constitutes the subject matter of the present invention the system disclosed by Bodde is modified in such a manner that the selective operation of the roadside induc- 7 tor and its cooperation with the vehicle carried inductor means may produce in the vehicle carried inductor means or in other vehicle carried apparatus which are respcnsive to the condition ofthe vehicle carried inductor means at least 7 hr e po i ive qrera icc c s q d e t the n tien 9 t roadsid Th re u t attainiid a ca ab e f e n rodue w the b a single inductor contrdlled by circuit means with u in o emp y ng a r n s de ii-e so or the ind c ors- Another object of the present invention is to modify the vehicle carried apparatus so that becomes more sensitive to the type of roadside appa a de cr ed he e Other principal objects of my invention will become evident as the description proceeds, and to the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my in; vention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other in circuit combinations as hereinafter more particularly described and sought to be defined in the claims; reference being had to the accompanying drawing which shows the preferred embodiment of my invention,

with the vehicle carried apparatus.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing 5 and having reference first to Fig. 1 thereof, I show my invention applied to a train control system having a vehicle carried inductor means of the type disclosed in the copending application of A. Shaver, Serial No. 506,595, filed Oct. 10, 11c

1921, which has matured into U. S. Patent No. 1,738,736, granted Dec. 10, 1929, which comprises inductively coupled coils consisting of a primary coil P and a secondary coil S inductively coupled thereto for the transmission of flux from the primary to the secondary coil, the said primary coil being arranged in a primary circuit a designated by the legend Primary in Fig. 1, which circuit is connected to the mains 10 and 11 of an alternating current source of energy such as the generator G, and the said secondary coil being arranged in a secondary circuit 2) also designated in the drawing by the legend Secondary. Both primary and secondary coils P and S are preferably wound on cores 12 and 13 which are preferably laminated and the primary P is preferably provided with a section 14 coiled over the secondary coil S in opposite sense thereto so as to act in bucking or opposing relation thereto for the purpose of neutralizing the flux under certain conditions, as described and claimed in the patent to A. G. Shaver, #1,521,332 of December 30,1924.

.The vehicle carried coupled coil combination PS is employed for normally energizing 2. vehicle carriedtranslating device such as a relay R which, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, preferably comprises a two-element relay having a field coil 1*. and an armature coil T the said field coil 1" being connected to the generator G by means of the conductors 1G and 11 and the said armature coil r being connected directly in the secondary circuit b. The armature r is provided with a movable circuit controlling member 15 for selectively operating a contact mechanism generally designated as C for in turn selectively controlling the train control circuits to be described hereinafter.

As disclosed in the aforementioned copending application of A. G. Shaver, Serial No. 506,595 of 1921, which has matured into U. S. Patent No. 1,738,736, granted Dec. 10, 1929, the vehicle carried transformer combination P-S operates to normally energize the relay R by the transmission of sufiicient from the primary P to the secondary S to effectively energize the relay coil 7' of the relay B. When however, the coupled coil combination PS moves over in proximity to an inert roadside element, the flux from the primary P is diverted to and through the roadside inert element and shunted from the secondary coil S in a degree sufiicient to effectively deenergize the relay R.. When the relay R. is energized under the first or normal condition of the inductively coupled coils P and S, the circuit controlling member 15 thereof assumes a normal position, such as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing which position is indicated as x, and when the relay is eifectively deenergized by the shunting of the secondary, the circuit controlling member 15 of the relay moves to a neutral position such as indicated by the dotted line position 1 In the operation of this system it is also known that when the roadside inert element is provided with an energyless circuit, the said circuit may be closed to permit the vehicle carried inductor means to pass the roadside inductor (on closed circuit) without any substantial diversion or shunting of the flux from the secondary S and hence without modifying the operation of the relay R, the circuit controlling member 15 thereof being maintained in the normal or full-line position 3. By this means it is possible to control the roadside inductor either to produce an effective deenergization of the vehicle carried translating device or relay to trip the vehicle carried apparatus, or to permit the vehicle carried apparatus to pass the roadside station unaffected so as to prevent or inhibit the tripping operation from taking place.

The application of Bodde above referred to discloses a system of this character in which another activating influence can be produced in the vehicle carried conductors and apparatus by the employment of a roadside circuit devoid of any energy source. More particularly, it has been found empirically that by employing an inert or energyless roadside circuit of given characteristics, a torque may be produced in the relay R which is substantially greater than the normal torque thereof due to the normal transmission of flux from the primary coil P to the secondary coil S. This increase of torque in the relay R may be employed for producing a third condition or positioning thereof, which third condition may be utilized either for effecting the production of another indication in the vehicle carried apparatus, such as an indication in response to a caution roadside condition, or for efiecting a resetting operation of the tripped vehicle carried apparatus.

These results have been found capable of being accomplished by the use of a tuned or resonant inert roadside circuit controlling the roadside inductor. For this purpose Bodde utilizes a track or roadside inductor means T embodying an inductor track coil t wound on a core 16 which preferably is laminated, the said coil t being controlled by a circuit 11 devoid of an energy source, which circuit is tuned or made resonant by means of a condenser connected in series with the track coil 15. I have discovered that in a system of this character still another additional activating influence can be produced in the vehicle carried conductors and apparatus by the employment of two condensers, K1 and K2 in parallel relation to each other in the circuit d, the condensers being of different capacities, and the circuit including therein a switch arm 1'7 which as shown in the drawing is connected in series with the coil 15 and is movable to the positions a, b or c by the semaphore signal 18 or equivalent means associated with the insulated track sections or blocks 19 and 20 of a block signalling system, these three positions corresponding to the clear, caution and stop positions of the semaphore signal, a, b and c, the circuit being also so arranged that when the switch arm 1'7 is in the a position, the condenser K1 is connected in the circuit of the coil i, when the switch arm is in the 1) position, the condenser K2 is connected in the circuit, and when the switch arm 17 is in the 0 position, the circuit is opened.

Normally, or when the train is disposed in a block intermediate the ends thereof so that the vehicle carried inductor combination P-S does not overlie the track inductor T, the movable armature r of the relay R occupies the position shown, and the circuit controlling member 15 which is mounted on r and is operated thereby occupies the position :1: thereby closing the circuit of the danger responsive means on the locomotive and maintaining said circuit closed under normal conditions.

When the vehicle carried inductor means P-S is positioned or moves over the track inductor T when the switch arm 17 is in its a position and the condenser K1 is thereby connected in the circuit of the coil i, an increase over the normal torque of the relay R is produced which is utilized to move the circuit controlling member 15 of the relay to the position at indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing. When the vehicle carried inductor PS is positioned or moves over the track inductor T when the switch arm 17 is in its b position, thereby connecting the condenser K2 in the circuit of the coil 15, the increase over the normal torque of the relay R produced is not as great as in the case when the condenser K1 is in the circuit, and the circuit controlling member 15 of the relay is moved to the position b indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

In a normal or a: position of the circuit controlling member 15, it bridges the contacts 4, 4; in its Cb position, the circuit controller 15 bridges the contacts 6, 6, thereby closing the circuit of the device h and indicating the all clear condition on the locomotive. When the circuit controlling member 15 is in its 2) position, it bridges the contacts, 5, 5, thereby closing the circuit and energizing the device m to indicate the caution condition on the locomotive.

In order that the system should operate in the manner described above, the condensers K1 and K2, as pointed out above, must have difierent capacities, thereby imparting to the circuit different constants and different properties and bringing about thereby the gradation of the amount of energy transmitted by the primary P to the secondary S of the vehicle carried inductors, which in turn varies the current voltage and phase relations between the elements 1" and r of the relay R, thus varying the torque between these elements, and thereby varying the position of the circuit controlling member 15. If desired,

the condenser K1 may be of such a capacity that the circuit of the coil t is resonant or tuned to the frequency generated by the vehicle carried generator G and the condenser K2 may then be either smaller or larger in capacity than the condenser Kl. Under some conditions, however, it may be preferred to have the condensers K1 and K2 of such capacities that neither one tunes the circuit into resonance with the generated frequency. Under such conditions it is sometimes desired that the two condensers should be of such capacities that one of them tunes the circuit d above its resonance point and the other tunes the circuit below its resonance point. Sometimes, too, the best results are obtained by empirically adjusting and selecting the capacities of the condensers K1 and K2 so as to give the desired results, namely, to bring about an increase in the relay torque when the condenser K2 is in the circuit, and to bring about a still greater increase in the relay torque when the condenser K1 is in the circuit of the coil t.

The increase of the torque in the relay R is believed to be due to an increase in the driving E. M. F. in the secondary coil S, such increase in driving E. M. F. being in turn due to a strong counter magneto-motive force set up by the tuned or nearly tuned track inductor which opposes the poles of the primary inductor P and hence constrains or forces a part of the flux of the primary P away from the roadside inductor and consequently confines the magnetic field of the vehicle carried inductor more closely to its own vicinity and tends to increase the flux through the secondary winding. In view of the different capacities of the condensers K1 and K2, this effect will be different and the driving E. M. F. of the relay R will be greater when the condenser K1 is used than when the condenser K2 is used. When the roadside inductor circuit at is open, as under danger track conditions, the inert core 16 of the track inductor T diverts or shunts the flux from the secondary S, as heretofore described.

It will be seen, therefore, that the roadside circuit disclosed herein is selectively operative to diminish or to increase variably the flux transmission from the primary coil P to the secondary coil S of the vehicle carried inductor means. The opening of the track circuit d causes a shunting or diversion of the flux from the secondary and therefore a diminution of the flux transmitted from the primary to the secondary, thereby cans-- ing a positive actuation of the relay to its y position. Closing of the circuit through the condenser KZ causes a concentration or increase of flux through the secondary S, thereby causing a positive actuation of the circuit controlling member 15 from its normal position to the b position. When the coil circuit t is closed through the condenser K1, the increase of flux through the secondary S is still greater, thereby causing a positive actuation of the circuit controlling member 15 from its normal position to the a position.

It is now'apparent that by the use of a single track inductor which is provided with means for variably tuning its circuit, the circuit being devoid of an energy source, in combination with vehicle carried inductor means and other responsive apparatus, I may obtain four positions on the vehicle carried apparatus, one of said positions being normal and the other three positions being the result of positive actuation of said inductor and being due to the cooperation between the vehicle carried inductor means and the track inductor controlled in response to roadside conditions. The positions y, a and b of the circuit member 15 may be momentary and may exist only during the passage of the vehicle over the roadside inductor, the member 15 in each case returning to its normal position after the vehicle The three For producing an increased efficiency in the relay R and to make effective the increased torque thereof, I have found that the phases in the relationship between the current in the elements of the relay R may be improved by inserting the condenser 28 in series with the armature 1' on the secondary coil S, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The same result may be accomplished by placing the condenser 29 in parallel with the armature W, as shown in Fig 2 of the drawing. A still further method of accomplishing the same result is to place the condenser 30 in series with the armature r and to establish a connection 31 between the wire 32 and a point 33 intermediate the ends of the secondary coil S,

as shown in Fig. 3.

The use and operation of the system embodying my invention and the numerous advantages thereof will in the main be apparent from the above detailed description thereof. It will be furtor means including air spaced inductively coupled coils energized from said energy source and operable for producing one of three operating conditions in said apparatus; and a single roadside inductor cooperating with said vehicle carried inductor means through a single flux path, said roadside inductor embodying circuit means devoid of an energy source and operative when selectively opened and closed for influencing the vehicle carried inductor means to produce respectively different ones of said operating conditions in the vehicle carried apparatus.

2-. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy, a vehicle carried inductor means including inductively coupled coils energized frem said energy source and operable for producing one of three operating conditions in said apparatus; and a roadside inductor cooperating with said vehicle inductor mean-s, said roadside inductor embodying-a resonant or tuned circuit means devoid of an energy source and operative when selectively opened and closed for influencing the vehicle carried inductor means to produce respectively different ones of said operating conditions in the vehicle carried apparatus.

3. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy, a vehicle car ried inductor means including inductively coupled coils energized from said energy source and operable for producing one of three operating conditions in said apparatus; and a single roadside inductor cooperating with said vehicle carried inductor means through a single flux path, said roadside inductor embodying circuit means devoid of an energy source and operative when selectively opened and closed for influencing the vehicle carried inductor means to produce respectively one or either of the other two of said operating conditions in the vehicle carried apparatus.

4. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy, a vehicle carried inductor means including inductively coupled coils energized from said energy source and operable for producing one of three operating conditions in said apparatus; and a roadside inductor cooperating with said vehicle inductor means, said roadside inductor embodying a resonant or tuned circuit means devoid of an energy source and operative when selectively opened and closed for influencing the vehicle carried inductor means to produce respectively one or either of the other two of said operating conditions in the vehicle carried apparatus.

5. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy, a vehicle carried inductor means comprising inductively coupled coils, the primary coil of which is connected to said A. C. source and the secondary coil of which is connected to said apparatus, and roadside inductor means cooperating with said vehicle carried inductor means, said roadside inductor means embodying a coil and circuit means devoid on an energy source, said roadside circuit being operative to selectively diminish or increase the flux transmission from the primary coil to the secondary coil of the vehicle carried inductor means to efiect one of three operations in said vehicle carried apparatus.

6. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy, a vehicle carried inductor means comprising inductively coupled coils, the primary coil of which is connected to said A. C. source and the secondary coil of which is connected to said apparatus, and roadside inductor means cooperating with said ve-' hicle carried inductor means, and selectively operative to diminish or to variably increase the flux transmission from the primary coil to the secondary coil of the vehicle carried inductor means. 7. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy, a vehicle carried inductor means comprising inductively coupled coils, the primary coil of which is connected to said A. C. source, and roadside inductor means cooperating with said vehicle carried inductor means, and selectively operative to diminish or to variably increase the flux transmission from the primary coil to the secondary coil of the vehicle carried inductor means.

8. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy, a vehicle carried inductor means comprising inductively coupled coils, the primary coil of which is connected to said A. C. source and the secondary coil of which is connected to said apparatus, and roadside inductor means cooperating with said vehicle carried inductor means and selectively operative to diminish or to variably increase the flux transmission from the primary .coil to the secondary coil of the vehicle carried inductor means to effect either a danger, clear, or caution operation respectively in said vehicle carried apparatus.

9. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy, a vehicle carried inductor means comprising inductively coupled coils, the primary coil of which is connected to said A. C. source and the secondary coil of which is connected to said apparatus, and roadside inductor means cooperating with said vehicle carried inductor means, said roadside inductor means embodying a single coil and circuit means devoid of an energy source, said roadside circuit means being operative when open and closed to respectively diminish and variably increase the flux transmission from the primary coil to the secondary coil of the vehicle carried inductor means.

10. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy, a vehicle carried inductonmeans comprising inductively coupled coils, the primary coil of which is connected to said A. C. sourcev and the secondary coil of which is connected to said apparatus, and roadside inductor meansrcooperating with said vehicle carried inductor means, said roadside inductor means embodying a single coil and circuit means devoid of an energy source, said circuit means comprising a condenser in resonance with said last mentioned coil and another condenser out of resonance with said last mentioned coil and means for selectively connecting said condensers to said coil to variably increase the flux transmission from the primary coil to the secondary coil of the vehicle carried inductor means.

11. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy, a vehicle carriedinductor means comprising inductively coupled coils, the primary coil of which is connected to said A. C. source and the secondary coil of which is connected to said apparatus, and roadside inductor means cooperating with said vehicle carried inductor means, said roadside inductor means embodying a single coil and circuit means comprising a condenser in resonance with said last mentioned coil and another condenserout of resonance with said last mentioned coil and means for selectively connecting said condensers to said coil to variably increase the flux transmission from the primary coil to the secondary coil of the vehicle carried inductor means.

12. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including a relay, a vehicle carried inductor means for operating said relay; and a single roadside inductor cooperating with the vehicle carried inductor means, said roadside inductor embodying circuit means devoid of an energy source and operative on closed circuit for affecting the vehicle carried inductor means to produce a variable increase of torque in said relay.

13. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including a relay, a vehicle carried inductor means for operating said relay; and a single roadside inductor cooperating with the vehicle carried inductor means, said roadside inductor embodying circuit means operative on closed circuit for affecting the vehicle carried inductor means to produce a variable increase of torque in said relay.

14. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. energy source and a relay, a vehicle carried inductor means including inductively coupled coils energized from said energy source for operating said relay; and a roadside inductor cooperating with the vehicle carried inductor means, said roadside inductor embodying circuit means devoid of an energy source and operative on closed circuit for affecting the vehicle carried inductor means to produce a variable increase of torque in said relay.

15. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. energy source and a relay, a vehicle carried inductor means including inductively coupled coils energized from said energy source for operating said relay; and a roadside inductor cooperating with the vehicle carried inductor means, said roadside inductorembodying circuit means operative on closed circuit for affecting the vehicle carried inductor means to produce a variable increase of torque in said relay.

16. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including a relay, a vehicle carried inductor means for operating said relay; and a roadside inductor cooperating with the vehicle carried inductor means, said roadside inductor embodying circuit means devoid of an energy source, said roadside inductor being operative on open and on closed circuit for affecting the vehicle carried inductor means to produce respectively a decrease and a variable increase of torque in said relay.

17. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including a relay, a vehicle carried inductor means for operating said relay; and a roadside inductor cooperating with the vehicle carried inductor means, said roadside inductor embodying circuit means and being operative on open I and on closed circuit for affecting the vehicle carried inductor means to produce respectively a de- 19. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. energy source and a relay, a vehicle carried inductor means including inductively coupled coils energized from said energy source for operating said relay; and a roadside inductor cooperating with the vehicle carried inductor means, said roadside inductor embodying circuit means and being operative on open and on closed circuit for aiTecting the vehicle carried inductor means to produce respectively a decrease and a variable increase of torque in said relay.

20. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including a relay, a vehicle carried inductor means for operating said relay; and a roadside inductor cooperating with the vehicle carried inductor means, said roadside inductor comprising a coil and circuit means for establishing a resonant or non-resonant circuit for said roadside inductor for affecting the Vehicle carried inductor to produce a variable increase of torque in said relay.

21. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy and a relay, vehicle carried inductively coupled coils, the primary coil of which is connected to the A. C. energy source and the secondary coil of which is connected to said relay; a roadside inductor cooperating with said vehicle carried coils, said roadside inductor comprising a coil and circuit means for establishing a resonant or non-resonant circuit for said roadside inductor for affecting the vehicle carried inductor to produce a variable increase of torque in said relay.

22. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy and a relay, vehicle carried inductively coupled coils, the primary 'coil of which is connected to the A. C. energy source and the secondary coil of which is connected to said relay; a roadside inductor co,- operating with said vehicle carried coils, said roadside inductor comprising a coil and circuit means devoid of an energy source for establishing a resonant or non-resonant circuit for said roadside inductor for afiecting the vehicle carried inductor to produce a variable increase of torque in said relay.

23. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy and a relay, vehicle carried inductively coupled coils, the primary coil of which is connected to the A. C. energy source and the secondary coil of which is connected to said relay; a roadside inductor cooperating with said vehicle carried coils, said roadside inductor comprising a coil and circuit means for establishing a resonant or non-resonant circuit for said roadside inductor for affecting the vehicle carried inductor to produce a variable operative torque in said relay.

24. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. source of energy and a two element relay, vehicle carried inductively coupled coils, the primary coil of which is connected to an element of said relay, the other element of said relay being connected to the A. C. energy source; a roadside inductor cooperating with said vehicle carried coils, said roadside inductor comprising acoil and circuit means for establishing a resonant or non-resonant circuit for said roadside inductor for affecting the vehicle carried inductor to produce a variable operative torque in said relay. 25. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including an A. C. energy source and a relay, vehicle carried inductively coupled coils the primary coil of which is connected to the, A. C. source res and the secondary coil of which is connected to said relay; and a cooperating roadside inductor including a coil and circuit means therefor devoid of an energy source, said roadside inductor being operative on open and closed circuit for infiuencing the inductively coupled coils to respectively deenergize and variably energize said relay.

26. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including a source of energy and a relay means, a vehicle carried inductor including inductively coupled coils the primary of which is connected to said energy source and the secondary of which is connected to said relay means, the coupled coils normally producing a given condition in said relay means; and a cooperating roadside inductor including a coil and an energyless circuit therefor selectively operative to influence said vehicle carried coupled coils to produce one of three other conditions in said relay means.

27. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including a source of energy and a relay means, a vehicle carried inductor including inductively coupled coils the primary of which is connected to said energy source and the secondary of which is connected to said relay means, the coupled coils normally producing a given persisting energized condition in said relay means; and a cooperating roadside inductor including a coil and an energyless circuit therefor operative when open and closed for influencing the vehicle carried coupled coils to produce respectively either a deenergizing condition or either of two different energizing conditions in said relay means.

28. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including a source of energy and a four position relay means, a vehicle carried inductor including inductively coupled coils the primary of which is connected to said energy source and the secondary of which is connected to said relay means, the coupled coils normally producing a given position in said relay means; and a cooperating roadside inductor including a coil and an energyless circuit therefor selectively operative to influence said vehicle carried coupled coils to produce any one of the other three positions in said relay means.

29. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including a source of energy and a four position relay means, a vehicle carried inductor including inductively coupled coils the primary of which is connected to said energy source and the secondary of which is connected to said relay means, the coupled coils normally producing a given position in said relay means; and a cooperating roadside inductor including a coil and an energyless circuit means selectively operative to establish a resonant or non-resonant circuit for said coil to produce two other positions in said relay means.

30. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus comprising a source of energy and a relay, inductor means including inductively coupled coils the primary of which is connected to said source of energy and the secondary of which is connected to said relay, said secondary being energized only from said primary and means in the circuit of the secondary for determining the phase relationship between the current and voltage in said relayto permit the obtaining of an actuation of said relay upon increasing the transmission of flux from the primary to the secondary of the inductively coupled coils.

31. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus comprising a source of energy and a two element relay, inductor means including inductively coupled coils the primary of which is connected to said source of energy and the secondary of which is connected to said relay, said secondary being energized only from said primary and means in the circuit of the secondary for improving the phase relationship between the currents in the elements of said relay.

32. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus comprising a source of energy and a relay having field and armature coils, inductor means includ ing inductively coupled coils the primary of which is connected to said source of energy and the secondary of which is connected to the armature coil of said relay, the field coil of said relay being connected to said energy source, and means connected to the armature coil for improving the phase relationship between the currents in said relay field and armature coils.

33. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus comprising a source of energy and a relay having field and armature coils, inductor means including inductively coupled coils the primary of which is connected to said source of energy and the secondary of which is connected to the armature coil of said relay, the field coil of said relay being connected to said energy source, and means for improving the phase relationship between the currents in said relay field and armature coils, said means comprising a capacitance arranged in circuit with said armature coil.

34. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including a source of energy and a relay, vehicle carried inductively coupled coils the primary of which is connected to said energy source and the secondary of which is connected to said relay, and means arranged in the circuit of the secondary for determining the phase relationship between the current and voltage effective on said relay; and a cooperating roadside inductor including an energyless tuned circuit operative when closed for affecting the vehicle carried coupled coils to produce an actuation of said relay.

35. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including a source of energy and a two element relay, vehicle carried inductively coupled coils the primary of which is connected to said energy source and the secondary of which is connected to said relay, and means arranged in the circuit of the secondary for improving the phase relationship between the currents in the elements of said relay; and a cooperating roadside inductor including an energyless tuned circuit operative when closed for affecting the vehicle carried coupled coils to produce an actuation of said relay.

36. In combination, vehicle carried apparatus including a source of energy and a relay having field and armature coils, vehicle carried inductively coupled coils the primary of which is connected to said energy source and the secondary of which is connected to the armature coil of said relay, the field coil of said relay being connected to said energy source, and means arranged in the circuit of said armature coil for improving the phase relationship between the currents in said relay field and armature coils; and a cooperating roadside inductor including an energyless tuned circuit operative when closed for affecting the vehicle carried coupled coils to produce an actuation of said relay.

37. Railway signalling means comprising a normally energized vehicle carried electro-magnet supplied with alternating current from a source carried by the vehicle, a roadside electro-magnetic reflector adapted to receive electro-magnetic energy from the vehicle and to reflect, under certain conditions, a portion of said electromagnetic energy to said electro-magnet on said vehicle, means for varying the power factor of said track reflector toward and away from unity whereby the power factor of the vehicle magnet will be affected by said track reflector when the vehicle is adjacent to said track reflector, and cab signalling mechanism controlled by the power factor of said vehicle magnet.

38. Railway signaling means comprising an electro-magnet carried by the vehicle and normally energized by alternating current, a track element arranged adjacent the track and provided with an iron core having low reluctance, the reluctance of said core being adapted to cause the current in said vehicle carried magnet to lag behind its normal phase, means controlled by the position of a vehicle on the track to alter the phase angle of said roadside magnet, and vehicle carried mechanism controlled in accordance with, and in proportion to, the change in phase angle of the vehicle carried magnet.

39. Railway signalling means comprising a normally energized electro-magnet carried by the vehicle, a roadside electro-magnet arranged adjacent the track, condensers connected to said track magnet to control its phase angle, means ling mechanism controlled by the phase angle of said vehicle magnet.

40. Railway signalling means comprising a normally energized electro-magnet carried by the vehicle, a roadside electro-magnet arranged ad- J'acent the track, condensers connected in circuit with said track magnet, relays adapted to disconnect said cond-ensers from said track magnet When said relays are deenergized, means controlled by the proximity of a vehicle on the track for deenergizing said relays, and signalling mechanism controlled by the phase angle of said vehicle magnet.

ll. Railway signalling means comprising a normally energized electro-magnet carried by the vehicle, a roadside electro-magnet arranged adjacent the track, said roadside magnet being provided with an iron core to normally decrease the magnitude of the power factor of the car magnet when the car magnet passes over it, and means controlled by the position of a car on the tracks for altering the power factor of said roadside magnet.

HERBERT C. HORST.

Mill

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