US2007659A - Railway switch controlling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jully 9, 1935. M. A. PENROD RAILWAY SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed -July 19, 1934 W 0 n m P 0 b a 1 W4 a I a 4 5 %5 w mi- Am m a i xi g Lg w% 3 7 m2 5 x t 9 5 Lm 1 C 0 L3 1 2 T w Patented July 9, 1935 RAILWAY SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS Melvin A. Penrod, Murrysville, Pa, assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pin, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 19, 1934, Serial No. 736,032

. 16 Claims. (01. 246141) My invention relates to railway switch controlling apparatus of the type wherein a railway switch is controlled by a manually operable lever and'by a traffic controlled contact and wherein release means is provided for controlling the switch when the traffic controlled contact is open. One feature of my invention is the provision of release means for controlling each succeeding operation of a switch while the traffic contact is'open, only if the switch has completed an operation in response to the last previously attempted control by the release means.

I will describe two forms of apparatus embody" novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig, l is a, diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatlc view showing a modification of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters refer to simila parts in each of the views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference characters I and l designate the track rails of a stretch of main track Y which is divided by insulated joints 2 to form a track section a--d. The track section a-d' is provided'with a switch F leading into a side track Z. Track section w-d is also provided with a track circuit comprising a battery connected across the rails adjacent one end of the section, and a track relay designated by the reference character T and connected across the rails adjacent the opposite end of the section. a

Switch F is operated by a mechanism M which may be of the fluid-pressure motor type. Mechanism M is controlled by a lock magnet m and by normal and reverse control magnets n and r for causing mechanism M to operate switch F to the normal or the reverse position respectively. Magnets n and r are controlled by a manually oper able lever V, by a time releasing device E, and by a lock relay L. Magnet m is controlled by lever V and by a switch indication relay K As shown in the drawing. lever V has a normal position N, a normal detector lock position x, a normal indication lock position B, a reverse indication lock position D, a reverse detector lock position 1/, and a reverseposition R. Lever V operates various contacts, each of which is closed during a given portion of the movement of lever V from one of its extreme positions N and R to the other. The portion of the movement of lever V during which eachof the contacts operated by lever V is closed. is indicatedby a ing my invention, andwill then point out the the a: position in going from its position B to its position N, this contact remaining closed thereafter until the lever, in moving from its position D to its position R, passes the y position, whereupon contact 56 will open and contact E -G will close. Contact l--8 will then remain closed until lever V next passes the position :0, going from the position B to the position N.

Lever V is also provided with a latch contact 29 which is operated in a well-known manner by a latch mechanism associated with lever V. Contact 29 is open when leverV is in either of its extreme positions N and R, but becomes closed when the leverman operates the latch preparatory to moving lever V between its N and R positions.

Movement of lever V between its a: and its B positions is controlled in a usual and well-known manner by a normal look magnet NM controlling a dog 3 which engages a notched segment 4 rigidly attached to lever V. Movement of lever V between its 1/ and D positions is similarly controlled by a reverse lockmagnet RM.

Time releasing device E may be of the well- 35 known manually actuable screw type in which the period of operation is not measured but is variable to some extent by the leverman. Operation of such a release, however, enforces an appreciable time delay in the control of other parts of the apparatus by the device E.

Releasing device E is equipped with two normally closed contacts l3 and 25 which open at the beginning of each operation of device E and which again close when device E is returned to 45 its normal position. Device E also has a contact 2| which is closed only at a mid-point in the operation of device E between its normal and reverse positions. A fourth contact 12 of device E is closed only when device E is in its reverse position. The construction of device E is such that there is an enforced time delay between the opening of contacts l3 and 25 and the closing of contact 2|, and also between the opening of contact 2! and the closing of contact l2 when device E is operated from its normal to its reverse position. Similar time delays are enforced between the opening of contact i2 and the closing of contact 2|, and between the opening of contact 2| and the closing of contacts 13 and 25 when device E is operated from its reverse to its normal position.

Lock relay L is normally energized by a circuit controlled by track relay T, but can also be energized by a circuit controlled by contact 2| of release E.

Switch indication relay K is of the polarized type, and is so controlled by a pole-changer P operated by switch F as to be energized by current of normal polarity when switch F is in its normal position and to be energized by current of reverse polarity when switch F is in its reverse position. Relay K is also controlled in part by contact 25 of release E.

As shown in the drawing, all parts are in their normal condition, that is, lever V and release E are in their normal positions, switch F is in its normal position, and section ad is unoccupied. With section a-d unoccupied, relay T' is energized. With relay T energized, relay L is energized by its circuit passing from terminal b of a suitable source of current not shown in the drawing, through contact 20 of relay T, wire 22, and the winding of relay L to terminal of the same source of current. With release E in its normal position and with relay L energized, normal switch control magnet n is energized by a circuit passing from terminal b, through contact l3 of release E, contact l4 of relay L, wire l5, contact I6 of lever V, and the winding of magnet n to terminal 0. A second circuit is also closed for the winding of magnet a, passing from terminalb,through contact I8 of lever V, and the winding of magnet 12. to terminal 0. With switch F in its normal position and with release E in its normal position, relay K is energized by current of normal polarity in a circuit passing from terminal b, through contact 23 of pole-changer P, wire 24, contact 25 of release E, winding of relay K, wire 26, and contact 21 of pole-changer P to terminal 0. On account of latch contact 29 being open, the circuit for lever lock magnet NM through contact 30 of lever V is open, and hence magnet NM is deenergized and dog 3 controlled by magnet NM is in engagement with the associated segment 4 of lever V, thereby preventing movement of lever V beyond its a: position.

I will now assume that with all parts of the apparatus thus in their normal condition, the leverman desires to operate switch F to its reverse position. He will therefore close latch contact 28, causing lock magnet NM to be energized by its circuit passing from terminal 17, through contact 20 of relay T, wire 22, contact 28 of relay L, latch contact 29, contact '30 of lever V, wire 38, and the winding of lock magnet NM to terminal 0. With magnet NM energized, dog 3 controlled by this magnet will be raised to prevent engagement of dog 3 with the upper projection of the associatedsegment 4.

Lever V can, therefore, be moved to its D po sition where its further movement will be arrested by engagement of dog 3 of magnet RM with the upper projection of the associated segment 4. With lever V in its D position, reverse switch control magnet T will be energized by its circuit passing through terminal I), through contact l3 of release E, contact l4 of relay L, wire I5, contact H of lever V, and the winding of magnet r to terminal 0. Lock magnet m also will now be energized by its circuit passing from terminal I), through contact 43 of lever V, contact 44 of relay K, wire 45, and Winding of magnet m to terminal 0. With magnets m and r energized, mechanism M will operate switch F to its reverse position.

In the beginning of the operation of switch F, pole-changer P will open and hence relay K will be deenergized, thereby completing a second circuit for magnet m passing from terminal b, through contact 4| of relay K, wire 45, and the winding of magnet m to terminal 0.

Upon completion of the operation of switch F to its reverse position, operation of pole-changer P will be completed to the corresponding position, causing a circuit to be completed for energizing relay K in the reverse direction. This circuit is exactly the same as the circuit previously traced for relay K except that current now fiows from terminal I), through contact 21 of pole-changer P and from contact 23 of polechanger P direct to terminal 0. With relay K now energized by current of reverse polarity, its contacts 35 and 44 will be moved to their righthand position. The circuit first traced for magnet m will therefore be open at contact 44, and the second circuitfor magnet m will be open at contact 4| of relay K.

A circuit will now be completed for energizing magnet RM, passing from terminal b, through contact 21 of pole-changer P, contact 33 of lever V, wire 34, contact 35 of relay K, contact 36 of, relay K in its right-hand position, contact 39 of lever V, wire 4|], and the winding of magnet RM to terminal 0. Magnet RM, upon becoming energized, raises its dog 3 which thereupon disengages the upper projection of the associated segment 4, permitting the leverman to complete the movement of lever V to its position R.

The procedure, and the operation of the apparatus for returning switch F to its normal position under normal conditions by moving lever V from its position R to its position B are similar to those just described for an operation of the switch to its reverse position, and will, therefore, be readily understood by reference to the drawing without further detailed description.

I will next assume that all parts of the apparatus have been returned to their normal condition and that track relay T then becomes deenerg'ized either on account of the presence of a train or for some other reason. In an attempt to operate switch F while track relay T is deenergized, the leverman will turn release E to the mid-position, thereby opening contacts I3 and 25 and closing contact 2|. With contact 2| closed, a circuit will be completed for energizing relay L which is the same as the circuit previously traced for this relay except that it includes contact 2| of release E instead of contact 20 of relay T.

If the leverman now closes latch contact 29, a second circuit will be completed for magnet NM which is the same as the circuit first traced for this magnet except that it includes contact 2| of release E instead of contact 20 of relay T. The leverman can, therefore, now place lever V in its D position.

The leverman will next continue the movement of release E to its reverse position, thereby opening contact 2| and closing contact l2. With contact I2 closed, a second circuit will be completed for energizing magnet r of mechanism M, passingfrom terminal b, through contact 6 of quick switch QS, contact 9 of' lever V, wire H, contact I2 of release E, wire l5, contact I! of lever V, and the winding of magnet rto terminal o. On account of contact 25 being open, relay K will be deenergized, and hence magnet in will be energized by its second circuit previously traced through contact 4| o'f relay K.

With magnets m. and 1" energized, mechanism M will operate switch F to its reverse position, causing pole-changer P to' be also reversed. The leverman will now return release E to its normal position, thereby again closing contact 25 and completing the reverse energizing circuit previously described for relay K. Magnet RM will thereupon be energized by the circuit previously traced, and hence the leverman can complete the movement of lever V to its position R.

If, for some reason, when the leverman energizes magnets m and 1' by operation of release E as just described, switch F fails to'move completely to its reverse position, and if the'leverman then tries to return switch F to its normal position, or if he attempts to return lever V to its position N, he will be unable to do so because contact 1+8 of quick switch QS will be open and he therefore cannot energize magnet 11 although contact IQ of lever V and contact 52 of release E have been closed.

It follows therefore that before the emergency release E can be used again for causing an operation of switch F, the switch must first complete its operation in response to the previously attempted control by release E. It will be apparent, therefore, that with the'iorm of apparatus shown in Fig. 1 there canbe no succeeding operation of' the switch while track relay T remains deenerg'ized until the switch has completed an operation in response to a previous attempt to cause an operation of the switch by release E. Between each operation of switch F controlled by release E and a succeeding operation of switch 'F controlled by release E there must elapse an interval of time necessary for returning release E to its mid-position for closing contact 26, and for again moving release E from its mid-position to its reverse position for closingeontact !2.

Referring to Fig. 2, the apparatus shown therein may be used to replace that portion of the apparatus of Fig. l which is within the rectangle designated by the reference character J. The polarized relay G is the electrical equivalent of the quick switch Q8. The relay G comprises two windings having a common terminal 0, one winding being energized over the Na: contact 49 of lever V, and the other winding being energized over the Ry contact 50 of the lever. Polar contact 46 becomes swung to the right or the left according as one or the other winding of relay G is energized, that is, according'as contact #19 or contact Ell of lever V is closed, and remains in the last operated position until relay G is subsequently pole-changed. Contacts litll and 4548 of relay G perform the samefunctions as contacts 5-6 and 'i8 of quick switch QS in Fig. 1. The cooperation of relay G of Fig. 2 with the apparatus of Fig. 1, for limiting the switch operation to one attempt for each operation of the emergency release, will be clear from the. previous descripclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: I i

, 1. In combination with a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a manually operable lever movable between a normal and a reverse position, a first'contact controlled by said lever which becomes closed when the lever is moved to its normal position and remains closed thereafter until the lever is moved to its reverse position, a second contact controlled by said Is- ,ver which becomes closed when the lever is moved to its reverse position and remains closed thereafter until the lever is moved to its normal position, means including said first contact effective when said lever is moved from its normal near to its reverse position for moving said switch to the reverse position, means including said second contact effective when said lever is moved from its reverse near to its normal position for moving said switch to the normal position, locking means effective when a train is approaching said switch for preventing movement of the lever from its normal or its reverse position, and a manually operable time releasing device for rendering said locking means ineffective after the expiration of a time interval following actuation of said device.

2. In combination with a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a manually operable lever movable between a normal and a reverse position, afirst contact controlled by said lever which becomes closed when the lever is moved to its normal position and remains closed thereafter until the lever is moved to its reverse position, a second contact controlled by said lever which becomes closed when the lever is moved to its reverse position and remains closed thereafter until the lever is moved to its normal position, a manually operable time releasing device which requires a time interval following actuation to complete its operation, means including said first contact effective after said device has completed its operation and said lever is moved from its normal near to its reverse position for moving the switch to its reverse position, means including said second contact effective after said device has completed its operation and said lever is moved from its reverse near to its normal position for moving the switch to its normal position, and

means controlled by said switch for preventing movement of said lever to its normal or reverse position unless the switch has reached its normal or reverse position respectively.

3. In combination with a railway switch having brief interval following actuation of said device and also a front contact which becomes closed after the expiration of a time interval following said actuation and subsequent to the opening of said middle contact, means controlled by said middle contact for at times preventing movement of said lever from its normal or its reverse position unless said middle contact is closed, means including, said front contact and said first contact effective when said lever is moved toward the reverse position for moving the switch to the reverse position, means including said front contact and said secondcontact effective when said lever is moved toward the normal position for moving the switch to the normal position, and means controlled by said switch for preventing movement of said lever to the normal or the reverse position unless the switch has completed its normal or reverse movement respectively.

4. In combination with a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a manually operable lever movable between a normal and a reverse position, a first contact controlled by said lever which becomes closed when the lever is moved to its normal position and remains closed thereafter until the lever is moved to its reverse position, a second contact controlled by said lever which becomes closed when the lever is moved to its reverse position and remains closed thereafter until the lever is moved to its normal position, a manually operable time releasing device capable of assuming a first or a second position and requiring a time interval following actuation to reach said second position from said first position as well as to reach said first position from said second position upon subsequent actuation, means controlled by said device for at times preventing movement of the lever from its normal or its reverse position unless said device occupies said first position, means controlled by said first contact effective when said device occupies said second position and said lever is moved from its normal near to its reverse position for moving said switch to the reverse position, means controlled by said second contact effective when said device occupies said second position and said lever is moved from its reverse near to its normal position for moving said switch to the normal position, and means controlled by said switch for preventing movement of said lever to the normal or the reverse position unless the switch has reached its normal or reverse position respectively.

5. In combination with a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a manually operable lever having N. B, D and R positions, a first contact which becomes closed when the lever is moved toward the N position but beyond the B position and which remains closed thereafter until the lever is moved beyond the D position, a second contact which becomes closed when the lever is moved toward the R position but beyond the D position and which remains closed thereafter until the lever is moved beyond the B position; a manually operable time releasing device having a middle contact which becomes closed for a brief interval following actuation of said device and a front contact which becomes closed upon the expiration of a time interval following the opening of said middle contact, said middle contact becoming reclosed upon the expiration of a time interval following the opening of said front contact upon subsequent actuation of said device; means governed by said middle contact for at times preventing movement of said lever from the N or the R position if said middle contact is open, means controlled by said front contact and said first contact effective when said lever is moved to the D position for moving said switch to the reverse position, means controlled by said front contact and said second contact effective when said lever is moved to the B position for moving said switch to the normal position, and

means controlled by said switch for preventing movement of said lever beyond the B or the D position unless the switch has reached its normal or reverse position respectively.

6. In combination with a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a manually operable lever movable between a normal and a re-. verse position, a time releasing device having a middle contact which becomes closed for a brief interval upon actuationof said device and a front contact which becomes closed at the expiration of a time interval following the opening of said middle contact; a first contact which becomes closed when the lever is moved from its reverse near to its normal position provided said middle contact is closed, said first contact remaining closed thereafter until the lever is moved near to its reverse position; a second contact which becomes closed when the lever is moved from its normal near to its reverse position provided said middle contact is closed, said second contact remaining closed thereafter until the lever is moved near to its normal position, means controlled by said lever and including said first contact as well as said front contact for moving said switch to the reverse position, and means controlled by said lever and including said second contact as well as said front contact for moving said switch to the normal position.

'1. In combination with a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, a manually operable lever having N, B, D and R positions, a first contact controlled by said lever which becomes closed when the lever is moved to its N position and remains closed thereafter until the lever is moved to its R position, a second contact controlled by said lever which becomes closed when the lever is moved to its R position and remains closed thereafter until the lever is moved to its N position, means including said first contact effective when said lever is moved from its N to its D position for moving said switch to the reverse position, means including said second contact effective when said lever is moved from its R to its B position for moving said switch to the normal position, locking means effective when a train is approaching said switch for preventing movement of the lever from its N or its R position, and a manually operable time releasing device for rendering said locking means ineifective after the expiration of a time interval following actuation of said device.

8. In combination with a railway switch having a normal and a. reverse position, a manually operable lever having N, B, D and R positions, a first contact controlled by said lever which becomes closed when the lever is moved to its N position and remains closed thereafter until the lever is moved to its R position, a second contact controlled by said lever which becomes closed when the lever is moved to its R position and remains closed thereafter until the lever is moved to its N position, a manually operable time releasing device which requires a time interval following actuation to complete its operation, means including said first contact effective after said device has completed its operation and said lever is moved from its N to its D position for moving the switch to its reverse position, means including said second contact effective after said device has completed its operation and said lever is moved from its R to its B position for moving the switch to its normal position, and means controlled by said switch for preventing movement of said lever to its N or its R position unless the switch has reached its normal or reverse position respectively. 9.v In-combination, a railway track switch, a manually "operable lever having a normal position N and abnormal indication position B as well as a reverse indication position D and a reverse position R arranged in the order named with relation to movement of the lever from the normal to the reverse position and arranged in the reverse order with relation to movement of the lever from the reverse to, the normal position, a contact H) of said lever closed only when said lever is in'its position B, a contact 9 .of said lever closed only when said lever is in its position-D, a quick switch contact t-!5 of said lever which becomes closed when said lever is moved from its'position B toward its position N and which then remains closed until said lever is moved from its position D toward its position R, a quick switch contact T-B of said lever which becomes closed when said lever is moved from its position D toward its position R and which then remains closed until said lever is moved from its position B toward its position N, means controlled by said switch for preventing movement of said lever from its position B toward its position N or from its position D toward its position R unless said switch occupies its normal or its reverse position respectively, a circuit including said contacts 5-43 and S in series for causing operation of said switch to its reverse position, and a circuit including said contacts (-8 and I E! in series for causing operation of said switch to its normal position.

10. In combination, a railway track switch, a manually operable lever, a traffic contact which is closed when there is no traffic adjacent said switch but which becomes opened in response to a train adjacent said switch, means controlled by said lever and by said traffic contact when said traffic contact is closed for operating said switch to its normal and reverse positions, a manually controllable emergency release, and means controlled by said lever and by said emergency release for causing said switch to be successively operated to its normal and reverse positions while said traiiic contactis open if and only if said switch completes an operation in response to each such attempt to cause an operation of said switch.

- 11. In combination, a railway track switch, a manually operable lever having a normal position and a normal indication position as well as a reverse indication position and a reverse position arranged in the order named with relation to movement of the lever from the normal to the reverse position and arranged in the reverse order with relation to movement of the lever from the reverse to the normal position, a contact of said lever which becomes closed when said lever is.

moved from its normal indication position toward its normal position and which then remains closed until said lever is moved from its reverse indication position toward its reverse position, a sec ond contact of said lever which becomes closed switch to be operated to its reverse position, and a, second circuit controlled by'said second and third contacts for causing said switch to be operated to its normal position,

12. In combination, a railway track switch, a manually operable lever,.a traliic contact which is closed when there is no trafiic adjacent said switch but which becomes opened in response to a train adjacentsaid switch, means controlled by said lever and'bysaid traffic contact when said traffic contact is closed for operating said switch to its normal and reverse positions, a manually controllable emergency release having a normally closed contact andhaving a normally open contact which becomes closed upon the lapse of a period of time after said normally closed contact opens, a switch indication relay controlled by said normally closed contact as Well as by said switch, and means controlled by said normally .open contact and by a back contact of said switch indication relay for causing operations of said switch when said traffic contact is open.

13. In combination, a railway track switch, a manually operable lever, a traffic contact which is closed when there is no trafiic adjacent said switch but which becomes opened in response to a train adjacent said switch, means controlled by said lever and by said traiiic contact when said trafiic contact is closed for operating said switch to its normal and reverse positions, a manually controllable emergency release, means controlled by said lever and by said emergency release for setting said switch into operation toward its normal or its reverse position While said trafiio contact is open, and means controlled by said switch for preventing further control of said switch by said lever and said emergency release until said switch has reached said normal or reverse position respectively.

14. In combination, a railway track switch, a manually operable lever having a normal and a reverse position as well as a normal indication position adjacent said normal position and a reverse indication position adjacent said reverse position, a polarized relay, a normal polar contact of said relay closed when said relay is energized by current of normal polarity and which then remains closed until said relay is energized by current of reverse polarity, a reverse polar contact of said relay closed when said relay is energized by current of reverse polarity and which then remains closed until said relay is energized by current of normal polarity, normal and reverse energizing circuits for said polarized relay closed by said lever in its normal and reverse positions respectively, means controlled by said normal polar contact and by said lever in its reverse indication position for causing said switch to be moved to its reverse position, and means controlled by said reverse polar contact and by said lever in its normal indication position for causing said switch to be moved to its normal position.

15. In combination, a railway track switch, a manually operable lever having a normal and a reverse position as well asa normal indication position adjacent said normal position and a reverse indication position adjacent said reverse position, a polarized relay, a normal polar contact of said relay closed' when said relay is energized by current of normal polarity and which then remains closed until said relay is energized by current of reverse polarity, a reverse polar contact of said relay closed when said relay is energized by current of reverse polarity and which then remains closed until said relay is energized by current of normal polarity. normal and reverse energizing circuits-for said polarized relay closed by said lever in its normal and. reverse positions respectively, means controlled by said normal polar contact and by said lever in its reverse indication position for causing said switch to be moved to its reverse position, means controlled by said reverse polar contact and by said lever in its normal indication position for causing said switch to be moved to its normal position, and means controlled by said switch for preventing movement of said lever from each of said indication positions tothe adjacent normal or reverse position until said switch has reached the corresponding normal or reverse position respectively.

16. In combination, a railway track switch, a manually operable lever having a normal and a reverse position and also having a normal and a reverse indication position, the electrical equivalent of the well-known quick switch which is commonly associated with such a lever comprising a polarized relay having a normal and a reverse polar contact each of which becomes closed when its relay becomes energized by current of a corresponding polarity and then remains closed until its relay becomes energized by current of the opposite polarity, normal and reverse circuits closed by said lever in its normal and reverse positions for energizing said relay by current of normal or reverse polarity respectively, means controlled by said normal polar contact and by said lever in its reverse indication position for causing said switch to be moved to its reverse position, and means controlled by'said reverse polar contact and by said lever in its normal indication position for causing said switch to be moved to its normal position.

MELVIN A. PENROD.

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