US2066309A - Recording mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 5, 1937. E. M. ALLEN RECORDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l -Siam 2.s aim? and time when energized INVENTOR Earl M Allen JZ/Qf' .HLS' ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1937. E ALLEN 2,066,309

REcoRDfNe MECHANISM Filed Sept. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 55 $IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 47E 175% I I I 1I1TE}I I 1 V I JULY 7 1935 I I 11200 A.M. 11201 A.M. I I I I l I I I I I I I I I I I I7I I I I I I I I I ISI I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I INVENTOR Earl M.Allen. ax M,

HIS ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECORDING MECHANISM Application September 25, 1935, Serial No. 42,020

7 Claims.

My invention relates to recording, mechanism, and is particularly well adapted for, but not limited to, mechanism for recording, the progress and speed of trains along a railway, andv for re- 3- cording signal operations.

One feature of my invention is the use of a normally stationary recording mechanism which operates only upon the passage of a train of which a record is to be made. This feature of my 10.;invention, when utilized with mechanism of the recording tape type permits the tape to remain stationary until a record is to be made and then to be moved at a relatively high speed during the recording so that a clear and legible record is :produced without wasteful use of the tape.

I will describe one form of recording mecha- .nism embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form of recording mechanism embodying my invention as applied to a layout wherein one track is intersected by another track. Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a portion of tape with the record made thereon by the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference characters X and Y designate two intersecting railway tracks. The rails l and IA of track X are divided by means of insulated joints 2 into track - sections 1T, 2T, and 3T. Similarly, the rails l and IA of track Y are divided by means of insulated joints 2 into track sections 4T, ST, and

ST; The sections IT, 3T, 4T, and ET, I shall term approach sections, and sections 2T and ET I shall term detector sections. The detector sections 2T and 5'1" include the intersection Z.

Each track section IT, 2T, 4T, and ET is provided with a track circuit including a battery 3 connected across the rails at one end of the section and with a track relay connected across the rails at the other end of the section and designated by the reference character R. with the same prefix as that used in the reference character for the associated section. 5- The reference characters is and 3S designate trafli'c controlling devices, here shown as signals, for governing trafiic moving over track X, and the reference characters 2S and 4S designate similar signals for governing traffic moving over 50 track Y.

Signals IS and 28- control contacts 8 and 9, respectively, in such a manner that each contact is closed only when the associated signal is in its stop condition as shown in the drawings.

56 The reference characters IH and 2H designate two signal indication relays which are controlled by the contacts 8 and 9, respectively, each of the relays being energized only when the associated contact is closed.

The reference character Q designates a control relay governed by relays lTR, 2TB, 4TB, 5TB, IH, and 2H,.

Associated with the. relay Q is a repeating relay designated, by the reference character P and having a slow pickup characteristic.

In. order to obtain a record of train movements on the tracks X and Y and of the operation of signals is and 28, I provide a tape 30, which may be of paper or other suitable material, and which passes over drums. 3!, 3[. This tape is unwound 15 L,

The tape 30 is preferably provided with time 20 divisions 35 corresponding to the rate at which the tape is moved by the motor M.

In order to secure a record of the progress of trains through each. block IT, 2T, AT, and ST,

and of the position of, signals IS and 28, I pro- 25.

vide each section and each signal with a recording device designated by the reference character E with the same prefix as that used in the reference character for the relay associated with such section or signal. As here shown, each re- 30 cording device comprises a magnet 36, and a pivotally mounted member 31 biased by any suitable means such, for example, as by a spring 38 to a position away from the magnet. Rigidly attached to the member 31 is a stylus 39, which 35 may, for example, be a pencil, which pencil is adapted to trace a. record on tape30. The magnet 36 and member 31 are so disposed that the pencil 39 is moved transversely across the tape 30 towards the magnet when the magnet is energized and away from the magnet to a normal position, as shown in the drawings, when the magnet is deenergized. Each magnet 36 is provided with a circuit whichv includes a back contact 24, 25, 26, 21, 28, or 29 of the associated R or H relay.

The pencils 39 are preferably so located that the records made thereby on the tape at any given instant are directly opposite each other.

The reference character J designates a time 50, controlled printing device which when energized stamps the date and time on the tape 30. The device J is preferably so located that the stampping of the tape will be substantially in line with the pencils 39. A number of such date and time 55.

-then supplied to motor M (by virtue of a circuit tion IT so that track relay ITR becomes released. I

When relay ITR is released, magnet 36 of recording device ITE will become energized by the closing of back contact 24'of'relay ITR, and

relay Q will be released by the opening of a circuit which passes from terminal B of a suitable source of energy through front contacts I2, I3,

and 2TB, respectively, and relay Q to terminal C of the same source of current.

energize slow pickup relay P, and will also energize the device J through the back point of contact 22 of relay P so that the date and time will bestamped on tape 3Il. When relay P becomes picked up so that energy is transferred from the back point to the front point of contact 22, current will be first cut off from device J and will be which passes from. terminal B through back con tact 2] of relay Q, front point of contact 22 of relay P and motor M to terminal C) so that motor M will drive drum 33. The movement of drum 33 will'cause the movement of tape 30 so that the pencils 39 will draw a record thereon. All pencils will draw straight lines intheir normal paths except the pencil of recording device ITE which pencil will draw a line parallel to but to one side of its normal path because its magnet 36 is energized,

It should be noted that the slow pickup characteristic of relay P insures that device J will have ample time to stamp the tape 30 before the movement of the tape is initiated by motor M.

Although for the sake of simplicity I have not shown in the drawings the control circuits for the signals, such signals usually will be so controlled as to normally indicate stop, and to change to proceed when the track relay for the associated approach section is released provided, of course, that traific conditions in the vicinity of the intersection Z are such as to make such proceed indi- I cation. safe for a train accepting the indication.

Therefore, when a train enters section IT, so that relay I'I'R becomes deenergized, signal IS will change to proceed and will open contact 8 so that indication relay I H will become released. When relay IH is released, magnet 36 of recording device IHE will become energized so that its pencil 39 will draw an ofiset line to one side of its normal path.

The tape at this time will show that section IT is occupied, that signal IS is indicating proceed and the date and time at which the train entered section IT. c

When the train enters section 2T so that relay 2TB. becomes released, magnet 36 of recording device 2TE will become energized so that its pencil will draw an offset line on the tape, The tape now indicates that the train has just entered section 2T.

When signal IS returns to its stop condition,

. relay IH will again be energized by the closing of contact 8. When relay IH is energized, magnet its normal position.

When relay Q is released, the closing of its back contact 2| will 36 of recording device will become deenergized so that pencil 39 of recording device IHE will again draw a line on the tape in its normal path. The tape now indicates that the train is bridging sections IT and 2T, that all other sections are unoccupied and that all signals are displaying their normal stop indication.

When the train departs from section IT so that relay I TR becomes energized, magnet 36 of recording device ITE will be deenergized to cause pencil 39 of recording device ITE to move back to The tape now indicates that all sections except section 2T are unoccupied, and that all signals aredisplaying the stop indication.

When the train leavessection 2T, relay 2TB. will become energized, so that magnet 2TE will become deenergized and relay Q will become energized. ,When magnet ZTE is deenergized pencil 39 of magnet 2TE will move back to its normal position. When relay Qis energized, current will be cut off from motor M and relay P will become deenergized. Thus the movement of tape 30 will cease and the tape at this time will indicate that all apparatus is again in its normal condition ready for the next train movement.

Although I have herein described but a few of the operations of the apparatus embodying my invention, it will be readily apparent as to how the apparatus will function for any possible train movement.

Although, for the sake of simplicity, I have not shown the signals 38 and 4S and track sections 3T and GT as being provided with recording devices, it will be understood that these signals and track sections usually will also be so equipped.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the portion of the tape 30 here shown bears a record which may be explained as follows: at 11 a. m. of July 7, 1935, section IT became occupied by a train, and at approximately two seconds after 11 a. m., signal IS was caused to indicate proceed. The tape further discloses that at approximately 11:01 a. m., the train entered section 2T and at approximately two seconds after 11:01 a. m., signal IS was caused to again assume its stop condition. At approximately twenty seconds after 11:01 a. m., the train departed from section IT and at approximately forty seconds after 11:01 a. m., the train departed from section 2T. The tape, therefore, discloses a full and complete record of the movement of this train and of the observance of the signal by the engineman. It Is apparent that the speed of the trainthrough each block can be very readily determined from the tape if desired.

In the event of a collision at the intersection Z, the responsibility for such collision can very readily be determined from the tape since the time of arrival of each train in the approach and detector sections will be recorded together with the indications displayed by the signals governing the colliding trains.

It will be seen from the foregoing description of the operation of the apparatus embodying my invention that, since the record tape moves only when required to record the movements of a. passing train, the speed of the tape may be relatively fast so as to produce a clear and legible record without resulting in excessive-use of tape.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention,-it is understood that various changes and scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a section of railway track provided with a track relay, a record tape, means controlled by said track relay for recording the conditionof such relay on said tape, mechanism efiective when energized to move said tape at a predetermined speed, a device efiective when energized to record the date and time on said tape, a slow pickup relay normally occupying a released condition, means for energizing said slow pickup relay when said track relay is released, means for energizing said device when both said slow pickup relay and said track relay are released, and means for energizing said mechanism as long as said slow pickup relay is picked up provided said track relay is released.

2. In combination, a section of railway track provided with a track relay, a record tape, a stylus arranged to trace a record on said tape, a magnet for controlling said stylus, means including a back contact of said track relay for controlling said magnet, mechanism efiective when energized to move said tape at a predetermined speed, a device eifective when energized to record the date and time on said tape, a slow acting relay normally occupying an initial condition but capable of assuming an operated condition, means for causing said slow acting relay to assume it operated condition when said track relay is released, means for energizing said device when said slow acting relay is in its initial condition provided said track relay is released, and means for energizing said mechanism as long as said track relay is released provided said slow acting relay is in its operated condition.

3. In combination, a section of railway track, an indicating relay which becomes released when said section is occupied, a record tape, means controlled by said indicating relay for tracing a record on said tape to correspond with the condition of such relay, mechanism effective when energized to move said tape at a predetermined speed, a device eiiective when energized to record the date and time on said tape, a slow pickup relay normally occupying a released condition, means for energizing said slow pickup relay when said indicating relay is released, means for momentarily energizing said device when both said slow pickup relay and said indicating relay are released, and means for energizing said machanism as long as said low pickup relay is picked up provided said indicating relay is released.

4. In combination, a section of railway track, a signal for said section having an initial condition, an indicating relay which is picked up as long as said signal occupies its initial condition, a record tape, means controlled by said relay for tracing a record on said tape to correspond with the condition of said relay, mechanism eifective when energized to move said tape, a device effective when energized to record the date and time on said tape, a slow pickup relay normally occupying a released condition, means for energizing said slow pickup relay when said indicating relay is released, means for energizing said device when both said indicati relay and said slow pickup relay are released, and means for energizing said mechanism as long as said indicating relay is released provided said slow pickup relay is picked up.

5. In combination, a section of railway track, a normally energized indicating relay which becomes released when said section is occupied, a record tape, means for tracing on said tape a record to correspond to trafilc conditions in said section, mechanism effective when energized to move said tape at a predetermined speed, a device effective when energized to record the date and time on said tape, a slow pickup relay normally occupying a released condition, means including a back contact of said indicating relay for energizing said slow pickup relay, a circuit for said device including said back contact of said indicating relay and a back contact of said slow pickup relay, and a circuit for said mechanism including said back contact of the indicating relay and a front contact of said slow pickup relay.

6. In combination, a section of railway track including a track relay, a signal for said section having an initial condition, an indicating relay which is picked up as long as said signal remains in its initial condition, a record tape, means for recording correlatively on said tape the con-dition of said track relay and the condition of said indicating relay, mechanism effective when energized for moving said tape at a predetermined speed, a device efiective when energized to record the date and time on said tape, an auxiliary relay which becomes released whenever either the track relay or the indicating relay is released, a slow pickup relay normally occupying a released condition, means for energizing said slow pickup relay when said auxiliary relay is released, means for energizing said device when both said auxiliary relay and said slow pickup relay are released, and means for energizing said mechanism when said slow pickup relay is picked up provided said auxiliary relay is released.

'7. In combination, a plurality of sections of railway track each including a track relay, a record tape, means for recording correlatively on said tape the condition of each track relay, mechanism effective when energized to move said tape at a predetermined speed, a device efiective when energized to record the date and time on said tape, an auxiliary relay which becomes released whenever any of said track relays are released, a slow acting relay normally occupying an initial condition but operable to another condition when energized, means for energizing said slow acting relay when said auxiliary relay is released, means for energizing said device when said auxiliary relay is released provided said slow acting relay is in its initial condition, and means for energizing said mechanism when said auxiliary relay is released provided said slow acting relay is in its other condition.

EARL M. ALLEN.

Images