US2141060A - Remote indication apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 1938. A, w 2,141,060

REMOTE INDICATION APPARATUS Filed. Nov. 20, 1937 I HIS ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2141.060 REMOTE inmoArron APPARATUS Arthur E. Dodd, Edgewood, :Pa.,' assignor' to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 20, 1937, Serial No. 175,672

3 Claims, (Cl. era-124) v the conductors 9 and II] by a resistor I5 and are My invention relates to remote indication apparatus of the type wherein a pair of line wires are supplied wit'h unidirectional current in one :dire'cti'oni'or the'other or with alternating current from a source of alternating current.

One feature of my invention is the provision of apparatus'of this character wherein normally inactive asymmetric units, such as electronic tubes, are utilized for controlling the character of the current supplied to the pair of wires, and wherein the tubes are rendered active when and only when an indication is to be transmitted.

Another feature-of my invention is the use of asymmetric units of the glow lamp type receiving energy from said pair of wires for providing visual indications without the use of auxiliary devices, such as relays.

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

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference characters I and 2 designate the rails of a stretch of railway track which are divided by insulated joints 3 into track sections IT and 2T. Each track section is provided with the usual track circuit which includes a battery 4 and track relays ITR and 2TB, respectively. The relays ITR and 2TB may, however, be operated or controlled in any desired manner, the track circuit control being illustrated merely as an example.

The reference character P designates a transformer having a primary winding 5 and three secondary windings 6, I, and 8. The primary winding 5 is constantly supplied with alternating current from a source which is not shown in the drawing. Secondary winding 1 is connected to line wires 9 and ID by two normally inactive asymmetric units, here shown as electronic tubes ITZ and 2TZ. Tubes ITZ and 2TZ are poled in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows, and are connected in multiple with each other. Filament II of tube ITZ receives energy from secondary winding 6 through an easily traced circuit including back contact I2 of track relay ITR, and filament I3 of tube 2TZ receives energy from secondary winding 8 through another easily traced circuit including back contact I4 of track relay 2TR.

The two line wires 9 and I0 connect the apparatus thus far referred to with two asymmetric units ITK and ZTK, here shown as glow lamps. Lamps ITK and 2TK are each connected across arrows.

poled in opposite directions as indicated by the Resistor I5 .is, of course, provided for regulating the value of the current supplied to lamps ITK and ZTK. v

I shall now assume that track section IT becomes occupied, thereby d'een'ergizing relay ITR. Electronic tube ITZ will then be rendered active because its filament II will be receiving energy over "the previously mentioned circuit for this filament. When tube "ITZ becomes active, a cir- "cuit will be established forglow lamp ITK, which circuit may be traced over a path which passes from lower terminal of secondary winding 1 through wire I0, resistor I5, lamp ITK, wire 9 and tube ITZ, to the upper terminal of secondary winding I.

If track section 2T instead of IT becomes occupied, track relay 2TB will become deenergized, thereby rendering tube 2TZ active to establish a circuit for glow lamp ITK. This circuit may be traced over a path which passes from the upper terminal of secondary winding 1 through tube ZTZ, wire 9, lamp ZTK, resistor I5, and wire II) to the lower terminal of secondary winding 1.

If now both track sections IT and 2T become occupied, both track relays will become deenergized. Under this condition both tubes ITZ and 2TZ will be rendered active so that alternating current will be supplied to wires 9 and ID from secondary winding I to cause both glow lamps ITK and ZTK to become lighted.

From the foregoing description of the apparatus embodying my invention, it will be seen that when track section IT is occupied, lamp ITK will provide a visual indication of this condition, and that when 2T is occupied, glow lamp ZTK will provide a visual indication of this condition. It, of course, follows that when both sections are occupied, the lighting of both lamps will indicate this condition.

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

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a pair of conductors, a pair of lamps each having one of its terminals connected to one of said conductors and having its other terminal connected to the other of said conductors whereby said lamps are illuminated by current supplied over said conductors, each of said lamps being of a type which is illuminated only when supplied with current of one relative polarity, said lamps being connected to said. conductors in such a manner that one of said lamps is illuminated when the conductors are supplied with current of one relative polarity and so that the other of the lamps is illuminated when the conductors are supplied with current of the other relative polarity, means for supplying current of one relative polarity to said conductors, and means for supplying current of the other relative polarity to said conductors.

2. In combination, a pair of conductors, a pair of lamps each having one of its terminals connected to one of said conductors and having its other terminal connected to the other of said conductors whereby said lamps are illuminated by current supplied over said conductors, each of said lamps being of a type which is illuminated only when supplied with current of one relative polarity, said lamps being connected to said conductors in such a manner that one of said lamps is illuminated when the conductors are supplied with current of one relative polarity and so that the other of the lamps is illuminated when the conductors are supplied with current of the other relative polarity, means for supplying impulses of current of one relative polarity to said conductors, means for supplying impulses of current of the other relative polarity to said conductors,

' said means being arranged so that the impulses of current supplied by each occur at times intermediate the impulses supplied by the other whereby when both means are effective to supply current to said conductors the conductors are alternately supplied with current of different relative polarities.

3. In combination, a pair of conductors, a pair of lamps each having one of its terminals connected to one of said conductors and having its other terminal connected to the other of said conductors whereby said lamps are illuminated by current supplied over said conductors, each of said lamps being of a type which is illuminated onlywhen supplied with current of one relative polarity, said'lamps being connected to said conductors in such a manner that one of said lamps is illuminated when the conductors are supplied with current of one relative polarity and so that the other of the lamps is illuminated when the conductors are supplied with current of the other relative polarity, a source of alternating current, means for supplying current from said source of alternating current to said conductors through a circuit including an. asymmetric unit adapted to permit flow of current of one relative polarity only, whereby said conductors are supplied with impulses of current of one relative polarity, and means for supplyingcurrent from said source of alternating current to said conductors through another asymmetric unit adapted to permit flow of current of the other relative polarity only, whereby said conductors are supplied with impulses of current of the other relative polarity.

ARTHUR E. DODD.

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