US2413110A

US2413110A - Counting relay signaling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2413110A
Application number: US564045A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lloyd V Lewis
Original assignee: Union Switch and Signal Inc
Current assignee: Hitachi Rail STS USA Inc
Priority date: 1944-11-18
Filing date: 1944-11-18
Publication date: 1946-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1963-12-24

Description

Dec. 24, 1946. v. LEWIS COUNTING RELAY SIGNALING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet i i d d a. Q Q

d n n 4R tiu. w

Filed Nov. 18, 1944 INVENTO Lloyd I fLewlJ.

515 ATTORNEY. 1

' Dec. 24, 1946.

L. V. LEWIS COUNTING RELAY SIGNALING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m 3 m wwji mww INVENTOR I Ll Filed Nov. 18, 1944 BY a1 H15 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 24, 1946 2,413,110 COUNTING RELAYSIGNALING APPARATUS Lloyd V.'Lewis, Pittsburgh, -Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, .Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November18, 1944, Serial No. 564,045

'10 Claims. 3

My invention relates to signaling apparatus, and more particularly to a system of relays for counting diiierent numbers of impulses. In its specific embodiment as shown, my invention is employed in control apparatus for yard track indicators for railroads for selectively lighting oneof a plurality of numbered signal lamps for informing trainmen on which of a plurality of. yard tracks to place their train, and is an improvement upon the apparatus for that purpose disclosed in my Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,972,941, issued September 11, 1934.

A feature of my invention is the provision of an improved relay chain in which the relays are operated one at a time in order in response to a series of impulses, without the use of auxiliary or halfstep relays or the like as required heretofore, thereby decreasing the number of relays.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of a system of relays of this character which is self checking, characterized by the provision of a temporary holding circuit for the relays so arranged that any counting relay which fails to respond to its assigned impulse is rendered incapable of responding to any succeeding impulse.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of novel means by which a system of relays of the type described i adapted to generate the impulses by which the relays are controlled and in which the impulses generated by one chain of relays operates another similar chain .of relays located at a distant point.

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

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shows one form of signaling system embodying my invention as applied to the control of a yard indicator IS over a pair of line wires Y and Z, from a central office or tower. The yard indicator IS may be located adjacent the entrance to a series of yard tracks like the similar device S of my prior patent and includes a series of twenty numbered lamps which are selectively lighted by the operation of a control unit .ICU controlled by a line relay ILR. To light any one of the indicator lamps, the operatcrfirst closes a switch 2G to energize relay ILR, and then operates a dial switch to interrupt the line circuit a number of times corresponding to thenumber which he desires to display. The lamp which illuminates the selected number becomes lighted when the interruptions cease and remains lighted until the signal is acknowledged by the trainman trol unit iCU or ZCU as used in the system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the signaling system of Fig. 1, in which the impulses for selecting the yard indicator lamps are generated by the operation of a transmitter relay T controlled bythe ofiice control unit ZCU, under the control of a group of individual keys KI-Kiil by which the different lamps are selected. In this form the switches 2G and L and the miniature indicator QS-arenot used, the position of the operated key K-indicating which lamp is lighted.

Fig. .4 shows the circuits in detail for a control unit similar to that of Fig. 2 but including the circuits for controlling the transmitter relay T by thekeysKl-Klll, which "circuits are substituted for=those by which the indicator lamps are controlled in Fig. 2. It will be understood that the control units'may be used interchangeably as a transmitter controlled by a group of keys as in Fig. '4, was a receiver to control a group of lamps as in Fig. 2.

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

:Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the control unit comprises a group of relays controlled by the line relay 'LR, all of which are normally deenergized. These include two'slow release relaysLCaandLOenergized when the line is closed and open respectively and remain picked up duringithe periodic operation of relay LR, a chain of counting relays :R.| R|9 which pick up one at a time in order, thereby registering one to ten interruptions, respectively, of the line circuit, a chain repeat relay CRwhich is picked up by relay RM -.to condition the counting relays RIR9 to operate through-a second cycle to register nine additional interruptions of the line circuit, and a counting relay R20 which operates in place-of relay RID to register the twentieth interruption and,is;als o operated when the line circuit is first closed 'to render relay RI responsive to the first of aseries of interruptions.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it is to be understood that the :device L is an ordinary telephone dial switch except that the number 10 replaces the rectifier energized from the same source, as shown in my prior patent. to simplify the drawings only the terminals of the direct current source are shown, these being designated by the reference characters B and C, respectively. Furthermore, it is desirable to indicate to the operator when power is available for lighting the lamps of the indicator IS in the yard, and this is accomplished by obtaining the current for energizin the line circuit from terminals B and C of the source in the yard, as shown in Fig. l, and by providing a lamp E at the office which becomes lighted when relay 2LR is energized by current from the distant source, in response to the closing of switch 2G.

The mode of operation of the control unit of Fig. 2 will now be described assuming first that the operator closes switch 2G to energize the line relay LR, corresponding to relays ILR and 2LR of Fig. 1.

When relay LR picks up, it closes a circuit for relay R extending from terminal B at front contact a of relay ILR over back contacts a, b and h, respectively, of relays LC, L0 and RIO, through relay R20 to terminal C. Relay R20 picks up, completing a pick-up circuit at its contact 9 for relay LC, which relay then picks up to establish a stick circuit at its own front contact a and to open the pick-up circuit for relay R20, while completing a first stick circuit for that relay which extends from terminal B at contact 0 of relay LC over front contact b of relay LR, back contact 0 of relay RI and the front contact a and winding of relay R20 to terminal C. The closing of contact 6 of relay LC of the oflice control unit-causes lamp E to become lighted.

I shall now assume that the operator dials the number two, for example, operating the dial switch L so as to interrupt the line circuit twice.

In response to the first interruption, the energizing circuits for relays LC and R20 are opened by the release of relay LR, but current continues to flow through the windings of these relays to hold them picked up temporarily due to the connection of rectifiers 2I and 22 across their terminals, and the pick-up circuit for relay RI is closed, which circuit extends from terminal B at back contact a of relay LR over front contact b of relay LC, back contacts b of relays R0 and R9, back contact 0 of relay CR, and front contact b of relay R20 through relay Rl to terminal C. Relay RI picks up, and its contact c disconnects rectifier 22 from the winding of relay R20 and closes a second stick circuit for relay R20 which extends from terminal B at contact c of relay LC over back contact 12 of relay LR, resistor 23, front contact 0 of relay RI, and the front contact a and winding of relay R20 to terminal C. At the same time, relay LO picks up over back contact a of relay LR and front contact bof relay LC and by opening its back contact a prevents the ener- In the present application,

ill

gization of lamp I, the circuit for which otherwise would be completed at front contact d of relay RI.

When relay LR picks up, following the first line interruption, the energizing circuit for relay LC is closed again, relay L0 is held icked up by the flow of current through its winding and rectifier 24, andrelay RI is held picked up over a first stick circuit including its own front contact a and back contact 0 of relay R2, which is similar to the first stick circuit for relay R20 already traced. The second stick circuit for relay R20 is opened when relay LR picks up, and relay R20 then releases quickly because this circuit includes the resistor 23 by which the energization of relay R20 has been reduced to a value slightly above its release point, and the circuit furthermore includes no rectifier for retarding its release.

When relay LR releases in response to the second interruption, the energizing circuit for relay L0 is closed again, and relay R2 picks up over the circuit from terminal B at back contact a of relay LR, front contact b of relay LC, back contacts d of relays RIO and R20, front contact b of relay RI through relay R2 to terminal C. Contact 0 of relay R2 disconnects relay RI from rectifier 22 by which it is held energized while relay R2 is picking up, and completes the second stick circuit for relay RI which includes resistor 23.

When relay LR picks up following the second interruption, relay RI releases quickly, due to the opening of its second stick circuit, and if there are no further line interruptions, rela LO releases, completing a circuit from terminal BX at its contact a over back contact d of relay CR and front contact (1 of relay R2 through lamp 2 to terminal CX thereby lighting lamp 2 to dis play the corresponding number in the yard indicator IS, and also lighting the corresponding lamp in the miniature indicator 2S at the office.

It will be clear from the foregoing that when relay LR picks up after a number of line interruptions, the last operated counting relay, Which registers the number, is held energized over its first stick circuit as long as relay LR remains picked up, but the preceding relay releases quickly, due to the opening of its second stick circuit, leaving only one counting relay energized when relay LR releases, the release of the last operated relay is retarded by rectifier 22 only long enough to effect the energization of the next relay and it consequently releases if the next relay fails to pick up, which prevents the operation of the latter relay in response to any subsequent interruption of the line in case it fails to respond to the one to which it is assigned.

In normal operation, however, a counting relay picks up in response to each release of relay LR and establishes the second stick circuit for the preceding relay to hold it energized. Each relay thereby holds its own pick-up circuit closed,

since this circuit includes the front contact b of the preceding relay, and at the same time it holds the pick-up circuit for the next succeeding relay open, which circuit includes its own front contact b and the back contact b of the preceding relay.

Assuming now that the line circuit is opened by the operation of switch IG or 2G after lamp 2 has been lighted as above described, relays R3 and LO will become energized, the operation of relay LO extinguishing lamp 2 and. relay. LC F is deenergiz'ed and releases and inturn releases relays R2(and'-R3, and atthe office', extinguishes lamp" E; The:- indication displayed by the yard Assuming-now that switch 2G is closed again and the number tenis dialed, relays Rl to RIB will'beoperated successively in response to the teninterruptions in the manner described; and when :relayRllr picks up it closes a circuit at its front' contact g to pick up relay CR, which relaythen completes a stick circuit at its contact aextending to terminal B at contact of relay LC. Relay CR prepares a circuit at its contact d for lamp Ill, and at its contact 0 preparesa circuit rendering relay Rl responsive to the 'next lineinterruption so that the relay chain may -be Operated through a second cycle by dialing the second digit ofthe numbers 11 to 20. In response tothe th line interruption, relay R20 picks up in place of relay RIO, over front contacts 1) of relays R9 and CR and back contacth of relay R! B.

It' will beseen that relay R3 will not respond to -the impulse by Which relay R20 is energized because its pick-up circuit includes back contact 0 of relay CR which is now open. It will also be seen that each of the counting relays except relay R'IO may be operated twice, but lamp 26 is lighted only in response to the second operation ofrelay RZU- occurring when twenty interruptions have been received.

Referring now to Fig. 4, and more particularly tothe transmitter relay T by which the control unit'is caused to generate the line interruptions byWhiCh it iscontrolled as above described; in this form of the apparatus a group of ten threeposition keys Kl-Kltl are provided, each of which has a contact a which when moved to theleftprepares a circuit for selecting the correspondingly numbered lamp I to It of Fig. 2,

and-when moved to the right prepares a circuit for selecting the corresponding lamp in the secand group H-20. Each key K has a second contact' b, of which for simplicity but one is shown at the left of the group ofkeys, by which relay T'is 'maintained' in operation to transmit the number of impulses needed to establish a holding circuit for relay T over contact a of the operated key." A starting push button ST may also be-used, but for the present it Will be assumed that this is cut out of circuit by a connector 25.

I shallassume that the operator desires to light lamp '2," as in the preceding example, and so moves key K2 to the left closing a pick-up circuit forrelay T from terminal B at the key contact I) over back contacts d of relay L0 and LC through relay T to terminal C. Relay T picks up; closing the line circuit of Fig. 3 at its contact b; energizing the line relay LR of the associated control unit and also that ofthe station control unit, the latter having the lamps ofthe yard indicator IS connected to the counting: relay contacts (1 and e in p e Of the y asrin Fig. 2.

Relays R29 and LC pickup as described in connection with Fig. 2, and relay-LG opens the circuitror' relay T which therefore releases to lnterruptthe. line circuit, releasing relay LR,

whereupon'relays andRl pick up; and-since 61 relay 'R20 is-iheldrenergizedlovm its second sticlr circuitlby relayzRiliasalready described,ia:pick up circuit for -relay'T is closed from' t'erminal B' at th 'e'lkey contact b over from cont'a'ct's'* f of re- "1 lays'R'i' and? R29; Relay T'therefore picksup again reenergizing relayiLR; which causes re layfR20' to release;- and inturn, to release relay T to cause a second intermption of the line cir cult;

In response: to: the second" interruption; relay LR releases, energizing 'relay R2: and: sin'ce relay RI remains picked up; a -new pick=up circuit for relayT isiclosedyover contacts f 'of relays RI "and R2,. so .tha't relay-T picksiup to close thelinecir cult to again energizeirelay LR'.' Although relay? LR releases relayiRl to: open the pick-up circuitfor relay T, nofurther interruptions occur'because when relay T. becomes energized following: the second line interruptionit i establishes a stick 1 circuit at iitsi'contact at; which eXten'ds'over. back contact'd'of relay (JR-and front contactd of relay- R2. toterminal B at theleft-hand contact a of the operated? key K2.l- Relay-LO therefore re leases, the release of relayLO'inthe station: control unit'lightingelamp 2. i

It .will be: clear from. the foregoing'thatsince each of the successive. interruptions lot the line: circuit 1; results: in the energization of a counting.

relay "over the frontvicontact-b of the-next pre'ced ing. relay, thei closing o1 the'circui't over the- -front contacts 1 of these: twocounting: relays indicates that: the operations. occurring during the'line" open period have been completediand thus occurs atthe'. proper time for energizing relay T to terminate the interruption. On the .tenth interrup-- tion,. the operation of an additionali.-relay' CRzis required, and accordingly a front contact". if of relay: CR-is included in thecircuit iinwserieswith:

contacts 1" off relays5R9 and'R I 0 :bywhich that.

interruption: is. terminated;- It will alsobeeclear that the operations occurring during the'inter mediate 1 line 'closed :periods are completed. when thereis only one counting relay picked up, followingv the releaseof the preceding... relay, and the openingzof; contact 1 of the precedingrelay occurs' at the "proper time for initiating the next interruptionby releasing. relay T, provided the stick circuit: including the keyv contact a' and the front cont-act d or e of the energized counting relayis open.

- When the operated. key such as the key K2 is restored to its' normal position, relay T releases opening the line circuit and restoring the apparatus to itsnormal condition.

If.switch IG is provided, as shown in Fig. 3, the closing of thisvswitch after it has been opened long enough to release relays LC and LO would complete the first pick-up circuit for relay T, which includes the back contacts d of these relays, so that the apparatus would be set' into operation'upon the closing of'switch I G to light. lamp'2 again; provided contacts a and b of key K2 remain closed. To avoid this, if switch K3 is used, the connector-fins removed so as to include the contact of the push button ST in the first pick-up circuit for relay T. With this modification the'momentary operation of the starting button ST in addition'to the operation of a keyK is required to initiate the operation .of the apparatus, and theoperation of switch I G, which by releasing relay LC opens all of the circuits for relay T except the 'one'controlled by button ST,

- is suflicient by itselfto restore the apparatustto' but one form of apparatus embodying my inventlon and one modification thereof,- 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:

I. In a signaling system, a two position line relay responsive to a series of impulses, a chain of counting relays, pick-up circuits for a plurality of said relays each including a front contact of the next preceding counting relay, a back contact of the second preceding counting relay of the series and a contact closed by the line relay in one position, a first stick circuit for each such counting relay including its own front contact, a back contact of the next succeeding counting relay and a contact closed by the line relay in its other position, and a second stick circuit for each such counting relay including its own front, contact, a front contact of the next succeeding counting relay and a contact closed by the line relay in said one position.

2. In a signaling system, a relay responsive to a series of impulses, a chain of counting relays including one for each impulse, pick-up and stick circuits for a plurality of said relays each including a contact closed by'the line relay in one position, the pick-up circuit for each relay including a front contact of the next preceding relay whereby each relay prepares a circuit for the next relay to be operated, said stick circuit for each relay. including a front contact of the next relay to be operated whereby each relay when operated holds the circuit prepared by the preceding relay closed until the line relay is operated to its other position, and another stick circuit for each relay including a back contact of the next relay to be operated and a contact closed by the line relay in its other position only.

3. In a signaling system, a twoposition line relay, a chain of counting relays, pick-up circuits for a plurality of said relays each closed by the line relay in one position each such circuit including a front contact of the last preceding counting relay to be operated and 'a back contact.

of the second preceding counting relay of the series, a first stick circuit for each such counting relay closed by the line relay in its other position and including a back contact of the next counting relay to be operated, and a second stick circuit for each such relay closed by the next succeedingv relay when such relay is operated by the line relay in said one position and opened by the line relay when it next assumes its other position.

4. In a signaling system, a two position line relay responsive to a series of impulses, a chain of counting relays including one for each of a plurality of said impulses, a pick-up circuit for each such relay including a contact closed by the line relay in one position and also including a front contact of the next preceding counting relay, a first stick circuit for each counting relay closed upon the operation of the line relay to its other position following the energization of such counting relay, a second stick circuit for each counting relay closed upon the next operation of said line relay to said one position only if the next succeeding counting relay becomes energized, and means comprising electronic rectifiers connected to said pick-up and first stick circuits to render each relay slow to release upon the openingof its pick-up or first stick circuit although quick to release when its second stick circuit is opened.

two position line '5. In a signaling system, a two position line relay, a slow release relay, a series of counting relays, an initiating circuit for temporarily energizing one counting relay which also serves as the last relay of the series, said circuit including a front contact of the line relay and a back contact of the slow release relay, a pick-up circuit for the slow release relay including front contacts of the line relay and of said one relay, a holding circuit for said one relay including its own front contact and a front contact of the line relay, and an energizing circuit for each counting relay of the series including a back contact of the line relay, that for the first counting relay including 'a front contact of said one relay and that for each remaining relay of the series including a front contact of the next preceding relay whereby said relays are energized successively, one for each operation of the line relay, said one relay being the last to be energized.

6. In a signaling system, a two position line relay, a chain of counting relays, pick-up and stick circuits for a plurality of said relays each including a contact closed by the line relay in one position, the pick-up circuit for each relay including a front contact of the last preceding relay operated, said stick circuit for each such relay including a front contact of the next relay to be operated, another stick circuit for each such relay including a back contact of the next relay to be operated and a contact of the line relay closed in its other position, a transmitter relay effective When energized to operate the line relay to said other position, and a series of circuits for repeatedly energizing said transmitter relay each of which includes front contacts of the last operated counting relay and of the next preceding relay of the series.

7. In a signaling system, a two position line relay, a chain of counting relays, pick-up and stick circuits for a plurality of said relays each including a contact closed by the line relay in one position, the pick-up circuit for each relay including a front contact of the last preceding relay operated, said stick circuit for each such relay including a front contact of the next relay to be operated. another stick circuit for each such relay including a back contact of the next relay to be operated and a contact of the line relay closed in its other position, a transmitter relay effective when energized to operate the line relay to said other position, a series of circuits for repeatedly energizing said transmitter relay each of which includes front contacts of the last operated counting relay and of the next preceding counting relay, a series of manually operable keys including one for each counting relay, and a series of circuits including a front contact of said transmitter relay for holding it steadily energized, each of which also includes a contact of a different one of said keys and a front contact of the corresponding counting relay,

8. In a signaling system, a two position line relay, a chain of counting relays, a slow release relay, an initiating circuit for energizing one counting relay which includes a back contact of the slow release relay and a front contact of the line relay, a pick-up circuit for the slow release relay including a front contact of said one relay, means for maintaining said slow release relay picked up as long as the line relay is repeatedly energized, pick-up circuits for said counting relays each including a back contact of the line relay and a front contact of the last preceding counting relay to be operated, that for the first relay of the series including a front contact of said one relay, and those for the remaining relays of the series also including a back contact of the second preceding relay operated, a first stick circuit for each counting relay including a front contact of the line relay and a back contact of the next relay to be operated, and a second stick circuit for each counting relay including a back contact of the line relay and a front contact of the next counting relay to be operated.

9. In a signaling system, a two position line relay, a chain of counting relays, a slow release relay, an initiating circuit for energizing one counting relay which includes a back contact of the slow release relay and a front contact of the line relay, a pick-up circuit for the slow release relay including a front contact of said one relay, means for maintaining said slow release relay picked up as long as the line relay is repeatedly energized, pick-up circuits for said counting relays each including a back contact of the line relay and a front contact of the last preceding counting relay to be operated, that for the first relay of the series including a front contact of said one relay, and those for the remaining relays of the series also including a back contact of the second precedin relay operated, a first stick circuit for each counting relay including a front contact of the line relay and a back contact of the next relay to be operated, a second stick circuit for each counting relay including a back contact of the line relay and a front contact of the next counting relay to be operated, and means for repeatedly energizing said line relay to effect the successive operation of said counting relays, comprising a circuit having a plurality of different branches each including front contacts of the last operated countin relay and of the next preceding counting relay.

10. In a signaling system, a two position line relay, a chain of counting relays, a slOW release relay, an initiating circuit for energizing one counting relay which includes a back contact of the slow release relay and a front contact of the line relay, a pick-up circuit for the slow release relay including a front contact of said one relay, means for maintaining said. slow release relay picked up as long as the line relay is repeatedly energized, pick up circuits for said counting relays each including a back contact of the line relay and a front contact of the last preceding counting relay to be operated, that for the first relay of the series including a front contact of said one relay, and those for the remaining relays of the series also including a back contact of the second preceding relay operated, a first stick circuit for each counting relay including a front contact of the line relay and a back contact of the next relay to be operated, a second stick circuit for each counting relay including a back contact of the line relay and a front contact of the next counting relay to be operated, a transmitter relay effective when energized to energize said line relay, a series of manually operable keys one for each counting relay, an energizing circuit for said transmitter relay closed, in response to the operation of any one of said keys having a plurality of branches one including a back contact of said slow release relay and the others including front contacts of the last operated counting relay and of the next preceding relay, and a stick circuit for said transmitter relay including its own front contact, a contact of the operated key and a front contact of the corresponding counting relay.

LLOYD V. LEWIS.