US246053A - Interlocking switch and signal apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 23, 1881.

G WESTINGHOUSE, Jr f INTBRLOGKING SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS. No. 246,053.

nl aww# NTT STATES PATENT Serres.

GEORGE \VEST1NGHOUSE, JR., OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

INTERLOCKING SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION-formng part of Letters Patent No. 246,053, dated August 23, 1881.

Application lcd June 10, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Beitkno wn that I, GEORGE Wn-s'rINGHoUsE, Jr., of Pittsburg, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Interlocking Switch and Signal Apparatus; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and` exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part ot' this specilicat-iomin whichlike letters indicating like parts- Figure l is a view, in elevation, of a system of valves and interlocking devices illust `ative of my present invention. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 are detached side views of the locking slide-bars employed, and showingin section, the locking-arms in their relation thereto. Fig. 5 is a rear end view, to an enlarged scale, of one ofthe valves P3 to P8 of Figs. l and 2, together with some ot' the operative connections capable ot' being used in connection therewith. Fig. 6 is a sectional view inthe plane of the line x so of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional view in the plane of the lille a" no of Fig. (i, looking to the left. Fig. S is a sectional view, showing the valveports in the plane of the line ij y of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a detached view, in perspective, of the valve proper, showing its seating or bot tom face. Figs. 10 and 1l are detached views of the front and rear sector-plates employed in operating the locking apparatus; and Fig. 12 is an enlarged view, in perspective, of the joints of the rotating sieeves of Figs.`1 and 2, as presently to be explained.

In Letters Patent No. 240,629, granted to me April 26, 1881, I showed an apparatus embodying the features of invention herein claimed, to the end that the system of apparatus therein claimed might, in one form of its possible use, be more easily understood; but l therein reserved for the subject-matter ot' the present invention so much of what was therein shown and described as relates distinctively to interlocking; and while the apparatus herein described is in some respects peculiarly adapted for such a system as is described and claimed in said Patent No. 240,629, it is still true thatit may be usefully applied in the construction of other' iuid pressure systems of apparatus, and all such applications are hereby (No model.)

included as within the scope of the present invention, the general object of'which is to provide an improved apparatus for effecting the lockingand unlockingot` one or more valves by the motion ot' one or more other valves in the same system. Features ot' construction and operation not herein explained in minute detail may be ascertained readily from said Patent No. 240,629, like letters ot' reference being used in both.

P,`Figs. 5 to 7, represents a valve-box closed by a cap, P10, and wherein is a rotary valve, o, made of a disk form, with two projecting lugs, o', on its back face, by which, through counter-lugs w on rotary wrench w, to give it the proper motions. The valve has a port,

c2, preferabl y oblon g i n form, eXtendi n g through it, so that compressed air or other tluid under pressure being admitted from amain supplypipe, u2, by the port p to the space between the valve o and its operating-wrench w, may be admitted through the port o2 to a port, o3, which communicates with the pipe or pipes leading to the switch-operating devices, and also to a port, o4, which communicates with the pipe or pipes leading to the signal-operating devices.

As it is desirable that the switches be moved or shifted preparatory to the movement ot' a train in advance of the movement of the signals which indicate safety77 or line clear7 on the line of track so made, it is important that the air be turned onto the pipe communications in the order above set forththat is to say, so that tirst operating through o3 it shall put the proper Huid-pressure column or columns in motion for shifting the switches, and this is done by causing the forward end (inthe direction ot' its motion) of the port o2 to register lirst with the port o3, and next, by a further movement of the valve, so that the port 'o2 shall register with o4, the communications shall be such that the duid-pressure so passing through v4 shall put the proper fluidpressure column or columns in motion for properly shifting the signal or signals for the trackline previously made, and this is the reason for preferring the oblong form of port. The valve U also has a cavity or chamber, o5, on its under or seating face, of such form that on a.`

reverse movement of the valve (which first cuts IOO oft' the supply) such cavity acts as a connectin g-port between the ports e304 and an exhaustport, fu, leading to the open air 5 hence when the cavity v5 comes over the ports o3 and o4 the previously applied air-pressure will escape through the port c6, and the previously moved fluid-pressure columns will make a returnstroke or flow back under the action of any suitable reverse force applied at the switch and signal ends of such columns, and for this latter purpose a spring, weight, or back-acting fluid-pressure may be employed; hence the previously moved switches and signals will thereby be reversed in position; and it should also be observed that the reverse movement of the valve e, as described, will tlrst uncover the port v4, which is the sign al-actuating port, as a result of which the corresponding signals will come to danger" position in advance ot1 the reverse shifting of the switches,"'\vl1ich is an important feature in apparatus of this class'. It should also be noted that when the pressure is turned on the Hat face of the valve covers the exhaust-port c6. The valve and its actuating-wrench are kept apart, and the valve is held to its seat in the bottom ofthe valve-box` by a coiled wire spring, w3, and the necessary packing is added, as at zo?, for making a `tight joint. the cap P10, and on its projecting end is keyed ror otherwise secured a sleeve, g', on which is made or secured an operating valve-handle, g.

For conveniencein construction, what I herein speak of as a sleeve, g', may be made in sections, as indicated in Fig. 6; but in such case all the sections are to be keyed or otherwise secured to the stem wt, so that all shall move or rotate together; hence all the sections will constitute mechanically a single sleeve, and as such I designate them all by one letter, g'.

The construction thus described is incorporated into each valve used-say P' to Pi-with the omission of one port in P' and P2. On valve-boxes P' and P2, Fig. l, the handles are prolonged so as to form crank-arms g2, and on each of the sleeves of the other boxes, P3 to P8, are two sector-plates, lz. h', the arrangement of which on the stems relative to each other is as represented in Figs. 1 and 6, and the function of which will presently be explained; but it should also be stated that the valve-boxes P' and P2 contain valves only for actuating signals, and hence in these the ports v4 for switch-pipe connections may be omitted or closed. In further description I will,for convenience, simply speak ofthe devices at P' to PB, Figs. l and 2, as valves. Such valves may, for convenience in locking and unlocking, be arranged in a row side by side and in compact order, as in Fig. l, and the handles g may, in the successive valves of the series, be arranged at different distances from the ends ot the stems, so that as the valves are rotated the handle of one valve may pass that of the next; or the valves may be arranged farther apart The wrench-stem L04 projects through.

than is indicated, so that the handles arranged 'in the same vertical plane shall not strike or engage each other; but the front sector-plates, h, of all the valves should be inline with each other, or in a common vertical plane, and likewise the rear sector plates, h'. Extending along between the two series ot' sector-plates thus formed is a cylindrical bar, D', Fig. 6, on which are a series of sleeves, d tl' d2, Figs. l and 12, the number and length oi each of which may be varied in accordance with the work to be done on principles presently to be explained. Each sleeve turns readily on the bar D', and locking-arms n a' project out radially from the sleeves, one pair-that is, a front and rear one-beneath each pair of sector-plates lt h'. Under onesay the rearseries of these locking-arms are two notched bars, B' B2, ot' which the one, B', is connected with the crank-arm g2 of the valve P', and the other with the crankarm g2 of the valve P2.

In the normal position of the apparatus, which is shown in Fig. l, the levers of P' and P2 are turned to the right, so as to turn on the Huid-pressure from P' through z', to set a safetysignal on one track of the line of double-track roadforindicating "main lineclear also, iiuidpressure is turned on from P2 through pipe z to set a like safety-signal on the other track. All other levers are turned to the left, in which position duid-pressure is turned from the other lines, so that all switches are closed or set to make the main track clear, and all the other or the siding signals are at "dangen" Each front sector-plate has at one end (which I call the forward end) of its periphery a recess, a', Figs. 6, l0, formed by projectinglugs, and at the other or back end a stop-shoulder, Each rear sector-plate has at the forward end ofits periphery a lug, m2, and at a little distance therefrom-less, however, than the length of the valve motion necessary to open the ports i12 oliit has an incline, x3, which terminates in the curved edge x4, Figs. 6 and ll.

The front locking-arms a are weighted or pressed or forced down by a spring, so that the tendency will always be to turn the rear arm, n', upward. With thelevers g ot' valves P3 to P8 in the position shown, or turned to the left-,Fig l.,the rear armspt', will be turned up into the recesses formed in the rear sectors, h', between the lugs x2 and inclines ou, and while the arms a' are in this position the valve- `levers g will be locked, because they cannot be moved far enough to open ports v2 v3, eX- cept by causing the inclines .r3 to depress the arms n', and the arms a' are held in position as against a downward motion by means of the projections b to b3 on the bar B', Fig. 3, and the projections b4 to b, Fig. 4, or some ot' them, as shown.

For reasons which will presently appear I prefer, in the apparatus as here organized, to arrange the arms n u' of the valve P3 on one sleeve, d, the arms fn a' ot the valves P'l to P on another sleeve, d', and those of the other IOS IOS

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of either sleeve in the movement of its arms` a a. ln each end of the sleeve d, I insert a pin, o', so that it shall grojectinto the adjacent notch 0, at'or near the end of the notch, toward which it will move as d is rotated. It will now be seen that d or d2 may be each or both rotated without rotating d, but that any rotary motion imparted to the latter will cause a corresponding rota-tion ot' both the former.

As already stated or implied, shifting the handlegof valve P to the left lets oft' the pressure, so as to shift the rst main-line signal to danger.7 The same movement also shifts the bar B to the right, so that the recesses bl to 1113V shall come beneath the locking-arms a', which before were held or locked up bythe projections b to Z13. The locking-arms of valves P3 to P8 are all then unlocked, so far as the bar B' actedas a locking device; but by reference to Fig. el. it will be seen that all are still locked by the bar B2, except P3. By moving the lever of this valve over to the right l turn on the pressure through pipe als and putin motion the tluidpressure column which leads to one switch-cylinder, so as to shift that switch to make a siding-connection from main track also. This motion of the valve next turns on timid-pressure through pipe ai, which leads to the signal for the corresponding siding and shiftsit from danger to safety77 The train may then proceed onto or oft' ot' said siding, from or to the main-track, alter which thelever of valve P3 may be reversed, the signal brought back to danger and the main-track connection restored. Reversing P will relock Pand put the main-linesignal to LLsafety.77

In further illustration of the varying combinationsin which apparatus of this class may ne used, I will brietly explain sundry other operations.

First, the main signals should be set to danger by shifting valves P' P2 to theleft, as already described. Thus the bar B is shifted to the right, as and with the result already stated. iShifting bar B2 to the right results in bringing the recesses b14 to b18 under the locking-arms a ot' valves P4 to P, so that the levers of all the valves P3 to P8 are then unlocked. Valves P1 to PU being thus unlocked the operator turns valve P4. The first effect results from the action of its rear sectorplate, It', on its locking-arm a. The incline w3 de presses the locking-arm, and that causes the partial rotation of the sleeve-section d', as a result ot' which the front loeking-arnis, n, of valves P5 Pfi are rotated up into the recesses x of their front sector-plates, L, so as thereby to lock valves P5 and P6; also, the `rotation of d', thus effected, causes, through the action of the pins o', the rotation in the same direction of the end sleeves, d and d2, as a result of Vthese valves.

'which the front arms, n, of these sections will be rotated up into the recesses :r of the front sector-plates, It, of the corresponding valves, P3 P7 P8, so as also to lock them; also, the downward movement of the locking-arms it', thus caused, brings such arms into the recesses b to Z113 of bar B', and Z114 to 1118 of barBZ, so that these bars are locked, and through them the signal-valves P P2 are securely locked, so that while the train is on a cross-over, or while the track isin condition for such train movement,` the main-line signals are locked at dangein It will also be seen `that every valve is locked, exceptthe one that is in motion, P4. The movement. of this valve also lets on pressure through am, (which may be branched or divided, if necessary,) to the switch-actuating mechanism ot' one or more switches, so as properly to set the same. As soon as this is done duid-pressure turned on through signal-pipe z2 to the appropriate signal-actuating mechanism will cause the proper signal to be displayed; but the operator, instead ot` moving valve P4, may move valve P5. This, in the manner described, will lock all other unlocked valves, and also turn on pressure, first through am, and afterward through a?, with like results in kind, as already set forth; or P6 may be moved. This motion will lock P4 and P5 by the movement of the locking-arms a n', and also all the other valves, in the manner stated. l `lnidpressure will then be turned on, irst through a, and afterward through 220, in like manner and with like effect as before. Here, as in all the other cases, the reversal of the operation described brings all to the normal position.

There a cross-over is not desired, as in running from one main track onto an outer or middle siding, or from a single track onto a siding, or in either casein the opposite direction, it will be necessary to shift or use but one of the valves P or l. Assuniinga double-track road, P2 may be shifted to set the proper signal to protect the track to be broken,together with its bar B2, so as to bring the recesses b and b18 under the corresponding lockingarms a ot' the valves PT and P, thereby unlocking It will be seen from Fig. 3 that these valves are not locked by the bar B when Ain its normal position, (which it still retains,}

D18 Aot' bar B2; hence all the valves are locked except P', and as this is the valve for work- `ing the main-line signal of the other main track no harm will result from moving it if the switchman by mistake does so, except to stop all travel on that track. The apparatus being in this condition, the switohman by the IIO shifting of valve P"I also turns on pressure by pipe Z9 to shift the proper switch. The further movement ot' the valve P7 applies pressure through pipe Z22 to the siding-signal, so as to clear the signal for the track thus made, and after the train passes the main track is restored by reversal, as before. p

Another operation possible in the system, as illustrated, is to set and lock signals and switches so as to run a train from one siding onto a main track, and thence onto another siding. For this purpose the apparatus is worked as in the case last supposed, except that the valve P8 is to be rotated instead ot' P7. This valve P7 will belocked by therotation of d2, and the other valves will be locked as before. Fluid-pressure will also4 be applied through pipes 215 and a branch, so as to operate two switch-cylinders and thecorresponding switches; also huid-pressure through pipe e will be applied so as to shift the proper signal to safety,7 which is the signal for the line of track so made. Reversal results, as before, in restoration of main track. Vhile I have described with some particularity the locking and unlocking combinations and their several results, it will be understood that in the use and operation of the combinations hereinafter claimed I do not limit myself' to the specific organization herein described.

The skilled constructer may vary the arrangements of notches and recesses on the bars B B2, and the lengths and orderly operation of the sleeves d to d2, or other like sleeves on the shaft D', according to the work to be done. The making up and working out of track colnbinations, and varying the operative machinery with reference thereto, are already a branch ot' the art the principles of which are understood by those skilled therein, and unnecessary parts being omitted and the proper modifications made, such as will be within the knowledge of the skilled mechanic, the apparatus may be applied to the switches and signals of a single-track road as well as to various arrangements of switches and signals on a double-track road. rPhe same features ofimprovenient, some or all of them, may by the skilled constructer he adapted to the interlocking of railway-gates, draw-bridges, and signals, as well as ot' signals and switches, and such use is included herein, it being understood, however, thatin the combinations hereinafter claimed a gate-moving mechanism may take the place of a switch-moving mechanism, or be added to the switch-moving mechanism, and that a signal may be provided therefor, either specially or in connection with that switch-moving track combination of which the gate-actuating mechanism may form a part.

The inclines x3 of the sector-plates h', as a means for actuating a movable locking device,

operate simply as eccentrics, and any known suitable form ot' eccentric may take the place of the incline in each case, as the mechanical equivalent thereof, or as substantially the same thing.

l claim herein as my inventionl. As a means of locking one valve by the motion of another, the combination of recessed sector-plates h h on each valve-stem, a pair of oscillating arms, an', for each pair of sectorplates, and a moving locking-bar, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a series of recessed sector-plates, 7i -IL', and oscillatory arms a a, one or more recessed bars, B B2, by the adjustments of which to cause the locking or unlocking of other valves, substantially as set forth.

3. As a means of locking valves P P2, or either of them, (when shifted for putting mainline signal or signals at danger a recessed bar, B or B2, shifted in position by the valve motion, in combination with an oscillatory arnnn, whereby, on the shifting of the bar and the depression of such arm by the motion of an unlocked valve, an arm will enter a recess and lock the bar, substantially as set forth.

et. A series of sleeves, d d d2, two or more in number, arranged on a shaft, D', and arms a a thereon, in combination with suitable eccentrics for rotating the same, and slot and pin 0 0, for causing one to rotate the other, while leaving the latter free lo be rotated without imparting motion to the former, substautially as set forth.

5. The combination of a valve, P" or P2, having a single port by which to make an operative connection with a signaling apparatus, one or more valves, P3, P4, Ste., each having at least two separate ports, through one of which to make connection with a signaling apparatus, and through the other of which to make connection with a mechanism for actuating a switch or other like movable appliance, and aninterlocking mechanism actuated by the valve motions, substantially as set forth, whereby the opening movement of the former valve or valves shall unlock the latter and the opening movement ot the latter valve or valves shall lock the former.

A G. The signal-operating valves P and P2, in combination with two or more switch and signal operating valves, such as represented from P3 to P8, and with interlocking mechanism operative by the valve motions, substantially as set forth.

1n testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, JR.

Witnesses:

It. H. WHI'r'rLEsEY, GEO. H. CHRISTY.

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