US2588822A

US2588822A - Crossover protection apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2588822A
Application number: US678018A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert M Gilson
Original assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co
Current assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co
Priority date: 1946-06-20
Filing date: 1946-06-20
Publication date: 1952-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 1969-03-11

Description

Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES or Fl CE CROSSOVERPROTECTION APPARATUS Robert M. Gilson; .Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Air Brake-Company; a corpora.-.

tion of Pennsylvania My invention relates to crossover-protection'apparatus, and particularly to apparatus .for providing crossover protection for trains :moving along railway tracks which are connected with each other by a crossover track through hand operated track switches.

A requisite for crossover protection apparatus is that it must be so arranged that a car or locomotive while occupying a crossover, such for example as one connecting two main tracks, while the switches are in the normal position fortrain movements along the main tracks will cause a signal for each main track to indicatestop if the car or locomotive is within fouling distance of that main track. schemes embodying track circuits, as nearly as possible every portion of 'the track rails should be connected in series in the track circuits in order to provide the maximum broken'rail protection.

One feature of my invention is the provision of crossover track circuits extending nearly to the heels of the switches, thereby reducing to a minimum the space a car or locomotive can occupy on a crossover track without shunting one or the other of these track circuits.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of means for including in series, in the main track circuits, the rails in the main tracks adjacent the frogs.

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.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, a stretch of railway is shown comprisin two parallel tracks, designated :by the reference characters IT and. 21,

connected with each other by a crossover. track designated by the reference character 3T, through hand operated switches IW and 2W. Track ST is divided, by means of insulated joints 4, into two sections ab and b-c.

The insulated joints 4 in crossover track 3T at the points a and c are placed close-to the heels of the switches. The distance between these joints and the heels of the switches may for example be approximately six feet, with a distance of sixteen feet between the heel and point of each switch. The total distance between the point a or c and the associated switch point would therefore be twenty-two feet.

In crossover protection Atrack circuit is provided for each'of the sections a-b and 12-0, each including a suitable source of current such for example as-a battery 5 connected through a usualresistor-Ii acrossthe rails adjacent one end of the section, panda .track rails-breach main track IT and 2T between-the frog-and heel for the switch at the corresponding end-"o-f'the crossover track 3T. Adjacent each of these two pairs of insulated joints is a jumper 1' one end of which is connected with the fro rail of the associated-*main track on the side of the pair of insulated join-ts which is toward 'the switch and the other end-of which is connected with the other rail "ofthe associated main track on the opposite" side of the pair of insulated joints.

Another insulated joint 4 is located in a rail ofth'e crossover track 3T adjacentthe frog and between the rails of each main track. One end of'a'jumper 8 is connected with the rail of the crossover track 3T adjacent and'on the side of each of these two insulated joints which is away from the adjacent frog. The other end Of each jumper 8 is connected with the frog rail adjacent the pair of insulated joints 4 of theasso- -ciated main track and on the side toward the frog. By use of the two insulated joints, one adjacent-each frog; and the jumpers 8, the'portion of "the frog rail ofeach of the'main tracks IT'andZT between the frog and the pair of insulated jointsin each main track is connected in'series with other portions of the main track rails for use in a track circuit for the corresponding main track.

The -rails ofmaintrack IT are arranged for a trackcircuit to pass from the stock rail Ia of track I'I adjacent switch I W, through rail 3a of track.i3T', jumper 8:, rail lb of track IT, and'returningthroug'hrail Ia of track IT, jumper l. and-rail I'b'of track IT. The arrangement of rails 2a and"2b of track 2T for a track circuit is-similar to that just traced for track IT.

The'irailsiof'each of the main tracks IT and 2'1: maybe dividedrby insulated joints, shown for examplerasjointsIt-for track 2T, to .form a-main track section ,including the "switch at the correspondingaend of track .3T. A track circuit for each of "these maintrack sections, similarly to the track circuits for sections a-b and b-c, may

include? a suitable source of current, such for example-asiat battery I4, connectedthrough a usual resistor'li' 'a'crossttherails adjacent one end of thesection, and a track relay, such as relay I 5R, connected-across the rails-adjacent the opposite end of'the section.

Theaitracka circuitt-ifor"mainiftrack. 2T would 3 then pass from battery I4, through a resistor 6, rail 2b of track '2T, rail 31) of track 3T, jumper 8, rail 2a of track 2T, winding of relay I5R, rail 2!) of track 2T, jumper I, and rail 2a of track 2T, back to battery I4. The circuit for controlling traflic governing means, such for example as a signal, for track 2T, may include contact I6 of relay I5R, as well as the contacts II and I2 of relays IR and 2B.

The crossover track circuit which includes relay IR passes from battery 5, shown adjacent switch IW, through resistor 6, rail 3b of track 3T, winding of relay IR, rail 3a of track 3T, frog for switch IW, rail lb of track IT, jumper 8, and rail 3a of track 3T, back to battery 5. The crossover track circuit which includes relay 2R is similar to the track circuit just traced for relay IR.

From the foregoing description, it follows that, whenever a car or locomotive occupies any part of crossover track 3T between the points a and u 0, one or both of the track relays IR and 2B will be deenergized, causing signals for both main tracks IT and 2T to indicate stop; that all parts of the rails. between the points a and 0, except one toe of each frog, are included in series in the crossover track circuits; and that, by the use of jumpers 8 and the insulated joints 4 adjacent the frogs, the portions of the rails adjacent the frogs, in the main tracks, are connected in series with other rails for use in main track circuits.

Although I have herein shown and described I 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 crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover track interconnecting two main tracks is divided into two sections insulated from each other and extending in opposite directions from a mid point of the crossover, and in which each of said main tracks is divided to form a main track section including the switch at the corresponding end of said crossover track, the combination comprising, an insulated joint in each rail of said crossover track between said main tracks one adjacent the heel of the switch at one end of said crossover track and the other adjacent the heel of the switch at the other end of said crossover track, two pairs of insulated joints, one pair for each of said main tracks and one joint of each of said pairs located in the frog side of its main track section at a point between the frog and the heel of the switch at its end of said crossover track and the other joint of each of said pairs located nearby in the opposite side of its main track section, a jumper adjacent each of said pairs of insulated joints one end of which is connected with the frog side of its main track section between its pair of insulated joints and its switch and the other end of which is connected with the other rail of its main track section on the opposite side of its pair of insulated joints for arranging the rails of its main track in conjunction with its pair of insulated joints for a main track circuit for controlling trafic movements adjacent the associated switch, a track circuit for each of said sections each including the rails of its section, and traffic control means controlled by said track circuits.

2. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover track interconnecting two main tracks is divided intotwo sections insulated from each other and extending in opposite directions from a mid point of the crossover, and in which one of said main tracks is divided to form a main track section including the switch at the corresponding end of said crossover track, the combination comprising, a pair of insulated joints one in each rail of said main track section at a point between the frog and the heel of the switch at its end of said crossover track, a jumper adjacent said pair of insulated joints one end of which is connected with the frog rail of said one main track on the side of said pair of insulated joints toward said switch and the other end of which is connected with the other rail of said one main track on the opposite side of said pair of insulated joints for arranging the rails of said one main track in conjunction with said pair of insulated joints for a main track circuit for controlling traflic movements adjacent said switch, a third insulated joint in said crossover track outside of said main track and adjacent the heel of said switch, a track circuit including the rails of the section of said crossover track adjacent said one main track, a main track circuit including the rails of said main track section, and trafiic governing means controlled by said track circuits.

3. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover track interconnecting two main tracks is divided into two sections insulated from each other and extending in opposite directions from a mid point of the crossover, and in which one of said main tracks is divided to form a main track section including the switch at the corresponding end of said crossover track, the combination comprising, a pair of insulated joints one in each rail of said main track section at a point between the frog and the heel of the switch at its end of said crossover track, a jumper adjacent said pair of insulated joints one end of which is connected with the frog rail of said one main track on the side of said pair of insulated joints toward said switch and the other end of which is connected with the other rail of said one main track on the opposite side of said pair of insulated joints, a third insulated joint in said crossover track outside of said main track and adjacent the heel of said switch, a fourth insulated joint in the rail of said crossover track between the rails of said one main track and adjacent said frog, a second jumper one end of which is connected with said rail of said crossover track adjacent and on the side of said fourth insulated joint in the opposite direction from said frog and the other end of which is connected with said frog rail of said one main track adjacent and on the side of said pair of insulated joints toward said frog, a track circuit including the rails of the section of said crossover track adjacent said one main track, a main track -cir cuit including the rails of said main track section, and traffic governing means controlled by said track circuits.

4. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover track interconnecting two main tracks is divided into two sections insulated from each other and extending in opposite directions from a *mid point of the crossover, the combination comprising, an insulated joint in the rail of said crossover track between the rails of one of said main tracks and adjacent the frog of the associated track switch, a second insulated joint in the frog side of said one main track between the heel and the frog of said switch, a, jumper, one end of which is connected with said rail of said crossover track adjacent and on the side of said first insulated joint in the opposite direction from said frog and the other end of which is connected with said frog side of said main track adjacent and on the side of said second insulated joint toward said frog, a third insulated joint in the opposite rail of said crossover track adjacent the heel of said switch, means including said first and second insulated joints and said jumper for arranging the portion of said frog side of said one main track between the heel and frog of said switch in series with other portions of said one main track for use in circuit means for controlling traific movements over said one main track, a track circuit including said jumper and the portion of said main track between said second insulated joint and said frog of said switch and also the rails of said crossover track between said third insulated joint and said mid point of said crossover, a main track circuit in- M cluding said jumper and said portion of said one main track in series with other portions of said one main track adjacent said switch, and traflic governing means controlled by said track circuits.

5. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover track interconnecting two main tracks is divided into two sections insulated from each other and extending in opposite directions from a mid point of the crossover, the combination comprising, an insulated joint in one rail of said crossover track adjacent the heel of the switch in one of said main tracks, a second insulated joint in the opposite side of said crossover track between the rails of said one main track, a jumper one end of which is connected with said opposite side of said crossover track adjacent and on the opposite side of said second insulated joint from the frog of said switch and the other end of which is connected with the frog side of said one main track between the frog and the heel of said switch, a track circuit including the rails of said crossover track from said first insulated joint to said mid point in series with a portion of said frog side of said one main track between said frog and said jumper and also including said jumper, a main track circuit including said jumper and the rails of said one main track adjacent said switch, and trafiic governing means controlled by said track circuits.

6. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover track interconnecting two main tracks is divided by a pair of insulated joints one in each rail at a point between said main tracks, the combination comprising, a third insulated joint in one rail of said crossover track adjacent the heel of the switch for one of said main tracks, a track circuit including the rails of said crossover track from said third insulated joint to said pair of insulated joints, traffic governing means controlled by said track circuit, and means including a fourth insulated joint in the rail of said crossover track between the rails of said one main track together with a jumper connecting this rail of said crossover track adjacent said fourth insulated joint and on the opposite side of said fourth insulated joint from the frog of said switch with the frog rail of said one main track and also including a second pair of insulated joints one in each rail of said one connecting the stock rail side of said one main track on the side of said second pair of insulated joints away from said switch with the opposite side of said one main track on the opposite side of said second pair of insulated joints for placing all portions of the rails of said one main track in series with each other adjacent said switch for use in a track circuit for said one main track.

7. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover track interconnecting two main tracks is divided by a pair of insulated joints one in each rail at a point between said main tracks, the combination comprising, a third insulated joint in one rail of said crossover track adjacent main track between said jumper and the heel of said switch together with a, second jumper for the heel of the switch for one of said main tracks, a track circuit including the rails of said crossover track from said third insulated joint to said pair of insulated joints, traific governing means controlled by said track circuit, and means including a second pair of insulated joints one in each rail of said one main track between the heel and frog of said switch together with a jumper adjacent said second pair of insulated joints one end of which is connected with the stock rail side of said one main track on the side of said secand pair of insulated joints away from said switch and the other end of which is connected with the frog rail side of said one main track on the side of said second pair of insulated joints away from said frog for insulating the rails of said crossover track from each other and arranging the rails of said one main track for a main track circuit adjacent said switch.

8. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover track interconnecting two main tracks is divided by a pair of insulated joints, one in each rail at a point between said main tracks, the combination comprising, a third insulated joint in one rail of said crossover track adjacent the heel of the switch for one of said main tracks,

a track circuit including the rails of said crossover track from said third insulated joint to said pair of insulated joints, trafiic governing means controlled by said track circuit, means including a second pair of insulated joints one in each rail of said one main track between the heel and frog for said switch together with a jumper adjacent said second pair of insulated joints interconnecting the rails of said one main track on opposite sides of said second pair of insulated joints for insulating the rails of said crossover track from each other and arranging the rails of said one main track for a main track circuit adjacent said switch, and means including a sixth insulated joint in the rail of said crossover track between the rails of said one main track adjacent said frog together with a jumper connecting the rail of said crossover track adjacent said sixth insulated joint with the frog rail of said one main track for arranging all parts of the rails of said one main track in series with each other for said main track circuit.

ROBERT M. GILSON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Langdon Jan. 1, 1946 Number