US275599A - Railway trains - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

w; 0'. GRANDELLJr. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING RAILWAY'TRAINS. No. 275,599. Patented Apr. 10,1883. 7

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. O. GRANDELL, Jr. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY STGPPING RAILWAY TRAINS. No.- 275,599. Patented Apr.'10, 1883.

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w. o. GRANDELL, Jr. V APPARATUS FOR'AUTOMATIGALLY STOPPING RAILWAY TRAINS. N0. 275,599.

' Patented Apr. 10,1883.

W1 TNESSES:

ATTORNEYS- (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. O; GRANDELL, .'Jr.-

I APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING RAILWAY TRAINS.

No. 275,599; Patented App-10, 1883..

LJ Li L! L] l L JWJTNESSE'S: [NVENTOR/ ATTORNEg- I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM O. CRANDELL, JR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T SAMUEL D. STROEIM, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING RAILWAY-TRAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,599, dated April 10, 1883.

Application filed February '25, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, WILLIAM (J. ORANDELL, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Method and Apparatus for Automatically Stopping Railroad-Trains; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which.-

Figure 1 is a plan illustrating a single track equipped with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a double track. Fig. 3 is an elevation of train and track. Fig.4 is a detail perspective. Fig.5 is abroken elevation, showing the contact-plates secured to poles. Fig.6 is a detail section of brush and brushholder. Fig. 7 is an inverted plan of brushholder. Fig 8 is a section of a locomotive,

' illustrating the mechanism designed to be applied thereto; and Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are elevations of such mechanism in different positions, drawn to an enlarged scale.

My invention has for its object to provide means for automatically stopping railwaytrains in cases of danger from open drawbridges or switches, and to prevent collisions.

Incarryin g my invention intoeffect Iplace upon each locomotiveengine a battery or equivalent generator, an electro-magnet, and armature. I also providea lever, which is in connection with thewhistle, thesteam-inlet to the cylinders, and the air-brake lever. One pole of the battery or generator makes ground through the wheels of the engine and track. The other pole leads to a brush on the engine, which is designed to make ground through a contact-plate beside the track. If such ground he made, the circuit is closed on the electromagnet mentioned, and its armature is attracted. If groundbe not made, the armature is unattracted when the engine passes the contact-plate mentioned. I There. isalso on the engine a' vertically-moving bar or spindle, carryingat its lower end a shoe or wheel designed to ride upon an incline or elevation located inside the track. When this shoe or wheel mounts the incline the bar rises, and as descends. This movement of the bar is effected at the same time that the engine-brush is in contact with the plate already mentioned.

The bar and the armature have latch heads I opposed to each other, so that they may be engaged or clutched together, and the armature is connected with the lever which controls the whistle, steam-port, and air-brakes. It ground he made through the engine-brush and its contact-plate, the armature is attracted while the vertical bar ascends and descends, and is out of the path of the latter, so thatno engagement of the latch-heads is ett'ected. 1t

ground he not made at the time specified, the

distance there be an open switch or drawbridge. The pole of the battery on the engine which connects with the brush thereon also has connectionwith another; brush on the rear car of the train, which latter brush gets contact with another plate beside the track, so as to restore ground for the engine brush-plate ot' a following train, as hereinafter specified. The opening and closing of circuit through the contact-plate on which the engine-brush rubs is accomplished in the following manner: Along the track at each station or at either end of every block of division are located magnets having connection with contact-plates upon which the brushes of the engine and rear ear rub in passing. Circuit for the engine-battery is made by way of the contact-plates, linemagnets, and armatures ot' the latter. In certain positions of the armatures of these linemagnets such arm atures make circuit to ground. In another position of said armatures such circuit is broken. In passing a station, it the 9 block ahead be clear, the engine-battery finds a return-circuit by 'way of the ground-circuit, which is broken the moment the engine passes, or just after it has passed. Such ground remains broken until the same train has proceeded two blocks; but just as it passes the third station it restores ground for the first station by closing the battery-circuit through the rear brush on one of the line-magnets ot' the first station. When there is a switch or draw'bridge on a block, ground for the engine-battery by way of the contact-plate is made through or by sneh switch or draw-bridge in such manner that ground is broken if the switch or draw-bridge be opened, so that no train can enter upon such block without being stopped until such switch or draw-bridge be closed or in its proper position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates a locomotive-engine carrying a galvanic battery or other electric generator, (1, and an electro-magnet, B, with armature I), having hooked end or latch-head b. Said armature is pivoted at its upper end to a lever, 0, having connection, as shown, with the whistle, the cylinder steam-port, and also with the brake appliances, whereby when the armature end of said lever is drawn down the whistle will be blown, steam cut oil from the cylinders, and the brakes applied. The battery makes ground from one side or pole through the engine-wheels and railway-track, and from the other pole or side through a brush, ]),on the engine. From the latter pole of battery a wire leads to a brush, D, on the rear car of the train.

E represents a vertical rod or bar, adapted to be moved up and down in hearings on the engine. Said rod carries at its lower end a shoe or wheel, 0, and is encircled by a spiral spring, 0, which tends constantly to hold it down, yet yields to permit its upward movement, as hereinafter described. The upper end of rod E has a latch-head, c, which is in line with the latch-head b of the armature b when the latter is unattracted by the magnet.

F represents a contact-plate or other couducting-surface on the side of the track, on which the brush 1) rubs in passing, and F is another plate, on which the rear-car brush D makes like contact. From plate F circuit is made to ground, as hereinafter described.

H represents an inclinelocated between the railway-tracks and upon which the wheel orshoe c rides in passing, causing the vertical rod E to ascend. The wheel or shoe rides on this incline at the same time that the brush D is in contact with the plateF. If the enginebattery has ground by way of said plate, said battery is thrown on the magnet B, attracting the armature b and holding it out of the path of the latch-head on rod E as latter ascends and descends. It follows that if the engine-battery get a ground through its brush passing a plate, F, the engine is not stopped. If, however, said battery does not secure such ground through said brush, the armature bis not attracted and remainsin the path of the latch head of the vertical rod, being engaged thereby when the latter descends, thus drawing down the lever U, causing the whistle to be blown, steam cut oif from the cylinders, and the air-brakes applied. On the line of wa'y,and adjacent to the plates F F, are the electro-magnets and appliances whereby ground is made and broken, as shall be now described.

I represents an electro magnet, having an armature, i, with retractingspring i and adjustable front stop, i. The free end of the armature has a projecting spring, i which makes connection with the stop 1, and it has also a back rib, i, one side of which is at right angles to the armature, the other side being beveled or inclined, as shown.

K represents another electro magnet, arranged transversely with respect to the magnet I, so that its armature K is normally perpendicular to or at right angles with the armature 'i. The armature K is pivoted centrally or formed with an extension, 7r, havingabeveled end, which meets and rests againstthe rib t" on armature i. Said armature K has a retracting spring, k and makes contact at its free end when attracted to or held against its magnet through spring extension 7a with a stop, k

From the plate F there is a circuit to and through magnet I, thence to armature i, thence to armature K, and thence, when the latter is in its attracted position, by way of stop it, to ground at or the rails. There is also a direct connection between stop t and ground. The line of railway to which my improvements are applied is divided into blocks, and at the end of every block a pair of the magnets I K is located. From the plate F adjacent to each pair of magnets a connection leads, as shown, to the second magnet K therefrom, and from said magnet to ground. The series of magnets shown are numbered in groups or pairs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. From the plate F, adjacent to the group 3, a connection leads to the magnet K of group 1. From plate F of group 4 there is a like connection to magnet K of group 2, and from plateF of group 5 a similar connection is made with magnet K of group 3. This arrangement is for an interlocking system but if the interlockingarrangement be not adopted the connection may be from the plate F of one group to the magnet of the next group preceding itfor example, from the plate of group 2 to the magnet of group 1.

The operation is as follows: \Vhen the engine of a train reaches the end of a block or commences its entrance thereto, its brush makes contact with plate F. The parts being arranged as shown in group 1, the engine-battery obtains a circuit to ground from said plate by way of magnet I, armatures i,K, and stop It. Having a ground, said battery energizes magnet I and attracts armature 1', thus releasing armature K from engagement with the rib or shoulder i on the back of said armature. The retracting-spring 70 now draws back armature K, breaking circuit at post It; but before the circuit is broken, armature i has made contact with stop i and obtained a circuit to ground that way. Consequently the enginebattery has a ground so long as its brush Dis in contact with plate Fand no" stoppage of the train results. As soon as en gine-brush leaves plate F the magnet I becomes'demagnetized erationsj ust described for breaking the groundconnection are there repeated. It then proceeds to group 3, finds the same arrangement of parts as was found at group 1, and breaks the ground-connections for plate F and leaves the same broken. As the rear brush of the train in passing group 3 makes contact with plate F, and as the latter has connection with and its armature K attracted until itmeets stop 7r, thus restoring the parts of group 1 to their normal position, or to that shown for said group in the drawings, making the groundconnection for following trains. This operation is continued as the engine proceeds, so that the engine restoresground for the second block back ofeach block it enters upon. When an armature K is'attracted, as just described, by the energization of its magnet, itlatches behind the rib t of the armature of the coinpanion magnet I and maintains ground-circuit through stop [6* after such magnet K is demagnetized and until the magnet 1 isagain energized. 1

When my improvements are applied to a doubletrack railroad, the arrangements described are duplicated for each track, so that on each such track the blocks will be locked behind a train to prevent one train t'rom'oven taking another and colliding with its rear.

The improvements are also applicable to single tracks, and without duplication of the magnets will, by the connections which I shall now describe, ope ate to lock blocks in advance of a moving train, so as to prevent twotrains moving in opposite directions on one track from meeting upon the same block and track. To

effect this, duplicates of the plates F F, which are indicated by the letters F F, are placed on the side of the track opposite to said platesFF. The plates F have connection, as shown, with the magnets I of the second group farther on, whilethe plates F have connections with the magnet K of their own groups. Now, a train moving in the direction of arrow 1 in passing a groupofinagnets and breakinggroundtherefor, as described, breaks the ground which another train two blocks otf, moving in the direction of arrow 2, must needs have in order to proceed. In like manner a train moving in the direction of arrow 2, upon entering block, breaks ground by energizing the'rTiagnet I two blocks ahead, so that a train approaching in a contrary directionand seeking ground at such station cannot find it, and will be stopped there. Said train (moving in direction of arrow 2) restores ground for the block it passes byreason of its rear brush completing circuit through plate I and on the magnet of the group pertaining thereto.

The connection between the battery or generator on the engine and the rear brush may be made by Way of the train bell-cord or signaling-rope M, or by way of the air-brake pipes.

To provide for moving the rear brushes to the' different sides of a tender orcar, or from one car to another, said brushes may be made with cylindrical heads 01, having springs (1, said heads-d entering and said springs bearing against the sides of sockets D provided at either side and end of car, andin contact with the battery-connections. Below these sockets are clamping-jaws, which grip the brushstems as shown, and which may be readily opened when said brushes are to be removed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a train entering a block or passing a station automatically arranges matters-so that another train following cannot get onto said block until all of the first one has left such block and passed into the second one ahead; also, that when a train passes into a third block, it restores the original condition of things at the first block, so that a train can enter, and proceed upon said first block. This arrangement is repeated on each successive block along the line, so'that one train following another can never overtake it, but must always remain at least one block behind the first. All possibility of collision between two trains running in the same direction on the same track is thus avoided.

To prevent a train from running onto an open switch or draw-bridge ahead of it, the circuit from plate F may be to ground by a line, N, stop 7; to a spring, a, and contact 01 and thence to ground 12 The switch N (or draw-bridge) is connected, as shown, to spring a, and, when open, pushes said spring away from contact nflbreaking ground. When said switch or draw-bridge is closed, circuitis also closed by way of spring a and contact if. Hence a train entering a block cannot obtain ground it' a switch or draw-bridge on the said block is open, and so cannot proceed on said block until such switch or draw-bridge is closed. Danger from open switches is thus avoided.

To prevent collisions on crossing lines, the ground m of the lock adjacent to the crossing may be made through a plug, L, which can be removed by a switchman before the train crosses, so that another train reaching such block or station will iind its ground cut or broken,'and must wait until the same is restored, such restoration not being effected until the trainon the crossing track has passed.

7 In making a return-circuit for the battery or generator on a moving train I do not confine myself to the use of the ground for such circuit, asthe rails may notalways make good ground-contact. A metallic circuit maybe ICO IIC

formed to the rails direct by a wire leading from the magnets to the rails, and thence to said battery by way of the wheels, axles, c, without changing my invention. By this means ground-connections for the magnets and for the rails are dispensed with, the circuit being metallic from the former to the latter without groundin \Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. A railway provided with two or more magnets and with contacting devices located beside thetrack at each station or block thereof, adapted and designed to be operated by a battery or generator on a passing train, whereby mechanism, substantiall as set forth, is automatically operated to control the movement of said train as it passes said stations or blocks, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with two or more magnets at each station or block along the line of way of a railroad, of plates located. at each such station or block, adapted and designed to contact with brushes on a passing train, to operate mechanism, substantially as set forth, thereon, and thereby to control the movements of said train at such stations, substantially as shown and described.

3. A railway provided with magnets at each station or block thereof, having interlocking armatures, and with plates or contact-surfaces located beside the track at such stations or 1 blocks, designed and adapted to contact with brushes on a passing train, whereby a current from a battery or generator on said train passes to said magnets to operate the latter and to make and break circuit for said current, substantially as shown and described.

4. A railway having contact-plates located beside the track at. each and every station along the line of way, and two magnets at each such station, provided with interlocking armatures, said magnets being in normally-open circuits, which are closed successively by a passing train by way of said contact-plates, substantially as set forth.

A railway having two or more magnets located at each and every station or block, and provided with interlocking arniatures, said magnets having electrical connections with one or more contact-surfaces located beside the track along the line of way, said magnets and surfaces at each station being in an open circuit, designed and adapted to be closed by a passing train, and said magnet or magnets energized by a battery located on said train, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, on a railway-line, of two series of magnets (one of each series) at each and every station or block thereof, one series being designed and adapted to form circuit successively with a battery on a passing train by way of a brush located on the engine or front of said train, and the other series being correspondingly energized by said battery by way of circuit from a brush on the rear end of the tain, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a railroad switch or draw-bridge, of an electric switch in circuit with plate F, having a ground-connection, said parts being arranged substantially as set forth, whereby when the railroad-switch is misplaced from the main track the electric switch is open and the groundconnection for said plate F is broken, substantially as shown and described.

8. A locomotive or train provided with a battery or equivalent generator, a front and rear metallic brush, and connections, substantially as described, between said battery or generator and the last-car brush, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the brush D, of sockets having clamping-jaws constructed as shown, and designed and adapted to receive and hold said brush, substantially as shown and described.

10. In an apparatus for automatically stopping railway-trains in cases ofdanger, the combination of the following elements: electromagnetic devices placed at the stations or blocks along the railway, a series of contacting-surfaces placed along the road and connected with said electromagnetic devices, a series of inclines or elevations adjacent to said surfaces, a train provided with an electric generator, metallic brushes at front and rear in electrical communication with said generator, an electro-magnet with an armature connected by intermediate mechanism with the whistle, cylinders and brake-operating devices of said train orlocomotive, and depending mechanism in line with said armature, whereby when said depending mechanism is raised by said inclines at the stations or blocks it engages with said armature, if the latter be not moved out of the path of said depending mechanism, thereby causing it to move said lever to shut olf steam to the cylinders, sound the whistle, and put on the brakes, and it said armature be not in the path of said depending mechanism it is not engaged by the latter, and the lever is unaffected by the movement of the depending mechanism.

ll. The combination, with a locomotive or train, of an electro-maguet and armature therefor, a battery or generator, a lever having connection with the steam-cylinders ot' the locomotive, steam-whistle, and the brakes, and which is also connected to said armature, and designed and adapted to be reciproeated or operated by depending mechanism on the engine, which is moved by elevations or inclines placed along the road way, so that said depending mechanism will rise to and engage with said armature and descend, depressing the latter and moving said lever to operate the whistle, shut off the steam, and put on the brakes, if said armature be not moved out of the path of such depending mechanism when the locomotive or train arrives at each block or station along the road, substantially as set forth.

12. In combination with a sliding bar carried by a moving train, and mechanism connected to said bar to stop the train, an electro-magnet having an armature normally aligned with said bar, and an incline or elevating device on the line of way adapted and.

designed to move said sliding bar, substantially as shown and described.

13. In combination with a locomotive, an electro-magnet, a generator therefor, an armature connected to a lever designed to operate the whistle, steam cut-off, and brakes, and a sliding bar designed and adapted to be lifted by inclines or elevations along the roadway and to descend and clear said armature or engage therewith accordingly as the latter is in or out of the path of said sliding bar, substantially as set forth.

14. In an apparatus for automatically stop ping railway-trains at stations or blocks along the line, two or more magnets at each such block or station connected with plates located beside the track and adapted to make contact with brushes in circuit with abattery or generator on a moving train carrying mechanism for stopping the same, substantially as shown and described.

15. Thecombination,-on arailway-line, of two series of magnets designed and adapted. to have circuit successively with a battery on a moving train, the two series of magnets being arranged in pairs with interlocking armatures, and having connections, substantially as described, whereby when the circuit of the moving battery is closed on one of the magnets ground is made for the remaining magnet, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination, with a railway-line having inclines or elevations at different points thereon, of an engine carrying a shoe or wheel attached to a bar, which is adapted to move vertically, said engine carrying also an electric battery or generator, anelectro-magnet in circuit therewith, and an armature attached to a lever which controls the steam-whistle, cylinder inlet-ports, and brake appliances, said battery having one of its poles connected with the wheels of the engine, the other pole being connected with brushes, and said bar and armature having latch-heads or equivalent devices whereby they are adapted to engage when the bar is moved vertically, if the armature be not synchronously moved out of the path of said bar, as set forth.

17. The combination, with a railway having at different points contapt-plates, which have circuit to ground or track by way of the magnetic devices along the track, of an engine carrying a battery, one of the poles thereof being connected with rear and front metallic brushes, which make contact successively at each station or block with their respective plates in passing the same, so as to secure complete circuit for such battery in passing, and to leave said circuit incomplete for a following engine or train, substantially as set forth.

18.- In combination with a single-track railway, electromagnetic devices located at either end of every block or section along the line of way, and designed and adapted to be operated by a moving train to open circuit, and thereby lock both ends of a block entered for the batteryof a following or approaching train, to prevent other trains from entering said block or section at either end thereof until the train on such block or section vacates the same, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination, with plates F and F, of magnets I K, having armatures i K, stops 1? and k, and connections therefor, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination of two electro-magnets, I-K,'having armatures t K, with stops 1' and for said armatures, respectively, and independent ground-circuits from said stops, with intermediate connections, substantially as set forth, whereby circuit may be made to ground through armatures i K and stop k, or, alternately, when magnet I is energized, through armature i and stop t", substantially as set forth.

21. The combination, with a single-track railway having electro-magnets and interlocking a rmatures on the line of way, of two series of contact-plates on either side of said track, adapted to complete circuit with a battery on a moving train, said plates having electrical connections, substantially as described, with said magnets, whereby a trainmovin g in either direction on said track will operate such magnets to make and break ground through such magnets and armatures to automatically control the movement of another train, substantially as set forth.

22. The combination, with plate F and its ground or return connection, of a plug or manual switch at the intersection of two lines, whereby such ground-connection may be broken to prevent collisions at crossings, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of February, 1882.

WILLIAM C. ORANDELL, JR.

Witnesses:

S. J. VAN STAVOREN, CHAS. F. VAN HORN.

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