US2816217A

US2816217A - Railway traffic controlling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2816217A
Application number: US399653A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur E Dodd; Jr James E Mcmahon
Original assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co
Current assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co
Priority date: 1953-12-22
Filing date: 1953-12-22
Publication date: 1957-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1974-12-10

Description

Dec. 10, 1957 A. E. Donn ETAL RAILWAY TRAFFIC coNTRoLLmG APPARATUS Filed Dec. 22. 1953 lill! yUnited RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTRULLNG APPARATUS Arthur E. Dodd, Edgewood, and .lames E. McMahon, Jr.,-v Penn Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wittner-ding, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 22, 1953, Serial No. y399,653

6 Claims. (Cl. 246-3) Our invention relates to railway traic `controlling apparatus and in particular to apparatus for remotely controlling a railway wayside signal and for supplying indications to the control location of the condition of the remotely controlled signal and f traflic conditions in approach to that signal.

In:systems for controlling movements of trains or vehicles over a stretch of railway track, it is often dcsir,

able to manually control a railway signal from a remote control location. When this is the case, it is also desirable for the operator at the remote control location to be aware of the condition of the remotely controlled signal and also to be informed of the traflic conditions in approach to that signal so that he ican take proper action in accordance with his information. Such arrangements are often used on stretches of track which are in approach to railway interlocking plants where many switching movements may be made and tratiic may be quite heavy.

In such a situation a remotely controlled signal calledl traffic controlling apparatus requiring only two line wires l for remotely controlling a railway signal and for provid-j ing indications at the control location of the signal condition and of traiiic conditions in approach to the signal.

A further object of our invention is to provide in railway tratlic controlling apparatus for remotely controlling a railway signal and for providing means for indicating at the remote control point the signal condition and the tratic condition in approach to the signal a line circuit which may be energized from either end and which may further be polarized at one end in order to etiect both the control and indication functions.

According to our invention, we provide a control device such as a railway signal located adjacent a` stretch of railway track. We further provide a first control relay and a signal control relay at the location of the device. At a remote control location we provide a lirst and a second indication relay and a control lever. A pair of control conductors extend between the two locations. Means controlled in part by the lever are provided for at times supplying energy from the device location to the control location through the winding of the lirst control relay to the first and second indication relays over the control conductors so that either the irst control relay and the first indication relay or the lirst control relay and the second indication relay will be picked up. We further provide means controlled in part -by the lever for at other times supplying energy to the rates Patent O 2,8 i d ,2 i Patented Dec. 1Q, i957 first indication relay and the signal control relay from the control location over the control conductors. At the location of the device, means controlled by the signal control relay are provided for controllnig the device. At the control location we provide indication means for f indicating the condition of the control device and of tratlic conditions in advance of the control device controlled by the first and second indication relays and the lever.

Other objects of our invention will become apparent hereinafter as the characteristic features of construction and mode of operation of our novel railway tran'c controlling apparatus are described in detail.

VThe single accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic View of railway trailic controlling apparatus embodying our invention for the remote control of a railway signal and for providing at the remote control location indications of the signal condition and traffic conditions in approachto the signal.

Referring now tothe drawing, a stretch of railwa track` made up of the track railsl and 2 is divided into a plurality offinsulated

track sections

6T, 7T, ST and 9T by insulated .joints 3 in the rails. 8T and 9T are eachprovided with a track circuit including a track battery designated by the reference character TB with a prex corresponding to the number of the' associated track section anda track relay designated by the reference characterfTR with a prex corresponding to the number'of the associated track section. Trafic normally moves through the stretch in the direction indicated by the arrow, that is, from left to right. y A holding signal 7S is provided at the entrance end of section 7T. Located at this signal location are an approach relay 7AR, a first control `relay 7NLPR, a repeater relay 7NLPPR, a second control relay 7NLPZR, a signal control relay 7HR, a signal control repeater relay '7l-IPR, a stick relay 7ASR, a time element lrelay 7TER, and a traic controlled relay 7HDR.

Relay 7HR is provided with two windings 4 and 5. Winding 4 has a relatively high resistance and winding 5 has a relatively low resistance.

Time element relay 7TER is of the type having a nor- I mally open front contact a and a normally closed check' When rrelay 7TER becomes energized ing'conta'ct b. checking'contact b will'immediately become open but `front Contact a will not become closed until relay TER a normal or N position, two indicating positions A and B Associated with lever K are and a reverse or R position. a plurality of contacts 6 through 11, here shown as circles with letters corresponding to thelever positions in which the contacts will be closed. For example, contacts 8 and 9 will be closed in the N position, the B position or in any position intermediate these two positions.'

Also disposed at the control location are an approach indication relay 7APR, a signal indication relay 7RGPR, j

a repeater relay 7RGAPR, a stick relay 7AFSR, a signal repeater relay GHSR; a lever lock comprising the winding oflever lock LL, a pawl LD and a lever quadrant LQ; a signal indication lamp L1 and an approach indication lamp L2.

t Relays 7APR and 7RGPR are of the type which will pick up only when current is owing through their wind- Track sections 7T,`

ings in a particular directionand will be released at all othertimes. Asv showninthedrawing, .relays .7ARRN and 7RGPR will pick up only when current ows through their windings in the direction indicated by thel arrow.

yand 7RGPR in the direction described, relay 7APR will kbe -releasedand relay 7RGPR will be picked up. With relay 7RGPR picked up a circuit is established passing from positive terminal EX of battery EB, over front con- Such relays are commonlyreferredttotasbiasedrelays and- 5 *tact a of relay 7RGPR, contact 9 of lever K and the will be so. referred to hereinafteninthis descriptionu Fur-Y winding of relay 7RGAPR to negative terminal EO of thermore;,-re1ay.-,7APR.isof: the.-type:which,whenpieked battery EB. Accordingly, relay 7RGAPR is picked up up,rwill release. uponarelativelyasma'll predetermined-lre-l and a-circuitis established for energizing indicating .lampy ductionin its..normal'operatingcurrentu. Scli=relaysare1 L1, which lamp when lighted, indicates that signal 7S commonly referredtol'as.marginalmelayss .Accordinglyy l0 is'fdisplayingits red or stop aspect. The energizing circuit relay 7APR willbe referred: to.-hereinafter as ya-tbiasedfor lamp L1 may be traced from positive terminalEX of marginal relay. Thecontrol:circuitstfor `relay 6HSR1 arev battery EB, over front contact e of relay'7RGAPRI and not shown in the drawing since they are conventionalfandf the lament of lamp L1 to negative terminal EO of`batform, noparttoff ouninventiong 'Suce itltolfsayvflrelay tery EB.

HsRfwillzbeenergized Whenmsignal) 6S displays1otlier= 15 As was stated earlier in this description, relay 6HSR thanits stop or:redtaspectr,- .Lever quadrantLLQ is suitably is controlled by signal 6S in such a manner that it will connected to lever Krandrwillfhelmovecltto:predeterminedA be energized and picked up except when relay 6S is positions-:shownzinthe.drawing.correspondingrtolthe'lever displaying its stop aspect. With the stretch of track in positions.V .The:.-leverloc.king;means.a1isLsoarranged that advance of signa1-6Svacant, signalS will be displaying pawlLDwillinot, interfere Withathezmovementlolever= 20 itsproeeedor green aspectvand, accordingly, relay 6HSRy quadrantLQuand leverri'Kirom their:-N `to.theiriRpdsiJ--; Willtbe picked up." With VIrelay 6HSR picked up a circuit tionrbut functions to preventvtliermovementlof lever|1=K- isestablished-for supplying energy to relay 7HDR whichl and quadrant Q from their R position':,pastftheiri'Bposify circuit may be traced from positive'terminal EX ofbattion.-unless1ther.windinggofslever Alockt.Llsfisenergizedto tery EB, over front contact a of relay 6HSR, front con-v liftrpawlsLD. outfo-.the notch inlleverLqnadrantrLQ. L 25 tact a of relay TFR, thevwindinglof relay `7HDR from Operatingenergy,atithessignalalocationrt'Sis-suppliedby rig-httoleft', front contact b of^relay 7 TR and front cona batteryWB having a.positiveterminal;rWX vndlahn'egaL-w tactl b of.` relay GHSRY to ynegative terminal EO of battery tive terminal WO.` Energy atztlieccontrolilocation isflsup- EB.'v With 'relay-VHDR supplied -with current flowing pliedtby a batteryfEBlhaving-:alpositivexterminalSEXfand throughits-'winding from right to left, its neutral contact anegative terminal` EO.` lIt-vvill.befobvious thatilotherl 30 afwilll-be picked. upfand its-polar contact b will be in its sources;oflenerg-y may .besubstitutednforr.batteriesWBi leftr-handposition.l This will haveno immediate'etect and EBr-in-lthis controliarrangementa on f the circuit arrangement.

Theapparatus: as showntin.zthedrawingszintitsnormal Having described the apparatusin its normal condicondition, .that-.is,.there lis noetrainvorivehiclein .thestretch tion, let itnow be assumed that-a train enters section of tracky and leverv Ki-s in;its normal orfNlpositionJ All 35 9Tr'and commences to travel through'the stretch in the the trackl relays are energizedisozthat-theirsarmatureslare` normal direction; Upon the ltrain-entering section 9T' piekedup; vWith trackfrelaystSTRiand9I`Renergized, an` itsiwheelsandvv axles vwill shunt= relay'l9TR causing that energizing .circuitfforrelay 7ARpassingtfromvpositivelten relayto release and l open the previously traced energizminal WX lof batteryy WB,.over;fr.ont contactxz'ofzrelayk ing# circuit for relayv 7AR. Accordingly, relay 7ARy 9TR, frontzcontact a yof relayy i8'l`'R',j1theswinding,0f relay' 40 will release and thereby reverse the polarity ofthe energy 7ARfront contactb of .relay STR and: front contact 'bofy being supplieditotheline circuitl including line lwires l5 relay 9TR to negative terminaLWO .of .battery :'WB Vit andlt'fand thereby reverse the direction of the ilow of closed. For reasons-.whichlwill/become apparentasflthis current through the windingsofrelays 7APR and 7RGPR. description proceeds-,the energizingrcircuit forJrelay17HR, The energizing circuit for these relays may now be traced which will be traced subsequentlyyisropen.and,..accord 45 from-positiveterminal WX of battery WB, over front ingly, relay 7HR is released.. ItlwilLbe clear- .thainwith c'ontactb offrelayf7ASR, the winding of relay "NLPR, relay ,7HR released, l,relayz7HPR;willfalso'berreleasedL back contact b of relay 7AR, front contact b ofl relay With relay f7HPR. released, an,,obviouscircuitfincludingf1 7NLPPR; line; wire 16,'contactv8 of lever K, the winding back contact c of relay,7H-PR;willlbe.closedforfsupplying' oflrelay7RGPRifrom right to left, contact 7 of'lever K, energy to the red lampxRzofrsignalJS.. Thislamp will 50 therwinding ofrelay. 7APR from right to left, line wire therefore kbe lighted ,so thatsignal 7Sv willbezdisplaying` 15, frontffcontact'fav of-relay- 7NLPPR and back contact'a its redor stop faspect. A; stick .circuitfor relay 17ASR ofrelay 7AR to'negative terminal WO of batter-yA WB. passing ,from positive. terminal WX/of battery. WB; .over Itlwill -be lseen thatiafter the pole change relay -7NLPR backcontactb of, relay -7H'Pkfront.contact.afoffrelay'- willbe-energizedover the energizing circuit-which hasv 7ASR and thewinding ofsrelayJASR tonegative terminali 55 just been traced and will'maintain fits' contacta closed. WO `of. battery WB is-als'o closed.,f ,With relay @7ASR1 Therefore,its repeater. relay 7NLPPR will also remain energized, relay 7TER.will beudeenergizedrbecause itsy energized as just 'described Withrelay 7NLPPR`-re energizing circuit,,whichjwillrbeL tracedubsequentlygis maining energized, relays 7HR and'7HPR'will remain open atb'ackz contact a of lrelay/ASR: deenergized and signal 7S wilcontinue to displayits'sto'p Furthermore, `with.relay.-'7ASR energized, .a circuitwill 60 or red aspect. be established passing: from. positive. terminal WX4 -of- With ythe reversal of the polarity-of thel current flowing battery WB,over-fronttcontact boflrelayJASRythe windl through the windings 0f relays 7APR'aUd 7RGPR51'e1aY iHgDfLreIayJNLPR,frontzcomact atortreiay'vARgfront 7RGPR-will release and re1ay7APR'Wi11piCk up. Dur-vl contact aofirelayr'INLBPRjJipemire \15,'tl1`e`-windin`gfof" ing the time'that these relaysA are transferring theircon` relay.7AP-R from left to right, contactJTof'leverKitheh tacts, relay 7RGAPR will be de'energized 'but dueto" winding of relay 7RGPRfr'om left to Tight; contact 8 ofV j lever K, line wire 16, frontecontac'tfb of relayA 7NLPPRl and front contact b 'of relay TRT'to negative -'terminal' W0 of battery WB. It will beseen that lthe circ'uitfustraeed "i includes front contacts fa andb"of*`relayl";7NDPPR wlriclris 70 energized overa front'con'tactaof'relay The" manner in which relay' 7 NIiPRinitially1-b'ecorries 'energized tocause relay 7NLP-PRfto beenergizedundr'tlfese conf' ditions will be made -clear as the ddescription ,proceeds Wi'th'current owing through thejwindirgs ofiielay'ZPR -7b its slow release characteristicyit'will not release and prior to the expiration of'its slow-release'time, relay" UAPR willclose its front-contact ka and establish-a sec-- l ondenergizing circuit for relay 7RGAPR passing from' positive terminal EXof 'batteryjEB,^ over front contact av of relay 7APR, contact 9, andthe winding ofirelay' 7RGAPR to'negative terminal E() of'battery' EB. Ac-- cordingly', relay 7RGAPRwillf'rernain picked up'atths" time.v With relay 7RGAPR 'remainingpicked' up; the4 previously tracedwenergizingcircuit' for lamp L1 Awill remainclosed and that lamp will continue'to indicatethat signal 7S is displaying its stop aspect. Furthermore, with relay'7APR now picked up an obvious energizing circuit including front contact b of relay 7APR will be established for energizing relay 7APSR. Accordingly, relay 7APSR will pick up and establish a stick circuit for maintaining it in its energized condition which stick circuit may be traced from positive terminal EX of battery EB, over back contact a of relay 7RGPR, front contact a of relay 7RGAPR, front contact a of relay 7APSR and the winding of relay 7APSR to negative terminal EO of battery EB. With relay 7APSR picked up an obvious circuit including front contact b of relay 7APSR will be established for energizing lamp L2 thereby indicating to the operator at the control location that a train or vehicle is approaching signal 7S. It will be obvious that relays 6HSR and 7HDR will remain in the condition they were in when the system was described in its normal condition.

Upon the train or vehicle entering section 8T, the wheels and axles of the train will shunt relay STR thereby maintaining relay 7AR deenergized. There will be no other change in the circuits and, accordingly, While the train or vehicle occupies section 8T the system will remain in the condition it assumed when the train entered section 9T. Therefore, as the train reaches signal 7S it will come to a stop.

If the operator at the control location decides to clear signal 7S so that the train may proceed along the stretch, the operator will operate lever K to its reverse or R position thereby opening the contacts associated with the lever which are not closed in the R position. Accordingly, at this time, the only contacts associated with lever K which will be closed are contacts 6 and 10. For obvious reasons, it will be seen that with contact 11 now open, lever lock LL will be deenergized. Accordingly, pawl LD will drop into the notch in lever quadrant LQ and prevent lever K from being moved beyond its B position. With contact 9 of lever K now open the previously traced energizing circuit for relay 7RGAPR will become open and relay 7RGAPR will release after the expiration of its slow release time interval. Accordingly, the energizing circuit for lamp L1 will become open and lamp L1 will become dark. Furthermore, the previously .traced energizing circuit for supply energy to the Windings of relays 7NLPR, 7APR and 7RGPR connected in series will now become open at contacts 7 and 8 and, accordingly, these relays will all release. With relay 7APR released, the energizing circuit for relay 7APSR will become open but that relay will remain picked up because of its slow release characteristic. It should be noted that prior to relay 7APSR releasing, relay 7APR will become reenergized by means to be described below to reestablish the energizing circuit for relay 7APSR. .t/lficcordingly, lamp L2 will remain steadily lighted at this Upon relay 7NLPR releasing, the energizing circuit for relay 7NLPPR will become open at front contact a of relay 7NLPR and relay 7NLPPR will release to thereby open its front contacts a, b and c and close its back contacts cz and b. Therefore, an energizing circuit will become established for supplying energy to low resistance winding of relay 7HR connected in series with relay 7APR which circuit may be traced from positive terminal EX of battery EB, over back contact b of relay 7RGAPR, contact 6, the winding of relay 7APR from right to left, wire 15, back contact a of relay 7NLPPR, back contact c of relay 7AR, winding 5 of relay 7HR, back contact b of relay 7NLPPR, wire 16, contact 10 and back contact c of relay 7RGAPR to negative terminal EO of battery EB. It will be clear that at this time, high resistance winding 4 of relay 7HR will be short circuited by back contact c of relay 7AR. With relay 7APR energized in series with low resistnce winding 5 of relay ?HR, these relays will both pick up. Upon relayV apretar? 7HR picking "up,an energizing circuit will be established for supplying energy to 4repeater relay 7HPR passing from positive terminal WX of battery WB, over check-` gized over a second energizing circuit including front contact a of relay 7HPR. Relay 7HDR will remain energized at this time in the manner previously described and with relay 7HPR now picked up, a circuit will be established for supplying energy to the green lamp G of signal 7Slwhich circuit may be traced from positive terminal WX of battery WB, over front contact c of relay 7HPR, front contact a of relay 7HDR, left-hand contact b of relay 7HDR and green lamp G of signal 7S to negative terminal WO of battery WB. Therefore, signal 7S will display its green or proceed aspect and the train or vehicle may proceed over the stretch past signal 7S.

Upon the train moving past signal 7S, its wheels and axles willl shunt track relay 7TR and cause that relay to release, thereby opening the energizing circuit for relay 7HDR to cause that relay to release. Accordingly, the circuit for lighting green lamp G of signal 7S will be open and a second energizing circuit for red lamp R of signal 7S will be established which circuit may be traced from positive terminal WX of battery WB, over front contact c of relay 7HPR, lback contact a of relay 7HDR and the red lamp R of signal 7S to negative terminal WO of battery WB. It will be obvious that the remainder of the apparatus will remain in the condition last described until the train vacates section 8T and occupies only section 7T.

When the train does vacate section 8T, the previously traced energizing circuit for relay 7AR will become reestablished and relay 7AR will pick up. Upon relay 7AR picking up, a circuit will be established for supplying energy to relay 7APR and the high resistance winding 4 of relay 7HR connected in series with the low resistance Winding 5 of relay 7HR, which circuit may be traced from positive terminal EX of battery EB, over back contact b of relay 7RGAPR, contact 6, the winding of relay 7APR, wire 15, back contact a of relay 7NLPPR, resistor R, winding 4 of relay 7HR, Winding 5 of relay 7HR, back contact b of relay 7NLPPR, wire 16, contact 10 and back contact c of relay 7RGAPR to negative terminal EO of battery EB. With this circuit established the current flow through the winding of relay 7APR will be sufficiently reduced to cause that relay to release due to its marginal characteristic. Upon relay 7APR releasing, relay 7APSR will also release after the expiration of its slow release time interval and thereby open the obvious energizing circuit for approach indication lamp L2 which will go dark, thereby indicating that a train or vehicle is no longer approaching the signal 7S. Asv

long as the train occupies section 7T the above described condition will be maintained.

However, upon the train entering section 6T signal 63 will commence displaying its red aspect and relay 6HSR will release. Upon relay 6HSR releasing there will be no immediate change in the apparatus since the from-.left toA right, front contact a of. .relay 7TR and i ing traffic movements in the opposite direction cannot be operated until after the expiration of the predetermined time lnterval. In this manner, the train approaching signal 7S will be given suticient time to comply with the stop aspect of signal 7S or, if the train should overrun that signal,to cause relay 7TR to release to thereby contrnue to prevent, through well known interlocking means, the signals governing trailic movements in the reverse direction from clearing to a proceed or an approach aspect.

Although we have herein shown and described only one form ofrailway traic controlling apparatus embodying our invention, it will be understood that various changes and modilications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention. i Having thus described our invention, what we claim 1s:

1. In an arrangement for controlling from a remote control location a device governing traffic movements overV a stretch of railway track and for providing indications at said remote control location of the condition of said device and of traiiic conditions in approach to said device, a iirst control relay, a signal control relay having low and high resistance energizing paths, pole changing means responsive to traiiic conditions in approach to said device, said iirst control relay, said signal control relay and said pole changing means being situated at the location of said device; a biased marginal relay, a second biased relay and a traic control lever at said control location; a pair of control conductors extending between said two locations; means controlled in part by said lever and said pole changing means for `at times supplying energy from the location of said device to said iirst control relay, said biased marginal relay and said second biased relay over said control conductors; said last mentioned `means being etective to control the application of energy so that either said rst control relay and said biasedA marginal relay or said first control relay and said second biased're'lay will be picked up, means controlled by said lever and said lirst control relay for at other times supplying energy from said control location to said biased marginal relay and said signal control relay over said control conductors; said last mentioned means being eiective when the stretch in `approach to said device is occupied to cause energy to be supplied to a circuit including the low resistance energizing path for said signal control relay so that both said signal control relay and said biased marginal relay will be picked up but operative when said stretch in approach to said device is unoccupied to cause Venergy to be supplied to a circuit including the high resistance energizing path for said signal control relay so that the signal control relay will be picked up but said biased marginal relay will be released; means controlled by said signal control relay for governing the operation of said device, approach indication means at said control location controlled by said biased marginal relay, and means for indicating the condition of said device; said biased marginal relay, said second biased relay and said lever each partially controlling said last means.

`2. In an arrangement for controlling from a remote control location a device governing traic movements over a stretch of railway track and for providing indications at said remote control location of the condition of said governing device and of traic conditions in approach to said device; a rst control relay, a signal control relay having a low and a high resistance energizing path, and pole changing means responsive to traitic conditions in approach to said device, all located at the location of said device; a biased marginal relay, a second biased relay and a traffic control lever at said control location; said traffic control lever having lirst, second and third positions; a pair of control conductors extending between said two locations, means controlled in part by said lever and said pole changing means for at times supplying energy from said device location to said first control relay, said biased marginal relay and said second biased relay over said control conductors; said last mentioned means being effective, in accordance with traffic conditions in approach to said device, to cause either said rst control relay and said biased marginal relay or said rst control relay and said second biased relay to be picked up; means controlled by said lever and said first control relay for at other times supplying energy from said control location to said biased marginal relay and said signal control relay over said control conductors and effective when the stretch in approach to said device is occupied to supply energy to a circuit including f said low resistance energizing path so that both said signal control relay and said biased marginal relay will be picked up but effective when said stretch in approach to said device is unoccupied to supply energy to a circuit including said high resistance energizing path so that the signal control relay will be picked up but said biased marginal relay will be released; means for governing the operation of said device and controlled by said signal control relay, approach indication means at said control location controlled by said biased marginal relay; means for indicating the condition of said device jointly controlled by said biased marginal relay, said second biased relay and said lever; and means jointly controlled by said biased marginal relay, said second biased relay and said lever for preventing said lever from moving beyond said second position when it is in said third position.

3. In an arrangement for controlling from a remote control location a device governing traflic movements over a stretch of railway track and for providing indications at said remote control location of the condition of said device and of traffic conditions in approach to said device, a lirst control relay, a signal control relay and an approach relay located at the location of said device, said signal control relay being provided with high and low resistance energizing paths, said approach relay being r responsive to traiiic conditions in approach to said device, pole changing means controlled by said approach relay; abiased marginal relay and a second biased relay located at said control location; a tratiic control lever having lirst, second and third positions and located at said control location; a pair of control conductors extending between said two locations, means controlled by said pole changing means for supplying energy from said device location to said rst control relay, said biased marginal relay and said second biased relay through said control conductors when said first control relay is picked up and said lever is in said first or second position; said last mentioned means being effective in accordance with the condition of said pole changing means to cause either said iirst control relay and said biased marginal relay or said rirst control relay and said `second biased relay to be picked up; means controlled by said approach relay and effective when said lever is in its third position and said lirst control relay is deenergized for at other times supplying energy from said control location to said biased marginal relay and said signal control relay through said control conductors; said last mentioned means being effective in accordance with the condition of said approach relay to include said high or said low resistance energizing path for said signal control relay in series with said biased marginal relay and the parts being so proportioned that, when the biased marginal both said signal control relay and said biased marginal relay will be picked up; means governing the operation of said device and controlled by said signal control relay, approach indication means located at said control location and energized when said biased marginal relay is picked up, means located at said control location for 'i aisle-aw..

1x1 indicating;thercondition or? said. device and` energized.` when said :lever is-in saidrstorsecondposition .and eithersaidbiased marginal-relay orsaidselcond biased relayis-picked up,A lever lockingmean-s electivewhendeenen gized for preventing said. leverzfrom. movingcbeyond fits- 5a second-position when it is insaid -third:posit.ion .and-.means effective when either saidbiasedmarginal relayorvspaid.. second biased relay is picked. up 4and said lei/er.' is ina said. second position for energizing.. said..-lever: lockingy means. Y l

4. Infapparatus. for cont-rolling a^railwaywayside sig-1 nal located adjacent a -stretch i of railway.- track,.. a :traiicv control lever having irstY and1-second positions, abiased marginalmelay, a second biased relay,..t`1rstwandslecond control.` relays,I a sticky relay, means-:controlled vbyf. saidv 15.- stick relay `andsaid second controlrelay forsupplying energy to -said-rst controlrelay; meansy controlled by said stick relay, .said frstfcontrol relay, trafc conditions.y inapproach to Saidsignal and: said lever for-.supplying energy to said first control relay, said biased marginal. 20 relayfand` said. second lbiased relay 'in such .mannerfthat either` said rstf control relay and. said' biased..margina1 relays or said'trst control relayand .said secondbiased relay will be coincidentlypicked up; indication -meansrfor indicating the condition ofsaid signal and controlled .25( jointly by said biased ymarginal relay,..said` second-fbiased relay-and saidy lever; a second indication means controlled by.said-\'biased ymarginal relay forindicating. the.tra`1c conditions in approach to said signal, a signal control relay v,provided with a low v.resistance energizingfpat-h. and y a -high resistance energizing path; means jointly controlled by said first controll relay, said leverand traffic conditions inf approach to -said signal for picking up said biased marginal relay and said signal control relaythrough'its low resistance-path; means jointly controlled bysaid' first con- 35 trol relay, said leverand traffic conditions in approach to saidsignal for supplying energy to said biased marginal relay and said Vsignal control relaythrough said high resistance energizing path; said biased marginal relay having characteristics such that it will be released when. energized 40 v ill-:series with theihigh resistance energizing `path for said signal control relay, means controlled by-said rst control relay= and=-.saidsignal control relay for energizing said second-control relay; meansjointly controlled by said signal control relay, said second control yrelay and traic 45 conditions fin approach to said signal for energizing said stickerelay; a stick circuitrorsaid stickvrelay controlled byysaid-signal control relay,-and means'for determining th'ezcondition of-:saidfsignaland controlled -by said signal control relay.

5. .In-apparatus for.-remotely controlling a signal vsituated-at a-signal'vlooation adjacent a stretch of railway track, atrac-control-lever havingfrst, second and third positions fand situatedt-at a -control location; a biased .apapproach .indication relay of the marginal type; and a 55 biased signal indication relay located at said control locationgfgrst and`second` control relays and a stick relay locatedfatl lthesignal location; la -pair of control conductorsy extendingfrom thecontrol location to the signallocation, anfapproach relay energized `when and only when a portion-fofI said Istretch of railway track in approach to said signal isvacant, means effective when said stick relay is energized and saidY second control relay is deenergized for supplyingenergy to said first control relay; means effective when said stick relay is energized, said approach relay is energized, said rst control relay is energizedand said lever is insaid first or second position for supplying energyofone polarity to said first control relay, said approach indication relay and said signal indication relay'connected in series and being respectively responsive'to energy ofoppo- 7 0 site polarity so that said rst control relay andvsaid'signal indication-relay will be picked upand said approach indical tionrelay will be released; meanselectivecwhensaid stick relayis energized, said..approach relay is deenergized, said rstfcontrolrelay is energized and saidleveris in said'lrst 75.

or-second position for. supplying energy of .opposite polarity? to 4said-first control relay, said approachindication relays andA saidifsignal indication relay connected .infseries'ls'f that saidfiirst control relay an'dfsaid approachiindieationv relay-.lare picked up and said signal'indication relay.- `is freirv leased; signal indicationmeans at said-'controlflocatiorit for. indicating that said signal is displayingits 1stop aspectii airstf means -elective when said sign'aLindicatioirrelayt isfpickedup and said lever is vin its'lrst=orf'secondfposiL tion for energizing said signal indication means, a secondf meansretective when said' approach indicatioirrelayis picked Vup and said lever is in said rstor second positioni for energizing said signal indication means, approachfindication means for indicating that said portiorofffsaid stretch in :approach to said signal is occupied,means efec" tive when said approach indicationrelay ispickedfupforf energizing said approach indicationmeans,1leverf locking means for preventing said lever from being moved beyond said ysecond positionwhensaid lever is in lsaid third-'position and said lever locking'means is deenergized', ineaus'y effective when said lever is in said second positionfandv': eithersaid approach indication relay or said signal indicaf tion relay is picked up for energizing said leveiilocking. means, a signal control relay'having ay low 'resistaric'e energizing path and a high resistance` ener'gizingptlrrand! located atsaid signal location; means effective-'when lsaid 'I lever 'is in saidthird position, said r'st'control'relayi-'s' deenergized and said approach relay is deenergizedvfor supplying'energy to said approach indication'relayrandfL said signal control relay through its low resistance energiz`- ing path so thatboth said -relays will be picked up; means" effective when said lever is in said third position, said firstcontrol relay is deenergized, and said approach relay' isenergized for supplying energy to said approach 'indicav` tion relay and said signal control relay through its'--'high'V resistance path so that said signal control relay willbe' picked up but vsaid approach indication relay will'befrel' leased; means effective when said lirstcontroll relay or 'said signal control relay is energized for energizing' said second' control relay; means eiective when said signalcontrol'VI relay is deenergized, said second control relay is deen'er'r-l gized and said approach relay is energized forenergizin'g said stick relay; a stick circuit for saidstick'relayfclosdfi when said signal control relay isdeener'giz'ed'; andf-n'iean'lsf including said signal control relay forl controlling-rk said signal. Y

6. In apparatus -for remotely controlling Ia frailW'ayWay-v side signal situated' atea signal location adjacent af strethf of railway track, a' trafc Vcontrol1 lever \having`rst',`seeon'd"f and third positions-and situatedat a control locatonjla-'f biased approach Iindication relay of the marginal "type and a biased lsignal'indication relay both situated'atsaid-con trol location and `being respectively responsive,y to energy? of opposite polarity; rst yand second control relaysfandffa 1 stick relayl situated `at thellocationofsaid signal,'.a'fp`ar3of control conductorsV extending from ythe controlflocaftf'n' to the vsignal location,v` an approach relay, me'ansleiectiy when and onlywhen a portion of 'said stre'tch"ot'rail'way track inv approach-to said `signal visl vacant foi-'energizing said approach relay, means including ya front contactof saidstick relay and a back contact of said second control relay for supplying energy to said first control relay; means includingva front contact of said stick relay, a fronticon? tact of said approach relay, a front contact of'saidrs't control relay and a contact closedwhen said lever is in*Y said first orsecond position for supplying energy ofone" polarity to said first control relay, said approach'indi'cation vrelay and said signal indication relay connected in" series so ythat said rst control relay and said signal indication relay will be picked up and said approachv indication relaywill be released; means including a front 'con'- tact of said stick relay, a back contact ofvsaid approachrelay, a front contact of said rst control relay anda'y contact closed when said lever is in4 saidlrst or"sec'oi1d" position frsupplyingenergy' of opposite' polarity' tosaid rst control relay, said approach indication relay and said signal indication relay connected in series so that said rst control relay and said approach indication relay are picked up and said signal indication relay is released; signal indication means for indicating, when energized, that said signal is displaying its stop aspect, a first means including a front contact of said signal indication relay and a contact closed when said lever is in said first or second position for energizing said signal indication means, a second means including a front contact of said approach indication relay and a contact closed when said lever is in said iirst or second position for energizing said signal indication means, approach indication means for indicating, When energized, that said portion of said stretch in approach to said signal is occupied, means including a front contact of said approach indication relay for energizing said approach indication means, lever locking means for preventing said lever from being moved beyond said second position when said lever is in said third position and said lever locking means is deenergized, a first means including a contact closed when said lever is in said second position and a front contact of said approach indication relay for energizing said lever locking means, a second means including a contact closed when said lever is in said second position and a front contact of said signal indication relay for energizing said lever locking means, a signal control relay having a low resistance energizing path and a high resistance energizing path; means including a contact closed when said lever is in said third position, a contact closed when said rst control relay is deenergized and effective only when said approach relay is deenergized for supplying energy to said approach indication relay and said signal control relay through its low resistance energizing path so that both said relays will be picked up; means including a contact closed when said lever is in said third position, a contact closed when said first control relay is deenergized and eiective only when said approach relay is energized for supplying energy to said approach indication relay and said signal control relay through its high resistance path so that said signal control relay will be picked up and said approach indication relay will be released; a irst means including a front contact of said rst control relay for energizing s aid second control relay, a second means including a front contact of said signal control relay for energizing said second control relay, means including a contact closed when said signal control relay is deenergized, a back contact of said second control relay and a front contact of said approach relay for energizing said stick relay; a stick circuit for said stick relay including a contact closed when said signal control relay is deenergized, and means including said signal control relay for controlling said signal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,805,747 Whitehorn May 19, 1931 1,946,186 Bell Feb. 6, 1934 2,057,543 Spray Oct. 13, 1936 2,176,611 Pelikan Oct. 17, 1939