US290602A - Tyson - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. D. O. PATTYSON.

RAILWAY TELEGRAPH.

Patented Dem 18,1883.

Rye.

(No Model.) D. PATTYSON. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

RAILWAY TELEGRAPH. No. 290,602." Patented Dec. 18,1883.

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WILLIAM D. C. PATTYSON, OF MARLBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF TVVO-THIRDS TO HORACE S. CROWVELL AND EDMUND E. BOND, BOTH.

OF SAME PLACE.

RAILWAY-TELEGRAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,602, dated December 18, 1883,

Application filed January 22, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. (3. Par- TYSON, of Marlborough, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Railway-Telegraphs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention has for its object to establish electrical connection between a moving train and a stationary electrical conductor, it being shown in connection with a telegraphic instrument for communicating between the train and stations, or between different trains.

The invention is intended as an improvement in the class of apparatus in which a single line-wire is employed, and means are provided for breaking the said line and interposing the train with the apparatus carried by it within the said line.

In carrying out this invention the train is provided with long contact-plates or electrodes, preferably carried by the locomotive and tend er, cooperating with the electric conductor or line mounted on posts at the side of thetrack, like an ordinary telegraph-wire. The said wire is provided with circuit-breakers at a distance apart not greater than the length of the contact-plates carried by the train, the said circuit-breakers co-operating with the contact-plates as the train passes in such a manner as to open the main line and connect the portion 011 each side of the break with one of thecontact-plates, so that an instrument placed in the circuit between the contactplates will be interposed in the main-line circuit as the trains travel along from one circuit breaker to another, and continuous electrical connection is thus established be tween the moving train and stations along the main line, or between two moving trains.

The invention consists,partly, in the arrangement of the circuits and construction of the receiving-instrument employed for telegraphic communication, the said instrument being adapted to operate when the moving strips are connected with the main line at one or two of the circuit-breakers The line is preferably provided with resistance-coils, connected with ,it at either side of the circuit-breakers, so that in case one of the circuit-breakers should not close properly after the train has passed the line would not be left open. The said resistance is sufficient to cause the portion of the current traversing the instrument in the train to operate it. The train is preferably provided with two sets of contactstrips, one on each side, and the set that is not in use in connection with the main line is utilized for especial signals or instruments controlled by local circuits at various points, as desired. V

The invention also consists in the novel construction of the different devices, by which greater certainty of action is insured and the cost of the apparatus reduced.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive provided with contactstrips 00 operating with a main-line wire in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2, a front elevation thereof; Figs. 3 and 4, a plan view and rear elevation, respectively, of one of the circuit-breakers by which the said strips are interposed in the mainline circuit; Fig. 5, a front elevation of a telegraphic receiving-instrument adapted to be used on the train; Fig. 6, a detail showing a connection between the different portions 01' the moving strip that are carried by different vehicles, and Fig. 7 a diagram of the electric circuits and instruments therein.

The train is provided with contact-strips a b a 1), (shown as mounted on the locomotive and tender,) the said strips being made continuous, as shown in Fig. 6, by a spring, a, "connected with the portion of the strip that is carried by one member of the train, and hav' ing its end bear on the portion of the strip carried by another member of the train, the said strips being herein shown as extending only the length of the locomotive and tender. A steam-pipe, a, may be run along adjacent to the strips, to prevent the formation of ice thereon.

The main electric circuit or line consists of an ordinary telegraph-wire mounted on posts ing at a distance apart somewhat less than the length of the strips to b, so that one of the posts will always be opposite some portion of the said strips. The main line is provided at each post witha circuit-breaker, shown in Figs. 3

c at the side of the track, the said posts beand 4 as consisting of a metallic arm or plate, (2, fixed 011 the post, and contact-springs c 0, connected with the 1ine-wire at each side of the post, and normally pressed against the plate (I by spring-fingers f f, carried by an arm, 1, pivoted upon the said post, and provided at its end with metal contact-pieces h '17, arranged to rub against the strips to I), respectively, as the train passes by, the said train at the same time turning the arm f on its pivot, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3. The line coming to the post 0 011 one side and connected with the spring 6 is also connected with one of the contact points, as t, at the end of the arm f", while the line'leaving the post on the other side and connected with the spring 0 is also connected with the contact-point h at the end of the arm, and the arm f is provided with P j f, which, when the arm f is swung on its pivot by the passing train,engage one of the spring-fingersfor f, and remove it from the corresponding spring, 0 or e, which is then disconnected by its elasticity from the plate (1, breaking the direct connection between the portions of theline at either side of the post. Vhen the train is not passing, the arm f stands in its normal position at right angles to the track, as shown in full lines,Fig. 3, it being held in thisposition by the springfingers ff, which are connected with its pivot or shaft. (See Fig. 3.) The said springs e e are in electric contact with the plate (1, and the circuit is continued directly from the line on one side of the post to the line on the other side. The line coming toward and leaving the post 0 is preferably also connected with resistancecoils at, so that when a proper contact is not afforded between the parts cl 0 e a circuit will still be maintained through the said resistance-coils m, which will be of considerable amount relative to the resistance of the instruments that are to be connected in circuit between the plates 0 7). The fingers f f are shown as insulated where they engage the springs c e. V

The contact-piece h may be provided with a roller to reduce its friction on the strip a, and the contact-pieced is made somewhatflexible, it being shown as a metallic brush,which may be adjustable on the arm f-l If it were possible to space the circuit-breakers with such accuracy that the plates a I) would always make contact with one at the precise moment that they left the preceding one, it will be seen that an ordinary relay or sounder could be placed in circuit between the plates a and I), and operated by opening and closing the line, or in any usual manner. In order, however, to insure the continuity of the circuit through the train,the circuit-breakers are so arranged that the strips will come in contact with each one just before they have left the preceding one, and the stripswill, consequently, for short spaces of time, be in contact with two circuitclosers. In order to insure the proper operation, whether the strips are in contact with one or two circuitclosers,

one of the said strips is divided transversely, as shown at 2, and the instrument has two separate portions, one in circuit between one portion of the divided strip and the other strip, and the other portionof the instrument in circuit between the other portion of the divided strip and the undivided strip. The two portions of the instrument are shown in Fi 5 as electro-magnets n 0, having their cores mounted in line with one another on a single backstrap, and acting on a single armature, so that if either of the said magnets is charged the armature will be attracted. One of said magnets, as n, is connected in circuit between one portion of the said strip a and the strip 1), as shown, by the wires 3 4t 5, and the other magnet, 0, is connected in circuit between the other portion of the strip a and the strip I) by wires 7, 8, and 5.

In the diagram Fig. 7 the strips are shown as connected with two of the circuit-breakers, so that the direct main line is broken between 20 and 23, as well as between 23 and 26. The main line20 is connected by wire 21 with the contact-piece h, and the contact-brush q; is

connected by wire 22 with the piece 0 and' line 23, which is connected with the spring 0, and by wire 24c with the contact-piece h of the next circuit-breaker, the contact-piece t of which is connected by wire 25 with the spring 6, which is also connected with the main line 26, beyond the circuit-breakers acted upon by the strips a b.

As shown, the main line is provided with opposing batteries 13 B at its ends, so that by grounding it at any point the currents of both batteries will pass through the stations be tween them and the said grounded point; or, by removing one battery, signals may be trans mitted in the usual way by opening and 010s ing the line.

The circuit through the magnets a 0 of the receiving-instrument may be traced as follows: From the battery B it passes by wires 20 21 to the contaet-piece h and strip a, from which the circuit is continued by wire 3to the magnet 02, and thence by wire 5 to the strip 1), contactpiece i, and wires 22 and 23 to the other end of the line, except at the moment when, as shown in the drawings, the next circuit-breaker, (1 e, is also open. In such case thecircuit is continued from the strip 1) to the wires 25 and 26, the wires 22 23 being then cut out. \Vhen in the movement of the train in the direction of the arrow the strips ab pass off from the contact-points h i, connected with wires 21 23, the circuit will be closed at d 0, connecting the wire 20 directly with the wire 23, and the circuit will then be from wire 23 through wire 24, strip a, wire 7, magnet 0, wires 8 and 5, strip 1), contact-piece i, and wires 25 and 26, the circuit then including only the magnet 0, until after the severed point 2 of the strip passes the contact-points h '17, when the circuit will be only through the magnet 12, as follows: 2i a 3 a 4 a 5 b t 25 26. The instrument a 0 will thus be kept interposed in the main-line IIO circuit, and will receive signals transmitted over the line in any usual manner.

In order to transmit signals from the train the main line 20 26 may be connected with the wheels and axles, and thus with the rails which form the ground or return circuit of the main line. The wire 5 is shown as connected by wire 12 with the usual key, K, and switch S, the anvil-piece of which is connected by wire 13 with the wheels and rails. The main line 26 may thus be grounded by the key and switch in the usual manner, forming independent circuits for the batteries 13 B, sothat signals will be transmitted through any other train that may be interposed in the circuit, as well as through the fixed stations.

It will be seen that if the resistance-coils m are not used there would be an undivided circuit through the instrument, and the signals might be transmitted by opening and closing the circuit in the usual manner.

It is obvious that the magnets n 0 and their armature might constitute any usual kind of receiving-instrument, either a relay to open and close a local circuit or a sounder; or, if desired, the armature might constitute the diaphragm of a telephonic instrument; or any other form of electric apparatus might be included in the circuit between the strips a b.

In order to operate especial signals on the approach of a train, as at stations or hi ghwaycrossings, the posts 0 and arms f may be provided with an additional circuit closer, 1), shown in Fig. 3 as consisting of a spring connected with the post and a stud connected with the arm, and brought in contact with the said spring when the arm is swung on its pivot by the train. One portion of the said circuitcloscr may be connected directly with the rail or ground, while the other is connected with a wire passing through the battery and signaling-instrument at any desired point. It will be seen that the said circuit-closers 19 will be closed only when the arms f are turned in one direction, so that for single-track roads they may be arranged to operate a signal when the train is approaching a given point, but not after it has reached and is receding from the said point, the said arm f however, being arranged to break the main circuit at d e or e and connect its ends with the strips a b by the movements of the said arms on their pivots in either direction.

For convenience in operation, the trains will be provided with contact-strips on each side, as best shown in Fig. 2, and while the strips on the one side will be interposed in the mainline circuit, as previously described, those on the other side may be employed for operating special signals in the train. For instance, as shown in Fig. 7, one portion of the strip a is connected by wire 30 with a signal of any usual character-such, for example, as an automatic vibrating bell, 1-, on the locomotivethe other terminal of which is connected by wire 31 with the wheels and axles or ground.

The contact-piece i, co-operating with strip a, may be connected by wire 32 with a circuitcloser, t, which may, for instance, be operated by the movable rails of a railway-switch, or 111 any other way, when it is desired to signal a train to stop, the said circuit-closer bemg shown as connected through the battery 13 with the ground, so that in case the circuitcloser t is closed a current will be transmitted through the signal 1' as soon as the train arrives at the contact-piece t, which may be mounted on an arm pivoted on a post precisely like those previously described.

The strip 1/ is shown as connected by wire with a series of magnets, a, controlling the detents of station-indicators of suitable construction, from which the circuit is continued by the wire 41 to the ground. The contactpiece h, co-operating with the said strip 1), may be connected by wire 42 with a local battery,

as B, at each station, so that when the train appreaching or leaving the station arrives at the contact-piece h, an impulse will be transmitted through the said magnets u, operating the station-indicator.

The invention is not limited to the specific form of circuit-breakers employed in the main line for interposing the train and the connected instruments in the circuit.

It will be seen that by separating a line from point to point as a train travels by it, as herein described, and interposing the train or apparatus carrier thereby in the opening thus produced, a train may be maintained continuously in circuit with the employment of but a single stationary conductor.

When the apparatus is to be employed in connection with a road having several parallel tracks, the arms f maybe pivoted to swing in a vertical plane upon beams extending across the entire series of tracks.

The arms of the circuit-breakers maybe adjusted to the proper position relative to the track by gaging-strips carried by a hand-car or other construction-car, and the strips a b a b may be adjustably connected with the locomotive or train. Any suitable form of elec tric connections can be used between the different rails of the track, which will form a suflieiently perfect conductor of electricity.

The magnets-such as umight be employed to operate an alarm upon freight-trains, for warning a brakeman, as they approach a bridge. I

Posts carrying wipers may be employed from point to point to clear the contact-strips of snow or other matter which may be deposited upon them, such wipers preferably being placed at each side of a railway-station. The mechanism at the tops of the posts will be protected by any suitable cap or cover.

The receiving-instrument will usually be placed in a special operators room,which may be padded or provided with means for deadenening sound as much as possible.

I have herein shown and described, in addition to the apparatus employed for communication between the different trains or between 4 t teases trains and stations, additional devices for utilizing a portion of the said apparatus for other special purposes when it is not employed for such communication; but I do not herein claim these devices, as they will form the subjeet of other applications for Letters Patent.

I claim 1. The combination of the contact strips carried by a train with the main line and series of pivoted circuitbreaking arms, having contact-points co-o1 )erating with the said strips and connected with the portions of the main line at either side of the said arm, and a circuit-breaking device between the said portions of the main line operated by the movement of the said arm on its pivot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The main line and circuit-breakers therein and contact-pieces connected with the said line at either side of the said circuit-breakers, combined with the contact-strips co-operating with the contactpicces, and the receiving-instruments having two portions, one of the said strips being separated into two parts and the portions of the receiving-instrument being in circuit between the said parts of the divided strip. respectively, and the other strip, substantially as described.

3. The pivoted arm adapted to be engaged and turned on its pivot by a passing train, combined with contact pieces or springs con nected with the portions of the main line at each side of the said arm, and spring-fingers mounted on'the said arm, co-operating with the said contact-pieces,.as described, whereby the said arm is normally retained substantially at right angles to the track, and the said contact-pieces in electrical connection, but the latter are electrically separated when the said arm is turned on its pivot in either direction, substantially as described.

at. The main line and circuit-breakers therein, operated by the passing trains to interpose apparatus carried by the train in the said line, combined with resistance-coils connected with the said line on either side of the circuitbreakers, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The main line and circuit-breakers therein, operated by the passing trains to interpose apparatus carried by the train in the said line, combined with means for grounding the said circuit upon the moving train, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

XVM. D. C. PATTYSON.

Vitnesses:

Jos. P. Livnnironn, BERNICE J. NoYEs.

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