US291590A - Magneto-electric railway-stgnal - Google Patents

Description

(Nd Model.

W. W. GARY.

v MAGNE'TO ELECTRIC RAILWAY SIGNAL. No. 291.590.

Patented Jan. 8, 1884;

N. PEIEHS. Phuwumo n her. washmgmn. D. c.

WESLEY, WARD GARY, on

, PATENT truce.

BOSTON, hJIASSACHUSETTS.

M AGNETQ-ELECTRIC RAlLWAY-Sl'GNAL.

I SPECIFICATTQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,590, dated January 8, 188a.

' Application filed August18, 1361. (No model.)

biningwith a vibratory electric generator of 1 any suitable form a train of gearing, and means whereby motion is imparted directlyor indirectly to said gear-train by the passing train:

It is preferred to construct the apparatus in such manner that the. passing train shall elevate a weight or operate upon equivalent means-as a spring-whereby the train and generator may be operated after the passage of the railway-train, the latter serving merely to set the apparatus for operation. This construction is preferred, for the reason that itpermits the signal to remain in operation after the train has passed the generator, and that the apparatus is relieved from the severe strains and shocks to which it would otherwise be liable when acted upon by swiftly moving trains. The apparatus may, however, be constructed in such manner that the rail way-train will imparta positive motion to the gear-train, and thence to the generator.

Attempts have been made to operate delicate railwaysignals by means of a generator, consisting of a coiled armature vibrating in a magnetic field, the arrangement being such, however, that each car-wheel imparted but a single'movement of the armature, so that the impulses were widely separated, and were not continued after the passage of the train. My apparatus differs therefrom in the introduction of the gear-train or equivalent devices for multiplying the movement and causing the generator to operate rapidly and with a continuing motion, to produce a rapid and long-continued succession of electrical impulses following one another in such manner as to give for signaling purposes a practically constant current instead of the single isolated impulses produced in the old form of apparatus. The current produced by my generator i may be applied in connection with an electromagnet for the positive action of a bell or other suitable signal, for the movement or release of visual signals, or otherwise applied, as may be desired. ,6 Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my ap: paratus in one of the forms of which it is susceptible of embodiment, an electromagnetic signal-bell being used in connection therewith and propelled by means of the electric current. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

A represents one of the rails of a railway, and B alever pivoted at the side of the track, and provided at one end with an elongation,

i a, to. be acted upon by the passing car-wheels, which have the effect of depressing that end of the lever which lies next to the rail, and thereby elevating the opposite end.

0 represents the magneto-generator, which is operated or set for action by means of the lever B. The "generator consists of the permanent magnet a and a coiled armature, b, mounted on oneend of a lever, d, and arranged to vibrate to and from the permanent magnet. The lever d is provided with an upright arm,

e, slotted to receive an operating eccentric, f, which latter is mounted on a shaft provided with a pinion, 9, arranged to gear into adriving-wheel, h. The shalt of the wheel h is provided with a ratchet wheel, i, and with a weighted lever, 7', bearing a pawl, k, which engages in the ratchet-wheel during the descent of the lever, as shown. When the tracklever B is acted upon by the car-wheels, its rear end elevates the weighted ratchet-lever j, thereby setting'the generator in position to act. After the passage of the train the tracklever resumes its original position, permitting the descent of the weighted lever j, which, through its pawl, communicates motion to the ratchet-wheel, and thence, through the intermediate gearing, to the eccentric f, which in turn causes a rapid and long-continuedvibratory motion to be imparted to the armature.

The vibration of the armature causes the development of a current of electricity through the conducting-wires,which may be connected with the signaling mechanism of any suitable character.

The signal represented in the drawings consists, simply, of an electro-magnet, an, arranged to attract an armature attached to one end of a lever, 12, having a bell hammer or striker at the opposite end. A spiral spring, 0, serves to retract the hammer and hold the armature normally away from the magnet. A bell or gong, p, is arranged in position to be struck by the hammer when the magnet attracts the armature. If the wire be carried directly from the armature b to the signal without the intervention of a commutator, the impulses of electricity alternating in polarity will cause the electro-magnet to operate the striker of the signal with great rapidity. If, however, it is desired to make use of a continuous current of unchanging polarity, a commutator, E, may be connected with the generatorin the manner represented in Fig. l, or in any other convenient manner.

The commutator represented in the drawings consists of two conductingfingers ar ranged to move over three conducting-plates, the fingers being attached to and moved by a forked pivoted plate acted upon by the rear end 'of the lever cl, as shown. The construction of this commutator is identical with that represented in my Patent No. 190,206, May 1, 1877, to whichreference is made for a detailed description thereof.

It is manifest that the number of wheels employed in the gear-train may be increased at will, in order to cause the weight to continue the operation of the generator for any length of time that may be required.

If it be desired to have the generator operated continuously from the railway-trains, it is only necessary to omit the ratchet-wheel and secure the arm j rigidly to the shaft of the wheel h, which may be done by means of a key, 0, as represented in dotted lines in Fig. 1,

I claim is 1. The combination of a vibratory magnetoelectric generator, a train of gear connected therewith, and an operating-lever connected at one end to the driving-gear, and arranged with its opposite end in position to be depressed by passing railway-trains.

2. In a railway signal system, the combination of a bell-signal, an electro-magnet, by means of which the signal is propelled or driven, a vibratory magneto-generator connected therewith, and actuating appliances, substantially such as shown,to be set for action by passing railway-trains.

3. The combination of the railway-signal having an electro-magnet, whereby it is propelled, a vibratory magneto-generator connected with said magnet, and appliances, substantially as shown, to be set for action by passing trains, and to drive the generator with a long-continuing action.

4:. In combination Withavibratory magnetogenerator, a gear-train for actuating the same, and track-connections, substantially as described, whereby the gear-train may be set in motion by passing railway-trains.

5. Incombination with the magnets, the vibratory armature, the eccentric for actuating said armature, and the gear-train provided with an opel'atingweight, as described, whereby arapid and long-continuing vibration of the armature may be secured.

6. In combination with the vibratory magneto-generator, the gear-train, and the trackconnections for operating said train, the electromagnetic signal, and the commutator, arranged substant-ially as described.

XVESLEY VAR-D GARY.

IVitnesses:

O. K. FAY, F. O. KELLY.

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