US455510A - Hal half t - Google Patents

Description

(NO Modal 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. P. JORDAN. TRAIN SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Patented July 7,1891.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. P. JORDAN.

TRAIN SIGNALING APPARATUS;

Patented July 7,1891.

In I A x x x (f C "Q 1 v r H1 M MOdGL) 4 Sheets--Sheet 1;.

L. P. JORDAN. TRAIN SIGNALING APPARATUS:

No. 455,510. Patented July 7,1891.

' wit was 4 sheets sheet 4.

(No ModeL;

L. F. JORDAN. TRAIN SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No, 455,510, Patented July 7, 189-1.

Shown-fez o A a 2 V m A j E======== A:

llr i'frco Sterne; *Pnrtsnr Orrics.

maro n r. JGRDAX, or SOMERVILLE, NASSAUl'SE'lTS, ASSIGNOR or one HALF 'ro HENRY n. nnxnn'r'r, or ron'rLANo, MAINE.

TRAlN -QiG'NALiNG APPARATUS.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,510, dated July *7, 1891.

Application fileti November 16, 1889. Serial No. 330,599. (No model.)

' [F a'ZZ whom it may concern: Figs. 1.3 to are 'views showing details of Be it known that l, LINWOOD F. JORDAN, a construction of the connector. citizen of the United States, residing at Som- In the drawings, Z'represents the engine, Y erville, Miildlesex eounty,State of llassaciuithe tender, XV a portion of one of the cars of a 5 5 5 setts, have invented certain new and useful train. and X is the conductor or cable connect- Improvements in 'lrain-Signaling Apparatus, ing the signal mechanism in the cab of the enof which the following is a specification. gine with'the signal mechanism in the cars. My invention relates to electric appliances The conductor or cable is preferably incased used upon railway trains for establishing in pipes and passes around the end of the r ready communication between the engineer tender, as indicated. in clotted lines, where it in the enginecab and the conductor or other :terminates "in a coupler and normally when person within or on any of the carrying-venot in use is supported inthe dummy-coupler hicl'es of the train} and the objects of my in- 0. (Shown in detail in Fig. 6.) The cable vention are to provide a system of electrical passing though the cars is connected to the {5 communication between the engine and the spiral spring 10', arranged in a brass tube n train which shall operate instantly when resituated under the cap or hood of the car and qniretljro give an audible signal to the engiheer to which the coupling 0 between the cars is and also to the operator, to provide means for connected to allow for the extension and contheengineer to signal. to the train, to provide traction of the conductoras the cars separate 20 more reliable forms of couplings and counceor come togetheigso that there never shall be ii'ons fertile same,to more suitably locate the undue tension on the coupler which would operative appliances employed in this class be liable to separate the coupler accidentally.

of devices, and generally to perfect the ortli- In Fi 4 I have shown in detail the prenary systems of railway-car telegraphs. fericil form of coni' ecting a three-wire cable 2; .My invention consists in the'various feawith the tube, and 7, 8, 9, and 10 are tures of construction and arrangement of enlarged details of the construction therein parts-i hereinafter pointed out. shown. The partwconsistsot a metal block Referring to the accompanying drawings, to which one of thewires of the cable is con- I ,Figurel is a sitle elevation of the rear of a neetecl by a screw, which serves also to hold o locomotive and the front of a tender with certhe block in position. This is recessed in the rain of my improvements applietl thereto. forwart'ientlatwsnd is provided with springs ,l ig. 2 a rear elevation of the tender, showor" on opposite sides. The hloclt w is also ing the manner of protecting the coupling connected to one of the wires and is made of I and the way the pipe-is placed on the tender. metal with 2. head ink-adapted. to fit the recess S is a FSlKiQiiQVHt-iOll of a portion. of the wantlto behehlin position bythe springs w hooi'i. ('JlYJQl'h'i oi": the our, showing the arrangc' A, lochingpinwicontrollctl hy'a thumb-lever men i'or talti up the slack of the conto", is adapted. to enter the opening 'w in the duct r. Fig. 4 shows a (leteii thereof which block anti-secure it in position. 'ihe several I prefer to use. Fig. 5 is a cross-section oi? wires from the blocks are grouped in a cable, 40 one ohthe pilSh-blliiLOllS which i prefer to which is coiioi'l, aseishown, within the coils of make use of. him indicates the constructhe springw. ()ne end of the springbeing setionof the tlummy-coupler for supporting-the cured to the conductor, as by-heing wound free einl of the line. Figs. 7 anii S are reclosely around ii;, as shown at ru in Fig. i,

iectifel v a cross-section and. a side elcva anti the other end of the spring being fast- 9 5 5 t-ionof the terminelconncctor,and higsfland cued to the case at the point w", it will he 10 are two-views of a block for fitting said evident that the loosely-coiled conductor interminal-connector when. the circuit is in sirlethe spring can follow the movements of use. Fig. 1 1 is a diagram showing one of the the sprin". It for any reason the connections f preferred arrangements of circuits. Fig. 12 are bad, or is desired to change them, the I0( *0 is a diagram showing another arrangement (leer w of the tube can he opened and the of circuits with relaysaml local circuits, and. blocks 20? removed and others substituted.

These same connections may be used on the rear of the locomotive-teiuler in Fig. or in E r v other positions on the cars, when desired. 1 he forward end of the tube is closed bya socket "preferablyarranged oirtlio cab of the engine,

and I have shown a box 2 arranged under the running-board, in which the batteries are to be placed, although of course they may be dill'crently situated.

In the engine is mounted a suitable hell or gong E, which is preferably in the t'orm of a single-stroke bell, and suitable switches I 1" S and push-buttons g h, as indicated in l-ig.

12, are arranged in convenient position in the cab. r

In the cars there are arranged suit able bells C, which are preferably of the ordinary \'i-.

' limit myself to the precise arrangenren t shown.

. accident to the other batteries.

1; 1 represent two batteries, either one of which may be connected in circuit by means of the switches 1'' l the circuit: of battery 1% being shown as closed, while the circuit of battery through the wires t u. is shown connected to the open terminals of the double switch l 1'", and can be connected 'in case of pose the circuits to be arranged in the manner indicated in liig. l l, and the conductor or other person on the train desires to signal to the engineer. lle presses push-button l), or, as indicated in Fig. ]l,.moves the switch 1) onto the terminal of 'the conductor I/. 'lhenco the circuit passes through conductor a, boil (1, and wire I to the line-wire 1) to the switch S, thence by the wire 0 tothc bell lfl by the wire a and branch p to the switch l thence by wire to the battery and by wire 1' to switch 1*", and thence by the wire HI, to wire 1/ to button, closing the circuit thrt'mgh the bells in the cab of thcengine and'in the car, and it the latter bell rings the conductor knows he has operated the bell in the engine.

it. will be understood that the conductor or other person can send any prearranged code of signals which will be understood by the engineer. Now supposing the engineer dc- \Ve will sup sires to signal the CUHHLlULUl' or other person on thettrain, the switch S is moved from the terminal ot' the wire o to the terminal of the wire 1/1 and the button y/ is closed, completing the circuit between the wires 11 and n at lows: From the button g','througl 1 (L to the switch I), which is normally closed at this point through .r, the bell wire 1', line 1), through the switch S to the wire in, thence through the switch F, wire r to battery B, wire q to switch F, and through wires p and u to button This operates the bells in the ears without operating his own signal-bell.

bells operated by a direct circuit I may make use of relays and locateircuits for operating the bells, as is usual in telegraph systems, and such arrangement is shown in Fig.1f2. In this diagram l'ill" are the main batteries, either one of which mav be connected in cir euit by means of the switches l 1*", and A A are the batteriesot' the local or relay circuits,

cuit by the switches G t. The magnet E is in the main circuit; and closes the circuit to the local magnet- E". The bell is shown as an ordinary trembly-bcll,lnlt connected so that it maybe operated either as a single- -strol o hell or as a trein'bly-bell, according to the circuit elosed through the magnet.

Supposing the conductor or other person in the ear desires to signal the engineer, the push-lnitt.on-l) is pressed, closing the circuit l/yllll'OllQlllllO wire or, (the direction of this cir' cnit being indicated by a single arrow-heath) to the relay-magnet lfl, thence by the wire a to the switch h, thence by the wire l to the switch l ,vthence by the wire (1 to battery 13', thence by the wire 1' to the switch i and thence by the wire 11 and wire 1', through the coilsof the magnet, to the push-button. The local circuit may be traced from the relay through the magnet lC', (being indicated by a doublepointed arrow,) through the conductor a to the switch G, conductor 0*, battery A, conductor c, switch (1, conductor a" to a portion point ot starting. Iiijthis way the bell at the enginc will sound and the bell in the car will give :a single stroke, indicating that the relay in the engine operated correctly and closed the local circuit to give the signal to the engineer.

New, supposing the engineer desires to signal to the train, as before he moves the switch S to the terminal a, and the circuits (indicated by the triplc-hcadtnl arrows) are as follows: l rom the switch'S, through the push-button y, (if it; should be used, although which in this instance is connected to one of the terminals of the trembly -bell, thence through the armature c, the magnet-wire 'v to the conductor 7), and thence to the switch i thence by wire 1- to battery B, wire (1 to the button, and the circuits will betas fol-.

it is obvious that, instead of having theeither one of which maybe connected in cirof conductor in, andrbiy a branch in to the it is not necessary,) by the wire a to when),

switch F and wire I to switch 8.

S, switch operate the trembly-bell in the car, but does not operate the bell in the engine.

it isa push-button connected with a testcircuit by which the engineer can determine whether the battery is in operating condition or not, and by pressing this button 71 the circuit indicat'ed by the four-pointed arrows passes through the relay-magnet: l5", switch 1', battery 13, switch i and back to the push-button h; as will be clearly umler stood. V

Such being the general arrangement of the system, I wiil now describe the coupling devices by which the three wires of the cable can be connected between the cars and other portions of the circuit. Such device is fully illustrated in i igs. 13 to consists of two portions 1 and l of some insulating material, upon which are mounted the sprin s and connections for the wires onpoint and extendingmeyond the body 1. On

tering the ends, indicated, each portion being a duplicate of the other, so that they are interei'iangcable, no matter which ends of the cars COiflO together. The conductor m, for instance, enters through a. plug '13 and passes up through the body and is connected to the main spring 4 of the connector. This spring is provided atv its end.

with an enlarged portion 5, tapering to a the opposite side of the body 1. is another spring 6, having an enlargement 7, and to this the other wire t1, coming through the plug 3, is connected in the same way. site terminals of the conductors are connected to the main springs t3 9 oi the other portion 2 of the coupler in the same way. Also mounted on the body 1 at ninety degrees from the main springs are the plates 10 ll 12 1;

"and these are titted in recesses in the blocks and are of the form shown in Figs. 31 and 32. The free ends of these plates are" bent shown at; 1 1, and fit in a rcpess 15 in the center of the blocks, and normally the terminals 14 of the plates 10 and 11 and ,l. and 13 are respectively in contact. The other ends of the plates are formed in the shape best shown in Fig: 231 to constitute a key or signal device 16, which is arranged so that its free end is normally in contact; with the fixed portion of one of the main springs, as t, so that the circuit, from 4 is closed through the portion 16 to the plate '10 and from the opposite main spring 6 through. the plate 11, thereby forming a closed terminal to the circuits '1: an when the coupler is apart. Thesa-me istrue of the other terminals of the conductors Z) m in the portion of the coupler, the terminals of the plates 12 and 13 beingin contact at the points 14. \ihen, however, theparts of the coupler are put in position, as shown in 'higsjlt, 1(5,

and 18, the main springs i and t3, respectively, make electrical contact with the plates I2 and 13, and themain springs 8 and 9 make contact with the plates 10 and 11, and at the sametime the wedgeshaped portions 17 of The coupler O of the portionl The oppo- This wiii the couplers force the terminals ll apart, :breaking the closed circuits at these points, )and it results that the ends oi wires m. and the ends of wires h at each side oi the couplerare connected together by two paths, outg ior instance, being through the main spring i, extension 5, and plate 152 to the key 1 to main spring h, plate l0, key 16, and 73 again to the plate 4. In this way I insure good contact, for, it' perchancc, anything intcrrupts one path the other is likely to be free. More than that, this arrangement fnrnishes a means of signaling at the coupler, So

for by pressing both of the keys 1t) and 18 simultaneously the current through the conductor n1 is interrupted, and again by pressing both of these keysand the complementary keys connected with thc'conductor l) (which are the same in every respect as those previously described) both circuits can i be opened and. the coupler disconncetedwithout sounding an alarm. The third conductor o passes-plug 23 and is divided, shown in Fig.

lit, and connected to the plug 21 and socket 22, and the other terminal in the portion 2 is similarly connected to the plug 23 and socket 2-1. These plugs and sockets are preferably iorined as shown in detail in Figs. 25 to 28, 5

and when the portions 1 and 2 of the coupler are brought together the plug 21 enters socket E34 and the plug 2 3 enters socket 2'3, and the points in the sockets cnterthe opcningsin the endsot' theplugs,and thereby agootl electri calegntact isinsured. Itwill thus be seen that all thrceot' the conductors u, b, and or have duplicate paths or connections between the two portions 1 and 2 of the coupler, and when toothus joined. signals maybe sent by operating the keys of thecouplers, and when the por tions of the coupler are separated the circuits in and b are autonmtically closed, while the circuit- (0 is open. I

In order that the keys 1t; and 18 may be retained in close contact with the respective springs, I insert a block of rubber 30, 'hig. 24,

under each key in a recess inqthe block.

i/Vhile any suitable push-button or circuit,- controller may be used on the eat-,1 prefer to use with the arrangemen. of circuits shown in Fig. ll that shown in Fi 5, in which the circuits a, b, and m are connected to the hinding-posts bearing the same letters. The terminals of a and i) are normally closed by the rod (Z; but when the button (Z is pressed the contact between (Z and a is broken and the circuit is closed through m and I). The plug (Z projects through metal plate (1, and

is supported by an elastic diaphragm r1 bc I2 5 neath the plate, and which normally holds it out of contact with the arm (I and serves to protect the contactsfrom extraneous matter. The button is prete'ral'ily protected by a hinged cover (1 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patents, is-

1. In a railway-car telegraph, the combina tion, with asingle-strolie bell located on the engine, a battery, apush-button,and aswitch also located on the engine, of a thrceway circuitleading from the switch and push-button and bell to the cars and each car provided with a trcinbly-bell normally included between two of the, circuits, andja switch arranged to break the bell-circuit and close the circuit through the third conductor, whereby a signal may be sent from thccar to the engine and the bells in the car rung at the same time, and whcrcl-iy the engineer can signal to the cars-without operating the bell in the engine, substantially as describ d.

2. In a railway-car telegraph, the combinatiou, with a single-stroke bell, a battery, a push-button, and a switch on the engine, of an additional battery and switch i'm-connecting it in place of the tirst battery, a threewire eireuit running from the engine to the car's, a trembly-bell located in each ear and normally included in two of the wires of the circuits, and a switeh located in the car for includingthebell in theeircuit with thethird wire, substantially as described.

El. in a railway-car telegraph, the combination, with the cable in the car, of a tube, a spring tal'e-up in the tube connected with the external portion ot the cable, the tube being closed by a cap containing a diaphragm, through whieh the cable passes and by which it is supported, substantiall as described.

4. in a rail\\'.-iy-mtr telegrz'lph, the combination, with the hell, duplieate battery, pushbutton, and switch on the locomotive, of a three-wire circuit leading t'roin the locomotive to the ears, three-w ire couplerconnecting the circuits between the locomotive and car, bells located on each car and normally included in two ol. the wires of the circuit, and a switch tot-connecting the bell with thcthird wire of the circuit, substantially as described.

5. A couplcreonsistingoftwo complementary portions, each portion being provided with springs, to each ot' which a conductor is con- 'nectcd, plates connected to the spring, and a plug and socket, to both oi which a conductor is connected, whereby when the coupler. isin position tw paths for the passage of the current from each ecnductlorarc formed through the coupler, substantially as described.

6. A coupler consisting of two parts, each part consisting of a block provided with two bent plates fitting in recesses on opposite sides thereof and having spring ends normally in contact with each other, two springs arranged parallel to the plates, but in planes in right angles to the planes of the plates, arranged to-make contaetwith the plates on the opposite part, and a wedge-shaped projection arranged on the end of the block to separate the s n-ing-contact portions of the plates on the opposite block when the parts of the coupler are in position, substantially as described.

7. A coupler consisting of two parts, each part being provided with two main springs, two bent plates arranged parallel to the main springs and electrically connected there with, and a key for breaking the connection between the plates and the main springs, whereby when the parts are together there are normally two paths for the current. through the coupler, including the springs and plates, which paths may be broken by the keys, sub stantially as described.

8. A coupler tor a three-wire ('lreuit, con sisting 0t two parts, each part be-ing provided with two main springs, eaeh connect-ed to a separate conductor, two plates arranged parallel to the main springs and electrically con nected therewitlnand a pl ugand socket, each connected to the third emiductor, wh reby when the parts are together each conductor has two paths through the connecting portionsol'theeonpler,substantiallyas descrilmd.

in testim ny whereof I have signed my name to this specit'ieatit'in in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

LINWUOI) l. JURUAN.

\\'itnesses:

.l'. S. .liAltlilCli, 1*. ll. l arncnas.

Images