US498865A - Railway-signal - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. B. STEWART 85 W. G.. WATTSON.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

Patented June 6, 1893.

YMN

Wu if (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. B. STEWART 8: W. G. WATTSON.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

No.498,865. PatentedJurie 6,1893

4 E E SB FH v 3E1 Q J F q 0 V L- L MAW L w J Mom mp UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. STEWART, or HAVERSTRAW, AND WILLIAM G. WATTSON, or TAPPAN, NEW YORK.

RAI LWAY-SIG NAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,865, dated June 6, 1893.

Application filed May 3.1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that We, JOSEPH B. STEWART, residing at Haverstraw, and WILLIAM G. WATTSON, residing at Tappan, both in Rockland county, New York, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Signalaof which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to railway signaling systems, and has special reference to providing means for properly signaling totrains in passing through tunnels, and the like, and it consists in the various features of construction, arrangement, and mode of operation, substantially as hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a diagram illustrating the general principles of our invention. Fig. 2, is a diagram showing more in detail a manner of carrying out our invention; and Fig. 3, is a view showing an instrument which we use in making the connections.

It is well known that it is imperative for any railroad where a number of trains are run at comparatively short intervals, to provide some sort of a signaling device, the signals of which shall be controlled either automatically by the train or by means of signalmen at the stations along the line, and many and various schemes have been proposed for accomplishing the desired purpose. Most of these systems involve the use of signals in the form of semaphores or lamps showing various colors, which shall control therunniug of the trains. \Vhile some of these systems are very complete and satisfactory in most respects, ithas been found exceedingly difficult to provide a satisfactory system of signals, which shall be perfectly safe and thoroughly control trains running through long tunnels or similar dark places. It has been found that owing to the smoke and for other reasons, it is practically impossible for an engineer to distinguish the color of a signal in a tunnel, to tell whether it is a white light for safety, or red, green, or other color, and accidents have happened, owing to the impossibility of distinguishing one colored signal from another. It has been common to have signals at the ends of the tunnel, and to same time.

entrance of the tunnel has been maintained $crial No. 431,661. iNo model.)

allow but one train on each track in either direction to pass through the tunnel at the Thus the danger signal at the until the train which has passed into thet-unnel has reached the other side, and through automatic or other means a signal is received at the entrance of the tunnel, showing that the train has passed clear through the tunnel, and it is safe to go ahead. Of course this is a safe system but in roads where there are a great many trains which necessarily follow each other at short intervals, and thus travel at a rapid rate, it causes a great loss of time, and it is impracticable to follow this system.

It is the object of our invention to provide means which shall be automatic and simple in its construction and mode of operation, and at the same time shall allow a number of trains to follow each other within comparatively short distances and at rapid rates through a tunnel with safety.

In carrying out our invention we divide the track of the tunnel into a series of sections of greater or less extent, according to the rapidity of travel and number of trains passing over the track in a given time, and we also provide for lighting the track by means .of electric lamps which are automatically controlled, and which are all of one color, and we depend not upon signals of various colors to indicate safety or danger, but upon any colors or light signal to indicate safety, and the absence of any signal, or darkness to indicate danger under all and every condition. Thus arranged along adjacent to every section of track is a series of lamps, which when lighted indicate that the track is clear throughout the section lighted, but which when extinguished,and the section is in darkness, indicate to the engineer or any other. official that there is danger, and the train must come to an immediate standstill, and that no train under any circumstances must run into a section not fully lighted. These signals are arranged to be automatically con-;

trolled and as a further safeguard, all of them are arranged to be under the controlof a single Signalman, who shall have charge of all:

the sections in the tunnel, and Whose businesss it is to see that the signals are operated and properly displayed under all conditions. In other words, we propose to provide a system of signals, whereby long tunnels may be safely operated to allow the passage of trains in rapid succession, and at high speed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the general features of our invention, and in this figure the track A is shown as divided into a series of blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, representing the sections of a single track through a tunnel, and arranged along each section is a series of lamps B, B B B which may be supplied from any suitable source; in this diagram, one generator Z being shown for all sections for the purposes of explanation, W being one of the main conductors, and V being the other main conductor, and at each station a series of lamps is shown as connected to the line W, and to short a line to, w, 20 ,850. Each of these lines is provided with a terminal w, while the lines o, o are connected to the main line V, and t0 the lever forming a corresponding terminal 00.

Each light circuit is shown as controlled by a local circuit including a magnet or circuit breaker D, D D ,&c., which controls the corresponding armature d, d (1 &c., to which the terminals at of the lamp circuits are connected. Each circuit breaker is shown as controlled by a relay E, E E which is connected by suitable conductors e to the rails of each corresponding section, preferably at the beginning of said section or block, and located between the rails or connected to the rails of each section, preferably at the opposite end, is a generator G, G, G G &c., there preferably being an independent. generator in each block.

As before indicated, the signal lamps are arranged so that in the normal condition, and no train inthe tunnel, all the various sections of track are illuminated. Thus referring to the section marked 3, it will be seen that the generator G energizesthe rails, which through the medium of the conductors e, energizes the magnet E causing its armature e to be attracted, closing the local circuit of the magnet or circuit breaker D and this draws the armature d up, closing the contacts 00, ac, and causing the lamps fed by the loop I), w to be illuminated, and this is the normal condition of all the sections, although they are not shown in the drawings in this condition for the sake of clearness. When however, a train is on any section, it operates to cause the lamps in the section next preceding to be extinguished, and this will be clearly understood by referring to section 2, where T may represent a train just entering section 2, and it will be seen that the generator G will be short circuited, and the armature c of the relay magnet E" is on its back stop, breaking the local circuit of the circuit breaker D, and its armature d is on its back stop, breaking the circuit at the contacts 00, 8 causing the lamps in the loop 1), w, to be extinguished. These are arranged along section 1, and this section is therefore in darkness, and so remains until the train passes completely out of section 2, when the generator G again closes the circuit of the relay E, attracting its armature, and closing the local circuit of the circuit breaker D, again closing the circuit of the lamps corresponding to section 1 of the road. If, for instance, a preceding train is on section at, the lamps corresponding to section 3 will be extinguished, and the train on section 2 must not enter section 3, until they are again illuminated. Thus it will be seen that when the track is clear it is illuminated, and when any section is occupied by a train, the next preceding section at least is in darkness, and furnishes a complete and definite signal to the trainman, whichcannot possibly be misunderstood. In this way it is possible to run trains at comparatively close intervals, and at relatively high speeds through the tunnels without danger of accident.

So far we have shown simply the main idea of our invention, in which thetrain automatically controls the signals of the block or section in rear thereof through the instruments indicated. It is preferable, however, to have a signal operator controlling all of the sections of the tunnel as a safeguard against a failure of the automatic mechanism to operate, and to act in case of emergencies, and in Fig. 2, we have shown such an arrangement of circuits. In this view we have shown the lamp for two sections only, and the signal devices connected to the automatic operating devices in the other sections for the sake of clearness. In this figurethe road asbeforeis shown as divided into four blocks, 1, 2, 3, 4, and opposite each are signal lamps B, B but for purposes of additional safety, we prefer to have these signal lamps in duplicate supplied from separate sources, and we have shown an additional series of lamps at each section or block, which we have lettered H, H and have shown the different series of each block connected to a separate source, as the generators X,X, which are preferably located at the signal station S, and are under control of the signal operator. Thus we have shown the generator X, as connected by the conductors b, b to the lamps B, and the generator X, connected by conductors h, h to the lamps H, and branch circuit as W, 72, lead to the other series of lamps H 850., so that in case of failure of one generatoror any of the connections therewith, the other generator and lamps supplied thereby will be operative. As before stated it is understood that all the lamps are in operative condition, and in order that the signalman may be sure that they are burning properly, we provide a test, which is located at the signal station, and while various well known tests may be used, we have shown a lamp L,located in each circuit, which is preferably of higher resistance than the lampsin the tunnel, so that it will not be fully' illumi nated when the lamps in the tunnel connected to the circuit are fully burning, and the signalman by a glance at this lamp can readily determine the conditions of the circuit. In this view we have shown a little different arrangement of the electric circuits. Thus each section or block of track is provided with a magnet I, having a local circuit including the rails of the track, and closed by the wheels of the train. The armature I, is provided with a double contact 0,0, insulated from each other, while the stop or fixed contact is also made double as at 0 0 These contacts are respectively connected with the lamp circuits 13', II, insuch a manner that when the armature I is drawn forward, the contacts 0 and 0 short circuit the lamp circuit H, and the contact a, 0 short circuits the lamp circuit B, and consequently extinguishes the lamps in the respective circuits. ous that the circuits can be arranged to open the lamp circuits as in Fig. 1. In order to insure absolute safety, we preferably provide each section with another magnet J, also having its local circuit, the armature J of which is provided with contacts similar to the contacts I, which control loops from the short circuits of the respective lamp circuits B, H, so that, if, perchance, the magnet I did not properly operate, and the train was upon the section 2, the magnet J would accomplish the result of extinguishing the lamps corresponding to sectionl of the track. In

order to signal to the signalman, we further provide each armature I, J with an extension 1 J having a contact 0 arranged to cooperate with a fixed bearing contact 0 These last contactsare connected by conductors k, with the respective bells K, or other indicating devices at the signalmans station, and it will be seen that when the train enters any block, and closes the circuits of the magnet I or J or both, the contacts a 0 will be closed, sending an alarm to the signalman which will indicate the position of the train, and it will be his duty to immediately observe the test lamp or other device to see if the lamps have been extinguished in the section preceding the one on which the train is entering and if these lamps have not been extinguished, he is to take proper steps to do so, by means of switches or other well known appliances in connection with the generator circuits. Moreover, the Signalman can in case of any question as to the condition of the track, operate the lamps of anysection to stop thetrain,and hold it until the track is clear. By this arrangement, it will be seen that not only are the signals operated automatically by the passing train, but that the signalman is notified by a separate circuit of the movements of the train in the tunnel, and can be sure that the signals are properly displayed. While we have shown in this figure a single magnet operating to short circuit thelamp, it is evident that we can as well make use of the relay and circuit controller shown in Fig. 1 for controlling the lamps, but in all cases, the lamps are It is obvisupposed to be constantly illuminated, except in cases of danger, and if the lamps are extinguished for any cause, the train must stop. In this wa; in properly dividing up the track in the tunnels, we are enabled to control the passageof trains through the tunnel, even when they are running at comparatively high rates of speed, and following closely after each other, it being necessary of course to provide su fficient distance between the trains to allow them to be safely stopped after the signal is given.

While we prefer to use bells in the signal station, which will ring continuously as long as the train is onthe corresponding section of track, of course other indicating devices may be used, and so with any other features of our invention. While We have described and indicated the preferred construction. of the devices, it will be understood that other equivalent and well known devices may be substituted without departing from the spirit of our invention.

hat we claim is- 1. In a system of railway signals for tunnels, the combination with the various sections or blocks, of a series of lights extending throughout each section and normally lighted and electric circuits controlling each series of lights, and connected with the respective blocks so that the passage of a train upon any block will automatically extinguish the lights of the preceding block, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic system of signals for railway tunnels, the combination with the various sections or blocks, of a series of lights arranged along the blocks and normally lighted, a controlling magnet for each series of lights having a local circuit, and a relay connected to each section of track,and controlling the local circuit, whereby the passage of a train on any section or block will automatically extinguish the lights on: the next preceding section, substantially as described.

IIO

3. In an automatic system of signals for various sections of blocks, of two series of lights arranged adjacent each block andsupplied by a separate generator, electro magnetic controlling devices connected to each block and arranged to control the lights of the preceding block, a signal circuit connected to the electro magnet controlling device, and operating asignal in the signal station, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic system of signals. for railway tunnels, the combination with the various sections of blocks, of aseries of lights arranged adjacent to each block and normally illuminated, an electro magnet controlling device connected to each block, and arranged to control the circuit of the lights of the preceding block, a signal circuit from each electro magnetic controlling device controlling a signal in the signal station, and a test device at the station in the circuit of each series of lamps, substantially as described.

6. In an automatic signaling system, the combination with two separate series of lamps corresponding to each section or block, of an electro magnetic controlling device connected JOSEPH B. STEWART. WVILLIAM G. WATTSON.

Witnesses: J AS. S. MoCULLoH, LONSON G. BARGER.

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