US517419A - Electrical - Google Patents

Description

BEST AVAILABLE COPY (No Model.) A 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. B. LEONARD. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING SIGNALS. No. 517,419. Patented Mar. 27, 1894.

(No Model.) 4 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. B. LEONARD. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING SIGNALS. No. 517,419.'

Patented Mar. 27, 1894.

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I (No Model.) I

M. B. LEONARD. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FUR CONTROLLING SIGNALS.

I Patented Mar. 27, 1894.

+bl l l'l l NITEMD STATES ATENT- OFFICE.

, MICHAEL BARRY... LEONARD, or RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 61?,19, dated March 27, 1894.

Application filed'J'nne 17, 1893- T6 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL BARRY LEON- .ARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Apparatus for'Oontrolling Signals; and I do hereby declarerthe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in interlocking block signalingapparatus such I as are ordinarily employed in signaling along :5 a line of railway between two-or more oflices or stations, and especially designed for use in controlling semaphore or other visual signals. 1 v 5 The primary object of the invention-is to '20 provide simple, efficient and inexpensive means for controlling the signals between two or more stations, so as to require the conc'erted action of the two operators at two proximate stations to permit a train to enter as the block, thereby lessening the liability to accidents by reason of carelessness or negligence upon the part of individual operators in working the signals.

A-further object'is to dispense with the use of selecting or preparingin'stru ments in controlling the signals, and to provide simple and efficient electromechanical means for producing the desired resultswithout the intervention of. complex andexpensive mech- 5 anism such as is ordinarily employed in this class of inventions.

'The invention will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and

40 then pointed out in the claims at the end of this description.

' Referring to the drawings by letters of reference, Figure 1 is a diagrammatical repre' sentation,partly in perspective and partly in side elevation, of an interlocking block signaling system between two block offices or stations, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the signal locking mechanism and unlocking magnet with inclosing casing partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the inclosing casing'o the-unlocking magnet, and

Serial No. 477,959. (No model.)

' Fig. 4 is a side elevation illustrating the application of an electric motor for automatically actuating the signal. A and B may denote two proximate bloc oifices or stations located along the line of a railway, and each provided with a signal, sig nal locking mechanism and unlocking magnet constructed and adapted to operate alike. The main line wire W, is normally connected through the unlocking magnet-s M, M, at the respective stations A and B, to ground, by

means of the wires a, a; a switch S, being interposed between the magnet and ground connection, as shown, for the purpose of permit ting the ground connection to be readily transferred from the magnet to a normally open 10- caLbattery, and thus cause an impulse or current to pass from either station over the line and thence to the magnet at the distant station', so as to energize the magnet at the latter station and cause the same toraise its armature and release the signal, and atthe same time open the circuit between the magnet and the ground at thehome station, so as to prevent the home magnet trom being energized by the home battery andthereby release the home signal. The wire'a, may extend from the wiring of the magnet M, toa contact strip or slip s, opposite which is placed asimilar contact strip s, from which the wire 0/, extends to ground. A third contact strip or slip s is connected by means of a wire a through a battery M. B. to the main line wire, so that when the switch S, is shifted so as to close the circuit through said battery, the magnet will be cut out and current mayflow over the line to the distant station, through the distant magnet, and thence to ground without affect: ing the home magnet. An oscillating contact strip or'key t, may be fitted upon a rotatable rod T, having a handle T, accessible to the operator at the home station, for the purpose of partially rotating the rod so as to transfer the grounded circuit to the battery and cut out the home magnet by disconnecting the plates 8, s, and connecting the plates s, s.

The signal may consist of the usual counterweighted semaphore blade or arm 0, connested by means of. rods 0, c, and an .intermediate bell-cranklever 0 or othensuitable connection, with one arm of the operating leniacin nected to a notched lever-bar L, by meansoi a pivoted linlt l. The lever-bar li, has a notch l, in the upper edge thereof, which, in. the normal position of the semaphore blade, is adapted to he engaged by the depending end of the pawllilte armature 727., of the electro-magnct; M, when the latter is tie-energized, so as to retain and lock the signal in its normal position. In the normal position of the signal, an elongated opening or slot Zion the under side oi the notched lover-bar L, is so arranged with respect to a pin or projection t, upon the rod '1, that the latter may be rotated by allowing the pin to enter said openin or slot for the purpose of shifting the snatch, but in any other position of the notched lever-bar said pin will not register with the slot l and the rod cannot be rotated so as to break the ground connectionwith the main circuit. lint wheuthc magnet is energized and its armatnrein, raised, the hitter will be disengaged from the notch l", in the lever-bar L, and permit the signal operating lever to be actuated for the purpose of shifting the signal from its normal position to caution, safety, or such other position as may be determined.

An enunciator device or electric hell D, may be placed in a local battery circuit chit, for the purpose ot notifying the local operator when his semaphore lever is unlocked. This latter circuit is normally open and is adapted to be closed by the local it into (Z (1 when the arnnitnre-lever in, is t'i'tlSt/l.

The signal may be shifted by hand power applied to the hand lever L, Fig. 1, or automatically, as illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein l have illustrated an elcctro-niotor N, whose armature-shaft is adapted to impart motion to accclerating gearing O, the larger gear wheel 0, of which is fixed ton drum shaitO, from which a cord may extend to one arm oi? the signal lever, so that when the motor cir cult is closed and the lever unlocked, thcsip, nal may be autmualically shifted by the motor and placed either in normal, or any desired position, without requiring the presence of a. local operator. The motor N, may be placed in a normally open local battery circult, n. (or the aboveanoutioncd bell circuit) the local points a, it, of which are adapted to be closed when the armature in, of the magnet M, is raised and the notched lever bar unlocked, thereby causing the motor to automatically shift the signal. As the somaphore lever approaches the limit of its movement in reversing the signal themotor may be automaticaliy thrown out of gear by an ordinary clutch device, or its movementmay be stopped by autonnitically breaking the motor-circuit. 'lhis maybe accomplished by means of local circuit. connections n, terminating in normally closed spring contacts n, adapted to be separated so as to open the circult at the proper time by means of a wedge P, of wonder vulcanized fiber secured to the lever. .l no points are thus provided in the motor circuit, whereby it; is adapted to be automatically brolten as the lever reaches the end of its stroke in either direction. When the local points at; the armatureare open the signal lever will be locked in normal position, but such points will be closed the moment the signal is unlocked, and thereupon the motor will operate to reverse the signal. When the lever has been pulled [on Word by the motor and the signal reversed the separation of the spring contacts will open the motor circuit and the motor will step. In drawing back the signal operating lever to lG-aiIOl'G the signal to normal position the armature of the motor will be permitted to reyolve as an idler, allowing the cord or rope connecting the lever with the drum of the motor gearing to be unwound.

It is designed in practice to use butono set of local connections on the armature, for the reason that when the motor is used the bell will not be necessary to notify the operator when the lever is unlocked; the motor being adapted to reverse the signal. But two'sets of local connections on. the armature m "y be employed simultaneously should it be esir- .able to use both the bell and the motor.

The operation of the invention will be read ily n n d erstood from the foregoing description talteu in connection with the accompanying main circuit and allowing a current to flow over the line to the opposite station and thence to ground through the magnet at; the latter station; provided thesignaland switch at the latter station are in proper position. The latter magnet being thus energized will attract its armature and release the notched lever-bar L, so as to permit the operator, or the automatic mechanism, to shift the signal. The connection between the ground wire and the magnet wire at the proximate or home station being then open, no current can flow through the magnet at that station, and consequently it will not be affected. l orexainpie, the signal or semaphore at station A, being locked in the danger, or stop position by the armature in, of the magnet M, which magnet is normally unenergizegh-du change the posit ion of the signal from stop to clear, at. station ii, the operator at the latter station instructs the operator at station A (by means of an ordinary Morse telegraph-or over atolephone line) to unlock his '(lis) signal. The operator: station A, provided the track is clear in the block between him and station B, will then turn his signal key a partial revolution, and in so doing will connect the bat tory at that station to ground and thereby position.

cause a current to flow over the main line wire to the unlocking magnet at station B, energizing the magnet at the latter station and causing it to raise its armature, and at the same time closing the local bell circuit .(incase the latter is used) so as to cause the bell to ring and notify the operator that hissighal is unlocked and can be thrown to-the clear position; or, if the motor circuit only is used, closing the latter so as to cause the motor to automatically shift the signal. But before the operator at station A, can turn his signal key to establish the desired electrical connection with the distant station he must first place his own signal in its normal position, which in the present case is the danger or stop This must be done in order to permit the pin or projection t, on the key rod or shaft T, to pass into or through the slot Z on the .under side of the locking bar L'. Otherwise, the signal key will not be permitted to turn and the contacts cannot be made so as v toenergize the distant magnet. To unlock thevsignal at station A, the above operation .is simply reversed. In either case the opera- ;tor'at the proximate or home's'tation must place his own signal in normal position before he can establish electrical connection with the distant station so as to unlock the distant signal, and having placed his own signal at danger, or in the desirednormal position, it will be locked in such position by the armature of his magnet, which is normally unenergized and can be aitected by a current transmitted from the distant station only.

Instead of the notched lever-bar for locking the semaphore lever, a rotary notched disk or other equivalent means may be used for this purpose, and make-and-break devices or switches of other forms than those herein shown may be employed, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence I do not' desire to be limitedto the exact con- Letters Patent of theUnitedStates, is.-

struction and arrangement and described. w

Having thus fully described my invention, what'I claim as new, and desire to secure by of parts shown 1. An interlocking block signaling system comprising a normally grounded electric wire connecting two or more offices or stations, a,

visual signal, locking mechanism therefor, and an unlocking magnetat each station; said magnets being connected by said normally grounded wire and having their armatnres arranged to lock and retain said signals in normal position, a local battery at each station, and means adapted to throw said battery into the main line through the distant -magnet without affecting the home magnet so as to release the distant signal only, but not adapted to operate until the home signal is placed in normal position, substantially as described.

2. An electrical apparatus adapted for rail- "road; block systems for signalingbetween two or more offices or stations, comprising at each stationavisn-al'signal, mechanism for locking the signalfiinnormal position, a local battery, an un lockingmagnet adapted tooperate upon said lockingmechanism and release the signal; said unlockifng. ;magnet beiflgconnected by 'a normally grounded main w'i-raand contem' comprising two'or more oflices or stations,

a visual signal for each station, mechanism for locking the signals in normal position, and

means for releasing the signal from a distantoflice, comprising a normally grounded main wire including an unlocking magnet for each signal, and a contact device or switch adapted to throw the local battery into the main line thronghthe distant magnet so as to cause the latter to release the distant signal without affecting the home signal, and means for preventing this operation until the signal at the station where the switch is to be worked is placed in normal position, whereby the signal at each station maybe unlocked by the.oper ator at the distant station and then only after the latter operator has placed his own signal more offices or stations, a visual signal at each station and means for locking the same in normal position, comprising a notched leverbar connected with a signal operating lever and an armature-lever adapted to engagea notch in said bar and lock the signal mechanism, together with an electro-magnet adapted to actuate said armature-lever and release the'signal, a .local battery at each station, a

normally grounded wire with'which the magmatters connected, and a contact deviceoiswitch for throwing the local battery into the main line so as to energize the distant magnet only and unlock the distant signal; said contact de vice bein adapted to operate only when the signal at 6 home station is placed in normal position, substantially as described.

5. In a signaling system between two or more stations, avisual signal at each station, and means for locking the same in normal position, unlocking magnets,a normally ground-. ed wire extending between the stations and including said magnets, a local battery at each station, and means for transferring the ground connection to either of said local batteries so as to include the distant'unlocking magnet and release the distant signal, and an electric motor adapted to automatically shift the signal when released, substantially as described.

6. In a signaling system between two or more stations, avisual signal at each station,

mechanism for locking the signal in normal position, means for automatically shifting the signal when said mechanism is unlocked, an electro-niagnet whose armature is adapted to lock the signal, a normally grounded wire including said magnet, a local battery, and a device for cutting out the magnet at the home station and simultaneously throwing the local battery into the main line through the distant magnet so as to unlock the distant signal; said device being adapted to operate only when the home signal is placed in normal position, substantially as described.

7. In a signaling system, a visual signal and means for locking the same in normal position, comprising a sliding notched 1ever-bar connected with the signal operating lever, an armature-lever adapted to engage a notch in said her so as to lock the signal operating mechanism, an electro-magnet adapted to actnate said armature-leverand release the signal, a local battery, a normally grounded wire including saidmagnet, and contact devices forthrowing said local battery into the main line so as to include the distant magnet and unlock the distant signal; said contact devices consisting of a rotatable shaft carrying a niov able contact plate and provided with a pin or projection adapted to operate only when said pin registers with a slot in the notched leverbar with the signal at the home station in non mal position, substantially as described,

8. In a signaling system, a visual signal, means for locking the same in normal positlon, and an unlocking magnet at each of two or more st .LlOllS, a normally grounded wire extending between the stations and including said magnets, a local battery at each 8E3. tion, and means for throwing said local batteries into the main line so as to include a distant unlocking magnet and release a distant signal, and a signal bell controlled by the armature of the unlocking magnet, substantially as described.

9. In combination with the signal, the unlocking magnet, Whose armature is adapted to normally look the signal,an electric circuit in which said magnet is placed, a local circuit having an electric motor placed therein and adapted to reverse the signal, normally open contact points in said local circuit adapted to be closed by the unlocking armature in re leasing the signal, and normally closed contact points in the same circuit and means for opening the same when the signal is reversed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL BARRY LEONARD.

Witnesses:

W. W. Tanner, J. M. lowERs.

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