US545701A - Semaphore-signal for railways - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. W. LATTIG.

SBMAPHORE SIGNALVFOR RAILWAYSV No. 545,701. Patented Sept. 8,1895.

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STECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,701, dated September 3, 1895.

7 Application filed January 5,1895. Serial No. 533,934- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JABOB, W. LATTIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Bethlehem, in the county-of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a newand useful Improvementin Semaphore-Signals for Railway and other Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to obtain an efficiently illuminated semaphore-arm for use in night signaling.

The invention will first be explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, and will then be specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a semaphore-post provided with a pivoted semaphore blade or arm equipped in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the arm.

I omit from the drawings a representation of the system of levers and pull-rods for operating the semaphore-arm, this forming no part of my invention. Any suitable appliances can be used for the purpose.

A is the semaphore-post, and B is the semaphore-arm pivoted thereto at b, and consisting of the usual spectacle casting b, to which the arm or blade proper b is attached. To this extent the arm does not differ from other semaphore-arms now in use. Extending along the longitudinal center of the semaphore-arm is a row of incandescent electric lamps h. These lamps are secured by their sockets to the semaphore-arm, and are placed preferably at intervals apart of a footthroughout the length of the blade.

The lamp-terminals on one side are connected to awire 1,common to all. On the other side each lamp-terminal has its individual wire leading andfconnected to a stationary brush pertaining to that lamp-terminal alone, there being as many brushes (numbered 2 to 7, inclusive) as there are lamps. These brushes are arranged as the stationary contacts of a commutator around a rapidly-rotatingcontact or trailer 8, which meets the brushes successi'vely, preferably making contact with the one in advance just before it quits the one next in rear, to prevent arcing at contacts. The rotating contact is intended to revolve continuously when in action, being driven for this purpose by any suitable motor, electrical or otherwise. Where direct currents are employed, I prefer an electrical motor to run the commutator. Where alternating currents are employed,'I prefer a mechanically-operated commutator, the mechanical mottorin the present instance being clock-work typified by the cord and weight X. The'wire 1, by a flexible cable w, is connected to the wire 9 on the post leading to one pole of the source of electrical supply, the other pole of which is connected to the revolving commutator contact-disk 8 by wire 10. There is a similar flexible connection 00', 00 850., between the individual lamp terminal-wires and their respective stationary contact springs or brushes 2, 3, (be. The flexible connections w, as, 00 &c., are for the purpose of permitting the free movement of the semaphore-arm onits pivot. A switch Y is provided to make and break the circuit, as desired. When the circuit is closed at Y and the commutator in action, the lamps will suecessively be brought into circuit, one during each revolution of the commutator-disk. The effect upon the eye of the observer, owing to the rapid rate of movement of the trailer 8, will be a streak of light running from end to end of the semaphore-bladeintermittently, no matter what may be the position of the arm, whether inclined or straight. The light may be white, red, green,'or any other color desired.

The arrangement, while producing the impression of a continuously-moving streak of light, economizes current materially, as the quantity of current consumed will not exceed materially, if at all, that required to maintain a single constant light. Alight may be placed behind the spectacle-glass in the casting b if desired, and this light may be made to take its turn along with the rest by providing suitable commutator connections for it;

I am aware that contin uously-burnin g electric lights have beenplaced in a line upon each face of a semaphore-blade rotatable upon its longitudinal axis to expose one face or the other of the blade to the approaching train, according to the position of the blade. This arrangement, besides involving the expense attending the constant burning of a large number of lights, is defective in that it requires the arm to have always the same precise range of movement up and down in order to insure the proper rotation of the blade upon its longitudinal axis; but inasmuch as in practice the semaphore-arm is irregular in its up and down movement, and is liable, owing to climatic changes and other condition, to move through a different number of degrees at one time than at another, it would be practically impossible to secure the exact degree of rotation of the blade upon its longitudinal axis needed to properly display the line of lights upon that one of its faces which it might be desired to expose to the coming train. Under my improvements these objections are overcome. The same line of lights is exposed to the train at all times, and those lights are not continuous, but intermittent. Not only is there economy in this last feature, but also a new eifect in railway signaling. The rapidrunning intermittent streak of light produced by the rapid movement of the trailer-contact makes a very much more distinctive signal and will more readily attract the attention of the engineer. The signal becomesin eitect an automatic flagman,to stop or start a train by movements similar to those employed by the flagman with his lantern or flag for the same purpose. I am also aware that a commutator has been combined with incandescent lamps for advertizing purposes to illuminate successive panels having advertisements. I claim none of these things; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination with a pivoted semaphore arm and its support, of a row of electric lamps attached to and extending lengthwise of the arm, a commutator, a motor for rapidly driving the movable member of said commutator, a source of electrical supply and electrical connections, substantially as described whereby whenever and so long as the commutator is in operation the lamps on the semaphore arm will be intermittently and successively put in circuit so as to produce upon the eye the effect of a continuously moving streak of light running lengthwise of the semaphore blade, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3d clay of January, 1895.

JACOB XV. LATTIG.

Witnesses:

EDWARD J. MALLOY, JAMES GRAHAM.

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