US553838A

US553838A - And boston

Info

Publication number: US553838A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1913-02-04

Description

(NoModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I. W. COLE. SU'GGESSIVE NON-INTERFERENCE SIGNAL BOX.

"No. 553,838. Patented Fb. 4, 1896.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. F. W. COLE.

SUGGBSSIVE NON-INTERFERENCE SIGNAL BOX.

No. 553,838. Patented Feb. 4, 1896..

AN DREW BARAHAM. PHOTO-UTHQWASN] NGTON. D12.

(No Modlel.) 4 Sheet's-Sheet 3.

F. W COLE.

SUGGESSIVE NON-INTERFERENCE SIGNAL BOX.

No. 553,838 'Patented Feb. 4, 1 896.

HWHH W lai rzeaaea. i I ,fiwerdor. 74%4/ Jrealera'l? @Za,

ANDREW 5.6RAHAM.PHOTOUIHQWASHINGTOKRC.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

"(No Model.) I Y F.- W. COLE SUGGESSIVB NON-INTERFERENCE SIGNAL BOX.

No. 553,838. Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

% ,Z'veW 60. @663 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK IV. COLE, OF NEIVTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN OR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE UNITED STATES FIRE AND POLICE TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, AND BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SUCCESSIVE NON-INTERFERENCE SIGNAL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,838, dated February 4, 1896.

Application filed April 21, 1 8 9 0.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. 001m, of Newton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Successive Non-Interference Signal-Boxes,

of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to construct a successive non-interference signalbox.

The invention'consists in the combination with a signaling-train, a signaling-lever, or other means of setting the signal, a non-interference magnet included in or governed by the signaling-circuit, and a box-number circuit-controller, of a controlling-lever which controls the transmission of the signal, and a trap or equivalent device or devices coextensive with a complete round of the box-number for said controlling-lever, constructed and arranged to release the controlling-lever when the circuit is closed at the home box that it may be moved into or assume its abnormal position and retain the set signal, and also allow the controlling-lever when once thrown out to resume its normal position and permit or effect the transmission of the retained signal only at the beginning of a succeeding round of the box-number. The home box is the particular box in circuit with others which is being operated. Means, such as a retaining device or equivalent, are provided which prevent the controlling-lever resuming its normal position at the beginning of a succeeding round of the box-number if the signaling circuit has not been continuously closed for a longer time than the longest closure in any signal, that the retained signal at the home box may not be transmitted until the signaling-circuit has been closed such a definite or predetermined length of time, which, as above stated, is a longer time than the longest closure in 'any signal. An audi- Serial No. 3 L8,'785. (No model.)

in. A variable stopping device is provided for the train, by which a predetermined number of rounds are insured, it being herein shown as a holder or prop which holds the signaling-lever in position to allow the train to operate, and a restoring device which restores the holder or prop to its normal position that the train maybe stopped. The restoring device is under the control of the armature of the non-interference magnet and operates to effect or permit the holder to be restored only when the armature is in its attracted position, and at all times or when the armature is retracted such operation is impossible. Another restoring device is also preferably provided operating to permit or effect the stopping of the train after a certain length of time has expired, and also to prevent the box running down. A lamp, such as for instance an electric lamp, is also pref- 7o erably contained within the box to be lighted upon opening the box-door, it being herein represented as included in the circuit and controlled by a suitable switch operated by the box-door, the result accomplished being the inclusion of the lamp in circuit when the box is opened. Means are herein also preferably provided for effecting the transmission of the signal over another circuit if the line should remain open a longer time than the longest break in any signal, such means being herein shown as an open ground tap or branch leading from the signaling-circuit at each box, a switch of suitable construction being provided for closing it on such long breaks in the line.

Figure 1 shows in front elevation the working parts of a signal-box embodying this invention, the case and door being omitted; Fig. 2, a modification of one of the features 0 to be referred to; Fig. 3, a front elevation of a modified form of signal-box to be referred to; Fig. 4, a cross-sectional view ofthe signal-box shown in Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line a: 00, the magnets and bells both being 5 omitted; Fig. 5, an end view of the signalbox shown in Fig. 1, the light and bell magnet and a portion of the supporting-frame being omitted; Fig. 6, a cross-sectional detail of the trap and controlling-lever shown roo in Fig. 1; Fig. 7, a cross section of the signal-box shown in Fig. 3, taken on the dotted line 2 2; Fig. 8, a diagrammatical view showing the circuits of the box shown in Fig. l Figs. 9 to 18, details of various modified forms of trap and retaining devices for the controlling-lever to be referred to; Fig. 19, a detail of the ground connection which may be employed at a receiving station, and Fig. 20 an enlarged view of the essential working parts of the box shown in Fig. 1.

The main framework A is of suitable shape and construction to support the operating parts.

The mainspring a is arranged on the winding-arbor a in usual manner.

The driving-wheel a meshes with a pinion g on the shaft a on which shaft is fixed a toothed wheel a which engages a pinion a secured to a shaft a to which shaft is fixed a toothed wheel a, which engages a pinion a secured to a shaft a carrying an escape-wheel a" with which co-operates a suitable pallet.

The box'number circuit-controller is herein shown as a break-wheel 200 secured to the shaft a This train of gears constitutes a motor mechanism or signaling-train, and as herein represented is a normally-wound train, but so far as the particular features of this invention are concerned any other wellknown or suitable form of train may be employed, as, for instance, a signaling-train which is wound when the signaling-lever, pull or other actuator is operated.

The starting mechanism of the train, as herein shown, consists of a stop-lever a a signaling lever or arm 0, (herein shown as attached to it) and a pull 1), which when operated moves the signaling-lever to lift the stoplever, yet so far as the special features of this box are concerned the said signalinglever and pull may be one and the same part and the stop-lever may be formed as a part of or connected to it.

The pull 1), as herein shown, is mounted loosely on the arbor a and has attached to it at or near one end a spring b for holding it in fixed position. The pull 1) has on it an arm b which when the pull is moved, as-for instance, when sending a signalstrikes the arm (1, herein called the signaling-lever, which is secured to the shaft 0 to which is fixed the stop-lever 0 having a stud or projection c which engages or enters a notch of the flange a" on the wheel (0*. The stop-lever c and its stud constitute a locking-lever for the train. This stop-lever normally holds the train against the tension of its main or actuating spring,so that when raised the train is released and will run until stopped. The pull Z) has formed on it a series of teeth, as yet such toothed portion may be made independent of and moved by the pull if desired. The teeth b co-operate with a pallet Z)" which, as shown, has three teeth or projections 2 3 at. A11 arm 0 is pivoted at 5 and rests against the said pallet I), which arm carries or controls a hammer Z) of a tap-bell 5 The hammer-carrying arm I) is acted upon by a spring I). This bell is designed for the purpose of giving an audible alarm whenever the pull is operated to indicate to passers-by that a signal is being rung in.

The projection 3 on the pallet I) is located between the projections 2 4, and when the pull is operated one of the teeth will strike the said projection 3 and move the pallet b" on its pivot until the projection 3 passes over said tooth, and as the pallet b is moved on its pivot the rear side thereof acts against the hammer-carrying arm 11 to move it away from the gong, and as soon as the said projection is freed the spring 6 throws the hammer I) against the gong (1 and returns the pallet to its normal position. \Vhen the projection 3 is thus raised, the projection 4 enters between the next two teeth b and said projection 4c will prevent further movement of the toothed part b until such time as the projection 3 assumes its normal position, the result being to obtain a full movement or stroke of the bellhammer. \Vhen the pull returns to its normal position, the projections 2 3 act in a like manner to the projections 3 4 just dcscribed.

'In Fig. 2 the pallet is so formed that it does not act as a double escapement, but the projections 2 3 do act to move the bell-hammer. A tap-bell d is also contained in the box, the hammer-carrying arm (l of which is attached to or moved by the armature d of the electromagnet (Z and the said magnet is included in the circuit, as will be hereinafter described, to be cut out when the door of the box is closed and also be cut out when the signaling-train is in operation. To best effect this result by means of the door, a plugswitch d" is controlled or actuated by the door which co-operates with the contact-pens 6 '7, and to effect the result, when the door is opened and the signaling-train in operation, the contact-pens S 9 are arranged just above the stop-lever 0 so as to close one against the other, and thereby shunt out the magnet (l whenthe said arm is raised. A plate e (see Fig. 1) is loosely mounted on the shaft a, said plate having two arms c 6 the ends of which are provided with ratchet-teeth. This plate constitutes a holder or prop for the stop or signaling lever.

A spring 6 is attached to the framework, the free end of which bears against the plate or holder e, acting to throw it in a direction toward theleft, and a stop or projection 0 on the stop-lever 0 when the said lever is in engagement with the signaling-train, lies in the path of movement of the arm 6' of the plate or holder 6 to thereby hold it in position against the tension of its actuating-spring. hen the stop-lever is lifted, the spring a will throw the plate or holder c in the direction of the arrow thereon until the stop 0 Strikes against a projection 13 on the arm Another plate, as i, is arranged loosely on a cam or eccentric 2", secured to a shaft a said plate 1' having an upwardly-extended arm 02 which bears against the pin 14 on the lever 01. This plate is for the purpose of restoring the plate or holder 6 to its normal position and hence constitutes a restoring device for the holder.

A spring 1' is secured to the framework and adapted to bear upon the restoring-plate 2', tending to hold it down on or against the pin 14:. It will be seen that at each rotation of the shaft a the restoring-plate i will be moved forward and back.

The restoring-plate t has a projection or point i which is adapted to en gage one or another tooth of the ratchet-toothed end of the arm 6 of the holder and by so doing to move said holder e when the latter has been released or is in its abnormal position in a direction opposite to that of the arrow thereon, moving it a distance equal to one tooth at each revolution of the shaft a The object of the holder e and its restoring device, constructed and arranged as herein shown, is to insure three rounds of the signalwheel in any event or even though the box is interfered with, and taken in combination with a stop-lever is herein termed a variable stopping device, yet my'invention comprehends any other equivalent form by which the results set forth can be carried out.

To subserve the ends desired, I have provided three teeth at the ends of the arms 6 e of the holder, and starting with the projection 0 against the projection 13 on the arm 6 it will be seen that the projection 0 will engage the following teeth separately and successively as the holder e is moved until the said holder has been moved sufiiciently to allow the projection to drop over the end of the arm, at which time the stop-lever 0 will enter the notch of the flange of one of the wheels of the train..

The holder 6 and its restoring device for the stop-lever may be made in many different ways and accomplish substantially the same results, and hence I desire it to be understood that this invention includes any .form of holder and restoring device for the stop-lever which accomplishes the results herein speci fied, and furthermore that a variable stopping device maybe employed with any other operating member of the trainas, for instance, with a signaling-lever or pull.

A non-interference magnet on is contained within the box, and as herein shown is included directly in the signaling-circuit, although it is obvious that it may be included in a shunt thereof if desired. The armature m of this electromagnet controls or acts upon a controlling-lever which is designed to control the transmission of the signal, said lever being herein represented as a shunt-lever '11,, having on it a stud which acts upon or against the contact-pens 16 17, which when closed shunts out the signal-wheel.

trolling-lever n is shown as extended in an The said contwo way notch.

arm n which carries a stud 14 against which bears the arm n of the restoring-plate i. The arm n has at its outer end a pin of pressed upon by a spring n The pin n is so located as to follow along one or the other side of a flange n on a wheel a depending upon the position of the said lever. The flange n has a series of notches corresponding in number and position with the teeth of the signalwheel, or coextensive with a round of the boxnumber, and the wheel is designed to move synchronously with the circuit-wheel, so that at each and every closure of the signalingcircuit at the home box one of said notches will be opposite the latch, stud or spring-pin n that said stud may be free to move therethrough in one direction. The notches are beveled or provided with inclined bottoms, as shown in Fig. 6, which will admit passage of the stud or spring-pin n in one direction viz., from the inside to the outside thereof, said bevel or incline being such as to prevent the stud returning to the inside of the flange after it has been once moved or thrown out. One of the notches, however, is made much deeper thanthe others and through this notch the said stud 72 may be moved freely in either direction, this notch being herein termed a The deep or two way notch is located in the flange so as to present I itself opposite the stud only at the commencement of a round of the signal-wheel.

The shunt-lever it constitutes a controllinglever for the signaling mechanism, it con-,

trolling the action of the circuit-wheel on the signaling-circuit,'or in other words controlling the operation of the signaling-circuit by the signal-transmitter, and so far as many of the features of my invention herein contained are concerned it may be a lever arranged to co-operate with the signaling mechanism in many ways other than to shunt it out.

- The flanged wheel constitutes a trap for the controlling-lever n, and whether said controlling-lever n be a shunt-lever or not its co-operation with the trap may be the same, and as it is the intention to construct a trap for the controlling lever which is coextensive with a round of the box-number, and which shall hold said lever in a definite or fixed position when the circuit is open at the home box and shall place it under the influence of the armatureof the non-interference magnet,

as it accomplishes the results specified, viz :7-

to hold the controlling-lever in its normal p0: sition when the circuit is open at the home box and release said controlling-lever when the circuit is closed at the home box during a round of the box-number, that it may be moved into or assume its abnormal position and thereby retain the set. signal. if the sig-:

naling-circuit is opened at another point, andalso allow the controlling-lever when once thrown out to resume its normal position and permit or eifect the transmission of the retained signal only at the beginning of a succeeding round of the box-number. By means of a trap such as herein shown the controlling-lever will be in a position to pass to the opposite side to close the shunt or disable the operation of the circuit-wheel at every closure of the signaling-circuit at the home box, but will be held or restrained from so passing to the opposite side by the armature of the non-interference magnet if the said armature is attracted; but if at or during the time that the signaling-circuit is closed at the home box it should be opened at another point the armature of the non-interference magnet will be retracted and the controllinglever will pass to said opposite side and close the shunt or other wire cut out or disable the box. By means of the deep or two-way notch the shunt or other controlling lever will be allowed to return to the inside of theflange and open the shunt or otherwise out in the signal only at the commencement of the round, so that if said lever is thrown out during the transmission of a round it will resume its normal position only 011 the commencement of a succeeding round of the box-number, thereby insuring a complete round or correct signal.

\Vhen the controlling-lever n is moved in the direction of the arrow thereon into its abnormal position, the pin 14 will strike the arm n on the restoring-plate 'i at or near its outer end, lifting said plate out of the path of engagement with the arm 6, and by such disengagement the restoring-plated may be moved without moving the holder.

A retaining device is herein shown for the controlling-lever, the function of which is to keep said lever in its abnormal position, when once thrown out, a longer time than the longest closure in any signal before allowing it to resume its normal position, so that said lever will not return and permit or effect the transmission of the signal unless the signaling-circuit has been closed such a length of time.

In Fig. 1 the retaining device is represented as a retarding device consisting of a sector 0 engaging a pinion 0 fixed or connected to a ratchet-wheel 0 the latter being engaged by a spring-pressed pawl 0 borne by an escape-wheel 0. The retarding device is arranged to co-operate with and retard the movement of the shunt-lever n in such a manner that said shunt-lever may be moved in one direction or retracted quickly and restored to its normal position or attracted slowly.

The box thus far described will transmit its own signal when started, the signal-wheel revolving as many times as there are teeth on the end of the arm of the holder 6; but if when the home box is started the line is in use the armature of the non-interference its signaling-train and consequently the Sig-- nal-wheel will continue to revolve.

No signal will be transmitted from the home box during the time the controllinglever is trapped out; but as soon as the line has been restored to its normal condition for a sufficient length of time to allow the retarding device to permit replacement of the shunt-lever, and furthermore for the stud n to arrive at the deep or two-way notch in the flange 11 of the wheel a, then the home signal will be transmitted. The interval of time required for maintaining the line closed to permit the shunt-lever to open the shunt will be longer than the longest closure in an y signal.

Supposing two boxes, say Nos. 25 and 34, be started simultaneously and be operated synchronously, they will operate to open and close the circuit together for the first two impulses, and when box No. 34: attempts to close the circuit prior to opening it for the third time it finds the circuit open at box No. 25, and as the controlling or shunt lever 72 of box No. 34L is at that time under the control of the armature of its non-interference magnet and that said magnet is demagnetizedthe controlling-lever will be moved through the particular notch in the flange n opposite which the pin a will then be located. Thus it will be seen that box No. 34 is thereby shunted out and box No. 25 will continue to transmit its own signal.

During the time that the box No. 25 is operating, the signaling mechanism of box No. will continue to operate, and after box No. 25 has ceased and the line has been closed a longer interval of time than the longest closure in any signal the armature of the noninterference magnet of box No. 3% will be attracted, and as soon thereafter as the trap arrives in such position that its first notch or two-way notch comes opposite the pin 07, the controlling-lever will be restored to its normal position and box No. 34L will then operate.

If boxes Nos. 25 and 34 do not run synchronously, although started at the same time, the first time that one of them closes the circuit during the time that the other has the circuit open then it would be cut out.

lVhile it is of the utmost importance that the notches of the trap should correspond with the breaks and closures for the first round of its own signal-wheel, it is not of as great importance to have notches for the remaining rounds.

It has been found desirable that the box once started shall be stopped after a certain length of time provided it does not have a chance to send in its signal, as a signal long after it has been set is worthless. To eifect this result I have provided a suitable stopping device, it being herein represented as a ratchet-toothed wheel u placed loosely on the shaft 60 and a collar or hub fixed to the shaft a and having a single projection to, the outer end of which will engage the teeth of the wheel a, and at each revolution of the shaft 66' the projection u will engage and move the ratchet -wheel "it one tooth. The ratchetwheel a, loose on the shaft (E is normally held under the tension of a spring a on said shaft, and a retaining-pawl a is pivoted at 100 and has an upwardlyextended end 101, which lies in the path of movement of a pin 102 on the armature 771/, said pawl being acted upon also by a spring 103, tending to move it into engagement wit-h the teeth of the ratchet-wheel it. It is desired to throw the pawl to into engagement with the said wheel 16 when the line is open to thereby hold it against backward rotation as it is rotated forward step by step by the tooth u and to throw said pawl out of engagement when the line is closed, permitting the ratchet-wheel to return to its normal position. It will be noticed that by means of the pin 102 this engagement and disengagement of the pawl is effected. A projection or block 105 is arranged on the wheel u in such place that after the said wheel has been moved one tooth at a time for a sufficient number of revolutions of the shaft a and held by the retaining-pawl a said projection or block 105 will strike the arm 6 of the holder 6 and return it to its normal position. This block or projection 105 has on it a conducting plate or piece 106, and two contact-pens 107 108 (see Fig. 8 and dotted lines,

Fig. 1) are arranged in the path of movement of said plate 106 to contact therewith after said ratchet-wheel carrying it has been moved a short distance-say two or more teeth. These contact-pens 107 108 are included in a ground tap or branch wire 109, and when in contact with the plate 106 close the said ground tap or branch. A contact-pen 112 (see Fig. 8 and dotted lines, Fig. 1) bears on the signal-wheel continually to maintain the ground closed at that point.

As herein represented, two contact-pens 113 and 114c bear on the signal-wheel, one of which is connected by wire 31 with one side of the line and the other by wire 32 with the other side of the line. This ground tap or branch is for the purpose of establishing a groundcircuit over which a signal may be transmitted if the main signalin g-circuit is broken, and hence I will provide a ground tap or branch wire at the receiving station, as shown in Fig. 19, such ground tap or branch being connected to the line with a portion of the.

battery at each side of it, and containing a two-point or other switch by which it may be closed by the attendant or automatically, as desired, when a break occurs which would disable the line. Also at the box the wires 31 32 are connected to the coils of the non-interference magnet between them, so that one coil will be included in each wire. This enables inglever.

the said non-interference magnet to exert its influence in controlling the signaling mechanism whether the line is open at one or the other side of the ground-tap.

In transmitting the signal over the groundcircuit one or the other contact 113 114 will be in the ground-circuit and co-operate'with the signal-wheel. As the contact-pens and signaling-wheel are arranged between the coils of the non-interference magnet, so also the shunt for the said pens and signal-wheel is included in the circuit between the said coils. A pin is secured to the ratchetwheel 11, and a pawl w is pivoted at '71 to the frame, arranged to co-operate with said pin 7 0. The said pawl has a lateral extension 72 which is engaged by a pin 60 on the signallVhen the stop-lever is raised the pawl is allowed to drop into the path of the pin 70 by its own weight, and as the ratchetwheel is turned two or more teeth the said pin '70 passes by the pawl, preventing the return movement of the wheel as long as the stop-. This enables lever is in elevated position. the ground-tap to be held while a signal is being sent in over the ground-circuit.

An electric or other lamp Z is contained within the box and included in a branch wire 120 connected to a contact-pen 121, which is arranged to co-operate with a pen 6 controlled by a plunger (1 moved by the box-door, closing said branch wire when the door is opened, or it could be a gas-jet lighted by an electric spark in usual manner. As herein shown, a spring t is fixed to the sector, the free end of which bears against a pin on the shuntlever a, normally holding the said lever in the position shown in the drawings. An arm t is pivoted at 25 and supports a target or disk i and the shunt-lever n is extended upward, so that it may be connected with the arm 25 bya pin i As the controlling or shunt lever n is moved on its pivot the target or disk 25 will be moved from one to its other position back of an opening made in the faceplate of the box. This targetor disk foretells the position of the controlling-lever and may have printed on it such words as line in use, so that when exposed it may indicate that a signal is being transmitted from another box. It will also be understood that the said target or disk will show any rupture or abnormal change in the condition of the circuit, as, for instance, when the line is broken.

\Vith the parts shown in Fig. 1 and the non-in terference magnet incl uded directly in the main circuit the current passes'over the wire 30, through one of the coils of the noninterference magnet, over the wire 32 through the contact-pens 113 114 on the signal-wheel, over the wire 31 through the other coil of the magnet m to the wire 33, and thence by wire through the magnet d lamp Z, wire 120,

contact-pens 121 6, and out by wire 35. With the parts in this position it will be understood that the box-door is open, and when the boxdoor is closed the only change will be that the Lil contact-pens (3 7 will be closed and contactpens (J 121 open, and the current thereby will pass from the wire 33 directly through the contact-pens 7 6 and out by wire 35. \Vhen the box is started and the stop-lever c lifted the contact-pens 8 9 will be closed, thereby shunting out the magnet d, and when a signal is being transmitted from another box the contact-pens 16 17 will be closed and the signal-wheel shunted out.

Many features herein shown are applicable to other forms of signal-boxes, and also may be used in connection with other forms of electrical instruments and apparatus, so that I do not desire to limit my invention to their employment with the particular form or construction herein shown.

The stop-lever 0 may be raised by a stud projecting from it instead of by means of an independent lever, as shown, in which instance the lever 0 will be considered the pull, and it is really this member which controls the operation of the box.

In lieu of the ratchet-toothed wheel u and means herein shown for moving it, for the purpose of restoring the holder e to its normal position, if not previously restored by other means, any other form of restoring device may be employed.

The modification shown in Figs. 3 and '7 shows a train of wheclwork similar to that shown in Fig. 1. The pull 1) has a hooked end which engages ratchet-teeth on the end of the stop-lever c and instead of lifting said stop-lever as shown in Fig. 1, it simply releases it when operated, the said lever being acted upon by a spring 50. The restoringplate '6 is loosely arranged on an eccentric substantially the same as shown in Fig. 1, it having a projection i which intermittingly engages the ratchet-toothed portion of the stop-lever and lifts it. The engagement of the restoringplate '2'. with the ratchet-toothed portion of the stop-lever is controlled by a pin a on the shunt-lever n, and the said shuntlever is under the control of the armature of the non-interference magnet.

As a retaining device I have herein shown a spring-pawl m, which is attached to or acts upon said armature on, said pawl engaging and co-operating with one of the wheels of the signaling-train.

The stop-lever c has a pin or projection which engages with another projection on one of the wheels of the train, and whenever said stoplever is depressed this pin passes down out of the path of movement of the pin 011 the train.

An arm 0 carrying a pin c is arranged on the shaft 0, moving simultaneously with the locking-lever c, said pin occupying a position beneath the spring pawl m and lifting it from engagement with the toothed wheel of the train when the stop-lever is in its normal or locking position. This is for the purpose of allowing free movement of the armature of the non-interference magnet at all times GX cept when. the stop-lever is in its abnormal position.

In lieu of the particular form of restoring device shown in Fig. 1 I have herein represented another form which has substantially the same functions and accomplishes substantially the same results. This construction (shown in Fig. 3) consists of a toothed wheel a fixed to a shaft a which is engaged by a toothed wheel a'- loosely arranged on a pivot 24 fixed to an arm 23 pivoted at 2%. arm is pressed by means of a spring 26 so that its toothed wheel (0 will norm ally engage the toothed wheel a The arm 23 carrying the toothed wheel to is so located as to be acted upon by a pull and turned on its pivot, and when so held depressed by the pull the toothed wheel a? will be disengaged from the toothed wheel a The toothed Wheel (621 carries a pin 27, which when the said wheel carrying it has been rotated a certain distance will strike the outer end of the arm 0 of the stop-lever to restore the latter to its normal or looking position. As soon, however, as said lever has been restored the train stops, and the toothed wheel (L21 may remain in just the position that it was left when the said train stopped. A spring 30 is arranged 011 the pivot 24:, it being connected with the toothed wheel (L21 and with the arm 23 the action of which is to move said toothed wheel (0 in the direction of the arrow thereon whenever the said wheel is disengaged froin the wheel a It will be seen that many forms of holders may be provided for the controlling member of the signaling mechanism and many forms of restoring devices therefor, and many forms of restoring devices for stopping the train after it has run a definite length of time, so that I do not desire to limit my invention to any particular form.

Referring to Fig. 9 a different form of trap is shown, comprisinga flanged wheel the sides of the notches of which are beveled instead of the bottoms, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, substantially the same result, however, being accomplished, viz: to permit the controlling lever to pass out, but to prevent it from rcturning.

Referring to Figs. 10, 11, and 12, flanged wheels are also shown as the traps, the notches in the flange have inclined bottoms, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and in lieu of the special form of retaining device, such as shown in Fig. 1, and employed for the purpose of preventing the return of the controlling-lever until after the signaling circuit has been closed a longer time than the longest closure of any signal, a grooved guide-block is secured to the flanged wheel adjacent to the two-way notch, and a spring pin a is arranged on the controlling-lever a, which pin is so located as to enter the said groove when the controlling-lever is in its normal position. WVhen the armature is attracted and the controlling-lever is held only by the trap, as the This flanged wheel completes its rotation the pin enters the groove in the grooved guide-block S0, and will follow in said groove until it arrives opposite the two-way notch, at which time it will pass through the notch if the armature still remains attracted; but if at any time while the pin is following along the groove the armature should be retracted, the spring-pin, yielding, will pass over the inclined or outer wall of said groove, which wall is sufficiently high to prevent the return of the pin. In other words this grooved block has an entrance in the line of progress of the wheel, and has an exit communicating with the two-way notch, and the pin can enter only at the entrance, although owing to its spring it can leave said groove at any time. This grooved block is of sufficient length to hold the pin prior. to its passing through the twoway notch for a longer time than the longest closure in any signal. The controlling-lever n controlled by the armature, and which closes the shunt when retracted, has in this instance three positions, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 10viz., a complete retracted position wherein the shunt is closed, another position with the pin against the flange of the trap, and a third position with the armature attracted and the pin inside said flange. At the extreme retracted position and also at the intermediate position the shunt is closed, and it is not opened until the controlling-lever has completely resumed its normal position.

In Figs. 15, 16 and 17 the notches of the flange are all alike and have straight sides and inclined bottoms. In this instance a block 81 having an inclined acting face 82 is secured to the flanged wheel adjacent the two-way notch. This block 81 is of substantially the same length as the guide-block in Fig. 10, and is for the purpose of lifting the pin on the shunt-lever that it may pass through the two-way notch. The block is made quite narrow, so that the pin can only bear on it or occupy a position in thepath of movement, when the armature is attracted or the shunt-lever in such position that its pin bears against the outer face of said flange. This block 81, it will be seen, allows the shunt-lever to be moved at will as the armature is retracted.

Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, the notches are arranged in the periphery of the wheel instead of on a flange, and in such event the controlling or shunt lever will be moved'transversely to the wheel. Upon this notched wheel a grooved block, as 80, or an inclined faced block, as 81, may be secured, or a retarding device may be employed for the shunt or controlling lever.

In Fig. 18 the notches are shown as arranged on a straight bar instead of on a curve, which bar may be reciprocated in any well'known or suitable manner.

I claim- 1. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, apull,

a toothed part moved by said pull, combined with a plate having three projections 2, 3, 4, on it, a bell-hammer, and gong, substantially as described.

2. In a signal-box, asignaling-train, apull, a toothed sector moved by said pull, combined with a pallet, having three projections 2, 3, 4, on it, a bell-hammer, and gong, substantially as described.

3. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a pull, a toothed sector b combined with a pallet having three projections 2, 3, 4, whereby a full and complete movement of the pallet is obtained in each direction, substantially as described.

4. In a signal-box, a bell, and bell-hammer, a signaling-train, a pull, a sector and a pivoted plate having two portions one on each side of the pivot which act on the bell-hammer to move it, and also having a tooth which is engaged by said sector, substantially as described.

5. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a signaling-lever, combined with a variable stopping device for the train comprising a lever adapted. to engage and hold the train, a holder for said lever movable quickly in one direction and restored intermittingly, substantially as described.

6. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a signaling-lever, combined with a non-interference magnet, and its armature, and a variable stopping device for the train, the operating member of which is made independent of but operated by the train, and its engagement with the co-operating parts of the said stopping device, being controlled by the aforesaid armature, substantially as described.

7. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and a pull, combined with a variable stopping device for the train comprising a controllingdetent for the train, a holder for it, and a restoring device for the holder under the control of the armature of the non-interference magnet, substantially as described.

8. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and signaling-lever, combined with a holder adapted when in its abnormal position to hold the signaling-lever to allow the train to operate, a-restoring device for restoring said holder to its normal position, and a'member controlled by a non-interference magnet for disengaging the said restoring device and holder, substantially as described.

9. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a signaling-lever, a holder for holding the signaling-lever in position to allow the train to opcrate, combined with a restoring device for said holder, made independent of but operated by the train, a non-interference magnet, and its armature, the latter controlling the action of said restoring device when the train is operating, substantially as described.

10. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and signaling-lever, combined with a holder, as 6, adapted when moved to hold up the signalinglever, a restoring-plate, as i, for restoring said holder 8 to its normal position slowly, and means for moving the said restoring-plate '11 to move the holder at each revolution of the signal-wheel, substantially as described.

11. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and signaling-lever, combined with a holder, as 6, adapted to be moved to hold the signalinglever in position to allow the train to operate, a restoring plate, as 2', for restoring said holder 6 to its normal position slowly, and an arm controlled by the armature of the noninterference magnet for eifectin g engagement of the plate '5 and holder 6, one with the other, substantially as described.

12. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and

signaling-lever, combined with a holder adapted when moved to hold the signalinglever in position to allow the train to operate, and a restoring device for the holder, an arm controlled by the armature of the non-inten ference magnet for controlling the joint operation of said holder and restoring device, and a retarding device which retards the movement of the said arm in one direction, substantially as described.

' 13. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a signaling-lever, and holder for it, a restoring device for restoring it progressively, combined with a projection, as 0 on the signalingdever for retaining the holder when moved by the restoring device, substantially as described.

14. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and signaling-lever, a non-interference magnet and its armature, combined with a holder for said sign aling-lever, and two restoring devices therefor, one of which is operated when the armature is attracted, and the other of which is operated when the armature is retracted, substantially as described.

15. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and signaling-lever, a non-interference magnet, and its armature, combined with aholder for the signali11glever,a restoring device for moving it, the engagement therewith being controlled by the armature of said magnet, and

- another restoring device for said holder, a

retaining-pawl therefor, the engagement of which with the restoring device is controlled by said armature, substantially as described.

16. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and signaling-lever, a shunt-lever for shunting out the signaling-wheel, combined with a retarding device controlling the return movement of said shunt-lever, a non-interference magnet, and its armature, substantially as described.

17. In a signal-box, a signaling train, and signaling-lever, combined with a non-interference magnet, and its armature, and a retarding device for the armature, said shuntlever being acted upon by both the armature of the non-interference magnet and the retarding device, substantially as described.

18. In a non-interference signal-box, a signaling-lever, a toothed circuit-controller for the box-number, and shunt-lever therefor controlled by the armature of the non-interference magnet, combined with a wheel controlling the position of the shunt-lever, and havin g notches corresponding in number and position with the number and position of the teeth 011 said circuit-controller, the first one only of which notches allows free passage of the shunt-lever in either direction, substantially as described.

19. In a non -interfcrence signal-box, a signaling-train having a circuitwheel, a non-interference magnet and its armature, a controlling-lever for controlling the transmission of the signal governed bysaid armature, combined with a trap for said controlling-lever, consisting of a progressively-movable plate traveling synchronously with the circuitwheel, having notches corresponding in number to the closures of the circuit-wheel, one of which notches offers a free and unobstructed passage in each direction, and the remainder oiter an obstruction to the passage therethrough in one direction but permit free movement in the other direction, substantially as described.

20. In a non-interference signal-box, a signaling-train having a circuit-wheel, a signaling-lever, a controlling-lever for controlling the transmission of the signal governed by the armature of the non-interference magnet, combined with a trap traveling synchronously with the wheel having notches corresponding in number with the closures of the circuitwheel, one of which notches serves as a twoway notch and the remainder as one-way notches, and a latch which co-operates with said notches and thereby controls the position of said controlling-lever, substantially as described.

21. In a successive non-interference signalboX,a signaling-train, a non-interference magnet and its armature combined with a con-.

trolling-lever governed by said armature and co-operating mechanism operated by that closure in the signaling-circuit which is of longer duration than the longest closure in any signal, and a trap for the said controlling-lever which allows said lever to assume its operative position at the beginning of a round, substantially as described.

22. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a controlling-lever which controls the transmission of the signal, a non-interference magnet, and its armature, combined with a trap substantially as described for the controlling-lever, and a retaining device also for the controlling-levcr which determines Whether or not the controlling-lever shall cooperate with the trap, as and for the purposes set forth.

23. In a non-interference signal-box, a signaling-train, a controlling-lever which controls the transmission of the signal, combined with a non-interference magnet, and a trap acting independently to hold the controllinglever, depending on the condition of the circuit at the home box, and a retaining device independent of the trap for the controlling lever, substantially as described.

24. In a successive non-interference signalboX, a signaling-train, a non-interference magnet, and its armature, a controlling-lever controlling the transmission of the signal and a trap having retaining portions for said controlling-lever which correspond with the breaks of the transmitter of the signalingtrain, and aretaining device controlled by the armature of the non-interference magnet which also co-operates with said trap, substantially as described.

25. A successive non-interference signal box, containing the following instrumentalities, viz: a windable signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armature, means for setting the signal, a controllinglever which controls the transmission of the signal, and a trap co-extensive with a round of the box-number, for said controlling-lever, constructed and arranged to release the controlling-lever when the circuit is closed at the home box and opened at a distant point that it may retain the set signal and also allow the controlling-lever to resume its normal position and permit or effect the transmission of the retained signal only at the beginning of a succeeding round of the box-number, and a retaining device for the controlling lever which requires a longer time to operate than the longest closure in any signal, substantially as described.

26. In a non-interference signal-box, a signaling-train, a non-interference magnet and its armature, a lever to hold the train, a holder therefor, a restoring device for said holder, combined with a controlling-lever controlling the engagement of the restoring device and holder, and a trap operated by the train for said controlling-lever, substantially as described.

27. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a circuit-controller normally included in the signalingcircuit, combined with a ground branch wire leading from the signaling-circuit, a time-switch operated by the train for including the circuit-controller in said ground branch, and an electromagnet for controlling the operation of said switch, substantially as described.

28. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and two magnet-coils, controlling the transmission of the signal, combined with a circuitcontroller included in the signaling-circuit between the said coils and a ground branch leading from the signaling-circuit also betwo magnet-coils, controlling the transmis- 6o sion of the signal, combined with a circuitcontroller included in the signaling-circuit between the said coils and a ground branch leading from the signaling-circuit also between the said coils, substantially as described.

30. In a non-interference signal-box, a signaling-train, a non-interference magnet and its armature, a ground branch wire, a switch therefor, a step-by-step device for moving said switch, and a retaining-pawl for said step-bystep device under the control of the armature of said non interference magnet, substantially as described.

31. In a non-interference signal-box, a signaling-train, a non-interference magnet and its armature, a ground branch wire, a switch therefor, a step-by-step device for moving said switch, and a retaining-pawl for said step-bystep device under the control of the armature of said non-interference magnet, and another retaining-pawl for said step-by-step device adapted to release it by mechanism controlled by the train, substantially as described.

32. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, a noninterference magnet and its armature, combined with a ground branch wire leading from the signaling-circuit, and a time-switch for said ground branch wire, it consisting of an intermittingly-movable plate, means for mov- 9o ing it forward, a holder for said plate which is controlled by the armature of the non-interference magnet, and an independent holder for said plate, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing w1tnesses.

FREDERICK W. COLE.

Witnesses:

BERNIOE J. NoYEs, EMMA J. BENNETT.