US553839A

US553839A - And boston

Info

Publication number: US553839A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1913-02-04

Description

(No Model.)

F. W. COLE. NoN-INTERPBRBNGE SIGNAL B0X.

No. 553,839. Patented Feb. 4, 1.896..

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

FREDERICK W. COLE, OF NEVTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE UNITED STATES FIRE AND POLICE TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, AND BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

NON-INTERFERENCE SIGNAL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,839, dated February 4, 1896.

Application filed March 7, 1891. Serial No. 384,072. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t 71u03/ concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. COLE, of Newton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in 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.

1o This invention has for its object to improve the construction of signal-boxes, being especially applicable to that class of signalboxes known as successive non-interference boxes.

The invention consists in the combination, with signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of its magnetic field, of signal-controlling and retaining mechanism operated to retain a set 2o signal bythe said armature when moved out of its magnetic field and to release said retained signal when said armature is restored; also in the combination, with signaling` mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its ar- 2 5 mature adapted to move out of its magnetic field, of signal controlling and retaining mechanism operated to retain a set signal by the said armature when moved ont of its inagnetic iield and to release said retained signal 3o when said armature is restored, and timing mechanism holding the signal-circuit closed a longer time than the longest closure in any signal before giving the control of the line to the signal-wheel; also in the combination,

3 5 with signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of its magnetic field or field of force, of a signal-controller governed by said armature, and means controlled by the train in running 4o for holding the signaling-key with its circuitcontacts closed during one round of the signal-wheel at each operation of the box; also in the combination, with signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armature, of a signal-controller governed by said armature, and a stopping device for the train, one of the co-operating members of which is governed by the said armature, and a restoring device operated by the train in running 5o for ,Cstoring said armature; also in the combination, with a signaling-train, of a stopping device consisting of two members, one of which is controlled bythe non-interference magnet and the other by a hand-operated pull or equivalent signaling-lever; also in the com- 5 5 bination of parts which, by their co-operation, enable the signaling-train to be wound at each operation of the pull or signaling lever more than sufficient for the operation of the si gnaling-train in the transmission of one 6o complete signal, whereby a force may be accumulated; also in many details of construction to be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure l shows in side view a successive non-interference signal-box embodying this invention, the pull being omitted; Fig. 2, a plan view of the signal'box shown in Fig. l, the non-interference magnet and a portion of the frame being omitted; and Figs. 3 and 4, sectional details to be referred to. 7o

The signaling mechanism herein shown consists of a toothed wheel a, loosely mounted on a shaft a" and engaging a pinion a2, secured to a shaft n3, which carries a toothed wheel a4, engaging a pinion a5, secured to a shaft a, carrying a toothed wheel a7, which engages a pinion as, secured to a shaft a9, carrying an escape-wheel am, which is engaged by a suitable pallet'a12. The signal-wheel als is placed on the shaft a, with which co-operates a sig- 8o nalin g-key a, pivoted at L15 and carrying one of the circuit making' and breaking contacts 2. A block al is secured to the framework, which supports a yielding pin or arm a, carrying the other circuit making and breaking 8 5 contact The non-interference magnet b is supported by the framework, its armature Z2' being carried by a lever b2, pivoted at b3 to the framework, said lever being extended, as at b4, and 9o carrying a pen b5;

A locking-bar bs, sleeved on the shaft a3 and. lying diametrically across the toothed wheel a4, has at each end a locking` projection, as 57, said projections extending through holes in the said toothed wheel a4, and vsaid bar is pressed into its forward position, as represented in Figs. 2 and 4, by a spring bs.

lVhen the armature is attracted, the outer end of the lever b4 will lie in the path of moveroo nient of the pins Z17 to engage one or the other of them and thereby stop the train, such members constituting the stopping device for the train.

The sleeve Z10 of the bar Z10 has on it two projections Z110 Z110, extending in opposite directions and at right angles with relation to the bar Z10. The faces of each projection are beveled or inclined, and on the shaft a a disk Z112 is fastened which has several beveled-faced projections Z113 on its periphery, one or another of which will engage one of the projections Z110, and as the beveled faces act one upon the other the bar Z10 will be moved rearwardly against the tension of the spring Z18 and will thereby withdraw its projections or pins Z17 from engagement with the lever Z11 to release the train when the disk is revolved.

The disk Z112 forms part of a barrel L11, which receives the main spring, one end of which is attached to said barrel and the other end to the hub c on the toothed wheel a. The barrel Z114 is fixed on the shaft d, and the toothed wheel a is mounted loosely on the said shaft. A pawl c is pivoted to the disk Z112, and is held pressed into engagement with a ratchettoothed wheel by a spring C0. The ratchettoothed wheel c2 is held in fixed position by pins or studs c1, secured to the framework. The ratchet-toothed wheel c5 (shown in dotted lines, Fig. l, and full lines, Figs. 2 and 3) is also fixed to the shaft a', and the winding arm or pull e is pivoted to the door of the box or face-plate ci, which carries a spring-pressed pawl e0, which engages the said ratchettoothed wheel. As the pull e0 is depressed ,the ratchet-wheel c will be rotated a distance equal to one or more teeth, the shaft a correspondingly rotating` the disk Z112 so that one of its pins or projections Z113 engages one of the projections Z110 and moves the bar Z1G longitudinally on'the shaft cl3 to thereby release the train. By this means it will be seen that the main spring may be wound and the train released, and the parts are so proportioned that the main spring may be wound at each operation of the pull a0 enough for several signals, on which account said pull will be known as an aceummulative pull or winding device.

There is arranged on the wheel (l a tia-nge C10, which engages a projection 012 on the spring-pressed pawl c when the disk has been moved a certain distance independently of the toothed wheel ctv-as, for instance, when the spring has been completely woundan d when so engaging the pawl c holds said pawl and prevents it from enteringthe next tooth of the ratchet-wheel c2. A stopping device C is also arranged on the barrel Z111, which acts as a stop for the wheel a, it being in the path of the flange C10 as the spring runs down. This winding mechanism may be applied to any other form of signaling mechanism than that herein shown.

An arm CZ extends from the circuit-changing lever (L11 having a shouldered end (Z, with which the pin Zi on the arm Z11 of the armaturecarrying lever co-operates.

The signal-wheel herein shown is made to maintain the signaling-circuit closed all the time except during short intervals for the signal impulses-that is to say, during the intervals of time between the several groups of numbers on the signal-wheel the signalingcircuit will be closed, and said wheel is herein. shown as having on it one round, although. a `wheel having several rounds on it may be employed.

Then the signaling-train is let off or operated and the armature remains attracted, as represented in Fig. l, the signal will be transmitted without interruption, the pin Zf occupying a fixed position in a recess or space just above the shoulder CZ of the arm (Z at the time the circuit is open at the home box, so as to mechanically hold the armature in its attracted position when the magnet is demagnetized. f

The home box is intended to mean that box which is being operated, in contradistinction to the other boxes in the circuit. lf the signaling-circuit is opened during the time the circuit is closed at t-he home box, the armature will be retracted and the pin Z11 will pass down over the shoulder d of the arm (l to thereby mechanically hold the circuit-chan ging lever C611 from operating. The retractile spring is designed to move the armature Z1 out of the magnetic iield when the magnet is demagnetized and the armature released, and when so moved it will there remain until positively restored, and during such time the signaling-circuit will be kept closed at the home box, although the signaling-train and signal-wheel may be operated.

The lever Z12 carrying the armature has a projection Z120, (see dotted lines, Fig. 1,) and pins 4f are placed on the toothed wheel a1, two such pins being herein shown, located substantially diametrically opposite each other, one or the other of which will strike the said projection Z120 and restore the armature to its attracted position immediately after the locking-pin Z1T has passed by the outer or engaging end of the arm Z11. These pins are arranged to restore the armature prior to the beginning of a round of the signal, and as it is very important that the armature should be restored and the line under the influence of the noninterference magnet only for a longer time than the longest closure in any signal, and as the closures in the signaling-circuit by the signal-wheel herein shown are exceedingly long, I have provided means for accomplishing this result, which herein consists of short arms or holders e c, fixed to the shaft d0, one or the other of which will engage a projection e of the circuit-changin g lever (L11 and hold the said lever against vibration and with the circuit-contacts closed such a length of time.

In lieu of the holders c e, which operate mechanically to hold the circuit-changing lever or sign alin g-key, said holders may close IOO a shunt for the signal-Wheel or otherwise prevent the signal being transmitted, and at the same time keep the non-interference magnet in circuit. As herein shown, the arm e will hold the lever L14 during a complete round of the signal-Wheel cl3, and it is during this time that the pin 4E operates to restore the armature Z9.

While I do not desire to limit my invention to this particular means for holding the circuit-lever from vibrating this predetermined length of time, similar means controlled by the train in running may be employed.

If, when the boX is pulled, the line is found to be opened, as by the transmission of a signal from a distant box, the armature will immediately retract and moves out of the mag-A, netic field, but is immediately restored by the pin 4, and as said pin passes by the short arm b2() the armature Will again retract if the line continues to remain open, and moves out of the magnetic eld, Where it remains, holding the circuit-lever a from vibrating, and with the circuit-contacts closed by means of the arm b4. The parts Will remain in this condition until the opposite pin 4 on the Wheel a4 arrives in position to engage the short arm h2o and restore the armature; and when said pin 4 arrives in position to aecomplish such result the arm or holder e also arrives in position to again. hold the arm alt with the circuit-contacts 2 3 closed, independent of the arm b4. The time consumed by the train in running after the said pin 4i has restored the armature, and before the beginning of the next succeeding round is longer than the longest closure in any signal, and if the armature remains attracted during this length of time the signal can then be transmitted. It is during this time that the arm e acts to hold the arm @14, and to keep the circuit-contacts 2 3 closed. The arm e, however, passes by the lug or projection c just before the beginning of the next succeeding round. This arm b4 carried or moved by the armature adapted to be moved out of its magnetic field, and the arm CZ, having the shouldered end portion d co-operating With the pin b5 on the arm b4, herein constitute the signal controlling and retaining mechanism; but l do not desire to limit my invention to the particular form of signal controlling and retaining mechanism herein shoWn, as it is obvious that it may be changed and yet come Within the spirit and scope of this invention; also this group of elements may be made to simply cut out or render inoperative the signaling mechanism, in which instance said mechanism Will operate only as a signal-controller, and the arm b4 will constitute the essential element.

I do not desire to limit my invention to its application to a signaling mechanism having a circuit-changing lever with contacts, as 2 3, and a signal- Wheel for operating the said lever, as it is obvious that any other Wellknown or suitable form of box-number circuit-changing device may be employed, and furthermore I do not desire to limit my invention to the application of signaling mechanism wherein the aforesaid circuit-chan gin g lever is held positively from vibrating, as the signal- Wheel may be otherwise prevented from transmitting its signal.

I claiml l. In a non-interference signal-box, a signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of the field of force, a signal-controller governed by said armature, and a stopping device for the train, one of the co-operating members of Which is governed by the said armature, and a restoring device operated by the train in running for restoring the said armature substantially as described.

2. In anon-interference signal-box, signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of the field of force, a signal-controller governed by said armature, and a stopping device for the train, one of the co-operating members of which is governedby the said armature, and a restoring device operated by the train in running for restoring the said armature, and means controlled by the train in running for holding the signaling-circuit closed for a longer time than the longest closure in any signal just before giving the control of the said circuit to the signal-Wheel substantially as described.

3. In a successive non-interference signalboX, signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of its magnetic field, combined with signal controlling and retaining mechanism for retaining and thereafter permitting the transmission of the set signal, said signal-retaining device being adapted to retain the set signal by the retracting-armature, and to permit the transmission of the retained signal when in its attracted position, and a restoring device operated by the train in running for restoring said retracted armature, substantially as described.

4. In a successive non-interference signalboX, signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of its magnetic field, combined With signal controlling and retaining mechanism for retaining and thereafter releasing the set signal, said mechanism being operated to retain the set signal by the retracting-armature, and to release it When said armature is in its attracted position, and a restoring device operated by the train in running for restoring said retracted armature, and means controlled by the train in running for holding the signaling-circuit closed for a longer time than the longest closure in any signal just before the beginning of a succeeding round, substantially as described.

ICO

IIO

5. In a successive non-interference signalboX, signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of its magnetic field, combined with signal controlling and retaining mechanism operated to retain a set signal by the said armature when moved out of its magnetic field, and to release said retained signal when said armature is restored, substantially as described.

G. In a non-interference signal-box, a sig- Daling-train combined with a stopping device consisting of tWo members one of which is controlled by the non-interference magnet, and the other by a hand-operated pull, substantially as described.

7. In a signal-box, a signaling-train combined with a Winding mechanism therefor, consisting of a barrel and toothed driving- Wheel, a main spring connected at one end to the barrel and at the other end to the wheel, a fixed ratchet-Wheel, a pawl carried by said barrel, and means for rotating said barrel to Wind the spring and a stop projection, as c1, on the barrel, which engages the stop projection, as 010, on the driving-wheel, substantially as described.

8. In a non-interference signal-box, signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armature, a signal-controller governed by said armature, a bar as b" carried by one of the moving parts of the train havinga pin engaged by said signal-controller, means for moving the said bar to disengage it from the signal-controller and release the train substantially as described.

9. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, combined with a windin g mechanism therefor, consisting of a barrel and toothed driving wheel, a main spring connected at one end to the barrel and at the other end to the wheel, a ratchet-Wheel, a paivl carried by said barrel, a cam projection carried by the toothed wheel, which co-operates with said pawl when the spring is Wound up substantially as described.

10. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, combined With a stopping device comprising an independently-movable member carried by one of the moving parts of the train and a cooperating member, and a hand-operated pull for moving said independently-movable member into and out of co-operation With the said co operatin g member substantially as described.

ll. In a non-interference signal-box, signaliug mechanism having a signal-Wheel and si glial-key, a non-interference magnet and its armature, a signal-controller governed by said armature, and means controlled by the train in running which holds the signal-key with its circuit-contacts closed for a predetermined length of time just before the beginning of a round of the box-number, during which time the signal-controller is free to act to mechanically lock the signal-key with its circuit-contacts closed, substantially as described.

12. In a signal-box, a signal-train, a noninterference magnet and its armature, combined with a signal-key having two parts or portions, one of which is governed by the signal-Wheel and the other by the train in running, said train co-operating With said key to prevent its co -operation with the signal- Wheel, and also to maintain the circuit closed for a predetermined length of time j ust before the beginning of a round of the box-number, substantially as described.

13. In a non-interference signa'l-bomsignaling mechanism comprising a signal-Wheel and signaling-key, a non-interference magnet and its armature, and a signal-controller governed by said armature, and also by two members of the train in running, one of which members, as the signal-Wheel, allows said signal-controller freedom of action on 4closures of the circuit during the transmission of the signal, and the other, as the holder e, allows said signal-controller freedom of action for an interval of time longer than the longest closure in any signal, after the pull has been operated and before the transmission of the first impulse of the signal, substantially as described.

14. Inasuccessive non-interference signalbox, signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armature adapted to move out of its magnetic field, combined with signal controlling and retaining mechanism, operated to retain a set signal by the said armature when moved out of its magnetic field, and to release said retained signal when said armature is restored 5 timing mechanism for holding the signaling circuit closed a longer time than the longest closure in any signal before giving the control of the line to the signalwheel, substantially as described.

15. In a non-interference signal-box, a signal-train, a non-interference magnet and its armature, combined with a stopping device for the train, one member of which operates to hold the said armature in its attracted position, substantially as described.

16. In a signal-box, a train, a main actuating-spring therefor, a driving-Wheel for the train connected With one end of said spring, a winding-disk connected with the other end of said spring, alocking lever or stop for the train, a pull for simultaneously winding the spring and releasing the locking-lever toset the train in condition to transmit its signal, a pawl and ratchet for holding the Windingdisk against backward rotation, and a disen- IOO IIO

gaging device for said pavvl which prevents overwinding of the spring, but does not interfere with the action of the pull, substantially as described.

17. In a signal-box, a signaling train, a main actuating-spring therefor, a stop for the train, and operating device for Winding the spring and setting the signaling-train in condition to transmit its signal, a pawl and ratchet for preventing the backward action 0f the spring, and a disengaging device for said paWl, operating when the spring is wound up, substantially as described.

18. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and stop therefor, a main actuating-Spring for said train connected at one end with the drivingwheel of the train, and at the other end with a Winding device, a hand-lever for turning said winding device and also for setting the signaling-train in condition t'o transmit its signal, a pawl and ratchet to prevent backward action of said spring, and a disengaging device for said pawl operating when the sprin g is wound up, to prevent overwinding of the spring without interfering with the action of the hand-lever, substantially as described.

19. In a signal-box, a signaling-train, and stop therefor, a main actuatingspring for said train connected at one end with the drivingwheel of the train, and at the other end with a winding device, a hand-lever for turning said winding device and also for setting thesignaling-train in condition to transmit itssignal, a pawl and ratchet to prevent backward action of said spring, and a disengaging device for said pawl carried by said drivingwheel.

20. In a non-interference signal-box, a signal-train, a main actuating-spring therefor, a locking-lever for said train governed by the armature of the non-interference magnet, a hand-operated pull for setting the signalingtrain in condition to transmit its signal, a connection between said pull and the main spring whereby the spring may be wound by said pull when operated, and a disengaging device which prevents 'overwindin'g of the spring Without interfering with the operation of the pull, substantially as described.

21. In a signal-box, the combination of a signaling-train, a signal-key, a non-interference magnet, and its armature, which Whenever retracted mechanically locks the signaling-key with its circuit-contacts closed, substantially as described.

22. In a signal-bozgthe combination of a signaling-train, a signal-key, a non-interference magnet, and its armature, which Whenever retracted mechanically locks the signalkey with its circuit-contacts closed, and said key Whenever operated to open the circuit mechanically locks the armature in its attracted position, substantially as described.

23. In a non-interference signal-box, a signaling mechanism having a signal-wheel, a signal-key, a non-interference magnet and its armature, a signal-controller governed by said armature, which is free to retract on closures of the circuit at the home box, and Whenever it retracts locks the signaling-key with its circuit-contacts closed, substantially as described.

In testimony Whereof I have signed my name to this speciication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK NV. COLE. Vitnesses:

BERNICE J. NOYES, EDWARD F. ALLEN.