US596226A - Electric signaling system - Google Patents

Description

-No 596,226. Patented Dec. 28, 1

Q is 15 x w|TNEssES=- F INVENTOR 4 J v BY Wm x A I j a1 ATTOBNEYA tute the block Z next in advance. signals A, B, and O guard the blocks X Y Z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADONIRAM J. WILSON, OF PORT CHESTER, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,226, dated December 28, 1897.

' Application filed December 21, 1895: Serial No. 572,902. (No model.)

T 0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADONI RAM J. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Port Chester, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical signaling systems for railways, and has for its object to provide for the safe and rapid conduct of traflic by means of a simple and efficient system in which home and distant signals may be employed.

The invention consists of the construction and arrangement hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing forming part of this speci fication one embodiment of the invention is clearly shown in diagram.

Referring now particularly to this illustrated embodiment of the invention, the track is divided into subsections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The rails of these several subsec tions, as herein shown, are included in separate normally-closed track-circuits,which also include the magnets a, b, c, d, c, f, and g, subsections 3, 4:, 6, and 7, also including circuitcontrollers b, c, e, and f, operated by the magnets h, c, e, and f, respectively. The track is divided into blocks, each including a plurality of subsections. Subsection 1 is the last subsection of block W. Subsections 2, 3, and 4t constitute the block X. Subsections 5, 6, 7, and 8 constitute the block Y next in advance, and subsections 9, &c., consti- The home and are located at the entrance of their respective blocks. Near the home signals and preferably on the same post are the distant signals A B O,which guard the blocks next in advance of themas, for example, distant signal A guards block Y, distant signal B guards block Z, and distant signal 0 guards the block next in advance of block Z. These signals are all normally at danger, and

- each signal is operated or controlled by a normally-denergized signal-circuit. The power for actually moving the signals may of course be electric, pneumatic, mechanical, or other suitable power. Electric power, however, is preferred.

D, D, and D are the batteries for the signal-circuits.

The signal-circuits of the block Y will be first explained. The signals for this block Y are the home signal B, located at the entrance of the block, and the distant signal A, located in the rear of this signal, or, as shown, at the entrance of the block X. The circuit for the signal B includes battery D normally-closed circuit-controller 7L2, wire 10, signal instrument or motor of signal I), magnet 71., normally open circuit-controller m, and wire 20. The circuit for the distant signal A includes battery D circuit-controller 77?, wire 10, wire 11, connected With wire 10 at 12, normallyclosed circuit-controller in, wire 13, instrument or motor of signal A, normally open circuit-controller o, and wires 14 and 20. It will be noted that these signals B and A as thus arranged are in multiple, the circuits for both signals being open at circuit-controllers m and o. The circuits of the home signalA and distant signal (not shown) of block X will be now referred to. This home-signal circuit includes battery D, normally-closed circuitcontroller h, wire 15, instrument or motor of signal A, magnet 72., normally open circuitcontroller m, and wires 14 and 20. The distant signal for this block is located near the entrance of block W, its circuit including battery D, circuit-controller h, wire 15, wire 16, connected to 15 at 17, circuit-controller 70, wire 18,860., similar to circuit for distant signal B. circuits of the home and distant signals for the block W, current from battery D passing through normally-closed circuit-controller h, wire 19, &c. The circuit for home signal 0 is only partially shown, but it includes the wire 21, instrument or motor of signal 0, magnet n circuit-controller m wire 22, wire 20, &c. The circuit of the distant signal 0 is only partially shown,but it includes the wire 23, circuit-controller 0 wires 22 and 20, &c. The circuit of the distant signal B is only partially shown, but it includes the wire The battery D is connected with the 21, the wire 24, connected at 25 to wire 21,

ICO

and m are controlled b ma net d and circuit-controllers It, 7& and m are controlled by magnet g.

The operation of the system is as follows, traffic moving in the direction of the arrow: A train in block V takes the current from magnet a, breaking at eircuit-controlle r h the circuits for the home and distant signals of block \V and breaking at 70 the circuit for the distant signal of the block X, holding or putting to danger these signals behind the train. Oircuit-controllerm at the same time closes the circuit for the home signal A, putting it to safety in advance of the train. It will be seen that the circuit for the distant signal A cannot close at 0 until the circuit for the home signal has been energized and that the latter circuit, therefore, initiates the movement of the distant signal to safety. \Vhen the train enters upon subsection 2, it shunts the magnet 12, thereby breaking track circuits of magnets c and d and breaking at h the circuit for the home signal A of block X and also the circuit for the distant signal of this block located at the entrance of block V, already broken at 7t, thereby deenergizing magnet n and breaking at o the circuit for the distant signal A of block Y. Signals A and A therefore go to danger. It also breaks at it the circuit of the distant signal A. It also closes at m the circuit of the home signal B, putting it to safety in advance of the train. The closing of this circuit at m energizes magnet 77, and closes at 0 the circuit of the distant signal B, putting it to safety in advance of the train. \Vhen the train leaves block \V, the circuitcontrollers 72, 7c, and m are restored to their normal position and the circuits of the home and distant signals of block \V are in a condition to be energized by a following train. The circuit of the distant signal of block X, however, located at the entrance of block W, still remains at danger on account of the break at 7L. \Vhen the train now advances upon block Y, it operates through the track-circuits of subsections 5, 6, 7, and 8 to break the circuits through circuit-controllers 7L2 and k and close the circuit through circuit-controller m". The break at 7L2 breaks the circuit for the home signal B, breaks again the circuit for the distant signal A, already broken at Ya, causing signal B to go to danger and signal A to remain at danger in the rear of the train. The break at k deenergizes the circuit for the distant signal B, putting this signal to danger in the rear of the train. This closing of m energizes the circuit for the home signal 0, putting this signal to safety in advance of the train, and closing at 0 by means of magnet n the circuit for the distant signal 0, putting it to safety in advance of the train. \Vhen the train leaves block X, circuit-controllers 7b, 76, and m return to their normal position, and the home and distant signals of block X are in condition to again go to safety before an advancing train. Distant signal A, however, remains at danger on account of the break at 71 Thus it will be seen that when a train enters a block it puts the home and distant signals at the entrance of the block to danger to guard the trains rear and that at the same time it puts the home and distant signals at the entrance of the next block in advance to safety, provided, of course, this block is clear. It will also be seen that a train is guarded in the rear by the home and distant signals for the block occupied by the train, the former being located at the entrance of the block and the latter being located at the entrance of the block next in the rear.

In some cases of course the normal dangersignals could be put to safety when the train is at some other point than the entrance of a block, and this point could be located at any place in the rear of the signals that convenience might direct. Again, in some cases the distant signals could be located at points other than the entrance of a block. For example, the distant signal B might in some cases be located in the block X or in the block Y.

E and F are switches operatively connected with means for controlling the electric condition of the circuit for the signals B A. As here shown, these means are the circuit breakers pp. \Vhen the switches are closed for main-line trafiic, the circuit-breakers p p are closed, as shown, so that the signals B and A may indicate safety in advance of an approaching train. lVhen either of the switches is open, the circuits of these signals are broken and the signals cannot be put to safety.

E and F are switch-indicators for indicating to the switchmen the approach of a train, so that they may know whether it is safe or not to operate the switches. These indicators are controlled by a circuit which is as follows: batteryD circuit-controller 7L2, wire 10, wire 27, connected at 28 with wire 10, circuit-com troller q, and wires 29 and 30. A magnet 0', connected with wire 10 and therefore normally deenergized, controls circuit-controller q, which is normally closed, as shown, so that the circuit for the indicators is normally energized, the indicators at this time showing safety. When a train is in the block \V or the block X, the current of battery D finds a closed path either through the circuit-controllers 7t and 0 or circuit-controller m, as the case may be, and this closed path being arranged to have the proper resistance with respect to the path through the indicators the circuit for the indicators will be broken at g by magnet 9, and thus the indicators will show danger.

\Vhile the embodiment of the invention as herein shown and described is believed to be best for most cases, yet there are various changes in the arrangement of parts that might be made Without departing from the but including track instruments, may with some advantage be used and the track-circuits might with some advantage be not normally closed nor operatively connected together. Again, signals normally at safety might in some cases be used with advantage. This will all be readily understood. Again, while the multiple arrangement for the electric connection of home and distant signals for a block is preferred, yet it need not in all cases be employed, and the blocks need not in all cases be divided into a plurality of subsections. Various other changes which will suggest themselves to any one skilled in the art may be readily made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is embraced in the following claims:

1. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track divided into blocks, home and distant signals normally at danger for the blocks, a home signal and a distant signal being located at the entrance of each block, each home and distant signal having a separate motor peculiar to itself, normally-deenergized signal-circuits for the signals and normally-closed rail-circuits controlled by a train for energizing and denergizing the signal-circuits to operate the signals, the arrangement being such that a home and distant signal may be put to safety by a train in the rear of the signals, both of said signals may be put to danger by a train in the block guarded by the home signal, and the distant signal may be also put to danger by a train in the block in advance of the block guarded by said home signal, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a block of a track divided into subsections, home and distant signals for the block normally at danger, normally-denergized signal-circuits for the signals, normally-closed track-circuits for the subsections of the block, controlling the electric condition of the signal-circuits,said trackcircuits being operated upon by a passing train for operating the home and distant signals, means controlled by a train in the rear of the signals for energizing their circuits to put the signals to safety,'the arrangement being such that a train may put the home and distant signals to safety when in the rear thereof, may put the distant signal to danger when in advance thereof and in the rear:

of the home signal, and may put both signals ways the combination of a block of a'track divided into subsections, home and distant signals for the block normally at danger, each home and distant signal having a separate motor peculiar to itself, normally-denergized signal-circuits for the signals, normally-closed track-circuits for the subsections of the block controlling the electric condition of the signal-circuits, said track-circuits being operated upon by a passing train for operating the home and distant signals, means controlled by a train in the rear of the signals for energizing their circuits to put the signals to safety, said track-circuits including the rails of the track and so connected that when one of them is operated another is also operated, the arrangement being such that a train may put the home and distant signals to safety when in the rear thereof, may put the distant signal to danger when in advance thereof and in the rear of the home signal, and may put both signals to danger when in the block guarded by the home signal, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track divided into blocks, home and distant signals for the blpcks, a home and a distant signal being located at the entrance to each block, each home and distant signal having a separate motor peculiar to itself, signal-circuits for the signals, and normally-closed track-circuits controlled by a train for operating the signal-circuits to put the signals to danger, the arrangement being such that the home and distant signals at the entrance of a block may be put to danger and held there While a train occupies the block immediately in advance of the signals, the distant signal being also held at danger while the train is in the next block in advance, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a series of blocks divided into subsections, normally-closed trackcircuits for the subsections, home and distant signals normally at danger for the blocks, a home signal and a distant signal being located at the entrance of each block, each home and distant signal having a separate motor peculiar to itself, normally-deenergized signal-circuits for the signals controlled by the track-circ uits, the arrangement being such that a train operates a track-circuit in the rear of a home signaland a distant signal at the entrance of a block to put the signals to safety, and operates the trackcircuits of the block immediately in advance of said signals to put the signals to danger and operates one or more track-circuits of the block next in advance to hold the distant signal at danger, substantially as set forth.

6. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a series of blocks divided into subsections,normally-closed trackcircuits for the subsections, home and distant signals for the blocks, a home signal and a distant signal being located at the entrance of each block, signal-circuits for the signals controlled by the track-circuits, the arrangement being such that a train operates the track-circuits of the block immediately in advance of the home and distant signals that are at the entrance of said block to cause them to show danger and operates one or more track-circuits of the block next in advance to cause the said distant signal to show danger, substantially as set forth.

7. In anelectric signaling system for railways, the combination of a series of blocks, each divided into subsections, track-circuits for the subsections adapted to be operated by a train and so connected that when one is operated another is also operated, home and distant signals for the blocks, each home and distant signal having a separate motor peculiar to itself, normally at danger, a home signal and a distant signal being located at the entrance of each block, normally-deenergized signal-circuits for the signals,controlled by the said track circnits, the arrangement being such that a passing train may put the home and distant signals at the entrance of a block to safety when in the rear of said signals, may put said signals to danger when in the said block, and may hold the distant signal at danger when in the next block in advance, substantially as set forth.

8. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of aseries of blocks divided into subsections, track-circuits for the subsections so connected that when one is operated another is also operated, home and distant signals for the blocks, a home signal and a distant signal being located at the entrance of each block, signal-circuits for the signals controlled by the track-circuits, the arrangement being such that a train opcrates the track-circuits of the block immediately in advance of the home and distant signals that are at the entrance of said block to cause them to show danger and operates one or more track-circuits of the block next in advance to cause the said distant signal to show danger, substantially as set forth.

. 1). In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track divided into blocks, home and distant signals normally at danger for the blocks, a home signal and a distant signal being located at the entrance of each block, normally-deenergized signalcircuits for the signals and means controlled by a train for energizing and denergizing the signal-circuits to operate the signals, each home and distant signal having a separate motor peculiar to itself, the arrangement being such that a home and distant signal may be put to safety by a train in the rear of the signals, both of said signals may be put to danger by a train in the block guarded by the home signal, and the distant signal may also be held at danger by a train in the blockin advance of the block guarded by said home signal, the circuits for the home and distant signals at the entrance of ablock being so connected that the operation of the circuit for the home signal to put it to safety initiates the operation of the circuit for the distant signal to putit to safety, substantially as set forth.

10. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a series of blocks divided into subsections, normally closed track-circuits for the subsections, home and distant signals normally at danger for the j blocks, a home signal and a distant signal being located at the entrance of each block, normally-deemergized signal-circuits for the signals controlled by the track-circuits, the arrangement being such that a train operates a track-circuit in the rear of a home signal and a distant signal at the entrance of a block to put the signals to safety, and operates the track-circuits of the block immediately ;in advance of said signals to put the signals to danger and operates one or more trackcircuits of the block next in advance to hold the distant signal at danger, the circuits for the home and distant signals at the entrance of a block being so connected that the operation of the circuit for the home signal to put it to safety initiates the operation of the circuit for the distant signal to put it to safety, substantially as set forth.

11. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a series of blocks, each divided into subsections, track-circuits for the subsections adapted to be operated by a train and so connected that when one is operated another is also operated, home and distant signals for the blocks, each home and distant signal having a separate motor peculiar to itself, normally at danger, a home signal and a distant signal being located at the entrance of each block, normally-deenergized signal-circuits for the signals,controlled by the said track-circuits, the arrangement being such that a passing train may put the home and distant signals at the entrance of a block to safety when in the rear of said signals, may put said signals to danger when in the said block, and may put the distant signal to danger when in the next block in advance, the circuits for the home and distant signals at the entrance of a block being so connected that the operation of the circuit for the home signal to put it to safety initiates the operation of the circuit for the distant signal to put it to safety, substantially as set forth.

12. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track divided into blocks, track-circuits for the blocks, home and distant signals normally at danger for the blocks, a home signal and a distant signal being located at the entrance of each block, each home and distant signal having a separate motor peculiar to itself, normally-deemergized signal-circuits for the signals controlled by the track-circuits, the arrangement being such that a train operates the signals in advance to put them to safety, the train being guarded in the rear by a home signal at danger and two distant signals at danger, substantially as set forth.

13.- In an electric signaling system forrailways, the combination of a normally-closed track divided into blocks, track-circuits for the blocks, home and distant signals normally at danger for the blocks, a home signal and a distant signal being located at the entrance of each block, normally-denergized signal-circuits for the signals controlled by the track-circuits, the arrangement being such that a train operates the signals in advance to put them to safety, the train being guarded in the rear by a home signal at 20

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