US613567A

US613567A - Block-signaling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US613567A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1898-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 1915-11-01

Description

No. 6l3,567. Patented Nov. l, I898. T. T. FOGEL.

BLD GK SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 6, 1897.)

4 Shoots-Shoat I.

(No Model.)

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No. ("3,567. Patented Nov. I, I898. T. T. FUGEL.

BLOCK-SIGNALING APPARATUS.

. (Application filed Dec. 6, 1897.)

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

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

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No. 68,567. Patented Nov. l, I898. T. T. FUGEL.

BLOCK SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Appfipatkm filed Dec. 6, 1897.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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No. 68,567. Patented Nov, 1, I898.

T. T. roan.

BLOCK SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Application'filod me. e, 1997. (N0 mm. 4 Sheets-Shut 4.

FIG. 4

ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TAYLOR THOMAS FOGEL, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA,

BLOCK-SIGNALING APPARATUS srEcI'mcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,567, dated November 1, 1898.

Application filed December 6, 1897. Serial No. 660,842. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TAYLOR THOMAS Fo- GEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Block-Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to block-signaling apparatus for railways in which an indicator is operated by a moving car to show whether the block is or is not clear; and the objects of my invention are, first, to indicate the passage of a car on the block and to maintain the indication thereof so longas any of a plurality of cars are on the block; second, to indicate a clear block only when the last of the cars that may have been on the block has passed therefrom; third, to indicate to the operating-car that it has operated the signal, and, fourth, to provide simple and eflicient mechanism, automatically operated, for effecting the aforesaid results.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the target-operating mechan ism in its position with respect to the casing. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the target=operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the target-operating mechanism. Fig. dis a diagrammatic illustration of a method of wiring for operating the signal. Fig. 4c is a diagrammatic illustration of the preferred method of wiring for operating the signal and for indicating to the operating-car that it has operated the signal. Fig. 5 is a side view of the circuit-closer operated by the trolley for effecting the operation of the target, and Fig. 6 is an. end view of the circuit-closer.

Referring to the drawings, the casing 1,

11, fixed at equal intervals around the pc= riphery thereof. A brush 12, secured to the hanger 7 by the binding-screw 13, but insulated therefrom by the non-conducting material 14, bears against the inner face of the disk 9, excepting when the sector 10 is opposite thereto, thus forming an electrical connection between the disk and the screw. The solenoids 5 and 6 are respectively provided with the armatures and 16 of rectangular cross-section, having the stems 17 and 18, which support the respective pawls 19 and 20. The

pawls

19 and 20 are respectively pivoted at the

points

21 and 22 in

yokes

23 and 24, and have

weights

25 and 26 and stops 27 and 28 for normally holding their

noses

29 and 30 in the positions illustrated in Fig. 3.

A bracket 31, attached to the hanger 7 by the lugs 32 and 33, serves to support the bellcranks-34 and 35, pivoted at the points 36 and 37 to said bracket. The normal position of each bell-crank is illustrated by that of the bell-crank in Fig. 3, the inner arm thereof being in contact with the pin 38, which limits the distance the outer arm can fall and permits the pins 11 to clear the inner arm. When, however, either of the aforementioned solenoids, as 5, is excited, its armature 15 rises and its pawl 19 engages the pin 11 next above it, thus revolving the disk 9 through an octant and no more, for the armatures are respectively provided with the

pins

39 and 40, and in rising the pin 39 catches the outer arm of the bell-crank 34 and rocks it to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, causing its innor arm to assume the vertical position in the path of the advancing pin 11 next above that engaged by the pawl 19, whereby the disk 9 is checked. When the solenoid releases, its armature falls and its pivoted pawl slips past the pin below it.

It will be seen that when the solenoid 6 is excited the disk 9 is revolved in the reverse direction from that effected by the solenoid 5 by similar mechanism, and that each impulse of the solenoid 6 reverses the disk one octant; but it will be observed that the disk cannot be revolved in either direction through more than a complete revolution, as its motion is limited by a pin 41, set in the hanger 7, which engages a pin 42, set in the disk.

It will be evident that the construction may be varied by dividing the disk 9, as may be considered expedient, and adapting the mechanism to move this disk through the desired are at each impulse.

A solenoid 43 is supported by a stem 44, having a pivoted connection with a stud 45, supported by the hanger 7. The armaturestem 46 of this solenoid is pivoted to a stud or crank-pin 47, fixed in a disk or hub 48, which is journaled on the shaft 8. The hub 48 carries a white target 49, which is balanced by a weighted lever 50, projecting oppositely from said hub. It will be evident that when the solenoid 43 is excited its stem 46 will rise and elevate the target 49 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, a pin 51, set in the hanger 7, engaging the lever 50 to limit the upward movement of the target and prevent the crank-pin 47 from reaching the dead-center. When the solenoid 43 releases its armature, the target 49 drops and is visible through the sight-opening 2, through which the fixed red target 52 shows when the white target is elevated.

In the wiring for the signal at the right end of the block, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the solenoid 5 is connected by a wire 61 with a contact 62, supported by the hanger 55, but insulated therefrom by the non-conducting ma terial 63, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6,

wires

64 and 58, having lamps 59 in circuit therewith, connecting said solenoid with the track 60. The solenoid 6 is connected by a wire 53 with a contact 54, supported by the hanger 55, but insulated therefrom by the non-conducting material 56,

Wires

57 and 58, having lamps 59 in circuit therewith, connecting said solenoid with the track 60. A pendulating lever 65, pivoted in the hanger at the point 66, has an upper arm 67, connected by a coiled spring 68 with said hanger (to hold said lever normally in the vertical position) and is provided with forked arms 69, which project below the trolley-wire 70 on either side thereof to be engaged by a passing trolley, whereby the upper arm 67 is thrown-for an instant onlyinto engagement with one of the

contacts

54 or 62, and the corresponding solenoid is thus excited by current passing from the trolley-Wire therethrough to the ground. In the wiring of the signal at the left end of the block a similar arrangement obtains, the respective solenoids 5' and 6 being connected by wires 61 and 53' with

contacts

62 and 54, the lever 65 affording connection with the trolley-wire 70, the ground connections for said solenoids being formed by the

wires

64, 57, and 58', having the lamps 59 in circuit therewith. T he solenoid 43 is connected with a feed-wire 71 by means of the binding-screw 13, brush 12, disk 9, shaft 8, hanger 7, and wire 72, excepting when the sector 10 is opposite said brush, at which time the circuit is broken, the ground connection for said solenoid being through the

wires

73 and 58, having the

lamps

59 and 59 in circuit therewith, and the track 60. The solenoid 43 is similarly connected with a feed-wire 71 and with the ground through the wires 7 3 58' and track 60. A wire 74 connects the wires 53 and 53' adjacent to the solenoid 6, and a wire 74 connects the

wires

53 and 53 adjacent to the solenoid 6.

In the wiring method as illustrated in Fig. 4 the circuits for the solenoids 5 and 6 and 5' and 6' are the same as those illustrated in Fig. 4, excepting that the lamps or

resistance

59 and 59 are placed outside of the signalboX; but the solenoid 43 is provided'with an independent ground connection through the wire 73, lamps 80, located in the signal-box, wire 81, and the lamp 82, which is placed convenient for observation from the car when opposite the contact-lever 65. As the operation of the disk 9 closes the connection be

tween wires

71 and 72, thus illuminating the lamp 82, it will be seen that this lamp indi= cates whether or not the signal at the opposite end of the block is operating. Similarly the solenoid 43 is connected with the ground through the Wire 73, lamps 80, located in the signal-box, wire 81, and the lamp 82, which is placed convenient for observation from the car when opposite the contact-lever 65 and indicates whether or not the signal at the opposite end of the block is operating.

In the operation of the invention, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the car passing from the left to the right rocks the lever 65 (by the action of the trolley) into engagement with the contact 62, permitting current to pass from the trolley-wire through the wire 61, solenoid 5,

wires

64 and 58, and lamps 59 to the track 60. The armature of the solenoid being thus excited rises, and its pawl 19 engages one of the pins 11 and revolves the disk 9 through an octant. The distance the disk moves is limited by the bell-crank 34, the outer arm of which is engaged by the pin 39, which throws the inner arm thereof into position to engage the adjacent pin 11 and check the disk. By this movement of the disk 9 the brush 12, which normally registers with the open sector 10, is brought into electrical contact with the disk, and current now passes from the feeder 71 through screw 13, brush 12, disk 9, shaft 8, hanger 7, wire 72, solenoid 43, wire 73,

lamps

59 and 59 to the ground through the wire 58 and track 60. The solenoid 43 being thus excited, its armature lifts the stem 46 and the white target 49 by means of the pin 47 and hub 48, thus permitting the. red target 52 to show through the sight-opening 2. The engagement of the contact 62 and the lever 65 continuing but an instant, the armature 15 drops upon completing its stroke, and the nose 29 of the pawl slips past the next lower pin 11 into position to engage it and advance the disk through a second octant, when a second car shall move the lever 65 again into engagement with the contact 62. The white target is thus held in the elevated or danger position while seven successive cars pass upon the block from left to right,

for the solenoid 43 remains excited while the seven octants of the disk are in contact with the brush. When, however, the disk has passed through a complete revolution, its advance is stopped by the engagement of the pin 41 with the pin 42. As each car passes off the block, the lever is brought into engagement with the contact 54, permitting current to pass from the trolley-wire through the wire 74, solenoid 6,

wires

57 and 58, and. lamps 59 to the track 60. Thus each car throws the disk 9 back in passing off the block the same distance it has thrown it forward in passing on. Hence the last car leaving the block, whether one or more have been thereon at the same time, will throw the open sector 10 into registration with the brush 12, thus dropping the white target and showing a clear block. If after a car has passed on the block from left to right it backs off, the lever 65 is caused to engage the contact 54 and current passes from the trolley-wire through the wire 53and the solenoidti, which being thus excited reverses the disk and eliminates the action the car effected in pass ing on the block. A similar operation is enacted by cars passing from right to left.

In the operation of the invention as illustratedin Fig. 4 the disk is operated as heretofore explained, as is also the target, but the circuit leading from the solenoid 43 comprises the wire 73, the lamps 80, the wire 81, and the lamp 82, providing an independent circuit for the solenoid and securing for the operatingcar an indication whether it has or has not operated the signal at the opposite end of the block by means of the lamp 82. A similar circuit is provided for the solenoid 43'.

It will thus be seen that each car indicates its passage on a clear block and eliminates the indication on passing therefrom, whether running the length of the block or backing off. The target is held at the danger position so long as any one of a plurality of cars remains on the block, and a clear track is indicated only when the last car has passed from the block.

The lamps which form the requisite resistance for the operation at night illuminate the target exposed through the sight-opening of the signal-box, and in the preferred form of the construction the proper operation of the signal is indicated at both ends of the block.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting its scope to the specific features shown and described.

Having thus described my invent-ion, I claim- 1. In a signaling apparatus, a circuit-closer, a solenoid and an armature therefor electrically actuated through said circuit-closer, a contact device, means carried by said arma- 2. In a signaling apparatus, a circuit-closer,

a solenoid and an armature therefor actuated through said circuit-closer, a contact device, means carried by said armature for directly engaging and operating said contact device,

a solenoid and an armature therefor electrically actuated through said contact device, a target pi votally connected with the armature of said second solenoid and operated thereby, in combination with a second circuit-closer, a solenoid and an armature therefor electrically actuated through said second circuitcloser, and means carried by said last-named armature for directly engaging and reversing said contact device, substantially as specified.

3. In a signaling apparatus, a circuit-closer, a solenoid and an armature therefor electrically actuated through said circuit-closer, a disk, means carried by said armature for directly engaging and revolving said disk, a brush directly engaged by the revolution of said disk to form an electrical contact, a target, a solenoid and an armature therefor connected with said target and actuated through said disk and brush to operate said target, substantially as specified.

4. In a signaling apparatus, a target, a so lenoid and an armature therefor pivotally connected with said target, an electric circuit, a circuit-closer therefor comprising a brush and a disk, a solenoid and an armature therefor, and means carried by said second arma= tu re for directly engaging and operating said disk.

5. In a signaling apparatus, a target, a solenoid and an armature therefor connected with said target, an electric circuit, a circuitcloser therefor comprising a brush and a revoluble disk, a solenoid and an armature therefor having a pawl which directly engages and actuates said disk, a second solenoid and an armature therefor having a pawl which directly engages and reverses said'disk, in com bination, as specified.

6. In a signaling apparatus, a target, a so lenoid and an armature therefor pivotally connected with said target, an electric circuit, a contact device therefor comprising a brush and a revoluble disk having a sector removed therefrom, a second solenoid and an armature therefor, means carried by said second armature for directly engaging and operating said disk to close said circuit, a third solenoid and an armature therefor, means carried by said third armature for directly engaging and op crating said disk to open said circuit, and means for limiting the movement of said disk, substantially as specified.

7. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a revoluble disk, with a solenoid, an armature-stem for said solenoid, a pawl carried by said armature-stem, a series of pins arranged around the periphery of said disk in position to be engaged by said pawl as it is elevated by its armature, a bell-crank pivoted to a fixed support, a pin on said armature which engages the outer arm of said bellcrank as said armature rises, whereby the inner arm of said bell-crank is thrown into the path of said pins to check said disk, substantially as specified.

8. In asignaling apparatus, a circuit-closer, a solenoid and an armature therefor, a conductor leading from said circuit-closer to said solenoid, a contact device, means carried by said armature for directly engaging and operating said contact device, a target, mechanism electrically actuated through said contact device for operating said target, a signal located in proximity to said circuit-closer, and a conductor leading from said contact device to said signal, said signal indicating the operation of said target, substantially as specified.

9. In a signaling apparatus, a shaft, a disk and a target carried by said shaft, a solenoid and an armature therefor, a pawl carried by said armature which engages and advances said disk, at second solenoid and an armature therefor, a pawl carried by said second armature which engages and reverses said disk, and means connecting said disk and target, whereby said target is operated through said disk.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 0 my hand.

TAYLOR THOMAS FOGEL.

In presence of- O. N. BUTLER, EDWARD J. CONOANNON.