US616722A

US616722A - myers

Info

Publication number: US616722A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1898-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1915-12-27

Description

Patented Dec. 27, I898.

I F.- M. MYERS.

RAILWA'Y SIGNALING DEVICE.

(Application filed Apr 2, 1898.)

2 Sheets- Shet I.

(No Model.)

n4: NORRIS PETERS coy. PNDTD LITKO., msmuamn. n. r:v

N0. 6|6,722. Patented Dec. 27, I893. F. M. MYERS.

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

(Applicationfiled Apr. 2, 1898.) (N0 Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

we noHRls PETERS co, mm'o-urwo. WASHINGTON, n c.

NEED STATES Frrc PATENT FRANCIS M. MYERS, OF WVINDSOR, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO CHARLES A. DRAPER AND JOSEPH S. OALFEE, OF SAME PLACE.

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,722, dated December 27, 1898.

Application filed April 2, 1898.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Windsor, in the county of Henry and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signaling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and;

WVith these objects in view the invention I consists in the improved system of signaling and in the novel construction and arrangement of parts and devices for carrying it out, hereinafter more particularly described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which like letters and numerals of reference indicate cor-' responding parts, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the invention is carried out. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of one side of an engine with the apparatus embodying the invention applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4is a transverse sectional view of the same on the line 00 a: of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow w. Fig. 5 is a similar View on the line :1 y, looking in the direction of the arrow z; and Fig. 6 is a detail View of the cam for operating the lifting-rod.

Referring now to Fig. 1, which illustrates the invention in diagram, A designates the rails of a railway-track; B, a conductor running parallel to the track; 0 and D, two trains moving over the track in the direction of the arrow, and 1 2 3 4. designate section-posts between two stations situated along the conductor B at any desired intervals, each of the Serial No. 676.206. (No model.)

posts being provided with an engaging device 5. Arranged, preferably, in the cab of the locomotive-engine of each train is a position dial or indicator E, having upon its face graduations or characters corresponding in number and adapted to designate the sections into which the track is divided. Projecting at one side of the engine is a second enga ing device 6, adapted to make contact with the engaging devices 5 as the train passes each section-post, and by reason of such contact the engaging device 6, through intermediate mechanical means, moves the position-.

dial E one step, bringing the character or numeral designating the section upon which the train is then entering opposite a pointer 7. From this it will be seen that the engineer or conductor of a train may tell by a glance at the position-dial E upon just what section of the track his train is moving.

Cooperating with the positionindicating mechanism are electrical signal devices which operate whenever the train passes a sectionpost to transmit a signal to all of the other trains upon the track between two stations, indicating the exact position of the train sending the signal and the direction in which it is moving, whether moving in the same direction as such other trains or in a different direction. Thus, as shown, a contact brush or shoe 8 projects from the engine to make contact with and travel upon the conductor 13. This contact-brush is connected by means of a conductor 9 with a bell or other signaling device F, which is in turn connected through conductor 10 with a circuit-closer G, normally resting against a contact-piece 12. Adjacent the circuit-closer G is a movable pattern device, in the present instance a disk or wheel H being employed, having arranged upon its periphery at equidistant points pins or lugs 13, which, as the disk is rotated, engage with the circuit-closer. The disk H is connected with a battery 14: through a conductor 15, and the battgy is in turn connected through a conductorlo and the wheels of the engine with the rails of the track A. The contactpiece 12 is connected through a branch condoctor 17 with the conductor 16, from which it willbe seen that normally there is always a closed circuit from the conductor B to the track rails A, such circuit being effected through the brush 8,

conductors

9, 10, 16, and 17, bell F, circuit-closer G, and contact-piece 12, from which it will be apparent that if the conductor B be placed in circuit with the battery of any one of the trains traveling upon the track between two stations the bells of all of the other trains will be sounded.

Suitable means are employed for moving the pattern device, and while this may be effected in various ways it is preferred to employ means which are set into operation through the actuating mechanism of the position-dial whenever such dial is itself actuated to rotate the disk II, constituting the pattern device, a predetermined distance.

, As shown, the pins 13 are arranged around the periphery of the disk H in groups of two, three, and four each, and there is also a single pin, said pins corresponding to the numbers of the section-posts, and the pins of each group are separated.

Assuming now the trains G and D to be in the positions indicated in Fig. 1 and both to be traveling in the direction of the arrow, it will be noted that the train 0 is upon tracksection No. 1 while the train D is just entering upon section No. 3. This brings the

engaging devices

5 and 6 of the engine and section-post into contact and through the intermediate mechanism between the engaging device 6 and the position-dial E rotates said dial one step, bringing the numerals 4 and 3 upon the dial upon opposite sides of the pointer 7, thereby indicating to the engineer that his train is traveling between section-posts Nos. 3 and 4. Simultaneously with the rotation of the position-dial the operating devices of the pattern-disk are set in motion, and said disk is rotated a predetermined distance, bringing a group of four pins successively into contact with the circuit-closer G, lifting it four times from the contact-piece 12. Each time the circuit-closer G is so lifted the circuit is completed through the track-rails A, conductor 16, battery 14, conductor 15, pattern-disk II, circuit-closer G, conductor 10, bell F, conductor 9, and brush 8 upon the train D through the conductor B, brush 8, conductor 9, bell F, conductor 10, circuitcloser G, contact-piece 12, and

conductors

17 and 16 upon the train C, thereby ringing the bells in the engines of both trains four times. This notifies the engineer of the train G that a train is traveling between section-posts Nos. 3 and 4:, and at the same time gives an audible signal to the engineer of train D of this fact.

Means are provided for indicating to the engineers of the various trains in which directions other trains upon the track are travelin g, which means will be presently described.

lVhile various constructions and arrangements of parts may be employed for carrying out the objects of the invention, it is preferred'to make use of those which will now be described on account of their simplicity.

WVithin the cab of an engine is arranged a suitable casing 19 for containing the signaling mechanism. Secured upon a shaft 20, journaled in the casing, is the position -dial E, so arranged as to be open to visual inspection from the exterior of the casing, and likewise fiXed upon the said shaft are two ratchetwheels 21 22, with oppositely-arranged teeth. Extending upon opposite sides of these ratchet-wheels are the arms of a fork 23, sup ported upon a vertical lifting-rod 24, which is normally maintained in its lowered position by means of a surrounding spring 234, interposed between the casing and a collar upon the lifting rod. Pivotally mounted upon each arm of the fork is a pawl 25, the pawl of one arm being adapted to engage one of the ratchet-wheels and that upon the other being adapted to engage the second ratchet- Wheel. As these pawls are so arranged as to turn the ratchet-wheels in opposite directions upon the downstroke of the fork and liftingrod holes 26 are formed in the fork-arms for the reception of pins 27, one of which pins after one of the pawls has been withdrawn from engagement with its ratchet-wheel is inserted in the hole and forms a bearing for the pawl to maintain it out of engagement with its ratchet. It will be understood, therefore, that only one of the pawls is in engagement with the ratchet wheels at the same time. At the lower end of the liftingrod is a projection 28, which rests upon a cam 29, carried upon one end of a rock-shaft This shaft projects to one side of the engine and carries an arm which constitutes the engaging device 6, adapted to be struck by the engaging arms 5, projecting from the section-posts. hen this occurs, the shaft 30 is rocked and the lifting-rod 24: and fork 23 are elevated and retained in such position so long as the devices 5 b are in engagement. When these devices are disengaged, however, the liftingrod is depressed by its spring, and one of the pawls 25 engages with its ratchet-wheels and rotates the shaft 20 and dial one step, thereby indicating to the engineer upon what section of the track the train is running. There is likewise mounted upon the shaft 20 a toothed wheel 31, the teeth of which are formed with oppositely-inclined sides, and cooperating with this wheel 31 is a release-lever 32, pivoted intermediate its ends and having its opposite ends held into engagement with the teeth of the wheel 31 and with a stop 33 upon a wheel 34 by means of a spring 35. The wheel 3% is mounted upon a shaft 36, journaled in the casing and having one of its ends formed for reception of a key by means of which it may be turned, and said wheel is provided around its periphery at equidistant points with the stops 33, which are brought successively into engagement with a hook upon the end of the lever.

.with separated projections 13.

There are also mounted upon the shaft 36 two pattern-wheels H H, which are provided at equidistant points around their peripheries These pattern-wheels are'duplicates in so far as the number of projections is concerned; but the projections upon one wheel are larger in cross-section than those upon the other, and each wheel is provided with a single projection and with several separated groups of two, three, and four projections each, the largest group of one wheel being arranged opposite the single projection of the other. The purpose of this will presently appear.

Secured to a pin 38 is one end of a helical spring39, the opposite end of which is secured to the shaft 36. This spring is wound by rotating the shaft 36 by means of a key and is retained under tension by means of the engagement of the release-lever 32 with the stops 33 of. the wheel 34.

Arranged adjacent the pattern-disks in position to be struck by the projections thereof is the pivoted circuit-breaker G, which is normally held in contact with the contactpiece 12 by means of a spring 40. This circuit-breaker comprises a contact-arm having at one side a sleeve 41, surrounding a pin 42, and said sleeve fits loosely upon this pin and is adapted to be moved longitudinally thereon from the exterior of the casing through a knob to bring the contact-arm opposite either one of the pattern-wheels H II.

Pivotally supported upon an arm 8" beneath and at one side of the car is the brush 8, consistingin the present instance of a wheel composed of two or more separated disks 45, of conducting material, the disks being held separated by means of collars 46, through which and openings of the disk passes the axle of the wheel. Surrounding the pivot of the arm 8 is a coil-spring the purpose of which is to maintain the wheel in contact with the conductor B. This conductor may be constructed in various ways, but preferably it is constituted of inverted-V-shaped bars 47, suitably supported at separated intervals upon insulated blocks 48. In very severe climates snow and ice is apt to form upon or completely cover an electrical conductor which is above ground. It will be obvious, however, that by forming the contactwheel and conductor as above described the tendency of snow, dirt, 850., is to drop from the inclined faces of the conductor, While any foreign material remaining upon the conductor may be easily penetrated by the disks of the contact-Wheel.

From the above it will be apparent that whenever the shaft 20 is rotated the releaselever 32 is swung upon its pivot by the toothed wheel 31, thereby lifting its hooked end out of engagement with one of the stops 33 of the wheel 36, permitting the said wheels, the pattern-wheels H H, and shaft 36 to be rotated for a distance equal to the distance between two of said stops. lVhen this occurs,

a group of the projections 13 makes successive contact with the circuit-breaker and through the conductors hereinbefore enumerated sounds the bell F, indicating to the engineer of the train passing a section-post the number of such section-post and indicating to the engineers of other trains upon the track the factof the presence of another train upon the track and the position of such train. As before stated, the projections of the two pattern-wheels II II are of different area in cross-section, and consequently each ring of the bell F is longer when the pins of one Wheel are brought into contact with the circuitbreaker than when the pins of the other wheel make such contact. Accordingly by setting the circuit-breaker opposite one of the pattern-wheels when traveling in one direction and opposite the other wheel when traveling in another direction it is possible for an engineer to tell by the length of the rings of the bell in which direction another train is traveling as well as the position of such train.

Without limiting myself to the exact construction and arrangement-of the parts described, since it will be obvious that various changes in such construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,

W'hat I claim is-- 1. In a train-signaling system, the combination of an electric conductor extending along a track, a series" of signaling-stations at separated points along the conductor, two or more trains adapted to travel upon the track, an electric sounding-signal upon each train in circuit with the conductor and adapted to transmit a number of different signals, and means for actuating the signaling device of each train as it passes a signaling-station, whereby the signaling devices of all the trains upon the track are simultaneously operated, substantially as described.

2. In a railway-signal,the combination with a conductor extending parallel with one of the track-rails, of a signaling device carried upon an engine or car and normally in circuit with the conductor and track-rails, a battery normally out of circuit with the signaling device, and means for placing the battery in circuit with the signaling device at predetermined points along the track, substantially as described.

3. In arailway-signal,the combination with a conductor extending parallel to one of the track-rails, of a movable position-indicator and its operating devices, a signaling device carried upon an engine or car said signaling device being normally in circuit with the conductor and track-rails, a battery normally out of circuit with the signaling device,means for actuating-the position-indicator at predetermined points along the track, and means actuated through theindicator-operating devices for placing the battery in circuit with the signaling device, substantially as described. 4. In a train-signaling system, the combination of a conductor extending parallel to the track-rails, a plurality of trains each provided with a signaling device normally in circuit with the conductor and track-rails, a battery upon each train normally out of circuit with the signaling device, and means for placing the battery in circuit with the signaling device at predetermined points along the track, whereby the signaling devices of all of the trains are operated, substantially as described. v

5. In a train-signaling system, the combination of a conductor extending parallel to the track-rails, a plurality of trains upon the track each provided with a signaling device normally in circuit with the conductor and track-rails, a battery upon each train norinally out of circuit with the signaling de vice, means for automatically placing the batteries in circuit with the signaling devices at predetermined points along the track to operate the signaling devices of all the trains upon the track, and means for transmitting a signal of one character when the train is traveling in one direction and of a different character when traveling in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

6. In a train-signaling system, the combination of a conductor extending parallel to the track-rails, a plurality of trains upon the track each provided with a signaling device normally in circuit with the conductor and track-rails, a battery upon each train normally out of circuit with the signaling device thereof, means for placing the batteries in circuit with the signaling devices at separated signaling-points along the track, and means for transmitting a different signal from each signaling-point, substantially as described.

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

FRANCIS H. MYERS.

'Witnesses:

R. S. IIA sLIP, C. A. DRAPER.