US674523A - Automatic signal for electric railways. - Google Patents

Description

No. 674,523. Patented m 2|, 19m.

7 C. H. STORM. AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FCR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

(Application filed Aug. 28, 1900.)

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No. 674,523. Patented May 2|, I90l.

C. H. STORM.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FOB ELEGTRlC BAILWAYS.

(Application filed Aug. 28, 1900.)

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I UNITED ST TES PATENT DFFICE.

CHARLES H. STORM, OF WATERLOO, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, RALPH L. STORM, EDWIN M. STORM, AND CHARLES S. CHASE, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674.523, dated May 21, 1901.

Application filed August 28,1900. Serial No. 28,281. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. STORM, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Waterloo, Blackhawk county, Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Signals for Electric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic signals for electric railways; and it consists in the novel construction,combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide a system of signaling for such electric railways as are operated with'a single track, so designed as to prevent collisions between cars when headed in opposite directions on any part of the line where for any reason a view of the track is obscured. I am aware that various forms of contact devicesare in use, whereby pressure derived from the trolleywheel on a car operates apparatus for light ing or extinguishing lamps or moving signals; but the particular object of my invention is to provide an apparatus so simplified in its construction as to minimize wear of the parts and whose contact devices are dependent upon gravity in regaining their positions 0 when not otherwise in operation, thus doing away with the necessity of using springs, which will rust out, and always being certain in operation.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying 5 drawings, wherein similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of the signalin g devices with its connections as used 6 at one end of a section. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the form of signaling device as used at the other end of the section. Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a pair of the signaling devices as used at both ends of the block or section of railway-track, showing method of operation.

P represents a single track having turnout-tracks at either end of the section. To the trolley-wire Z at any suitable locations near the ends of the section are attached, by means of the insulators T '1, the contact signaling devices, which are also supported from a suitable point above by guy-wires T T. A frame A, which is'hung on the insulators T T, is provided with openings through which the gravity-plungers O and G move vertically. Each of these plungers move on slideways over studs fixed on the inner sides of the openings, as indicated by the dotted lines at H and H.

The releaser-plunger C is provided with a metallic cap D, whose ends extend over and are bent down over the sides of the plunger a sufficient distance to bring them into contact with conductors E and E.

To the binding-post O,which passes through the conductor E, is connected the Wire M, and the latter is brought into electrical contact with the trolley wire Z. Normally when there is-no car on the section the plunger 0, drawn by gravity, is in the position shown in Fig. 1, having the ends of the metallic plate D in contact, respectively, with the couductors E and E.

The plunger G moves vertically upon slideways over studs H in a similar manner to that ofthe plunger 0 and is constructed, as

is O, with itslower head shaped in an elliptic curve. This head has extensions beyond the shank to keep the movement of the plunger within proper limits.

Each plunger G is, like each plunger 0, raised by the passage of the trolley-wheel beneath it; but while the plungers Cdrop back by gravity the plungers Gare held in elevated position by their electromagnets J, which are thrown into circuit by contact of the conductors L L, which is efiected when the plungers G are raised.

F represents a box attached to the upper surface of the frame A, its lower opening registering with the opening in the frame in which the plunger G moves. Upon the top of the box F is'fixed the electromagnet J, its pole-piece I passing through-a perforation in the box and extending a short distance below.

In the middle of the top surface of the plunger G is embedded an armature K. Fastened to the side of the plunger G, above the frame A, is a metallic band L, forming a conductor, and to which is attached the end of the wire U by means of a binding-post.

L represents a metallic band fastened at one end to the upper surface of the frame A near the box F, and which band is bent into a form which leaves its free end impending over the conductor L and but a short distance above it. The conductor L has communication with the electromagnet J by means of the wire B. When the section P is clear, the plunger G, drawn by gravity, falls into the position shown in Fig. 1, disconnecting the conductors L and L, the circuit being broken between the trolley-wire Z and the lamps, leaving them unlighted.

Y, Y, and Y are feed-wires designed as means of communication between the separate signal devices at the ends of the section. The wire N connects the releaser O with the feed-wire Y, while the electromagnet J has a wire S extending from the upper part of its coil to the lamps W W. The wire Y operates to conduct the current from the lamps W to the ground.

The wire U forms a means of communica- Tion between the post 0 on the plunger 0 and-- a single-track section, as at P, moving in the direction 2, the quiescent apparatus is not affected when the trolley-wheel Z passes under and raises the plunger 0, as G, drawn back by gravity, restablishes circuit through D, E, and E. When the trolley-wheel in turn passes under and lifts the plunger G, said plunger remains in an elevated position and is held there by reason of the magnetic attraction between the excited electromagnet J and its armature K. The current from the feed-wire M is now passing through the electromagnet J. As the conductor L is brought, by reason of its elevation with the plunger G, into contact with the free end of the bent conductor L the current passes thence through wire R to the electromagnet J. The lamps W W and W W are thus lighted by current from trolley-wire now pass ing directly through wire M and its connections at E, the Wire U, conductors L and L, the electromagnet J, wires S, and thence by wires X, Y, and V to lamps W W wire X, through conductors E I) E X to ground. As the car moves on, all the lamps remain lighted until the car passes from the section and the trolley-wheel Z impinges upon the releaser C. When the releaser C is raised, the circuit is broken between the conductors D, E and E ,'and the armature K is released by the electro magnet I J, the plunger G dropping back into position by its gravity, and the lights in signal-lamps at W \V and W W are extinguished, signifying to a motorneer approaching from an opposite direction that the section is clear ahead. In case a car is entering the section P, moving in the direction 1, the section being clear and lamps unlighted, the operation of the signaling device is similar to that already described, except that the current for lighting the lamps is derived in the following manner: The establishing of electrical communication by the contacts of the conductors L and L brings the current first from the trolley-wire by wire M, conductors E, D, and E, wires N Y N, conductors L and L wire L electromagnet J, wires S Y V to lamps W W, thence by wires X Y V to lamps W W thence by wire X to conductors E D E and wire X to ground. Semaphore or hell signals may be connected with this system, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic signal for electric railways, the combination with an electric generator and a trolley-wire; of a frame having openings, gravity contact-plungers movable vertically in said opening and adapted to be actuated by a trolley-wheel, armatures on said plungers in circuit with electromagnets above the trolley-wire, gravity releasing-plungers movable vertically in other openings in said frame and provided with contact-conductors adapted to move vertically when actuated by the pressureof a trolley-wheel and break the electrical circuit through the conductors, conductors for carrying a current from the trolley-wire to the releasing and contact plungers and thence to and from signallamps, signal-lamps situated at either end of a section of track, in circuit with the gravity contact-plungers, means for grounding the current from the signal-lamps, trolley-actuated mechanism for elevating the gravity-plungers, with suitable connections and supports, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an automatic signal for electric railways, the combination with the trolley-wheel, the trolley-wire connectedwith a suitable electric generator, signal -lamps connected with each other and with the ground and located at each end of a track-section, and a frame held on insulated supports above each end of said section; of two plungers movable vertically in each frame and raised by the trolley-wheel but adapted to fall by gravity, an electromagnet above one plunger, two normally-separated conductors of whic-lnope is in circuit with the coils of this magnet and the other is connected with the plunger-body,

two conductors adjacent the other plunger, a

the frame A, wires T, insulators T, the gravity contact-plunger G adapted to move vertically over studs in slideways H, the armature K embedded in non=eonducting material in the upper portion of the plunger G, the conductors L and L, the box F, the electromaguet I J, the wires R, S'and U, the re- 1easing gravity-plunger C adapted to move vertically Within an opening in frame Aover studs in the slideways H, the conductors D, E and E, the binding-posts O and O, the box B, the wires M and N, the feed-Wires Y, Y and Y the lamps W, the wires X, V, V and X, the lamps W W the Wires S, N, electromagnet. I J, box F, plunger G, armature K embedded in. non-conducting material in the upper portion of the plunger G, conductors L L wire L ground-wire X releasing gravity-plunger 0, box F, conductors D, E and E frame A and track P, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination of the track P, trolley car and wheel Z, electrical generator Z trolley-wire Z, 'wires T, insulators T, frame A, box B, releasing-plunger O, stud and slideways H, conductors D, E and E, bindingposts 0 and 0, Wires M, N and U, contactplunger G, stud and slideways H, electromagnet I J, armature K embedded in noneonducting material in the upper part of the plunger G, conductors L and L, box F, Wires R and S, feeds-Wires Y, Y and Y lamps W, W and W W conducting-Wires V, X, V, X, N, S, L and X frame A, gravity releas ing-plunger O, studs and slideways H conductors D, E and E binding-posts O and 0 box B, gravity contact-plunger G, electromagnet I J, armature K embedded 'in non-conducting material in the upper portion of the gravity contact-plunger G, the studs and slideways H the conductors L and L and the box F, with suitable connections and supports, substantially as shown and de-' scribed.

Signed at Waterloo, Iowa, this 21st day of August, 1900.

CHARLES H. STORM. Witnesses:

FRANK MCDONALD, M. E. KENNEDY.

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