US700461A - Electric railroad-signal. - Google Patents

Description

Patented May-20, I902. w. 0. VANDECAB.

ELEGTRIC RAILROAD SIGNAL.

, (Application filed June 6, 1903.. (No Model.)

W J Y -z I I w .1? y :0, I n/ f- Witnesses- I Inventor- Attorneys.

TNE NORRIS PETERS 00.. PHOTQLITHO" WASHINGTON n. c

No. 700,46I. Patented May 20, I902.

w'. u. VANDECAR. ELECYTBIC'HAILBOAD SIGNAL.

I (Application filed June 6, 1901.1 v (No Model.) 3-Sheets-Sheet 2 Witnesses. V invem r.

M K? 34W By %&

I Attorneys;

No. 700,41. Patented ma 'zo, I902.

- w. n. VANDECAR.

ELECTRIC RAILROAD SIGNAL.

(Application filed June 6, 1901.1

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

- Inventor.-

- w'llz'amflvzndeodn B y &% M

,Witne ssea Attorneys,

THE nonms'mim 0a.. moTamnm, wumum'n, 0. c4

' and within the block.

a citizen of the United States,. residing at PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM D. VANDECAR, or

ELECTRIC RAIL GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

ROAD-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION formingpartf of Letters Faterit No. 700,461, dated May 20, 1902.

Application filed June 6, 1901. I

To all whom it Indy concern: 1 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D.VA -;"D cAR,

Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railroad- Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric railroad-signals; and its object is to provide means whereby various signals will be automatically displayed to indicate that a given portion of railway-track, known as a block, is entirely clear of trains, that a train is traversing thesame, or that two trains are approaching each other on the same track Another object is to provide means for automatically operating "suchsignals 'by electricity and to providethe device with certain new and useful features hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My device consists, essentially, of an electric generator, a main circuit, shunt-circuits to operate the signals and switches, certain and various switches and circuit-closers, and means for operating the same, as will more fully appear by referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of the system for a single block; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section of the track, a locomotive, and a signaltower; Fig. 3, a side elevation of a portion of the device, with parts broken away to show the construction; Fig. 4, an enlarged detail, in side elevation, of one of the circuit-closers located in the track; Fig. 5, an end view of the same; Fig. 6, an enlarged detail, in plan View, of the device on the train for operating the circuit-closers; Fig. 7, thesame in side elevation, and Fig. 8 a detaill'of the circuitcloser on the train to operate the bell.

. Like characters refer to like parts in all the figures.

A represents any suitable electric generator.

13 represents the positive line, and negative line, of the primary circuit.

D is a shunt-wire extending from the line C the SerialNo; 63,451 (No model.)

B and branched to form-various circuits, as follows: One circuit may pass from the wire D to and through the cut-out E. To open and close the circuit at'E, I place a plug E upon the switch-arm I, from which it is insulated, so that a current of electricity passing over it when in contact with the cut-out Ecannot but continue over the wire D to and through the bulb J, and thence to and over the wire D" to the negative line 0 to produce a signallight at J. A second circuit passes from the wires D, over the wire D, to and through the magnet-coil G, thence to and through the circuit-closer H, and thence to the negative line 0, thus completing the circuit. A third circuitpassing from the wire D is extended to the terminal F, thence over the switch-arm I when in contact with said terminal, to and over the wire D to operate the several signal-lights indicated at J J ,&c., which are intended to represent colored signal-lights, thence over the wire K, the switch-arm I. the terminal F when in contact with said switch, and the wire D to the negative line C. A fourth circuit passes from the wire D, over the wire D", to and through the coil G,

thence to and through the circuit-closer H,

and completes the circuit over the negative line C. A fifth circuit passes from the wire D, over the wire D to and through the circuit-closer H", thence toand through coil G, and thence over the wire D to and over the negative line C. A sixth circuit may be taken from the positive line 13, over the shunt-wire "K, to and through thecircuit-closer H, and

to and through the coil 0", and over the wire 'Dlto' the negative line C. A seventhcircuit 'may be taken from the wire K, over the wire K, to and through the bulb J, andthence to and through the cut-out E, when connection is made by means of the insulated plug E on the switch-arm I, and over the wire D t't'thettgauvt' line C to produce a signal- To avert the danger of con-founding any colored lights with ordinary switch-lights, I use a bulls-eye constructed to showtwo colors-as, for instance,an annular red light j with a blue center j, as indicated back of the bulls J J in Fig. 2. w

roe

The switches I and I are pivotally supported at one end and adapted at the other end to contact the terminals F F when shifted toward the same, and also have the insulated plugs E E to close the cut-outs E and E. These switches are provided with centrallypivoted armatu res I" 1, adapted to oscillate and shift the switches and operated by the electromagnet cores of the coils G G G G.

The circuit-closers H H H 11 have insulated spring-electrodes M and M, arranged at each side of a vertically-movable bolt N, extending upward through the insulated plate S. Vertically adjustable on the bolt N is a plate 0, adapted to contact the springelectrodes M M and close the circuit of the wires D D. Surrounding the bolt N is a spring P,which depresses the bolt N with considerable force. Pivoted to the upper end of the bolt N and engaging the plate S is a camlever Q, having a suitable flat face at the bottom and rounded sides, whereby said lever normally assumes a vertical position and when forced to an inclined position pulls the bolt upward and closes the circuit by bringing the plate 0 in contact with the electrodes M M. R R are slotted posts at each side of the cam-lever R, which engage the outer ends of the pivot-pin R, connecting the said lever and bolt. These parts assist in keeping the bolt from turning about its axis and also take a part of the strain when the device is operated. To operate these circuit-closers, I provide an adjustable shoe T, pivotally supported in a suitable frame U, attached to a locomotive or car and provided with an arm T, connected to a suitable lever V by a rod V. A stop-pin T prevents this shoe from being lowered too far, and the shoe is so located that when lowered it will strike the levers Q, located near one of the rails, when the train is going one way and the other levers Q when the train is going in the opposite direction.

Suitably located on the train is an electric bell W, operated by a battery W, to which it is connected by a suitable wire X, forming an electric circuit, in which is a circuit-closer Y, operated by an electric circuit Z. This circuit-closer Y consists of a bell-crank 1, interposed in the circuit and having one arm adapted to close the circuit by contacting a suitable terminal 2 and held out of contact with the same by a pivoted armature 3, havin g a hook to engage the other arm of the bellcrank and released by an electromagnet 4, having its exciting-coil 5 in the circuit Z. This circuit Z is connected with the track at its negative end in any well-known way, and at the other end is connected to the frame U. To perfect this circuit, the frame U, shoe T, and arm T are insulated, as indicated at U on Figs. 3, G, and '7.

The electrode M is connected to the track by the wire L.

The main circuit B C extends the entire length of the series of blocks and may be a circuit for propelling electric cars or other purposes.

Each block of the road is provided with the system shown in Fig. 1, and each train, car, or locomotive, as the case may be, with the device for operating the circuit-closers located in the track, and may also be provided with the bell and operating appliances shown. It the bell is omitted, then the wires L may be omit-ted and the electrodes M adjusted to contact the plates 0.

The operation is as follows: In the diagram the parts as now adjusted indicate that a train has entered the block from the left and the shoe T on the same engaged the lever Q of the closer II and momentarily closed the circuit through the coil G. This has magnetized the core of said coil and th rown the switch I to the position shown, contacting the terminal F and connecting the negative wire K of the colored lights J with the negative line C and at the same time out out the white light J. This absence of the white light would indicate to a following train that the block ahead was occupied by a train going in the same direction, but the colored lights J would not show because the wire D would still be cut out. When this train leaves the block, it operates the closer II. This magnetizes the core of the coil G and throws the switch I, thus cutting out the negative wire of the colored lights J and closing the circuit of the white light J. If a train approaches from the right, it operates the closer H, and this cuts out the white light J and connects the positive wire D of the colored lights J. IVhen this train leaves the block, it operates the closer II. This closes the circuit of the coil G and throws the switch I to the position shown, thus cutting out the colored-light wire D and again displaying the white light J. Thus a train going in either direction cuts out the white light behind it while in the block and restores it as it leaves the block, and also while in the block cuts in one side of the colored-light circuit. It when a train is in the block and running toward the right and another train going in the opposite direction enters the bloek,this latter train would operate the closer II. This would close the circuit of the coil G and shift the switch I, thus cutting out the white light J and closing the circuit of the positive wire D. Both wires of the colored lights now being connected to the respective main circuit-wires these colored lights will at once be displayed at various points along the line, as indicated at J, and thus every one on both trains would be warned of the danger of a headend collision. For greater certainty two colored lights may be used in each tower, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it one is disabled the other will show. In like manner it a train was in the block running to the left and a train running oppositely should enter the block the latter would operate the closer II. This would connect the negative wire of the colored lights, and said lights would at once be displayed. In the event the bell Wis used, whenever the shoe T contacts a lever Q a current will pass through the bolt N, cam-lever Q, shoe T,

frameU, and circuit Z, thus magnetizing the.

core H of the coil 5. This would release'the bell-crank 1, close the circuit, and set'the bell W ringing, thus indicating that the train had entered a blockand suggestingobservation of the signal-lights. If for any reason it should become necessary to pass over a circuit-closer without operating the same, the shoe T can be raised by means of the lever V, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

The circuit-closers shown in the track may be located elsewhere and operated normally,v

if so desired.

It is obvious that by my device any known electrically-operated signal maybe displayed in place of the electric lights shown'for use by daylight without departing from my in-. vention.

Having thus fully described my invention,,.

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isr 1. In combination with a block of railwaytrack,.an electric signal at each end of the block, a circuitand cut-out to operate each signal, a series of signals within the block, positive and negative wires to operate. the last-named signals, a switch for each end sig nal to alternately connect the same, and one of the wires for the series of signals, two electronlagnets at each switch to oppositely shift the same, electric circuits for each magnetcoil, a circuit-closer adjacent to each end signal and in .the circuit operating to open the circuit of said signal and to close the circuit of one of said .WlIGS, and a second circuit-' closer adjacent to each signal, and in the circuit, operating to close the circuit of the signal at the other end of the block and i. open the circuit of one of the said wires, and means for operating the said circuit-closers by the passageof a train, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a block of railwaytrack, an electric signal at each end of the block, an electric circuit to operate each signal, a switch to open and close .each circuit, an electromagnet and electric circuit to openi each switch, an electromagnet and circuit to. close each switch, a circuit-closer in each of the circuits to operate the. switches, the two circuit-closers for each signal, being located at opposite ends of the block, substantially.

as described.

3. In combination with a block of railwaytrack, an electric generator andpositive and negative lines connected to the generator, an electricsignal at each end ofthe block, a shunt-circuit to operate each signal, a series of signals within-the block and connected inparallelbetweena positive and negative wire forming a shunt-circuit, a switch for each end signal adapted to alternately close the end signal-circuit and the circuit through one of said wires, shunt-circuits operating to shift the switch and close the end signal-circuits, circuit-closers in said circuits each located near theend of the block remote from the respective signal, and shunt-circuits operat-' ing to open the end signal-circuit, each'beingv located near the end of the block-adjacent to,

the respective signal, and means for operating the circuit-closers bythe passage ot trains, substantially as described.

4:. In combination with a rail way-track,.a

train, signals, and electric circuits for oper ating the signals,circuit-closers in said cir:

cuits and located nearthe track, said closers consisting of insulated spring-electrodes, a vertically-movable plate to connect the same, a spring to depress the plate, and a cam-lever connected to the plate, and a shoe onthetrain adapted to engage the cam-lever and closethe.

circuit, substantially as described.

5. In combination with-a block,a train,

electrically-operated signals, and electric cir v cuits for operating the signals, an insulated plate between the tracks, insulated springelectrodes in the circuit and attached to the plate, a vertically-movable bolt, a plate on' the bolt, a spring surrounding the bolt and depressing the same, a cam-lever pivotedto the bolt and having arounded-lower end engaging the insulated plate, and a shoe onthe train to engage the cam-lever and bring the plate in contact with the electrodes, substantially as-described. i r 6. In combination with a track, a train, electrically-operated signals, andelectric cir- IOO cuits to operate the signals, circuit-closers in said circuits and located near the track, a' shoe on the train engaging and operating saidcircuit-closers and forming a part ofan electric circuit, an electric bell and circuit-closeron the train-whereby the bell is caused-toring whenever the shoe contacts a circuitcloser near the track, substantially as'described. e

7.. In combination with a block off-railway: track, an electrical generator, a series ofelectricallyoperated signals at intervals with in 'the block, a positive and-a negative wire to operate said signals and each independently connected to the generator, means for con-" nectingand disconnectingeachwire t0 the generator, and operated by thepassing trains whereby one wire is connected anddiscon--- nected by trains going in onedirection and the other wire connected and disconnected by trains goingin'the opposite direction, sub- I stantially as described.

8. In combination with a block of railwaytrack, an electric generator and main circuit,

a series of electrically-operated signals Within the block, a line connected to the positive side of the main circuit and to one side of the signals, a line connected to the negative side ot.--the main circuit and to -the other side of the signals, and means for closingithe respecfive lines as a train enters the respective ends Signed at Grand Rapids,Michigan,April19, of the block, and means for opening the said 1901.

lines as the said trains leave the track, Where- 7 1 by both lines are connected and the signals WILLIAM X ANDBCAR 5 operated whenever two trains approach each In presence ofother within the block, substantially as cle- VILLIAM A. SHAW,

scribed. ANDREW ALLGIER.

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