US773369A - Electrical block-signal. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

H. BROOKS. ELECTRICAL BLOCK SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

M MAM MMA u UNITED STATES Patented October 25', 1904.

PATENT OEEicE.

J. W. PORTER AND M.

A. BERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL BLOCK-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 773,369, dated October 25, 1904. Application filed December 21, 1903. Serial No. 186,042. (No model.)

T (LZZ 2117210712, it ntrty concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD BROOKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wheaton, in the county of Dupage and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Block-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is primarily intended for use on electric railways, and is intended to provide a block-signal system which will be absolutely reliable under all circumstances and which will be actuated to set the dangersignal not only by the passage of a train upon the block from either direction, but by the impairment of the block system itself due to accidents or natural causes; and the invention consists in the use of a closed-circuit system and the employment of a series of electromagnets for actuating the signals.

ployment of apparatus which will be automatically operated by the wheels of a train passing onto the block and of the employment of electromagnets having a plurality of coils or windings which are independently charged for the operation of the semaphores.

The invention finally consists of the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The drawing illustrating the invention is a diagrammatic view of an empty block, showing the entire apparatus in normal condition with the semaphore dropped.

As shown, A represents a section of rail extending throughout the entire block and partially broken away. Adjacent to the rail and in suitable position for the contact of a wheel-flange is a contact plate or bar a, suitably insulated to prevent its contact with the 4 rail, and at a distance equal to the space between two carwheels of a truck is a similar contact-plate a. It will be seen that by this arrangement a primary circuit can be established between the two plates a and a by the passage of a car-truck thereon.

Leading from the plate a a wire a leads to and forms a winding of a magnet B and passing therefrom connects with a circuitwire 6,

The invention further consists in the emwhich latter passes through a battery 6 and and is wound thereon in reverse relation to the winding of the wire a forming a complete circuit, and said circuit-wire is connected with the plate a by means of the wire 6 Under normal conditions when the block is empty a circuit will be established through the magnet B by the circuit-wire 6; but when a truck establishes a circuit between the plates at and a a counter-circuit will be established through the magnet B by the wire a which will counteract the first circuit and deenergize the magnet.

The magnet is provided with a stem O, which passes into the hollow core thereof, and is connected with a lever c, which in turn is 5 grounded at the point 0. I/Vhen the block is empty, the lever will be held in a raised position and in contact with a plate 0 to which leads a wire D, which forms one of the signal-operating wires.

It will be understood that the apparatus hitherto described is duplicated at the opposite end of the block, so that when a train passes onto the block from either direction one of the magnets, B, will be deenergized and break 7 5 the circuit which leads from one of the circuit-wires, D or G, through one of the'levers,

0, and into the ground at either the point 0 or g, as the case may be.

In describing the apparatus the circuit hitherto described will be called the primary circuit.

Wire D leads through a battery (Z to an electromagnet E, which has a companion magnet E in opposite relation thereto duplicated like- 5 wise at the opposite end of the block, and the circuit through the magnet E will be described as the first circuit, and it will be understood that a similar arrangement of wires and magnets is employed at the opposite end of the 9 block.

The magnets E and E when the circuit is closed under normal conditions will hold in raised position a pair of oppositely-disposed levers e, which are pivoted at their ends to uprights e or in any other suitable manner,

returns to the opposite end of the magnet B 5 and at the free ends of the levers are arranged pa-wls or dogs a, which are adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet-wheel F rotatably mounted and turn the same in one direction or the other when one or the other of the magnets, E and E, is deenergized by the breaking of the circuit, and when the circuit is broken and one of the levers, c, is released from the magnetic influence it will be drawn down by means of a spring a or otherwise, and the dog or pawl will move the ratchet-wheel a single point in one direction or another.

The ratchet-wheel is provided with an armf, which is adapted under normal conditions when the block is clear to rest upon and establish a circuit between an inner contactplate 7 and an outercontact-platef and in order to provide for the rotation of the arm f guide-rings f" and 7" are provided which, however, serve no other function than to provide for the circular travel of the arm.

Leading from the magnet E is a wire G, which leads to and forms one-third of the winding of an electromagnet G, and the wire Ur" after being coiled one-third of the extent of the magnet is carried to the con'ipanion magnet at the opposite end of the block and there in turn forms one-third of the winding of said magnet, after which it passes through the magnet E of the companion block system and is finally grounded at the point g, from which it will be seen that under normal conditions when the block is clear and the contact established between the plate 0 and the lever c a complete circuit will be established through the ground and through the companion magnets G, which operate the semaphores.

A second circuit similar in every respect to the first is established from the ground at the point g through the lever 0 and contact-plate 0 and through a wire (i which is a companion wire of the wire 1), and passes through a battery 9 and the magnet E around the semaphore-operating magnet at the end of the line from which it started and back, along with the wire G, to the first-described semaphoreoperating magnet, where it forms a second third of the winding thereof, and fin ally passes through the magnet E and is grounded at the point G".

A third circuit is established in each of the signal-operating apparatus at the ends of the block by means of a wire H leading from the inner contact-plate f, which wire forms a final third of each of the semaphore-operating electromagnets and after passing through a battery 7t returns to the outer contact-plate f so that under normal conditions when the block is clear and the arm f establishes a contact between the inner and outer plates the third circuit will be closed through the electromagnet, thereby, in combination with the first and second circuits, serving to energize the semaphore-operating magnet to its .full extent.

l l l It will be understood that the companion apparatus has a third circuit similar in all respects to the one hitherto described and that the ratchet-wheels on the two ends of the block will be simultaneously operated in the same direction by the passage of a train onto the block from either direction by reason of the fact that the two magnets E and likewise the two magnets E will be simultaneously deenergized by the breaking of the first or second circuit, as the case may be, through either the wire D or the wire G depending upon the direction from which the train enters the block.

Each of the semaphore-operating magnets is provided with a slidable rod 1, which onters the core, and said rod is connected by a link i with a semaphore-arm I of the usual construction, which arm is pivoted to an upright 1 and provided with a counterbalancingweight '5', which is heavy enough to raise the arm when one or more of the circuits which tend to energize the semaphore operating magnets is broken, but which is not heavy enough to counteract the draw or pull of the magnet when all three of the circuits are tending to energize the same.

In operation when the block is clear the two primary circuits at the ends of the line will both be closed; but when a train passes onto the block from either direction one or the other of the primary circuits will be broken, and either the first or second circuit through the semaphore-magnet will be broken by the breaking of one of the primary circuits, thereby deenergizing the triple-coil magnets to onethird of their extent, allowing the danger-signal to arise. With the breaking of either the first or second circuit one of the two sets of magnets E and E will be likewise deenergized, causing the ratchet-wheel to move a certain number of teeth in one direction or another, depending upon the number of trucks of a train passing on the block, since it is evident that each truck will deenergize the magnets and cause the dog to move the ratchet-wheel one point in one direction or the other, depending upon the end of the block at which the train entors. The movement of the ratchet-wheel and the arm carried thereby breaks the third circuit and still further deenergizes the semaphoreoperating magnets, and this condition of afi'airs will continue until the train reaches the apparatus at the opposite end of the block, at which point the trucks will actuate the ratchet-wheel the same number of points in the reverse direction until it is brought into normal position and the third circuit is completed. By this arrangement the semaphoreoperating magnets are deenergized one-third during the entire time the train remains upon the block, and such arrangement is essential, for the reason that the deenergizing of the first and second circuits is but momentary and continues only while the truck of the car is in contact with the contact-plates of the primary circuit and does not continue when the entire train has passed onto the block.

If the wires G and G become broken, it is plain that the danger -signal will be displayed, for the reason that circuits Nos. 1 and 2 will be broken and the semaphoreoperating magnets deenergized' two-thirds, which will immediately allow the dangersignal to arise and indicate that the block system is out of order, and likewise it but one of the wires G and G becomes broken the magnets will be deenergized sufiiciently to display the danger-sigaal, which is held down only when all three of the circuits are complete and in operative condition. The same thing will be true if the batteries become impaired, since the current through the coils will then be insutiicient to hold down the signal-arm. It will thus be seen that the system is one which is thoroughly reliable under all conditions and which is so arranged that impairment of the system will be immediately indicated by the same means used to indicate the presence of the train upon the block.

Although the invention has been described with considerable particularity, it is plain that the mechanical details may be varied considerably and that the ratchet-operating mechanism may be changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

VVha-t I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a block-signal system, the combination of two electromagnets each being provided with two coils independent of each other, a connection for the corresponding coils of the two magnets adapting the same to operate in unison as line-circuits, a local circuit actuated by the line-circuits, a signal for each magnet adapted to be held in one position by the combined action of the three circuits and in a different position by the action of less than three circuits, and means automatically operated by the passage of a train onto the block for actuating one of the circuits for the purpose of changing the position of the signal, substantially as described. I

2. In a block-signal system, the combination of two electromagnets each provided with two coils independent of each other, a connection for the corresponding coils of the two magnets adapting them to act in unison, each pair of connected coils forming a line-circuit normally closed, a local circuit adapted to be actuated by the line-circuits, a signal for each of the electromagnets adapted to indicate a certain condition of a block when all three of the circuits are closed, and a different condition when one of the circuits is broken, and means actuated by the passage of a train onto the block for breaking one of the circuits to change the signal, substantially as described.

3. Ina block-signal system, the combination of an electromagnet, adapted to operate a signal, and provided with three windings, each of the windings terminating in an independent circuit, one of the circuits being adapted to be broken by the movement of a ratchetwheel, actuated in one direction by the breaking of one of the remaining circuits, and adapted to be actuated in the opposite direction by the breaking of the other of the two remaining circuits, substantially as described.

a. In an electric signal, the combination of an electromagnet, provided with three coils, forming independent circuits, an electric signal, adapted to be operated by the electromagnets and means for breaking one of the circuits by the action of one of thetwo remaining circuits, substantially as described.

5. In a block-signal system, the combination of two electromagnets, each being provided with three independent windings, two of the windings to each of the magnets being connected to form continuous circuits through the two magnets, and a third winding to each of the magnets, forminga local circuit, a signal for each electromagnet, adapted to be held in one position by the combined action of the three circuits and in a different position by the action of less than three circuits, and means,actuated by the passage of a train onto the block at either end, for breaking both local circuits and one of the connecting-circuits,- for changing the position of the signal, substantially as described.

6. In a block-signal system, the combination of two electromagnets, each of the magnets being provided with two independent windings, connections for. the corresponding windings on the two magnets forming two continuous independent circuits, a third winding for each of the electromagnets, forming a local circuit, a signal for each of the magnets, adapted to be held in one position by the energizing of the three circuits and in a difierent position by the deenergizing of one or more of the circuits, means, actuated by the passage of a train onto the block at either end, for changing the condition of one of the continuous circuits, and means for changing the condition of both local circuits by the action of one of the continuous circuits for changing the signals at both ends of the block, substantially as described.

7. In a block-signal system, the combination of two electromagnets, one at each end of the block, each of the magnets being provided with two windings, independent of each other and forming two continuous circuits through the two magnets,normally closed,a third winding for each of the magnets, forming a continuous local circuit, normally closed, means actuated by the passage of a train onto the block at either end, for breaking one of the continuous circuits and partially deenergizing both of the magnets simultaneously, and

means, actuated by the breaking of one of the continuous circuits for breaking both local circuits for the entire time the train remains upon the block and closing the local circuits simultaneously as the train passes oil the block and two signals, adapted to be simultaneously operated by the partial deenergizing of the electromagnets, substantially as described.

8. Ina block-signal system, the combination of two electromagnets, each provided with two independent windings, connections for the windings on the two magnets forming two continuous circuits, a third winding for each of the magnets, forminga local circuit, a signal for each magnet, provided with a rod, adapted to enter the magnet and be drawn thereinto when the magnet is energized to a predetermined extent, and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom when the magnet is partially denergized, means for changing the condition of one of the continuous circuits by the passage of a train onto the block at either end and means for changing the condition of both local circuits simultaneously,actuated by the changing of the condition of one of the continuous circuits for actuating the signals simultaneously, substantially as described.

9. In a block'signal system, the combination of two electromagnets, each provided with two coils, independent of each other, connections for the corresponding coils on the two magnets i'orining two continuous circuits, normally closed, a third winding for each of the magnets, forming a local circuit, normally closed, means, actuated by the passage of a train onto the block at either end for breaking one of the continuous circuits, means,actuated by the breaking of one of the continuous circuits, and adapted to be moved one degree by the passage of each truck of a train onto the block, and adapted to be moved one degree in the opposite direction by the passage of each truck ofi' of the block for deenergizing both local circuits during the time the train remains on the block, a signal for each of the electromagnets, provided with a rod, adapted to enter the magnet and be drawn thereinto when the magnet is fully energized and be withdrawn therefrom when the magnet is partially deen ergized for actuating the signal, substantially as described.

10. In a block'signal system, the combina tion of two electromagnets, each provided with a coil, a connection between the two'coils, forming a continuous circuit through the two magnets, a coil for each of the magnets, forming a local circuit for each magnet, means, actuated by the passage of a train onto the block, for changing the condition of the continuous circuit, means actuated by the changing of the condition of the continuous circuit for changing the condition of both local circuits simultaneously, thereby changing the condition of both electromagnets, and a signal for each magnet actuated by the change of condition therein, substantially as described.

11. In a block-signal system, the combination of two electromagnets, each provided with a coil, a connection for both coils forming a continuous circuit through the two magnets, normally closed, a winding for each magnet, forming a local circuit, normally closed, means, actuated by the passage of a train onto the block, for breaking the continuous circuit, means actuated by the breaking of the continuous circuit, for breaking both local circuits simultaneously, to deenergize both of the electromagnets, and a signal for each electromagnet, actuated by the deenergizing thereof, substantially as described.

HOWARD BROOKS.

WVitnesses:

R. L. Loons, T. A. PORTER

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