US806430A - Trolley-signal. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED mac. 5, 1905.

B. H. ROBERTS. I TROLLEY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 5, 1905.

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TROLLEY SIGNAL." APPLICATION FILED 00w. 5, 1905.

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11457166668. I I ji zz/ezziary BENJAMIN H. ROBERTS, or HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

TROLLEY-SIGNAL. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

IPatented. Dec. 5, 1905.

Application filed 0ot0'ber 5, 1905. Serial No. 281,39

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN H. ROBERTS, of 'Haverhill, county ,of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Trolley-Signals, of whichthe following de-' scription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts. This invention relates to that class of automatic trolley-signals in which means are pro-,

vided whereby when any number of cars within certain limits entera block at one end the first car entering will cause signals to. be set automatically at each end, which signals will notjbe changed until all the cars have left the block. I

My invention has for its object to simplify prior signaling systems of this nature and to provide mechanism which will operate with certainty and which is unlikely. to get out of order. I accomplish this object by the means shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view of my invention. -Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the step-by-step actuator and lock-1 ing and releasing mechanisms. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.- Fig. 4c is adetail view of. the circuit closing and locking mechanism. Figs. 5 and 6 are opposite diametrical central sectional views of the locking-wheel.

Before describing the circuits I will describe the step-by-step actuating and releasing mechanisms and the circuit closing and locking mechanism.

A and A indicate apair of oppositely-dis! posed electromagnets, between which an armature a is located, said armature being mounted on a pivot a and movable thereon from the full-line middle position'of Fig. 4

toward either magnet to either dotted position shown in the same figure, springs a a being provided at opposite sides of said armature forholding the same in its middle position. The free end of said armature extends between two circuit-closing devices a and a, which are adapted to be engaged thereby when in either of the abnormal positions to which it may' be moved by said electromagnets AA. A shaft 6 is mounted in suitable bearings directly above the armature and a locking-wheel 0 is rigidly mounted on said shaft, so that it rotates'in the'central longitudinal plane of the armature when the latter is in its middle position, the center line of the armature-pivot a lying in said plane, so that the armature moves transversely thereof. Said wheel is provided with a transverselyprojecting circular flange c at each side thereof adjacent its periphery or rim, and a recess 0 is formed in said flange or rim which is of sufiicient width and depth to receive the upper or free end portion of .the armature 0;. An abutmento is provided on the wheel at one side of said notch 0 and a wedge-shaped projection c is provided at the other side of said notch, ;the edge of said wedge-shaped portion being radially'disposed in the central plane of the wheel. The upper end of the armature is provided with a wedge-shaped portion a", which faces or is on the edge adjacent the Wedgeshaped projection 0*, so that in the normal po- 1 sition of the parts the edges of said wedgeshaped portions are parallel and in the central plane of rotation of wheel 0. A ratchet-wheel d is also rigidly mounted on the shaft 6, and an electromagnet E-is located adjacent thereto, its armature e'being pivoted at e and having a pivoted toe-piece e at its end adaptedto engage the ratchet-wheel 0L- A spring-pressed plunger 6 is provided in the end of'the armature for holding the pivoted toe-piece e against a shoulder on the armature and permitting it to swing inwardly when the armature is drawn away from its magnet by the spring a A releasing-electromagnet F is also provided, said magnet having an armature f, pivoted at f and connected by a link f to a lever f said lever being pivoted in the middle on a pivot f and a spring f being connected thereto and acting to hold the armature f away from its magnet. A pair of escapement pawls f 5 f 6 are pivoted on a rod f and have teeth disposed to engage the teeth of the ratchetwheel'd, and springs f act to move said escapement pawls into engagement with said wheel. The lever f isprovided at one end with an arm f which is {adapted to engage the upper side of the escapQment-pawlf and at the other end with an arm f, which is adapted to engage the other escapement-pawl f Said arm f is located at the end of lever to which link f is connected, so that when magnet F is energized and'the armature f is drawn down the escapement-pawl f will be moved away from the ratchet-wheel and the escapement-pawl f willfbe drawn toward it, and when the magnet is deenergized the opposite action willtake place. An ordinary clock-spring g is provided, which encircles and is connected at one end to shaft 6, the op- IOO posite end being fixed so that it is adapted to actuate the shaft in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2.

In the diagrammatical View, 1 indicates the trolley-wire, and 1 and 1 indicate switches at each end of a block, which are adapted to be operated automatically by the trolley-pole of a car as it enters or leaves the block at either end. The switch 1 is normallyheld midway between the contact-points 2 and 31, and the,

switch 1 is normally held between the contact-points 18 and 22, but out of contact therewith in each instance. When a car enters the block going in the direction of the arrow 00, the switch 1 will be thrown so that the trolley-wire will be electrically connected with the contact-point 2. From this point the current will pass through wire 3 and energize the magnetA and swing the armature a to the lefthand dotted position of Fig. 4. The current continues from the magnet Athrough Wires 4 and 5 to the magnet E and thence through wires 6 7 to the ground 8, causing it to draw down the armature e and bring the toe-piece 0 into engagement with the first tooth of the ratchet, causing the shaft Z) to be rotated to the extent of one notch. This causes the locking-wheel 0 to be rotated to the same extent, and as the armature a will have been drawn to the left and to one side of the V-shaped projection 0* the lefthand edge of the rim 0 will be carried by the rotation of the shaft into engagement with the adjacent side of the armature co, so that when the circuit through magnetA is broken upon the movement of the car out of engagement with the switch 1 the armature, which would otherwise be permitted to return to its middle position, will continue to be held in said left-hand position. As the parts areconstructed the armature a must move some distance before its toe-piece comes into engagement with the tooth of the ratchet, and although the magnets A and E are energized simultaneously the armature a will have been moved some distance to the left before the toe-piece e engages the wheel and begins to turn the shaft 1). As the edge of the armature a and the projection 0 on the wheel are wedge-shaped, it will be apparent that even if the armature is not moved to its extreme left-hand position by the time the shaft 72 begins to turn yet the oblique surfaces of the armature and wheel which may come in engagement will'not permit the armature to obstruct the rotation of the wheel to a material extent, and the wedge-shaped projection 0* will force the armature into its extreme side position if it has not been already drawn to this position by its magnet. The wheel will be turned until its flat side bears against the flat side of the armature and locks the latter in this position, the shaft being held against backward rotation by the pawl f When the armature a is moved to the left-hand position, the circuit-closer a will be thrown so as to connect the wires 10 and 13, permitting the current toilow from the trolley-wire through wires 9, 10, and 13, lighting the white light m at the end of the block at which the car is entering. Then the current passes on through the wire 14, lighting the red light a at the opposite end of the block and passes to the ground. As other cars subsequently pass onto the block the magnet E will be energized, causing its armature to rotate the shaft 5 one notch for each car so passing on, the conditions otherwise remaining unchanged. The first car to leave the block at the opposite end will move the switch 1 so as to connect the trolley-wire with the contact-point 18, permitting the current to iiow through the wires 19 and 20 to energize the releasing-magnet F, and as the armature f is drawn downwardly one tooth of the ratchet: wheel d will be released, permitting it to be turned backward by its spring g to that e.

tent, the other conditions above described remaining the same. As the car leaves the block one tooth of the ratchet-wheel will be released, and when all the ears have passed from the block the locking-wheel 0 will have been returned to its initial position, so that the armature a may then be moved to its normal or middle position, breaking the circuit through lights on and n. hen a car enters the block going in the opposite direction to the arrow, the circuit-closer 1 will connect the trolley wire with the contact-point 22, and the current will pass from this point through the wire 23 and through the magnet A, energizing the same and moving the armature (t to the right-hand dotted position of Fig. 4:. The current passes on through the wire 24, which is connected to the wire 4: and thence on through the wires and magnet E to the ground, as before described. The actuating-magnet E being energized causes the ratchet-wheel, and consequently the locking-wheel, to be rotated forwardly, moving the latter so that it will hold the armature a in the right-hand position to which it has been moved. This movement of the armature causes the cireuitcloser a to connect the wire 25 with the wire 28, and as the wire 25 is connected to the wire 9 leading from the trolley-wire the current will be carried on through the wire 28, throwing on the red light 0 at the opposite end of the block, and on throughthe wire 29 and the white light 1) at the end of the block at which the car is entering, and so on to the ground through the wire 16. The shaft will be rotated forwardly one notch for each succeeding car which goes onto the block in the same manner as that heretofore described. When the ears leave the block going in the opposite direction to the arrow, the circuitcloser 1 connects the trolley-wire to the contact-point 31, and the current is thence carried through the wire 20 to the releasing-magnet j, so that the sprocket-wheel will be turned back one hotch'as'ea'ch car leaves the block,'

been locked by the car which has already en-l tered at the opposite end, the effect would simply be to turn the ratchet-wheel one notch, and if it was then backed off the block the releasing-magnet would be operated, releasing the ratchet-wheel one notch, so that the conditions established by the entrance of the.

other car at the opposite end of the block would not be disturbed. In other words, contact-points 2 and 22' are both connected to the actuating-magnet E, so that said'magnet will be energized and the wheel (1- advanced one notch whenever a car enters the block at either end. and points 18 and 31 are both connected to the step-by-s'tep releasing-magnet F, so that the latter magnet will be energized and the, wheel d released one notch each time a car leaves the block'ateitherend. The first car entering the block willset the-signal against a car at the oppositeend and the signal will' not be changedunder any condition until all cars have left the block. 1

From the foregoing it will be apparent that all the apparatus may be located in a single box at one end of therblock, which apparatus will control the signal=lights at both ends;

thereof. 1 It will also be observed that all the magnet-operating circuits are connected with the source of electrical supply at the trolleywire and that these circuits are'always dead exceptduringthe short space of timein'which a car is operating the circuit-closer, so that in case any of these wires should become grounded the magnets would not be operated nor the signal-lamps lighted; Thecircuit-closers for the signal-circuits are alsolocated but a short distance from the trolley-wire, so that the portion of the circuits which lead through the signal-lamps is normally dead.

While the returning-spring for turning back the shaftb of the step-by-step locking device and the escapement-lpawls may be omitted and an electromagnetically-operated actuating device similar to' the actuating device already described may be substituted therefor, yet I prefer to employ the former, for the reason that then the ratchet-wheel will always beheld at a certain point at the end of each. actuation in either direetion-that is, the spring will always be pressing one of the teeth of the ratchet-wheel into engagement with one of the escapement-pawls.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is e 1. In a trolley-signal, a signal-setting magnet, its armature, a step-by-step locking device for said armature, an actuating-magnet and a releasing-magnet for said step-by-step device, .a circuitfor said signal-setting and said actuating magnet, a circuit fol-said releasingcuit for each signal-setting magnet, and a cirleasing magnet magnet, and a trolley-operated switch at each end of the block for one of said circuits, sub-. stantially as described.

2. In a trolley-signal, a pair of signal-setting magnets, an armature therefor, movable thereby to different positions to set oppositesignals, a' step-by-step locking device for said armature, an actuating-magnet and a releasing-magnet for said step-by-stkap device, a circuit'for said actuating-magnet in series with each of said circuits, a circuit for saidreleasing-magnet, and a trolley-operated switch at each end of the blockfor closing one of said signal-setting-magnet circuits and saidactuating-magnet circuit, and for closing said recircuit, substantially as de-" scribed. c i

3. In a trolley-signal, a pairof signal-setting magnets, anarmature therefor, movable therebyto different positions'to set opposite signals, a step-by-step locking device for said armature, an actuating-magnet and a releasing-magnet for said step-by-step device, acircuit for each signal-setting'magnet, and a circuit for said actuating-magnet injseries with each of'said circuits, a'circuit for. said releasing-magnet, a pair of contacts at eachend of the block, one contact of each pair being in one of the signal-setting circuits. and the other contacts beingrin said releasing-magnet circuits, and .a double-acting trolley-operated switch for connecting each contact with the trolley-wire to close one of said signal-setting circuits, and said actuating-magnet circuit when a car enters the block at either end and to closesaid releasing-magnet circuit when a car leaves the block at either end, substantially as described.

4. In a trolley-signal, a pair of oppositelydisposed signal-setting magnets, an armature thereformovable to opposite positions there- I between to set opposite signals, a step-by-step locking device movable to lock the armature in either of said positions, an actuating-magnet and areleasing-magnet for said step-bystep device, a circuit for each signal-setting magnet and a; circuit for said actuating-mag net, in series with each of saidcircuits, a circuit for said releasing-magnet, and atrolleyoperated switchat each end of the block for closing one of said signal-setting-magnet cir-: cuits and said actuating-magnet circuit, and for closing said releasing-magnet circuit, substantially as described. a

5. In a trolley-signal, a pair of oppositelydisposed signal-setting magnets, an armature therefor movable to opposite positions therebetween to set opposite-signals, a wheel rotatably mounted in the plane of the'middle p.91 sition of the armature andat right angles to thepath of movement thereof, said wheel having a notched periphery in which a portion of the armature is located when the latter is in its normal position, an actuating-magnet and a releasing-magnet for said wheel, circuits for;

all of said magnets, and trolley-operated switches at each end of the block for closing said circuits, substantially as described.

tably mounted in the plane ofthe middle position of the armature and at right angles to the path of movement thereof, said wheel having a notched periphery in which a portion of the armature is located when the latter is in its normal position, means for rotating said wheel step by step in opposite directions comprising an actuating-magnet and a releasingmagnet, circuits for all of said magnets and trolley-operated switches at each end of the block for closing said circuits, substantially as described.

7. In a trolley-signal, a pair of signal-setting magnets, an armature therefor movable to opposite positions therebetween to set opposite signals, a locking device movable into the middle position of the armature to lock the latter in either of its extreme positions, and an actuating-magnet therefor, means for operating either one of said signal-setting magnets and said actuating-magnet simultaneously, andmeans whereby movement of said locking device will be delayed until the armature has been moved from its middle position, substantially as described.

-8. In a trolley-signal, a pair of signal-setting magnets, an armature therefor movable to opposite positions, therebetween to set opposite signals, a locking device movable transversely of the path of movement of the armature into the middle position thereof to lock it in either of its extreme positions, an

actuating-magnet'for said locking device, said locking device andsaid armature each having oppositely disposed, tapering projections adapted to engageon their inclined surfaces, and means for energizing either one of said signal-setting magnets and said actuating-magnet simultaneously, substantially as described.

9. In a trolley-signal, asignal-setting magnet, its armature, a step-by-step locking device for said armature, a pair of independently and electromagneticallyoperated actuating devices for moving said locking device in opposite directions, circuits for said magnet and said actuating devices, and a trolleyoperated switch at each end ofthe block, one for the circuit of said signal-setting magnet and one for said actuating devices and the other for the circuit of the other actuating device, substantially as described.

10. In a trolley-signal, asignal-setting magnet, its armature, a rotatably-mounted stepby-step locking device for said armature, comprising a ratchet-wheel, an actuating-pawl, and a magnet for operating said pawl, a spring for turning said Wheel in opposition to the action of said pawl, an escapement for said ratchet-w heel and a magnet for operating said escapement, a circuit for said signal-setting magnet and said pawl-actuating magnet, a circuit for said escapement-operating magnet, and a trolley-operated switch at each end of the block for one of said circuits, substantially as described.

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

BENJAMIN H. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

L. H. HARRIMAN, H. B. DAVIS.

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