US818515A - Electric signal system. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

V. W. BERGENTHAL.

ELECTRIC-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

- APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

HUM:

-Jli

No. 818,515. I PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. V. W. BERGENTHAL. ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET Z PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

V. W. BBRGENTHAL. ELECTRIC SIGNAL' SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED APR. 24,1906.

V. W. BBRGENTHAL. ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

V. BERGENTHAL. ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 21, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

a SHEETS-SQHEET a.

m'alsms.

1v. W. BERGENTHAL. ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, R04.

IIITED STATES PATENT 0mm.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed July 21, 1904. I Serial No. 217,473.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR W. BERGEN- THAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an electric signal system comprising certain novel features of construction, arrangement, electrical wiring, and combination of electromagnets, switches, and circuits controlling signal devices whereby the setting of a local signal will set one or more remote signals automatically and both the local signal and the remote signal will remain set until the remote signal is unlocked by means local to said signal, and my im provements are designed generally for those systems of traffic roads which have an electric conductor along the route and is herein particularly illustrated and described as applied to what is generally known as the overhead trolley system, having a single track provided with switches or turnouts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a signal system wherein two sets of signals are located at each end of a block, each set comprising, for example, a semaphoresignal and a lampsignal, and the various sets being so connected electrically that the setting of the semaphore-signal at one end of the block is controlled by and is dependent upon the setting of the semaphore-signal at the op posite end of the block, while each semaphoresignal, when set, automatically effects the setting of the lamp-signal in its own set. The system is further so arranged that the signals must work simultaneously at opposite ends of the block, and the condition of the signals at one end of the block is a certain indication of the condition of the signals at the opposite end of the block.

Further objects of my invention relate to the connecting of the electromagnets controlling the semaphores in series instead of in parallel and to the conservation of electrical energy by interrupting the current through the apparatus, except when the circuitclosersay the trolley of the car -passes.

It is common in electric signal systems using both the semaphore and electric lamp to pass the actuating-current from the trolley-contact through electromagnets or solenoids at the setting of the signal and keep them in the circuit during the period the signals remain set. Should the trolley-contact continue for a few minutes from any cause such as the stopping of the car while the trolley is in contact-the electromagnets would be destroyed. This I avoid by means of mechanism actuated by the electromagnets cutting out the magnets from the circuit.

In some electric signal systems wherein both semaphores and lamps are used it. is common to connect both sets of signals in the same electrical circuit, with the result that if the lamps burn out the semaphores are not set. In my system I place the semaphores and the lamps in separate circuits, and while the lamp-circuit is closed by the closing of the semaphore-circuit, the latter is not dependent for its current upon the condition of the lamp-circuit.

In installing my improved system the route is preferably divided into a number of blocksas many as the traffic of the route requiresand each block has a signal-station or box at each end thereof electrically connected to each other by two conductors and each adapted to be independently connected to the trolley-wire by three independent terminals one in constant connection and the others adapted to be connected by the passage of the trolley. The blocks are entirely independent of each other.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the ends of two blocks provided with my system. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View of a block, showing the wiring. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the block divisions. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a signalbox with part of housing broken away. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the upper semaphore mech anism with the semaphore broken away. Fig. 6 is an elevation of same. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the lower semaphore mechanism below line. 3 y of Fig. 4 with semaphore broken away. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation,

the section being taken on line 00 0c of Fig. 5, showing the locking device. Fig. 9 is a top view of trolley contactpiece. Fig. 10 is a central longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section of same on line 12 v of Fig. 9.

In Fig. 1 a single-track road is illustrated provided with a switch or turnout which marks the division of two blocks. The trolley-wire 12 is provided with two circuitclosers 13 and 14, and the turnout-wire has similar circuit-closers. A car passing in the direction of the arrow on the turnout closes a circuit by its trolley engaging circuit-closer half of the box.

13 and actuates a signal in local box 15 just in advance of the car and also another signal in a box at the end of the block upon which the car is entering. The car in passing off this block closes a contact through another circuit-closer at the end of the block, releasing the signals set in both boxes.

The signal- boxes 15 and 16 are exact duplicates of each other and are constructed as follows: The housing of each box is provided with three openings 17, 18, and 19 on each side. The opening 17 on the side of the box facing the block is provided with a green lens, while the opposite opening 17 is provided with a red lens. The openings 18 are provided with white or clear lenses and the panel openings 19 with plain glass. The opening 19 is rectangular in form and adapted to disclose two semaphores 20 and 21 within the box. The semaphore 20 is red and situated in the upper half of the box, and the semaphore 21 is white and located in the lower These semaphores 20 and 21 are carried on the shafts 22 and 23, respectively, which shafts are actuated by the energizing of one of a pair of solenoids 24 25 and 26 27, respectively. Cams 28 29 and 30 31 upon the shafts 22 and 23, respec tively, open and close electric switches as their respective shafts rotate, viz: The canis 28 29 open and close switches 32 and 33 and close and open switches 34 and 35 simultaneously, and the cams 30 31 open and close switches 36 and 37 and close and open switch 38, thereby breaking and closing different electric circuits, as will hereinafter appear.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated these different circuits, omitting all of the mechanical construction and showing the different switches under the solenoids, which actuate the shafts which operate the switches. The wiring on the left of the figure represents the connections in a box 15, and the wiring on the right represents the connections ina box 16. Not shown, but assumed to be located at the opposite end of the block.) Wires 39 and 40 connect the boxes. When a car passes from left to right over the turnout, its trolleywheel passes over circuit-closer 13 on the turnout-wire and shunts a circuit onto wire 41, to box 15, to switch 32,which when the signals are not set is normally closed, to solenoid 26, to switch 36, to wire 39, to box 16, to switch 34 in box 16, which when the signals are not set is normally closed, to solenoid 24, to ground, energizing the solenoid 26 in box 15 and solenoid 24 in box 16 and rotating shaft 23 in box 15 and 22 in box 16, displaying semaphore 21 in box 15 and semaphore 20 in box 16. The rotating of shaft 23 in box 15 opens switch 36 and closes switches 37 and 38 in box 15. The rotating of shaft 22 in box 16 opens switches 32 and 34 and closes switches 33 and 35 in box 16. The opening of switch 36 in box 15 cuts out the solenoid 26, and the opening of switch 34 in box 16 cuts out the solenoid 24. The closirg of switch 38 in box 15 completes a circuit from the feed-wire 12 on wire 42 through resistance-coil 43 to lamps 44 44, to ground, lighting the lamps. The closing of switch 35 in box 16 completes a circuit from feed-wire on wire 45 through resistance-coil 46, wire 47, to lamps 48 48, to ground and lighting said lamps, the result of the trolley-contact being the displaying of the white semaphore and white lamp in box 15 and the displaying of the red semaphore and red light in box 16. The displaying of the white light and semaphore in box 15 indicates to the person in charge of the car that the block ahead. is free and held for him by the red light and sem aphore in box 16 at the remote end of the block. When this car approaches the remote end of the block, its trolley-wheel engages circuitcloser l4 and shunts a circuit over wire 49 to box 16, to solenoid 25, to switch 33, (which was closed by action of solenoid 24 when the trolley passed over circuit-closer 13,) to wire 39, to box 15, to solenoid 27 in box 15, to switch 37, to ground, energizing solenoids 25 and 27, rotating shafts 22 and 23, respec tively, and reversing semaphores 20 and 21, respectively, and opening switches 33 and 35 in box 16, cutting out the solenoid 25 and the lamps 48 48, and closing switches 32 and 34 in box 16; also opening switches 37 and 38 in box 15, cutting out the solenoid 27 and the lamps 44 44 and closing switch 36 in box 15, thus reversing the action in the boxes caused by trolley passing over circuit-closer 13 when it entered, the block. The car passes now onto the next block, where the same action will take place in the boxes of that block if the block is unoccupied. If occupied by a car going in the opposite direction, the red semaphore and light will be displayed in box 15 of that block, having been set by the trolley of the car in entering the-block from the other end-viz: a car in entering the block from the opposite direction-4 e., from right to left-will complete a circuit through its trolley and circuit-closer 13 of box 16, over wire 50 to box 16, to switch 32 in box 16, to solenoid 26, box 16, to wire 40, to box 15, to switch 34, to solenoid 24 in box 15 to ground, energizing solenoid 26 in box 16 and displaying white semaphore in box 16 and energizing solenoid 24 in box 15, setting the red semaphore in box 15 and o ening switch 36 and closing switches 37 an 38 in box 16, cutting out solenoid 26 in box 16 and solenoid 24 in box 15 and connecting a circuit through switch 38 from feed-wire through resistancecoil 46 and wire 45 to ground and lighting lamps 44 44, displaying the white light in box 16. The switches 32 and 34 will be opened in box 15 and the switches 33 and 35 closed, thereby completing a circuit from the feed-wire through resistance 43, wire 42. to

switch 35, to ground, lighting lamps 48 48 in box 15 and displaying red light through lens 17 in box 15. In passing off this block the trolley will engage the circuit-closer 14 of boX 15, shunting a circuit over wire 49 to boX 15, to solenoid 25, to switch 33, (which has been closed, as described,) to wire 40, to boX 16, to solenoid 27, switch 37, to ground, thus reversing the action of the semaphores and cutting out the lamps, as heretofore described, in ref erence to car passing in the opposite direction. Since the electromagnets or solenoids in the semaphore-circuits are in series connection instead of in parallel, it will be seen that should the semaphorecircuit i. 6., the circuit which sets the semaphoresbe broken the approaching car will not get the white signal when its trolley engages the circuitcloser, that after a semaphore has been set its actuating-solenoid is immediately cut out by the opening of the circuit and therefore cannot be burned out, that the semaphore can be reversed only by a different circuit being closed at the other end of the blocks, that the lamp-circuit is inde endent of the semaphore-circuit, but close automatically by the semaphorecircuit, and that the lamp circuit, if broken fromany cause, simply cuts out the lamps, the semaphores remaining set.

In order toprevent the semaphores being reversed by local interference or inaccurate operation of the mechanism, I provide means for locking each semaphore in both its normal and set positions. This means is illustrated in Fig. 8. The cores or plungers 51 52 of a pair of solenoids are connected by pivoted links 53 54, respectively, to each end of a rock-bar 55, secured at the middle of its length to the semaphore-shaft. These links each have a longitudinal opening or slot 61 near the lower end, through which passes a pin 56, carried by the rock-bar 55. The links 53 54 are also provided with laterally-extending shoulders 57 at their lower outer ends, affording cams. When a solenoid, as 25, is energized, its core 52 is pulled upward,which pulls up the end of the rock-bar 55, thereby turning the shaft and pulling down link 53 and core 51 of solenoid 24. The cam-surface on shoulder 57 of link 53 as it descends engages the end of one of a pair of latches 58 58, pivoted in the bracket-plate 59, and depresses the latch until the shoulder 57 passes into a slot in the latch, which is then forced upward by the coil-spring 60, and the hook on the end of the latch passes over the projecting end of the rock-bar, locking it in that position, which looks the semaphore in the position to which it was turned by the rotating of the shaft. If the solenoid 24 is now energized, the upward movement of its core 51 will move link 53 the length of the slot 61 before actuating the rock-bar 55, and during this movement the other cam-surface on its shoulder 57 will have pressed against the end of the slot in the latch and pushed the latch out of engagement with the end of the rock-bar, allowing the rock-bar to be drawn upward when the link 53 engages the pin 56. The link 54 will now be drawn down and its shoulder 57 engage the other latch 58, which in turn latches over the end of the rock-bar 55 and locks the semaphore in its reversed position, where it will remain locked until solenoid 24 is again energized. It will be seen that only the energizing of the solenoid having its core connected to the locked end of the rock-bar.will unlock the semaphore.

In Figs. 9, 10, and 11 I have illustrated my circuit-closing device for the trolley wire. This circuit-closer is arectangular frame composed of parallel bars 62 62, connected by the plates 62" and supported by a span-wire above the trolley-wire and at the side of the path of the trolley. To the inner sides of these bars 62 62, which are of wood, I secure the angleirons 63 and 64 with the apex parallel to the trolley-wire. The angle-iron 63 is in electric connection with the wire through bracket 68 and connecting-strips 66, the other angleiron 64 being insulated and connected by wire to a signal-box. The insulated bracket 65, supported and depending from the middle of the circuit-closer, is secured to the trolleywire 12 and parallel bars 62 62, so as to de- 5 flect the trolley-wire between the brackets 67 and 68, permitting the flanges of the trolley to engage the angle-irons and close a connection from the wire 12 through bracket 68, contact 66, angle-iron 63 to trolley-wheel, to angle-iron 64, to wire to signal-box local to circuit-closer, through local signal-b OX to wire connecting local boX to remote signal-box and through remote signal-box to ground. By means of this construction the contact of the flanges of the trolley-wheel with the angleirons is assured without reference to the depth of the groove or formation or height of flange, while the wire guides the wheel and prevents it from striking the end of the structure.

While I have described my invention in connection with a single-track trolley-road having turnouts, it is obvious that the improvements herein described are applicable as well to crossing-signals for intersecting tracks and with obvious modifications might be applied as well to underground-trolley systems. 7

It is also obvious that in so far as the devices herein described are not claimed as of my invention the same may be substituted by different devices and that the details of the structures which I have claimed as of my invention may be modified structurally.

I claim- 1. An electric signal system of the character described, comprising a trolley-actuated circuitcloser, a semaphore or signal, and an electromagnet for operating the same local to said circuit-closer, a remote semaphore or signal and its actuating-electromagnet, an

electric switch opened by one of said magnets when the latter is energized, and an electrical circuit including said magnets, switch, and circuit-closer controlled by the trolley, whereby when said trolley closes said circuit, the magnets throw the semaphores and open their own circuit by means of said switch, substantially as described.

2. An electric signal system of the character described, comprising a trolley-actuated circuit-closer, a semaphore or signal, and an electromagnet for operating the same local to said circuit-closer, a remote semaphore or signal and its actuating-electromagnet, an electric switch opened by one of said magnets when the latter is energized, an electrical circuit including said magnets, switch, and circuit-closer controlled by the trolley, and locking devices for locking said semaphores in the positions in which they may be placed by the energizing of said electromagnets, whereby when said trolley closes said circuit the magnets throw the semaphores which become locked in position and open their own circuit by means of said switch, substantially as described.

3. An electric signal system of the character described, comprising a trolley-actuated circuit-closer, a semaphore or signal, and an electromagnet for operating the same local to said circuit-closer, a local electric lamp, an electric switch closed by said magnet when the latter is energized, a circuit including a source of current, said lamp, and switch, a remote semaphore or signal, an operating-electromagnet therefor, a remote electric lamp, a second electric switch closed by said lastmentioned electromagnet when the latter is energized, a circuit including a source of current, said remote lamp, and said second switch, a third electric switch opened by one of said magnets when it is energized, and a circuit including said third switch, said magnets, and said circuit-closer, substantially as described.

4. A signal-box for an electric signal system having a semaphore, an electric lamp, a normally closed electric switch, two normally open electric switches, a pair of magnets to operate said semaphore and switches, a circuit including one of said magnets and said normally closed switch, a second circuit including the second magnet and one of said normally open switches, and a third circuit including said lamp and the remaining normally open switch, whereby a current sent over said first circuit causes its magnet to set the i'semaphore and close the "normally open switches, and open the normally closed switch thus causing the lamp to light, closing the circuit of the second magnet, and opening the circuit of the first magnet, and whereby a current subsequently sent over said second circuit energizes the second magnet, reverses the switches, extinguishes the light, and re.-

a circuit including one of said magnets and said normally closed switch, a second circuit including the second magnet and one of said normally open switches, a third circuit including said lamp, a source of current, and the remaining normally open switch, whereby a current sent over said first circuit causes its magnet to set the semaphore, to close the normally open switches, and to open the normally closed switch, thus causing the lamp to light, closing the circuit of the second magnet, and opening the circuit of the first magnet, and whereby a current subsequently sent over said second circuit energizes the second magnet, reverses the switches, extinguishes the light, and reverses the semaphore, and means to lock the semaphore in its two positions, substantially as described.

6. In a block-signal system of the character described, the combination of two signalboxes, the first box having a semaphore of a given color, a lamp of the same color, a normally closed electric switch, two normally open electric switches, and a pair of electro magnets to operate said semaphores and switches, the second box having a semaphore of a difierent color, a lamp of the same color as the second semaphore, a normally closed electric switch, two normally open electric switches, and a pair of electromagnets to operate said second semaphore and switches, a first circuit including one of the electromagnets and the normally closed switch of the first box, and the normally closed switch of one of the electromagnets of the second box, a second circuit including the remaining electromagnet and one of the normally open switches of the first box, and the remaining electromagnet and one of the normally open switches of the second box, a third circuit including a source of current and remaining normally open switch and lamp of the first box, and a fourth circuit including a source of current and the remaining normally open switch and lamp of the second box, whereby energization of the first circuit throws both semaphores and reverses all the switches thus lighting the lamps and closing the switches of the second circuit, and whereby subsequent energization of the second circuit reverses the semaphores, extinguishes the lights,"and reverses all the switches.

7. A locking device for a semaphore, comprising in combination with the semaphoreshaft and its actuating-electromagnet, a lostmotion connection between the armature of the electromagnet and the shaft, a spring actuated latch adapted to lock the connec= tion and means for disengaging the latch as the armature is taking up the lost motion, substantially as described.

8. In a contact device for overhead trolleys, the combination with a frame supported above the normal line of the trolley-wire, contact-pieces carried by said frame and means for deflecting said wire out of its normal line between the ends of said contactpieces, whereby the trolley-wire serves to guide the trolley-wheel into contact with said contact-pieces, and one of said pieces being electrically connected with said Wire, substantially as described.

9. In a contact device for overhead trolleys, the combination With contact-pieces supported above the normal line of the trolley-wire, of means deflecting said wire out of its normal line between the ends of the contact-pieces, the contact-pieces so disposed as to guide the trolley-wheel in the normal line of the trolley-wire, one of said pieces being electrically connected to the trolley-wire, substantially as described.

VICTOR W. BERGENTHAL.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM R. LITZENBERG, FREDERICK O. GooDwIN.

Images