US840135A - Signal apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

W B LANBP SIGNAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1906.

PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907.

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No. 840,135. PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907.

W B. LANE.

SIGNAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1906.

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PATIENT-ED JAN. 1, 1907. w B f-LANE SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE.

W BRITTON LANE, EVANSTON," ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

Application filed July 25, 1906. Serial roiazm v.

-signaling apparatus adapted to operate accurate train-carried signals.

My primary object is to provide improved apparatus of the character indicated ossessing great certainty" of action and ca culated to give to the engineer in charge of a train knowledge-as to the condition of thetrack.

The invention is illustrated in its referred embodiment in the accompanying rawings,

in which- Figure '1 represents diagrammatically my improved apparatus as applied to a track demy improved app signed for train movement in one direction only. Fig. 2 represents diagrammatically aratus as applied track designed for train movement in both directions, and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing details of theapparatus as arranged in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 rails, the formerof which is electrically divided into sections, the block-junctions being marked A B C. Four blocks are shown, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4. The direcarrow. Connected with the track-rails'near the advance end of each block is a battery D, in whose circuit is' a low-resistance electromagnet D. Connected with the .trackrails near the rear end of each block is a highresistance electromagnet E. Located be tween the track-rails is a rail composed of electrically-insulated sections F F F F,

corresponding in location with the sections of the track rail a. tinuous track-rail a and the block-rail F, near the advance end of each block, is alocal a a, represent track is indicated by the.

Connected with the contrain-controlling battery G, whose circuit isequipped with a pole-changer G. The polechanger of each block is controlled by an armature H, whichis controlled by the highresistance and low-resistance electromagnets E and D of the advance block. -Each batte'ry G-and its conductors and the rails con:

nected therewith constitute a local partial circuit adapted to be closed by a train-carried 1 partial circuit controlling the signals mounted on the train, preferably on the locomotive. K K represent train-carried signal mechanismsmounted on locomotives Kh-Each train-carried mechanism comprises a battery is, having a circuit connected with clear and danger lights 7c W, a polarized armature k controlling the circuit of the battery k and electromagnets k connected by conductors 7c kT with-the track-rail a, and the block-rail F. Each pole-changer G is provided with swinging contact members g, coacting with stationary .contact members g, connected with the circuit of the battery G. The contact members g are so spaced that the swinging contact members 9 may assume a neutral position'between them, owing to the action of aspring g when-both the high. resistance and low-resistance\electromagnets controlling the armature H are deen'ergized. The armatureslc are also springcontrolled, so that they will assume a neutral position gized.

Fig. 1 shows the condition when a train is in block 2 and'another train is'in block 3 and block 1 is clearl Under such circumstances the high-resistance ma net E, connected with the block 1, contrris the pole-changer G of the block -2,-and current from the battery G passes to the rails a and F of the block 2 and thence through the conductors k k in a direction to influence the polarized armature le of the mechanism K, so as to i give a clear signal through the medium of the light It. It should be understood that the battery D- of block 1 energizes both the electromagnet D and the electromagnet E of the same block, but that. the high-resistance magnet prevails. "Inblock 2, however, a short circuit across the track-rails is established by the train, practically deenergizing the high-resistance magnet .of block 2 and allowing the low-resistance ma net of block 2 to operate the pole-changer of block3. The result is that the current from battery G- ofblock 3 passes in such direction to the the polarity of the magnets is k of the mechanism K, thereby causing the armature 7c? of said mechanism to move and close the circuit of the danger-Si nal 7c of said mechanism. 'The position of t 1e pole-changer of block 4 is the same as the position of-the pole-changer of block 3. so that were'a train to approach block 3Ifrom the'iear-thereof a ,danger-signa would be receivedfthrougn'. its train-carried when the electromagnets it k are deenertrack-rail a and the block-rail F as to change 1 signal mechanism. Were a track-battery D to fail, the result Would-be to denergize the v I track-magnets of the same block, thereby.

allowing the swinging contact members 9 of the corresponding pole-chan er G to assume the neutral position under t e action of the spring with which the pole-changer is provided, so that the local partial circuit would not be energized. Conse uently a train enmature The same result would follow in the event of. G on its connections.

"In any event tering the succeeding bloc would fail; to receive a ositive signal, inasmuch as the arl of its mechanism would assume the neutral position, owing to the failure-of a su of current through the magnets k "that the track equipment for one block had failed.

In'the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 certain of the parts are duplicates of the parts already described and are indicated by the same reference characters. To rovide, however, for the giving of the signa of the train, an additional block-rail L is provided adjacent to the block-rail F, and the- "rail L is electrically divided into sections L L L L, corresponding with the sections of the rail F.. One end of each section of'the rail L'is joined by a that is, different ends of alternate sections of the rails L and F are joined together. Assuming now that trains are approaching each other in blocks 1 and 2, as shown in ig. 2,

' the magnet E of block lwill be short-circuitthe battery G of block pole-changer G "edby the train in block 1, thereby setting the of block 1 in position togive ilgnal to the Zpproaching train in a dangerhe magnet block 2.

cut out by the train in said block, and the "b'attery G of block 3 will be soconnected with the rails a, and F as to give a danger-signal toany train mechanism receiving the current. As the rail 0/ is continuous and the section of the rail E which receives the current from 3 is connected with the section of the rail L in block 1,' the train in block 1 will receive the danger-signal. At

the same time were a train toenter block 3 it would receive a danger-signal.

'-'-In Fig. 3 is illustrated a slightIlg-modifie'd form of train signal mechanism parts of the train mechanism K and'the relation thereof to the track and track equip-' ment shown in Fig. 2 is illustrated. The

correspondilig,vlfith the parts. of the train mechanism K are similarly lettered. In this construction the armature k is equip ed with rods 76 which carry danger and c ear signal targets lighted. To enable to the train regardless of the direction of movement conductor Z to the other end of the next section but one of the rail F by Letters Patent, Iisdivided into blocks, of ofblock 2"will be net connected with one block, a trackbator semaphoreslc 71: adapted to-re ister with an opening is in a casing k it eing understood that the clear semaphore is exhibited when the safety signal-lamp 7c" is the conductors of the magnets 7c .to be changed when the train reverses its direction, the conductor is is provided with a switch 76 whichis connected by a 'rod k with the reversing-lever 7c of the locomotive. The contact member 7c is adapted to be brought into contact with either one of a pair of contact members is k", which are connected, respectively, by conductors 7c 7: with shoes or brushes la la, contacting with the rails F and L. From Fig. 2it will be understood that when a train is moving in the direction opposite the direc tion of the arrow it is necessary that the con- .ductor 7c be connected with the rail L. This is accomplished when a train backs up by the shifting of the switch 71: through the me dium of the reversinglever of the locomotive.

For clearness of understandin the batteries D are designated trackatteries, and the function of each track-battery is to energize a high-resistance magnet and a lowresistancemagnet, andthe batteries G are designated signal-controlling batteries,- whose pole-changersare controlled by the magnets E and D'( As has been indicated, each signal-controlling battery is connected with the rails and'forms therewith a local partial circuit through whose medium the signals on the train are operated;

It is noted that the rails metrically arranged with reference to the track, so that upon turning a locomotive F-and L-are-symabout the conductors thereof have theirshoes shifted from one rail to the other.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure 1 1. Th'e'combination with rails electrically a high-resistance electromagnet .and a low-resistance electromagsaid magnets, a

local signal-controllin with an adjacent bloc with. a local partial circuit, a pole-changer controlling the circuit of said. si trolling battery and controlled by both of said electromagnets, and train-carried signal mechanism having a to complete the loca partial circuit. as the train passes over the .same. 2. The combination with rails electrically divided into blocks, of a high-resistance electromagnet-anda low-resistance electromagnet located adj'acent'toeach other .and connected withoppo siteends of one block, atrack-bat terynormallyener izingsaid, magnets, a local si nal-controlling battery connected with an a jacent block and forming therewith alocal partial circuit, 'a pole-changer controlling the and. forming thereartial circuit adapted circuit a said 81 al controlling battery,

armature contro ed by both of said elec tromagnets and connected withsaid pole changer, and train-carried signal mechanism? having a partial circuit adapted to-complete' the local partial circuit as a train passes over the same. I a

. 3. The combination with railsjelcctrically divided into blocks, of 'a high-resistance elec-' tromagne't and a low-resistance" electromagnet connected'with one blockfnear oppos iteends, of 'tIiesame', a track-'battery normally train energizing said magnets, allocal signal-0on v and the other ends fgone block, a track-battery normally "ener" said electrom'a etsfa-signal-controlling battery connected with'an adjacent block and forming therewith a local partial circuit a pole-changer controlling the circuit of said signal-controlling battery and con trolled by both said 'electromagnets, means for throwing said pole-changer "to a neutral osition in the event of 5 denergization of othfsaidjm'agnets, and train carriedsignal mechanism havin a artlal circuit adapted to complete the oca partial circuitas theasses over the same,'said traincarried signa mechamsm having a circuit-controlling member adapted to assume a neutral osition in the event of the failure of current om the local signal-controllin battery.

\ battery normally energizingsaid magnets, a

deenergization of both ofsaid electromagnets;

controlling the circuit of said sigp o prising clear I j cults, a polarized armature controlling said 45 4. The combination with ra' an electrically divided intoblocks, ofa high-resistance electromagnet and a low resistance electro- *magnet connectedwith'one block, a tracklocal signal controlling battery connected with an adjacent block and forming therewith a local partial circuit, a pole-changer- *-controlling battery and controlled by .th of said electromagnets, means for moving the poleehanger to a neutral positionin the event of and train-carried signal mechanism comand danger signals having c1r circuits, means for moving said armature to a neutral position, and electromagnets con trolling said polarized armature and having a partial circuit adapted to complete the local partial circuit as the train passes over the same. i

I 5. The combination with a air of trackrails, one of which is electrical y continuous and the other electrically divided into blocks, of a high-resiistanceelectroma et connected with both track-rails in one b ock, a low-resistance electromagnet connected with both track-rails in the saine block, a track-battery normally energi said electroma ets, a third rail electrical y divided into b ocks, a local signal controllin battery connected with said continuous rail and with said third rail in an adjacent block and forming therewith a local. partial circuit, a ole-changer controlling said local partial circuit and consaid electromagnets,

- of track- -connected.-with the track-rails nearopposite;

having a par trollmg'battery .connecte with the continucus -ra l and-.withthe; third-rail of. an adjacentblockandformingtherewithalocalpartia'l-circuit, a pole-changer;controlling said local'partial circuitand controlled by both of conductors joining one set of (ended the sections of thethird rail with the other'f'set of ends of alternate sections of the fourth rail, and train-carried signal mechanism having a partial circuit adapted to be completed through said local partial circuit as the train'passesover the "same, i

,7. The combination with a air. of trackrails, one of which. is electrical y continuous and the other electrically divided intoblocks,

of a third and'fourth rail both electrically divided into blocks, a high-resistance electromagnet and a low-resistance electromagnet connected with the track-rails nearopposite ends of one block, a track-battery normallyenergizing said electroma ets, a signal-contro battery connecte with, the continuous, ra' and with the third rail of an adjacent block and forming therewith a local artial circuit, a pole-changer controlling sai local I partial circuit and controlled byboth of said ,electromagnets, conductors joining one set of ends of the'sections of the third rail with the other set of ends of alternate sections of the fourth rail and traincarried signal mechanism comprising ling said last-named circuits and having railenga'gi'ng conductors, one of said conductors bemg: equipped with .a switch and with two term nas engaging said third and fourth 1 I a a. 7 n5 7 rails. s

1 8. Train-carried signal mechanism of-the character described, com rising'iclear and danger lights provided with 'electric'circuits, an armature controlling said.'circuits, a plate provided with a sight-opening, clear and danger semaphores mounted on'said' armature'land adapted to be presented atsaid sight-opening, andelectromagnets controlling said armature and ha' a partial circuit adapted to be completedt ough a local parv tial circuit; j

W BRITTON LANE.

In presence of- L. HEISLAR,

trolled by both of sa d electromagnets, and

J H. LANDES.

clear and danger signals, cir-. cuits forthe same, electromagnets control- "poo

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