US899353A - Alternating-current block-signaling system. - Google Patents

Description

J. B. STRUBLE.

ALTERNATING CURRENT BLOCK SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APB..1, 1908.

Patented Sept. 22, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

lNVENTOR J. (Q'SMM Y J. B. STRUBLE.

ALTERNATING CURRENT BLOCK SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 190a.

Patented Sept. 22, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 FIG.5.

WITNESSES MQMW. r v G ML" a QMU\NMARQQW&U' I I uv UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JACOB B. STE U Bill), 01 SWJHSVALI'J, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIUNUR TO THE UNlON hWl'lUll it STU- NAL COMPANY, OF SWlSSV/tlil PEN NSYLVANlA, A-UORPORAllON OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ALTERNATING-CURRENT BLOCK-SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Patented Sept. 22, 1908.

To all whom it may concern. A Be it known that l JAcon B. S'rnunLE, 0i Swissvale, Allcghel'iy county, Pennsylvanla,

have invented a new and useful Alternating- CurrentBlock-Signaling Systmn, of which the follo-wim a full, clear, and exact dcscription,-re erenre being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specii-ication, in which- Figures 1., 2 and '3, are diaguanis showing three dillerent arrangements of circuits and operating devices embodying my invention. My invention h relation to an alternating current block sig ling systornfand is designed toprovide \n'ieans jor controlling the operation of the distant signals without the use-0f wires extending back from the home signals to the corresponding distant signals. I accomplish this object by the provision of ,relaysa'nd controlling circuits therefor, so ar rangedthat the supply (it-current forthe (llS- tantsig-nals is cutnll and the signals are held at cantionpositionuntil the correspondingl'ioi-nc" signal has cleaned, with means for thereby restoring the current supply to the distant signal and clearing it.

The precise nature of my invention Wlll be V best understood by reference to the accomindicat 'l panying drawings in which I have shown several dilferent embodiments thereof, and which 'willnow be described, it being premisedyhowever, that the invention is susceptible of various changes and. of other embodiments, withoutdeparting-from its spirit and scope, as defined in the appended claims.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, A, C, D are fthree successive sections of a'railway track, insulated one from. another, as The sections A and C constitute portionsof one and the sameblock, which is "uarded by the home signal 4. The section constitutes the first section or subdivision .of tiie n'ext block, which is guarded by the home signal (3. 5 is flthe distant signal for the last named block,a1id which, in the forms of m invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

is mountei on a separatc pole or su iport lo"- cated beyond the home signal 4 m t 1e direction'of travel of the trams, G is a generator of the alternator type which sup lies signals ing current to the track through t 1e line conductors 7 and the transformers '1 and T 'Ihetransformers T, T supply current respectively to the sections A and C. The transformer T has one secondary winding t which is also arranged to supply current to tne section A, andanother winding t which supplies current to-set and hold the distant signal 5 at clear position. 2 designatesa-reln'y of the motor type, l'iaving the winding of its armature connected across the rails of track section A and its field winding 2 in series with the secondary t of the transformer '1. Relay 2 has two positions, the one shown in the drawing in which the contact arm 2" actuated thereby is in position to close the circuit for the slow release relay S, which in turn is in position to close the circuit for the home si nal 4, and another position in which said circuit is opened. S is a second relay, of the Vane type which is connected in multiple with the relay coil 2 fora pur ose, presently to be described. was its armature winding connected across the rails of track section C, and its field 3 in t of transformer T The relay 3 i-S'Preferably of the type having a wire wound field and armature, and having three positions; that is to say, arranged to control a circuit in each extreme position, and. an intermediate position in. which all the circuits which it controls are opened, It has one contact arfn 3 in series with the circuit which controls the distant signal 5, and another contartarm 3" which controls contacts in series with the transformer secondary 25. Arm 3" has also front and back contacts in parallel so that when in either of'its extreme positions,the circuit of the secondary tiwill be closed. R

"wherever seen indicates resistance. '1 is a pole changer actuated by the horne'signal 6 to reverse the polarity of the track section 0; The position of the pole changer deteriiiines the polarity or phase relation of the current in the rails of section and in the armature. of the relay 3 with relation to the current in the lield winding 3, and therefore determines the direction of rotation of the arma-' ture. The rcsistanc'e it serves the purpose of preventing an excessive 'ilow of current 3 is a relay w ich 4 from the track transformers to the rails when a track section is occu )ied by a train.

Supposing a train to be passing from left to right on the drawing, the action is as follows As soon as the train enters the track section A, the armature of relay 2 isshort circuit-ed, and relays 2 and S move to open circuit position, and set signal 4 at danger. When the train enters section (.7, the armature of the relay 3 is short circuitcd, and the relay as sumes its middle position which opens all its contacts, thus setting the distant signal 5 at caution and also cutting oil the supply of current to the track section A. When the train enters section 1), the home signal 6'is set at danger and the pole changer P is thereby shifted to supply current to the track section (l'in an opposite direction. gizcs the relay-3 in such a manner as to close the contact arm 3 against its back contact but to retain in its open position the contact arm 3" which'controls the actuating circuit of the distant signal 5. The home signal 4 is new again supplied with current. from the track circuit, and goes to clear 'iosition. When the train passes off from the )lock 1), the home signal. 6 clears, and the pole changer P is shifted to its original position. The current in the armature 3 is therefore. again reversed and its armature turns in the reverse direction, thereby closing contact arm 3" and moving contact arm 3" against its front contact, The closing of contact arm 3 su plies current to the distant signal 5, which t ien clears; the supply of current to track section A being continued through the arm 3. The "momentary interruption of the current supply' to track circuit A while the relay 3 is shifting, is bridged over by the vane relay S. This is due to the fact that this relay has a slow release by reason of the inertia of the moving element, its con tact bein so designed that a slight movement of t e vane will not open the circuit; that is to say, before the vane can move far enough to open the signal circuit, the current is reestablished in its winding which returns the vane. to its fully closed position. If the home signal were of the ordinary slotcontrolled type, the momentary opening which would occur without the relay S dur ing the shiftin interval of the relay 3, would cause the signa to go to danger in the face of a possible approaching train. This wouldbe undesirable even thou h the. signal immediatel returned to the cFe'ar position.

e arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that shown in Figt 1, except that the portion of the trackcorresponding to section A of Fig. 1 is divided into two sections A and B, and another relay 2 is employed, having its armature winding connected across the rails of section B and its field coil supplied by a secondary t of a transformer T. The contact arm 2 of this relay is shown as having both back and front contacts.

The operation of apassingtrain is as fol This cner- F against any possibility of current reaching said section from the adjacent track circuit.

This back contact feature ma however, be omitted, as it is merely an adr ed precaution. As the train enters the section C, the armature of the thrwi-position. relay 3 assumes its middle, or opci'i-contact position, which puts the distant signal 5 to caution and cuts off the supply of current tosectionl T hchorne signal 4 remains at danger. As the'train enters the section D, home signal 6 is, put to danger, and the pole changer P is shifted, thus reversing the current. in section C and in the armature of relay 3. This relay is now actuated as in the form first described, to continue the interruption of current to the distant. signal 5, but to close the supply of current to track section B. Relay 2 is new again energized, and thereby supplies current to the track section A and clears the home signal 4. As the train passes out of the block I), home signal 6 is thereby cleared, which again actuatcs the pole changer P and reverses the relav 3. The latter now closes the controlling circuit of the distant signal 5 and clears it, and also closes to section B the supply of current. The momentary interruption of current by another contact while.

the relay 3 is shifting may cause the relay 2 to momentarily open iiiu thus momentarily interrupt the current in section A. The relay S will, however, act in the manner before described to prevent the opening of the circuit of the lufme signal 4.

In the arrangen'ient shown in Fig. 3, the

home and distant signals are both placed at the entrance to the block and a relay 3- which is similar .to the relays 3 of the other two forms has its armature connected across the track section A, and its field sup lied b the secondary of a transformer T, (tlie trac having its sections similar to Fig. 1). A relay 3, similar to the relays 3 has its armature connected across the rails of the section B andboth contact arms 3 and 3 of this relay havc'front and back contacts, arranged to revcrsethe current flowing from one secondary of the transformer T to the track section A.

The other secondary of the transformer T is in series with the field wimlin fof, the role 3.

The homeand distant signals 4 and 5 avby the relay arm 3, while tliebianch which supplies the home signal actuator is carried through the contact of the vane relay S,

. ing.their actuators connected in'parallel'with' Mass c e whose winding is completed through the relay contact arm 3". In this figure, as well as in Fig. 2, corresponding parts have been given the same reference characters as in Fig.

1, in order to avoid confusion, and different reference characters have been employed to.

distinguish parts not present or having a different function.

The operation of the arrangement shown from the section A and the signals 4 and 5.

' When the train enters remain at danger. section D, the home and distant signals 6 and 6 go to danger, and the pole-changer P is shifted to reverse the current supply to the section B. This reverses the relay 3*,which.

. assumes its othercircuit closing position and reverses the direction of current supplied to the track section A. Relay 3" is therefore actuated in the reverse direction to close its other set of contacts. circuit of the distant signal 5, but closes the circuit of home signal 4 by way of slow-re lease relay S, and this signal oes to clear po= sition. .When the train vances beyond section D, home si nal 6 .clears, and shifts the pole changer P.

his reverses the operation of relay 3', and thegeby-of relay 3. This closes the'circuit of distant signal 5, which now clears, home signal 4 being held at clear by the slow-release relay S.

The advantages of tn'vinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, since it e iminates the line wires for the distant signals, while at the same time the. home signals are held at clear while the distant signal controlling relays are shifting, by means of the slow release relays.

, Man ch as may be made-in my invention. hus t a several different types of'relays may be of any known character suitable for the purpose. relays may assume their 0 en-circuit positions either by gravity or by t e action 0 a spring.

Various formsotpole changers may be used, and the circuits canv be changed in' 'many ways, so 10 as the principles of my invention-as defin in the'appended claims are retained. v

What I claim is: i -I.' In an alternating current block-signal ing s sterii, home and distant signals, section controlled by the trackcircuits for control-' ling the-home signals, other rela s which 7 control the supply of current to t e home signal controlling circuits, and means controlled by the movementsof the home signals for reversin the polarity of the last named relays; su stantially as described.

This retains open the track circuits. for said signals,- relays I 2. In an alternating current block-signal ing system, home and distant signals, sections. track circuits for said signals, relays controlled by the track circuits for controlling the homesignals, other relays which control the su ply of current to the home-. signal controlhng circuits, and means controlled by the movements of the home signals for reversing the polarity of the last named relays, such relays being connected across track sectionsrwhich are independent of the sections to which the home-signal controlling relays are connected; substantially as described.

I 3. In an alternating current block signal-1 ing system home signals, controlling circuits and actuating devices therefor controlled by the, assa e of trains into and out of the bloc d stant signals, controlling circuits therefor which are connected to different sections of the track than those to which the controlling circuits for the home signalsare connected, reversing relays for controlling the current-sup ly to the track sections to which the circuits of the distant signals are.

connected, and pole-changing means operated by the home signals for effecting the-reversals of the'said relays; substantially as described. v g

' 4. In an alternating current block signaling system home signals, controlling circuits and actuating devices therefor cont-rolled by the assage of trains into and out of the :bloc s, distant signals, controlling circuits therefor which are connected tov different sections of thetrackthan those to which the controlling circuits for the home signals areconnected, reversing relays for controlling the current supply to the track sections to which the circuits of the distant signals are' connected, and pole-changing means operated by the-home signals for effecting the reversals ofthe said relays, together 'with means for preventing the opening of the home signal circuits while the said relays 'are' reversing; substantially as described.

5.--Ir 1 an alternatingcurrent block signal ing system, home signals, controlling circuits and actuating devices thereforcontrolled by the passage of trains into and out of the block's, distant signals, controlling'circuits therefor which are connected to different sections of' the track than those to which the controlling circuits for the home signals are connected, reversing r'elaysJor controlling the current-supplyto the track sections to which the circuits of the distant signals are versals of the said relays, together with slowmotion relays in the home 'signal circuits for preventing the opening of such circuits whilethe said relays are reversing; substantially as described. g

6. In a block-signaling system of the. charventing the home signal circuits i sulated track section, a home signal having across the rails of different track sections,

acter described, a sub-divided track circuit, home signal controlling relays connected across the rails of some of the track circuits, distant signal controlling relays connected across the rails of different track sections, and having an open circuit position, a position in which the proper home signal circuit is maintained closed while the distant signal circuit is open, and a third position in which *both said circuits are closed, and ole changing means o erated by a home signal in advance for of ecting a reversal of thesaid relays; substantially as described.

7. In a block-signaling system of the character described, a sub-divided track circuit, home signal controlling relays connected across the rails of some of the track circuits, distant signal controlling relays connected and having an open circuit position, a positionin which the proper honie signal circuit is maintained closed while the distant signal circuit is open, and a third positionin which both said circuits are closed, and pole changing means 0 erated by a home signal in advance for cll iacting a reversal of the said relays, together with auxiliary rela s for preii'om opening while the corresponding distant signal rela s are reversing; substantially as descri ed. 7

8. In a block-signaling system of the character described, a distant signal controlling relay of the reversing type, having one of its windings connected across the rails of an insulated track section, and controlling the supply of current to the next preceding in a controlling relay controlled by the last named "track section, said reversing relay having one position in which current is supplied to the preceding track section and also to the distant signal actuator, another position in which both these circuits are 0 ened, and a third position in which the supp y cireuit for the preceding track sectionis closed, but the distant signal actuator circuit is open, and means controlled by the home signal for shifting said relay from the first to g the third xisitionsand revcrsely; substani tially as described. I i

9. In an alternating current signaling sysl controlling the home signal for each block, andrconnected across the rails of one of the {my hand.

the presence of a train in said section, to

thereby open all the circuits which it controls, a home signal having a controlling relay connectedacross the preceding track section and having its current supply controlled by.

the reversing relay, and means controlled by a second home signal for reversing said relay tocontrol the supply of current to the preceding track section and also-to the distant signal actuator; substantiallyv as described. 1

10. In an alternating current signaling system, a sub-divided track circuit, a distant signal controlling relay having a winding connected across the track rails of one section and arranged 'to be short circuited by the presence of a train in said section, to

thereby open all thexcircuits' which it controls, a home signal having a controlling relay connected across the preceding track section and having its current sup ily controlled by the reversing relay, and means controlled by a second home signal for reversing said relay to control the supply of current to the preceding track section and also to the distant'signal actuator, together with means for-preventing the first named home signal from going to danger while the said relay is reversing; substantially as described.

v1'1. An alternating current block-signaling system, having its blocks subdivided, a relay block divisions, a second relay connected across the rails of the adjacent block division and controlling the sup )ly of signaling current for the home signal controlling relay, means for controlling the second relay, a distant signal, and means controlled by the second relay for controlling the distant signal; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set J A(J( )B B. STRUBLE. Witnesses:

D. J. MoCAn'rm', JNO. l). TAYLOR.

Images