USRE5622E - Improvement in electric sign aung apparatus for railroads - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets--Shee't 1;.

F. L POPE. Improvement in Electric Signaling Apparatus for Railroads.

V 2 Sheet s---S,he't 2. 5.. L. POPE'. Improvement in Electric Signaling Apparatus for Railroads.

Russian. 21,1373.

.and thereby give notice to an UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ERAXK Ii; POPE, or ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, assieson TOHIMSELF, STEPHEN o. HENDRICKSON, or BROOKLYN, NEW-YORK, AND JAMES 1v. ASHLEY AND JAMES 1). LINCOLN,'OF GREEXVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT m ELTRI 'slessuue APeA-R'A'rus F OR RAILROADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,426, dated July 16, 1872 reissue No. 5.622. dated October 21,1m; spplication filed May 1m.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, FRANK L. Dorm of.

Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signaling- Apparatus for Railroads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a t'nll,clear, and exact description of the same,'reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs, which form part of this specification.

-,My invention consists, first, in a'method of 1 limiting the extent of an eectrical circuit, wherein the mils "of amilroadtraek and the axles and wheels of a passing locomotive or train form a portion of the said circuit, by arrangln-gthe ends of the abutting rails in or upon separate chairs or supportingplates, eitherwith or without an insulating substance interposed between said ends. Secondly, in the combination of an audible or alarm signal when Stationary as to location, an electromagnet- (one or more) for operating such alarm or causing itto be operated, a battery, and

- one or more rails of an insulated section of railroadtrack, forming a portion of an electrical circuit, the whole being so armngcd that, when a metallic connection is formed between the said rails-as bv the axle and wheels of a locomotive or carthc mechanism which act-uates the alarm will, be caused to operate, apprinichiug train as to whether or not any given portion of the track ahead is occupied or obstructed by a. preceding train. Thirdly, in the combination of a visual or semaphoric signal of any suitable construction, an electro-niagnet (one or more) for controlling the movements of said signaha battery, and one or more rails of an insulated section of railroad-track, forming a portion of an electrical circuit, the whole being so arranged that when ametallic eonnec-i tion is formed between the said rails-as bythe axle and wheel of a locomotive or car the said signal will be moved so as to indicate whether or n'ot auy given section of track is occupied or obstructed. Fourthly, in the combination of a'visual or semaphoric signal, an

' audible or sounding signal-each under the control of one or more electm-magnotsand a plying the motion of the armature of the said electro-magnets, and for transmitting the same to the said signal, with an electrical circuit composedin part of one or more rails of an insulated section of milroad-t-rack, the whole being so arranged that the passage of E locomotive or train will cause the said signal to be practically displayed, and its movements visible at a'distance. Sixthly, in the combination of a circuit-closer of any suitable construction with an electrical circuit composed in part of wires, or othcrlsuitable conductors, in part of the 'ra-il or rails of'a railroad-track, and in part of the wheels 'and' axles of a locomotive or car, whereby the position of the rails at any given point in advance-as, for instance, at E aswitch or draw-bridgc-will be correctly indicated to the engineer of an approaching train, Seventhly, in an improved method of practically insulating from each other adjacent or abutting ends of the rails when the same are connected together by the well-known fish-joint. Eighthly, in the combination, with an electrical circuit composed in partot' wires in part of the ordinary rails of a railroad-trac ,a-ndin part of the wheels and axles of alocomotive or car, of an clectro-motor,

arranged to operatenn audible signal or alarm.

Ninthly, in anew and improved clcctro-motor for actuating signals,

In the aceompanyin g drawings, Figure 1 represents my improved method of operating signals, as applied toadoubl-e traek railroad, and designed toform what is technically known as a block-signal. Fig. 2 represents the same applied to a railroad-switch. Fig. 3 represents the samev applied to a railroad-crossing, in eonnection'wit-h an alarm and signal. Fig. 4 is a detached enlarged flew, showing a cross-section of an insulated rail-joint, and Fig.

of a railroad-track in either direction.

5 is a side elcvationot the same. Fig. (5 rep resents the electro-motor for operating the alarm, and Fig. 7 is a detached View of the commutator forming a part of said electromotor.

Aand A (refer to Fig. 1) represent the two tracks of a double-track railroad. On the.-

=track A the trains run from-right to left, and

on the track A from left to right, as indicated by the arrows. The rails of the track A are divided at the joint, B, B, O, and G, and the ends are secured to metallic chairs, as at b b c c", rcstin g upon wooden ties or sleepers D D, whereby any desired length of track is insulated from the remainder, so as to produce an insulated section of track. Thus, it will be understood that the rails of the track form a metallic electrical conductor from B to O, and also from B to C, but that the metallic continuity does not extend beyond B B and G C.

insiilated sufliciently from the other by means of the non-conducting wooden-ties D D, upon whichthey rest. The section of track embraced bet-ween B B and G 0' maybe of any required Length, according to circumstances, or, if desirable, the whole length of the railroad may be divided into similar sections of convenient extent, adjacent to each other. At the end of the section which is first reached by a train moving in the proper direction is placed a signal, E, operated by an electromagnet, e. In view of the fact-that the distance through which an electro-magnet is ,capable of-attracting its armature is always very small, and that, owing totlie unai'oidably imperfect insulation of the track, only a bat tery of a small number of elements can be used in a circuit .of which the said track forms a portion, I find it necessary to interpose besuflicient to move the signalfar enough from its normal position to practically display it to the engineer of an approaching train while yet at a safe distance, and thereby remove the liability of mistaking the true position of such signal. It'is very desirable that thefanor disk E of the signal should be ccnstnicted of light material, and it is also advisable that it should be properly balanced, so as to more with as little resistance as possible. The fan or disk thus constructed may be attached by its edge to an upright or ertical shaft in such a manner that, by causing the shaft to revolve or turn through the distance of one-fourth of a complete revolution, the concealed face of the signal may be exposed, or rice verso, accordingly as it may be arranged.

In Fig. 1 is shown a plan or top \'i(\\' of the signal and signal mechanism. The fan or disk E is attached by one of its edges to a vertical shaft, which is providednvitli a scrcw-threzul or. spiral rib formednpon it; The armaturelevcr of the electromagnet ccarries upon its extreme cnda small roller, which is arranged Each line of rail is also.

to travel upon the said spiral rib as upon a track. By this means the pressure ot the armature-lever and its roller upon the spiral rib will cause the uprightsliaft to turn and the fan or disk to be moved. Bythis device a very small movement of the armature of the magnet 6 will move the fan or disk E through the distance of one-fourth of a revolution. \Vhen the attraction of the magnet ceases the fan or disk returns to its normal positionby the action of a spring or weight. I make no claim vto the abort-described de vice for communicating motion from the armature of a magnet to a disk or fan, considered by itself, as it is clearly shown and described in the'United States Letters Patent of Hendrickson and Pope, No. 129,408, of July 11;, 1872, the application for which was filed' September 8, 1871, and shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings accompanyin g said patent.

Another method of accomplishing the same result is shown and described in Hendricksons United States Letters Patent, No. 115,610,

.dated Jiuie 6, 1871.

I do not, therefore, claim by themselves the partsemployed for communicating motion from the armature of the magnet e to the fan or disk E. I

A conducting-Wire, 1, which may be protected by a suitable insulating coating, is at tached to the chair 0', or in any other manner, so as to be in metallic connection with the rail B G, and its other extremity is .connected with one pole of a galvanic battery, F. From the other pole of said battery F a wire,

-2, leads to the electro-niagnet e, from which a wire, 3, is conducted to the chair 0, so as to be in 'mctaliic connection with the other rail of the track B C.

It will be understood that when the circuit is completed by the metallic axle and wheel (lof a locomotive or car, the electro-magnet 6 will be charged. and the signal E exhibited at right angles to the track, as shown atFig. 1, and that the said signal will remain displayed during the time that the axle and wheels G (representing a train) are passing from G C to B B, but after passing beyond B B the circuit will be broken and the signal E will'ccase to be displayed, and will assume the position shown bytlie dotted lines. .Vhen thetra-in enters upon the section commencing at B B, the s nal R will be displayed in the same 111a: Therefore, the engineer of a train or. arri ing at the point C O, and finding the signal P] displayed, will be made aware that a preceding train is occupying the section of track in advance of him, but will be notified by Ilawithdrawal of the signal so soon as the eeding't-rain has passed beyond the llllll r the said section in advance, in which case incan proceed with safety. The sW'i'lOHS i return track A are arranged in method of operatingsiguuls in connecttm with a switch. 11 11" represent the rails 01 the main track of arailroad. II and J J are the rails of twobranch tracks or sidings. K K are the movable rails of a switch, and are capable of being adjusted in line withthe main or with either of the branch tracks by means of a lever, 1:, which is pivoted at l and connected with the movable K K by connecting-rods k 1 A'section of the main track h h, which may be at an distance from the switch and of I any suitable engthfis insulated from the adof the track in the manner previously desm'ibed, and provided with a signal,

L, opera.ted with an electro-magnet, j, in any suitable manner. A circuit-closing arm, m,

' projects from the lever is of the switch, and is so arranged in reference to the metallic stud n as to be in contact therewith when the movable rails K K are adjusted in line with the rails of the main track H H; but if moved into the electro-niotor l in the bell Q.

ary as to location. The electrical circuit, in this instance, may be traced as follows From the rail H of the track, by the wire 7, through battery i, wire 8,, electro-inagnet j, wire 9, electro-motor P, and wire 10, to the opposite rail of the track H. "Vhen the train G,'1n'oving in the direction indicated by the arrow, reaches vthe point M, the electrical circuit'between ll.

and H will be completed, and the signal. I. displayed at the. crossing 0- by the action oi.

the electro-mugnet j. At the same time the eleet-ro-motor' P, included in the same circuit, will be set in motion, and .will cause. the bell Q to be lllllg continuously until the train reaches the point N, when they circuit will be interrupted, causing the signal. L toassiunc the position shown by the dotted lines, and. cease its action upon The arrangement for insulating a rail of the l with either the rails II or J J of the sid- .ings the arm m will be moved out of contact "with the stud n. An insulated wire, 5, extends track from the adjacent rail, as shown at b b in Fig. 1, and elsewhere, is designed more especially for use on railroads which employ the idea the lined the railroad-track,:one end of vwhic connects with the arm 11:, and the-other end proceeds to the battery-i, and thence to the 1 electro-magnet j, from which a wire, 4, procwds to one rail of the insulated section of track at h.

A 6, connects the other rail of the insulated section of track with the. stud n. I! the switch' is adjusted in its normal position in line with the main track as shown in Fig. 2, the circuitbetween at imd'yi will be uninterrupted, and the closing of the circuit between H and H by theadvancing train G will cause the signal '..L to assume the position showni'n the drawing,

indicating sa-fety; but at all times when no train is passing over theinsulated sectionof the track the circuit will remain broken and the signal L will continue in the position shown by dotted'lines, indicating danger.-- But if the switch'be adjusted in linewith one, of the branch. tracks I I-orJ J the circuit at in n be interrupted, and the closing of the eircuit between H H, by an advancing train, will have no effect upon the signal L, which will continue to indicate danger until thccircuit is closed at ma, when it will again resume thepoiifion shown in the drawing indicating safety.

3'shows the application of my improved system of signaling to a road-crossing. H H are the railsof the track, the section between M mas re ting a. distance of half a mile,

more or ess, being insulated from the remaining portions of the track,'as hereinbefore described. 0 is the road-crossing adjacent-to the end of the insulated section of the track at N. ,L is a suitable signal, which is displayed action of au-electro-mflguet, j. 1 is an e fro-motor the construction of which will hereinafterbe particularly described. Q isan' alarm-bell or gong, designed to be sounded by 4 "the action of the elech'o-niotor'P when the latter is in motion. Buch'sudible oraiarmsig "1.1 may be located at any appropriate place; but it isintcmlcd and denigned mhesfafilm.

mode of securing the cndsof the rails by what is technically termed a fchairf and in this case, if necessary, a thin plate of wood, Tillcanite, or other suitable insulating material may be placed between the ends of the adja" cent rails to preventthem from coming in contact with each other.

- For railroads where the so-ca-llcd fish-joint is.employed, 1 have devised the mode of insu -lation' shown in Figs. {and 5'.'-- R and B, Fig. 5, are the ends of two adjacent rails, which areto be electrically insulated from each other. A plate of ulcauitc or other suitable insulat.

ing material, r, is intcr msed between the ends of the rails Rand R. The plates or bars 8 s,

Figsni and 5, which are of a well-known construct-ion, are seemed to each other and to the rails by bolts 11 and nuts, as shown at 0, Fig. 4. The plates or bars n 8, Figs. 4. and 5, are kept'froln metallic contact with the rails by insulatingplatcs 1 t, and the bolts p p, passing through slotted holes in the rail, are insulated. by the sheathing of suitable insulating mate;

rial q, Fig. 4.

, Fig. 6 shows the dctails'of the construction of the elcctro-iuotor 'l,fhcrciubefore referred to. M 8 ml S are two fixed electroanagnets of I and T are two. other clectromagucts, of similar construction,

the usu l construction.

fixed 'atright angles to each other upon a shaft,- n, which is capable of revolution upon. its axis, passingffrecly through the yokes of the magnets S and S. Thejnagnets T and T areso arrangedthnt theirpolbs renxlvcin close proximity tothose of-the'magnetsS and S, respectively, as clearly shojun in the drawmg. the shaft n u, the un strnction ofwhi'ch is shown in dctailiin the enlarged cross-section, Fig. 7. 1 Each *conunutator consists of two semicircular pieces of metal, 1 g, fixed upon 0 sides-[of the axis a, but ineach of these segmcntnis mhhm-d one end of Two commntators, X X, are fixed upon thewire of the helices of the adjacent magnct T or T. The battery-current is conveyed to the elcetro-magnct by two springs,w.w,= pressing upon opposite. sides of the commit tator,which.are so arranged thatt-he current through the magnet T or T is reversed at the instant its poles are opposite those of the stationary magnet S or S. The electric current enters by the wire 9 and proceeds to the point 11, from which two branch circuits lead, respectively, through the stationary clectro-m agnets' S S and S- S, and thence to the commutators X X by the springs 10 w. From the opposite springs 10' wthe branch circuits again unite at the point 12, and from thence by the wire 10,- as hereinbefore explained. The breaks in the respective commutators being arranged at rightangles to each other, it willbe understood that the circuit from 9 to 10 will at all times be complete through i one of the two branch circuits, and that a signal may be operated in the same circuit without interference or interruption .arising' from the action of the eliustremotor. The manner in which tarotatory motion may be. produced by the alternate attraction and.

repulsion between the poles of a revolving cleetro-magnet and a stationary magnct,which may be either an electromagnct or a permanent magnet,is wcll known,and rcquiius no further explanation. 'Any suitable mechanism may be employed in connection with the motor 1 in order to sound the bell Q.

. Where it is necessary to operate a switch or any additional signal, in addition to-the block-signal systcm, shown-in Fig. 1, it may be accomplished by the use of an additional rail,parallel with the usual rail of the track and insulated theretltom, resting upon springsor otherwise, so that the wheels of the trainmay be brought in contact with both rails simultaneously, thus closing an additional circuit without interfering with the primary circuit passing through the-ordinary rail. If

'- necessary the primary circuit, which includes the. rail or rails,may be caused to actuate a relay of the usual construction, whichmay in turn actuate the signal by means of a second ary or local circuit, the same or an additional battery, in a manner well understood among those skilled in the art of tclegra-phy.

It will'be observed that I do not make use of the earth as a; part of the circuit in any of the hercinabove-dcscribed arrangement of conductors, but that the circuit exteriorto the battery when completed, consists entirely and exclusively of a series of metallic conductors in every instance. on account of the difliculty of securing an adequate insulation between the rails and the earth, when both rails and earth are'included injand form partot" the circuit. 7

In some cases it is not necessary to insulate for the desired distance more than oneline of the rails of a railroad-track. in order to cause a signal to be 0 rated by the'passage of a locomotive or car, and when a. suitable distance I prefer this arrangementor section of one line of rails only is insulated, one of the electrical wires or conductors is to be attached tot-he said insulatedline-of rails, and the other i to the opposite or uniusulatcd line of rails;

' I do not confine myself to the particular mode of constructing a si'gnal or to thepa-rtic'ular mechanism for multiplying the distance moved bythe armature ofan eleetro-magnct,

and for communicating said movement to the signal which has been herembefore described. Nor do I limit mysel t' in the combination I have "shown to the particular device M N, shown in Fig. 2, for closing the circuit at the switch, as there are many devices which may be made use of to accomplish this result. I claim, broadly, the'method of producing rotatory motion by means. of the attraction and repulsion between rota-ting and fixed magnets.

I am aware that it'is not new to interpose a.

device for ml'iltiplyiug motion between the armature-lever of an clcctro-magnet and a sema-- phoric or visual signal, and therefore donotclaim by itself any specific eomplishing this result, but wil'l'remark'that the combination of such machinery with-a circuit of which the rails of a railroad-track form a part I believe to be new and important.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The arrangemeutof the cnds'of two abutting rails of a raihoad-track on separate chairs contact between the said rails is prevented and the extentof an electrical circuitlimited, substantially as and for the purposelu-rcins mattied.

2. The combination of a stationary alarm or audible signal, an electro magnetormagnets.

-a-battei'y, and one or more railsof an insulated section of railroaittrack, so a-rran ged relatively to each other that, so soonas a metallic connection is formed between the said rails, as by the axle and-wheels of a locomotive or car, the mechanism which aetua-tes caused to operate, substantially as described.

a v 3. The combination of a visual or scma-phorie signal, an electro magnet orgmagnets a battery, and one or more rails of an insulated seet-ion" of railroad-track, .30 arranged relatively to each other thatso soon as a metallic connection is formed between the said rails, as'by v the wheels of a locomotive or car, the said sig-.-

nal will be moved, substantially as specified.-

4. The combination of the following elemehts: A visual or semaphori'c signal, L', an audible orsounding signal, Q, control of one or more electro-magnets, a battery, and an electrical circuit composed in part of wire and in part 0t one or more rails of an insulated section of railroad-track, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the following elements: A vi ual or pemaphoric signal, moved in one direct! itseqnivalent, a snitablemevhanism or und- Neither do machinery for acor supports upon a sleeper, whereby metallic the alarm will be both under the f n by one. or more elcctro -mag- I intend in the other direct-ion by as mug or,

tiplying the motion derived iron! the Miniature of the said electro magnet or magnets interposed between said armature or a-rmntures and the signal,- an electrical circuit composed mpart of one or more-railsofen insulated section of a railroad-track, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein specified.

6.-The combination of the circuit-closer m n with the electrical circuit 4 5 6 H H! G, subby the insulation between said adjacent rail:;

is maintained, and the extent of an electrical circuit, formed in part of one or more rails of a railroad-track; thereby limited, substantially as set forth.

S. The combination of no suitable insulating the same circuit.

111mm], (1, with the bolts 1) p, 'u'herehy the said bolts are insulated from the rails 1% R or from thwinsnlated fisli -plates s s, substantially as aml for the purpose heroin specified.

9. The combination with the electrical circuit, composed of Wires and theordinary rails .of 'arailroadtrack, and the axles and wheels of ar-railroadirain, of an. eIectro-motor for op erating a signal or alarm, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

' 10. Au electro-motor composed of the sintionary magnets S S and S S; revolving magnets T T and T T, and 'the' eommutators t X and X, when said two revolving magnets, and also the two con 'iuta-tors, are arranged .at right angles to extol other, wher yon audible alarm maybe operated Without; in erferin g with; the act-ion of a ma gnet, which serves To act-nate a semaphorie or visual signal included in FRANK 11.1 0215.

Witnesses: 7 I I M. M. LIVINGBTONLY A J. DE LACY; I

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