US1298700A - Remote-control means. - Google Patents

Description

c 0. HARRINGTON. REMOTE CONTROL MEANS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I I. 1915- Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

wrmzisss INVENTOR a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLINTON O. HARRINGTON, 'OFEDGEWOOD BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE "UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- "TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

REMOTE-CONTROL .MEANS.

To aZZ whbmit may concern: Be it known that I, CLINTON Q. HARRING- lTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewood Borough, in the county of Allegheny and State of; Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Remote-Control Means, of which the following is a Specification.

My invention relates ,to remote control means;'more partlcularly it relates to means for controlling a plurality of signals or other devices from one location.

I will describe my invention as applied to the voltage control of lamps used for si nal lights in a railway signaling system. It is readily understood that inthat branch of railway signaling where light signals are used to give both day and night indications,

it is necessary to use very intense lights to makethe signal indications conspicuous 1n daylight. It is undesirable, however, to use such intense lights for night indications on account of the excessive glare caused by strong beams of light in dark surroundings.

In present practice electric incandescent lamps are used in conjunction with lenses and reflectors to produce beams'of light of the necessary intensity for daylight indications. To make these signals adaptable for night use it is desirable to reduce the voltage applied to the lamps. In standard practice the signallamps are supplied with current from a transmission line which also supplies current to the track circuits, relays, and

the time of day in order to intensify or other apparatus along the road-bed, all of which require a practically constant voltage. For that reason it is not feasible to raise or lower the transmission voltage according to weaken the brilliancy of the signal lights.

' Consequently, it'becomes necessary either to power plant or substation. One feature of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 11, 1915.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Serial No. 50,183.

my invention is the provision of means for accomplishing this control without the use of additional line wires. In the application of my invention to a railway signal system, I provide for each signal a control device which is not operated at the ordinary line voltage, but is operated when the line voltage is changed for a small time interval by an amount greater than that caused by ordinary voltage fiuctuations. The control device changes the connection of the signal lights from one tap on the lighting transformer to another and thus changes the voltage impressed on the lights in response to the temporary change of voltage of the transmission l1ne. The other apparatus connected to the line is not affected by the temporary voltage change, which need last but several seconds.

I shall describe one form and arrangement of apparatus embodying my invention and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a view showing a railway signaling system having applied thereto one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing I have here shown a transmission line L supplied with alternating current from a generator G. The transmission lineextends parallel to a railroad track T, the rails of which are divided into a number of block sections B by means of insulated joints 1. I have shown in the drawing only one such block section. At the entrance to block B is stationed a railway signal S which I have here shown to be of the colored light signal type, in that the signal is provided with a green lamp 9 and a red lamp 1" to indicate proceed and stop respectively. It is understood, however, that I do not limit myself to this particular kind of signal.

Signal S is controlled by means of a track circuit which includes a source of potential at one end of block B, the track rails, and a relay R at the other end of the block. As here shown the source of potential is a transformer 2, the primary of which is supplied with current from line L. The relay I have here shown to be of the two element type, in that it comprises two windings a and b, the former of which is connected directly across the track rails of across secondary c of transformer 3' so that magnet M is energized as long as generator G supplies current to line L. At the normal voltage of the transmission line the amount of current flowing through the winding of electromagnet M is not sufficient,

however, to cause it to attract its armature 5, which then restsagains't stop35. Neither will magnet M be sufliciently energized to attract its armature if the transmission line voltage rises within ordinary limits of voltage fluctuation met in commercial'practice. If, however, the transmission linevoltagei is raised, say, by twice the ordinary increase due to line voltage variation above normal, magnet M is energized sufficiently to attract its armature. For example it'the normal voltage of the transmission line is 2200 volts, and if the voltage variation at the location at magnet M is within 5% plus or minus, in other words, if the voltage is regulated not to rise 110 volts above normal under ordinary circumstances, in that case magnet M is so adjusted as not to attract its armature until the voltage is raised say, 10% 01"220 volts above normal. To cause such a rise in line voltage I have shown for purpose of illustration an adjustable impedance I connected in series between the generator and the transmissionline. It is well known that as the value of the impedance I is lowered, the voltage of the line is raised and vice versa'. It is understood, however, that any suitable means may be used to efiect such a rise in line voltage.

When magnet M closes its-armature"5, it

operates a ratchet 8 through the medium of an arm 6 riveted at one end to armature 5 and a pawl 7 pivoted at the other end. of the arm. Pawl 7 is free to turn in a counterclockwise direction only, so that, when it engages one of the teeth of ratchet 8 as magnet M attracts its armature, it causes ratchet 8 to turn clockwise through the distance of one tooth; but when magnet M is dee'ner- I gized sufli-ciently to release armature 5, pawl wheel adjacent alternate teeth and at equal distances from the center. Contact finger 9 is pivotally mounted and biased b a spring 12 to engage studs 11. When ratchet 8 is so turned that one of the studs is directly above the center of the ratchet wheel, c0ntact finger 9 is held upwardly by the stud to engage an upper stationary contact point 14. When, however, ratchet 8 is turned through the distance of one tooth, contact finger 9 engages a lower stationary contact point 15. It follows that by successive operations of the. armature of' magnet M, contact finger 9' is caused to" close alternately contacts 14 and 15'.

The circuits for the lamps of signal S are controlled jointly by relay R and contact 9. When relay R is closed as-shown, andarm 9 is up as shown, the circuit for green lamp 9 of signal S is as follows: from secondary d of transformer 3 through wire 21', green lamp 9, wire2 2, contact 23% of relay R, wire 25, contact finger 9, c'ontactli and wire 26'to winding d' of transformer 3. Suppose now that the voltage of line L is raised suifi ciently to cause magnet M to operate its armature 5. Ratchet 8 is turned as hereinbefore described throughthe distance of one tooth and allows finger 9 to engage lower contact 15, so that the circuit for lamp 9 is the same as traced above up" to and including contact finger 9 then through contact 15 and wire 27 to winding 6 of transformer 3. Since secondary windingsd and e of transformer 3 are connected" in series, the voltage across windings (Z and e is higher than the voltage across winding 0? alone. As a result, lamp 9 will burn with greater brilliancy. When the voltage of line L is reduced to normal, magnet M rcleases its armature but ratchet 8 doesnot move, so that lamp 9 continues toburn at its high intensity.

Itnow the voltage-of lineL isagain raised above its normal value, magnet M again attracts its armature and causes ratchet 8 to advance-another tooth. One of the studs 11 is thereby brought directly beneath the center of the wheel and moves contact finger 9 into engagement with the upper con tact point 14. In this manner, winding 6 is open-circuited, so that signal S-is again supplied by current of. lower voltage andv gives,

therefore" a ht of lower brilliancy When Windin .cZ;of transformer.3, through wire 2'1,-'.red; amp 7 of signal S, wire 29, contact 24.--4of relay R, then through wire 25 and a contact finger 9 to winding d or e of; transformer 3, as the case may be. Thev red light,

a can, .tl'lBIGIOI'GyfilSOibB madeto burn at the 1 lower or the higherintensity. Y The. selection between .the. redlamp and the. green lamp ofsignal S is automatically efl'ected by means of trains on track T, as is familiar tothos'e versed in the art of rail-- Way signaling. When there isno train in block B, current" flows from transformer 2 through the track rails and energizes winding a of relay R, which in conjunction with winding 6 causes finger 4 to engage contact 23, thereby closing the circuit for green lamp 9'. *When a train; enters block B at signal S, the-train wheels and axles form alow resistance shunt around relay winding (1 which is denergized and causes contact r at to engage contact point 24, to whlch position it is biased by gravity. In this manner the red lamp is caused to burn as long as the train remains in block B. When the train leaves the block, current i I from, transformer 2 again flows through winding a of relay B so that the relay again closes contact 23-4: and the green lamp 9 is again displayed.

In the application of my invention to a railway signaling system which comprises a plurality of blocks such as described, the

Y surroundings, the station operator raises the voltage of the transmission line 10% to 15% above normal for a few seconds, time enough to allow magnet M at each signal to operate contact 9 to the lower position at which the high voltage circuit for the lamps is closed, so that they are brightly illuminated. The lamps are changed back. to the lower voltage circuit in the evening by a similar temporary raise of the voltage of the transmission line. On foggy'nights the lights may be allowed to remain on the higher voltage circuit.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim 1s: v

1. In combination, a constant voltage transmission line, a track circuit fed from said' line, means for temporarily changing the voltage of said line by an amount not interfering with the proper functioning of said track circuit, means controlled by said change of voltage, and a signal controlled by said last-mentioned means and by said track circuit.

i 2. In combination, a constant voltage transmission line subject to normal voltage fluctuations, a track circuit fed from said line, means for temporarily changing the voltage of the line to a greater extent than caused by said fluctuations but to an extent not interfering'with the proper functioning of said track circuit, means fed from said line responsive to said temporary change in line voltage but not afl'ected by said-normal voltage fluctuations, and a signal controlled by said last-mentioned means and by said track circuit.

3. In combination, a signal comprising an electric lamp, a transmission line subject to usual voltage fluctuations, means for supplying current to said lamp at one voltage for daylight indications and at a lower voltage for illumination at reduced intensity during darkness, means responsive to temporary abnormal variations in the voltage on said line but not to the usual voltage fluctuations for governing said current supplying means, and means for. causing temporary abnormal variations in the voltage on said line.

4. A railway signaling system comprising a transmission line subject to the usual voltage variations, a track circuit energized from said line, means for temporarily causing an abnormal variation of the voltage on said line said temporary abnormal variation being insufficient to interfere with the operation of said track circuit, means responsive to said abnormal variation but not to the usual variations of voltage on said line, and a signal controlled by said track circuit and by said last-mentioned means.

5. In combination, a track circuit, a track relay controlled by said circuit, a source of current, a substantially constant voltage transmission line for connecting said source to said track circuit, means for at times changing the line voltage, an electromagnet connected to said line and actuated by said change of line voltage, a pawl operated by said electromagnet, a ratchet adapted to be turned by each operation of said pawl, a contact finger, means for operating said contact finger by said ratchet to occupy alternate positions at alternate operations of said ratchet, a signal, and signal circuits controlled by said alternate positions of said finger and by said track relay.

6. In combination, a track circuit, a track relay controlled by said circuit, a source of current, a substantially constant voltage transmission line for connecting saink scnrce; to said trackcincni-t; means? for at. times changingt hc Linc;.vc'hiaugc an clectnonmgnei'. ccnncctcd tc'. said: line; achlmtc-dz'.

c change. 0% line; v-cltagc a; pawlopcraztzcd by said; clecbromagnet', a ratchenfladnptedk axlmnccdi by each ops-nation 015? said; pawl; contacts, a contact finger biasedlz' m cngnzgc one contacfi, means for epcmti'mgiisaid z finger tc engagc- -ancthcr ccnmct m; alternates ad vancemcnts cf' thc:ratchet,.circuitsaccntmllecli by saidfingcr andswid trackz'rel mfi'. andi a signal. ccn'trolle; said circuiebs.

'1' In combination, 21.. tmnsmissinn line subject: to 4.15mi vclmges variaticns n track;

circuit: fed from: said line anb. imciwiiimg a Qopies: ofl this patient mm benbtarlmmonmc cents each; nmmslm wimgfih ficmmdsmuw oi" mums.

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