US1631842A - Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jun@ 7, 1927, q 1,631,842

H. A. THQMPSON RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 6, 1924 Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD A. THOMPSON, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SW'ISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-TRAFFIC-CONTROLLING APPARATUS,

Application led February 6, 1924. Serial No. 690,929.

My invention relates to railway traffic controlling aiparatus comprising train carried governing means controlled by energy received from the trackway. More particularly my invention relates to the trackway portion of such apparatus.

I will describe one forni of trackway apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form of trackway apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to this drawing, the reference charzuiters l and l designate the track rails of a stretch of railway track over which trailic normally moves in the direction indicated by the arrow. These track rails are divided, by means of insulated joints 2, into a plurality of successive track sections of which only one section A-D, is shown in the drawing.

Section A-D is provided with a track relay R having two windings 7 and 9. This relay is so arranged that it will be energized only when windings 7 and 9 are supplied simultaneously with alternating currents of the same frequency but differing in phase. Winding 9 is constantly supplied with alternating current from some suitable source, such as an alternator G, over line Wires 3 and 3a. The relay R is so constructed that winding 9 has considerable reactance and the current through winding 9 therefore lags behind the electromotive force of generator G. The other winding 7 of relay R is con stantly connected with the rails l and l adjacent the exit end of section A-D lThis winding 7 has a high impedance, and for purposes which will appear hereinafter, a resistance 8 is interposed between one rail, l, of the section, and winding 7 of relay R.

Located at the entrance end of section AMD is a track transformer T having its primary winding 5 constantly supplied with alternating current from line wires 3 and The secondary t of transformer T is constantly connected with the rails adjacent the entrance end of section AMD through a resistance 6. It follows that when section A-D is unoccupied7 alternating current iiows from secondary t of transformer T, through resistance 6, the rails l and laof section A-D, resistance 8 and winding 7 of relay R in series. Due to the effect of resistances 6 and 8, this current is more nearly in phase with the electroinotive force of generator G than is the current through winding t). `Under these conditions therefore the currents in windings 7 and 9` of relay R are displaced in phase and relay lt is energized. The relay R may be used to control traclway signaling means or other traf- .fic governing means in any desired manner, and the current supplied to the section by transformer T, l will term signaling cnrrent.

Means are also provided for supplying the section with other current for controlling the train carried governing means and this current l shall designate, for purposes of convenience, train governing current. For su pplylng the train governing current to the section I provide a transformer U having its secondary l1 connected with the rails adjacent the exit end D of the section. Interposed between the secondary 1l of transformer U and one rail l of the section is a reactive impedance or reactor 10.

The supply of energy to the primary l2 of transformer U is controlled by tratlic conditions in advance of section A-D. For example7 as shown in the drawing, this control is effected by means of a circuit controller 13 operated by a signal S associated with the section to the right of section A--D and located at point D. This signal may be of any form and may be controlled in any suitable manner. Circuit controller 13 is closed only when signal S indicates proceed7 or caution. Primary 12 of transformer U is supplied with alternating cur rent from line wires 3 and 3a over circuit controller 13. It therefore follows that train governing current is supplied to section A-D by transformer U only when signal S indicates caution or proceed.

The reactor 10 is so proportioned that the current liowing from the secondary l1 of transformer U through winding 7 of relay R is substantially in phase with the current in winding 9 of relay R, and therefore relay R can not be energized by train governing current from transformer U. Further pro- `tection may be secured by adjusting the parts so that 'the electromotive force supplied by the transformer U is less than the electromotive force required to be applied Cil across relayvwinding 7 and resistance 8 to cause a sufficiently large currentto iiow through winding 7 to energize relay R.

It should be pointed out that the track way apparatus here-in shown andy described is, suitable forV co-operation with train carried governing means in such manner that when kthe train occupies a stretch of. track which` is supplied with alternating current, a proceed indication 1s received aboard' the train vand when the train occupies a stretch vof track towhich no such current 1s supplied,

astop indication is received aboard the train.

In at least one form of train carried apparatus arranged to operate in this manner the train-carried governing mechanism is controlled by the trackway current through the medium `of receiving apparatus placed in inductive4 relationwith the track rails in advance of the forward axle of the train. With such apparatus it is obvious that the source of train governing current must always be connected with the rails in advance y of the train as otherwise the train governing current would be. shunted away from the receiving apparatus by the wheels and axles of the train.

As shownl in the drawing signal S is at proceed, and therefore transformer Uf is energized. Transformer T is also energized and relay R is therefore picked up.

I will now assume that a train moving in the direction ofl the arrow enters 'section A`-D; As the train passes point A, signal-A ing currenty supplied by transformer T is shunted away from winding 7 lofrelay, R. Ihaveialread'y explained thattrain governing current from transformer U cannot pick' up relay R and this relay therefore becomes deenergized.`

As Vthe train proceeds through the section i itis constantly supplied, with train governing current from transformer U, andthe train therefore receives a proceed indication throughout the section. v y

I ywillnow assume that signal S indicates stop, as when the section to the right of pointDiis occupiedby a train. The supply ofV energy to the primary of transformer VUis therefore discontinued. If now a train proceeds through section A-D, the train will receive a stop indication throughoutl I claim is:

l. Railway trafficV controlling apparatus comprising a 'stretchof railway track, a

track relay having two windings `and arranged to be energized only when the currents in said twowindings are displaced in phase and one said winding being connectedA with said stretch, means forjconstantly supplying the remainingwindingof said: relay rio with an alternating current, meansy for sup-l insulated joints forming,aneielectrically'isolated section, a sourcerof'alternating track circuit current connected across the rails Vad"- jacent4 the entrance `end of said section, means lcontrolled by traffic conditions in ad'-V vance of said section for connecting a second-'source of alternating current acrossV the rails adjacent the exit end of said section, and a track relay connectedacrossthe rails adjacent the exit end lof said sectionv'and responsive to said track Vcircuit current but not to current froml said second source.

3; In combination, a stretch Vof railway track along which traffic movesin only `oneV direction, said stretch being provided With insulated joints formingA an electrically iso-A lated section, a source of alternating'track circuit current connected across the rails adjacent the entrance end off said section, a signal' located at the exit end-0f said? sectionA for governing trafiic. in advance ofthe section, means controlled by said-signalnfor connecting asecond source 'of' alternating current across the railsadjacent the exit end of said section, and a track relay connected across the rails adjacent the exitfend of said section and yresponsive to said track circuit currentbutl not to current from said second surce.V f

4. Railway traffic controlling apparatus comprising a stretchf of railway track, a source ofqalternating current connected a.d` jacent one'V end:` of said stretch, a'second source of alternating current,-rneans responsive to traiiic' conditions for at times supplyingcurrent from said second source to the' other end of the stretch, and a track relay connected with saidstretch adjacent said second source and responsive to current fromV one only of said sources.

5. Railway traflic controlling apparat-us comprising a stretch of railway track, a source of alternating current connected ad- .jacent one end of said stretch, a-second source of alternating current, means responsive to traffic conditions for "at times supplying' current from said second source to the other end ofsaid stretch, and a track relay connected with said stretch adjacent said second source and responsive to iurrent from said lirst source but not to current troni said second source.

G. In combination, a stretch of railway track provided with insulated joints forining` an electrically isolated section, a source of alternating track circuit current connected across the rails adjacent one end of said section, a signal located adjacent the other end ot said section Jfor governing tratu fic out of the section, means controlled by said signal for connecting` a Second source oi' alternating 'current across the rails adjacent tlie second end of said section, and a track relay connected across the rails adja` cent the second end ot said section and responsive to said track circuit current but not to current from said second source.

7. Railway tratiic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch of railway track, a track relay having two windings and arranged to be energized when said windings are supplied with alternating` currents or the saine irequency but displaced 1n phase,

ineans it'or constantly supplying one said winding with a irst alternating current, ineans tor constantly connecting the relnaining said winding with the stretch, a lirst source of alternating current connected with the stretch, nie-ans interposed between said source and said stretch ior (,:ausing the current from said source to loe displaced in phase :troni said first current, a second source ot alternating current connected with the stretch, and nleans interposed between said second source and said stretch it'or causing tlie current troni said second source to loe substantially in phase with said .first current.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature.

HOWARD A. THOMPSON.

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