US2039639A - Signaling system - Google Patents

Description

May 5, 1936.

c. w. FAILOR ,39,639

SIGNALING SYSTEM Original Filed April 23, 1932 e Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CHARLES W. FAI LOR Fig.1. B

1+. ATTORNEY w. FAILOR May 5, 193% SIGNALING SYSTEM Original Filed April 25, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 @N L R75 INVENTOR CHARLES W. FA l LOR km ATTORNEY May 5, 11936 c. w. FAILOR SIGNALING SYSTEM Original Filed April 25, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 NAN NNW MW in WWN B N NM INVENTOR g RLESW FAILOR GHA 61% BY MM 1 I M ATTORNEY May 5, 1936. c. w. FAHLOR SIGNALING SYSTEM Original Filed April 25, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 RECEIVE NG WAYSIDE EQWPMENT .RPPR TP A A A TTTHDD CXPll223344 RECEIVING LOCQMOTIVE EQUEPME NT WAY ED EQUBPMENT- 223344 CXPIL.

I jNVEINTOR- CHARLES W. FAI LOR BY Q ATTORNEY May 5, 1936, W, FAHLOR v 2,@39,639

SIGNALING SYSTEM Original Filed April 23, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 RECElV lNG WAYSIDE EQUIPMENT E QUEPMENT RECEIVING LOCOMOTWE EQUEPMENT QUEPMENT INVENTOR Ti 3 CHARLES w FAILOR ATTORNEY C. W. FAILOR SIGNALING SYSTEM Ma 5, me.

msw g Original Filed April 23, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VENTOR I CHARL ES W. FA! L OR @405. moon BY $1M 1% ATTORNEY MOD Ill? o 7 Z. 1 j 1 I1. I...

. v Wd E T E F QMW UJMM vHrU .rZOU QUWOJU .EDUMZU :00

QUZMLO F5016 :00 DMICQMMLO WPOaQ-ZOU Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,039,639 7 SIGNALING SYSTEM Application April 23, 1932, SerialNo. 607,103 Renewed August 26, 1933 60 Claims.

This invention relates toa signaling system of the type known as a count-code system, and has for its main object and feature the production of a-system in which current of a single frequency may be employed, and in which a code cycle of a given number of impulses constantly recurs, under all trafiic conditions, the various indications being obtained by utilizing a variable number of the impulses of the recurring cycles.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is disclosed in several preferred and concrete, though somewhat diagrammatic, forms in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View of the wayside equipment of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the cab or locomotive equipment designed to be utilized in connection with the wayside equipments of Figs.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of wayside equipment;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic time-table of the sequence of operations of the relays of the wayside equipment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar time-table for the relays of the transmitting wayside equipment of Fig. l and the relays of the locomotive or cab receiving equipment of Fig. 2; v

Fig. 6 is a similar time-table for the relays of the wayside equipment of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a similar time-table for the relays of the transmitting wayside equipment of Fig. 3 and the relays of the locomotive or cab receiving equipment of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic key to the symbols of Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a characteristic code cycle, such as is contemplated in this system; and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the effect of the presence of a train in a block upon the track relay and traflic controlling relays of a number of blocks.

This invention has at its basis the production, under all traflic conditions, of the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series, and the utilization of a Variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles to indicate different traffic conditions. In Fig. 9 is depicted graphically a constant code cycle such as it is contemplated to employ, and in this case it consists of four on periods, four off periods and what may be called an open circuit interval. The on and off periods are of approximately equal length, and the current here used being an alternating one, (of, say, sixty cycles), each impulse consists of a number of 5 waves. The indications thus obtained may be used for wayside signaling and/or cab signaling and/or brake control purposes as will be understood. The principal advantage of the invention lies in the fact that, the code cyclebeing constant for all blocks under all traffic conditions, a line circuit may be employed to supply coded current from a single coder unit to a number of blocks, and even if it is desired to use a coder unit for each block, such coder unit can supply current to a number of tracks that are simultaneously subject to different traflic conditions. Although the invention, as above explained, has for its basis the employment of the same constantly recurring code cycle, it will be understood that there are, nevertheless, inventive features present that are capable of use independently of the system herein disclosed.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 1, an alternating current is supplied by generator Ge to line wires 25, and the current so supplied is coded in the manner previously de-, scribed by means of coder C0 that controls armatures 26. 21 indicates a line transformer that supplies coded current from the line wires to bus wires Br and Cr which form part of a transmission circuit, controlled by relays in a manner to be presently described, which circuit feeds track transformer 28, the secondary of which latte-r is connected to traffic rails 29 at the outgoing end of a block. CT is a direct current code following relay that receives the unvarying cycle of code impulses by means of a transformer 3E] and rectifier 3|, said transformer 30 being connected to leads Br and Cr. TR is an alternating current track relay at the ingoing end of a block, said relay being here of the two energizing circuit type with stationary windings, one winding 32 being connected to the traffic rails so as to be energized and deenergized in accordance with the impulses in the traffic rails supplied by the track transformer at the other end of the block, and the other winding being connected by leads Bra and Cam to the corresponding leads of Ban and Czna. adjacent line transformer 21 of the signal location shown. The track relay therefore, unlike code following relay CT which receives the unvaryingcycle of code impulses, is effectively energized only by such code impulses as are transmitted to the trafiic rails and that reach winding 32. The code impulses of the unvarying cycle of impulses received by code following relay CT are constantly registeredor counted by a chain of relays consisting oftwo groups, one group marked I to 4 counting the on periods, and another'group marked IA to 4A counting the off periods of the code cycle. The relays of the two groups alternate in the arrangement shown, and each relay controls the energization of the succeeding one and the deenergization of the preceding one. The function of code following relay CT is to energize the chain of counting relays in sequence during each code cycle, and it is to be borne in mind that the counting relays are energized'and deenergized during each code cycle regardless of traffic conditions. 'I'P, HR, DR and DDR are four slow release relays, here referred to as trafficcontrolling relays, each having a slow release period equal to one code cycle, so that if each of these relays is energized at the appropriate timeonce to each code cycle-its armatures will stay 'up and its front contact or contacts will remain closed. The counting relays and the traflic controlling relays are supplied with current from a suitable source such as battery 33 over bus wires B and C arranged to establish different circuits; among others, an energizing circuit for the counting relays, a holding circuit also for' the counting relays, and a receiving or decoding circuit for the trafiic controlling relays, which receiving circuit is conduring normaloperation of the system relay XP is deenergized most of the time throughout each code cycle and becomes energized only toward the end of the interval that follows the series of impulses of a code cycle; and that relays P and TPA hold their front contacts closed except toward the end of the interval that follows the seriesof impulses of a code cycle.

At the end of the prolonged interval that follows a series of impulses of the code cycle, relay XP is energized by current flowing from one of the leads of bus wire B, over Wire 36, back con- 7 tact 3!- of relay P, coil of relay XP and wire 38, to common return C.

When code following relay CT receives the first impulse of a series of impluses of a code cycle, it closes its front contact and current now flows from one of the leads of bus wire B to front contact 39 of relay CT, then by wire 49, over front contact 4| of relay XP, wire 42, back contacts 43 to 49 inclusive of relays 4A to IA inclusive, wire 50, coil of relay I and thence to common return C thereby energizing relay I. The closing of front contact 39 of relay CT also established a circuit through relay P by way of said front contact 39, wire 40, coil of relay P, and wire 38 to common return C. The energization of relay P breaks at 3! the previously traced circuit through relay XP, and XP opens its front contact M and closes back contact 5I. Relay XP being of the slow release type will hold its front contact M, and thereby the energizing circuit previously described for relay I, closed until relay I has picked up its armatures. As soon as relay I has picked up its armatures, it is no 7 longer dependent for its energization upon front relay P now also being closed, a holding circuit for relay I is establishedas follows: from one of the leads of bus wire B, over wire 36, front contact 53 of relay P, wire 54, back contacts 55 to 6| inclusive of relays IA'to IA, contact 52 of relay I, wire 50, coil of relay I and common return C. When relay I picked up its armatures it closed front contacts 62, 63 and 64. By closing front contact 62 a path for the impulse in the transmission circuit from line transformer 21 to track transformer 28 is established as follows: from line transformer 21 over bus wire Br, front contact 62, over wire Ba: continued to track transformer 28 and thence by common return Cr back to line transformer 2I.- This impresses the first impulse of the code cycle on the trafiic rails and energizes coil 32 of track relay TR of V the block whose rails are energized. Track relay TR, which is energized by the equipment at the next block station, closes its front contact 65, and by the closing of this front contact and front contact 63 of relay I a receiving or decoding circuit is established as follows: from bus wire B, over front contact 65 of relay TR, front, contact 66 of relay TPA, continuation of wire B, front contact 63 of relay I, coil of traffic-controlling relay TP and back to common return C, thereby causing relay TP to close front contact 61.

During the interval that follows the first impulse of the series of impulses of the code cycle, coil 32 of track relay TR is deenergized and code repeater relay CT is likewise deenergized. The deenergization of relay CT opens its front contact 39 and closes its back contact 68. Current therefore flows from one of the leads of bus wire B, over back contact 68 of relay CT, over wire 6-9, over front contact 64 and wire I9to coil of relay IA, and thence to common return C, thereby energizing relay IA. As soon as relay IA is energized it picks up its armatures and in so doing closes contact II and thereafter opens contact 6| In closing contact II, the holding or stick circuit by way of contact 53, of relay P, wire 54 and back contacts 55 to 60 inclusive is transferred to relay IA, and in opening contact 6|, the holding circuit to relay I is ruptured. Relay I is therefore deenergized and drops its armatures thereby rupturing the transmission circuit between line transformer 2! and track transformer 28, and also the receiving or decoding circuit leading to relay TP. Relay TP, however, remains energized on account of its slow release feature. When relay IA was energized it closed front contact I2.

Upon receipt by code following relay CT of the second impulse of the series of impulses of the code cycle, said relay CT is energized and in closing its front contact 39 it establishes the following circuit: from a lead of bus wire B, over contact 39 of relay CT, wire 40, back contact 5I of relay XP, wire I3, back contact I4 of relay I, front contact I2 of relay IA, wire I5, coil of relay 2 and thence to common return C. This energizes relay 2 and causes it to pick up its armatures and to close contacts I6, 11, I8 and I9. contact I9 it transfers the holding circuit through back contacts 55 to 59 inclusive to its own coil by way of wire 15, and subsequently by opening In closing contact 60 it breaks the holding circuit to relay IA thereby deenergizing the latter. In closing front contact 11, the transmission circuit between line transformer 21 and track transformer 28 is closed over the following path: line transformer 21, bus wire Br, contact II of relay 2, wire 80, back contact 8| of relay I, continuation of Bar, track transformer 28, and bus Wire Ca: back to line transformer 27. This impresses the second impulse of the code cycle on the traffic rails and energizes coil 32 of track relay TR of the block whose rails are being energized. Track relay TR as before closes its front contact 65, and by the closing of this front contact and front contact I6 of relay 2, a receiving or decoding circuit is closed over the following path: from bus wire B, over contact I55 of track relay TR, contact 66 of relay TPA, continuation of wire B, back contact 82 of relay I, contact 6? of relay TP, wire 83, front contact I6 of relay 2, coil of relay HR and back to common return C. This energizes relay HR and causes it to pick up its armatures.

During the interval that follows the second impulse of the series of impulses of the code cycle, coil 32 of track relay TR is deenergized and code repeater relay CT is likewise deenergized. The deenergization of relay CT opens its front contact 39 and closes its back contact 98. Current therefore flows from one of the leads of bus wire B over back contact 68 of relay CT, over wire 69, back contacts 84 and of relays I and IA, front contact I8 of relay 2, coil of relay 2A, and thence to common return C. As soon as relay 2A is ener gized, it picks up its armatures and in so doing closes contact 85 and thereafter opens contact 59. In closing contact 86, the holding circuit by way of back contacts 55 to 58 inclusive is transferred to relay 2A, and in opening contact 59 the holding circuit to relay 2 is ruptured. Relay 2 is therefore deenergized and drops its armatures, thereby rupturing the transmission circuit between line transformer 2'! and track transformer 28, and also the receiving or decoding circuit leading to relay HR. Relay HR, however, remains energized on account of its slow release feature. When relay 2A was energized it closed front contact 81.

Upon receipt of code follo-wing'relay CT by the third impulse of the series of impulses of the code cycle, said relay CT is energized and in closing its front contact 39 it establishes the following circuit: from a lead of bus wire B, over contact 39, wire 49, back contact 5I of relay XP, wire I3, back contact 74 of relay I,back contact 98 of relay IA, back contact 99' of relay 2, front contact 81, coil of relay 3, and thence to common return C. This energizes relay 3 and causes it to pick up its armatures and to close contacts 99, 9|, 92 and 93. In closing contact it transfers the holding circuit through back contacts 55 to 51 inclusive to its own coil, and subsequently by opening contact 58 it breaks the holding circuit to relay 2A thereby deenergizing the latter. In closing contact 92 the transmission circuit between line transformer 21 and track transformer 28 is closed over the following path: from line transformer 21, bus wire Br, front contact 94 of relay HR, front contact 92 of relay 3, wire 95, back contact 96 of relay 2, wire 89, back contact 8| of relay I, continuation of wire Bx, track transformer 28, and bus wire Ca: back to line transformer 21. This impresses the third impulse of the code cycle on the traffic rails and energizes coil 32 of track relay TR of the block whose rails are being energized. Track relay TR as before closes its front contact 65, and

by the closing of this front contact and front contact 93 of relay 3, a receiving or decoding circuit is closed over the following path: from bus Wire B, over contact 65 of track relay TR, contact 66 of relay TPA, continuation of Wire B, back contact 82 of relay I, contact 6'! of relay TP, wire 83, back contact 91 of relay 2, wire 98, front contact 93 of relay 3, coil of relay DR and common return C. This energizes relay DR and causes it to pick up its armatures.

During the interval that follows the third impulse of the series of impulses of the crude cycle, coil 32 of track relay TR is deenergized and code following relay CT is likewise deenergized. The deenergization of relay CT opens its front contact 39 and closes its back contact 58. Current therefore flows from one of the leads of bus wire B, over back contact 63 of relay CT, wire 69, back contacts 84, 85, 99 and III!) of relay I, IA, 2 and 2A, front contact 9| of relay 3, coil of relay 3A and thence to common return C. As soon as relay 3A is energized, it picks up its armatures and in so doing closes contact ISI and thereafter opens contact 57. In closing contact I9I, the holding circuit by way of back contacts 55 and 56 is transferred to relay 3A, and in opening contact 57 the holding circuit of relay 3 is ruptured. Relay 3 is therefore deenergized and drops its armatures thereby rupturing the transmission circuit between line transformer 21 and track transformer 29, and also the receiving or decoding circuit leading to relay DR. Relay DR, however, remains energized on account of its slow release feature. When relay 3A was energized it closed front contact I92.

Upon receipt by code following relay CT of the fourth impulse of the series of impulses of the code cycle, said. relay CT is energized and in closing its front contact 39 it establishes the following circuit: From a lead of bus wire B, over contact 39 of relay CT, wire 49, back contact 5I of relay XP, wire I3, back contacts I4, 88, 89, I93 and I94 of relays I, IA, 2, 2A and 3, front contact I I32 of relay 3A, coil of relay 4, and thence to common return C. This energizes relay 4 and causes it to pick up its armatures and to close contacts I95, I96, I91 and I98. In closing contact I98 it transfers the holding circuit through back contact 55 to its own coil, and subsequently by opening contact 56 it breaks the holding circuit to relay 3A thereby deenergizing the latter. In closing front contact I96, the transmission circuit between line transformer 21 and track transformer Z8 is closed over the following path: line transformer 21, bus wire Bx, front contact 94 of relay HR, front contact I99 of relay DR, front contact I96 of relay 4, back contacts H0, 96 and M of relays 3, 2 and I, continuation of wire Bx, track transformer 28, bus wire Ca: and back to line transformer 21. This impresses the fourth impulse of the code cycle on the traffic rails and energizes coil 32 of track relay TR of the block whose rails are being energized. Track relay TR as before closes its front contact 55, and by the closing of this front contact and front contact I of relay 4, a receiving or decoding circuit is closed. over the following path: from bus wire B, over contact 95 of relay TR, contact 66 of relay TPA, continuation of wire B, back contact 82 of relay I, contact 61 of relay TP, wire 83, back contact 9'! of relay 2, back contact III of relay 3, front contact I95 of relay 4, coil of relay DDR and back to common return 0. This energizes relay DDR and causes it to pick up its armatures. During the interval that follows the fourth impulse of the code cycle, coil 32 of track relay TR is deenergized and code repeater relay CT is likewise deenergized. The deenergization of relay CT opens its front contact 39 and closes its back contact 58. Current therefore flows from one of the leads of bus wire B, over back contact 68 of relay CT, wire 68, back contacts 84, 85, 99,

i853, H2 and H3 of relays I to 3A inclusive, front contact Iii? of relay 4, coil of relay 4A and back to common return C. The energization of relay 4A causes it to pick up its armatures thereby opening'contact 55 and rupturing the'holding circuit of relay 4. V and drops its armatures, thereby rupturing the transmission circuit between line transformer 21 and track transformer .23, and also the receiving or decoding circuit leading to relay DDR. Relay DDR, however, continues to holdup its armatures on account of its slow release feature. The deenergization of relay 4 also causes the circuit to relay GA to be ruptured at contact I01, thus doenergizing relay 1A and causing it to drop its armatures.

We new come to the prolonged or open circuit intervalthat follows the series of impulses at the end of the code cycle. During this prolonged interval, relay P will drop its armature and close contact 3? thereby energizing relay XP and causing it to close front contact ll, and the system is now ready for the next code cycle of im ulses, when the devices will again function in the manner'set forth in detail in the preceding description of operation.

Adverting now for a moment to relay TPA, it will be understood that it is a slow release relay and that it is energized each time track relay TR closes back contact I Is, that is to say, during the intervals between impulses of a series of impulses and also at the end of a series of impulses, current passing from a lead of bus wire B, over back contact li l, coil of IPA and back to common return C. If track relay TR fails to follow the code impulses and remains energized, relay TPA will open its front contact thus rupturing the receiving or decoding circuit, thereby checking the operation of track relay TR. 7

The function of relay XP is to check the relays of the counting chain, and to insure that the open circuit interval at the end of a series of impulses is registered by st d counting chain. This will be understood when it is remembered that relay XE is deenergized during the major part of the code cycle and becomes energized toward the end of the open circuit interval that follows a series of impulses and holds front contact 4I closed only longenough to permit relay I to become energized. That is to say, front contact GI must be closed to start the counting chain, but after relay I is energized the counting chain is controlled by front and back contacts 39 and 68 of code following relayCT. Slowrelease relayP is utilized to control relay XP. Relay P has a slow release period sufficient to enable it to bridge the interval between two impulses of a series of impulses, but insufficient to bridge the open circuit interval at the end of a series of impulses. It will therefore be seen that relay P is energized 'each time front contact 39 of relay CTis closed andthat it holds relay XP deenergized except toward the end of the open circuit interval at the end of a series of impulses. It will also be seen that relay P controls through its front contact 53 and wire 54 the stick circuit or holding circuit for the chain of counting relays that becomes effective after the initial energization Relay 4 is therefore deenergized.

is opened and when its front contact is released.

In Fig. is shown a diagram of a number of blocks X; XI, X2 and X3 and the effect of a train in block X upon relays TP, HR, DR and DDR of the various blocks. n will be seen that the presence of the train indicated in block X will prevent the current impulses from reaching coil 32 of track relay TR located at the entrance end of block X. Consequently, relays TP, HR,

DR and DDR of that block station will not be energized by the receiving or decoding circuit controlled by relay TR of that station. Theresult is that the rails of block XI will receive only the first two impulses of the series of impulses. This will be understood when it is remembered that the transmission circuit that energizes track transformer 28 is completed, during the first two impulses of a series of impulses, independently of relays TP, HR, DR and DDR, the transmission circuit for the first impulse being completed from Br over front contact 62 of relay I, and

the transmission circuit for the second impulsebeing completed from Ba: over front contact I1 of relay 2, as previously described. The transmission circuit for the third and fourth impulses being completed, in part, over front contact 94 of HR- and front contact IE9 of DR, and relays HR and DR (associated with relay TR of block X) being deenergized and their armatures down, said a third and fourth impulses cannot be transmitted to the rails of block Xi, and consequently track relay TR at the entrance of block XI will pick up only on the first and second impulses of the series of impulses. When track relay TR at the entrance of block XI picks up on the first and second impulses it will energize relays TP and HR (associated with relay TR of block XI), relay TP being energized over front contact 63 of relay I and relay HR being energized over front contact 61' of TP and front contact I6 of relay 2.

The result is that three impulses will be transmitted to the rails of block X2, the first two as previously described in connection with the rails of block and the third from wire Bx, front contact 3 of HR and front contact 92 of relay 3. Track relay TR at the entrance of block X2 will therefore pick up on the first, second and third impulses. This will energize relays TP, HR and DR (associated with relay TR of block X2), relays TP and HR being energized as previously described in connection with block XI, and relay DR receiving the third impulse over front contact 67 of relay TP, back contact 91 of relay 2 and front contact 93 of relay 3. In consequence of this, all four impulses will be transmitted to the rails of block X3, the first three as previously described in connection with the rails of block X2, and the fourth from wire Ba: over front contact 94 of HR, front contact I69 of DR and front contact I06 of relay 4. The result is that track relay TR at the entrance of block X3 picks up on all four impulses, and this will energize relays TP, HR, DR and DDR (associated with relay TR of block X3), relays TP, HR and DR being energized as previously described in connection with block X2, and relay DDR receiving the fourth impulse over front contact 61 of TP, back contacts 91 and III of relays 2 and 3, and front contact I05 of relay 4.

In the present description of the operation of the system it has been brought out that the track section immediately in rear of an occupied section receives the first two impulses. This, of course, is not essential but it is essential that at least the first impulse be impressedon the rails of such section.

It will further be understood that, while one chain of counting relays can control a number of tracks that are subject to different traffic conditions, there must be a separate set of traflic controlling relays for each track.

It will now be understood that the code system thus described can be utilized in many different ways for the purpose of giving signals or indications. For instance, if it is desired to use wayside signals, relays HR, DR and DDR can be provided with additional contacts to control a group of lights 9, y, r, g1 and r1. Thus when all relays TP, HR, DR and DDR are deenergized and their armatures are down, current will flow from bus wire B over back contact I I 5 of HR to light 1 and back over 0, and also over back contact N6 of HR to light T1 and thence to C thereby displaying two red lights indicating stop. If relays TP and HR are energized, current will flow from wire B over front contact In of HR, back contact II8 of DR to light 1 and thence to common return, and also over front contact I I9 of HR,

back contact I2I) of DR and thence to lamp r1 and common return, thereby displaying a yellow light and a red light indicating approach. If relays TP, HR and DR are all energized and their armatures up, then current will flow from B over front contact I" of HR, front contact I2I of DR, back contact I22 of DDR, light 'J and to common return, and also over front contact H9 of HR, front contact I23 of DR, back contact I24 of DDR to light g1, thereby displaying a yellow light and a green light indicating approach restricting. If all relays TP, HR, DR and DDR are energized and their armatures are up, current will flow from B, over front contact In of HR, front contact I2I of DR, front contact I25 of DDR, light g and common return, and also over front contact II9 of HR, I23 of DR, front contact I26 of DDR, light 11 and common return, thereby displaying a green light and a red light indicating clear. If no wayside signals are used, relay DDR can be omitted.

If it is desired to give a traffic indication on the train, such as by means of signals or brake control or both, the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 may be employed. As there shown, the train carries a coil I21 that is in an inductive relation with the rails to thereby pick up the impulses transmitted to the traffic rail. L indicates a codefollowing relay on the train to be energized by each impulse of the series of impulses and to be deenergized in the intervals between impulses of the same series as well during the interval that follows after a series of impulses. This relay is of the polarized type, and is so designed that it operates its armature to the right-hand position (wherein contact I34 is closed) at the beginning of an energizing impulse, and to the left-hand position (wherein contact I53 is closed) as such impulse ceases. Circuit and amplifying means, generally indicated by I28 and the details of which do not concern us here, are interposed between coil I2! and relay L in such manner that said relay follows the code. Carried. by the train are three traffic-controlling relays LHR, LDR and LDDR which correspond to the three wayside traflic-controlling relays HR, DR and DDR. Also a chain of counting relays is carried by the train,

the relays of which chain are arranged in two "55 groups marked resp-ectivelyIR to 4R inclusive and IRA to 4RA inclusive, the relays of the two groups alternating in the chain and controlling each other in the same manner as the counting relays of the wayside. It is to be noted, however, 10

that the counting relays on the train do not operate regardless of trafiic conditions, but count only the impulses received by relay L. The train also carries two relays LP and LXP that correspond to wayside relays P and XP. The current 15 is supplied from various leads of wire B32 and returns over the various leads of wire C32. LI-llP indicates a relay that controls the supply of current to relays LHR, LDR and LDDR.

During the interval that follows at the end of 4 20 a series of impulses, relay LXP is energized by a circuit that can be traced from one of the leads of wire B32, back contact I29 of relay LP, coil of relay LXP and back to common return C32.

Front contact I 32 of relay LXP is therefore closed.' 25

B32, over contact I34 of relay L, along wire I35,' 35

over front contact I32 of relay LXP, over back contacts I36 to I42 inclusive of relays 4RA to IRA inclusive, wire I43, coil of relay IR and thence to common return C32, thereby energizing relay IR. Current also flows from wire I 35 to' io coil of relay LP and thence to common return C32, thereby energizing relay LP and breaking the circuit through relay LXP by opening back contact I29 and closing front contact I44. When relay LXP opens its front contact I 32 it ruptures 45 the energizing circuit to relay IR, but as relay LXP is of the slow release type it holds front contact I32 closed until relay IR has become energized as previously described. Relay IR having thus become energized closes its contact I45 50 and this establishes a holding circuit or a stick circuit for said relay IR that can be traced from one of the leads of B32, over front contact I44 of relay LP, over back contacts I46 to I52 inclusive of relays 4RA to IRA, contact I45 of relay 55 IR, wire I43, coil of relay IR and thence to common return 032.

During the interval that follows the first impulse of the series of impulses, relay L becomes deenergized and closes its left-hand contact I53, 60

and current now flows from one of the leads of wire B32, over contact I 53 of relay L, wire I54, front contact I55 of relay IR, coil of relay IRA and so to common return C32. Although relay LP becomes deenergized when relay L opens its contact I34, yet, on account of its slow release feature, said relay LP retains its front contact I44 closed. Relay IRA having become energized, it closes contact I56 and thus transfers the stick circuit to its own coil and by subsequently opening contact I52 it ruptures the stick circuit to relay IR and the latter becomes deenergized.

When relay L receives the second impulse of the series of impulses, it closes its right-hand contact I34, reenergizing relay LP, and current Front contact I33 of -30 now flows from one of the leads of wire B32, over contact I34, wire I35, back contact I 51 of relay ruptures the stick circuit to the coil of relay IRA.

The energization of relay 2R also opens back contact I62 thereby rupturing the circuit to relay LHP but the latter relay being of the slow release type holds front contact I33 closed, so that current can now flow from one of the leads of wire B32, over front contact I33 of relay LHP, over wire I64, over front contact I63 of relay 2R, coil of relay LHR, and to common return C32.

During the interval that follows the second impulse of the series of impulses, relay L becomes deenergized, thereby deenergizing relay LP as before, and when it closes its left-hand contact I53, current flows from 1332-, over contact I53 of relay L, wire I54, back contacts I65 and I66 of relays IR and IRA, front contact I61 of relay 2R, coil of relay ZRA, and to common return C32. The energization of relay 2RA closes contact I68 thereby transferring the stick circuit to its own coil, and later by opening contact I56 ruptures the stick circuit to relay 2R thereby deenergizing the latter. When relay 2R becomes deenergized it closes contact I62 thereby reenergizing relay LHP, and it also opens contact I63 thereby deenergizing relayLHR. This relay LHR is of the slow release type and bridges one complete code "cycle.

-When-relay L receives the third impulse of the series of impulses, it closes its right-hand contact I34, reenergizes relay LP, and current now flows from one of the leads of wire B32, over contact I34, wire I35, back contact -I 5:! of relay LXP, wire I58, back contacts I59, I89 and I10 of relays IR, IRA and 2R, front contact III of relay -2RA, coil of 3R, and common return C32. As soon as relay 3R becomes energized it closes contact I12 and thus transfers the stick circuit to its own coil,

and subsequently by opening contact I49 it ruptures the stick circuit to the coil of relay 2RA. The energization of relay 3R also opens back contact I13 thereby rupturing the circuit to relay LHP, but the latter relay being of the slow release type holds front'contact I33 closed, so that current can now flowfrom one of the leads of B32,. over front contact I33 of relay LHP, wire I64, back contact I14 of relay 2R, front contact I15 of relay 3R, coil of relay LDR, and so to common return 032.

During the interval that follows the third impulse of the series of impulses, relay L becomes deenergized, thereby deenergizing relay LP as before, and when it closes its lef t-hand contact I53 current flows from B32, over contact I53 of re-,

lay L, wire I54, back contacts I65, I66, I16 and I11 of relaysIR, IRA, 2R and 2RA, over from contact I18 of relay 3R, coil of relay'3RA, and

to common return C32. The energization of relay 312A closes contact I19 thereby transferring the stick circuit to its own coil, andlater by opening contact I48 ruptures the stick circuit to relay 3R thereby deenergizi-ng the latter. When relay 3R becomes deenergized it closes contact I13 thereby reenergizing relay LHP, and it also opens contact I15 thereby deenergizing relay LDR. 'Ihisrelay LDR .is of the slow release type and bridges one complete code cycle.

When relay L receives the fourth impulse of the series of impulses, it closes its right-hand contact I34, reenergizes relay LP, and current now flows from one of the leads of wire B32, over contact I34, wire I35,-back contact I51 of relay LXP,

wire I58, back contacts I59, I69, I10, I86 and 1 II of relays IR, IRA, 2R, 2RA and 3R and front contact I 82 of relay 3RA, coil of 4R, and thence to common return C32. As soon as relay 4R becomes energized it closes contact I83 and thus transfers the stick circuit to its own coil and subsequently by opening contact I41 it ruptures the stick circuit to the 'coil of 3RA. The energization of relay 4R also opens back contact I84 thereby rupturing the circuit to relay LHP,

but the latter being of the slow release type holds 15 :e, and when closes its left-hand contact deenergizing relay ARA. When relay 4R becomes deenergized, it closes contact I84 thereby reenergizing relay LHP, and it also opens contact I86 thereby deenergizing relay LDDR. This relay LDDR is of the slow release type and bridges one complete code cycle.

Buring the open circuit interval that follows the series of impulses, relay LP opens contact I44 and closes contact I29 thereby energizing relay LXP which opens contact I51 and closes contact I32.

As we have seen, relay LHP is energized during the open circuit interval because back contacts I62, I13 and H34 of relays 2R, 3R and 4E are all closed. Relays LHR, LDR and LDDR keep their front contacts closed because of their slow re- 1;:

lease characteristics, so long as all four impulses of each recurrent code cycle are received by the train-carried equipment. It will now be evident that if the trafiic rails of a block receive no impulses (or only one impulse) then all the relays LHR, LDR and LDDR will drop their armatures;

that if only two impulses of the recurrent code cycle are received then relay LHR will keep its armature up whereas relays LDR and LDDR will drop their armatures; that if only three impulses of the recurrent code cycle are received then relay LDR, as well as relay LHR, will keep its armature up whereas the armature of relay LDDR will be down; and finally if all four impulses of the recurrent code cycle are received r then relay LDDR, as well as relays LI-IR and LDR, will keep its armature up.

There are, of course, many ways in which the different conditions of these trafiic-controlling relays LHR, LDR and LDDR can be utilized but the simple diagram in Fig. 2 showing armatures I96, I SI and I62 together with an indicator I and appropriate wiring will serve as an illustration. As there shown, when relay L receives no impulses, or but a single impulse, then armatures :13 current flows from B32, over contact I53 of nergized, thereby deenergizing relay LP as I96, I91 and I92 will be down and the circuit to lamp i will be closed; if L receives two impulses, then armature I90 will be up and armatures I9I and I92 will be down and hence the circuit to lamp it will be closed; if L receives three impulses, then armatures I98 and NH will be up and armature I92 will be down and hence the circuit to lamp i2 will be closed; and finally if four impulses are received by L then all armatures I95, IQI and i922 will be up and the circuit to lamp i3 will be closed. The time-table of the various relays is shown in Fig. 5, and it remains only to be stated that the function of relay LHP, which is energized during the off periods and during the open circuit interval at the end of a series of impulses, and 'deenergized during the on periods of the code cycles, is to check that only coded impulses will keep relays LHR, LDR, and LDDR energized. This will be understood when it is remembered that said relay will bridge the on periods of the code cycle, and if the on period is prolonged, relay LHP will become deenergized and thereby rupture the circuit that supplies current to said relays LI-IR, LDR and LDDR. Relay LHP therefore corresponds in a measure to relay TPA of the wayside equipment.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. l. is what may be called a synchronous system in that one coder unit can supply coded current to line wires that feed a number of signal or block stations, and it is characterized by the fact that a single chain of counting relays is used, which chain controls both the circuit that transmits impulses to the track transformer, and also the receiving or decoding circuit that receives impulses through the infiuence of the track relay to energize the traffic-controlling relays.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modified form of the invention which may be called non-synchronous and which employs a separate coder unit for each signal location and two chains of counting relays one to control the transmission circuit to one block and the other to control the receiving or decoding circuit of the block in advance. The counting chain that controls the transmission circuit operates constantly regardless of trafiic conditions, but the counting chain that controls the receiving circuit counts only the impulses received by the track relay.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the transmitting counting chain is indicated by A and consists of a series of relays marked IT to 4TA inclusive and associated with this chain are slow release relays PT and PXT that correspond to relays P and XP of Fig. 1. The receiving counting chain is indicated at AI and consists of a series of relays IBT to META inclusive and associated with this chain are slow release relays PA and XPA that likewise correspond to relays P and XP of Fig. 1. Also, associated with the two counting chains are traffic-controlling relays TPO, HBO, DB0 and DDRO that correspond to traffic-controlling relays TP, HR, DR and DDR of Fig. 1. Code following relay CTA is a locally operated coder unit, say of the D. C. oscillating pendulum type, which is supplied with energy by bus wires Ba and Ca and corresponds to relay CT of Fig. 1. TBA indicates the track relay and TPAR corresponds to relay TPA of Fig. l. The current for the transmitting circuit that energizes the rails is conducted by bus wires Bxl I0 and Owl Ii), and the current that actuates the various relays (except the track relay) is supplied by bus wires Ba and Ca. The main transformer is indicated by 21a and the track transformer by 28a. The battery is indicated by 33a and is arranged as before, and 32a indicates the coil which is connected to the track rails and which controls the track relay. The code cycle is, in this instance, the same as that previously described. The same transmitting counting chain can be used to control a number of. tracks, but there must be a separate receiving counting chain and a separate series of traflic controlling relays for each track.

During the open circuit interval that follows the series of impulses, relays PT and PA drop their armatures and close back contacts 2% and 213i thereby energizing relays PXT and XPA, the first of these receiving current from one of the leads of Ba, over contact 205], coil of PXT and common return Ca, and the second of these receiving current from another lead of Ba over contact 265, coil of XPA and common return Ca.

When the first impulse of the series of impulses is received by relay CTA it closes front contact 2532 and current now flows from a lead of Ba, over contact 292, to coil of PT and thence to common return Ca. tact 282 over front contact 293 of PXT, over back contacts 2% of iTA to ITA inclusive, coil of IT, and common return Ca. Although PXT was deenergized when PT became energized, it does not release until IT has become energized. As soon as iT is energized it closes contact EM and thereby closes stick circuit a through its own coil so that when PXT opens contact 203, relay IT remains energized. When IT became energized it also closed contact 2% and current therefore from one of the leads of Ba, over contact Zil'i',

contact arm of TPAR, coil of PA, and thence to common return Ca. Current also flows from contact 207, over contact 2010. of TPAR, to front contact 208 of XPA, over back contacts 209 of relays SUTA to IOTA, coil of relay IIlT, and cornmon return Ca. Although XPA was deenergized when PA became energized it does not release until MET has becomeenergized. As soon as IfiI is energized it closes contact 22c and thereby closes the-stick circuit through its own coil. This stick circuit is here shown as coming from one of the leads of Ba, over contact 2 of TPAR, over contact 2I2 of PA and the back contacts of iEiTA to IGTA. When IET became energized it closed contact 2H5 and current now flows from one of the leads of Ba, over contact 201 of TRA, contact 201a of TPAR, contact 2I3 of IIJT, coil of TPO and thence to common return Ca.

Upon deenergization of CTA during the interval that follows the first impulse, it closes back contact 254 and current now flows over said back contact and over front contact 2 I5 of IT to coil of relay ITA and thence to common return. As soon as ITA is energized it closes contact 2 I6, transfers the stick circuit to its own coil and ruptures the stick circuit to IT so that the latter becomes deenergized. This ruptures the transmission circuit, at 236, to the trafiic rails. During the interval following the first impulse, track relay TRA becomes deenergized and ruptures the decoding or receiving circuit leading to TPO at 291, but in closing its back contact 2|? a circuit will be established from that point to contact 2 i 8 of WT, and thence to coil of. IiiTA and common Current also flows from con-- return Ca. As soon as relay IBTA becomes energized it closes contact 2H, transfers the stick circuit to its own coil, and ruptures the stick circuit to NET thereby deenergizing the latter and opening contact 2 i5. Relay TPO needs to be energized only once to each complete code cycle and so holds its front contact 2253 closed.

Upon receipt of the second impulse of the series of impulses by CTA, front contact 292 is closed and current now flows from that point, over back contacts 22I of PXT and 222 of IT, over front contact 223 of ITA, coil of ET, and thence to common return Ca. As soon as 2T is energized it closes contact 224, transfers the stick circuit to its own coil and ruptures the stick circuit to ITA thereby deenergizing the latter. When 2T becomes energized it closes contact 225 and thereby establishes a transmission circuit from one of the leads of Bx! Ill, over contact 225, back contact 225 of IT, track transformer 28a and Cat! 25. Upon track relay TRA receiving the second impulse of the series of impulses, it closes contact 261 and current now flows from that point, over contact 2 31a of TPAR, back contact 227 of XPA, back contact 228 of IElT, front contact 229 of IBTA, coil of EST and common return Ca. As soon as 2ST is energized it closes contact 236, transfers the stick circuit to its own coil,

. and ruptures the stick circuit to IElTA thereby deenergizing the latter. When 25T is energized it closes contact 23!, thereby establishing a receiving or decoding circuit from contact 201 of TRA, contact 201a of 'IPAR, back contact 232 of ST, front contact 220 of TPO, front contact 23I of MT, coil of HBO, and common return Ca. Relay HRO is thereby energized and closes contact 233 controlling the transmission circuit.

Upon deenergization of CTA during the interval that follows the second impulse of the series of impulses, it closes its back contact 2M and current now flows over said back contact and over back contacts 232 and 235 of IT and ITA, over front contact 236 of 2T, coil of 2TA, and to common return Ca. As soon as 2TA is energized it closes contact 231, transfers the stick circuit to its own coil and ruptures the stick circuit to 2T thereby cleenergizing the latter. This ruptures the transmission circuit, at 225, to the traffic rails. During the interval following the second impulse, track relay TRA becomes deenergized and ruptures the decoding or receiving circuit leading to HBO at 2131, but in closing its back contact 2H a circuit will be established from that point to back contact 2 I800 of IOT, back contact 238 of IGTA, front contact 239 of 20T,

coil of ZGTA, and common return Ca. As soon as ZflTA becomes energized it closes contact 248, transfers the stick circuit to its own coil and ruptures the stick circuit to 2ST thereby deenergizing the latter and opening contact 23!. Relay HRO needs to be energized only once to each complete code cycle and so holds its front contact 233 closed.

Upon receipt of the third impulse of the series of impulses by CTA, front contact 252 is closed, and current now flows from that point over back contacts 22I of PXT, 222 of IT, 24I of ITA, 252 of 2T, front contact 243 of 2TA, coil of relay 3T, and common return Ca. As soon as 3T is energized it closes contact 244, transfers the stick circuit to its own coil and ruptures the stick circult to ETA thereby deenergizing the latte-r. When 3T becomes energized it closes contact 245 and thereby establishes a transmission circuit from one of the leads of Earl In, over contact 233 of EEO, contact 245 of 3T, back contacts 246 and 225 of ET and IT, track transformer 23a and CxI I9. Upon track relay TRA receiving the third impulse of the series of impulses it closes contact 20'! and current now flows from that point, over contact 201a of TPAPU, back contact 221 of XPA, back contacts 228, 24? and 248 of IElT,

I ETA and 28T, front contact 249 of 2IlTA, coil' 20T, front contact 25I of 3ST, coil of DB0, and

common return Ca. Relay DRO is thereby energized and closes contact 253 controlling the transmission circuitv Upon deenergization of CTA during the interval that follows the third impulse of the series of impulses, it closes its back contact 2 I4 and ,current now flows over said back contact, over back contacts 234, 235, 254, 255 of IT, I-TA, 2T and ETA, over front contact 253 of 3T, coil of ilTA, and common return Ca. As soon as 3TA is energized it closes contact 251, transfers the stick circu t to its own coil and ruptures the stick circuit to 3'1 thereby deenergizing the latter. This ruptures the transmission circuit, at 245, to the trail-lo rai s. During the interval following the third impulse, track relay TRA becomes deenergized and ruptures the decoding or receiving circuit leading to DB at 207, but in closing its back contact 2I'I a circuit is established from that point to back contacts 2I8a, 238, 258, 259 of IUT, IQTA, 261' and ZQTA, front contact 253 of coil of 3BTA, and common return Ca. As soon as 38TA becomes energized it closes contact 26L transfers the stick circuit to its own coil and ruptures the stick circuit to 311T thereby deenergizing the latter and opening contact 25I. Relay DRO needs to be energized only once to each complete code cycle and so holds its front contact 253 closed.

Upon receipt of the fourth impulse of the series of impulses by CTA, front contact 2532 is closed,

and current now flows from that point over back contacts 22I of PXT, 222 of IT, 24d of ITA, 242 of 2T, 262 of 2TA, 263 of 3T, front contact 254 of ETA, coil of 4T and common return Ca. As soon as 4T is energized it closes contact 265, transfers the stick circuit to its own coil and ruptures the stick circuit to STA. When T becom s energized it closes contact 266 and thereby establishes a transmission circuit from one of the leads BxI I0,

over contact 233 of EEO, contact 253 of DRO,

contact 265 of 4T, contacts 251 of 3T, 2% of 21, 266 of IT, track transformer 28a and CarIIO. Upon track relay TRA receiving the fourth impulse of the series of impulses, it closes contact 2931 and current now flows from that point, over a receiving or decoding circuit from contact 207 contact 27 I turn Ca.

of TRA, contact 201a of TPAR, back contact 232 of HIT, front contact 220 of TPO, back contact 252 of 20T, back contact 2l3 of 30T, front contact 212 of MIT, coil of DDR0, and common re- Relay DDRO is thereby energized.

Upon deenergization of CTA during the interval that follows the fourth impulse of the series of impulses, it closes its back contact 2! and current now flows over said back contact, over back contacts 234 of IT, 235 of ITA, 254 of 2T, 255 of 2TA, 214 of 3T, 215 of 3TA, front contact 216 of 4T, coil of 4TA, and common return Ca. As soon as 4TA is energized it opens contact 21'! thereby rupturing the stick circuit to 4T so that the latter becomes deenergized, and this in turn opens contact 216 so that 4TA likewise becomes deenergized. Also the transmission circuit is ruptured at 266, to the rails. During the interval following the fourth impulse of the series of impulses, track relay TRA becomes deenergized and ruptures the decoding or receiving circuit leading to DDRO at 251, but in closing its back contact 2|! a circuit is established from that point to back contact 2 I 8a of IT, 238 of IOTA, 258 of MT, 259 of ZUTA, 218 of SllT, 219 of 3llTA, front contact 280 of MIT, coil of 46TA, and common return Ca. As soon as 4GTA becomes energized it opens contact 28| thereby rupturing the stick circuit to MT thereby deenergizing the latter and so opening contact 280 and deenergizing li'IA. The deenergization of MIT opens contact 212.

During the open circuit interval that follows the series of impulses, PT releases and closes contact 250 thereby reenergizing PXT so that contact 253 closes. Also during this open-circuit interval PA releases thereby opening contact H2 and closing contact 25!, this latter closing the circuit through XPA and so closing contact 268. The system is now ready for the next code cycle.

In the preceding description of the operation of the system shown in Fig. 3 reference to the repetitive deenergization and reenergization of PT, PA and 'IPAR has been omitted as what occurs is clear from the description given elsewhere herein.

The distinction between the system shown in Fig. l and that of Fig. 3 lies principally in the employment in the one case of a single counting chain of relays and in the other in the use of two chains of counting relays one for transmitting the impulses to the rails, and the other for receiving the impulses from the rails. Also in Fig. 1, a single coder circuit is used for a number of block stations, whereas in Fig. 3 a local coder unit is used at each block station. It will therefore be understood that when a train occupies a block it will shunt the track relay of that block and therefore the receiving counting chain of that block station will receive no impulses from the rails and the receiving counting chain will not be operated. The transmitting counting chain will nevertheless go through its cycle of operations and will deliver the first and second impulses of the series of impulses to the rails of the next block in rear. The first one of these two impulses will be transmitted over contact 206 of ET and the second over contact 225 of 2T and contact 226 of IT. The third and fourth impulses cannot be transmitted to the rails because contacts 233 and 253 of HBO and DRO are open, and the closing of contacts 245 and 266 of ST and AT is therefore ineffective. The track relay of said next block in rear will therefore receive two impulses, and this will energize. relays TPO and HRO of the block station associated with that track relay. Hence the rails of the second block in rear of the occupied one will receive not only the two impulses previously referred to, but will also receive the third impulse because contact 233 of I-IRO is closed as well as contact 245 of 3T. The track relay of said second block in rear of the occupied one will therefore receive three impulses thereby energizing TPO, HBO and DRO of the block station associated therewith. As a result of this, the rails of the third block in rear of the occupied one will receive not only the three impulses previously referred to, but will also receive the fourth impulse over contact 253 of DB and 266 of 4T. The track relay of said third block in rear of the occupied one will therefore receive all four impulses, and all of the relays 'I'PO, HRO, DB0 and DDRO will become energized. It will now be understood that the system of Fig. 3 can be utilized both for wayside and/or cab signaling in the same manner as that of Fig. l. Lamps 12 are shown associated with relays HRO, DB0 and DDRO, the operation of which will be obvious. If desired the system of Fig. 3 can be utilized in connection with that of Fig. 2, in which event relay DDRO can be omitted, provided no wayside signaling means are employed. It is believed to be unnecessary to trace the circuits that are established in Fig. 2 when the system of the latter is used in connection with that of Fig. 3, since they would be the same as those that are established when the system of Fig. 1 is used with that of Fig. 2. For the sake of completeness, however, there is shown in Fig. 6 a time-table of the operation of the transmitting and receiving counting chains of the wayside equipment, and in Fig. 7 a time-table of the wayside transmitting and the locomotive receiving relays.

It will be noted that the system provides automatic detection of insulation break-down in the traffic rails because the alternating current supplied to the rails of adjacent blocks is of opposite instantaneous polarity, and therefore, in case of a break in the insulation, the track relay would become deenergized.

I claim:

1. A signaling system including: means to produce, under all trafiic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series; traffic rails to receive the impulses; means to impress on the rails, in accordance with traflic conditions, a variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles; and wayside traflic-oontrolling means variably responsive to the variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles impressed on the rails.

2. A signaling system including: means to produce, under all traffic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series; traffic rails to receive the impulses; means to impress on the rails, in accordance with trafiic conditions, a variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles; a car traveling on the rails; and car-carried as well as wayside traffic-controlling means both of which are variably responsive tothe variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles impressed on the rails.

3. A signaling system including: means to produce, under all traffic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series; traffic controlling means; and traflic-controlled means to variably influence the traflic-controlling means by rendering all or less than all of said impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles effective with respect to the trafficcontrolling means.

4. A signaling system including: means to produce, under all trafiic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series; traflic, rails arranged in blocks; trafiic-controlling means associated with one block; and traflic-controlled means responsive to trafiic conditions of another block to variably influence the trafficcontrolling means of the first-mentioned block by rendering all or less than all of said impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles effective. with respect to said traffic-controllingmeans.

5. A signaling system including: means to produce, under all traffic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series; traffic rails, to receive the impulses, arranged in blocks; traffic-controlling means to control the transmission of a variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles to the rails of one block; and traflic-controlled means responsive to traflic conditions of another block and variably influenced by the variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles received bythe rails of said other block to thereby variably influence the traflic-controlling means of the first-mentioned block and the number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles to be received by the rails of said first-mentioned block.

6. A signaling system including: means to produce, under all trafiic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together vvith an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series; traffic-controlling means; and a track relay to variably influence the traffic-controlling means by rendering all or less than all of said impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycle effective with respect to the traflic-controlling means.

7. A signaling system including: means to produce, under all traffic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series; trafiic rails arranged in blocks; traflic-controlling means associated with one block; and a track relay responsive to traflic conditions of another block to variably influence the trafiic-controlling means of the first-mentioned block by rendering all or less than all of said impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycle effective with respect to said trafiic-controlling means.

8. A signaling system including: means to produce, under all traffic conditions, the same con-- stantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consistting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series; trafiic rails, to receive the impulses, arranged in blocks; traflic-controlling means to control the transmission of a variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles to the rails of one block; and a track relay responsive to traific conditions of another block and variably influenced by the variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles received by the rails of said other block to thereby variably influence the trafiic-controlling means of the first-mentioned block and the number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles to be received by the rails of said first-mentioned block.

9. In a signaling system: means to generate the same constantly recurring series of impulses; a traffic track to receive impulses; a chain of counting relays to register all of the impulses of each series; a transmission circuit, to transmit a variable. number of the impulses to the track, controlled by the chain of relays; and a receivin circuit, to receive a variable number of impulses depending upon the number of impulses received by the track, also controlled by the chain of relays.

10. In a signaling system: means to generate the same constantly recurring series of impulses; a traflic track to receive impulses; a chain of counting relays to register all of the impulses of each series; a transmission circuit, to transmit a variable number of the impulses to the track, controlled by the chain of relays; a receiving circuit to receive a variable number of impulses depending upon the number of impulses received by the track; and a second chain of counting relays to register the impulses of the receiving circuit.

11. In a signaling system: means to generate the same constantly recurring series of impulses; a traflic track, arranged in blocks, to receive impulses; a chain of counting relays to register all of the impulses of each series; a transmission circuit, to transmit a variable numberof impulses to the rails of a block, controlled by the chain of relays; a receiving circuit to receive a variable number of impulses depending upon the number of impulses received by the rails of a block; and a second chain of counting relays to register the impulses of the receiving circuit.

12. In a count-code railway signaling System employing recurring series of impulses: a plurality of counting relays to register in sequential order the impulses of eachseries, the same relay always registering the same sequential impulse of a series; a plurality of other relays sequentially controlled by the counting relays in accordance with trafiic conditions; and a circuit, to transmit recurring series of impulses to the track rails, controlled by the counting relays and by the other relays.

13. In a count-code railway signaling system employing recurring series of impulses: a plurality of counting relays to register in sequential order the impulses of each series, the same relay always registering the same sequential impulse of a series; a plurality of other relays sequentially controlled by the counting relays; traffic rails; and a circuit, to transmit recurring series of impulses to the traffic rails, controlled by the counting relays and by the other relays.

14. In a signaling system: a trafiic track arranged in blocks, each block adapted to receive recurring series of impulses; means to generate said recurring series of impulses; a receiving circuit associated with the rails of one block and adapted to energize trafiic-controlling means; an impulse transmitting circuit associated with the rails of the adjacent block and with the impulse generating means; a plurality of relays to register each impulse of each series of impulses and to control said transmission circuit and said receiving circuit; and traffic-controlling means to be energized by said receiving circuit and to control said transmission circuit.

15. A signaling system including: means to produce, under all trafiic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series; a chain of relays, to be energized and deenergized in sequence, consisting of two groups the relays of which groups are arranged in alternation, the relays of one group registering the number of impulses of the series of impulses, and the relays of the other group registering the number of intervals occurring during a series of impulses; a code following relay having a front contact and a back contact; and circuit means to control the energization of one group of relays through the front contact of the code following relay and the other group of relays through the back contact of the code following relay.

16. In a signaling system: means to produce a constantly recurring series of impulses; a chain of counting relays to be sequentially energized and deenergized in response to the influence of the impulses of the same series; .trafiic rails arranged in blocks; circuit means, controlled by part of said chain of relays, to impress less than all impulses of a series of impulses on the traffic rails of one block; a control relay controlled by traflic conditions of the rails of another block;

and other circuit means controlled by the remainder of said chain of relays and by the control relay to impress another impulse of the series of impulses on the traffic rails of the first-mentioned block.

17. In a signaling system: vtrafiic rails; means to impress on the rails a variable number of impulses of a code cycle in accordance with different traffic conditions; and a code-following track relay located in the wayside to close its front contact during each impulse and to open its front contact during the intervals between impulses.

18. In a signaling system: traffic rails; means to impress on the rails a variable number of impulses of a code cycle in accordance with different trafiic conditions; a code-following track relay located in the wayside to close its front contact during each impulse and to open its front contact during the intervals between impulses; and a decoding circuit controlled by the front contact of the code-following track relay.

19. In a signaling system: trafilc rails; means to impress on the rails a variable number of impulses of a code cycle in accordance with djfferent trafiic conditions; a code-following track relay to close its front contact during each impulse and to open its front contact during the intervals between impulses; a decoding circuit controlled by the front contact of the code-fol lowing track relay; and a slow release relay, to be energized when the code-following track relay is deenergized, and acting to rupture the decoding circuit if the track relay remains energized and fails to follow the code impulses.

20. In a signaling system: traffic rails; means to produce under all trafiic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle cons sisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series; means to impress on the traflic rails, in accordance with traffic conditions, a variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles; and a code-following track relay to close its front contact during each impulse of a series of impulses and to open its front contact during the interval between impulses of the same series as well as during the interval following after each series of impulses.

21. In a signaling system: traffic rails; means to produce under all trafiic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series; means to impress on the traflic rails, in accordance with traffic conditions, a variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles; a code-following track relay to close its front contact during each impulse of a series of impulses and to open its front contact during the interval between impulses of the same series as well as during the interval following after each series of impulses; and a decoding circuit controlled by the front contact of the codefollowing relay.

22. In a signaling system: traffic rails; means to produce under all traflic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than an interval between impulses of the same series; means to impress on the trafiic rails, in accordance with traffic conditions, a variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles; a code-following track relay having a front and a. back contact, the front contact being closed during each impulse of a series of impulses and the back contact being closed during the interval between impulses of the same series as well as during the interval following after each series of impulses; a decoding circuit controlled by the front contact of the code-following track relay; and a slow release relay, to be energized through the back contact of the code-following track relay, having a slow release period capable of bridging a complete code cycle of impulses, and acting to rupture the decoding circuit of the track relay remains energized and fails to follow the code impulses.

23. In a signaling system: trafilc rails; means to impress code impulses on the traflic rails;

a code-following track relay having a front and a back contact, the.v front;contactrbeingzcloaedidnr-- ing each :impulse of a the; code: andzthe backzcone' tactbeing closed during eaoh'iinterval: between: impulses; a, circuit-1controlled)byrthezimntzcorre tact of the code-followingztrack relayxanclia slow: release relay, to begenergizemthmnghrtheebackx contact of the trackrelay,.andiaotinggtmrnpturez: the circuit if the track. relay remainsizenergized-i and fails to follow theiimpulsess.

24. In a count-code; signalingrsystem: employ ing recurring. seriesof; impulses-1; apluralit yi of: traffic-controllingz; relays: to; energizech in; quential order byrthe impulses'sofzieaclirserries the same relay to receive thesamelsequentiaiiimpulses. of each series: of impulses; a;tracle;relawtmrev ceive in accordance"withgtrafliccconditions aavac riable number of impulsesz'ofi the :recurringIseries; of impulses; and.-a circuit:controllediby tiieetrackc relay to energize a variable;numberrofzsaid'relays:

25. In a count-code-signaling system employ,- ing recurring series of impulses: a'plurality-iofi counting relays to register:- in sequentialrorder the impulses-of each-seriesgthe same relawalwa'ysr registering the same sequential impulse; a: plu rality of traffic-controllinggelayszton berenergized in sequential order'by theimpulses ofzea'chzseriesr of impulses, the same trafiic-controlling relay tor receive the same sequential impulse oiieachzseries; of impulses; a track relay-to-receive.imaccordance with trafiici conditions aivariablee numberof impulses; and a receiving-1 circuit controlled; by the track relay andby the countingrelays; energize a variable number; of. said:,trafliceeoni-. trolled relays.

26. A method ofasignaling for aistretch'zofiraileway track divided into-track sectionsswhichmone sists in: producing, unden'all, traffic:conditions;.. the same constantly recurring code -cy,cles=,'-., each: cycle consisting of a' series of energydmpulses; and an interval between-impulses; together-with an interval after each-seriesof impulses'of greatser duration than any oneintervahbetweenim: pulses of the same series; supplying saidaseriesz of energy impulses tothe:traclesectionssof: sald stretch; varying the number; of impulsesiofisaldz recurring series which are suppliedi to a given: track section in accordance with-trafiicconditions in advance of saidtgivenrsectionnand insutilize ing a variablenumber of impulsesv ofitheeserlests of impulses oftheconstant codez-cycles supplied;' to said givensection to-indicate different traflici conditions in accordance with; the numberr of: such impulses supplied. to said; see-tion.

27. A method of. signaling for aistretchrofrrailr- Vance sections.

28. Ina codesignalingsystemnartrafllc traclri: arranged in a pluralitypofrblocksx coding means: to generate, under all:tr.aflic;-conditions, ttheasame coded current;. means; associatedi withz. 8.; block: section to supply: part: on all 1 of; saidz codedi cur amines;

rent ,to the trafic track: tothereby indicate differentitraific'conditions';; a:- car: traveling on the. track; and; car-carried-ias; well as wayside trafiiccontrolling,,means;both ofwhich are variably responsive; to part on all offsaidrcoded current suppliedito; the traific track.

29. In: a code, signalingtsystem for a stretch of railway; track: coding ,means to generate, under all trafiic, condition the same coded current; traiiic.-controlling means; associated with a first sectioniof said stretchand selectively responsive toisaidscodedicurrentt according asa. part or all oft said current-ris effective; in saidpfirst: section; and: trafiicecontrolled; means: associated with. a second section; ofsaid stretchand effective to variably influence said traificecontrolling, means by rendering partacr; all: of: said coded current effective inisaid-first section according: as said second section isoccupied orxunoccupied respectively'.

30. In a. code signalingsystem: coding means to, generate; ,under alLtrafile conditions, the-same coded current;- trafiic'rails arranged in blocks; name-controlling. means associated with. one: block; and 1 trafiic-controlledmeans responsive to, trafiic conditions of: another block to-variably influence.- thee trafiic-controlling means of V the firstsmentioned. block. by, renderingpart' or 'all' of said coded. currenttefiective w-ithmespect to said under certain: trafiic-conditions, one or more-of the impulses of the recurring; series of impulses from being, impressed on thee-track. V

32;.Inra signaling system:v meansito generate,

under. all trafficconditions; the, same constantly recurring, series. of impulses; a. traffic: track to receive. the impulses; circuit means-atov impress tlieimpulses .onthe track; andimeans to prevent,

under adverse.,traific conditions, one or more of the impulses of; the recurring series of impulses from being impressed onthetrack;

33.- Ih..a signaling, system: means to generate;

under all L trafiic, conditions, the same constantly recurring, series of. impulses, comprising a given impulse which isrepeated. toiormthe series; a trafiic track to receive the impulses; circuit means, to, impress. the impulses on: the track;

means to prevent under certain: trafiic conditions,,one or moreof theimpulses-of the recurring series. of; impulses. fmmbeing impressed on. the track; and trafiic-controlling meansvariably responsive: to. the different. number, of impulses of'tl'iev recurring, series impressed on the track.

3.4. 111.21. signaling, system:.means to generate,- under all trafiic conditions; the same constantly recurring serieszof impulses comprising a given impulses-which \issrepeatedito form; the; series; a traiiictrack-: to; receive; the: impulses;. circuit means to impress the impulses on the track; meansrito :prevent; under: certainitratfic :conditions, one or: more of? the impulses: of the recurring series. of; impulses fromi being impressed on the track; andiwayside I trafiicecontrolling means variablyt responsiveatothe' diiferent number of impulses of the: recurring series impressed on the track;

35:. In: a signaling system: means to generate,- under all E traflic conditions, the same a constantly recurringrseriesrofl impulses; aetrafii'c' track to receive the impulses; circuit means to impress the impulses on the track; means to prevent, under certain traffic conditions,'one or more of the impulses of the recurring series of impulses from being impressed on the track; a car traveling on the track; and car-carried as well as wayside traflic-controlling means both of which are variably responsive to the different number of impulses of the recurring series impressed on the track.

36. In a signaling system: means to generate, under all trafiic conditions, the same constantly recurring series of impulses comprising a given impulse which is repeated to form the series; a traflic track to receive the impulses; circuit means to impress the impulses on the track; means to prevent, under adverse traffic conditions, one or more of the impulses of the recurring series of impulses from being impressed on the track; and traffic-controlling means variably responsive to the different number of impulses of the recurring series impressed on the track.

37. In a signaling system: means to generate under all traffic conditions, the same constantly recurring series of impulses; a traific track to receive the impulses; circuit means to impress the impulses on the track; means to prevent, under adverse trafiic conditions, one or more of the impulses of the recurring series of impulses from being impressed on the track; and wayside traffic-controlling means variably responsive to the different number of impulses of the recurring series impressed on the track.

38. In a signaling system: means to generate, under all traffic conditions, the same constantly recurring series of impulses comprising a given impulse which is repeated to form the series; a traffic track to receive the impulses; circuit means to impress the impulses on the track; means to prevent, under adverse traflic conditions, one or more of the impulses of the recurring series of impulses from being impressed on the track; a car traveling on the track; and car-carried trafiic-controlling means variably responsive to the different number of impulses of the recurring series impressed on the track.

39. In a signaling system: means to generate, under all traffic conditions, the same constantly recurring series of impulses; a traffic track to receive the impulses; circuit means to impress the impulses on the track; means to prevent, under adverse trafiic conditions, one or more of the impulses of the recurring series of impulses from being impressed on the track; a car traveling on the track; and car-carried as well as wayside traffic-controlling means both of which are variably responsive to the different number of impulses of the recurring series impressed on the track.

40. A signaling system including: means to produce, under all traffic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of energy impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than any one interval between impulses of the same series; traffic rails to receive the impulses; and means to impress on the rails, in accordance with traffic conditions, a variable number of impulses of the series of impulses'of the constant code cycles.

41. A signaling system including: means to produce, under all traflic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of energy impulses and an interval between impulses, together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than any one interval between impulses of the same series; traffic rails to receive the im- 1 pulses; means to impress on the rails, in accordance with traffic conditions, a variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles; and traific-controlling means variably responsive to the variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles impressed on the rails.

42. A signaling system including: means to produce, under all traflic conditions, the same constantly recurring code cycles, each cycle 0021-;

sisting of a series of energy impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than any one interval between impulses of the same series; trailic rails to receive the impulses; means to impress on the rails, in accordance with traffic conditions, a variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles; a car traveling on the rails;

and car-carried traffic-controlling means variably j responsive'to the variable number of impulses of the series of impulses of the constant code cycles impressed on the rails.

43. In a signaling system: a trafiic track to receive impulses; means to produce recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than any one interval between impulses of the same series; means to register each impulse and each interval of each series and also to control the sending of impulses to the traffic track; and means to register the interval of greater duration that follows each series of impulses.

ceive impulses; means to produce recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than any one interval between impulses of the same series; a pluraliay of relays to register each impulse and each interval of each series, the same relay always registering the same sequential impulse or interval, and to control the sending of impulses to the track by said plurality of relays; and means to register the interval of greater duration that follows each series of impulses.

45. In a signaling system: a traffic track to receive impulses; means to produce recurring code cycles, each cycle consisting of a series of impulses and an interval between impulses together with an interval after each series of impulses of greater duration than any one interval between impulses of the same series; a plurality of relays to register each impulse and each interval of each series, the same relay always registering the same sequential impulse or interval, and to control the sending of impulses to the track by said plurality of relays; and a relay to register the interval of greater duration that follows each series of impulses.

46. In a signaling system: a traflic track arranged in blocks, each block adapted to receive recurring series of impulses; means to generate said recurring series of impulses; a receiving circuit associated with the rails of one block and adapted to energize trafiic-controlling means; an impulse transmitting circuit associated with the .2 44. In a signaling system: a traffic track to re- 'sequential im'pulse Of each series of impulses,

and=each relay havinga slow release period sufiicient to span the time between successive ener- "gizatio'ns duringrecurrent cycles.

48.;-A signaling system includingz a traffic track ;-a car traveling on the track; wayside means "to produce v underall trams-conditions i the same recurring series of impulses; a wayside counting chain or-relays toregister; under all tramc-condit-ions, all the impulses of each-series; 'traffic-controlled means to impress a variable number of the impulses o'f a-series'onthe' trafiic track; means on the car in an inductive relation with the traific track; and a counting'chain of -relays onthetrain to register thenumberofimpulses of a'series impressed on the traifictrack.

'49. A signaling :system including: a traffic track; a carytraveling on the track; wayside meansto pro'duce under all-trafli-c'ccnditions the same recurring series :of impulses; a wayside 5 counting1chain-of relays to-register, under all traflic conditions;all' theximpulses or each series; trailic-"controlled "means to impress a variable number pf'the impulses of a series on thettraffic track; meanson' the carin aninlductive relation '40 with the trafl'ic track; a.counting chain'of relays .onthextrain to register the" number "of impulses of aseriesirnpressed onrthe'traflic track; 'and traffic-controlling means onpthe car responsive'to the variable .number offimpulses registered bythe 345 ,carecarrie rl counting chain.

.50.,In a signaling system: means Qconstantly active to ,produce the same recurring series of impulses. under. all .trafiic .conditions; and. a chain of countingrelays to register both the. on and ,oif ,periods ,of veach .series .of impulses, leach relay controllingthe energizationof. the succeeding one and the; deenergizationi of the preceding -one.

51. In a count-code .railwaysignaling system "employing :the same. recurring series of impulses under all ,trafiicconditions; a plurality of count- .ingerelays to register-in sequentialorderthe-im- .pulsesof-each series, the; same relayv always registering the same sequential impulse of .a series; .and a-circuit, to transmit. recurring seriesof .im-

pulses to the track rails-controlled bylthe-ccounting relays.

Y (5.2.. Ina-code--,signaling.-system means -.to:pro-

duce theqsamerecurring-series oftimpulses under .a1l trafiic'conditions; .a code relay responsive to ithe :impulses of :each series and having a front -.contact whichzis closed :during'each impulse of a series, and a back contact whichris :closed'gdurin the:mtervalibetweemimpulses :of r the same series; 70 2a plurality of relays -toibe:sequentially energized by :the alternate closing :of the ;.front and back contacts :of "the coderelay ZfiIidjCiTCllitS controlled .by the contacts got .the code .ntelaysand controlling itheiplurality o'f relays.

v 7 J 53. :In :a :count-coide ;signaling gsystem 'zemployable number of said relays. $10

54.In a signalingsystem: means constantly .:active to producethe'same recurringseries of impulses'under all trafiic conditions; 'means to register each'impulse of each series; means to register the completion of -each series of im-3l5 pulses; and means to prevent the'registeringof a succeeding series'of' impulses if the completion or a-preceding series has not been registered.

- "55.1In a signaling system: means to produce -recurring 'series'of impulses; a plurality of relays 320 to register each impulse of each series, the same relay always registering the same sequential impulse; means to register the completion of -each series of impulses; -an'd 'a checking relay to 'prevent the registering of a succeeding series 01"} impulses if the completion of ;a preceding series "has: notbeen registered.

56.-In a signaling system: means to produce "recurring series ofimpulses; a plurality" of-relays to register each impulse of each'series, thesame relay always registering the same sequential impulse, meansto' register thecompletion ofeach series of impulses; a normally deenergizedchecking relay which becomes energized each timethat the completion ofva series of impulseshas ,been

registered; and a circuit to .initiate registering'oi a series ofiimpulsesincluding a front contact of said checking relay.

57. In .a signaling system: meansto produce recurringseriesof impulses; a pluralityof relays to register .each. impulse of each series, the same .relay:always registering the same sequentialim- .pulse,..means to .register .the completion of .each .series of impulses; anormally deenergizedlchecking relay which becomesenergized eachtime that thecompletionofa series of timpulsesrhas been .registered; and a circuit .to initiate'registering of 1a seriesof impulses, including la .front contact of said checkingrelay anda'back-contact of each relay of saidplurality of relays.

to remain energized when the code-following re- :lay isfollowing the impulses of a code cycle but to become deenergized during said interval 01' greater :duration jfollowing each series of impulses; ,a plurality of relays .to. register :each 1 impulse of each series; :a checking relay controlled over a back :contact of saidslow-acting relay;

and'a'starting'circuit controlled by said checking relay "for :initiating the registering of impulses .byzzsaid plurality of relays.

:5'9..In a railway signaling system, a transmission-circuit for delivering different series of impulses to the track rails of aJbIock section and a receiving circuit "for controlling means selectively responsive to said impulses both in the wayside,

andra. chain :oi' counting relays t0:register the 7

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