US825988A - Railway signaling system. - Google Patents

Description

Wain/essa PATENTBD JULY 1'7, 1906. L. H. THULLEN.

RAILWAYSIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 825,988. I PATENTBD JULY 1'7, 1906.

, LLH. THULLEN. RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATIO N FILED JUNE 20, 1905.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

Wmws,

' To all whom, it may concern:

UNITED srargs PATENT oFFIoE,

LOUIS H.'THULLEN, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OFSWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION ()FPENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1906.

Application filed June 20, 1905. Serial N 266,161.

- Be it known that I, LOUIS H. THULLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ed ewood Park, in the count of Allegheny 311C? State of Pennsylvania, ave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signaling Systems, of which the following 1s a specification.

My inventionrelates to railway signaling s stems in which track-circuits are used for t e control of signals, and particularly to those cases where a direct current is used in I the said track-circuits.

v and Fi In the accompanying drawings, Figure l 2., I have dia rammatically illustrated a porticm of araiIwaycomprismg one complete track-circuit with the signal controlled thereby and portions of two adjacent track-circuits. I have also shown in diagrammatic form the relays controlling the signals and theapparatus embodying my invention.

I will now describe the said apparatus and then point out the novel'features thereof in claims.

Referring to Fig. 1, A designates a portion of a railway having one rail divided to form sections D D D 810., by insulation (1 a, &c. Each of thesesections is called a block-section and comprisesa track-circuit which includes a source of current-s11 ply B B, &c., at one end of the blocksect1on, a relay device R R, &c., at the otherend of the section adapted to respond in the movements of its armature to th'e presence or absence in. its coil ofcurrent furnished by the said source of su ply, and the rails of the block-section which are used as conductors of the current from the source of supply to the relay. A signal S S, &c., is located at the entrance end of each block-section for the purpose of v absenceof trains or cars in the block-sections to which they respectively govern-the entrance.

B B designate, respectively, the sources of current-supply for the track-circuits D and D that for D not being shown the drawings. In this articular case I have shown the sources 0 current-supply and B as being secondary or storage cells,

to the art from a source of direct current G, located at any convenient point along the railway, the charging-current from the said source G being conveyed to the several cells or batteries of cells B B, &c., along suitable main conductors C and C. The cells B B, &c., as I shall hereinafter term them, are furnished in duplicate for each tracksection,'and approprlate switchin arran ements H H are provided in eac case or changing over the cell connections to the charging-mains C C and to the track-rails of their respective block-sections, so that .one cell of any given pair ma be dischargin onto the track-circuit whi e the other cel source G.

E- designates a source ofalternating-current supply, one terminal of which is connected to main conductor C of the batterycharging system and the other terminal to the continuous rail L of the railway.

T T are transformers, one being provided for each trackcircuit. The primary coil p p, &c., of each transformer has one terminal connected to the main conductor 0, and the other terminalis connected, through the condenser K K*, to the continuous rail L. The secondary coil 8 s, &c., of each transformer may be connected up in various different ways, of which I have shown two in Fig. 1 and two more in Fig. 2. In Fig, 1 the secondary coil 8. of transformer T has one terminal 25 connected to the sectional rail 1" and the other terminal t to the continuous rail L. In other words, it is connected in multiple circuit with the relay R. The secondary coils of the transformer T has one terminal terminal t to one of the track-rails, the remaining terminal of the said relay being connected to' the other track-rail at the point Z, so.that the said secondarycoil s is in series with the coils of the relay R. The oints F and J on the main conductor C, W ere the primary coils of transformersT and T are respectively connected to the said main C,

which are charged in a manner well knownof the same pair is being charged from the t connected to the relay R and the other in the said circuits.

resistance in-their primary coils p and p, it

follows that a like diiference'of potentialwill exist between the pointsj and f where the said primary coils p and p are respectively connected to the continuous rail L, and this difference of potential between and f tends,

to cause a flow of direct current other than the return propulsion c'urrent from the source G along the rail between these points/ Such a flow of direct current from such a source would be likely to deran e the-track-relays R R, which are responsive in the movement of their armatures to the presence of direct current flowing in the rails.

to which they are connected. In order to prevent any derangement of the si nal system arising from this cause, I .provi e means for preventing the flow of direct current through the primary circuits of the trans-,

formers T T by inserting-condensers K K constructed according to ruleswell known in the art and are adapted to act as insulators of the direct current, though they will transmit the alternatingcurrent of the circuits of "which they form parts. The secondary coil s of the transformer T, as I have already explained, is connected in multiple circuit with the relay R across the track-rails, and I therefore insert a condenser K in the circuit of said secondary coil 8 in order to prevent the direct current of the trsick-Circuit-that is, the current from source Bfrom traversing the said secondary coil .9, and thereby short-circuiting the relay R.

In Fig. 2 the secondary coils s s of the transformers T T are not connected to the track-rails as in Fig. 1. The wire connecting the terminals of the secondary coil 8 of transformer T is looped in one or more convolutions around the magnet-core m'of relay R and the wire connecting the terminals of the secondary coil .9 of transformer T is looped in one or more convolutions around the armature n of relay R As in Fig. 1, A designates in Fig. 2 a portion of a railway having one rail divided. to form sections D D D 800., by insulation a a, &c. B B designate the. sources of ourrent-supply for the sections D I), respectively, the said sources in this case being shown as primary batteries,'which may be of any suitable type. As regards the operation of my invention, it is a matter of indifference as to whether a primary or secondary battery or any other source of direct current'is used for supplying current to the track-circuits.

the operation of 5 The said condensers are- Fi 1 have shown how one of the battery-c arging wires of a storage battery systern may beused as a conductor forthe alternating current which I'use inthe apparatus,

In- Fig. 2, where:

embodying myinvezition. primary batteries are used as sources of current-supplyior the track-circuits, no charg- 1ng-w1resa're employed,there being no storage batteries to charge; Inthis case I accordingly em 10 a -Wire..or' other suitable conductor 0 in t e place ofthe' conductor 0 of Fig. 1, and I connect one terminal of the source of alternating-current supply E t0 the said conductor C and the other terminal of point F and the other terminal connected to, the continuous rail L at the pointf. R des ignates a relay having its terminals connected, respectively, to the two track-rails of the track-section 'D at oneend of the said section and adapted to res 0nd in the move-- ment of its armature to t e presence or. absence of direct current in itscoils, the said direct current being derived from the source B and being-conveyed in the usual Wellknown manner through the track-rails from like manner, R designates a relay having its --E to the continuous track rail L, as in Fig. 1.

'95 the said source B to, the said relay B In terminals connected to the track-rails of the sectionfD and deriving its operating-current from a source of direct-currentsupplywhich is located at the other end of the section D, but is not shownin the diawings. T designates a transformer having one terminalof its primary coil p connected to the conductor C at the point J and the other terminal to the continuous rail L at j.

From the fore oing description it will be seen that I have s own in Fig. 1 two different means whereby I induce an alternating current to flow through the'.winding of a trackrelay concurrently with the flow of direct our:

rent through the same winding, the said di-- I rect current being derived from the ordinary source of-curmnt-supply. In the case of relay R in Fig. 2 I em 0y a separate winding on the relay-core an provide means for causing an alternating current to flow through the said separatewinding, and in thecase of relay R Fig. 2, I cause an alternating current to flow through a winding which embraces or encircles the armature ofzsaid relay. III'BflCh of the above-cited cases the magnetic lines of force generated by the alternatin current will cut through or embrace the w ole or a.

part of the magnetic field enerated by the direct current which flows ing of the relays. The flow of magnetic lines through the Windthe magnetic field of therelay will of course where said current is to be used, means for 65 change its direction of flow twice in eachcycle connecting each of said secondary batteries of the alternating current and will conse quently tend to neutralize the magnetic effects of the direct current, and upon the cessation of the flow of direct current through the relay-windings any residual magnetism which might otherwise remain in the relay coil or armature will thereby be neutralized and the sensitiveness of the relay thereb greatly enhanced. The amount or strengt of the alternating current which I thus introduce into the magnetic field of the relay for the purpose of destroying or neutralizin the residua magnetism ma be ver smal indeedso small, in fact, t at it not affect the ordinary operation of the relay in its energized state. Various other means besides those which I have shown may be employed for inducing 'an alternating current to flow in the magnetic field of a relay.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a railway signaling system having a plurality of block-sections, thecombination with a track-circuit for eachblock-section, comprising a relay, of means comprising a source of alternating current for reducing the ma netic field of the relaywhen a train enters a bIocksection.

2. In a railway signaling system having one or more block-sections, the combination of one or more track-circuits for each blocksection, each track-circuit com rising a source of current-supply and a re ay device adapted to respond in themovement of its armature to the presence or absence in its coils of current derived from the'said source of supply, and means for causing alternatin of one or more track-circuits for each block section, each track-circuit comprising a source of direct-current supply and a relay device adapted to respond in the movement of its armature to the presence or absence of current in its coils derived from said source, a. source of alternating current supply and means for causing current derived from said source of alternating current to traverse the magnetic field of said relay.

4. In a railway signaling system having one or more block-sections, thecombination .of one or more track circuits for each blocksection, each track-circuit comprising one or more secondary batteries and a relay device adapted to respond in the movement of its armature to the presence or absence of cur.

alternately with the said conductors and with the track-rails of the block-section, a source of alternating-current supply and means for utilizing one of the conductors of the batterycharging system as one, conductor of the alternating current and means for using one or both track-rails of the railway as the other conductor of the said alternating current,"

and means for causing alternating current derived from said'source to traverse the direct-current winding of the relay device.

5. In a railway signaling system having or con uctors for conveying the chargingcurrent from the said source to the place or laces where said current is to be used, means or connecting each of said secondary batteries alternately with the said conductors and with the track-rails of the block-section, a source of alternating-current supply and means for utilizing one of the conductors of the batterycharging systems as. one conductor of the alternating current and means for using one or both track-rails of the railway as the other conductor of the said alternating current, and means for causing alternating current derived from said source to traverse a wind- .ing on the core of the relay device.

6. In a railway signaling system having one or more block-sections, the combination of one or more track-circuits for each blocksection, each track-circuit comprising one or more secondary batteries and a relay device adapted to respond in the movement of its armature to the presence or absence of current derived from said secondary batteries in its coils,-a source of direct-current snpplyfor chargin the said secondary batteries, wires or con uctors for conveyingthe chargingcurrent from the said source to the place or laces where said current is to be used, means For connecting each of said secondary batteries alternately with the said conductors and with' thetrack-rails of the block-section, a source of alternating-current supply and means for utilizing one of the conductors of the battery-charging system as one conductor of the alternating current and means for using one or both track-rails of the railway. as the other conductor of the said alternating current, and means for causing alternating current derived from said source to traverse 7.. In arailway signaling system having one or more block-sections, the combination "of one or more track-circuits for each blocksection, each track-circuit comprising one or more secondary batteries and a relay device adapted to respond in themovement of its or con i the other conductor of the said alternatingor connecting each of said secondary batteries alternately with the said conductors and with the track-rails of the block-section, a

source of alternating-current supply and means for utilizing one of the conductors of the battery-charging system as one conductor of the ,alternating current and means for using one or both track-railsof the railway as current, of a transforming device or each track-section, having one terminal of its pri- .the said transforming device to one track-rail 5 of the railway and of'connecting the other mary coil connected to one of the conductors of the battery-charging system and the other g terminal connected to one of the track-rails of the railway, of means inserted in the circuit of the primary coilof the transformer whereby the flow of direct current from the source of direct current to the track-rails of the railway is prevented, of means for connecting one terminal of the secondary coil of terminal Etc-the -other 'track rail of the railway, and means inserted in the circuit of the said secondary coil, whereby direct current from the track-rails of the railway is preventedilfrom fiowing through the said secondary co 8. In a railway signaling system having one or more block-sections, the combination of one or more track-clrcuits for each blocksection, each track-circuit comprising one or more secondary batteries and a relay. device adapted to respond in the movement of its armature to the presence or absence of current derived from said secondary batteries in its coils, a source of direct-current supply for charging the said secondary batteries, Wires or conductors for conveying the chargingcurrent from thesaid source to the place or laces Where said current is to be used ,means or connecting each of said secondary batteries alternately with the said conductors and with the'track-rails of the block-section, a

.source of alternating-current su'ply and means for utilizing one of the con uctors of .the battery-charging system as one conductor of the alternating current and means for using one or both track-rails of the railway as the other conductor of the said alternating current, of a transforming device for each by the flow of direct current from the source I of direct current to the track-rails of the rail-i way is prevented, of means for connecting one terminal ofthe' secondary coil of said transforming device to one track-rail of the railway and the other terminal of said secondary coil to one terminal of the relay device,

the othenterminal of said relay device being connected to the other track-rail of the rail-- 9 In a railwa signaling system having one or more bloc -sections, the combination of one or more track-circuits for each'block' section,- each track-eircuit comprising a source of current-supply-and a relay device adapted to respond in the movement of its armature to the presence or absence of cur rent in its coils derived from said source, of a source of alternating-current supply having one of its terminals connected to one of the track=rails of the railway and the other of its I,

terminals connected to a wire or conductor laid or strung alongside and adjacent the railway, of a transforming device having one terminal of its primary coilconnected to one track-rail of the railway and its other termi nal connected to the said wire or conductor,

to which one terminal of the source ofaltsrnating current is in like manner e'onnectedfof a secondary coll fornnn'g part of sa1d transforming device and means for causing the alternating current which is induced in the loo said secondary coil to traverse a Winding of one or more convolutions and means for causing the said winding to encircle or embrace the magnet-core of the relay device.

10. In a railway signaling system having one or more block-sections, the combination ofone or more track-circuits for each blocksection, each track-circuit com rising a source of current-supply and a re ay deviceadapted to respond in the movement of its armature 'to the presence or absence of currentin its coils derived from said source, of a source of alternating-current supply having one of its terminals connected to one of the track-rails of the railway and the other ofits terminals connected to a Wire or conductor laid or strung alongside and adjacent the railway, of a transforming device having one terminal of its primary coil connected to one track-rail'of the railway and its other terminal connected to the said wire or conductor to which one'terminalof thesource of alternat. ing current is in like manner connected, of asecondary "coil forming part of said transforming device 'and' means for] causing'the alternating current which is induced in the said secondary coil to traverse a Winding of Lseetion for dispelling the residual magnetism i0 one br more convolutions and means for causof the relay.

ing the said Winding to encircle or embrace In testimony yvhereof I have signed my the armature of the-relay device. I name to this specification in the presence of 11. In a railway signaling system-having a two subscribed Witnesses.

plurality of block-sections, the combination LOUIS H. THULLEN;

with a track-circuit comprising a relay for Witnesses:

each block-section, of a means comprising a JAMES CHALMERS, Jr.

source of alternating current for each block- W. L. MGDANIEL.

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