US821767A - Railway signaling system. - Google Patents

Description

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LOUIS H. THULLEN, OF EDG-EIVOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITOH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letpers Patent.

1'0 (all 1071,0177, it "may concern;

r Be it known that 1, Louis H. THULLEN, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates torailway block-signaling systems wherein alternatingi current is employed to operate alternating-cuta'ent motors, magnets, and other electromagnetic devices employed in the system for moving the sigr'lal devices of railway-signals, the triparms 01 train-stop mechanisms, &c. I preferablyemploy a multiphase current and multiphase motors or other electromagnetic devices responsive thereto, By the use of a motor operated by multiphase currents I avoid the use 01 a commutator, which is more or less objectionable, although necessary when a'direct-current motor-is employed. Multiphase motors also have the advantage over single-phase motors in that they are more etlicient and are expensive in construction. A11 electromagnetic deviceior example, a magnet-gives better results and can be used more advantageously when energized by a multiphase current than a similar electromagnetic device operated by a continuous or direct current or a single-phase alternating current, as -the magnetism in its core never reaches zero at any instant, as is the case in single-phase magnets, 'for the obvious reason that when one phase of the magnet is at its zero-point the next phase is more or less remote thereirom. In other words, if, for example, a two-phase alternating-current magnet is employed, and I prefer to employ such a magnet, the two phases of like current will be impressed in proper sequence upon the magnet, and while one phase is passing the zero-point the second phase is an appreciable quantity above Acre. v

I will describe a railway signaling system embodying my invention and then point out the novel features thereof in claims,

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a railway signaling system embodying my invention. In this view the circuits are in their normal or closed condition and the signal-arm, moved to a position indicating safety. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1;,but the circuits are therein shown in their abnormal or open condition, due to the presence of a train in the blocl\ section shown, the signal-arm in this instance being moved to a position indicating danger. The train is herein represented by a pair of-wheels and axle.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts in both figures of the drawings.

I have only illustrated my invention in connection with a railway signal mecl'ianism.

I do not wish to be limited to this, it is apparent that motors and magnets, constructed and energized in the manner hereinstatcd may be used to operate switches, train-stops, and other parts or appliances which in any way controi or govern the passage of cars or trains along a railway.

A designates a portion of a railway-track, which may be divided in the usual manner into a number of block-sections by means of insulations a. I have shown one complete section A and poi-ions of two adjacent sec tions A and A respectively. Each blocksection is provi:7--d with atraek-batt y B and relay It, which, with the two rails, complete the track-circuit, and which track-circuit controls the operation of the signal, automatic stop, &c., in the usual manner and well understood in the art.

i C O O designate the mains which are fed from a multiphase generator I), conveniently located at some supply or power house. I have shown a two-phase-current generator, the brushes of which connect with the mains C C C by wires 2, 3, and 4, respectively, the wire 2 connecting with the main C, the wire 3 with the main O, and the wire 4 with the main C The mains C and C furnish current to the contacts 0 c of the relay R through the wires 5 6, which branch therefrom, as shown. The relay R maybe of any of the well-known forms butit will be observed that there are a plurality of contactpoints controlled by its armature, this being diagrammatically shown by an armature 1" 1" for each contact-point. The contact-points are designated, respectively, 0 c 0 0 E E designate circuit-controllers which may be of any of the well-known types and -wh1ch act to open the circuit on the motor when it has completed its movement of the signal device. I

F designates the motor referred to, the

Patented May 29, 1906.

same being operable by a current of two phases, as shown,- and'may be of any ordinary or usual construction, but should be of a corresponding phase to that of the generator I), which furnishes current. The motor has three brushes 1) Z) 6 respectively, those designated b and I) being in. circuit with the circuit-controllers E E by the wires 7 8, while the brush b connects with the main C by the wire 9. The wires 7 and 8 connect also with wires 10 and 11., respectively.

G designates a magnet comprised in what is known in the art as a slot-arm, forming part of the railway-signal-operating mechanism. The core of the magnet is shown as having three legs g g 9 the legs 9 9 being supplied with coils 10 1 1. A current of one phase flows in one coil, while a current different in phase ilows'in the other coil. The coil. 10 is incircuit with the contact 0 and. the

coil 11 is-in circuit with the contact 0 and both coils are in circuit through wires 12 and 13 with the main 0. Thus when current from the generator D flows through the mains C C C and the armature of the relay R is at tracted to its corethe slot-magnetG will be energized, in. which event the operating mech anism may move the signal device 8 from one position to another-, or, should this have occurred, the slotarm will hold or retain the signal device in the position to which it has been moved. The movement of the signal device s by the operating mechanism causes the circuit-controllers E Ev to be operated to open the circuit to the motor F; This is well understood in the art.

The circuit controlling the operationof the,

' signal mechanism may be traced as follows:

' moves by force of /'closed position, as shown.

From the generator D the two currents of different phase flow through the following cir. cuits: The current ofonephase starting at the generator flows through wire 2, main. 0, wire 5, contact 0, armature 1, contact c wire 10, coil 10 of slot-inagnet G, wire 12, wire 13, main C, and wire 3, back to generatorjD. The current of different .phase, also starting at generator D, traverses wires '4 6 11, coil 1 1 wires 12 13, main C, and wire 3, back to generator. In Fig. 2 I have illustratedthe circuits and other parts in the position they will assume when a train or caris moving into .or occupies a block-section. T designates such a train or car herein represented as a pair of wheels and axle, the presence of which in the.

block shortecircuits the battery B,- thereby short-circuiting the track-circuit current from the coils of the relay R, which drops its armature; Intso doing the circuits of the slotmagnet G are opened and the signal device gravity to a position indicating danger J When chit-controllers E E are moved to their this occurs, the cir-. r

causing it to pick up its armaseen, therefore, that my invention relates to the operation or control, or both, of a part or appliance for controlling or governing the passage of cars or trains along a railwayby alternating currents of more than one phase. In the specific illustration of my invention the part or appliance is in the form of a railwaysignal, and it is operated lby a mulitphase motor and controlled by a magnet energized by a multiphase current. It is apparent that the railway-signal may only require a multiphase motor. stead of a railway-signal a railway-switch may be operated by a multiphase motor, or a train-stop may be operated by a multimagnet. As examples of the mechanism or train-stop, reference may be had to United States Patents No. 768,204, dated August 23, 1904, and Reissue Patent No. 12,276, dated October 18,11904 The motors inrthese apparatuses maybe multiphase Inotors, and the other electromagnetlc devices ,therein shown and described maybe constructed to be or be operated by multiphase Icurrents. a i

What I claim as my invention is- .1. In combination. with a part or appliance for controlling the passage of a car or train jalong a railway, a motor for operating the same from one position to another, an electromagnetic device for holding the part or appliance in the position to which it has been moved, and a source of multiphase-current supply for said electromagnetic device.

' 2. In combination with a part or appliance for'controlling the passage of a car or train along a railway, a multiphase motorfor operatingthe same from one position to another, an electromagnetic device forholding the part or appliance in the position to which has been moved, and a source of multiphase-curi i-rent supply for said multiphase motor and electromagnetic device.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this/specification in the presence of two subscribed witnesses. p

' LOUIS H. THULLEN.

Witnesses:

D. J. MCCARTHY,

When new the Y W. L. MCDANIEL.

It isalso apparent that in phase motor and controlled by a multiphase that may be employed for operating a switch

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