US856095A - Electric semaphore. - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. EDWARD L. ORCUTT, or NEW YORK, N. Y., AssroNoR TO RAILWAY SAFETY SIGNAL COMPANY, A ooRPoRATroN or NEW JERsEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed September 1, 1906. Serial Ila-333,006.

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. ORGUTT, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the county, city, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Semaphores for Railways, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in semaphores or signals such as are used on railroad tracks or in other places where it is desired to indicate a safe, a cautionary or dangerous condition, and it has for its objects to simplify the construction,'to increase the ease of operation, and to otherwise im-' prove the device as will be clearly understood by the complete description of the same herein contained.

The invention consists of a plurality of stationary arms properly positioned to indicate the difierent conditions, and electrically operated devices mounted on the difierent arms of the semaphore to produce the proper colors to indicate the various conditions indicated by the position of the respective arms on which said devices are mounted; and a controlling mechanism to govern the operation of said electrically operated devices.

The invention is carried out substantially as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form an essential part of this specification, and wherein, like characters of reference refer to like parts wherever they occur in the different parts of the drawing.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a semaphore embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modification. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a further modification and showing provision for a cautionary indication. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating an arrangement like Fig. 3 but slightly modified therefrom.

Referring to the Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown the semaphore as being provided with a plurality of electrically operated lamps for the safety signal and a lurality of electrically operated lamps for t e danger signal and in Fig. 1, have shown a supply of electricity to operatethe signals, and a separate supply of electricity to operate a controlling circuit whereby the supply of electricity for the signal circuits may be switched from the danger to the safety signals, or vice versa. In Fig. 2,

I have shown one supply of electricity to opcrate both circuits.

A represents the standard or support of the semaphore.

B represents one arm of the semaphore containing the danger signal, and C represents the other arm containing the safety signal.

D represents a box or casing at the junction of the two arms of the semaphore and within which the controlling or switching mechanism is preferably inclosed.

Within the box D is placed an electrically operated switching device, the electro-magnet 1 of which is contained within a controlling circuit formed of the conductors 2 and 3 and including the source of supply of elec tricity 4 and the switch 5 which switch is placed at some-convenient place to be operated. This switch may be made in the form of an ordinary switch as shown and so as to make or break the circuit, or it may consist of means to shunt the current from its source.

To the op osite terminals of a second source of supp y of electricity 6, in Fig. 1, are attached the signal circuits, each signal circuit being com osed in part of the conductors 7 and 8 and including the armature 9 of the magnet 1 which by contact with its back stop 10 closes one of the signal circuits or by contact with its front stop 1 1 closes the other signal circuit and in either case causes the opposite signal circuit to be opened. The con ductor 8 is divided into two branch conductors 12 and 13, the conductor 12 being car.- ried into the arm B while the conductor 13 is carried into the arm C of the semaphore. To the back stop 10 for the armature is connected the conductor 14 which is carried into the arm B and between the conductors 12 and 14 withinthe arm B are placed one or more signal lamps 15. On the drawing 1 have shown the arm B as being provided with a plurality of lam s, those in ig. 1, being arranged in multip e, and those in Fig. 2, being arranged in serles. To the front sto 11 for the armature is connected the con uctor 16 which is carried into the arm 0, and between the conductors 13 and 16 within the arm C are placed one or more signal lamps 17. On the drawings I have shown the arm C as being provided with a plurality of lamps, those in ig. 1, being arranged in multiple while those 1 in Fig. 2, are arranged in series. It is prefer- ICC able to arrange these signal lamps in multiple Within the arms of the semaphore, as the proper signal will then be given even if all but one of the lamps should be out of order and fail to burn, which would not be the case if any of the lamps should be out of order and fail to burn, if the lamps were arranged in series within the semaphore.

When a single supply of electricity is to be used for both the controlling and signal circuits as shown in Fig. 2, I connect the conductors 7 of the signal circuits to the conductor 3 of the controlling circuit and also connect the conductor 8 of signal circuits to the opposite side'of the supply of electricity to that at which the conductor 3 is attached and in such a manner that the switch 5 in the controlling circuit will not be included in the signal circuits and will consequently have no effect upon the signal circuits. The operation of the device, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is substantially as follows:

The switch 5 is shown open and therefore there is no current of electricity flowing through the controlling circuit, and the armature of the electrically operated switch in the boX D is held in contact with its back stop 10 by the action of a spring 18; it will therefore be seen that the signal circuit which is connected to said back stop will be a closed circuit, and a current of electricity will flow through this signal circuit which included the back stop. As this signal circuit through which the current of electricity flows IS the circuit which is carried into the horizontal arm B of the semaphore it will be seen that thelamps within said arm will be lighted and as it is customary to have an arm of a semaphore in a horizontal position to indicate danger, the lights in this arm B of the semaphore should be red or some other color as would indicate danger.

. If it is desired to change the signal so as to indicate safety, it is only -necessary to operate the switch 5 so as to close the controlling circuit and cause a current of electricity to flow through said controlling circuit thereby energizing the magnet of the electrically operated switch in the box D and cause it to attract and draw itsarmature into contact with the front stop 11 This action of the armature would 0 en the signal circuit which includes the amps within the arm B and it also would close the signal circuit which includes the front stop which signal circuit is carried into the arm C-of the semaphore and includes the lamps within said arm, thus the lamps within the 'arm 0 would be lighted, and as this position of the arm is the customary position to indicate safety, it will be seen that the lights within the arm C should be white or such other color as would indicate safety. It will therefore be seen.

either a safe or dangerous condition by a proper position and color of the lights and without moving the arm of the semaphore.

Referring to the device, as illustrated in.

Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the semaphore is provided with an additional arm E which I locate in the customary position to indicate a necessity for caution, which position -all.y operated switching device; also signal circuits with or without a separate source of supply of electricity and signal lamps of.

proper colors arranged within arms on the semaphore in proper positions to indicate safety-and danger, substantially as described in relation to Figs. 1 and 2. In addition to the above devices I employ a second controlling circuit which is composed of the conductors 19 and 20 and includes the source of supply of electricity 21, the switch 22, and the electro-magnet 23 of an electrically operated switching device, which switching device is located within the box or casing B and has its armature 24 and its back stop 25 inserted within the conductor 7. A spring 26 acting on the armature 24 holds the armature in contact with the back stop 25 when the magnet 23 isinactive, and consequently causes the conductor 7 to be continuous and unbroken: To the front stop 27 for the armature 24 is connected the conductor 28 which is carried into the arm E and to the branch conductor 12 is connected another branch conductor 29 which is also carried into the arm -E. Within the arm E are placed a plurality of signal lamps 30,,which, as shown in Fig. 3 are arranged in multiple between the conductors 28 and 29, but which have been shown in Fig. 4 as being arranged in series between saidconductors.

The operation of the device, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is substantially as follows: As the armature 24 and back stop 25 are inserted within the conductor 7 and are held in contact with each other so as to make the conductor 7 continuous and unbroken, it will be seen that the operation of the device when changing from a safety signal to a danger signal, or vice versa, is exactly the same as that described in relation to Figs. 1 and 2, but when it is desired to indicate a cautionary signal, it is only necessary to op crate the switch 22 so as to close the controlling circuit which includes the magnet 23 and by thus energizing said magnet to cause it to withdraw the armature 24 from contact with the back stop 25 and into contact with the front stop 27. This action of the arma-. ture will break or open the signal circuit which includes the lamps 15 on the arm B of the semaphore, and at the same time closes 7 thesignal circuit which includes the lamps 30 on the arm E which arm is in the customary position to indicate a necessity for caution and therefore the lamps 30 should be green or such other color. aswould indicate a necessity for caution. With the switch 22 closed and. the armature 24 caused thereby 3 colors on said arms corresponding in color to to be brought into contact with the front sto 27 and away'fmm the back stop itwil be seen that it is impossible for a safety ora danger signal to be glven and that it will be necessary to open the switch 22 and allow the armature 24 to contact with its back stop 25 before suchsafety or danger signal can be given. 1 I

Having thus fully described the nature, arrangement, and operation of my invention, I wish claim Y 1. In a semaphore, a standard or support, a (plurality of permanentlyfixed arms mounte thereon and extending at difierent signal: ing positions, lamps giving different signaling the signaling positions of the arms, an independent electric signal circuit entering each arm and containing the'lamps on the arm it enters, a source of sup'ply oftelectricity, and a switching device to switch said su ply of electricity into any one of said signal circuits to light the lamps contained therein; M

2. In a semaphore, a standard or support, -a lurality of permanently fixed arms mount- -e thereon'and extending at different signaling positions, lamps giving different signaling colors on said arms corresponding in, color to the position of the arms upon which they are mounted, an independent electric'signal circuit for each arm entering the arm and conto secure by Letters Patent, and

and extending in a position to indicate sa ety,

lamps giving a color to.v indicate safety mounted on this latter arm, a'signal circuit entering each of said arms, and containing the lamps in the arm it enters, a source of supply of electricity, an electrically o ,erated iswitch tocontrol the supply of electricity'to said signal circuit, and a controlling'devlce to control said switch, combined with a, fixed arm mounted on said standard and. extending in a position to indicate the necessity of cau- I tion, lamps giving color to indicate the necessity'for caution mounted on this latter arm, a signal circuit entering this latter arm' and containing the lamps thereon, an electrically operated switch'controlling this latter signal circuit and cutting oil the supply of electric- 'ity to the other signal circuits, and a controllingdevice to control this latter switch.

In testimony whereof, Ihav'e signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD ORCUTT. Witnesslesi RICHARD SHELDON,

, LEONARD 'DAY

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