USRE8044E - Improvement in electric railway-signals - Google Patents

Description

2 sheets-i-sheet I.

I F. L. POPE, Assignor to himself, 8. G. HENDRIGKSON, J N. ASHLEY, and J. D. LINCOLN.

Electric-Rziilway-Signai- NC. 8,044.

Reissued Jan. 22,1878.

fl-I: mmll: EITEIS co., WISHINOTOIL-RC.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. L. POPE,

Assignor to himself, S. G. HENDRIGKSON, J. N. A-SHLEY, and J. D. LINGOLN.

Electric Railway-Signal, No. 8,044.

Reissued Jan. 22,1878.

u jet/P2055022 Whammy 1n: nonms FII'ERS co-, wumuamn, n. c.

TED STATES, PATENT. OFFICE.

FRANK L. Porn, or ELIZABETH, N. J.,ASS1GNOR TO HIMSELF, srnrnnu c.

HENDRIOKSON,-JAMES N. ASHLEY, AND JAMES D. LINCOLN.

M.P'ROVEM. ENT' IN ELElc -rmc RAILWAY-SIGNALS} January 22, 1878; application filed December 4, 187 4.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l49,].-52, data March 31,1874; Reissue N .'s,o44, dated DIVISION A To all thorn it may concern: I

-Be itknown that I, FRANK L. Porn, of

Elizabeth, in thecounty of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain-new an'duseful Improvements in Electric Signaling Apparatus for Railroads; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

. exact description thereof, reference bein g had for which United 'States Letters Patent N i 129,125 were granted to me J ulylu, 1872.

The object of my present invention is to so arrange a series of semaphoric and audible signals actuated by electromagnetism at in- 'tervals' along the line of a railroad that each of the said signals will be automatically exhibited or sounded by the passage of a train, and will remain visible or audible until the train is under the protection of the next succeeding signal, when the first-mentioned signal will be withdrawn or reversed, by which means one train following another upon the same track maybe cautioned, and thus prevented from approaching too closely to the precedingtrain or coming in collision with it.

My invention consists in certain improved methodl of combining and arranging the circult-closers, wires, batteries, signals, and signal mechanism, whereby greater eificiency and economy of operation :are secured. I

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a I eneral view showin rimar and a seconda g 3P y ary signal, and also their electricalconnectionslwith each otherand with the railroadtrack, the box or case inc'losing the primary signal being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a dc! ached view, showing the manner in which the battery for releasing or reversing the primary signal may be connected with the railroad-track. Figs. 3 and 4 are-diagrams, showing the electrical connections within the apparatus corresponding with the two different positions of the primary signal.

A A represent a portion of the line of a railroad. ;A short section, a a, of the track is insulated from metallic cdntactwith the remainder by spaces a a a. u, or otherwise. The two rails a a, when bringedbythe wheels and axles of a passing locomotive or car, complete an electric circuit, which includes the wires 1, 2,, and 3, the battery B, and the helices of the relay 0, so that during-the passage of 'a'locomotive or train over the insulated section of track a a, ,which forms a circuit-closer for the primary circuit, the relay 0 will continuously close a secondary circuit for a sufiicient length ofi time to allow a signal-disk to be moyeddnto position 'byits action by bring 1.

mg the lever 0 into contact with the post a, in a manner well understood. The relay G is placed the primary signal and its attachments, should be placed atleast'a trains length. east of the point a a, for reasons hereinafter to be explained.. r f

When the relay-lever c is brought in contact with, the post 0, a secondary circuit is closed, which includes the wire 4, battery E,

' wire 5, electro-magnet M, wires 6 and.7,le'ver F, screw' f post f, and'wires 8 and 9. The course of the primary and secondarycircuits is plainly shown by the heavylines in Fig. 3. When thecircuit is closed at c c, the electromagnet M becomes charged and attracts the armature m. which is attached by means of a rod (shown by dotted lines) to the lever m, having its fulcrum at m. .A rigid arm, m fixed to this lever, revolves the signal-disk G by means of the crank g and 'pitman g, as;-

more fully explained in my former patent of .August 27, 1872, Ila-130,941.

In my present invention, however, I prefer to'makc use of a singledlsk, Gr, having two by displaying the targets targets, H H, of some suitable strongly-con trasting color, arranged upon it in such a manner that one-fourth of a complete revolution of the disk G will cause the targets H H to be displayed through circular openings I I in the caseI). (Indicated by the dotted lines.)

It will therefore be understood, without further explanation, that when the electro-magnet M is charged the armature m will be attracted and the disk G turned through the distance of one-fourth of a H H of the signal through the openings I I.

In order to move the signal-disk G in a prompt and effective manner by means of an electromagnet, it is necessary to construct it of very light and thin material, such as cloth or paper stretched over a hoop. It is also necessary to inclose it on all sides with a case, D D, provided with suitable openings I I, as hereinbefore' explained, through whichthe signals are exhibited. These openings should be covered by glass.

The object of this arrangement is to prevent currents of air from interfering with the movement of the signal, so that a much smaller battery-power is required than would be necessary if the signal were exposed to the action of the wind.

any suitable construction. It is also inclosed in a suitable case, and actuated by an electromagnet, and it is so arranged that when in its normal condition a color indicating danger or caution will be exhibited; but whenever the actuating-magnet is charged the color will be changed so as to indicate safety. For example, the normal color, exhibited may be S is a secondary" signal, which may be of green, but the electro-magnet, when charged,

may exhibit a white signal. When the circuit is broken the green is again shown. This secondary signal is to be placed a short distance to the west of the track-circuit closer, on the assumptionthat the train is to run from east to west, asbefore, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. w

The secondary signal S is actuated as follows: The lever or circuit-changer F is pivoted at f, and in its normal position is supported by the screw f which rests upon the post f,- but when the armature m has nearly completed-its stroke, as hereinbefore explained,

- the extremity of the lever m comes in contact with the screwf forming an electrical connection at that 'point, and at the same timeraising the lever F and breaking contact between f and f The efiect of this is to transfer the current of the battery E from the electro-magnet M to the eIectro-magnet N and the magnet of the secondary signal S, both of which latter are included in the same circuit.

The current will now take the pathshown by the heavy lines in Fig. 4, which may be traced as follows: Commencing at the negative or -pole of battery E, thence through wire 4, post 0, lever 0, wires 9 and '10, secondary revolution, therev The object of this arrangement of circuits is threefold: First, the cutting off of the current from the signal-magnet M before the completionof the stroke prevents the violent shock to the apparatus which would otherwise result from the greatly-increased attractive power exerted by the magnet atthe end of the stroke, =when the' armature is nearly in contact with the poles, and the full power of the battery immediately becomes available for other purposes; net N is thrown into circuit, and the momentum of the disk G, after the circuit through M is broken, is sufficient to bring the lug 'or armature n, attached to its circumference, into contact with the magnet N, andthe attractive force of the latter exerted upon the lug or armature n serves to firmly lock the signal-disk G in its new position, and at the sagne time to prevent any recoil or vibration; third, nearly the whole power of the battery E is transferred to the magnet of the second ary signal after the magnet of the primary signal has performed its office, and not otherwise, and the secondary signal thereby becomes an infallible indicator of the movements of the primary signal.

An alarm-bell or vibrator, P, operated or controlled bv an electro-magnet, 19, maybe -on1plny0(l in connection with the DIlIlJH'T Sig:

nal, and operated by the same'relay'U and battery B. Y Upon closing the relay a branch circuit will be formed through the wires 4, 14, and 15, which will include the magnet 19.

The manner in which the apparatus is operated by the passage of a locomotive or train will now be explained: When the front wheels and axle of the locomotive pass onto the circuit-closer formed by the insulated section of track am, the signal-disk Gis turned, as hereinbefore explained, and the targets H H displayed through the openings I I, indicating danger or caution but as this signal is situated a trains length or more in advance of the track-circuit closer, the signal will not be displayed until the entire train has passed beyond the signal-box. The movement of the secondary signal S will, however, indicate to the engineer of the train whether or not, the primary signal has-been properly displayed in his rear. 1

I will here remark that the secondary signal should be so placed'as to be in plain sight from the locomotive as it passes over and beyond the track-circuit closer at a.

During the time that the entire train is passing over the circuit-closer at athe apparatus will remain in the position last described; but

when the last car has passed beyond it the circuit of the relay 0, and consequently that of the clectro-magnet N, and also that of the secondary signal S, will be broken, permitting the latter to return to its former position. It

is necessary, however, that the primary signal second, the electro-magarmature a for permitting theisignal to return herein described, as it 18 more simple in concontact with the poles of the electro-magnet N, and making use of the residual magnetism, which will thus remain in the cores and arma. ture after the circuit is broken, to retain the v armature, and consequently the signal-disk G,

in'position. It is generally preferable to make this armature of hardened steel, instead of the softiron ordinarily-employed for this pur-t' pose.

When the 'train reaches the. next signalpoint in the"direction in which it is moving,it

is made torelease or reverse the signal, as follows: .An insulated section of track, I; b, Fig.

2, similar in all'vrespects to a. a, is provided.

One rail, is connected to the earth by the wire' 16, and the other to a suitable battery,'E, by the w1re.l7.f Awire, 18, from the other ole of the said battery, is extended in a direc liionparallel, or nearly so, with the line of railroad, to a point nearthe secondary signal S, where 1t is joined to the wire 11. This wire may be supported and insulated 1n the same manner as an ordinary telegraph-line. The distance between the points connected by the wire 18. 1s mrma erial, and may be made greater or less,

according to the distance that it'is desired to preserve bet een trains following each other upon the track-A A. I l

-- When the circuit at b b is closed a currentfrom the battery E will traverse the wires 18 and 11, Figs. 1 and 4, magnet N, wires 12 and 7, lever F, screw f wire 13, 5nd wire 21, to the earth, returning through the earth and wires 16 and. 17.

The battery E must be so placed that its current will traverse the magnetN in a direc tion opposite to thatof the battcryE, which will cause the current from E to neutralize or destroy the residual magnetism in N and re-- lease the armature n. The weight W :will thereupon cause the signal-disk G to return to its original position, concealing the targets H H, and indicating to the engineer of the following train that he may proceed with safety. Any other suitable arrangement of conductors to constitute a signal-reversing circuit, so arranged as to be closed by a passing locomotive or car-as, for instance, by the depres.-- sion of a lever between or near the rails of the track may be employed in lieu of the insu lated section of track b b, because only a momentary current is required to release the to its normal position.

The weightW is adjustable upon a small spindle, w, and is placed upon the periphery of the signal-disk G. It should be sufficient to "slightly oyerbalance the weight of-the armature a, and. 'to' pause the signal to returu to -1ts original position :when: the attraction be.

tween N and .n is destroyed. When placed? upon the periphery of the disk in this. manner, avery small-weight is sufficientto accomplish this result, and much .-frictionfiis thereby avoided. i 1

In caseswhereithere is a s eries of signals of this kind established prefer to arrange the mechanism in such a manner that the dis placingpf any one primary signal will release I or reverse the one next-in order behind it, .1

do this by means of a circuit-closing spring;

arm, T, attached to the lever m, but .c'lect rtv cally insulated therefrom in any suitable'manner. henever the signal isdisplayed the arm T 1;, brought in contact'wit-h the screwstud t, and a circuit established, either from. the battery E, as shown in the drawings, or,

if preferable, from a separate battery, through the wires 19 and20, running back to the next signal in order and releasing it, inthe manner hereinbefore described. It may be preferable in some cases to attach the arm'T to the mechanism of the secondary signal, or to the relaylever c. These variations, however, are im-- material. It is onlyessential that the train should ls'fully under the protection of one signal before the next one rearward is released r reversed, and therefore the releasing-cuiren't ShOflld. not be: transmitted-n'n.til

th locomotive has reached the circuit-closing point a a, which will insure the necessary protection by the signal rearward of the train.

'11; is sometimes preferable to operate the. alarm D by a relay placed'in the circuit of the wire 19 or 20,in which case the alarm will be caused to sound continually as long as the section of track a a is sufliciently well insu-- lated for the purpose, it will sometimes be found more convenient to operate the electromagnet M by placing it directly in the same circuit with the said insulated section a a,

without the use of the relay G, in aImanner well understood by those skilled in the art.

- I here remark that I do not desire to confine myself to the particular devicehereinbefore described for retaining the primary sig- 'nal in position or action after the circuit is broken. Other devices may be employed for this purpose, such as a catch or latchactmg upon the lug or armature n, which might be lifted by an additional magnet placed in the circuit of the wire 18; but I prefer the device struction and less liable to get out of order than any other heretofore used.-

' I do not herein claim, in general, the use of the'rails of a railroad-track as a portion of an electrical circuit for operating a signal; neither d o I claim the devices shown for t'ransmittih g the motion of the armature rate the signaldis'lrGr, nor the retaining of a signal in position after the circuit is broken by the force of residual'magnetism, nor the method of releasing of the said signal by means of a current of reverse polarity, as these devices are all shown in my former United States Patents of July 16, 1S'72, No.- 129,425, and August 27, 1872, No. 130,941. I furthermore make no claim tofthe method herein described of inelosing. an electric signaling apparatus in a case with openings therein, through which the signals are exhibited.

. I claim as my invention- -l.-A visual or semaphoric 'signaland an eleetro-Inagnet for causing the same to be displayed or exhibited, in combination with a circuit-changer which is automaticallybrought into action by the movement of said signal, to interrupt or divert the electric current passing through said electromagnet before the armature of said magnet has completed its movement, substantially as specified.

2. A visual or semaphoric signal, an elec' tire-magnet foreausing the same to be displayed or exhibited, and a circuit-closer so constructed and arranged as to remain continuously in action during the time occupied by a locomotive or gain in passing a given point, in combination with a circuit-changer' which is automatically brought into action by the movement of said signal, to interrupt or caused to be exhibited by the action of said battery upon an electro'-1nagnet,in combination with a circuit-changer attached to said sig-. nal'disk, or its operating mechanism, which shall automatically transfer the current of said battery to the controlling electromag'net of a secondary visual signal immediately after it as specified. v

4. A primary and a secondary electromagnetic signal, respectively included in and oper ated by a separate branch; circuit from one and the same battery, in combination with a circuit-closer operated or eontrollediby a moving railway-train, and a circuit-changer automati-j cally brought into action by ,the movement of the primary-signal, whereby the current from the batterypassin through the first-mention ed circuit-closer is diverted-from the actuating or controlling electro-ni'agnet of said primary signal, and allowed to 'act ..upon the corre-i spending electrcnagnet of the secondary sig' has actuated the. Primary signal, substantially,

nal, so that the same battery may be successively employed to actuate the primary and the secondary signal.

5. Aprimary signal so constructed as to be placed in a position indicating danger or cantion, and a secondary signal so constructed as to indicate "'9 safety, in each case. by the action of an electric current upon an electromagnet, in combination with a galvanic battery, and 'a circuit-changer for transferring the cur-rent oi the said battery from oneof the signalroperating magnets to the other in succession, substantially as specified.

6. The, arrangementof the primary signal upon the line of a railroad at the distance of a'trains length, or more, in the rearof the track-circuit closer which actuates the said signal, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified. r

7. A circuit-closer so constructed and arranged as to remain continuously in action durin g the time occupied by a locomotive or train in passing a. givenpoint, but no longer, a sig nal-disk moved in onedirection by the action of an electro -magnet under control of said circuit-closer, and in theother by, that of a counter-balance, incombiriation with a lugsecured to the said signal-disk, and actedupon by ,an independent holding or retaining device or power, whereby the said disk will be retained in position after the action of the locomotive or train upon the said circuit-closer or circuit has ceased, substantiallyas specified;

8,. A movable signal-disk, in combination .with an electro-magnet and an armature attached to the periphery of said disk, for locking the same in position by the action of residualm agnetis'm after the electric current has been withdrawn from the actuating electromagnet of said disk, substantially as specified.

9. -A circuit-closer .so constructed and. arranged as to remain continuously in action during the time occupied by a locomotive or train in passing a given point, but no longer, a signal-disk moved in onedirectioni'by .the action of anelectro-magnet under control of said circuit-closer, and in the other by that of a counter-balance, in combination with mechanism for retaining orlocking said disk against the action of its counter-balance after the action of the train. upon saidcircuit-closer has ceased, and a device for unlockingor releasing said signal-disk by the aetionof-an independent electric circuit andcircuit-closer, sub:

stantially as specified. Y

10. A yisual or. audible signal which is causedto be displayed or sounded. by the ac tion of an electro-magnet, a device for releasing, reversing, or stopping said signal by the action. of an .electro-mag1 1et, included in the circuit of a linewire'extendin g to then'ext Sig.

nal. point or station in advance,incombination with a circuit-closer attachedto and operated by the mechanism of the primary'orsecondary signal at said advance station, and a circuit closer for actuating said primary or secondary signal, placed at thc'distance of atrainslength,

' el'oser operated or track, and

moreyin advahee of the signal, slipstam' tlally as specified. I

11. A semaphorie or visual signal controlled by an electro-magnet, and placed at a distance of a trains length, or more, in the rear of the track-circuit closer, which 0211 1868 said signal to be, actuated, in combination with aeireuitcontrolled by themovements (if said signals for releasing or reversing the next rearward signal of the series, sub stantially as sjaeeiiied. Y

12. A circuit-closer placed. hpomarailroam arranged to be operated in: a -m0V-,

ing traiii, in combination with the a'etuatin electro-magnet of a s'emaphoric or visual sig nal, situated the distance of a trains length, or more, ii the rear of said. circuit-closer, and with the releasing or reversing elleetremagnet I of another signal, situated at the entranee of i the pe'xt rearward section, substantially as speelfied.

FRANK L. POPE. Witnesses QTLJ. KEAN A. J. DE LACY.

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