US1177753A - Railway-signal. - Google Patents

Description

J. R. WILSON. RAILWAY SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, I914- 1,177,753. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FIG. 1

% N wrxw INVENTOR WITNESSES gx'W THE. COLUMBIA PLANOGIAPH co, WASHING-TON, D. C.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1914.

Patented Apr 4, 1916.

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a: v INVENTOR m. C

WITNESSES K 1H5 mum! PLANocRAPfl to. WASHINGTON, u. c.

.onirnn PATENT FFICE.

JOHN wILsoN, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ,nssienon TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, or ,SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A conronn'rron or PENN- SYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNA L.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Apr. 4,191

ppl tion led, May 20 9 S a No- 3 ,666-

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, Jo rN R. WrnsoN a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new andcuseful Improvements in Bailway-Signals, of which the following is a Specification.

My invention relates to railway signals, and particularly to signals of the typeco nprising a signal biased to one position of indication, means for moving it to another position, and a holding device for holding the signal in the'latter position against the action of the biasing force.

I will describe one form of signal embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features. thereof in claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure l is a view showing in verticalsection a portion of one form of signal mechanismein bodying my invention. F 2 is a partial end view of the mechanismshown in Fig. .1, the cover 6 being removed. F ig 3 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by line IIIIII in Fig. 1. Fig.4 is a fragmental sectional view on the plane indicated by line IVIV in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is adiagrammatic view showing one arrangement of controlling circuits andapparatus for a signal embodying my invention.

Similar referencev characters refer to similar parts in each of the views.

Referring first to Fig. l, the reference character 37 designates a cylindrical inclosing case provided with a removable head 37. A spindle 15 is journaledin ballrbearings 1 and 1 in the case and head respectively, and is operatively connected by "suitable gearing as shown more fully in Fig. 5 with a semaphore S, which is baised by gravity to a horizontal or danger position. The gearing between the spindle 15 and the semaphore S inayfor example be similar to that shown in an application filed by John D. Taylor on August 28, 1912, Serial No. 717,436. Mounted inthe case 37 is an electric motor M which is operatively connected with the spindle 15 by means of a ratchet device B and whichrnotor is em:

ploy d t o e e semaphore from its danger or horizontal position upwardly toaninclined or caution position and to a vertical or clear position. Also mounted in the case 37 is a holding, device H which is employed to hold the semaphore in the caution and the clear position against the action of gravity. Referring to both Figs.

1 and 3, this device comprises a stator 29 fixed in the case 37, and a rotor 48 operatively connected with the spindle 15. The stator is formed of a plurality of laminatiOns ofsoft ironv clamped together by rivets 29 and fixed in place in the case -,37 by screws 29%. This stator is provided .with a plurality of equally spaced inwardly projecting polesl50, here shown as being eight in number, upon which poles is placed an 1 energizing winding 31 so arranged that the polarity of the poles is alternately north and south. At such times as the holding device is'to hold the signal this winding is energized from a source of alternating current, as will hereinafter appear. The rotor 48 is formed of a plurality of softiron laminations having. embedded therein a plurality of copper rods 52, preferably eightin numher and equally spaced, which rods are electrically connected by copper end rings 30. The rods 52 are fixed securely in the end rings 30 so that they serve as rivets to bind these rings and the laminations together. 7

This rotor is carried by a spider comprising radialarms 12 and aback plate 12 This spider .is mounted ,;freely von the spindle l5 andis operatively connected therewith by an arm'54 which is secured to the spindleby a pinlil and which projects between twolngs 53spaced a Slight distance aparton the back quired to movethe rotor from this position,

and the required force increases to a considerable value as the rods approach the edges of the poles.

It has been found in practice that if the holding winding 31 is energized and the motor M deenergized when the signal reaches the caution position, so that the holding device is energized while the rotor 48 is still moving due to momentum of the parts, the electromagnetic forces in the holding device H tend to cause this device to act as an induction motor to continue the movement of the signal beyond the caution position. This action could be avoided by opening the motor circuit at such point in the movement of the signal that the signal would come to rest at precisely the caution position,and closing the circuit for winding 31 at precisely the moment when the signal reaches the caution position, but such delicacy of control has been found to be difficult in actual practice under variable conditions. To avoid the necessity for such delicacy of control, I provide means for keeping the holding device deenergized while the signal is moving away from the danger position, and for energizing the holding device just as the signal starts to return toward the danger position under the influence of gravity, which means I will now explain. 7

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the spindle 15 is extended beyond the head 37*, and carries an arm 2 of insulating material which is frictionally mounted on the spindle. The spindle is provided with a shoulder 15 against which rests a washer l3, and next to this washer is a flanged sleeve 14 which rides freely on the shaft and which carries the arm 2. The arm may be placed on this sleeve by first forming the sleeve with only one flange, forcing the arm on the sleeve, and then spinning up the other flange against the face of the arm. The arm is rigidly fixed to this sleeve 14. Next to the sleeve 14 is a washer 16 which is provided with an inwardly projecting tongue 20 which fits in a groove 20 in the spindle as shown in Fig. 4, so thatthis washer is constrained to rotate with the spindle. The washers 13 and 16 and. the sleeve 14 are pressed together and against shoulder 15 by a spring 17 which bears against washer 16 and also against a nut 18 screwed on the threaded end of the spindle. The friction between the spindle and the arm 2 can be adjusted by turning nut 18, and the nut is then locked in the desired position by a pin 19 extending through saw-cuts in the nut and a slot in the spindle. The arm 2 is constrained to oscillation through a small angle by stops 3 and 3 in the form of screws which are supported in the walls of a box 6 formed integral with the head 37 It will be seen that because of the friction between the spindle 15 and arm 2, the latter will rest against one stop or the other according as the spindle rotates in one direction or the other, and that the arm will swing over immediately upon a reversal of direction of rotation of the spindle. Fixed to the end of arm 2 by means of a screw 7 is a contact plate 4 which cooperates with a contact finger 5 carried by a terminal post 9 which is mounted in'a wall of box 6. The contact plate 4 is electrically connected with another terminal post 10 by a flexible conductor 8. Contact members 4 and 5 are so arranged that thiscontact is oven when arm 2 is against stop 3, and closed when the arm is against stop 3 that is, this contact is open while the signal is being moved away from danger position, and closed while the signal is moving toward danger position. This contact 45 is included in the circuit for holding winding 31, as 1 will now explain.

Referring to Fig. 5, the semaphore S is mounted on a shaft 56 which is connected by gears 47 and 47, with a shaft 51 which carries contact segments 23, 24 and 25; and shaft 51 is connected by gears 49 and 49 with the spindle 15 on which are mounted the rotating member of motor M and the rotor 48 of the holding device H. The ratio of gears 47 and 47 is such that shaft 51 r0- tates three times as fast as the semaphore shaft 56. Alternating current is supplied to the motor and the holding device from a transformer T, and this supply is controlled by a relay R, contacts 24, 25 and 26, and contact 4-5. Relay R is of a polarized type, comprising a neutral armature contact 21 and a polarized armature contact 22. WVhen the relay .R is energized in such direction that its neutral armature 21 closes and its polarized armature 22 remains in the position shown in the drawing, the motor M is energized by the following circuit: from secondary of transformer T, through wire 33, contact 21, contact 22, wire 34, contact 27 2427"*, wire 35, resistance 57 and reactance 58 in multiple, wires 36 and 38 in multiple, motor windings 54 and 55 in multiple, wires 39 and 40 to transformer T. The motor M then operates to move the semaphore S in the direction of the arrow, that is, away from the danger position. During this movement arm 2 is swung in such direction that contact 4--5 is opened, but during the greater part of the movement to the caution position this contact has no influence on the holding device H because the circuit for winding 31 is open at contacts 28 and 32. Just before the caution position is reached contact segment 25 bridges contact fingers 28 and 28 and segment 24 leaves finger 27 so that the motor is deenergized and the circuit for the holding winding 31 is closed at segment 25. The circuit for winding 31- is the same as the motor circuit up to and including wire 34 then through contact 28-,

25-28, wire 41, contact 5-4, wire 42, winding 31, wires 59 and to the transformer T. This circuit is open at contact 54 so that the mechanism drifts until the momentum is overcome by friction and by the action of gravity on semaphore S at which time the semaphore stops and begins to return toward the danger position. Just as this return movement begins, arm 2 is swung to the opposite position, thereby closing contact 45 so that the holding device H is then energized and holds the signal in the caution position. It will be noted that this holding device does not become energized until its rotor member 48 is substantially at rest, so that the device has no tendency to act as a motor. Owing to the lost motion between the rotor 48 and the spindle 15, as soon as winding 31 is energized the rotor locates itself with its bars substantially opposite the middle points of the stator poles, hence there is no danger of the rotor being carried beyond such position by the inertia of the moving parts. If now relay 20 is energized in the opposite direction, thereby causing reversal of contact 22, the circuit for winding 31 is opened and the motor is again energized through a circuit which is the same as before up to and including contact 22-, thenthrough wire 43, contact 26 23-26 wires 44 and 35, then through windings 57 and 58, and motor windings 54 and 55 as before. The motor then operates to drive the semaphore S toward the clear position and just as the latter position is reached, segment 23 leaves finger 26, thereby denergizing the motor and segment 25 bridges fingers 32 and 32 thereby closing at this point the circuit for winding 31. During the movement from caution to clear, the arm 2 was in such position that the contact 45 was open, but after the signal comes to rest in the clear position and just as it starts to return toward danger arm 2 is swung to close contact 4-5 so that the holding device H is then energized and holds the parts in the clear position. As soon as wind ing 31 is energized, the rotor 48 again 10- cates itself as hereinbefore explained.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of signaling mechanism embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a signal biased to one position of indication, means for moving it to another position, a holding device for holding the signal in the latter position and comprising ;a rotor operatively connected witlrthe signal and a stator having an energizing winding, a contact for controlling said winding, and means controlled by the signal for holding said contact open while thesignal is being moved away from the biased position and for closing said contact when the signal starts to return toward the biased position.

2. In combination, a signal biased to one position of indication, means for moving it to another position, a holding device for holding the signal in the latter position and comprising a rotor operatively connected with the signal and a stator having an energizing winding, and means controlled by the signal for de'e'nergizing said winding while the signal is being moved away from the biased position and for energizing said winding when the signal starts to return toward the biased position.

3. In combination, a signal biased to one position of indication, means for moving it to another position, a holding device for holding the signal in the latter position and comprising a rotor operatively connected with the signal and a stator having an energizing winding, a contact for controlling said winding, and frictional means interposed between the signal and the contact for holding the contact open while the signal is being moved away from its biased position and for closing the contact when the signal starts to return toward the biased position.

4. In combination, a signal biased to one position of indication and movable to another position in opposition to the biasing force, a spindle operatively connected with the signal to rotate therewith, an arm frictionally mounted on said spindle to be swung in one direction or the other according as the spindle is rotating in one direction or the other, a contact controlled by said arm and arranged to be open or closed according as the arm is swung in one direction or the other, and a holding device for holding the signalin the second-mentioned position and comprising a rotor operatively connected with the signal and a stator having an energizing winding controlled by said contact.

5. In combination, a signal biased to one position of indication, means for moving it to another position, a holding device for holding the signal in the latter position and comprising an energizing winding, and means controlled by the signal for deenergizing said winding while the signal is being moved away from the biased position and for energizing said winding when the signal starts to return toward the biased position.

6. In combination, a signal biased to one position of indication, means for moving it to another position, a holding device for holding the signal in the latter position and comprising a fixed stator having an energizing winding and a rotor operatively connected with the signal but capable of oscillation through a small angle with relation thereto, and means controlled by the signal for keeping said winding deenergized while the signal is being moved away from the Copies of this patent may be obtained for biased position and for energizing said 19 winding just as the signal-starts to return toward the biased position.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. WILSON. Witnesses A. HERMAN WEGNER, R. L. KIsTLER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G.

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