US1399408A - System of control - Google Patents

Description

K. A. SIMMON.

SYSTEM OF comm.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 13, I917- 1' 399,408 Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

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Ground WITNESSES:

INVENTOR flar/ AS/mmon W BY -k b E Q 9a ATTORNEY K. A. SIMMON.

SYSTEM OF CONTROL. {APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13, 1917.

1,399,408, Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

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NTOR WITNESSES: INVE WWW. lfar/ A Jim/non ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL A. SIMMON, .OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTUBIIQG- CSMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA.

SYSTEM OF CONTROL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

Application filed October 13, 1917. Serial No. 196,395.

To all 10/2077! 6 may concern lie it known that l, .KARL 3i. Simion, a citizen oi the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Fail: 1 the county of Alloglieny and State oi rennsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement in Systems of t ontrol, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to systems of control and particularly to the control oi so-called L neman or quick-service cars for operr on thercoi rom a distance when running over road I The object a svsteni oi the vention is to provide etlecting operation of the vehicle motor 01 motors from point external to the vehicle is provided, and interlocking means, preferably embodying change of location of the iniliar ma ter operating handle, is employed for preventing concurrent opera tion from the vehicle itself.

More specifically stated, it is the object my invention to provide, in conjunction h a inotonoperating system of well- Ila. wn type, relatively simple control apiaratus of the cable-retrie 1g type, where i the car operator, aft-c ao reaching a "ailroai'l or the like, may readly govern the vehicle operation from a point on the far side of the raili' l crossi the operating cable will be utomatically retrieved or paid out as the vehicle moves in the one or the other direction.

lily invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the main circuits of system of control to which my invention may be applied; Fig. 2 is diagrammatic view of s t of any iliary governing circuits em oo ng the invention; Fig. 3 is view, parti y in elev and partially in section, of an a viliary ol apparatus embodying the principles o1 present invention, and d is a general view showing my invention in use at a railroad crossing.

R ferring first to Fig. 1, the view illustrates safety or quick-service car 101 that is supplied with energy from a trolley and grounded rails 102 in accordance with a familiar practice. The vehicle is shown as Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the

system shown comprises supply-circuit c0nductors Trolley and Ground; a plurality of main driving motors respectively having commutator-type armatures A1 and A2 and held windings F1 and F2 ot' the series type; a reversing switch RS, preferably of a familiar electrically-controlled type, as indicated in Fig. 2, but here conventionally shown for the 'ake of simplicity and clearness; a line switch LS; a current-limit switch L; an accelerating resistor 1; and drum controller 2 having an actuating mechanism 3 for governing the acceleration of the driving motors by suitably varying the resistor 1 and changing over the motor connections from series to parallel relation, in accordance with the familiar shunting type of transition. However, since the particular main-circuit connections are immaterial to my present invention, which is ca pable of application to any well-known motor-operating system, no further description thereof is deemed necessary, with the exception of describing the actuating mechanism 3, which is preferably, but not necessarily, employed in connection with my invention. V

T he actuating mechanism 3 is of a familiar electrically-controlled, pneumaticallyoperated type, comprising a pinion 5, which is secured to the operating shaft 6 for the drum controll r 2 and is adapted to mesh with a horizontallymovable rack member 7, the opposite ends of. which constitute pistons 8 and 9 that travel within appropriate operating cylinders 10 and 11, respectively. A normally open valve 12-, having an actuating coil Off, communicates with the outer end of the cylinder 10, while a normally closed valve 13, having an actuating coil On, is associated with the outer end of the other cylinde 11. Fluid pressure from any suitable source (not shown) may be conveyed to'the valves and 13, whereby the apparatus is normally biased to the illu trated extreme position. i

The mechanical operation of the actuating mechanism 3 may be set forth as follows:

Upon concurrent energization of the actuating coils On and Off, the initial unbalanced fluid-pressure conditions in the apparatus are reversed; that is, fluid pressure is admitted to the cylinder 11 through the valve 13 andis exhausted from the other cylinder .lOthrough the valve 12 to the atmosphere. Consequently, a movement of the pistons 8 and 9 and of the controller 2, toward the left in theillustrated case, ensues. To arrest such movement at any time, it is merely necessary to deenerg'ize the off coil, whereupon balanced high-pressure conditions obtain in the mechanism and a positive and reliable stoppage thereof is effected.

To produce a return movement of the device, the actuating coils On and Off are concurrently denergized, whereupon fluid- .pressure conditions revert to the original state and thGClBSIIBCl backward movement is effected.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the auxiliary sys tem shown employs the supply-circuit conductors Trolley and Ground, a suitably reduced control voltage being obtained through the agency ofa control resistor 15, in accord ance with a familiar practice. The system further comprises the actuating coils for the line switch LS, for the actuating mechanism 3 and for the reversing switch RS, together withsuitable electrical interlocks of a familiar type; an auxiliary resistor 16, a brakecontrolling coil marked Bralre; and a bat tery B for energizing such coil under predetermined conditions to be set forth to release the brake application; a master con troller MC and a master reverser MB for primarily governing the operation of the system; and a portable switching device 18 of the well-known multiple push-button type.

One form of apparatus embodying the principles of my invention is shown in Fig. 3 in conjunction with the switching device 18, which comprises a suitable shell or incesing member 20 and a plurality of push buttons 21, 22 and 23 which are normally held in their outer or open-circuit position by suitable springs, asillustrated in Fig. 2. A retrieving mechanism 24, represented by the coiled cable in Fig. 2,.and shown in section in Fig. 3, comprises a rotatable drum or hollow spool having end-plates 32 a multi-conductor cable 33 being wound upon the cylindrical body portion of the spool. A plurality of externally grooved hubs 34 and 35 are secured. to the outer faces of the respective end-plates 32 for performing the double function of aiding to support the retriever drum upon a centrally-located stationary shaft 36 and to carry an electrical interlocking plate 30, as hereinafter more fully set tivc movement of the retriever drum, a plurality of collector rings or bands 39 surround the drum, being connected to the respective cable conductors in any suitable manner.

The interlocking plate 30 comprises a slab or base 40 of insulating material upon which are mounted a plurality of contact strips or blocks ll, 42 and 43 that respectively en gage pairs of stationary control lingers ifi, 4:6 and l? in predetermined positions of the retrieving device, such control being-r preferably mounted upon a finger-base i l of a familiar type, for effecting the desired external-circuit connections that are shown in Fig. 2. A further set 41-3 of control fingers mounted upon the slab 40 or an extension thereof for engaging the band or ring contact members 39 oft-he drum. A suitable cable 49 is provided for connecting the control fingers 4L8 to a plurality of terminals or binding; posts 50 that are located upon the finger-base 44:, whereby the external circuit connections that are shown in Fig. 2 may be readily made.

The interlocking plate 30 is adapted to move longitudinally in accordance with the concurrent rotative and axial movement of the retriever drum, by reason of mounting the interlocking plate upon a plurality of arms 51 and 52 that terminate in bands or rings loosely fitting within the grooves around the drum hubs 34 and 35, respectively.

A latching device 31 for the retrieving apparatus comprises an intermediately pivoted bar or red 55, one. end of which. is provided with a latch or lock 56 to suitably engage the right-hand end-plate whereby movement of the retriever drum in either a rotative or an axial direction is prevented. The other end of the rod has mounted upon it a half drum 5'4", or the equivalent which carries a plurality of contact segments 58 and 59 for engaging suitable control fingers 60 in accordance with the position of the latching device, as hereinafter described in detail connecsuch action being effected tion with 2. The latching device 31.

is adapted to occupy a position marl; d "Unl 1 ed as Well us the illustraed posi- Latched? t or 61 preierab y inn the in e av b'vel t crater, aft r road crossing, t

verser to the off U ermine handle 61 anu or near u roilhis master re- 21, remo e the opthe interretrieving 101* the this Way the normal motors from the the the of can JQ-iOlllQ operative of the r,

the apre appropriatel unto location Within e our need not be setforth here.

ormal acceleration of the c tirthe master reverser ill-Z 1S ":Eomarr. position. for e" tne master conti' lie; 13 actuoerative iosition a.

Qhe brake segment or the one or the ions. and cony through contact l ductor ground, whence circuit is comto the negative hatterv terminal. In J. the illustrateo vehicle braking:

'endered inoperati (luring norion, v: u .ster reverser i cuit is estahlishe-zl .rougo contractor (is, conend (n. which are bridged by ent o't LL13 master controller,

through control resistor 1.5 to

1 irther circuit esiblished from an itcrucdiatc tan-point 9 f l.

'or thro' 2iuat.

sition,

re yer-sci" tor 7?. control fingers which are bridged by contact segment o0 of the master controller, and conductor 81 to grou 1d.

As soon as the line switch LS has closed to connect the driving motos circuit, a holdlng circuit "for 1e actuetir coil of the switch is formed by the o in of the contact sop-merit 72 hv an 1 148-111.

Since the relation of the a1 reverse coils for the main reverser no the odor of the system is familiar to those sinned in the art, and furthermore, has no hearing upon the present invention it is deemed unnecessur to describe such circuits p in detai A further auxiliary circuit is established, upon the closure of the line switch 1 S, from a second intermediate point 532 of toe conrol resistor 15 throughthe actuating coil 1 and an interloclr- LSdn to another in- O t lower voltage.

mediate toppoint o3 o.-.

nGVQL no movement 01"- the main con- 2 occurs until the off coil is enereu, which inlZES place, Whenever the limit switch L occupies its lower position the completion of another circuit from t. tap-point 82 through the actuating coil On; contact dislr 85 of the limit switch I end interlock LS-in to the tap-point 83. In this Way, the main controller 2 is actuated through its various positions, in accordance with the movements of the limit switch L to suitably manipulate the varialt-l 1 resistor 1 and change over the driving motor connections from series to parellel relation as will he understood.

To effect the external control oit the vehicle when a railroad crossing; or the like is approached, the vehicle is stopped on near side of the crossing, and the master reverser MB is manipulated by the usual. operating" handle to the otl' position. which does not operate the main reversing switch RS, but, upon removal of the operathandle 61, control of the motor operatsys 1 by the master controller is preven ed by reason of the familiar mechanical interlocking device (not shoirn) that is proriled in all modern types of control apprratus.

Furthermore. the vehicle brakes are automatically applied, as soon as the master reverser occupies its 05 position by reason oi: the interruption of the previously-traced circuit through the brake coil.

The mester-reverser operating handle 61 is then applied to the latching device 31 3) which is thereby actuated to 1ts unletched position. The motorman may then tel-1e the pusl1hutton switching device 1.8 and cross the railroad tracks, the flexible cable in the meanwhile being paid out as necessary by reason of the helical movement of the retriever drum along the threaded shaft 36, in opposition to the action of the coil. spring 38. Such movement 01' the re trieving device interrupts the auxiliary circuit including contact block 41, and closes new auxiliary circuits including contact lJlOCll'S 12 and 13, of the interlocking plate 30.

Consequently, by pressing the push-button 21 of the switching device 18, the following circuit through the actuating coil Brake 95 to ground.

Upon closing the push-button 22, in addition to the button 21, a new circuit is established from the trolley through conductors and 90, control fingers 91 and 92, which are bridged by contact segment 93 of the master reverser in its oil position, voltagereducing resistor 16, contact block 42 of the retrieving device in any operative position, contact segment 59 of the latching device 31 in its unlatched position, and thence through conductor and the actuating coil oi the line switch LS to conductor 74, as previously described, circuit being completed therefrom through conductor 94, cable 33 of the retrieving device 24,. conductor 945, push-button 22 and conductors 95 and 95 to ground.

The line switch LS is thus closed to reconnect the drivingmotors to the supply circuit, but the actuating coils On and Off for the main controller 2 are not energized in the previously-described manner, byreason of the master controller MC occupying its off position. It will be understood, however, that if desired, the actuating coils on and Oil may readily be reconnected by further contacts on the latching device 31 to be operative during the period of external vehicle control also. The vehicle speed may of course be readily regulated by alternately pressing and releasing the accelerating button 22, whereby the car is alternately driven and permitted to coast.

It will thus be seen that the control means normally employed, that is, when the motorman occupies his usual position on the front platform is adapted to effect operation of the motor to a predetermined stage, that is, to full parallel relation, corresponding to maximum speed. On the other hand, when the portable control device 18 is employed by the motorman, the motor operation is can ried to a different stage, namely, to the slowspeedcondition corresponding to the initial connection of the motors to the supply circuit with the resistor 1 also active.

lVithout a detailed tracing of circuits, it will be understood that the remaining pushbutton 23 is employed for efiecting reversed operation of the driving motors when the main reversing switch RS occupies its reverse position.

hand, or, if the cable 33 is serlously damaged in any way to deener ize the circuit of the brake coll, then the emergency brake 1s 1mmediately applied to prevent the vehicle from running away.

When the vehicle has passed the railroad crossing and has approached to within a short distance of the operator, the push-button device 18 may be allowed to completely reassume its biased open-circuit position to effect the application of the vehicle brakes. Preferably, however, such action is automatically eifected as soon as the retrieving device returns to its illustrated initial position with the push-button device still operative, the previouslytraced circuit including the contact block 412 of the interlocking plate 31 being thereupon interrupted to cause the opening of the line switch LS.

lVhen the portable switching device 18 has been. returned to its normal position, the master reverser operating handle 61 may be utilized .to return the latching device 31 to its illustrated latched position to prevent further actuation of the retrieving device, and the operating handle 61may then be reinserted in the master reverser to actuate it to the one or the other of its operative positions. Actuation of the master controller MC to govern the system in the previouslydescribed normal manner is thus again permitted, and the braking system is again rendered inoperative by reason of the previously-described energizing circuit through the brake coil whenever the master reverser occupies an operative position.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the case of a plurality of motor-driven vehicles operating on the familiar multiple-unit principle, my invention may be readily applied to the external control of such a train through the agency of the usual train-line conductors.

I do not Wish tobe restricted to the specific circuit connections, structural details or arrangement of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a system of vehicle control, the combination with an electric motor and means located upon the vehicle for normally governing the motor operation, of means for effecting motor operation from a point eX-' ternal to the vehicle and for preventing concurrent operation irom the vehicle itself.

2. In a system of vehicle control, the combination with an elect'ic motor and an operating system therefor, or" means located upon the vehicle for normally governing said system, and means incluoing flexible conductors "for governing the system from e lected points external to the vehic e and for r r e or paying out said ll Xible conduca e vehicle moves in the one or the other direction. 7

In a system of vehicle control, the con-- hination with an electric motor ant. op erating system therefor. of means, including a removable operating handle, located upon the vehicle for normally governing said system, and means, including saic handle in a different location, tor governing); the system from point external to the vehicle.

a; n a system of vehicle control, the comon with an electric motor and an operating system therefor, of means, including a r versing switch having a removable operating handle, located upon the vehicle for normally governing said system, and means, including said handle in a different location after the reversing switch occupies a predetermined position, tor governing the system from a point external to the vehicle.

o. In a systemol' vehicle control, the combi ation with an electric motor and an operating system therefor, of means, including a master reversing switch having a removable operating hancle, located upon the vehicle for normally governing said system, and means, including said handle in a different location after the master reversing switch occupies its 05 position, for governing the system from a point external to the vehicle.

6. In a system of vehicle control, the combination with an electric motor and an operating, system therefor, of means, including a reversing switch having a removable operating handle, located upon the vehicle for normally governing said system, and means, including said handle in a different location and including flexible conductors, for governing the system from selected points external to the vehicle and for retrieving or payingout said flexible conductors as the vehicle moves in the one or the other direction.

7. In a system of vehicle control, the combination with an electric motor and an operating system therefor, of means located upon the vehicle for normally governing said system, braking system, and means, including portable switching device, for governing said operating system from a point external to the vehicle and for amomatically rendering said braking system 0p- 7 upon the vehicle,

erative whenever certain circuits of said switching device are ae'e nergized.

8. In a system or vehicle control. the com bination with an electric motor an o crating system therefor, of means located normally governing;- said system, braking s ste'n, ant, for governing said opera sy em a point extern l to the vehicle and for automatically ren ring said bra system operative when said external i; one; means is returned to its normal lo on upon the vehicle.

9. ln system of vehicl control, the comerating system therefor, ot located upon the vehicle for normally i said system, a braking sys em, including portable switching ally biased to opencircuit'condit'on, 1. governing said operati" system point external to the iicl and for tomatically rendering; i. eritive whenever said sv. pies its biasedposition and alienever the device is returned to its normal location upon the vehicle. 10. In a system of vehicle cont A combination. with an electric motor and an ouerating system tnereitor, of means, includ i a reversing switch having a removaljile ooerating handle, located upon the ve icie y govei' ning said system, a l i and means including; said ent location and inclu'd condictors governing the system SclQClQCl points external to the vehicle for retrieving or paying out said ilexible conductors as the vehicle moves n the one the other ction, said evternal verning means also including a portable switching device for automatically rendering bralring system operative when said flexible conductors are completely retrieved.

11. in a system of vehicle control, combination with an electric motor operating system therefor, or": me us, 1 in a master reversing switch having a i movable operatinghandle, located. upon the vehicle for normally governing said syste l, a braking system, and means, including said handle in a different location after the master reversing switch occupies its off position, for governing the system from a point external to the vehicle, said external governing means also including a portable switching device for automatically rendering said braking system operative whenever certain circuits or said switching device are deenergized while said reversing switch occupies its off position.

12. In a vehicle, control apparatus comprising a normally locked rotatable member, means for unlocking said member under to e predetermined conditions, a mul'tironductor' member actuated in accordance with the axial movements of said drum.

14. In an electric vehicle embodying a. reversing switch and operating handle therefor, control apparatus comprising a helically movable drum, a circuit-changing device also adapted to normally lock said drum in a certain position, means for unlocking said drum by said operating handle when the reversing switch occupies its off position, a multi-conductor cable wound on said drum, a portable switching device connected to the free end of said cable, and a circuit-closing and opening plate member actuated in accordance with the axial movements of said drum.

15. In a system of vehicle control, the combination with a supply circuit, an electric motor,and means located upon the vehicle for normally governing the motor operation, of means normally carried upon the vehicle for controlling motor operation from said supply circuit externally to the vehicle.

16. In a system of vehicle control, the combination with a substantially constantvoltage supply circuit, an electric motor, and means located upon the vehicle for normally governing the motor operation, of portable means directly utilizing said supply-circuit for controlling motor operation externally V to the vehicle. 7

17. In a system of vehicle control, the

combination with a direct-current supply circuit comprising trolley and ground conductors, an electric motor, and means located upon the vehicle for normally govern ing the motor operation, of independent" means for effecting motor operation by energy derived only from said conductors, said independent means embodying control means operable from points external to the vehicle.

18. In a system of vehicle control, the combination with I a propelling motor, of means carried in the hand of the operator for governing said motor and comprising taut electrical connections to effect relative travel of the vehicle and the operator.

In a system of vehicle control, the combination with a aropelling motor and means located upon the vehicle for normally governing the vehicle operation, of means for rendering said normal control inoperative and for effecting relative travel or the vehicle and the operator.

20. In a system of vehicle control, the combination with an electric motor and means located upon the vehicle for normally governing themotor operation, 01"- a brake, and single means external to the vehicle for governing both the motor and the brake.

21. In a system of vehicle control, the combination with a propelling motor and means located upon the vehicle for normally governing the vehicle operation, of a brake, and means adapted to be carried externally to the vehicle for releasing said brake and energizing the motor. 22. In a system of control, the combination'with an electric motor and control means for effecting normal operation of the motor to a predetermined stage, of other control means foreffecting motor operation to a different stage. i

23. In a system of vehicle control, the combination with a propelling motor and control means located upon the vehicle for effecting normal operation oi? the motor to full speed, of portable control means for effecting slow-speed motor operation.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subpcribed my name this 29th day of Sept, 191 i KARL A. SIMMON.

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