US2414079A - Railroad track switch position indicator system and car actuated circuit controllertherefor - Google Patents

Description

T. R. WHITE ,414,079

TEM AND CAR ACTUATED Jan. 7, 1947.

RAILROAD TRACK SWITCH POSITION INDICATOR SYS CIRCUIT CONTROLLER THEREFOR Filed Aug. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. THEM/ff fi. Wf/l/"f Jan. 7, 1947. R wH|TE 2,414,079

RAILROAD TRACK SWITCH POSITION INDICATOR SYSTEM AND CAR ACTUATED CIRCUIT CONTROLLER THEREFOR Filed Aug. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 77/f000/FE R. W/f/TE ATTURNEY Patented Jan. 7, 1947 RAILROAD TRACK SWITCH POSITION INDI- CATOR SYSTEM AND CAR ACTUATED CIR- CUIT CONTROLLER THEREFOR Theodore R. White, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 18, 1944, Serial No. 549,991

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to signal systems for use on railroad lines to warn the engineers or motormen of oncoming trains of dangerous conditions on the tracks ahead of them. More particularly it relates to a signal system in connection with a switch operating to open a siding from the main track wherey the engineer of the oncoming train is warned sufiiciently in advance by a system of signal lights that the switch is open.

It is frequently the case that when a switch is thrown so as to open a siding from the main line, even though a warning signal is displayed, it is either so indistinct or so close to the open switch that the engineer of the oncoming train is unable to observe it in time to stop his train before running into the open siding. In this manner accidents are caused with great frequency and with considerable loss of life and property.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which will show warning signals at various distances in advance of the open switch, and if the engineer runs past the first of the warning lights, the next succeeding light at a considerable distance from the open switch will be caused to flash on and off rapidly by contact arms disposed at the side of the rail. A light showing a constant lbeam may often be unobserved by the engineer, whereas a light rapidly flashing on and off will more surely attract his attention and warn him to throttle down and stop his train.

Briefly described, the invention includes an electric switch box comprising a fixed and a movable contact device in alignment with each other. Assuming the rail switch to be an ordinary hand switch, the contact devices may consist of two contact points, one fixed on the rod of the rail switch and moving therewith, and the other being mounted fixedly on the inside of the electric switch box. Thus, when the rail switch is thrown so as to give free passage on the main line, the two contact points are separated and no current passes through the circuit. When, however, the rail switch is thrown so as to open the siding, the switch rod carries the movable contact point into contact with the fixed contact point and closes the circuit. Included in the circuit, at a predetermined position in advance of the switch, magnetic coils are set beside the rail. On throwing the switch to open the siding and thus closing the electric circuit, the magnetic coils at the advanced position become energized and an arm attached to one of the coils is thrown up into such a position that it will contact the wheels of any car passing over the rail. Simultaneously, signal lights also included in the circuit show at a plurality of positions between the magnetic coils and the siding. So long as no train is in the block between the magnetic coils and the siding, the lights burn continuously. But when a train of cars asses over the magnetic coils, the switch having been thrown and the coils energized, the wheels of the cars strike the raised arm, driving it and its coil forward to a distance sufiicient to break the circuit. However, as each wheel passes the arm, the latter immediately is raised to meet the next wheel by the pull of the energized coils. There is, thus, a continual, rapid making and breaking of the circuit and a resulting rapid flashin on and off of the signal lights ahead of the engine, giving warning to the engineer to bring his train to a stop.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the drawings in which Fig. 1 represents diagrammatically a section of track including a main line and a siding with appropriate switching means and the signal circuit of the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates diagrammatically a switch box in connection with the rod of the rail switch at the siding shown at 4 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the magnetic coil system indicated at 1 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an end View in elevation of the magnetic coil system of Fig. 3 taken on the line 4-4; and Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of the signal system of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, a main line of tracks l is represented in which a switch 2 opens or closes a siding 3 ofi the main line I. The switch 2 also operates a main signal circuit which extends from one side of the source of current through the switch box 4, conductor 5, continuously burning red signal light 6, magnetic coils of switch means I and conductor 8 which leads back to the source of electric current. Another and secondary circuit extends from conductor 5 through signal lights l2 and I3 in parallel, conductor l0, contact points of switch means 1 and conductor 8 back to the source of electric current.

As will be seen from Fig. 2, the switch box 4 encloses a spring contact arm M on which is mounted a contact point 15. The contact arm I4 is fixedly mounted on the switch rod It and moves with it when the switch is thrown. Another contact point I! is mounted on the inside of the housing of the switch box 4. Thus, when the switch is thrown so as to open the siding 3, the contact point I5 is brought into contact with the contact point I! and the circuit is closed.

The switch means I is diagrammatically shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It comprises the magnetic coils i 8 and I9 which are oppositely wound. Coil I8 is fixed to the housing 20 of the system, while coil 19 is slidably connected with the link 2| pivoted at 24 on rocker arm 28 and the helical spring 22. The breaker arm 9 turns on the shaft 23 which also carries rocker arm 28, the breaker arm 9 and rocker arm '29 turning with the shaft 23. It will, therefore, be evident that when the main track I is open and the siding 3 isclosed, the coils l8 and [9 are de-energized and the helical spring 22 pulls coil l9 apart from coil l8, thus breaking the secondary circuit. By this same pull of spring 22 the breaker arm 9 is lowered below the level of the rail 25. When, however, the switch 2 is thrown so as to open the siding 3 and to close the electric circuit through the contact points and I7 in the switch box 4, the coils l8 and i9 are energized. Coil I9 is pulled into contact with coil 18 and breaker arm 9 is raised so as to be contacted by the wheels of any engine or car passing over s-rail 25. Simultaneously, a pair of contact points, one of which 26 is fixed and the other 27 is carried by the rocker arm 28, are brought into contact with each other by the raising of the rocker arm 28.and the intermittent signal lights I2 and .13 are thus lighted and continue to burn so long as points 26 and 21 remain in contact.

Where, however, a train passes over rail 25, each wheel in passing strikes breaker arm 9 and forces it downward, turning shaft 23 which carries with it rocker arm 28, thus forcing coils l8 and t9 apart and moving contact points 26 and 27 out of contact. The secondary circuit being thus broken, the lights I2 and [3 go out. They immediately relight, however, when the car wheel has passed and remain alight until the next wheel strikes breaker arm 9. The effect is to cause lights l2 and 13 to blink as long as the train continues to pass over breaker arm 9 into the danger zone.

As will be seen from the circuit diagram Fig. 5, the intermittent lights l'2'and l3 are connected in multiple series in the subordinate or secondary circuit that is closed by the raising of the breaker arm 9 and rocker arm 28 which brings the contact points 25 and 21 into contact when the coils i8 and it are energized.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. 'In an electric signalling system, the con bination with a rail switch of a main electric circuit including signal lights adapted and arranged to burn continuously when said circuit is closed and -a secondary circuit including signal lights and means to cause said last men" tioned signal lights to burn intermittently when a train enters a section of track controlled by said circuits; said means comprising a pair of cooperating contact points in said secondary circuit, a breaker arm, means normally maintaining said contact points open and said breaker arm out of the path of wheels of said train, and magnetic coils adapted and arranged to close said contact points and move said breaker arm into the path of wheels of said train when said main circuit is closed whereby said breaker arm will open said secondary circuit when contacted by a, wheel of said train.

2. In an electric railroad signalling'system, the combination with a rail switch of a main electric circuit that includes an electric switch that is opened by closing said rail switch and closed by opening said rail switch, and a signal light that burns continuously when said main circuit is closed, and magnetic coils of switch means; a secondary circuit including a plurality of signal lights spacedat intervals along a section of track controlled by said circuits, and means to cause said lights to burn intermittently when a train enters said track section; said means comprising a pair .of cooperating contact points in said secondary circuit, associated with said magnetic coils said main circuit, .a breaker arm normally maintained a position out of the path of wheels of said train but adapted and arranged ito mcve into the path of wheels of said train :and to close said secondary circuit when said magnetic coils are energized by the closing of said main circuit whereby said breaker arm will open said secondary circuit under impact of a train wheel and be drawn into closed position again when said train wheel has passed.

3. In association with the tracks of a railroad, an electric railroad signalling system comprising a main electric circuit including signal lights adapted and. arranged .to .burn continuously, and a secondary electric circuit including signal lights adapted and arranged to burn intermittently; magnetic coils insaid main circuit and cooperating contact points in said secondary circuit associated with said magnetic coils;- a breaker arm adapted andarranged normally to maintain said contact points open and to assume a position out of the path of wheels of a train passing on said railroad track :and to move into the path of train wheels and close said contacts when said magnetic coils are energized by the closing of the main circuit, whereby said breaker arm will opensaid secondary circuit and cause said lights in that circuit to burn intermittently when said arm is impacted by said train wheel.

THEODORE R. WHITE.

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