US920654A - Railway signaling system. - Google Patents

Description

W. G. ROOME.

RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 10,1906.

- Patented May 45, 1909:.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. G. ROOM). 4 RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10,1906.

Patented May 4:, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TES ienrrnvr erosion WILLIAM G. ROOME, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UN ION SWITCH & SIG- NAL COMPANY, ()F SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

No. sconce.

Specification of Letters Patent.

amented May 4, 1909.

Application filed July 10, 1906. Serial No. 826,466.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that i, WILLIAM G. Rooms, formerly of Jersey (lity, New Jersey, but now of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and Stat, of California,-have invented certain new and useful improvements in Railway Signaling Systems, of which the follow ing is a specification.

The present invention relates to a system of signaling, in which the movement of cars or trains is announced or recorded or both at a central office.

The system contemplates the use of an office or station at which the movement of cars or trains is announced, which office or station would preferably be the despatchers office. The despatcher may thus know the position of each and every train as it advances over the blocks or track sections. The despatcher is also provided with a selecting device which includes a circuit extending along the-blocks or track sections and which includes magnetic devices at each block or track section which he may separately control and oper- 2-5 ate. These devices are arranged to secure the stoppage of the car or train. In the case of the application of the invention to the electric railways, the despatcher may out off the operating current fromv the motors of a car or train in any block or section and thus compel its stoppage, and at the same time the oper-- ating current may be cut off fronrthe block or track section in the rear of this car or train so that a following car or train cannot run into it.

steam railway trains to run over and use the same tracks as an electric car or train, provision is made forihe setting of signals, and the system provides that all trains whether electric or steam shall set protecting signals as they proceed. In addition, every precaution so far as electric cars is concerned, is provided, in case an electric car runs by a signal set at danger, in that its operating power is shut oil so as to compel its stoppage.

My invention also contemplates the use of a signal garricd by a car or train as will here inafter be more fully set forth.

I will describe a railway signal system cm- 5O hodyingmy invention and then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

in the accompanying drawings, l igurc 1 illustrates diagrammz really a railway signal- .As it sometimes necessary for l i l i i i i i Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate a method of connecting an announcing device magnetically to a signal or signal device which latter is operated by a train. Fig. 4 illustrates a method of electrically doing what is magnetically done in Fig. 2- Figs. 5 and 6 are views of a selector. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate connections made by a magnetic device controlled from the operating station.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding partsin all of the figures.

I will first describe the operation of the block system, and then the circuits and devices for automatically announcing or recording the position of the cars or trains, and will explain circuits for enabling the despatcher to select a desired block or track section in which he may signal aboard the mov ing train or stop it if he desires, and will later explain the other protecting device and its operation.

The blocks or sections are formed by dividing, as by insulation, the track or running rails of the railway. a, a a designate three such sections. The section 0- includes a track relay R connected to the rails at one of -their ends by wires 22 and 23, and a bat tery B which is connected to the rails at their other ends. The section a includes relay R wires 24 and 25, and battery B". Section o includes relay R wires 28 and 29, and battery 13".

A signal or signal device is provided for each block; or insulated track section. 8 8, and s designate signals for the blocl; sections it, a and a Each signal comprises an operating mechanism and a device, usually a semaphore, which in different positions indicats to an engineer or trainman the condition of the bloclc section in advance. 7 The 9'5 operatin mechanism of each signal gem-rally comprises an elcctro-magnctic device which electro-magnetic device is included in a local circuit, comprising the armature of a track relay. The local circuit for the signal 8 comprises a battery B, wire 12, armature of relay R, Wire 13, electro-magneiic device of the operating-mechanism of the signal S and wire 15. The local circuit for the signal 3 comprises battery B, wire 16, armature of relay ll, wire 17, electro-magnetic device of the operating mechanism of the signal and wire 18. The local circuit for the signal 8 ing system embodying my invention, and as comprises battery B wire 19, armature of 55spocii'icn-ily applied tu illl electric railway. the relav R wire 20. and electro magnetic device of the operating mechanism and wire 21. Ordinarily, with no train in a block section, the relay of that section. willattract its armature to close the local circuit of the operating mechanism to permit of the operatingrnechanism moving the signal device to an inclined or safety position. When a train is in a block section, the track battery of that section is short-circuited by the wheels and axles of the train, thus shunting the track relay and permitting of the armature of the track relay to open the local circuit of the operating mechanism and allow the counterweight of the signal device to move the signal device to a horizontal or danger position of indication. It\will be seen, therefore, that as a train proceeds alone the block sections the signals of the block sections will be moved to a danger position when the train enters a block section and will be moved to a safety position when the train leaves the block section. It is to this type of a signal ing system that I preferably apply my invention.

In connection. with the signaling system just described, or in connection with a simi lar railwaysystem, 1 emiloy means which are put into operation eit ier directly or in directly bythe passage of a train along the block sections, which will send a signal to a central oilice or station which latter may conveniently be the despatchcrs oilice. In the despatchens ollice is located ftllllKiiCllhlIliI mechanism which may be audible or visual, or both, for receiving the signals sent in by the aforesaid means.

30 designates a line wire which extends from a central station along the blochs or sections.

Y designates the means or device for giv ing a distinctive signal. 1

I. do not wish to be confined to the use of this special kind of signal device shown for this purpose many other signaling devices of this kind would hperatc equally as well.

The signaling devices as, shown comprise a; signal boxwvhv h may no similar to the signaling boxes used in messenger service or similar to signaling boxes used in tire and )ohce telegraph systems. These signal oxcs are adapted to open and close a 11" l cuit a number of times, the openings and closings being spaced (,liilercntly in each box so that each. box may give a distinctive signal. I show a box. of this kind inhi5 3 with the cover removed. The wheel for signaling may be seen with lllOllOtCllfiS iirit. in this particular case the notches wouldindicate that this box would give a signal of i3---2. This signal would be received at the dc spatchcrs ollice audibly on the bell (l and printed on the tape of a register U in a simiar manner to the system used in o dinary messenger service. The manner of connecting this box so as to be operated by the train is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As there. shown, a rod 72 engages the handle of the ignal box and the lower-end of the said rod rests against or lies in close proximity to the balance arm e of the signal. Said rod is provided with a spring or yielding projection 'i, which is adapted to be engaged by a pin 1) on the balance arm 6 of the signal. It is intended, when the signal is set to safety position and the balance arm is raised to the up per dotted position that the pin 1) will engage the spring 'L and pass above it, and when the signalagain goes to the danger position, that the balance arm will pull down the rod 1) to the middle dotted position Where the pin will free itself from the spring 'i, permitting the spring in the signal box to lift the rod 1) and at the same time sending in its signal in the usual manner.

I do not wish to be confined to the use of a signal mechanism for operating the messenger or signal box, as it is obvious that the enthe upper partof the signal including the signal blade, can be dispensed with. As for instance'in Fig. 2 all the signal mechanism above the break in the drawing could be done away with and the signal operating motor and its mechanism used for moving the operating parts in the signal box Y alone. Nor do I wish to be confined to this manner of connecting the box Y with the signal mechanism as it may be operated by the motor gear-in or any moving )art of the mechanism. it being intended that the signal in going to danger position will operate the signalbox Y. Nor do I Wish to be confined to mechanically operating this box. I have therefore shown in Fig. 4 a manner of electrically operating the box Y. In this ii ure a track circuit a is shown energized b by a battery B" and controlling a track relay It. Signal s is shown as having lts s1 nal motor M connected in circuit with the attery B by the wires 31, 32 and 33. The relay R is adapted to open the wires 32 and 33 when there is a train in the section a When the relay R opens this circuit, the signal a handle of box Y during the ascent of the signal blade and when the signal blade danger position the motor M. will cease rotating and magnet I" will release the handle oi box Y, and box Y will send in the signal in the usual manner.

reaches goes to danger, as its motor M is deprived of cement The box Y is intended to be erated by the movement of signal st; and 0X Y by the movement of signal 8". I have shown the signal blades dotted at the boxes to more clearly indicate the position of the signals s and s. v

i3 designates a battery which is connected to the ground through the coil of magnet P on one side, and its other side is connected to the wire by means of the contact (1 and switch 0. Tle circuit may be traced as passing through the boxes Y and Y in succession, thence to other similar boxes, thence to ground. An arbitrary representation of a telephone isshown at T and 'l, and is shown as hanging on the ordinary telephone hook so that the lifting or the telephone oii the hook willput it into the circurt'of wire 30. The "apparatus at the receiving station consists in addition to the battery B and magnet P, of a double throw switch represcntcd by the two switches O and 0 connecied by an insulated piece so that both are moved together. The contact d of switch 0 is made a little longer than that of d of switch O. fifhcn the switches are moved together the contact at (1* will be first broken. 'l hatis to when the switches are moved to the left, and when they are moved to the right the contact ol (1 will first be restored. The object or this is to allow of throwing the I ch' 0 and cutting out of circuit the battery ll without giving lalse signal in the local circuit 35. lfl cn the engine-c1 of a train who has been stopped by a signal (le sires to communicate with the despatcher, he operates one of the signal boxes Y by hand at the signal where he is stopped. To

distinguish this signal iron'r one made auto-- math-ally by the train. the engineer may pull the box twice or the box may be constructed to be pulled farther than the dis- 'ance it is moved rnbchanically and additional notches may be cut in the signaling wheel tor this purpose. Boxes of this descripi ion are in use for n'ressengt service and many other purposes. Or the magnet P can he a sir-d so that when the resistance oi the telephoned put in the circuit, it will release its armature and close the local cirrnit 1-353 and the bell and register will resnond. 'ilhe iles 'iatcher may now tlnow over the sw ft-h O to the left and connect with contact :1 putting a telephone 'l in circuit via wire 36.

magnet opens and closes the local circuit a corresponding number of times and the signal is'audibly .announeed'by strokes of the bell G, and recorded on the tape of the register U. It will thus be seen that the despatcher knows-the position of each and every train, ,as'it automatically signals its change of position every time-it enters a new block or section. In order that the .despatcher may control .thepassage of trains or cars along the block sections from the central oflice or station, I provide means which will enable him to set to danger the signal of any desired block, and to the exclusion of any other signal. For this purpose I preferably employ a selecting system.

40 designates a ine wire which is shown as extending from the operating station or dcspatchers oiiice. This. Wire has in connection with it a selecting device at the despatchers ottice or operating station arranged so that he may select any one of the blocks or sections of the system and by depressing a key may lock that section to the danger position, or he may signal directly to the engineer in his cab, or he may test any signal apparatus or restore to the normal condition any track relay or magnet whose contacts have become stuck or fused together. In the present drawing I show a selecting apparatus with a step-by-step motion. 7 I do not wish to be confined to this particular kind of apparatus as there are many kinds of selecting devices that would answer this purpose."

Iii-Figs. 5 and 6 I show twoviews of a selector I may use. I have designated this selector as I in the drawings and it may conof a U-shaped frame or box it through opposite sides of which is passed an axle y to which is fastened a drum j around which is wound a rope, to one end of which is tag tened a weight w. Also fastened to the axle y is a ratchet wheel 1'. Also supported by the axle 3 but loose on the axle, is a toothed metal Wheel t to Which is fastened a pawl g adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 1. On the front of the frame or box is painted a dial consisting of numerals. The axle y is in the center of this dial, and has a needle tfastened to it. This needle t is norn'iallyagainst a stop or pin 2. It may be remarked that the needle I? being fastened to the axle y, to which is attached the drum and weight it, that the weight and rope on the drum is checked from unwinding by the action of the needle t against the pin 1). .An electric connection is made in any convenient way with the toothed metal wheel '1). I show such a connection by the spring i which is adapted to be always-pressing against a tooth or teeth of the wheel '0. A second metal spring i is adapted to make a contact.

' with one or more of theteeth of the Wheel c but only in passing. -The arrangement 0. the pawl and ratchet is such that the wheel ltlt) llt) switch J to the normal position.

will always stop in a position such as indicated by Fig. 5. j a

The operation of the apparatus may now be explained. The needle is shown as pointing to the numeral 1 and this denotes that by depressing the key N, the ap aratus at station #1 will alone respond. he circi it may be traced from battery B which is s own as having its positive pole connected to the ground or earth and a few of its cells conback 1 ratchet r and nected to the wire 39 assing through a switch and when lzey h is depressed to the wire 40, thence to station #1, to a rocking switch J. This switch J is composed of three arms and is preferably made of one ieee of metal. The long arm is adapted to 'e in contact with one of the contacts (1 or d. It is intended that the width of this arm of the switch will be greater than the space spanned so that one contact will be made before the other is broken and no break can occur in the circuit. One of the short arms of the switch J is normally in cont-act with the armature of a magnet P and is intended to make an electrical contact through this armature. The other arm of the rocking switch J is adapted to engage the armature 01 a magnet P when the switch has been shifted. I may here remark that the armature of magnet P shifts the rocking switch so as to open a ground connection at station #1, and actsto connect the wire 40.150 the wire 44 so as to cut out station #1, but this isnot accomplishedby the attraction of the armature of P shifting the rocking switch J but depends on the armature of P returning to its normal condition. For this purpose the wire 44 is opened by a back connection on the armature of P These contacts (1 and d are insulated from the metal of the armature itself by the insulation 71.. The magnet P is operated to restorethe rocking The circuit may be traced from wire 40 to switch J. Here the circuit has two paths, one through the long arm of the switch and contact (I? to wire 41, and the other through the arm of switch J which is incont'act with armature of magnet P and through this armature and the wire 42 to the wire 4] and the coil of magnet P, thence by wire 48, passing through the coils of polarized relay R thence to ground. not of great enough strength to operate the magnet P This may be secured in a numher of ways. By adjusting the spring of the armature of P or by winding its magnets with heavy coarse wire so as to develop a small magnetic pull. R has, however, responded and crossed the rails of the track section a. This puts the signal .9 to danger in the same manner as would occur by the axle of a pair 01, wheels' crossing this section. The engineer could take the telephone T oil its hook at this sig- T he few cells of battery B are The polarized relay l l l nal and get instructions from the despatchcr. The same is true of any signal. Or the dcspatcher if he wished to select the block or section in advance of station #1 would place the needle t of the selector 1 on 'theiigurc 2. This would wind up the drum and weight w and the ratchet wheel 1 would move one tooth over the pawl g and on releasing the needle t, the weight to would move the needle to the figurel and the action of the awl would move the metal toothed wheel pass the spring 71 This tooth in passing would connect momentarily the wire 40 with a heavy strong battery 13 arranged to have, as shown, its negative pole connected to the ground or arranged to be connected with an opposite polarity to the wire 40, to that of the battery B I may here explain that the polarized relays R and R are arranged to respond when the battery B is to line and not to res end when the battery 13 is to line. The attery B iscomposed of a number of cells sufiicient to energize the magnet P so as to shift the rocking switch J. Battery B is connected by wire 37 and s ring 2' to the metal toothed wheel 1) and t 1e tooth of this wheel in passing spring i sends current momentarily over the wire 40 of sufiicient strength to operate the armature of P, and this armature now assumes the position shown in Fig. 7, shifting the rocking switch from the contact (i to the contact all. The circuit is, however, not brolren, as the current still has a path through the armature of P and wire 42. The shifting of the roclzing switch from contact (1 to contact (1 does not connect the wire 40 with the wire 44 as the wire 44 is held open by the back contacts al and d on the armature of P, but when the break occurs at the selecting machine and the armature of P is drawn back. by its spring, the connection between this armature and the rocking switch is finally blOliGD and the wire 44 is connected to the wire 40 by the closing of the contacts (1- and d. The position of the switch is now shown in Fig. 8. ll now the key N be depressed the circuit of wire 40 is extended by the rocking switch J l which is now in connection with the contact (1 to the wire 44, which leads to station #2, and the rocking switch J at this station. Here the circuit may be traced from wire 4-4 to the rocking switch J. llcrc the circuit has two paths, one to wire 45 by the long 12 so that one tooth would 1 arm of the switch and the other through thrarmature of P and wire 46 to the wire 45, thence passing through the coils of i", wirv 47 and the coils of polarized rclayl-l thence to ground. This relay will now respond and cross. the track circuit (1 This shunts out the track relay R setting the signal dllnger. The signal s in going to d: operates the signal box Y and the dc d er now gets proo hat he has operated this :lg-

nal s. 1 might state here that the dei'patcher in operating the slgnal 8 would have operated the signal box Y in a similar The engineer could take the telephone T off its hook at this signal and get instructions from the despatcher.

When the despatcher wishes to restore the selectingcircuit to the normalcondition, he releases the key N and depresses the key N and the magnet P will restore the rocking switch to the normal position. The circuit may be traced from ground at key N through battery Biand over the wire 49 and through all the set of P magnetsin series, one of which is located at each station and 'the depressing of this 'key will cause all these P magnets to respond and all. switches that have been shifted will allbe restored together.

The circuit of wire 44 is continued beyond station #2 when the rocking switch J is shifted, by wire 48 to other stations beyond and at the end of the system may be grounded if desired for testing purposes.

It frequently happens in sleety weather that the signals'when operated at the normal safety position freeze to the safety position and means are provided for testing the signals in succession and keeping them moving so that they are not so liable to freeze and if they do freeze are detected. F or this purpose I have provided the switch 0 which throws on the full strength of battery it when the switch is moved to the right.

When the key N is depressed the magnet P and polarized relay R at station #1 will now both respond and on releasing the key the rocking switch at stat-ion til has connected the wire to the wire 44 so now the sec- 0nd time that the key is depressed the magnet P and polarized rela it at station #2 will'respond. Each time the magnet P will cut out its own station when the rircuit is broken. it is intended that the despatcher will depress the key N and hold it down until the answer back signal from box Y shows that the signal .9 has moved to the danger position. He will then release key N and depress it again and hold it depressed until the answer back signal from the box Y informs him that the signal 8 has been moved. Any of the signals that have become frozen ean'be thus detected. There are also many occasions where the controlling magnets, particularly the track relays, have their contacts stuck or fused together. This often happens during lightning storm. It will be noted that a relay whose contacts are so stuck together, is a dangerous thing, as it gives a safety signal when a train is occupying a block or section.

The signal boxes Y, Y, each being arranged to give a distinctive signal and the location of these signal boxes being known at the despatchers ofiice, it follows that the skipping of a signal in. its regular order would denote that the signaling apparatus of that particular block or section was disarranged. If now this had been caused by the sticking-or fusing together-of the contacts of the track relay and the particular section containing this relay having been located, it is only necessary to have another circuit in combination with the selecting circuit to enable the despatcher to clear this relay. For this pur pose additional contacts are arranged to be changed by the magnet P. These contacts are operated by a piece of insulation it, placed on the armature of magnet P and consist of a spring i ,which is normally in conta :t with a contact-d When the armature of magnet P is attracted, the insulation h presses the spring i away from the contact d. This position is shown in Fig. 7

I have further combined with a track relay, such as relay R of section a a magnet P whose armature is adaptedto separate the contact points of this relay. It is intended that the magnet P shall be of'suflicient strength to attract its armature and tear away the armature of relay-R from its contacts at all times. The circuit for this magnet may be indicatedby the wire 50, and includes battery B which is adapted to have one end grounded at key N it is in tended that the wire shall extend to a magnet similar to P? for controlling each track relay. Normally, the magnets such as P are shunted out of circuit by the wires 51 and The signal box Y in failing to respond to the passing of a train into this section ould inform the despatcher that the signal apparatus of this section. was deranged. l ill here remark that the failure of Y to respond is noted. by the getting of the next regular signal in order, showing that the train passed over this block or section without setting the signal to danger position. The despatchcr \ill now operate the magnet P at station #2 by means of the key N, and while holding the key N depressed the armature of magnet P at station #2 will be attracted and. the insulation 7L1 will open the wires 51 and 52 by pressing the spring '5 away from the contact (1 While still holding key N depressed, the despatcher will now depress key N and the magnet P will attract its armature and pull away the armature of the track relay li .This will operate the signal 8 and this signal 8 v. ill operate the signal box Y and the answer back signal will be received at the despatchers office:

It will thus be seen that by means. of the :se-if' the rails of section a, by bad connections or 1.0

- any desired manner by the passage of the Referring again to Fig. 1,1 have shown in ed to another sectional conductor H by the lecting device that the despatcher can test l ing current. This signal is intended priany and all of hissignal circuits at any time and where the'circuits are deranged by a fused track relay that he can restore them to the normal condition. It will be noted that when the he N, is depressed, that should the olarize relay R fail to respond, or shou d the relay R respond and fai to cross a block section uhich is deprived of operatary signal for the signal of advance.

E designates an electric car, the wheels and axles A of which are shown as being in the block section a.

M designates the motor of the car and C a controller for the current to the motor.

L-designates a signal lamp.

The circuit for the car may be traced from the dynamo D by wires 1 and 3 to the controller F,'which may be of any desired construction which is here arbitrarily showm. Details of its construction and manner of connection may be found in the application hereinbefore referred to. The circuit for the motor continues from controller F by wire 4, sectional conductor H, shoe K, wires 5, 6,. and 7 assing through the motor M and any desire form of controller C, thence by shoe K, conductor H, and wire 2 to the dynamo D. The lamp L is connected across in multiple with the motor M and controller 0. A steam locomotive may also be provided with the block next in otherwise, that by depressing the key N the relay R can be operated and the same result arrived at.

connection with the railway signaling system iust described an electric railway system. in this system certain of the features are disclosed in my 00- ending a plication, Serial No. 96,536, filed iiarch 3r 1.902.

In the present application the operating current is adapted to be cut off from certain sections by the passage of a train and preferably upon the operation of the signals.

H designates a-series of sectional feed conductors and H a continuous conductor which is connected with one terminal of a dynamo D or other source of electrical supply. If desired, one of the track or running rails of the insulated block section may be continuous in an electrical sense and serve instead of the continuous conductor H.

1 designates a line su ply a ire extending from the other termina of the dynamo D, and 3, 4, 8, 9, branch wires leading therefrom to two of the sectional feed conductors H. Included in the Wires 3, 4, and 8, and 9, are circuit breakers or controllers F and F. These circuit controllers may be operated in connections above described may be em plo ed. Of course, the motor M and its con troder C may be omitted. The signal lamp is normally on a closed circuit and automat ically recordsthe conditions of the block or sections in advance of the moving car or locomotive and in addition is arranged to be controlled from the operating station or by the despatcher through the selecting system hereinbefore described. The 'des atcher knowing of the position of each anc every car or train by means of the announcing and recording system is also enabled by means of the selecting system to separately operate the signal carried by any moving car or train without disturbing the signaling of any other car or train. The despatcher ma thus give any set of signals as flashes of the amp in the nected to the sectional conductor H and the l car or train. A code of signals may thus be continuous conductor H by the wires 10 and arranged. The despatcher may through the 11 and the electro-magnetic controlling de- 1 selecting system deprive the electric train vice of the mechanism of signal 8 is connectfrom operating power at any desired oint l and he can at that place either throug the wire 26 and with the continuous conductor telephone system or through the lamp give H by the wire 27. So long as the signal of any desired instructions. any block section is in the inclined or safety 1 W hat l claim as new and desire to secure position of indication, the circuit breaker t by Letters Patent is:

train. Preferably they are operated from the si nals as described in the application herein 'Jefore mentioned. For example, the circuit breaker F is operated from the signal s and the circuit breaker F operated from the signal 8 s, s designate signals. The electro-magnetic controlling device of the signal 8 is coni. in a railway signaling system, the comthe circuit between the line wire 1 and the' bination of a number of cars or trains moving sectional conductor H of the block section in 1 over successive sections of a block system, a the rear of that signal. Consequently the sectionalcircuit extending along the block signal 8 or a corresponding signal of that 1 system. circuits extending along the blocks block will be held in an inclined or safety position. Should the circuit of the si al .9 or a i vices for separately controlling sai. sectional similar signalbe opened, it is an indication circuit, circuit controllers and means located that the block section which it controls or the at an operating station and co-acting with signal next in advance is deprived of operatl said circuit controller for separately operatconnected therewith w ill be operated to close a signal lamp and substantially the same marily to warn a motorman not to run into ing poser, and in effect, serves as a cautionor sections containing electro-ma netic deing a selected electro-magnetic device, nad a 1 signal carried on each moving car or train for indicating the condition of the block in advance of that on which the car or train ,is moving.

2. Ina railway signaling system, the combination of a number of blocks or sections of a block system, a circuit extending along i the blocks or sections including a device for each block for automatically'signaling the position of a car or train as it successively advances over the blocks or sections, means cooperating with and controlling the opera and receivingstation where said signals are automatically announced or recorded, stoppage devices controlling the automatic sign'alin'gf: devices located adjacent to the cars or trains and under the control ofthe said comductors,

' CHIS OI trains i 01 connectin the conductors tion of said device, a combined operating bined' operating and receiving station and means located at the combined operating and receiving station for operating a selected stoppage device separately.

3. In a signaling system for electric railways, the combination of aseries of concontrollers for connecting the conductors in circuit with -a source of electric supply, means; brought into and kept in action by the presence of a car or train on any given block or section for cutting out of circuit the conductor in the rear, electric devices aliected by suchcutting outofcircuit, and means located at a receiving station for automatically announcing or recording the o eration of the circuit controller;

4.- In a railway signaling system, the combination of a series of conductors for carrying operating current, circuit controllers automatically operated upon the movement of the signals due to the passage of a car or engine for connecting the conductors in circuit with a source of electric supply, a circuit extending along the blocks or sections including devices for automatically signaling the operation of the circuit controllers, elec tric devices cooperating with the automatic devices, and a receiving station where said signals are automatically announced or recorded.

5'. In a signaling system for electric railways, the combination of a series of conductors for carrying operating current, circuit controllers automatically operated by the in circuit with a source of e ectric supply, a circuit extending along the blocks or sections including electro-niagnetic devices for separately controlling the operation of the circuit controllers, and means located at an operating station for separately operating a selected electro-magnetic device.

6..In a signaling system for electric railways, the combination of a series of conductors in circuit with a source of electric supply,

means-located at a combined, operating and along the blocks or sections and stoppage of the car or trainat or near the desired block or section, and means for automaticallyannouncing or recording at the combmed oper- .ating and receiving station the operation of I the selected circuit controller.

7. In a signaling system for electric railways, the combination of a series of conductors, circuit controllers for connecting the conductors in circuit with a source of electric supply, and with devices arranged along the blocks or sections, meansbrought into and kept in action by the presence of a car or engine in any given block or section for cutting out of circuit the preceding section, and means located atan operating station for selecting and operating a particular circuit controller so as to secure the operation of i device and stoppage of the car or engine at or near the desired section.

8. In a signaling system for electric railways, the combination of a series of conductors, circuit controllers for connecting the conductors in circuit with a source of electric supply,. means brought into and kept in action bythe' presence of a car or engine on any given section for cutting out of circuit i or section, and means for automatically annquncing orrecording at the combined operating and-receiving station the operation of the selected circuit controller. I

9. In a railway signalingsystem, a combination of'a controlling circuit including a source of an electric supply and a circuit breaker having a movable part, a circuit'controlled by the movable part of the circuit breaker, and a circuit including an electromagnetic device !'.)I separating the movable part from a contact of the controlled circuit when they have become stuck or fused together.

10. A,combination of a controlling circuit includlng a source of electric supply and a circuit breaker comprising a movable part,

a controlled circuit including contacts with which the movable part co-acts, devices supplied'by a control circuit for securing the stoppage of cars and trains, and a circuit including an electro-magnetic device for separating the movable part of the circuit breaker from a contact when they have become stuck or fused together.

11. In a railway signaling system, a combination of a controlling circuit including a source of electric supply and a circuit breaker having a movable part, a. controlled circuit including contacts with which the movable parts co-act, devices supplied by the con- Lwheels for sending distinctiveindications to trolled circuit for securing the stoppage of i said signal receiving apparatus from said secthe cars or trains, a circuit including an elections.

tic-magnetic device for separating the con- 17. A railwaysignaling stein comprising tacts of the circuit controller when they have I a plurality of sections of rai ro a(l track, a sigbecome stuck or fused together, and means I nal receiving apparatus associated wlthsaid located at a receiving station for automatic- 1 sections, and e ally announcing or recording the failure of l circuit tra k OI'tIOIIS Controlled y t the movement of the circuit breaker. wheels for sen ing distinctive indications to 12. A combination of a series of signal desaid signal receiving apparatus from said vices, means located ata'n operating and retrack sections. ceiving station for automatically announcing. 18. A railway slgnahngsyst'em com rising or recording the failure of the operation of a glurality of sections of railroad tra c siga deranged signal device and means under na receiving apparatus associated with said the control of an 0 erator at the said station sections, track relays provided for" said secfor operating the (eranged s gnal device.

13. A combination of a series of circuit breakers located along the blocks or sections, means located at an operating and receiving station for automatically announcing-or recording the failure of the operation of the circuit breaker, and means under the control of an operator at the said station for operating the last named circuit breaker.

14. The combination of a controlling cir cuit including a source of electric supply and a circuit breaker for a movable part, a controlled circuit including contacts controlled by the movable member .of the circuit breaker, device operated by the control c rcuit for securing the stoppage of a car or train, a circuit including an electro-magnetic device for se )arating the movable part of the circuit breaker from acontact when they havebecome stuck or fused together, means located at an operating and receiving station for automatically announcing or recording the failure of the operation of the circuit breaker, and means under the control of an operator at the said station for operating the e ectro-magnetic device.

15. A signaling system for railways comprising a signal receiving station, a railroad track divided into sections, an electric device electrically associated with each said section of track and connected to the signal receiving station, and circuit controlling means whereby railroad ears in any section will send a distinctive signal to the signal receiving staincluding train wheels for controlling the inand current supplying means for operating said signal receiving apparatus. p

19. In railroadin means located at a common center, to t etectthe'statusof a series of blocks or subsections of the road of travel, in combination with means adapted to actuate the circuit adapted to operate the signal of the required section from said cen ter or ofiice, a

20. In combination with the rails of travel divided into sections, each section provided with a circuit adapted to operate the signal, means located at a common center or ofiice and means located at said center or oflice to actuate the signal circuit of one or the other of said sections.

21. In railroading, a center, signal circuits distributed along-the road of travel and connected locally each to its respective section, a circuit for said center, said circuit running tion to the different signal GIICUitS, and means stationed at the center, and operatively related to said circuit, to automatically and in 'order test and annunciate the status at said center of the different signal circuits. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of the subscribed witnesses.

tion. WM. G. ROOME.

16. A railway signaling system comprising Witnesses:

a plurality of sections of railroad track, a sig- GEo.. E. F. DUFIIEY,

nal receiving apparatus associated with said O. 0. WHITE,

sections, and electric means including train C. E. FISH.

cctric means including closed tions and operable through electric circuits dications of said signal receiving apparatus,

to detect the status of each of saidsections,

along the line of travel and in operative rela-

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