Patent GB-213649-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to the automatic control of travelling bodies
IPC: B60L15/32
Filed: 1922-12-28
Abstract: 213,649. Venables, R. E. S., and Lloyd, G. E. Dec. 28, 1922. Roller-way conveyers. -Parcels on a roller conveyer or railway and tramway vehicles having been arrested or blocked at one point by a preceding vehicle, are freed by that vehicle at another point, the distance between such points being selected by the use at different distances from that section of track contacts, each placed into one of n electric states as defined in Specification 165,885, and engaged by a contact on the vehicle, &c., set to the corresponding state. The vehicle may be blocked by making or breaking the supply to sectional conductors, which may apply the vehicle brakes or open a vehicle switch. The track contacts A1 - - D1 may energize reciprocating switches, Fig. 1, or rotary switches, Fig. 3. Fig. 1 shows two electric states from the main P, N, the vehicle contact 1 being set to one or the other by means of switch 2, vehicle contacts 3, 4, and track contacts B2, B3 connected to N, P respectively. With switch 2 connected to contact 3, current flows from main N through contacts B2, 3, switch 2, lead x, contacts 1, B1, lead Ba, coil B6 and leads Cd, Cj, Bf to main P. Switch B7 is then closed to complete the circuit P. Bf, Bk, Cg, Dh, D8, N so as to energize switch D9 and free section D1. When, however, switch 2 is connected to contact 4, section C1 is freed through switch C9 operated by the circuit N. C8, Ch, B5, Bj. Af, P, switch B5 being closed by the circuit N, Bb, B4, Ba, Bl, 1, x, 2, 4, B3, P. To prevent the partial energizing of both coils B4, B6 through the circuits N, Bb, B4, Bc, B6, Cd, Cj, Bf, P, these coils may be connected to contacts B1, B1<1>, Fig. 2, which are separate but touched almost simultaneously by the vehicle contact. In the case of rotary switches, Fig. 3, the track rails form the main N while trolly 5 engages the main P, sectional conductors A10 - - C10 being engaged by trolly 6 which is connected to trolly 5 through coil 7. This coil actuates a switch 8 to energize the car motor and also releases the brake 9 which is applied by springs. Contact B1 is connected by lead Ba with a single relay coil B46 and thence by lead Bq with the four inner contacts of switch B12. This switch in its '' set " positions joins lead Bq to either lead Bl and main P or leads Bu and Bt and main N, or in its " home " positions joins lead Bq to lead Bm and neutral main O. The switch B12 is held by detent B13 engaging one of the notches in disc B14, but is rotated by motor B16, when coil B46 is energized, through the circuit P. Leads Bl, Bo, switch B15, lead Bs, motor B16, lead Bt, and main N; coil B46 is then de-energized when switch B12 joints lead bQ to a lead in the same state. The switch B12 also rotates the switches B17, B18, head switch B19 and tail switch B20. Section B10 is connected to main N just prior to the arrival of a car, if section A is clear, by lead Bv, switch B19 in one of its " set " position lead Bw, switch A20 in one of its "home" positions, and lead At. Section D is freed by switch C20 when a vehicle is in section B, so that switch C12 is rotated by current from main O, lead Bn, coil B21, lead B22, contacts B23, switch B24, lead Bp, switch B17, and lead Ch, switch C12 being rotated until it connects lead Cm to main O. Similarly, section C is freed when the vehicle reaches section A, with the switch 2 connected to contact 4 as shown.