Patent GB-503048-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to route-setting systems for railways
IPC: B61L19/06
Filed: 1938-05-02
Abstract: 503,048. Route - setting apparatus.GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL CO. May 2. 1938, No. 13094. Convention date, May 28, 1937. [Class 105] A route-setting apparatus can be conditioned so that routes are set up either manually by an operator or automatically by an approaching train. The change over is effected by a manual lever. The figures show the arrangement for a single track with a diverging branch and with a crossing track. For manual routesetting the change-over switch SW must be in the full-line position and if the operator wishes to clear the route for an approaching East-bound train to proceed over the main track 18 he rotates the entrance button 10N clockwise and depresses the exit button 11X. This action energizes a polarized route relay 10-11 in the positive direction by a circuit from +ve, over arm 20 of the change-over switch SW in full line position, contact 21 closed by the operated entrance button 10N, winding of the route relay 10-11, back contacts 22, 23 of relays 13-14, 10-12 for conflicting routes, contact 47 of unoperated opposing direction entrance button 11N, contact 24 of depressed exit button 11X, and arm 25 of the change-over switch SW, to -ve. The exit button contact 24 opens as soon as the button 11X is released but a stick circuit is maintained from the back contact 23 over normal and front contacts 26, 27 of the route relay 10-11 to the arm 25 of the change-over switch SW. With the route relay 10-11 energized in the normal direction a two-winding polarized points-control relay Z is energized in its normal winding so as to set the points TS normal, subject to control by an approach locking relay L, and when the points have responded, as indicated by a relay WP, the signal 10A for East-bound movement over the points at normal is cleared by a circuit from +ve, over front and normal contacts 29, 30 of relay WP, front and normal contacts 31, 32 of route relay 10-11, and front contact 77 of track relay 7T. Other routes are set up in a similar manner; for instance on operating entrance button 13N and exit button 14X, the route relay 13-14 is energized to effect the clearing of the signal 13 for South-bound movement over the crossing track. This route relay 13-14 can be energized only if the route relays 10-11, 10-12 for the conflicting routes are de-energized. For automatic working the change-over switch SW is moved to the dotted line position and now if an East-bound train enters track section 2 the dropping of track relay 2T energizes a relay 10AR by a circuit from +ve, over back contact 51 of a relay 10S, back contact 52 of the track relay 2T, back contacts 53, 54 of relays 12AR, 11AR, contact 55 of an unoperated wayside push button 10-12PB, back contact 56 of a relay 10ASR, winding of the relay 10AR, and arm 57 of the change-over switch SW in dotted line position, to -ve. With the relay 10AR energized then the route relay 10-11 is energized in the normal direction by a circuit from +ve, over arm 20 of the change-over switch SW in dotted line position, front contact 58 of the relay 10AR, winding of the route relay 10-11, back contacts 22, 23 of the conflicting route relays 13-14, 10-12, front contact 59 of the relay 10AR, and arm 25 of the change-over switch SW in dotted line position, to -ve. Route relay 10-11 being thus energized in the normal direction the points are set normal and the signal 10A cleared in the same way as for manual working. In addition however the closure of front and normal contacts 60, 61 of the route relay 10-11 picks up a relay US which has a stick circuit over its own front contact 64, parallel back contacts 63, 66 of the track relays 7T, 3T, and a contact 62 of an unoperated wayside push button 11PB. The relay 11S thus remains energized until the train has passed through and left the departure track section 3. By reason of the stick relay 11S being thus energized and so opening its back contact 65 the presence of the East-bound train in track section 3 does not energize a relay 11AR. If the driver having reached section 3 desires to make a backward movement he operates the wayside push button 11PB thereby dropping the stick relay 11S which then closes its back contact 65 whereby the relay 11AR becomes energized by a circuit from +ve, over back contact 78 of track relay 3T, back contact 65 of the relay 11S, back contacts of the relays 12AR, 10AR, 10ASR, winding of the relay 11AR, and arm 57 of the changeover switch SW in dotted line position, to - ve. Front contacts of the relay 11AR then energize the route relay 10-11 reversely so as to clear the signal 11 for the backward movement. When a West-bound train enters track section 3, the track relay 3T closes its back contact 78 thereby energizing the relays 11AR, 10-11 by the circuits above described so that the points are set and the signal 11 is cleared for West-bound movement over the points at normal. Returning to the case of the Eastbound train if the driver desires to enter the diverging track 17 he depresses the wayside push 10-12 PB whereby the current from +ve, over the back contacts 51, 52 of the relays 10S, 2T, and the back contacts 53, 54 of the relays 12AR, 11AR is now diverted by the contact 55 of the depressed push 10-12PB over a back contact 67 of the relay 10AR to the winding of a relay 10ASR. This relay 10ASR continues energized over its own front contact 68 when the driver releases the wayside push button 10-12 PB. With relay 10ASR energized the route relay 10-12 is energized in the normal direction whereby the points are set at reverse and the signal 10B to the diverging track 17 is cleared. Specification 477,671 is referred to.