Patent GB-903742-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in control apparatus for railway car classification hump yards
IPC: B61L17/02
Filed: 1958-11-04
Abstract: 903,742. Railway classification hump yard apparatus. WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE CO. Nov. 4; 1958 [Nov. 8, 1957], No: 35326/58. Class 105. Control apparatus for a railway wagon classification hump yard includes apparatus for computing the rolling resistance of a cut of at least one railway wagon moving on a first stretch of track comprises, in combination, a weighing means WRC for registering the weight per wagon of the cut, retarder means MR1T, MR2T located on the first stretch of track at the entrance to a second stretch of curved track (between position a<SP>1</SP> and position 2 shown as a straight line on the drawing for convenience) and controlled by the weighing means for adjusting the speed of the cut entering the second stretch to one of a predetermined group of velocity values in accordance with the weight category in which registration has been effected, length measuring means located in the second stretch of track for registering the length of the cut in one of a plurality of categories CL1T, CL2T, CL3T, CL4T by means of relays CL1TP, CL2TP, CL3TP, CL4TP, velocity measuring means 7, 6 in the. form of a radar device located adjacent to the exit end of the second stretch of track for measuring the speed of the cut leaving the second stretch, whereby a product signal is produced by circuit means controlled by the length measuring means and the weighing means, and an output signal is produced by the circuit means controlled by the length measuring means, weighing means and velocity measuring means, the algebraic sum of the signals operating summing means incorporating a summing amplifier 8 producing an output signal in accordance with the rolling resistance of the cut. This output signal R1, R2 is transmitted to a group retarder leaving speed computer 87 and the signal thus produced is fed to the group retarder speed measuring and control apparatus 5 to control the actuation of the group retarder track brakes 1-2GR1T, 1-2GR2T. The computing apparatus employed in the embodiment illustrated includes a relay CLVP (Fig. 1) which check that the length of the cut is under 116 feet and that the cut has left the master retarder MR1T, MR2T at the preselected velocity V1; a test compute relay TC; two weight storage-relays RLP and RHP; fixed computer ratio panels 1CRP to 6CRP (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5); and a summing amplifier 8 (Fig. 1). Each of the panels of the computer 1CRP and 4CRP is of identical construction and each of the panels 2CRP, 3CRP, 5CRP, 6CRP is of identical construction. The position of lever FNS shown in Fig. 1 corresponds to " fast;" " normal " and slow " operation conditions in the yard and determines which pair of panels is operated at any one time. Panel 1CRP of the computer includes L1, M1, 1CL1 and 1CL2 and eight potentiometers 19-26 inclusive (Figs. 2 and 4). When the FNS lever is in the F position only panels 1CRP and 4CRP are in operation, when FNS lever is in the N position panels 2CRP and 5CRP are in operation and when FNS lever is in the S position panels 3CRP and 6CRP are in operation. The curved stretch of track a<SP>1</SP>, 2 is of predetermined length and gradient and weighing means WRC for measuring the weight per axle of each cut entering the master retarder MR1T, MR2T actuates relay means 1-2ALP, 1-2AHP for controlling the master retarder to reduce the speed of each cut leaving the master retarder to a value in accordance with its axle; loading; the computing apparatus being responsive to the speed measuring means 7, 6, cut length measuring means 4, weight measuring means WRC and the gradient and the lengths of the stretch of track to produce a signal proportional to the curved track rolling resistance of the cut in the stretch of track. Specification 903,741 is referred to.