Patent GB-190612067-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Apparatus for Operating Railway Signals in connection with Points.
Filed: 1906-05-23
Granted: 1907-01-31
Abstract: 12,067. Siemens Bros. & Co., [Siemens & Halske Akt.-Ges.]. May 23. Hand-levers; controlling and locking signals; interlocking-apparatus; semaphore signals; signalling-systems.-In hand-lever apparatus for controlling tne electric operation of signals in conjunction with points, the locking-armatures of magnets included in the circuits co-operate with locking-projections in a slotted slide operated by the signal lever, or with projections arranged in a curved manner on a disk attached to the signal lever. Switches controlled hy the usual blocking arrangements, or by treadles or fouling-bars, are included in the circuits, and the electric operation of the semaphore by these circuits is mentioned. The object is to minimize the number of levers while still fulfilling the necessary safety condition. The signal lever S, Fig. 1, operates the locking-slide 21 and the contacts 18, 19, 20, 118, 119, 120 and the switches 13, 113, 42 are operated by the movements of the slide 21, and the locking-armatures 25, 16, 116, 125 respectively of the magnets 24, 15, 115, 124 engage in a slot in the slide 21. A switch 9 with contacts 10, 110 is controlled by the station blocking-apparatus, fouling-bars, treadles, and the like and various contacts 22, 122 for detecting and interlocking purposes &c. are introduced into the signal circuit. In the signal apparatus, the coupling-magnet 28, the motor 34 with windings 33, 35 the switches 32, 36, the contact 40 for indicating the 'danger' position of the signal, and the relay 45 operate in a known manner. In the position shown, the slide 21 is locked by the armatures 16, 116 and the projection 26, and if, for example, the contact 9, 10 is closed for setting the signal 39 to 'clear,' the magnet 15 is energized by the closed circuit from the battery 5 through the contacts 9, 10, 11, 13, magnet 15, and the wire 17 to earth and to the battery 6. The armature 16 is raised, unlocking the slide 21, which may be moved to the left with the contacts 18, 19, 20, &c. in position 1. The circuit of the magnet 15 is interrupted at contacts 11, 13, and the armature 16 falls on the right of the projection 26, locking the slide against backward movement. This motion of the slide locks the points in a known manner, or by reversing the points lever 46, Fig. 5, by means of a projection on the slide. The magnet 24, Fig. 1, is then energized through the closed circuit from the battery 5, through contacts 22, 18, magnet 24, contacts 19,23, and the wire 17 to earth and to the battery 6. The armature 25 is raised, and the motion of the slide 21 to the left may then be completed. The circuit of the magnet 24 is thereby broken at the contacts 19, 23, and a circuit is closed from the battery 5 through the contacts 22, 18, 19, 27, coupling- magnet 28, and earth to battery 6 to set the signal to 'clear,' the motor-circuit being from the battery through the contacts 29, 30, 32 and the winding 33 to earth and to the battery 6. The motor may be arranged as described in Specification No. 13,980, A.D. 1899, and connects the contact 36 to the winding 35 for the 'danger' movement, and disconnects the switch 32 and the winding 33. The signal is at any time moved to 'danger' by moving the slide into the position 1, thus breaking the coupling- magnet circuit at the contacts 19, 27. To prevent the falling-off of the armature 25 at the end position from locking the slide against this return motion, the projection 26 is proportioned so that the armature 25 falls upon the top of it, and in so falling may display a small disk or actuate another detector. This is effected in the arrangement shown in Fig. 8 by the inclination of the locking surfaces 71, 171, upon which the locking-armature may slide during the return movement. The points remain locked by the engagement of the armature 16, Fig. 1, with the right-hand side of the projection 26, until the magnet 15 is energized by the closing of contacts such as the contacts 43, 44 by hand, or by a train directly, or through a relay 45 ; this circuit of the magnet 15 is from the battery through contacts 29, 38, 36, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 13, magnet 15, and the lead 17 to earth and the battery 6. The slide may then be returned to its original position, since the armature 16 of the magnet 15 is raised above the projection 26. Similarly, by movement of the slide 21 to the right-hand, the righthand signal may be operated. Fig. 11 shows a modification, in which one magnet 224 replaces the two magnets 24, 124, Fig. 1, and the locking- armature 225, Fig. 11, is arranged with. respect to its locking-abutments 254, 255 on the slide 21, so that it allows of the first part of the motion of the slide in either direction, but only allows of the completion of the motion when in the attracted position. The circuits of the magnets 15, 115 are as shown in Fig. 1. Since all the circuits are open in the normal position of the slide, an arrangement is necessary for ensuring that the current to the motor is not cut off until the signal is completely at 'danger.' This is effected by dependence of the points release upon the contacts 38, 36, 40, Fig. 1. This might be dispensed with if the contact 20 is held in position 1 on the return motion by a braking-device dependent on the completion of the danger' movement of the signal. The further final movement of the contact 20 to the normal position 0 may be effected by a weight, spring, electro-magnet, or the like. In a modified form, the slot of the slide 50, Fig. 7, is provided with several locking-faces and only two locking-armatures 62, 162 for magnets 61, 161. The right-hand signal 139, is here operated by the lefthand motion of the slide. The contacts 9, 10 being closed, a circuit through the magnet 61 is formed from the battery 5 through the contacts 9, 10, 59, 57, 60, magnet 61, contacts 63, 58, 64, and the wire 65 to earth and to battery 6. The armature 62 is raised, and the slide 50 may be moved to the left-hand into position 1, which breaks the circuit of the magnet 61, and the armature 62 drops behind the projection 51, locking the slide and the points. The magnet 161 is then energized by the closed circuit from the battery 5 through contacts 122, 166, 157, 160, magnet 161, contacts 163, 158, 164, and the wire 165 to earth and battery 6. The armature 162 is raised, and the movement of the slide 50 to the left into position 2 may be completed. The signal magnet 128 is thus energized by the closed circuit from the battery 5 through contacts 122, 166, 157, 160, magnet 161, contacts 163, 158, 168, and the magnet 128 to earth and to battery 6, so that the signal 139 is set to 'clear.' If blocking control of the switches 9 is not used, these switches 9 may be arranged in the operating- apparatus, or the locking-armatures 16, 116, Fig. 1, 62, 162, Fig. 7, may be released by hand, or, in the modified form shown in Fig. 8, the armatures 62, 162 are provided with inclined projections 69, 169 resting on the inclined faces of a wedge piece 70, upon which they slide upwards without energization of their respective magnets at the preliminary movements of the slide 50. Each armature 62, 162 still locks the slide against backward movement on falling upon the opposite side of the projection 51. In another modified form, one locking-projection is provided at the top of the slide slot, and two at the bottom. The locking-projections may be arranged upon cylindrical or curved surfaces or upon a disk 72, Fig. 1, combined with the signal lever S.