Patent GB-190909906-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Device for Preventing Collisions between Railway Trains.
Inventor: ANGUS ARTHUR REGINALD
IPC: B61L3/10
Filed: 1909-04-26
Granted: 1910-05-26
Abstract: 9906. Angus, A. R. May 8, 1908, [Convention date]. Electrical systems, automatic. - Contact rods rotatably mounted on the track are raised electrically into vertical position in front of and behind a train as it proceeds along the track. Any other train approaching too nearly passes over one of the rods in vertical position, and a battery circuit on the train is closed through a contact plate on the train, the vertical contact rod, the track, and the engine frame. The closed battery circuit operates an alarm or a train-stopping device. Fig. 6 shows that part of a single-track system which is operated by a train passing from C to E to protect it from trains approaching it in either direction. As a train proceeds from C to E, rotatable rods 70 are raised behind it, and duplicated sets of rods 28, 69 are raised in front of it. The operating- motor of each rod has separate windings for raising and lowering respectively. These, for convenience, are referred to as separate motors. The motor circuits are closed through a battery on the train bv engine contacts and fixed track contacts 21, 27. When a train passes over a contact 21, current passes from the battery on the train, (a) to the lifting-motor of the rotatable rod 70 immediately behind it, (b) to the lowering-motor of the rotatable rod 70 the second in the rear, (c) to the lowering-motor of the rotatable rod 28 immediately in front of the train, and (d) to the lifting-motor of the rod the second in front. When a train passes over a contact 27, a duplicate rotatable rod 69 at the next block junction is lowered, and the one in the junction the second ahead is raised. A similar grouping of rods and circuits is arranged for operation by the trains passing in the opposite directions. Track apparatus actuating signals on trains and for stopping trains.-Each rotatable contact rod comprises a mast 32 to which are pivoted two arms carrying contact rollers 35. These arms are pressed outwards by springs 34, so that the rollers press on to the inturned edges of channel-shaped collectors or contact plates 83 on the trains. The mast 32 is secured to the spindle 31 of an electric motor. The motor has two separate windings for rotation in opposite directions. At the close of a lifting movement, the mast 32 bridges contacts 46, and closes the circuit of a motor 37, which thereupon lowers a locking-bar 38 behind the mast 32. When the contact rod is to be lowered, the motor 37 is driven to rotate the bar 38 out of the path of the must 32 and into contact with terminals 60 by which the lowering-circuit of the motor 31 is closed. The stationary contact rods have similarly constructed arms 33 pivoted to fixed masts. Collectors 85, 86, Fig. 2, close signalling-circuits in contacting with rods set up by an approaching train travelling in the opposite direction, and rods set up by a preceding train travelling in the same direction, respectively. The two collectors are in parallel. A signalling-circuit from either collector comprises an electro-magnet 89, a battery 88, a motor 92, an electro-magnet 98 the engine frame and the track. When energized, the electromagnets 89, 98 attract an armature 100, which bridges contacts 90, 99 and so short-circuits the track circuits. The motor 92 is then continuously operated to hold the throttle lever, bell lever, &e. in stop and alarm position until the armature 100 is lifted by hand.