Patent GB-307766-A (GB)
Title: A new or improved system of, and apparatus for, operating and controlling the doors of rail or road vehicles
IPC: E05F15/02
Filed: 1927-12-09
Abstract: 307,766. Peters & Co., Ltd., G. D., and Hockley, H. R. Dec. 9, 1927 Steps. - In a system of and apparatus for opening and closing the doors of passenger - carrying vehicles the movements of a door in both directions are controlled by a vacuum - power engine so constructed and arranged in the system that its operation is controlled by a single controlling valve device, and safety means are provided to control automatically the power supply of such engine so as to prevent its operation to open the door except at appropriate times. The vehicle steps may be operated in conjunction with the doors. In the lay-out of the system shown in Fig. 1, the safety means comprise, for example, the switch 42 that is associated with the brake apparatus, so that the doors are opened only when the brakes are applied, and the single controlling device comprises, for example, the electrical valve device 19 or 20, or the manually-operated valve device 29 or 30. The apparatus of the system comprises vacuum reservoirs 1, 2 connected to the induction manifold 4 of an internal-combustion engine, a non-return valve 5 being fitted in the pipe 3. The reservoirs 1, 2 are connected by pipes 6, 7 to one side or end of the door engine 8 for operating the entrance door, and by pipes 6, 9 to the door engine 10 for operating the exit door. Check valves 11, 12, constructed as shown in Fig. 6, are arranged respectively in the pipes 7, 9. The opposite sides of the door engines are connected by pipes 13, 14 and 15, 16 respectively with check valves 17, 18, similar to valves 11, 12, and electrovacuum valves 19, 20, shown in Fig. 5, are arranged between the pipes 13, 14 and 15, 16 respectively. Manually-operable valves 29, 30, as shown in Fig. 8, are arranged between the valves 17, 19 and 18, 20 respectively. The apparatus is controlled electrically, a battery 41 and a control switch 42 interlocked with the vehicle brake apparatus being provided. A treadle switch 43 controls the working of the exit door, and switches 44, 45 for the driver and conductor for controlling the entrance door and exit door respectively are provided. The switches 44, 45 may be of the kind described in Specification 296,553. The check valves 11, 12, 17 and 18 each comprise a valve 53 and a blood-passage 52 controlled by a screwed plug 59. The electrovacuum valves 19, 20 each comprise a solenoid coil 60 surrounding a fixed core 62 and a movable core 63 with longitudinal grooves on its periphery. The lower part of the casing 61 constitutes a valve chamber 64 in which is located a valve 65 connected at 66 to the core 63. A passage 70 in the core 62 is connected to the pipe 14 or 16, and the lower end of the passage is formed as a seat for a ball valve 71 located in a recess of the movable core 63. The lower end of the passage 73 leads through an air-strainer 21 to atmosphere. The door engines 8, 10, Figs. 1 and 4, each comprise a cylinder 79, cover 80 and trunk piston 81, 82. To the closed end 83 of the trunk 82 is secured a cross-head bar 84 connected through side levers with the door and step. The piston 81 is bored to the diameters 90, 91 for engagement with a valve cup 92 that is provided with side ports 93 and an annular flange 94 that may seat on the soft ring 95 and seal communication between the spaces 96, 98. The annular space 99 is evacuated through pipes 7a or 9a, Fig. 1, and the pipe 13b or 15b, Fig. 1. is connected to a tapped hole in the cover 80. The spaces 96, 97 are in communication, but normally only through restricted channels 102. The system operates as follows : With the vehicle running in the direction of the arrow A, all doors being closed, and the switches 44, 45, 43 in the open position and the switch 42 open, as shown in Fig. 1, the solenoids of the valves 19, 20 are energized, the emergency valves 29, 30 being in the position shown in Fig. 8, and the engine manifold 4 sets up a degree of vacuum in the reservoirs 1, 2 and the spaces of the cylinders 8, 10. On the driver applying the brakes the switch 42 will be closed, and when the vehicle is brought to rest the conductor operates his switch 45 to close the circuit at contact 45a and the driver closes his switch 44. This causes the solenoid of the electrovacuum valve 19 to be energized for the entrance door to be opened, the exit door being opened when a passenger closes the treadle switch 43 to energize the solenoid of the valve 20. Atmospheric air admitted through the valves 19, 20 unseats the check valves 17, 18, Figs. 1 and 6, and moves the pistons of the cylinders 8, 10 to open the doors through mechanical connections. The admission of air to the spaces 96, 97, Fig. 4, causes the piston assembly to rise in the cylinder with a slow final movement. On the entry and exit of the passengers being completed, the brakes are released and the circuit broken at switch 42, the switches 44, 45 returning automatically to their normal positions. The electrovacuum valves 19, 20 are thus de-energized and the cylinders of the door engines 8, 10 connected to vacuum for the return movement of the pistons and the closure of the doors with a check action. By means of a switch 46 a passenger may, in an emergency, couple the battery 41 directly to the valves 19, 20 so that the doors may be opened. The doors may also be closed by the hand-operated valves 29, 30 by movement through 90‹ to admit air to pipes 13, 15 or by a return to normal position to the vacuum pipes of the system. The Specification also describes and illustrates the above system combined with the vacuum-brake apparatus of a motor vehicle. The brakes and door apparatus may be interlocked by means of an electrically-controlled valve so that the brakes cannot be released while a door is open. The electrical portion of the apparatus or system may be omitted. Specification 262,854, [Class 65 (i), Door and gate operating-appliances &c.], also is referred to.