Patent GB-190709324-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Railway Signals and Gates
Inventor: COMBS JAMES GIDIAN OTTAWAY
Filed: 1907-04-22
Granted: 1908-03-12
Abstract: 9324. Combs, J. G. O., and Combs, I. D. April 20, 1906, [date applied for under Patents Act, 1901]. Gate opening and closing apparatus. - A train approaching a crossing from either side operates three electric treadles successively to close circuits to three electro-magnets, which respectively operate mechanism to place the signal and gate-setting mechanism in operative position, to operate the signal and an electric alarm bell, and to operate the gate. On arrival at the gate, a fourth treadle is operated to restore the apparatus to normal condition. The treadles 1, 2, 3, Fig. 3, are duplicated by treadles 1<a>, 2<a>, 3<a> on the other side of the gate 9 for trains approaching in either direction, and are included in separate circuits with a source 5 and electro-magnets 1<b>, 2<b>, 3<b>. When the treadle 1 or 1<a> is actuated, the magnet 1<b> is energized and its armature 35 is attracted to actuate a rock shaft 32, Fig. 4, and withdraw a pin 31 from beneath a hook 30, the armature 35 remaining in the attracted position when the magnet 1<b> is de - energized. When the treadle 2 or 2<a> is depressed to energize the magnet 2<b>, the hook 30 actuates the signal spectacles 23 through a rod 24, a bell-crank lever 25, a rod 26, and the crank-pin 29, and also closes contacts 51 to close a circuit to an electric alarm bell through leads 50. Both the spectacles 23 and the contacts 51 remain in this position until forcibly returned by the energized magnet 4<b>. The rockshaft 28 is also actuated by the engagement of the hook 30 with the crank-pin 29, and withdraws a supporting-pin 37 from beneath a rod 38 attached to the armature of the magnet 3<b>. When the treadle 3 or 3<a> is depressed by the train, the magnet 3<b> is energized and a catch on the rod 38 engages a crank-pin 40 to actuate a rock-shaft 10, Fig. 3, and raise the gates 9, which remain in their raised position when the magnet 3<b> is de-energized. When the re-setting treadle is depressed, the magnet 4<b> is energized and the rock-shaft 41, Fig. 4, is actuated by the rod 45, so that slotted rods 49, 48 engaging the crank-pins 31, 37 restore the pins to their normal position supporting the rods 30, 38, the signal spectacles and gate being restored to normal position by the slotted rods 48 &c., and the circuit of the electric bell alarm being consequently broken. The treadles, which may be of any construction, are described as consisting of a spring-pressed pin 13, Fig. 9, engaging a spring- plate 12 when depressed by a train wheel. A cap attached to the pin 13 and fitting over a tube 15 protects the contacts from the weather. A hand switch 6, Fig. 3, is provided in the main circuit to break the circuit when the apparatus is required to be placed out of action during the passage of a switch engine, hand car, or the like. The switch 6 comprises spring contacts 16, Fig. 10, actuated by an arm 19 projecting from a rotary shaft 17, which is manually operated by means of the handle 18 by the driver of the switch engine or the like.