Patent GB-191101566-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Electric Signalling on Railways.
Inventor: BROWN HERBERT
IPC: B61L3/10
Filed: 1911-01-20
Granted: 1912-01-18
Abstract: 1566. Brown, H. Jan. 20. Track apparatus actuating signals on trains; lamp signals.-Fixed track ramps are connected together in various combinations through hand switches or automatically to co-operate with collectors on the locomotive, which also actuate mechanically switches in local circuits on the locomotive to give a number of indications such as " on ramp," " fast road," " danger," and their alternatives, also to indicate that the apparatus is " out of action." A signal received is maintained until the next is received. Considerable leakage is notified by the " out of action " signal. The " danger " signals are given by the normal de-energized condition of the solenoids which are gravitycontrolled. The collector-shoe apparatus on the engine is symmetrically arranged so as to need no adjustment when the engine runs tender first, and comprises a set of three pairs of shoes on each side of the engine to coact with combinations of ramps according to the type of signal required at any position on the track. Only one shoe of each pair is shown in Fig. 8. The pairs A', A<3> run on the ramps 26, 28, and are insulated from but slide in brackets t, Fig. 1, which form part of a carriage m supported by slotted links l from the frame of the locomotive. The pair of shoes A<2> which runs on the ram 27 slides between plates p, q of the carriage m, and are insulated therefrom. The carriage m is pressed towards the rails by a spring 20. Each shoe is also pressed downwards by a spring. The apparatus on the engine comprises a dynamo 38, Fig. 8, the positive pole of which is connected through the contacts of a switch controlled by the coil 85 to contacts on the shoes A<2>, A<3>, B<2>, B<3>; the contacts 40, 43 are made when the shoes A<2>, B<2> are both lowered and keep the maintain coil M energized until a ramp is reached. The contacts 40, 43 may be formed as shown in Fig. 3 by springs 88 and rocking contacts 87. The coil M closes circuits to maintain the coils for the last signal received until a new one is to be received. All other coils are de-energized. The shoes that are lifted and the connexions made at any set of ramps are determined by the combination of ramps fixed at that place, for example ramps 26, 27, 28, 30 only are fixed for a repeater and route signal and the connexions made determine the nature of the signal received. To signal " clear," " fast road," switches are closed to connect electrically all these ramps together. When the train reaches the ramps, the shoes A<1>, A<2>, A<3>, B<2> are lifted and collect current, the results being as follows:-By the raising of shoes A<2>, B<2>, the contacts made by the rods 40, 43 are broken, and the holding-magnet M is de-energized, thereby annulling the last signal received. A circuit is made from the dynamo 38, by wire 2<b> through the shoe A', ramp 28, signal-cabin circuit, the ramp 26, shoe A', wire 6<a>, contacts p<1> to contacts br<5>. The relays AR and BR are both energized by circuits from the dynamo 38 through rods 39, 42 on the shoes A<2>, B<2>, and the circuit from the shoe A' continues from contacts br<5> by wire 61 to magnet D to the common return lead 1<a> shown by a dotted line. Contacts br<4> close a circuit from the dynamo 38, to contacts ar<4> and magnet MS. The two magnets D, MS together close a circuit from the battery 36, through lead 3<e>, contacts ms<5>, contacts ss<1> (the magnet SS being de-energized), contacts d<5>, wires 68, 58 to the signal GS. A circuit is also made from the shoe A<2> to the wire 8<a> and magnet R, which closes the contacts r<4> in the circuit of the " fast " road " signal, and breaks the contacts r<1> in the circuit of the " slow road " signal. As the shoes pass off the ramp, but before the circuits are broken, the magnet M is energized by a circuit through the rods 40, 43. The armature of this magnet closes circuits shown in chain lines to the signal magnets by which the signal is maintained until the next set of ramps lifts the shoes A<2>, B<2>. All the magnets are gravitycontrolled, and are provided with economizing- resistances in parallel to contacts in their own circuit, which are closed by their armatures when in their lowest position in which position the " danger " signal circuits are also closed. Contacts on the armature of the magnet M control the " on ramp " and " off ramp " signals. The negative pole of the dynamo 38 is earthed through the coils P, 85, so that if an earth occurs on the circuits, these coils are energized and draw their armatures. The coil P controls contacts in the circuit of the relays AR, BR, which must be energized to give a clear signal, and the coil 85 controls a trip switch in the main lead from the dynamo and also in the circuit of the signal-lamp circuit or the " out " of action " signal, which is lighted when the switch is tripped. The signals consist of apertures in a panel behind which lamps are visible through coloured glasses, the lamps being arranged in suitably-arranged compartments.