Patent GB-190319996-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Automatic Block-signalling.
Inventor: OESTERREICHER ALFRED
Filed: 1903-09-16
Granted: 1903-11-26
Abstract: 19,996. Oesterreicher, A., and Nemelka, L. Sept. 16. Signalling between trains ; semaphore signals ; contacts, electric.-An automatic electric block-system for a two-track line provided with signals which can be set positively in both directions is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the application to a single-track line provided with gravity signals is shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 4 shows the blockswitch or instrument L for switching the signal motors into circuit. The blocking and freeing of the sections is effected by the train through a conductor o and a contact-piece 0 or contact rail. The signal motors M set the signals S in both directions, and also actuate the electric switches, one of which is double or reversing switch with the contacts 10, 11, 12, and 13, while the other forms a circuit-breaker with the brushes k, k<1> and arc-shaped contacts i, i<1>.j. The storage battery a is connected to the block-switch L by means of the wires I, II, and the common return III, with the electromotor M. If the signal has to be brought to lineclear, the current passes by the conductor I while the conductor II is interrupted, but if it is brought back to lineblocked, the current passes by the conductor II. To prevent the motors from passing beyond the end positions, the operating- rods are provided with ordinary glycerine brakes or dash-pots, or by ordinary electric shortcircuiting brakes. The blockswitch L comprises the electromagnet l, the armature lever m of which is provided with the spring contact m<2>, the contact-blades 26, 27, 27' insulated from the spindle q but mounted thereon, the brass rings s, s', Fig. 2, with their insulating- fingers t, t<1>, the spring contacts 29, 30, 31, 32, and the contactstrips 33, 33<1>, 34, 34', 35, 35<1>. When the blade 26 makes contact with the strips 33, 33', the spring contacts 29, 30 rest against the fingers t, while the blades 27, 27<1> are out of contact with the strips 34, 34', and 35, 35<1>, and the spring contacts 31, 32 rest against the brass rings s'. Owing to the circuitbreaking device in the blockswitch, a single attraction of the armature l<1> does not effect the switching in or out of the contact-blades 26, 27, 27<1>. If storage batteries are not provided for each signal station, current is derived from the feeder wire a<x>. The apparatus v connected to the wires I, II consists of the hand switch 55 and a visual indicator 62, 63 of known construction for the distance signal. An additional double key z is connected to the wire o to take over the function of the train. When gravity signals are employed, the electromotor M on the post moves a segment which turns about a shaft and is connected to the signal arm by a rope or rod. The motion is transmitted to the segment by a friction roller, or by a chain-wheel and gear, or by a pulley and band gearing. The switch which controls the motor is mounted below the motor, and interrupts the current as soon as the signal arm reaches the line-clear position. The switch plate consists of the strips a‹, b‹, c<0>, d‹, e<0>, f<0> above which are contact-pins mounted in a common bridge-piece movable to and fro in the direction of the strips. In one end position of the bridgepiece, the four strips a, b‹, c‹, d‹ are connected together, in the middle position the two long strips a<0>, b<O>, and in the other end position the two short strips e‹, f<0> are connected together. The contact-strips a<O>, b<0> interrupt the motor current at the proper time, while the strips c<0>, d‹ effect the interconnection of the block-section with the rear section, and the strips e‹, f<0> effect the operation of the optical controlling. apparatus 100 indicating the position of the signal. The catch-device which holds the segmental piece in the line-blocked position consists of two electromagnets with a movable armature connected to a bell crank provided with a pawl capable of yielding in one direction. A hand-switch T and clearing switch 98 are provided. The clearing of a block-section can be controlled by contacts which are arranged on the mechanical interlocking apparatus of the track, or on the pointsetting mechanism. The setting-device for multiplearm signals is characterized by coupling the main signal segment to a piece actuating the auxiliary signal by means of a pawl-device controlled by a separate electromagnet, so that in bringing the main signal into the line-clear position, if the pawl-device is acting as a coupling by reason of current being supplied thereto, the auxiliary signal is also brought into the line-clear position, while when the current is interrupted in the corresponding electromagnets, the signal arms automatically return to the line-blocked position.