Patent GB-190924244-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Automatic Means for Stopping Railway Trains Independently of Drivers.
Inventor: UNVERRICHT EDUARD
IPC: B61L3/08
Filed: 1909-01-23
Granted: 1910-03-17
Abstract: 24,244. Unverricht, E. Jan. 3, [Convention date]. Electrical systems, automatic; singletrack systems; track apparatus for stopping trains.-In an automatic electrical system employing mechanical t r a c k abutments, which b r e a k frangible tubes on the brake pipes of moving trains to stop the trains, the a b u tments are positively moved out of the path of the frangible tubes by electro-magnets under the control of electric switch mechanism operated by the trains, and return to operative position by gravity. The switch mechanism is such that, on setting an abutment to 'safety,' contacts are broken, which thus prevent the abutments that limit the zone of 'safety' from being moved out of the danger' position. Each switch mechanism comprises sealed tubes 1, ... 6, Figs. 1 and 2 containing mercury and having platinum contacts q, p, l, g, k, r, o, h, m, f. The tubes 1, 2, 3 are mounted on a pivoted armature s, and the tubes 4, 5, 6 on a pivoted armature t, the armatures s, t being operated by electro-magnets a, b, c, d, e, n in such a way that, after an armature has passed its middle position, the weight of mercury completes the movement. The magnets a, c, e, n are preferably arranged side by side, but may be superposed. These switch mechanisms A<1> ... A<7>, Fig. 4, are arranged along the track together with abutment mechanisms H<1> ... H<7> (each comprising an abutment X adapted to be raised out of the path of a frangible tube Z' on a train P<1> by a solenoid u) and electric track contacts j<1> ...j<14> adapted to be closed as regards the contacts j<1>, j<3>, j<5>, &c. by a train travelling in one direction, and, as regards the contacts j<2>, j<4>, j<6>, &c., by a train travelling in the opposite direction. To raise a track abutment X to the safety' position, the circuit of the corresponding solenoid u is completed from a main supply lead 7 through the contact l in the switch mechanism next but one to the left of the abutment, and through the contact h in the mechanism next but one to the right of the abutment. For instance, just before the train P<1> reaches the abutment mechanism H<4>, it closes one of the track contacts j<7>, j<8>, according to the direction of running of the train, and closes two circuits ; (1) from the supply lead 7 through contacts f, k in the mechanism A<4>, lead 9, contacts g, and magnet b in the mechanism A<2> and lead 11 to the supply lead 8 ; and (2) from the supply lead 7 through contacts f, k in the mechanism A<4>, lead 12, contacts m, and magnet d in the mechanism A<6> and lead 14 to the supply lead 8. The closure of these two circuits energizes the magnets b, d in the mechanisms A<2>, A<6> respectively, and the armatures s, t move from the dotted - line to the full line positions shown, closing the contacts l, h at the mechanisms A<2>, A<6> respectively, and so raising the track abutment X at the abutment mechanism H<4>, as mentioned above. The abutments at the mechanisms H<2>, H<6> are prevented from being moved to safety by the breaking of contacts k, f, consequent upon the closure of the contacts l, h in the corresponding mechanisms A<2>, A<6>, Previous to this, the train P', by operating the track contact j<10>, has raised the abutment at the mechanism H<5> by closing the contacts l at the mechanism A<3> and the contacts h at the mechanism A<7>. The corresponding switch levers s, t are thus in the positions shown in dotted lines, and the contacts k at the mechanism A<3> are open, but must be closed so that when the train operates the track contact j<6>, the circuits for the setting of the abutment at the mechanism H<3> can be closed. This is effected as the train operates the track contact j<8> when the following circuit is closed:-from the supply lead 7 through the lead 15 at the mechanism A<2>, contacts l, lead 23 at the mechanism A<3>, contacts q, magnet a, and lead 11 to the supply lead 8. The energized magnet a at the mechanism A<3> actuates the armature s to close the contacts k. In a similar manner, the opened contacts h at the mechanism A<7> are closed again, to allow a following train to set the abutment at the mechanism H<7> at 'safety,' by the train operating the track contact j<8>, and the following circuit is closed:-from the supply lead 8 to the lead 14 at the mechanism A<6>, contacts h, lead 24, contacts r at the mechan sm A<7>, magnet e, and lead 15 to the supply lead 7. The energized magnet e at the mechanism A<7> moves its armature t and closes the contacts f. When a track siding is open for a train, the abutment in front of it is retained in the safety position by current passing through switches connected with the siding lever, and the abutment at the opposite entrance to the siding is meanwhile retained in the danger' position.