Patent GB-190224604-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Fluid-pressure Apparatus for Working Railway Signals, Switches, and like Railway Appliances.
Inventor: O'DONNELL JOHN PATRICK
Filed: 1902-11-10
Granted: 1903-10-15
Abstract: 24,604. O'Donnell, J. P., [Dodgson, F. L.]. Nov. 10. Controlling and locking signals; interlocking; indicators and repeaters, point or switch and signal. -Fluid-pressure railway apparatus for operating and indicating the operation of switches, semaphores, bridge-locks, railway-gates, and the like, is shown in Fig. 1. Certain parts of the apparatus are described in Specification No. 183, A.D. 1900. In the system, the pipe which conducts the pressure fluid for causing operation of the motor or other apparatus acts also to conduct a pressure-fluid current which operates the indicating-mechanism so as to indicate the complete operation of the switch-points &c. The controlling-pipes o', p<1> extend between the operating-station, where the operating-valve and indicating-mechanism are situated, and the motor at the switch or other part to be operated. The high-pressure reservoir HP has suitable distributing-pipes X<1>, and the low-pressure reservoir LP is connected by the pipe x<3> with the operating-valve V<10> governing the pipes o', p<1>. Branches o<10>, p'‹ from the pipes o<1>, p<1> lead to the switch-indicating valve D shown separately in Fig. 9, while. the main pipes o', p<1> lead to the valve-operating cylinders C', C' controlling the motor cylinder C by the switch valve C‹. The switch valve C‹ is connected with the switch-indicating valve by the connections o<11>, p<11>. The main pressure-pipe X<1> is connected with the valves J<1>, J' and with the valve D. The pipes o', p<1> are connected by the branches o<100>, p<100> with the devices K<1>, K<3> for operating the indicator valves J<1>, J<2> controlling the inlet to and exhaust from the indicator cylinders I<1>, I<2>. Devices K<2>, K<4> act in opposition to the devices K<1>, K<3>. The devices K<1>, K<3>, K<3>, K<4> are preferably diaphragm mechanisms, but they may be cylinder and piston mechanisms. If the switch is at normal position and the operating valve V<10> is shifted until the roller i<2> meets the stop face l<02> in the lever L', the pipe x<3> is connected with the control pipe o', and low-pressure air enters the cylinder C<1>. This shifts the valve C<0> so as to connect the pipe c' with the pipe o<11> and the pipe c' with the exhaust. The pipe o<11> is in connection with the high-pressure supply through the valve D, and the motion plate is consequently shifted to the right and the switch points S to reverse. At the same time the roller d<0> runs along the rhomboidal opening M', and shifts the valve D to its other position to connect the pipe p<11> with the high-pressure supply, and the pipe o<11> with the pipes o<10>, o'. The valve J<1> is shifted to the left and the cylinder I<2> is connected with the main supply X<1>. The stroke of the lever L<1> is completed in the left-hand direction, the pipes o<1>, p<I> are both opened to the exhaust, and the parts are ready for another action. To return the switch to normal position the lever L' is pushed towards the right. In another arrangement, a supplementary valve operated through the pipes o<1>, p' is introduced into the pipes o<11>, p<11> to control the action of the low-pressure air on the cylinders C', C'. This additional valve is controlled by diaphragm mechanisms. It it is not desired to indicate both positions of the motor, one of the pipes o', p<1> may be disused as an indicating-pipe. For working semaphores, the semaphore rod is connected to the roller m<0> in the motion plate. Fig. 16 shows a suitable motor-controlling mechanism comprising a main valve, the cylinders C<1>, C', the diaphragm devices K, K<0>, and the valve C<10> which is a supplementary or additional valve. Fig. 4 shows an indicator controller with the diaphragm devices K<1>, K<2>, and the controlling-slide k<102>. Figs. 9 and 12 show a suitable indicating-valve D. The seat has eight posts in two groups of four each, and the slide d<10> is pressed upon its seat by the spring device contained by the casing D'‹.