Patent GB-191327475-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Systems and Apparatus for the Automatic Control of the Speed of Vehicles Moving on Line Trackways.
Inventor: SIMMEN PAUL JOHN
IPC: B61L3/10
Filed: 1913-11-28
Granted: 1914-09-03
Abstract: 27,475. Simmen, P. J. Nov. 28. Electrical systems, automatic; track apparatus actuating signals on trains and for stopping trains; recording signals.-A system for controlling the speed of and stopping trains &c., comprising brake - operating means, a device adapted to indicate the speed, a second device adapted to indicate the permissible speed, controlled (1) by the conditions on the track, (2) by means on the vehicle indicating the permissible speed at all points on the track, and connexions between the brake-operating means and the permissive-speed indicator, whereby the brakes are applied when the actual speed exceeds the permissive speed given either by means (1) or (2), whichever is lower. The track 15 is divided into sections each having a battery 87 and relay 88, the relay, when energized, closing a circuit from a battery 94 to home and distant contact-ramps 21, 22. The engine apparatus comprises a shoe 25, which when lifted by the ramps, breaks a contact 61 and passes current, if the ramp is energized, to a relay 54, thence to earth. The relay attracts its armatures 53 to close circuits from battery 51, (1) through wires 56, 63 to green safety lamp 64, and back to the battery, (2) through wire 57 to a magnet 37 and back to battery. When the train passes off the ramp, a holding-circuit fed from the battery 51 is made through contact 61. A shaft 27 mounted on the vehicle is driven from the wheels, through a friction wheel 29, and either a chain 120 or wheels 115, 123, depending on the position of a clutch 122, so that it is always driven in the same direction. It carries a governor 30, the position of the sleeve 31 of which controls the position of a speed-indicator finger 81 moving over a dial 85. It also has a worm 28 adapted to mesh with a mutilated gear 34 hung on the armature of the magnet 37, and having a cam-groove 38 entered by a pin in an horizontally-guided rod 40 carrying a rack 68 meshing with a pinion 69 of which the shaft 70 carries a second indicating-finger 72, while loose on the shaft is a finger 73 carrying a contact arm 75 normally held against the finger 72 by a spring, and having an insulated end adapted to contact with finger 81. The arm 75 normally completes a circuit from the battery 51 through the electro-magnet 49, thereby holding a valve 48 closed, to hold off the brakes, wire 78, contact 75, wire 79 to battery. The shaft 33 of the gear 34 has a pin 130 resting on an indented band 104, the indentations corresponding to permissive speeds at the different points of the track, and the band being driven, in either direction, from the shaft 27, through bevels 107 or 108, and bevel 106 on the shaft 102. Should a second train reach the ramps 21, 22 before the section in front is clear, the ramps will be deenergized, and the engine circuit of relay 54 will be broken, thus breaking the circuit of magnet 37 and completing a circuit at contact 65 through the danger lamp 67. The armature 36 will then drop to engage the worm 28 with the gear 34, the cam 38 then moving the slide 40 to the left and turning the finger 72 back with it. If the driver sees the danger lamp and reduces speed to keep the actual speed lower than the permissible speed, the brakes are not automatically applied; but if he fails to do this the finger 72, on moving back past the finger 81, is placed out of contact with the pin 75, and the brake circuit is broken. Similarly, the pin 130 may turn the gear 34 to correspond to a permissible speed caused by permanent track conditions, and similar results obtain. A spring 43 is provided for returning the gear 34 to normal.