Patent GB-190511840-A (GB)
Title: Electric Block Railway Signalling and Train Control System.
Inventor: WHYTE JOHN ALEXANDER
Filed: 1905-06-06
Granted: 1906-05-10
Abstract: 11,840. Whyte, J. A. June 6. Brakes.-An automatic electric railway signalling-system is described, employing insulated track rails and contact-rails, and a train-carried instrument which comprises miniature signals and means for applying the fluid-pressure or electric brakes. A manually-operated instrument is also introduced at certain stations, rendering the system non- automatic, and special arrangements are described for use at track switches. The engine apparatus. Fig. 1, comprises a case a with a glass window b, in a recess behind which are situated semaphore arms d, e fixed on the end of spindles f, g, carrying the S-shaped armatures h, i of electro-magnets j, k and normally held in position by springs n fixed to the spindles and to the case a. A current through the magnet attracts the armature h into the position shown, but an excessive current produced by a short-circuit in the system is required before the magnet k attracts its armature i out of the normal position shown. L-shaped levers in the ends of the spindles f, g engage in slots in a vertically-sliding rod g, which rests upon a piece 25 projecting from the lower end of a verticallysliding rod 21 attached to the armature 20 of an electro-magnet 19, a spring 24 normally raising the armature 20 away from the magnet 19. A spindle s carries insulating fibre disks 6, 7, 8, v, w, x, provided with brass centres and brass peripheries except on the disks v, w, x, which are provided with brass peripheral segments of different lengths. The peripheral brasses are connected to the brass centres of the disks by wires. Spring-pressed brushes are provided for each disk and also for a brass disk 5 fixed on the spindle s. The disks 6, 7, 8, v, w, x are contained in a local circuit with a battery 62 and the electro-magnets 49 operating the brake releasing-valves. A toothed segment 12 is carried upon and attached to a spindle 13 by a spring 15, and engages with a gear-wheel 14 on the spindle s, which also gears through a train of wheels 15 with an escapement wheel 18 and a ratchet-wheel 17. The escapement pawl 27 is mounted on a vertical piece 26 fixed on the portion 25 of the rod 21, and the ratchet pawl 28 is also carried by the piece 25, so that the ratchet pawl is disengaged from its wheel when the piece 25 is lowered to engage the escapement pawl and wheel. A manual lever 30 is mounted on a spindle 29 which carries insulated contact sectors for switches 36, 37, 38, 39 and also a cam 31, which raises the lowered piece 25 to its normal position after actuation. A valve 47 in a pipe 46 connected to the train-pipe of the air brakes is also actuated by the spindle 29, which also carries a crank 32 provided with a pivoted link 33 engaging by a pin 34 in a slot 35 in the toothed sector 12, which is thus returned to its normal position when the lever 30 is manually actuated. The pipe 46 has three branches, each provided with a valve chamber 48 the valve 52 in each being depressed against a spring 54 by means of a rod 51 attached to the armature 50 of an electro-magnet 49. The pipe 46 is thus opened to a chamber 58 provided with a rotary valve 55 and with a pipe 57 leading to the atmosphere. The extent of this opening and the consequent reduction of pressure in the train-pipe may be adjusted by rotating the valve 55 by means of a worm-wheel fixed on its spindle and engaging with a worm 60, and an index finger on the valve spindle moves over a dial showing the extent of opening of the valve. Electric switches for electrically - operated brakes may replace these valves.