Patent GB-903747-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to railway classification yards
IPC: B61L17/02
Filed: 1959-04-14
Abstract: 903,747. Information storage systems. WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE CO. April 14, 1959 [April 14, 1958], No. 12630/59. Addition to 903,746. Class 105. Apparatus for checking the integrity of an information storage system of the type described in the parent Specification in which a voltage is stored representing the tangent track rolling resistance of a cut of railway vehicles in a classification yard. The system includes six storage panels each containing a storage unit of the type described in Specification 853,908, each storage unit is checked before use by applying a test voltage to the unit and its ability to store this voltage is taken as a measure of its integrity. If a unit is found faulty the signal to be stored is passed to the next available storage unit. The apparatus for producing the voltage and two of the six storage panels (1RP and 2RP) are shown in the Figures. In Fig. 2 the aerial 119, radar velocity meter 9, differentiation 10 and bias unit 11 combine to produce at terminal b of the bias unit the voltage which is a function of the rolling resistance of a cut of vehicles moving in the path of aerial 119. The track sections AT and MR IT are provided with track relays ATR and R1TR, respectively, and repeater relays ATP and R1TP are energized when their associated track relays are released. Each storage panel, e.g. 1RP, Figs. 3 and 4, includes a storage unit 1ES with relay 1H, a relay 1CR which is used to check the integrity of the storage unit, relays 1A and 1B and relay 1RO which is operated to read out the stored information. In addition, a relay TRCTD is provided for switching out any panel found to be faulty. A cut of vehicles entering track section AT shunts relay ATR which releases and picks up its repeater relay ATP, whereby the output terminal of the radar &c. equipment is connected to each storage panel via f.c. (front contact) a of relay ATP and line 215. Relay R1 is picked up via f.c. b, relay ATP, and f.c. b, relay ATCP, and sticks via b.c. (back contact) c of relay R1TP, when relay R1 energizes the stick circuit of slow-release relay ATCP is broken at b.c. b, relay R1. The first available H relay, e.g. 1H, is operated via f.c. c, relay ATP, f.c. c, relay R1, line 208, b.c. b, relay 1B, b.c. c, relay 1RO, lead 326, b.c. a, relay 1CR, lead 333, b.c. b, relay 1A, and lead 334, whereby relay TRCTD is de-energized at b.c. f, relay 1H, and the test voltage of 100 v. from battery 214 which has been applied to terminal a of the storage unit 1ES via b.c. e, relay 1A, is now stored causing an output voltage to appear at terminal c of the unit. The ability of the unit to hold this stored voltage is checked by relay 1CR which is energized from terminal c and requires 100 v. for operation. If relay 1CR picks up relay 1A operates via f.c. c, relay ATP, f.c. c, relay R1, lead 208, b.c. b, relay 1B, b.c. c, relay 1RO, and f.c. a, relay 1CR; relay 1H is released at b.c. b, relay 1A, and relay TRCTD is energized at b.c. f, relay 1H. The input circuit to the storage unit is changed over from the test battery 214 to the rolling resistance voltage line 215 at contacts e, relay 1A. As the cut approaches the end of section AT it is assumed that the rolling resistance measurement has become stabilized and can now be stored. As the cut enters section MR1T, relay R1TR releases, repeater relay R1TP is picked up and relay R1 releases at b.c. c, relay R1TP. Relay 1B is now operated over f.c. c, relay ATP, b.c. c, relay R1, line 210, and f.c. c, relay 1A, and provides a second hold circuit for relay TRCTD at f.c. e, and re-operates relay 1H at its f.c. d. The voltage representing the rolling resistance is now stored in 1ES and appears at its output terminal c. Relay 1A is released at b.c. c, relay 1B, and b.c. d, relay 1H. When the cut clears track section MR1T the apparatus returns to its normal position except that in panel 1RP relays 1B and 1H are picked up and the rolling resistance voltage is held in unit 1ES. The operated condition of relay 1B signifies that the unit is occupied, when the next cut arrives the sequence of operations is transferred to the next available storage panel by connecting terminal r of panel 1RP (line 208) to terminal r of panel 2RP at f.c. b, relay 1B. If the unit 1ES is found to be faulty when the test voltage stored in the unit is insufficient to operate relay 1CR the rolling resistance voltage to be stored is passed to the next available panel in a similar manner. When relay 1H is initially operated relay TRCTD releases, applying battery via its b.c. a to the moving arm of contact c of relay 1CR, if relay 1CR does not operate the circuit is completed for relay 1B via f.c. e, relay 1H, and b.c. c, relay 1A. Information is read out of the units, e.g. unit 1ES, by applying battery to line 207 which energizes relay 1RO, whereby the output terminal c of the storage unit is connected via f.c. f, relay 1RO, to the output terminals k of the panel.