Patent GB-190601006-A (GB)
Title: Automatic Railway Signalling Devices.
Inventor: FISCHER JAQUES
Filed: 1906-01-13
Granted: 1907-01-10
Abstract: 1006. Fischer, J. Jan. 13. Automatic systems.-An automatic electrical system employs track circuits and batteries and one of the rails is insulatedly divided into sections, some of which are connected by line-wires. The arrangement at switch points for a branch line is described. A modified form also employs track relays and the other track rail is also insulatedly divided at intervals. One track rail a, c, Fig. 1, is undivided, while the other rail b, d is divided into sections b<0> ... b<6>, d<1> ... d<4>, and alternate sections are connected through batteries f ... f<1>, and lamps or other signalling devices g<1> ... g<5>. The points tongue i is connected through an electric switch j, k actuated by the point-operating mechanism to the line-wire e'. In the position shown, with the points set for the main line, the switch j, k is open, and a circuit is closed by trains in the positions I, II from the train I to section b<0>, wire e\ battery f<1>, lamp g<1>, section b<2>, battery f<2>, and so on to the train II and back through the rail a and the closed points tongue i to the train I. The lighted lamps warn both trains, and, if one is leaving the other, the lamps will be lighted to the rear of the first train, the driver of which will descend from the engine, and manually actuate a switch m in say the line-wire e<5> to interrupt the circuit intermittently through the lamps. This will warn the driver of the second train that the first is leaving him and both may proceed. Should the points be set for the main line and trains be approaching the junction in the positions I, III, no circuit will be closed through the lamp g<1>, but a circuit will be closed through the tongue i, and the rail c warning the train III of the position of the points. When this train cautiously reaches the position IV at the section d', a circuit will be formed from train IV through a wire h to the wires e', e' and the train I, and back by the rails a, c, lighting the lamps and warning against moving the points. If no train I is present, no such circuit will be formed, hence the points may be moved over for the train IV to proceed. When more than one train is allowed in the section between two stations, a gap x, Fig. 2, is inserted in the rail a between the stations, so as to form practically two sections, and, to obviate possible collision at the actual gap x, wires n and the armature of an electro-magnet o close the gap when a train closes the circuit of the magnet o through the circuit q<1>, q<2> and a battery r, or through the circuit p<1>, p<2> and battery r. The magnet o may be arranged so that its armature remains in the closed circuit position after energization by the train passing over the gap z until the magnet is again energized by the train passing beyond the gap x and over the gap z'. A damping arrangement may prevent this effect from being obtained by the successive passage of the train wheels over one gap. The disconnected sections of the rail b are intended to be longer than a train, to prevent closing of an adjacent alarm circuit e by a train connecting the sections on each side of a disconnected rail. Another circuit t with a battery u and electromagnetic circuit-breaker s may however be introduced into each alarm circuit to break the alarm circuit under these circumstances.