Patent GB-190805698-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Electrical Block Apparatus or the like for Railways.
Filed: 1908-03-13
Granted: 1908-06-11
Abstract: 5698. Siemens Bros. & Co., [Siemens & Halske Akt.-Ges.]. March 13. Hand-levers and hand-gearing.-Relates to locking- apparatus which is operated by a series of current impulses caused by the passage of a train, by means sucb as the device described in Specification No. 6073, A.D. 1905, and consists in making the current impulses dependent upon an insulated rail or the like. The invention is shown applicable to locking-apparatus of the type described in Specification No. 2923, A.D. 1872, in which the locking of a plunger rod 33 is controlled by a "scape "segment 22. Fig. 1 illustrates the arrangement when the pallet of the locking-segment forms a polarized armature, and the current impulses are in alternate directions, being produced by the transformer 9, 10. So long as the train is passing over the insulated rail 5, the battery 1 is short-circuited and the operation of the intermittent switch 8 is ineffectual. When the train has left that rail, the switch 8 controls the circuit from the battery 1 through the resistance 2, rail 5, lead 6. transformer coil 9, switch 8, and rail 27 back to the battery, and the locking- apparatus is operated. Fig. 3 shows such an arrangement without the transformer. The palletarmatore is normally held against the pole 19, but, when a direct current impulse passes, is attracted to the pole 18. A non-polarized armature might be used, being acted upon by au electro-magnet situated on one side and attracting in opposition to a spring. Other circuits are shown in which the switch 8 is situated in either of the connexions 3, 4 In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 10, the passing of the train causes the lifting of the scape segment to the position shown, whereupon the pin 39 raises the lever 35, thereby short circuiting the magnets 20, 21 through a contact 38, lead 40, and rail 5. This obtains until the train passes from the rail 5, breaking the circuit containing the battery 1, rails 27, 5, and switch 38, when the magnet is again operated and the movement completed. This arrangement may be varied by placing the switch 8 on the insulated rail 5, or by arranging that the contact 38 shall short-circuit the switch alone. In the modification shown in Fig. 15, a magnet 59 is energized and locks the locking-lever 53 by means of a pawl 60 so long as the train is on the rail 5. The movement of the locking-pawl 60 also closes the circuit from the battery through magnets 21, 20, contact 63, and lead to the switch and the rails, so that the scape segment is operated and frees the lever 53, which is however retained by the pawl 60 until the train has left the insulated rail. The movement of the segment may be completed after the passing of the train from this rail by the current passing from the battery through the circuit including magnets 21, 20, contact 66, and the train operated switch. Instead of the magnet 59, a normally energized magnet may be used which, when short-circuited by a passing train, frees the locking-pawl and permits a spring to pull it into locking position. The locking - pawl 60 may be arranged to lock the plunger rod 33 directly. Fig. 20 shows such an arrangement, the pawl 73 being held out by a magnet 72 in a normally closed circuit comprising the battery 1, contact 74, lead 2, rail 5, magnet 72, and the return lead. To avoid waste of current, the circuit may be closed through the contact 74 so that the magnet 72 is only excited after the segment has moved the first step. Instead of generating alternating currents, the magnets 20, 21 may be separately wound and excited alternately by means of a commutator operated by the train. Fig. 21 shows two apparatus rendered interdependent. When the plunger rod 81 is depressed, the two apparatus are put in series in the circuit of the generator 83 thus : contact 84, magnets 20, 21, contact 85, lead 91, contact 87, magnets 86, contact 88, and lead 92, so that when one segment is raised the other is lowered.