Patent GB-191103097-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Railways Safe Running Devices.
Inventor: ANGUS ARTHUR REGINALD
IPC: B61L3/10
Filed: 1911-02-07
Granted: 1912-05-07
Abstract: 3097. Angus, A. R. Feb. 7, 1910, [Convention date]. Electrical systems, automatic; single-track systems; track apparatus actuating signals on trains and for stopping trains. - Relates to automatic electrical systems in which sets of fixed track ramps engage contact-rods on the engine, the source of current is carried on the train, and a current passes from controller track ramps to electro-magnetic switches arranged to make or break the track circuit of signal or train-stopping track ramps, and thus give a danger or safety indication on another train, and, in the case of a danger indication being ineffectual, to apply the brakes and shut off steam, as described in Specification 756/10, and consists in arranging the track ramps in line in the centre of the track with their contacting surfaces arranged to impart movements of different extents to the same engine contact, the invention being illustrated by apparatus in which the contacting surfaces are at different levels. The three engine contacts 97<a>, 97<b>, 97<c>, Fig. 9, are slidingly mounted and provided with contact fingers, which engage with the corresponding train-circuit terminals 103 ... 106, 0103 ... 0106 according to the height to which they are moved by the track ramps. For double-track working, only three terminals 103, 104, 105 are used. These correspond to the controller-signal and the train-stopping ramps. For single-track working, all the contacts shown are used, the highest track-ramps contacts and the corresponding train-circuit terminals being used for returning all the track to safety condition when the direction of running is reversed prior to the normal operation of the track circuits for the new direction. Fig. 9 shows the engine circuits and the track-ramps circuits of one track section together with portions of the track circuits of those ramps in use when a train is working from left to right. Forward signal and stop contacts such as 41, 42 protect the train against another approaching from ahead, and rear signal and stop contacts such as 44, 45 protect the train against another overtaking it. Track circuits connect these ramps to the return track rails through contacts 58, 70 of track relays 47, 60. Normally the track is in ' safety ' condition. When a train passes over a controller contact 40, current passes (1) to energize a magnet 59 two track sections ahead and a magnet 71 immediately behind it, thus putting the corresponding forward track ramps 41, 42 and rear track ramps 44, 45 into ' danger ' condition, and (2) to energize a magnet 50 immediately in front of it and a magnet 63 two sections to the rear, thus returning the corresponding forward track ramps 41, 42 and rear track ramps 44, 45 to ' safety ' condition. In this way, as a train proceeds, It keeps the forward track ramps of the next two sections ahead and the rear track ramps of the next two sections in the rear in ' danger ' condition. The forward track ramps are returned to ' safety ' condition just prior to the train reaching them, and the rear track ramps are returned to 'safety ' condition when the train has travelled two sections past them. The controller track ramps 40, 040 for the two directions of working are at differing levels corresponding to the terminals 103, 0103, and all the signal and train-stopping track ramps respectively are at levels corresponding to the terminals 104, 105, so that, while controlling the electrical condition of only those track ramps associated with its direction of running, a train is adapted to respond to the ' danger ' condition of the signal or train-stopping track ramps of either direction. When working from left to right, the train circuit corresponding to the reversing track ramp 046 and train-circuit terminal 0106 is bridged at the engine-reversing switch 83, 84, 85, 88, 89, 90, 92, 93, 94, but the track circuits are such that contact with this ramp does not alter the state of the track. When the train is reversed, the engine circuits for the ramps 040, 045, 046, &c., and the reversing-ramp 46 are bridged, and the others are broken. Then, on the train passing over the ramp 46 in the right-to-left direction, the effect of the train when working in the opposite direction is removed by current passing from that ramp to the magnets 52, 53, 64, 65 of the track ramps previously put into danger condition, which in operating the relays returns the ramps to safety condition. There are five similar engine contacts arranged at different points in the length of the engine. Each contact comprises eight train - circuit terminals, which are connected through contacts 88 ... 90, 92 ... 94, and 83 ... 85 on the reversing- switch to a dynamo 119, accumulators 120, and a primary battery 121. This reversing-switch is operated by connexion with the usual reversing- gear of the engine. When the dynamo is supplying current, a magnet 141 is energized and breaks the circuits of the accumulator and the primary battery. When the accumulators supply the current, electro-magnets 171, 173 break the circuits of the primary battery and the dynamo. When the primary battery supplies current, the electro-magnets 184, 182 break the circuits of the accumulators and dynamo. When a train passes over a signal ramp in danger condition, the circuit of a battery 129 is closed, and a miniature signal 126 is operated, which also serves to close the circuit of a signal-bell 122. If the warning is ineffectual and the train passes on to a train-stopping ramp, the circuit of a battery 140 is closed, and magnets 132, 133, 134 are energized to cause a whistle 135 to blow, to open a brake valve 136, and to shut off steam by the throttle lever 137. Arranged in parallel with the battery 140 are reserve batteries 138, 139, arranged to supply current to the train-stopping circuit in turn.