Patent GB-190423724-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Railway Signalling and Safety Systems and Apparatus.
Inventor: SCHREIBER GEORGES MICHEL
Filed: 1904-11-02
Granted: 1905-01-26
Abstract: 23,724. Sohreiber, G. M. Nov. 2. Signalling - systems ; contacts, electric; stopping engines and trains ; signals for line; indicators and repeaters, signal.-In an electrical system, shown diagrammatically in Figs. 15 and 15<a>, for a track between stations A, B, intermediate block sections are provided with automatic signals and train stops, together with manual control at the stations A, B ; or one section only may extend from station A to station B. Contacts or electric switches, Figs. 5 and 6, operated by the train are each carried by standards M, M' bolted to the sleepers, and each comprises a double lever k, g fixed on a shaft i, the part k being pivoted to move one way upon backward motion of the train without affecting the part g and the shaft i. A disc 44 is fixed to the shaft i and engages by means of a sector projection 45 against a sector 46 on a drum s, the shaft h of which is pivoted in the shaft i and in the standard M'. A flat spring 50 normally retains the disc 44 and the levers k, g, in an upright position by a chain, a spring l with a chain being employed with the drum s to'retain the sectors 45, 46 normally in contact. Depression of the levers k, g by a train causes a projection 55 on the drum a to pass beneath a hook 30<1>, which retains the drum in this position, while another projection 3<1> in the drum, moving away from an arm 100 of a double switch allows the arm 102 of this switch to fall and the arm 103 to rise, so that copper pins carried by an insulating-block 4<1> on the arm 102 make contact between three mercury cups a, b, c into which they fall. At the same time, copper pins carried by an insulating-block 5<1> on the arm 103 pass out of two mercury cups d, e, and break contact between these cups. The apparatus is restored to its previous normal position, when an electromagnet E' is energized, so as to attract its core m<1>, and so to slide a bolt against a spring 17<1> and raise the tail 27<1> of the hook 30<1>, when the spring l rotates the drum s back again, breaking contact at the mercury cups a, b, c and making contact at the cups d, e. The outdoor signal and train stop, Fig. 10, are simultaneously actuated by an electromagnet core attached to a chain, which passes over a pulley 43 on a shaft 32<1> passing beneath the rail. When the electromagnet is energized, the shaft 32<1> is rotated against a balance weight G, from which a chain passes over a pulley 41<1>. The disc signal 54, illuminated by an incandescent electric lamp, is rotated into the danger' and safety' positions by bevel-wheels 123, 124, and the train stop 20<1> is lowered into the 'safety' position or raised into the 'danger' position by a,pinion 120 engaging a rack. The raised stop 20<1> actuates the steam whistle on the engine, or applies the brakes, or actuates both simultaneously. Assume that a train is starting from station A, Figs. 15<a> and 15 to proceed to station B. Out and return leads l<1>, l<2> are provided, proceeding from a storage battery at station A. The contactapparatus I is in the safety' position with the cups d, e connected if no train is in the section ahead, and the station-master at A moves over a switch u<1> from a contact 3 to a contact 4, thereby completing a circuit from the lead l<1> through contacts 2, 4, wires 5, 6, the mercury cups d, e, and wires 7, 8, and energizing the electromagnet s<1> of the first train stop and signal X, Z, moving them to 'safety.' From the electromagnet s<1>, the circuit is completed through the wire 9 and lead l<2>. The train then actuates the contact-apparatus I and breaks the circuit between the cups d, e, and makes circuit between the cups a, b, c. A circuit is thus made from the lead l<1>, wires 10,11,12, cups a, b, wires 13, 14, cups d, e of the contact-apparatus II, and the wires 15, 16, to energize the electromagnet s<2> and set the signal and train stop ahead at "safety," returning by the wire 17 to the lead l<2>. Another circuit is simultaneously made from the lead l<1> through wires 10, 11, 12, cups a, c, wires 18, 19, a relay R<1>, and by a wire 20 to the lead l<2>. The energized relay completes a local circuit containing a battery and a bell K<1>, which notifies the station-master that the switch u<1> may now be replaced, the first stop and signal X, Z having been moved to danger' by their balance weight, since the cups d, e have been disconnected at the contact-apparatus I. Similarly, the train proceeds through the intermediate sections, automatically setting the signal and train stop to ' safety' in front and to ' danger' behind it. After the train passes the contact-apparatus II, the current passing through the connected cups a, c of this apparatus passes through wires 21, 22 to the electromagnet s<1>, connected to the slide block p<1>, and restores the contact-apparatus I to the normal position. The current through the relay R<1> is thus stopped, and the bell K<1> ceases to ring, notifying the station-master that a second train may be despatched. The apparatus is shown in Fig. 15 after the train has passed the contactapparatus III. A circuit is then made from the lead l<1>, wire 26, cups a, b, and the wires 28, 29 to a relay R' at the station A, and by a wire 30 to the lead l<2>. A local circuit at the station A is thus completed by the relay R', and causes a bell K<2> to ring and announce the approach of the train. The station-master at A, if no train is in this station, moves over a switch u' from a contact 31 to a contact 32. A circuit is thus completed from the lead l<1> to the switch u', wires 34, 35, cups d, e of the contact-apparatus IV, and the wires 36, 37, 38 to energize the electromagnet s<4> of the arrival signal and atop, which are thus placed at 'safety,' the circuit being completed through the wire 39 to the lead l<2>. The lamps of the signals Z are automatically lighted as the signals are placed to ' danger' behind the train.