Patent GB-894273-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to railway car weight registration and storage apparatus
IPC: B61L17/00
Filed: 1960-05-20
Abstract: 894,273. Retarder control in railway classification yards. WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE CO. May 20, 1960 [May 29, 1959], No. 17814/60. Class 105. In car weight registration and storage apparatus for use in the automatic control of car retarders in a hump yard system in which weights on successive axles of a passing car or cut of cars are determined and stored in light, medium or heavyweight classifications, information indicative of a medium weight classification is stored only when at least two axles are registered as medium weight by the weight determining means. Operation of a relay RL1 stores a light weight registration, operation of relay RM1 a heavy weight registration and operation of both relays a medium weight registration. Car axle weight determining means WD includes a weight responsive device WC in which a contactor 44 is moved downwards, an amount which is a function of the axle weight, against the action of spring 46. In response to the passage of a light weight car axle the movement of contactor 44 is sufficient to energize relay L via contacts 47, 48, similarly a medium weight axle energizes relays L and M and a heavy weight axle relays L, M and H. When the leading axle of a light weight car or cut of cars enters a track section AT, preceding a retarder RE1, track relay ATR releases and energizes relay RI. Relay L is energized by the weight determining means and energizes relay LS which is maintained energized by a stick circuit including b.c. (back contact) 83 relay RM or b.c. 85 relay RMS, b.c. 61 relay H, b.c. 62 relay RLI and f.c. (front contact) 63 relay LS. As the axle recedes from the measuring point relay L releases and relay RLI is energized via b.c. 79 relay M, b.c. 65 relay L and f.c. 66 relay LS and is retained by a circuit extending over f.c. 67 relay RI. Operation of relay RLI releases relay LS. When the leading axle of a heavy weight car enters section AT relay RI is energized and relays L, M and H energize in sequence. Operation of relay L energizes relay LS which now locks over a circuit including f.c. 72 relay M and b.c. 73 relay RHI. Relay M is retained via its f.c. 69 and f.c. 70 relay L or f.c. 71 relay LS and relay H is retained via its f.c. 74, either f.c. 70 relay L or f.c. 71 relay LS and f.c. 69 relay M. Relay RHI is now picked up by a circuit over f.c. 64 relay H and is retained over f.c. 67 relay RI. As the axle recedes relay L releases, releasing relay LS and consequently relays Hand M. When a medium weight car enters the section relays RI, L, LS and M operate and relays LS and M lock over their previously described retaining circuits. As the axle recedes relay L releases and energizes relay RM via f.c. 67 relay M, f.c. 71 relay LS, b.c. 74 relay H, b.c. 75 relay L and b.c. 86 relay RMS which then locks over its f.c. 81 and energizes relay RMS at its f.c. 83. Relay RMS then locks over f.c. 80 relay RI. Pick up of relays RM and RMS opens the stick circuits of relay LS which releases, releasing relays M and RM. When the second axle of the medium weight car passes over the measuring point relay L is energized and relays M and LS are energized and lock as before. As the axle recedes relay L releases and relay RLI picks up over f.c. 69 relay M, f.c. 71 relay LS, b.c. 74 relay H, b.c. 75 relay L, f.c. 86 relay RMS, diode RE2 and f.c. 66 relay LS and relay RHI picks up via a similar circuit except via RE3 and b.c. 76 relay RHI. Both relays lock over contact 67 relay RI. Relay RI is released by a circuit (not shown) when the cut leaves retarder section RE1. Specification 772,135 is referred to.