Patent GB-314610-A (GB)
Title: Improvement in or relating to systems of and apparatus for operating and controllingthe doors of railway and other vehicles
IPC: E05F15/00
Filed: 1928-04-05
Abstract: 314,610. Peters & Co., Ltd., G. D., (Mestreit, W.). April 5, 1928. Operating doors electrically and pneumatically; signalling operation of doors.-The doors of railway trains or vehicles are operated by power electrically-controlled by apparatus which provides for the set of doors on each side being operated independently under the control of the guard from his control station at one end of the train, the parts being so arranged that when the guard changes ends of the train, the door-operating apparatus, whether the doors be open or closed during the change-over, will be in condition for control by the guard from his new position without any action by the driver or other person and without the employment of electrically-actuated or other change-over switches relays or equivalent electrical devices. The doors may be operated by fluid-pressure engines under electrical control or by electric motors. The Figure shows the lay-out of the operating and control circuits arranged for the doors on one side of a train of four vehicles, including the circuit arrangements of means for locking the doors when closed and for signalling the condition of the doors to the driver. The circuit comprises a line wire 13 and a feed 14 extending from end to end of the train, the wire 13 being connected by tappings to magnets of the electropneumatic valves 1-8 controlling the door engines of the passenger doors, these valves being earthed, as shown; at each end of the train a switch 15 or 16 is provided to couple the feed wire 14 to the line wire 13 or to the source of the electric supply. One contact 15<a> or 16<a> of the switches 15 or 16 is connected to the line wire 13, and the other contact by wires 17, 18 or 19, 20 to the source of electric supply on the vehicle. The wire 18 or 20 is also connected through a wire 21 or 22 to one contact of a switch 23 or 24 for controlling the electropneumatic valve 9 or 11 appertaining to the appropriate guard's door, the other contacts of these switches 23, 24 being -connected to the line wire 13. The apparatus is shown in condition for control by the guard by his switch 16 at the right-hand end of the diagram, and with the doors closed. To open the doors the guard moves his switch 16 into position to couple the feed line 14 to contact 16a and, the contact 15 being positioned as shown, electric current will be supplied to the line wire 13. The control magnets of the valves 1-4 are thus energized. and cause the door engines to open the doors, The guard's switch 23 at the left-hand end of the diagram being positioned to connect the valve 9 to the line wire 13, the door it controls is also opened, and the guard may open his own door by moving the switch 24 to connect the valve 11 to the line wire 13 or the wire 22. When the guard wishes to change ends with the doors open, he will move his door switch 24 to make contact with the line wire 13, leaving switch 16 in position connecting the feed wire 14 to the line wire 13, which is fed with current from the lefthand end of the train through wires 18, 17 and switch 15. To then control the doors from the left-hand end the guard operates switches 15 and 23, the switch 15 being moved on to the contact 15<a> when it is desired to close the doors. The guard may also change ends with the doors closed by walking through the train, the switch 15 or 16 at the old end of the train being left in the position in which it was moved to close the doors, the doors being opened by operating the switch at the new end of the train. When the switches at opposite ends of the train are both in the same operative positions the valves are de-energized, as the line wire is disconnected from the current supply, and the doors will be closed, the doors being opened when one switch is in operative position and the switch at the other end is in the reverse position so that current is supplied to the engine control valves through one of the switches to the feed wire 14 and through the other switch to the line wire 13. Train indicators, electrically controlled and energized, are employed to indicate to the guard the condition of the doors, whether open or closed. Electrical means are also provided for signalling to the driver when the doors are open or closed, consisting of lamps 42, 43 at the driver's position in circuit with change-over switches 44, 45, the electrical circuit including contacts 41 con- ,trolled by a moving member, preferably associated with the door operating engines or motors. Means are also provided for positively locking all the doors in the closed position, such means comprising power-operated bolts electrically controlled by means of switches 33-36 at the guard's positions of the train, substantially as .described in Specification 258,312.