Patent GB-480719-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in control and/or signalling systems for use on railways or the like
IPC: B61L23/00
Filed: 1936-08-28
Abstract: 480,719. Railway signals; operating railway points. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CO., Ltd., (in Liquidation), and SIMPSON, L. M. Aug. 28, 1936, No. 23684. [Classes 104 (i) and 105] In a network of stations, each connected by one or more tracks with any other, each train carries operating members adapted to be selectively set in accordance with its destination independently of its starting point, these members being arranged to co-operate with track equipment adjacent to a point offering a choice of routes to cause the preferred route to be 'automatically set up ; thus if a train is deflected for any reason from the normal route from its starting point to its destination it will still find its way over another route without any modification of any of the control apparatus being required. The track equipment may also transmit to a central control office an indication of the destination of the train. In the arrangement shown, each station is designated by a three-figure number, and the train and track equipments are adapted for the transmission of three successive, sets of electrical impulses corresponding to the digits of the number of the destination of the train. In its simplest form the train apparatus comprises three groups of ten members each, arranged along a line parallel to the track any or all of the members being depressible to engage and rotate a toothed wheel on the track which transmits to the control apparatus a series of impulses corresponding to the numbers of train members by which it is engaged in the three groups. Alternatively, the track equipment comprises three groups of four contacts arranged across the track and the train carries corresponding operating members which may be selectively set to engage the track contacts ; each group of contacts can thus be made to give a combination of impulses corresponding to the required digit of the destination number. The track equipment TE, in advance of each junction comprising one or more switches A, B, C by which a train may be directed on to different routes, is connected to registering switches H, T, U, a group of decoding relays DG being required in the case of the second arrangement of track and train equipment referred to above; these switches are preferably of the electromagnetic stepping type, as used in telephone systems, and they register the respective digits of the destination number and prepare circuits for electromagnetic reversing switches such as CA by which the points A, B, C are placed in their normal or reversed positions as required. The connections from the registering switches to the operating coils of the reversing switches pass through a cross-connection field CCF comprising jumper cables by which the response of the points to any code number may be easily altered when required. The connections between the cross-connection CCF and the reversing switches CA, &c., also include relay contacts (not shown) by which the response to any digit may be temporarily altered; these contacts may be controlled from the central control office, or by traffic conditions on the line ahead of the junction, so that in the latter case if the normal route of a train is congested it is automatically diverted to an alternative route. In addition to the registering switches H, T, U, the track equipment TE is connected to storage groups SG by which the numbers of successive trains are indicated at the central office. Each train cancels its description by means of a treadle such as X situated beyond the junction and connected to a clear-down group CD, and any later stored descriptions are thereupon advanced. In place of storage groups at the junction, similar groups at the central office, connected to the junction registering switches H, T, U, may be used. The central office indicator may comprise a map of the network with means for indicating at each junction point on the map the destination number of the train which is passing the junction at any moment; an additional indicator connected to the point control relays CA, &c., may be provided to indicate the route set up. Provision may be made to indicate the numbers of several trains at each junction, and each number may remain exhibited until its train has reached the next junction and set up an indication at that point. An illuminated diagram may be used, showing the positions of trains by dark patches, with an indicator adjacent to each section, showing the destination of the train occupying that section ; in this case track equipment would be necessary at the entrance to each section and not only at the approach to each junction. The route set up may be indicated on such a diagram by an illuminated arrowhead.