Apparatus for Automatically Closing and Opening by Electrical Agency the Barriers of Railway Level Crossings.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
Apparatus for Automatically Closing and Opening by Electrical
Agency the Barriers of Railway Level Crossings.
I, CHRISTIAEM CORNELIUS VAN DER VALK of Haarlem, Holland, Electrician
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to apparatus for automatically opening and closing the
barriers or gates of railway level crossings by means of electrical energy, wherein
such opening and closing is effected by the approaching and passing trains in such
manner that the train on approaching the barrier effects the opening or closing of
an electrical contact by its weight whereby an electric circuit is broken or closed.
By this means gearing is set in motion which closes the circuit of a working current
that actuates an electromotor in such manner as to cause this to gradually close the
barrier. When the barrier is closed, the motion of the electromotor is stopped by
the breaking of its supply circuit again.
On the train passing beyond the barrier, a second contact is opened or closed by
the weight of the train, whereby the said gearing is again set in motion, producing
a working current which actuates the same electromotor but in the contrary
direction, so as thereby to open the barrier again.
When the barrier is opened the electromotor is again brought to a standstill, by
the breaking of its working circuit.
At the commencement of the closing of the circuit an audible signal is at the
same time actuated by an electric current and also a visible signal is turned by
mechanical means from a direction at right angles to the line of rails to a direction
parallel thereto. The invention also serves in particular for the purpose of ensuring,
when in the case of a railway with two or more lines of rail, two trains approach or
pass away from a crossing in opposite directions, that the opening and closing of
the barrier shall only be effected according to predetermined rules.
I will describe the said invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which Figure 1 shews a diagrammatic view of the arrangement. The barrier
beam a is actuated by the toothed gear c, the motive force for this purpose being
supplied by the electromotor d. Over the barrier beam is arranged a box b, in
which are contained the actual electro-magnetic working parts. Over this box is
arranged the electrical signal bell e. This barrier beam a is shewn in the closed
position and the optical signal fis parallel to the line of rails as a caution signal to
the persons desirous of crossing; it is therefore not visible to the driver of the
train, who consequently understands from this that the barrier is closed.
The internal arrangement of the working box b is shewn by way of example for
a single-line railway at Figures 2 and 24. Figure 2 also shews diagrammatically
the position of the electro motor d for the two barrier beams a. a and of the signal
bell e.
Furthermore a diagram view of the approaching train his shewn, which at the
same time will open the contact f' by its weight for effecting the closing of
the barrier beam and will then pass over the contact g by means of which the
commencement of the opening of the barrier beam is started. There are also
shewn diagrammatically the current generator i by which the wheel mechanism is
actuated, the generator k by which the signal bell is sounded, and the generator
by means of which the electromotor is driven.

page_text: On an axis that can be mounted on the back wall of the box b, is a barrel m,
containing a spring not shewn on the drawing.
This spring actuates the wheel mechanism that drives the flyer n. The spring
is wound up by the up and down motion of the harrier beam a.
The mode of transmitting this motion is not shewn on the drawing as it
effected in any known manner.
may
be
On the barrel m are two projections o and p, which on the rotation of the drum
strike against the inner ends of the two conducting double ended levers g and y
which are carried by a conducting holder r. On the axis of the barrel m is a cam
discs near the back wall of the box, which cam has two drops s' and s². On this
can disc bears a rod t carried by the back wall of the box and placed parallel
thereto, which can strike with its upper end against the one armed lever u when,
by the rotation of the disc a it is raised out of the drop s or a on to the periphery
thereof. This lever u has at its front end a downward projecting beak u by means
of which it can stop the rotation of the flyer n as soon as the rod t falls into one of
the drops or s².
Over the outer ends of the double ended levers 7 9 as also over the outer end
of the one armed lever are situated strong contact springs, which are respectively
marked v, v¹, and 2. To the right and to the left of the barrel m, near the side
walls of the box are two-armed levers to, to, mounted on pivots and provided at
their lower ends with beaks and at, on which rest the outer ends of the two
armed levers 9 and 1 as soon as the inner ends thereof have been pressed down by
the projections o and p.
The upper ends of the two-armed levers and we can be attracted by the electro-
magnets y and y' and the one armed lever by the electro magnet y³.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The electric current of the generator i passes through the line 1-2 to the
electro magnet y; this holds the lever u in position so that its beak u¹ stops the
flyer, whereby the train of wheels gearing with the barrel m is stopped.
The contact which, for example is 1000 yards, or more in front of the barrier
benm, is opened by the weight of the approaching train h, and the current_passing
to the electromagnet y is broken, so that the lever « is no longer attracted but is
drawn away from the electromagnet by a spring, and will consequently liberate the
flyer n from its beak u', so that the spring of the barrel will come into action. In
consequence hereof the disc s is rotated and lifts the rod t out of the drop s' and
by means thereof it presses the lever u against the contact spring ; the electric
current, which passes through the line 1-3 to the generator k is thus closed and
the signal belle is sounded until the barrier beam is closed.
The flyer is so regulated that the barrel m performs a revolution in about.
4 minutes.
When it has made about half a revolution, the projection o presses the inner end
of the double ended lever g downwards; this is stopped by the beak z and is at
the same time pressed against the contact spring e, so as to close the main circuit
of the generator the current of which passes through the line 1-4 to the electro-
motor d and rotates this in the direction of the arrow, whereby the barrier is closed
by means of the toothed gear e Figure 1. On its descent the barrier beam, shortly
before it reaches its lowest position, touches a contact a', and thereby closes a
branch circuit of the generator / the current of which passes through the line 1-6
to electromagnet y which attracts the two armed lever w, thereby releasing lever g
and stopping the motion of the electromotor d. During this time the barrel will
have made three fourths of a revolution, the rod t falls into the drops so that the
electro magnet y2 can again attract the armature u; by this means the flyer n will
be stopped, and consequently also the train of wheels of the barrel, and at the
same time the signal bell will be stopped, as the contact at 2 is broken. The
barrier beam is now stationary and the train & passes over the crossing and
approaches the contact 9, which by way of example, may be situated about
300 yards or more beyond the barrier.

page_text: As soon as the train has opened the contact g the current passing to electro
magnet y is again intercepted in the manner described above, and the toothed gear
is again set in motion. The projection p now presses down the inner end of
lever g', this is stopped by the beak z' and is at the same time pressed against the
contact spring v. By this means the current of the generator which passes
through the line 1-5 to the same electro motor d, is closed, and the latter is
rotated in the contrary direction to that first described, whereby the barrier is
raised by means of the gearing c Figure 1. In rising the barrier beam touches a
second contact & which closes the branch circuit through 1-6 to electro magnet y,
thereby attracting the lever we'. The lever g! is thus released, and the motion of
the electromotor is again stopped. During this time the barrel completes the last
quarter of its revolution, and the rod t falls into the drop a', whereupon the
armature u can again approach the electromagnet y', and the 'beak u' will stop the
flyer n, thus putting the apparatus in readiness for the next following train.
In Figure 3 is shewn an arrangement for adapting the said apparatus for several
lines of rail, the apparatus being so arranged that in the case of two trains passing
each other at or near a crossing, the first train will close the barrier, but cannot
open it again, such opening being only effected by the second train. after it has
passed the crossing.
In this arrangement the box with the working gear contains three sets of wheel
work A. A' and A', which, in the example shown, are actuated by working currents,
of which A and A¹ serve to effect the circuit connections the currents of which
have to effect the opening and closing of the barriers while the mechanism A'
serves to change the direction of current when required. Between the wheel
mechanisms A and A' are two small tumbler levers B and B', the pins CC
and CC of which dip either into the mercury cups D, D¹ or into the
cups D², D³.
Furthermore the flyers E E E of the said three wheel mechanisms are stopped
by the beaks F F1 F2 of the armatures G G G2, as described with reference to
Figure 2. These armatures are attracted by the three electromagnets H H'H
The two armed levers L L' mounted on brackets K K¹ below the barrels J J¹ of
the wheel mechanisms A A', are, when their inner ends are depressed, brought
into close contact with the contact springs M M', and are held by the lower
beaks of the vertically suspended armatures N N', which are attracted by the
electromagnets N' N.
The armature G of electromagnet H has above it a contact spring 0; the
armatures G G2 have no contact springs. On the other hand each of these
armatures G G1 G2 are raised by rods P P Ps, by the action of cam discs QQ Q³
which are fixed on the ends of the barrels of the wheel mechanisms A. A¹ A2 the
ruds falling into drops on the said cam discs, as described with reference to the
first arrangement.
The inner end of the two armed lever L is pressed down only by a single
tappet R on the corresponding barrel, but the inner arm of the two armed lever L'
ou the other hand is consecutively pressed down by four tappets R'. In a similar
way the tumbler B is pressed down by only a single tappet S on the side of the
lever L, while on the side of the lever L' it is pressed down by four tappets S
Between the lower wheel mechanisms A A' is mounted an electromagnet T, the
armature T of which is connected by a rod T2 with the tumbler B¹. This
tumbler is provided with a pin T against which the four pins U of the barrel of
the wheel mechanism A' strike consecutively, for pushing back the tumbler B¹
into the position shewn on the drawing if it has been previously drawn by rod T*
into the mercury cup D³.
The train V that arrives first, by means of the flexibility of the line of rail,
presses the contact V' down, and, on leaving it, makes the contact V, while the
second train W arriving later in the opposite direction, first depresses contact Wi
and then contact W. The barriers WW3 on each side of the line of rails can,

page_text: for example, be connected by chains so that only a single apparatus on one side
for opening and closing is required, and only on one side are provided two
contacts XX", by means of which branch circuits are closed on the opening
or closing of the barrier, the currents of which effect the stopping of the
electromotor Y.
The generator Z¹ effects the closing and opening of the barrier W3 and the
generator Z causes the signal bell Z³ to be sounded.
The optical signal and the winding up of the springs of the barrels are effected
as described with reference to Figure 2.
The mode of operating is as follows for the train arriving in the direction of
the engine V. As soon as the train depresses the contact V', the current from
generator Z, is closed, which passes through the line 1 to tumbler B and thence
through mercury cup D¹ through line 2, through electromagnet H and then again
through line 2 back to generator Z. By this current the electromagnet H attracts
the armature G, whose beak F liberates the flyer E, and the wheel mechanisın A
is set in motion by the spring of the barrel.
By this means the rod P is raised by means of disc Q and the armature G is
pressed tight against the contact spring O, which thus closes the circuit of the
generator 2, the current passing through the line 1-6 to the signal bell Z³,
which sounds until the barrier is closed.
As soon as the barrel J of the mechanism A begins to rotate, the tumbler Bis
pressed down by the tappet S, so that the pin C dips into the mercury cup D,
while the pin C is withdrawn from the cup D
The object of this change will be explained farther on. The barrel J continues
to revolve, and after the lapse of a certain time which depends upon the
adjustment of the flyer E, the tappet R depresses the inner end of the two armed
lever L, whereby the front end is brought into close contact with the contact
spring M, and is held in that position by the beak of the lever N. In con-
sequence hereof the circuit of generator Z' is closed, and the current passes
through the line 1-7 to the electro-motor Y, causing this to revolve in the
direction of the arrow, and to close the barrier. Shortly before the barrier
reaches its lowest position, a branch circuit of the generator Z is closed in the
same manner, as described in the first arrangement, the current passing through
line 1 to electro-magnet N2 attracting armature N and passing through line 9 to
contact X¹, by the attraction of the armature N, the lever L is freed, the current
to the electro-motor Y is interrupted, and the latter is stopped, the barrier being
now closed. If the barrel has performed a complete revolution, the rod P will
fall into the notch of disc Q, and the armature G stops the flyer E by means of
the beak F whereby the wheel mechanism A is stopped.
When the train V passes beyond the crossing it depresses a contact V2 thereby
closing the circuit of generator Z, the current of which passes through line 1 to
the tumbler B and thence through the mercury cup D2 line 3, to electro
magnet H and through line 3, back to the generator Z. The electro magnet H
then attracts the armature G' so that the wheel mechanism A' can rotate because
the beak F liberates the flyer E. By the rotation of barrel J¹ the rod P is
raised and the inner end of the two armed lever L' is pressed down by one of the
four tappets R' so that its other end is pressed tight against the contact spring M
thereby closing the circuit to the generator Z₁ the current passing through
line 1-8 to the same electro-motor Y as before and in rotating it in the contrary
direction, causes it to open the barrier. Shortly before this reaches its highest
position, it touches the second contact X thereby closing a branch circuit of
generator through the line 1-9' to electro-magnet N which attracts the
armature N and in releasing the lever L' breaks the circuit of the electro-motor,
which is thus stopped. The barrel J of the wheel mechanism will have made th
revolution during this operation, whereby one of the four tappets S¹ will cause
the pin C of tumbler B to dip into the mercury cup D that is to say, causes the

page_text: pin C to assume the position shewn at Figure 3 again. The rod P¹ then falls
into one of the four drops of cam dise Q and the apparatus is ready for the next.
following train.
The above described arrangement has however also the effect that the train V..
which has closed the barrier by means of the contact V₁ cannot open the same-
again on passing the contact. V if a second train W passing on the second line-
in the contrary direction acts upon the contact W. In this case the action is as.
follows:-
As shewn at the beginning of the description of Figure 3, the barrel of the
wheel mechanism A is at once put in action when the approaching train V
depresses the contact V. The tappet S will then at once cause the pin C. to dip.
into the mercury cup D. If now the oppositely advancing train W should
at the same moment touch the contact W the circuit of generator Z will be-
closed.
The current of this circuit can however not pass through the line 1-2. to
electro magnet H, because the circuit has been broken by the withdrawal of
pin C from the mercury cup D¹.
The current can however pass from the line 1 to tumbler B, through pin C in
mercury cup D and through line 4 to electro-magnet T and thence through the
line 4-2 back to generator Z. The electro-magnet T, being thus excited, the
armature T is attracted, and the tumbler B' is reversed by means of the rod T2:
whereby pin C is immersed in mercury cup D³.
The advancing train V now passes beyond the crossing to the contact V. The
current of generator Z must now pass through the line 1 to tumbler B' thence
through mercury cap D through line 5 to electro magnet H' and then through.
line 5 and 3 back to the generator Z.
Evidently the wheel mechanism A' will not have come into action during that.
time because the electro magnet H' was not included in the circuit, consequently
the barrier remained closed, notwithstanding that the train V passed over
contact V2. On the other hand the armature G2 of the electro magnet H will
have been attracted, whereby the beak of the armature will have liberated the
flyer E, and the wheel mechanism A will have come into action, causing its barrel
to make a quarter revolution. Previously however the attraction of the armature T¹
by means of the electro magnet T will have caused the upper pin T3 of the tumbler B,.
to press against one of the four pins U of the barrel J. On the following rotation
of this barrel in the direction of the arrow, one of these pins U presses the upper
pin T and consequently the tumbler B' buck into their original position, as shewn.
on the drawing the connection with the mercury cup D is broken and that with
cup D is established again. The approaching train V has therefore been able to
pass over the entire crossing and contact V without being able to open the barrier
again which it had previously closed.
If now the opposite train W passes over the crossing and contact W2 the circuit.
will be closed, passing over 1 to tumbler B thence through mercury cup D' and.
through line 3 to the electro-magnet H' and again through line 3 back to the
generator Z. The electro-magnet H' attracts the armature G¹ and flyer E' is.
liberated, causing wheel mechanism A' to be set in motion, and by the depression
of lever L' by tappet R' the circuit of the electro-motor Y is closed so that this
effects the opening of the barrier.
The wheel work e Figure 1 which is driven by the electro-motor can also be.
arranged underground and be protected against the traffic by an enclosing easing,.
also with two or more lines of rails, the second barrier can be connected with the
fret by any suitable means so as to be moved simultaneously therewith, so that
only one of the described apparatus is necessary for the working.
Two or more level crossings situated at short distances from each other may also.
be connected together in the same way, so as all to be worked by a single apparatus,
in which case the electro-motor need only be slightly increased in power.

page_text: It will be obvious that instead of driving the barrels of the wheel mechanisms by
springs, they may be driven by weights &c.'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. Apparatus for automatically opening and closing by electrical agency barriers
of level crossings for single line railways consisting of a contact depressed by
the weight of the train, a current generator i, and an electro-magnet y², which
cause the rotation of the barrel m of a wheel mechanism, whereby a two armed
lever q is caused to make contact with a contact spring v, thereby closing the
circuit of a generator l, and actuating an electro-motor d, which effects the closing
of the barrier a through toothed gear c, Figure 1, while on the depression of a
second contact g by the train, a two armed lever q' actuated by means of generator i,
electro magnet y' and barrel m, is caused to make contact with contact springs v
closing the circuit of generator l, and causing electro motor d to turn in the
contrary direction, so as to open the barrier a substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2 and 24 of the drawings.
2. In apparatus of the kind set forth in Claim 1, the modified arrangement for
railways with two or more lines of rails, wherein two wheel mechanisms A and A
are provided, for closing and opening the barrier, and a third wheel mechanism A²
and tumblers B and B for changing the direction of current for the purpose of
enabling a train V to pass over contact V2 without opening the barrier W³ such
opening being subsequently effected by a second train W acting on a contact W
substantially as described with reference to Figure 3.
3. In apparatus such as is referred to in Claims 1 and 2, the arrangement of a
contact spring 2 or o, and a generator k or for the purpose of actuating a signal
bell e or Z by the depression of the rail contacts for V¹ W2 substantially as
described with reference to Figures 2 and 3.
Dated this 24th day of June 1896.
ABEL & IMKAY,
Agents for the Applicant.