Improvements in Electrical Apparatus for Working Railways on the Block System.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 8th Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Apparatus for Working Railways on the
Block System.
I, EDWARD DEMING, of No. 55 Hancock Street in the City of Brooklyn,
County of Kings, and State of New York, Electrician do hereby declare the nature
of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to mechanism by which a locomotive or train of cars on
any given block may open an electric circuit and at the same time close another
electric circuit through a magnet which operates to close another circuit at a
preceding or following block.
All the details of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings in
which
Figure 1 shows all the elements of the invention, the view being an elevation
mostly in section and including one of the wheels of a car whose flange is
operating the device.
Figure 2 is a smaller view on a smaller scale and more in outline of two of
the mechanisms shown in Figure 1, together with such of the electric circuits
which are necessary to explain the operation.
The phase of the right hand device is similar to that shown in Figure 1,
while that at the left is normal, having been set in its normal position because
of the operation which has taken place in the right hand device.
The device or switch embodying the invention consists of a suitable box or
casing containing a trip C vertically movable and provided with guide rods D
in bearings D', and placed at the side of the rail A so as to be depressed by
the flange of a wheel B passing over it; a vertically moveable bar E arranged
in bearings E¹ and provided with a projection F at its lower end and with a
circuit closer G near its centre, the bar E being loose in its bearings and guided
laterally by a pin H bearing against a flat on the bar on the opposite side of the
projection F, or by equivalent means; a spring I reacting against the bar E in a
direction opposite to that of the pressure of the wheel B; of an electro magnet J
having an armature K within inductive relation thereto, hinged at the top and with
a projection F' at the bottom end; a catch L connected to the armature K by a
spring M and serving for the purpose of simultaneously holding down the bar E
and holding the armature K away from the magnet J by resting upon the
projections F and F¹ while extending the spring M.
There will be one of these switches placed at the beginning of each block of the
line, two of them only being shewn on Fig. 2 representing the switches at two
succeeding blocks. In each switch apparatus there are two insulated contacts G¹
and G2. The pole O of the dynamo N is connected by wires and 5, to the first
circuit closer G, by wires 1 and 2 to the second, by a wire branching off from 2 to
the third and so on. The lower contact G2 of the following switch is connected by
a wire 3 to the induction coil of the electromagnet J of the preceding switch and
the other end of the coil connected to the earth wire 4, in case the switch of the
preceding block is to be operated by that on the next block, as shewn on the
drawings, while if the switch of the following block were to be operated by
the preceding one, the contact G2 of the latter would be connected to the bobbin
of the next one, as indicated by the dotted wire 8. In the first switch of a series

page_text: served by one dynamo the contact G2 would be connected to the bobbin of the last
switch of a series served by another dynamo, if operating them backwards, the
first contact G2 of all on the line being unconnected or connected to an earth wire.
From each of the upper contacts G¹ a wire (6) leads to an electro magnetic
apparatus (A) and thence to earth. When a switch is in its normal position with
the trips C raised, as switch I Fig. 2, the respective apparatus A is in circuit
while if the trip is depressed, as in switch II it is cut out and remains so, till the
train passing over the next switch liberates the trip and recloses the circuit in the
following manner :
Assuming both switches to be in their normal position as switch 1 Fig. 2, both
the apparatus A' A¹ will be in circuit and the bobbins J cut out. A train coming
from the left in passing over switch I will depress the trip C and cut out the
apparatus A of this switch. The catch L will snap over the projection F on bar E
and the projection F on the armature, under the action of the spring M, and the
trip will remain in the depressed position and the apparatus A connected to the
first switch cut out of the electric circuit till the train reaches the switch II at
the beginning of the second block. The first wheel of the train will depress the
trip C of switch II into the position shown on Fig. 2. The circuit closer G is
thereby removed from contact G' and the apparatus A' of the second block cut
out; at the same time the circuit closer G is brought into contact with G2 of this
switch, and a current sent through wires, 1, 2, 4, the bobbin J of the first switch
and wire 5 to earth. The core of the bobbin becoming magnetised attracts the
armature overcoming the tension of spring M, when the catch F releases the
catch L and the latter the bar E. The spring I then pushes up the bar and
brings the parts of switch I into their normal position shewn on Fig. 1, whereby
the circuit through the respective apparatus A is closed again.
The second apparatus A¹ will remain cut out till the train passes over the third
switch at the third block when it will be placed into circuit again, and so on.
Instead of working the switches backward, they may be worked forward by
connecting the lower contact G1 of each preceding switch to the bobbin of the
following one as indicated by the dotted wire 8. The train passing over switch II
would in this case leave it in the position shewn on Fig. 2 till the next train
depresses the trip of switch I, when the current would pass through wires 8, 9 anl
release the trip of switch II.
It is evident that the opening and reclosing of the electric circuit through the
wire 6, 7 at each switch may be utilised in a great variety of ways for operating
electric apparatus for controlling the running of the train on the block system by
signalling or otherwise, the spec.al arrangement of the controlling apparatus not
forming part of this invention, which is confined to the construction of the switch
and manner of operating one switch from the next one.
Obviously the depression and rise of the bar E may also be utilised for operating
by means of mechanical connection, such as levers and rods, signalling or other
apparatus instead of or in addition to the electric apparatus inserted into the
wires 6, 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination with a rail and wheel thereon, of a vertically movable trip
located in the path of said wheel, a vertically movable bar in the path of the trip,
an electric switch carried by said bar, a spring bearing against said bar and
resisting its action, a pivoted catch for engaging and retaining the bar in its lowest
position and a magnet whose armature is in the path of said catch.
2. The combination with a rail and wheel thereon, of a vertically movable trip
located in the path of said wheel, a vertically movable bar in the path of a trip,
an electric switch carried by said bar, a spring bearing against said bar and
resisting its action, a magnet, a pivoted armature for the magnet, and means for

page_text: holding the bar in its lowest position and the armature away from its magnet, said
means consisting of a pivoted catch, between the said bar and said armature, and a
spring by which the catch is suspended from said armature.
3. The combination with a rail and wheel thereon, of a vertically movable trip
located in the path of said wheel, a vertically movable bar in the path of a trip,
an electric switch carried by said bar, a spring bearing against said bar and
resisting its action, a magnet, a pivoted armature for the magnet and a catch for
holding the bar in its lowest position and the armature away from its magnet, said
means consisting of a pivoted catch, between the said bar and said armature, and a
spring by which the catch is suspended from said armature.
4. The combination with a rail and wheel thereon, of a vertically movable trip
located in the path of said wheel, a vertically movable bar in the path of a trip,
an electric switch carried by said bar, a spring bearing against said bar and
resisting its action, a magnet, a pivoted armature for the magnet, and means for
holding the bar in its lowest position and the armature away from its magnet, a
second set of elements substantially as the above in which the magnet is in circuit
with said switch, said means consisting of a pivoted catch, between the said bar
and said armature, and a spring by which the catch is suspended from said
armature.
5. The combination with a rail and a wheel thereon, of a trip in the path thereof,
guide rods for the trip, bearings for the rods, a movable bar in the path of said
trip, an arm upon the bar carrying a circuit closer, a projection upon the bar, a
magnet, an armature therefor, having a projection, a catch for resting upon the
projection in predetermined positions, and a spring resisting the action of the bar
in a direction opposite to that of the pressure of the said wheel.
Signed this Twenty-ninth day of September 1894.
EDWARD DEMING.