An Improved Electric Signalling System.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 8th June, 1895
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electric Signalling System.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS HALL, of No. 80 Broadway, New York City, United
States of America, President of The Hall Signal Co., 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 electric block signalling systems for railways, and it has.
for its main objects to simplify such systems and render more certain the operation.
of the signals, and also to provide means for indicating at a switch the approach
of a train in order that the switchman may keep the switch in proper condition for
the passage of the train, the switch being preferably so connected with a signal in
the rear that a train approaching the switch will be blocked if the switch is not in
proper condition for the train's passage. The invention consists of the construction
and arrangement hereinafter set forth..
In the drawing the invention is illustrated in diagram.
Referring now more particularly to the various features illustrated in the drawing,
the track is divided into a series of sub-sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The signal A
guards the sub-sections 2, 3 and 4, the signal B guards the sub-sections 4, 5 and 6,
and the signal C guards the sub-sections 6 etc. It will thus be seen that the block
guarded by the signal A overlaps at the sub-section 4 the block guarded by the signal B,
and that the block guarded by the signal B overlaps at the sub-section 6 the block
guarded by the signal C. The rails of each of the sub-sections are included in a
track circuit which includes also a magnet at the exit end of the sub-section. These
magnets are lettered respectively a, b, c, d and e. The sub-sections 3 and 5 also
include circuit controllers and 9 respectively, each of which is operated by the
magnet of the track circuit immediately in the rear. The wire h extends continuously
along the track and constitutes one side of each of the signal operating or controlling..
circuits for the signals A, B, C etc. The other side, k, of the signal circuit for the
signal A joins the side at the points m and m², and includes the circuit controllers
n, and n², the first of which is normally open and operated by the magnet a, while
the others are normally closed and operated by the magnets c and d respectively.
Thus this signal circuit is normally deenergized. This signal circuit also
includes a circuit controller o near the switch D and operatively connected with
the switch lever D' so that when the switch is thrown for main line running, the
circuit controller is closed as shown, but when it is thrown for the siding
this circuit controller is open. A bridge wire 7 connects the two sides of the signal
circuit at the points q¹ and g², and includes a normally closed circuit controller p
operated by the magnet in the signal circuit.
The battery E of the signal circuit is preferably located at the advance or exit
end of the circuit, and it will be seen that when the circuit controller p is closed, the
battery is in a closed circuit with this circuit controller through the bridge wire g
which includes it. This circuit operates or controls an indicator F for the switch,
and may be called the indicator circuit.
The signal circuits for the other signals are similar to the circuit for the signal A
just described, but they may or may not be connected with indicator circuits. The
circuit h k¹ for the signal in the rear of the signal A has the normally closed circuit
controllers s and, operated respectively by the magnets a and b, and since a train
operates the signal circuit k' after it operates the signal circuit hk, it is evident
that these signal circuits overlap. The circuit h, for the signal B includes the
normally open circuit controller t, and the normally closed circuit controller t¹,
D
737

page_text: operated respectively by the magnets e and rand, the circuit h, for the signal C
It
includes the normally open circuit controller u, operated by the magnet e.
will be seen that the signal circuits h, k and h, k' overlap just as do the circuits h,
and h, k, inasmuch as the circuit h, k, is operated by a train after the circuit h, ♬³ is
operated by the same train.
The signals are shown in the drawings as standing normally at danger with the
signal circuits normally deenergized, the indicator being normally at safety with its
circuit normally energized.
!
The operation of the system is as follows: A train entering the sub-section 1
operates its track circuit by shunting the magnet a, thereby breaking the signal
circuit h, kat s and energizing the signal circuit h, k, by closing it at n. This puts
the signal A to safety before the train. At the same time the train holds the signal
circuith, open at still the entire train has passed out of the sub-section 1
and wholly into the sub-section 2. When the train passes the signal A and enters the
block which the signal guards, it first operates the track circuit of the sub-section 2
by shunting the magnet b. This continues the break of the signal circuit h, k¹ by
breaking the circuit again at s', and also breaks the track circuit of the sub-section 3
at f, thereby deenergizing the magnet c and breaking the circuit for the signal A
at n', and closing the circuit, for the signal Bat t. The signal A is thus
returned to danger, the signal in the rear of A is continued at danger, and the
signal B is put to safety as soon as the train begins to pass the signal A. When
the train has passed off the sub-section 2 and on to the sub-section 3, the signal
circuit h, is closed and the track circuit of the sub-section 3 is closed at f, but the
magnet c of this circuit is shunted and thus continued in its deenergized condition.
When the train reaches the signal B it finds the signal at safety and so enters into
the block which it guards by passing upon the sub-section 4, thereby continuing a
break in the circuit for the signal A by opening the circuit controller n²; at the
same time the track circuit of sub-section 5 is broken at g and the magnet e
is deenergized to close the circuit for the signal Cat u and break the circuit for the
signal B at t. When the train enters sub-section 5 it continues the magnet e in its
deenergized condition and thus continues the circuit for the signal B broken and the
circuit for the signal C energized.
at
0,
When the switch D is thrown for the siding the circuit of the signal A is broken
and the signal A is thereby maintained at danger so that a train approaching
the signal A would be notified of the condition of the track. When the switch D is
thrown for main line traffic and a train enters upon sub-section 1 it closes the
circuit of the signal A at n, thereby putting signal A to safety as above described
and causing the current from the battery E to flow through the magnet ŕ instead of
the indicator F. The indicator therefore shows danger to the switchman, notifying
him that the train is approaching and that he must not throw the switch for the side
track.
While all the track circuits are shown as normally closed and including insulated
sections of the rails, yet in some cases other types of track circuits might be
substituted. For instance, track circuits operated by track instruments might be
used in some cases with advantages, and track circuits normally open might also
be in some cases used with advantage. Again, the power for directly operating the
signal may be derived from any convenient source, whether electrical, pneumatic,
hydraulic, mechanical etc. Various other changes which will readily suggest
themselves to one skilled in the art, may be made without departing from what is
conceived to be the broad spirit of the invention as herein set forth.
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. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track divided
into a series of overlapping blocks, each divided into sub-sections, a signal for
each block, overlapping signal circuits for the signals, a track circuit for each

page_text: sub-section of a block controlling the electric condition of the signal circuit for said
block, two or more of said track circuits being so connected together that when one
is operated the other is also operated to affect the signal circuit, substantially as
Bet forth.
2. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a block of a
track divided into sub-sections, a track circuit which includes the rails of the track
for each sub-section, a signal normally at danger and a normally deenergized signal
circuit for the block, means for energizing the signal circuit in the rear of the block
and means for energizing the signal circuit upon a change in the electric condition
of each of the track circuits of the block, two or more of the said track circuits being
so connected together that when one of them is operated another is also operated to
affect the signal circuit, substantially as set forth.
3. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track divided
into a series of blocks, each divided into sub-sections, a track circuit which includes
the rails of the track for each sub-section, a signal normally at danger
and a normally deenergized signal circuit for each block, means located in one block
for energizing the signal circuit of a block in advance, and means for deenergizing
the said signal circuit upon a change in the electric condition of each of the track
circuits of the said block in advance, two or more of the track circuits of said block
in advance being so connected together that when one is operated the other is also
operated to affect the signal circuit, substantially as set forth.
4. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track
divided into a series of blocks each divided into subsections, a track circuit for
each subsection, a normally deenergized signal circuit for each block, means
included in each signal circuit for energizing it upon a change in the electric
condition of each of two or more operatively connected track circuits of a block in
the rear, and means included in each signal circuit for deenergizing it upon a
change in the electric condition of each of the track circuits of its block substantially
as set forth.
5. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track
divided into a series of overlapping blocks each divided into subsections, a track
circuit for each subsection, a normally deenergized overlapping signal circuit for
each block, means located in one block for energizing the signal circuit of a block
in advance and means for deenergizing the said signal circuit upon a change in the
electric condition of each of the track circuits of the said block in advance, tivo or
more of the track circuits of said block in advance being so connected together
that when one is operated the other is also operated to affect the signal circuit,
substantially as set forth.
6. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track
divided into a series of overlapping blocks each divided into subsections, a track
circuit for each subsection, a normally deenergized overlapping signal circuit for
each block, means included in each signal circuit for energizing it upon a change
in the electric condition of each one of two or more operatively connected track
circuits of a block in the rear, and means included in each signal circuit for
deenergizing it upon a change in the electric condition of each of the track
circuits of its block, substantially as set forth.
7. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track
divided into a series of blocks each divided into subsections, a track circuit for
each subsection two or more of which are so operatively connected that when one
of them is operated another is also operated, a normally open signal circuit for
each block adapted to operate a signal near the entrance thereof, each block and
each signal circuit overlapping respectively the succeeding block and signal circuit,
means included in each signal circuit for closing it upon a change in the electric
condition of each of the connected track circuits of the preceding block, and
means included in each signal circuit for breaking it upon a change in the
electric condition of each of the track circuits of its block, substantially as set forth.
8. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a truck

page_text: divided into a series of blocks each divided into subsections, a track circuit for
each subsection two or more of which are so operatively connected that when one
of them is operated another is also operated, a normally open signal circuit for
each block adapted to operate a signal near the entrance thereof, means included
in each signal circuit for closing it upon a change in the electric condition of each
of the connected track circuits of the preceding block, and means included in each
signal circuit for breaking it upon a change in the electric condition of each of
the track circuits of its block, substantially as set forth.
9. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a signal
operating or controlling circuit, a track circuit controlling the signal circuit, and a
switch indicator connected in a bridge across the signal circuit, whereby the
operation of the track circuit affects both the signal circuit and the indicator,
substantially as set forth.
10. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a signal, a
normally deenergized signal circuit operating or controlling said signal, a switch
indicator connected in a bridge across the signal circuit, and means controlled by a
train for energizing said signal circuit and simultaneously operating the indicator,
substantially as set forth.
11. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a signal
operating or controlling circuit, a track circuit controlling the signal circuit, a
switch indicator connected in a bridge across the signal circuit whereby the
operation of the track circuit affects both the signal circuit and the indicator, and
a switch so connected with the signal circuit that when the switch is operated the
signal circuit is affected, substantially as set forth.
12. In an electric signaling systein for railways, the combination of a signal, a
normally deenergized signal circuit operating or controlling said signal, a switch
indicator connected in a bridge across the signal circuit, means for energizing said
signal circuit and simultaneously operating the indicator, and a switch so connected
with the signal circuit that when the switch is operated the signal circuit is affected,
substantially as set forth.
13. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a signal, a
normally deenergized signal circuit operating or controlling the signal, a track
circuit for operating the signal circuit, a switch and an indicator for the switch,
said indicator connected in a bridge across the signal circuit whereby when the
track circuit is operated both the indicator and signal circuit are operated, the
switch and signal circuit being so connected that when the switch is opened
the signal circuit is also opened, substantially as set forth.
14. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track
section divided into subsections, a signal operating or controlling circuit, a track
circuit for each subsection controlling the electric condition of the signal circuit,
two or more of said track circnits being operatively connected together whereby
when one of the said connected circuits is operated another of said connected
circuits is also operated to affect the signal circuit, a switch for the track and an
indicator for the switch, a circuit for operating or controlling the condition of the
indicator, and means for controlling the indicator circuit located in the rear of
the indicator, substantially as set forth.
15. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track
section divided into subsections, a signal operating or controlling circuit, a track
circuit for each subsection controlling the electric condition of the signal circuit, a
switch for the track and an indicator for the switch, a circuit for operating or
controlling the condition of the indicator, and means for controlling the indicator
circuit located in the rear of the indicator, substantially as set forth.
16. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track
divided into a series of blocks each divided into subsections, a signal for each
block, signal circuits for the signals, a track circuit for each subsection of a block
controlling the electric condition of the signal circuit for said block, a switch for a
block and an indicator therefor, a circuit for operating or controlling the indicator
.

page_text: and means for controlling the indicator circuit located in the rear of the indicator,
substantially as set forth.
17. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track
block divided into subsections, a track circuit for each subsection, a normally
deenergized signal circuit for the block, means for energizing the signal circuit in
the rear of the block and means for deenergizing the signal circuit upon a change
in the electric condition of each of the track circuits of the block, a switch for the
block and an indicator therefor, a circuit for operating or controlling the indicator,
and means for operating the indicator circuit located in the rear of the indicator,
substantially as set forth.
18. In an electric signaling system for railways, the combination of a track
block divided into subsections, a track circuit for each subsection, a normally
deenergized signal circuit for the block, means for energizing the signal circuit in
the rear of the block and means for deenergizing the signal circuit upon a change
in the electric condition of each of the track circuits of the block, two or more of
the said track circuits being so connected together that when one of them is
operated another is also operated to affect the signal circuit, a switch for the block,
and an indicator therefor, a circuit for operating or controlling the indicator, and
means for operating the indicator circuit located in the rear of the indicator,
substantially as set forth.
1
__1004
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.