GB372506A - Improvements in or relating to railway signalling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

372,506. Actuating signals on trains. BALLS, S. T., 34, Cowcross Street, London. March 31, 1931, No. 9706. [Class 105.] Relates to track apparatus for actuating signals and brakes on trains, of the type comprising a fixed track ramp engaged by a pivoted lever on the locomotive to give a clear signal (bell) or a danger signal (siren) with brake application accordingly as the ramp is electrically alive or dead in dependence on the position of the wayside signal. The pivoted lever 1 is formed with an angular shoe 1<B> so that a face thereof engages the ramp surface and is held thereto by the action of a spring 4. Throughout the angular movement of the lever 1 the ramp is connected through the shoe 1<B>, a stud 8 sliding over an arcuate strip 6, and a lead 7, with the electromagnetic control apparatus. A similar stud contact device on the lever may be provided with an insulated stud moving over two short arcuate strips to act as a switch which is opened on movement of the lever by the ramp; this switch is diagrammatically denoted by 5<A> in Fig. 8, which shows one form of the control apparatus. At a clear signal the ramp is electrically alive so that a magnet 15 is energized over the lead 7 during the passage of the locomotive lever 1 over the ramp; the normal circuit of a magnet 26 is broken at the switch 5<A> by the deflection of the locomotive lever 1 but this magnet 26 continues energized over contacts 21, 22 closed by the lifted armature device 17 of magnet 15 which further closes a contact 23 in the circuit to a bell 25. A battery 24 supplies the magnet 26 and bell 25. The armature contact device 17 is held in. its lifted position by a spring. 47 until manually released. At a danger signal the ramp is dead and accordingly the magnet 15 is not energized to complete the parallel holding circuit for magnet 26 which therefore drops its armature device 28; when the switch 5<A> opens, and so actuates the brake valve 35, the air operating a siren 37. The modified form of lever 1, shown in Fig. 7, when deflected allows a rod 11 to drop and therefore in the apparatus shown in Fig. 9 the armature device 28 of magnet 26, being supported by the rod 11, will drop unless the ramp is alive to energize the magnet 26 directly over the lead 7. If the magnet 26 is so energized its armature device 28 closes contacts 32, 33 to energize the magnet 15 which in turn lifts its armature. device 17 to close the circuit to the bell 25. By means of the apparatus shown in Fig. 12 the brake application when initiated is prevented from being cancelled. The brake valve lever 34<A> when operated passes beneath a spring catch 54<A> which is only withdrawn when the fall of air pressure in the piping 36 permits a spring- pressed piston 49 to descend and actuate the linkage 53, 59.