US1703224A - Light signal for railways and the like - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, I929. 1,703,224

w. ,CHALLIS ET AL LIGHT SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE Fi d Oct. 22, 1924 I 2 sheets-shat 1 Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,224

- w. CHALLIS ET AL LIGHT SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR S Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

warren {STATES' 1,703,224 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM CHALLIS, OF AMERSHAM COMMON, AND COURTENAY HAROLD IV. EDMONDS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

LIGHT SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 22, 1924, Serial No. 745,120, and in Great Britain January 15, 1924.

Our invention relates to light signals for railways and the like of the kind comprising one or more signal lamps adapted to projet-l. a corresponding number ofdiiferently colored beams of light in the direction of a train or veliiclenioving along the railway track so to constitute different signal indications. 1 V

Signal beams of light of this character are found in practice to be extremely effective for this purpose both in daylight and darkness, but owing to thenecessity of utilizing substantially parallel beams in order to produce an effective indication at a considerable distance, it is somewhat diflicult under some conditions for the driver of an approaching train or vehicle to observe the signal beam when closely adjacent to its point of origin, that is to say. when the train is at or near the signal lamp itself.

Accordingly, our present invention has for its object to overcome this difficulty by pro viding a relatively divergent spot or auxiliary light beam, so arranged as to be visible at a short distance from and up to the position at which the signal lamp is located.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a lamp fitting for a spot or auxiliary light beam, the fitting being adapted to be mounted on the hood of the lamp emitting the main signal beam.

Figs. 2 and 8 are views of the fitting for the auxiliary beam as seen from the front of the hood and from the rear of the fitting respectively.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the lantern or housing for the main signal beam provided with a fitting embody in}; our invention.

Referring now first to- Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the hood of the lamp emitting the main signal beam is indicated at 1, the fitting for the auxiliary beam comprising a conical base 2 adapted to be secured to the hood 1 by means of bolts as indicated at 3. The outer end or head of the base 2 is provided with a cover ring 4 secured to the base by means of bolts 5, the internal edge of the cover ring 4 and the corresponding aperature within the head of the base 2 being of spherical form toaccommodate a corresponding spherical projection 6, formed at one end of a lamp tube 7 The spherical end of the lamp tube 7 is provided with a conical bushin 8 screw-threaded to the endof the lamp tube 7, the inner end of the bushing 8 being provided with a lens 9 secured by means of the usual wire ring 10. A perforated inter nal partition 11 the lamp tube 7 serves to support a lamp holder 12 secured to the partition 11 by means of the shade rings 13 of the lamp holder, the outer end of the lamp tube 7 being closed by means of a hollow plug 14 which is slotted and provided with clamping lugs 15 for the purpose of securing a cable, not shown, containing the conductors leading to the lamp holder 12.

It will be seen that by loosening the bolts 5 of the cover ring 4 the lamp tube 7 may be adjusted so that its axis is inclined to the hood at any desired angle and the auxiliary beam of light emitted from a lamp mounted in the lamp holder 12 can thus be directed as desired relative to the direction of the main signal beam. The lens 9 is preferably of such focus and the lamp tube 7 is so adjusted that the angle of the auxiliary divergent beam extends from a direction at right angles to the track through an angle of approximately towards the direction of themain signal beam. 'The supply of current to the lamp holder 12 for the lamp of the auxiliary beam is arranged to be con trolled. in accordance with the supply of current to the corresponding signal lamp orthe'main beam, and preferably the lens 9 is arranged to be of the same color as the signal lens of the main beam with which the auxiliary beam is associated.

Referring now to Fig. 4 the lantern or housing of the signal is indicated at 16 and is provided with a'number of signal lenses for the different signal beams, the upper one of these signal lenses being indicated at 17 and a part of the next lower lens at 18. A hood 1 surrounds the upper part of the signal lenses 17, 18 and the base of a fitting embodying our invention is attached, in the manner previously described, to the hood 1 associated with lens 17, the parts being so adjusted that the beam transmitted from tube 7 is projected in the desired direction.

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It will be understood that if desired each of the signal beams emitted from the same housing or lantern 16 may be provided with a fitting, so that a separate auxiliary beam is provided for each main beam, in which case the color of the auxiliary beam is arranged to be the same as that of the main beam, the color of the disc or lens 9 (Fig. 1) being, for instance, the same color as the signal lens 17.

Our invention is evidently not limited to the particular constructions or arrangements above described and illustrated which may be varied as required to meet particular con-- ditions.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in What manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is:

1. In combination with a light signal for projecting a main beam of light and comprising a hood, a hollow base attached to said hood, a cover ring, a cylindrical tube having a semi-spherical projection formed on one end, means for clamping said projection between said base and said ring to hold the tube in adjusted position with respect to the base, a lens covering said one end oi the tube and located in the base member, and alight source in the tube for projecting an auxiliary beam of light from said lens at an angle with said main beam.

2. In combination with a light signal for projecting a main beam of light and comprising a hood, a hollow base attached to said hood, a cylindrical tube having one end supported by and extending into such base, a lens covering such one end, an apertured transversely extending partition in said tube, and a threaded lamp holder in the aperture of said partition and provided with rings whereby the lamp holder may be clamped to the partition.

In testimony whereof we affix our slgnatures.

WILLIAM CHALLlS. COURTENAY HAROLD W. EDMONDS.

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