Improvements in or relating to Railway Traffic Controlling or Signalling Apparatus.

摘要

27,071. Coleman, C. J. April 11, [date applied for under Patents Act, A.D. 1901]. Semaphore signals; controlling and loc7cing signals; automatic systems.-Energy is continuously generated at a slow rate, and is stored by suitable apparatus which delivers it, when required, to the signal-operating mechanism. Modifications are described in which compressed-air or chemical engines are used, and also different forms of electric apparatus. In the arrangement particularly described, a local source of thermal energy continuously generates electric energy by means of a thermopile of special construction. The electric energy so generated charges two secondary batteries, one of which operates two coils, which move a lever and thus complete connections of the other battery through an electric motor which moves the signal arm by means of an epicyclic gearing. The source of thermal energy is a stove consisting of a tank 26 containing kerosene or other fuel, which is fed to the burner 33 through the chamber 29 and the cock 31. The conical nozzle 30 maintains a constant level in the chamber 29, which is open to the air through the cock 28. The air necessary for combustion of the fuel is drawn in by convection currents through the tube 37, and the hot gases from the flame pass up the tube 34 and so heat the inner junctions of the thermopile 43 and also keep the temperature of the whole of the apparatus beneath the cover 41 from becoming very low. The thermopile 43 is made up of annular discs such as 50 and 51, each having on one side an annular boss at its internal periphery and on the other side an annular boss at its external periphery. Positive and negative elements are arranged alternately, and spaces between adjacent elements are filled with insulating discs or washers 53. The whole series is mounted concentrically and clamped between two end-plates 46, 47, which are fixed by insulated screws 18 to the flanged cylinders 54, 55. The space between the two concentric cylinders 54, 55 is filled with water, which is caused by convection to circulate from and to the tank 22, through pipes 23, 24, to maintain the outer junctions of the thermopile at a lower temperature. The electric energy generated in the thermopile is used in charging the two secondary batteries 15, 16 in series, and is continuously produced at a lower rate than is required to actuate the signals and is given out when required from the batteries. The battery 15 is used to drive the motor which actuates the signal arm 2. The rails at one side of the track are divided by insulating-pieces 39 into sections 38 at or near each signal; the other rail 40 is continuous. The battery 16 is connected to the rails 38, 40 of the rear section A. The magnet 20 is connected across the same rails, as is also a magnet corresponding to 19 in the signal gear at the other end of the section A. The magnet 19 is connected across the rails of the advance section B, and is energized by the battery corresponding to 16 in the signal apparatus at the advance end of that section. Normally, the lever 17 with the pawl 18 is held out of contact with the escapement 11. A train entering section A short-circuits the current through the coil 20, and, if the section B is clear, allows the coil 19 to pull up the lever 17 and so make contact from the pawl 18 to the escapement 11 and complete the motor circuit, which is from the battery 15 through the motor, pawl 18, gear wheels 10, 8, bar 7, and the contact-plate 4, back to the battery. The motor turns in the direction of the arrow, and a gear wheel 13 on its shaft drives the wheel 12, to which is fixed the pinion 9. The planet wheel 8 engages the pinion 9 and turns the wheel 10 until the lever 18 meets a tooth of the escapement 11. The wheel 10 is retained by the pawl 18, and the planet wheel 8 then moves around the pinion 9 and pushes up the bar 7 and so actuates the signal. When the bar 5 is pushed beyond the contact-plate 4, the motor circuit is broken and the motor stops. If both sections A, B are occupied together, the two coils 19, 20 are de-energized, and if both sections A, B are unoccupied the two coils 19, 20 are energized ; in each case, the pawl 18 is out of contact with the escapement 11, and the signal remains at 'danger' or is brought to that position. If a train is on section A and section B is clear, the signal is set at 'clear.' If then a train backs on to section B, the coil 19 is de-energized. This releases the lever 17, which removes the pawl 18 from the escapement 11, and, the wheel 10 being then free to turn and the pinion 9 being held by the detent 63, the weights on the signal lever cause the planet wheel 8 to move downwards and also set the signal at 'danger.'