GB183611A - Improvements in or relating to electrical operation of railway and like switch points from the vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

183,611. Loughridge, M. H. May 6, 1921. Electric selectors.-Railway trains or cars are caused to travel from any point to a predetermined destination by means of a selector device carried on the trains. The selector comprises one or more selectively adjustable members, and during the journey the selector is operated by track contacts arranged in different combinations adjacent the various points. When a. point combination agrees with any of the combinationsinitially arranged for in the selector, that particular point is operated by the train so as to pass the train along the predetermined route. As shown, the selector comprises a series of discs 21 to 30, Fig. 1, each carrying a series of segments 31 to 40, Fig. 8, made up of conductors 41 to 50 in the form of circular layers insulated from each other. In each disc one of the conductors is absent from all segments except 31. As each disc is constructed to have a different conductor appearing in only one segment, the electric connection between the two terminals 117, 118, along any one conductor is controlled by the disc in which that conductor appears in only one segment. The stepping wheel 111, Fig. 7, is divided into segments corresponding to those on the discs, but only one conductor appears in each segment whereby only one conductor at a time can contact with strip 120, Fig. 1<a>, which is of the same shape as the segments and is connected to terminal 118. Stepping discs 110 each have one complete set of conductors on that face nearest terminal 117 and on the other face a complete segment 51, Fig. 6, of conductors, so that only those conductors for which the segment 31 of the corresponding controlling disc is in alignment with segment 51 can make electrical connection between the two terminals. The stepping wheels are moved forward in steps corresponding to the positions of the segments by the action of coil spring 126, Fig. 2, the energizing magnets 113 serving to move the pawl back for the next step. Re-setting mechanism is provided for the stepping wheels 110 which consists of spring 142 geared to a drum 143 around which a flexible band 144 is wound tending to bring the wheel back to the position where the stop 128 engages the piece 127. In order to retain the wheel whilst the actuating pawl is moved back, the pawl 134 is carried into engagement with the teeth of the stepping wheel by the arm 135 which is operated by holding magnets 114, the coils of which are so connected as to be energized at the same time as the magnets 113, 113<a>, or 115. Whenever a current is established through the selector from collecting shoes 191 or 193, Fig. 13, the magnet 115 will be energized and the stepping wheel 111 will be moved.