US1756700A - Electrically-operated track switch - Google Patents

Description

April 1930- F. H. RICHTERKESSING 1,756,700

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TRACK SWITCH Filed March 11, 1927 INVENTOR. FEHIVKIUFICfiTEFA 66/NG BY ma:-

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 29, 1930 ECE memzwmsaam FRANK H. RICHTERKESSING, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO CHEATHAM ELECTRIC SWITCHING DEVICE COMPANY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY working power on.

ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED TRACK SWITCH Application filed March 11, 1927. Serial No. 174,526.

My invention relates to electrically oper ated track switches operated automatically from the car.

One object of my invention is to produce a system that works power on or power off the system as hereinafter described.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system which will maintain current to the track switch operating mechanism for a period under the control of the speed of the trolley car, and always have enough time for switch operation regardless the speed of the car.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a system in which independent co-operating means are employed in controlling the direction of operation of the track switch.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system in which the possibility of cur rent flowing thru both track switch operating solenoids is eliminated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system in which a power off switch operation is prevented while the system is Another object of my invention is to provide a system in which individual electrically operated magnetic blowout switches are used to disrupt the heavy currents of each track switch solenoid branch, the current for each branch passing thru the one controlling contact only, thereby insuring a positive opening of the circuit each time without objectional wear and destruction to the control apparatus.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a system, which will avoid the breaking of any currents by the current collector or trolley wheel which may be of suflicient magnitude to cause a destructive arc.

Another feature of my invention is to provide a safe control system embodying relays and circuits of much simpler nature than heretofore used in combination with electric track switch operation. This feature is highly desirable for'production and service.

My invention resides in the new and novel combination, construction and relation of the various electrically operated switches, circuits and other parts hereinafter more fully described and disclosed in the drawings.-

In the drawings accompanying my specification;

Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing showing the general arrangement of circuits usually found in an electrically operated car and which are taken account of in the operation of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing showing the arrangement of parts and circuits when the system is in a normal condition. Under such circumstances, however, the switch tongue may be in either of its operable positions.

My invention is intended primarily for use with those cars.which are operated by means of an overhead trolley wheel or current collector W mounted on the car by means of a trolley pole T although it may be operated by cars in which current is supplied thereto by other methods. Most cars are equipped with heaters H, lights L, and air compressors F, which are connected between the trolley pole and ground. The cars are equipped with operating motors M and a controller A therefor, which is under the control of the car operator. When the controller is closed current will flow thru the motors M and this position I term power on, and when the controller is open no current will flow through the motors and this position 1 term power off. The controller A does not in any way control the current flowing thru the apparatus H, L and F, which I term the auxiliary car current. The current flowing thru the motors flows to ground G. I have arranged the system herein described so that the track switch will be operated to the straightahead position when the collector WV engages the trolley contactor P with power off, and the track switch will be thrown to the curved position when the current collector engages the system using power on. This operation of the track switch, however, may be reversed by merely transposing the connections of the track switch operating solenoids as is evident to those skilled in the art.

In the system shown in Fig. 2, the letter D represents a trolley wire or conductor. Positioned adjacent the trolley conductor is a pan or trolley contactor P provided with two contact members E and C which are usually parallel and normally insulated from each other. The member E is electrically connected to the trolley conductor at all times, but the member C is normally insulated, but is electrically connected thereto when the collector l/V engages the pan or trolley contactor P. The contact members E and C are so related to the trolley conductor that when the collector engages the contact members it will be out of engagement with the trolley conductor and remain so until it is about to pass out of engagement with the pan or trolley contactor. Such arrangement of the contact members and conductor is well known to those skilled in the art.

I also employ an electrically operated track switch N provided with two solenoids SN and UN each having a connection to the ground, thru the common conductor '16.

The solenoids are provided with a reciprocating plunger J which is drawn inwardly when the solenoid SN is energized and is drawn outwardly when the solenoid UN is energized. The plunger J is connected to the switch tongue 0 by means of the connecting link K. I also employ an electrically operated normally open relay X provided with an operating coil KL and copper slug KLS, and a switch arm A The coil KL and copper slug KLS are mounted on a magnet core, which is also true of the other switch coil later referred to, although a moving plunger may be substituted for the mag net core, as is well known in the art. One terminal of the coil KL is connected to the Contact member E of trolley contactor P by wire E and the other coil terminal is connected to the trolley conductor D by wire D It will also be noted that one coil terminal of coil KL is a common connecting point for wires 10 and 7 in addition to wire D Wire 10 is connected to contact 19 which is normallyopen front contact relay X, and wire 7 is connected to contact 18 which is a normally open front contact on relay Z.' The switch arm A is normally in its free state, that is, not influenced by any magnetic flux, and rests against the normally closed contact 20, which is a back contact of relay X, and is connected thru wire 11 to one coil terminal of coil B on relay Z. Armature Atis connected by wire 12 to solenoid SN of track switch N.

The other relay Z that I employ has in addition to its operating coil 13, a copper slug BS, and an armature A Armature A is connected by wire 13 to solenoid CN of track switch N. The other coil terminal of coil B is connected by wire C to resistor R which is connected to contact member C of trolley contactor P, by wire C All the relays used are provided with retarded release factors and this retardation may be brought about by various well known constructive principles. In regard to such devices as a copper or brass slug orsleeve about the core of the coil of the relay, as indicated by KLS and BS, or it may be brought about by the spacing of the armatures with respect to their cores when in the closed position, or a combination of these, or by a dash pot arrangement, etc., or the relays may depend upon a system of time produced by a differential action of coils.

If the current collector W engages the trolley contactor l with power oil, the contact members E and C will be electrically connected and of the same potential as the trolley wire, as the contact member E is electrically connected to the trolley conductor D at all times, by wire D connecting the trolley con ductor D and low resistance coil KL, and

wire E connecting the other terminal of' coil KL and contact member E. Coil KL has a very low resistance as it usually consists of 10 or 12 turns of number 6 copper wire. Relay X is a current selective relay, that is,

a very heavy current must pass thru its op erating coil KL before it can affect its armature A As soon as the contact member C is electrically connected to the trolley conductor, through the manner just mentioned, current will flow from the trolley conductor 1) thru wire D coil KL, wire E contact member E, current collector W, contact member C, wire C resistance unit R wire C coil B, wire 11, back contact 20 of relay X armature A of relay X wire 12, solenoid SN of track switch N, wire 14, wire 16 to ground G, and the coil 13 of relay Z will be energized and pick 111 its armature A1, that is, it will be brought into contact engagement with front contact 18. As was described the current for the operation of relay Z was taken thru the solenoid SN of the track switch N, but it should be understood that the current in this circuit is very small always less than say one ampere and will have no effect on solenoid SN that could cause an operation of the track switch, as a very heavy current is required in this solenoid circuit before a switch operation can occur. When armature A was brought into contact engagement with front contact 18 and immediate flow of current resulted, feeding from the trolley conductor D, thru wire D wire 7, contact 18,

armature A7 wire 13, solenoid CN of track switch N, wire 15, wire 16, to ground As no other resistance than that of solenoid. ON is in this circuit, a very heavy current will pass thru the windings of solenoid CN, and the track switchmechanism will operate the track switch to the straight ahead position, as is arranged and described heretofore. Current will continue to flow to solenoid CN as long as the current collector W engages the trolley contactor P with power off, however as soon as the current collector W disengages the trolley contactor P, the circuit of the coil B on relay Z will be opened,

and armature A will return to its normal open position, and the current of the track switch solenoid circuit CN will be broken between armature A and contact 18. Contact 18 is located within a magnetic blowout which is symbolically represented by A li. As is known to those skilled in the art of relay construction, that an are broken within a magnetic field, known as a magnetic blowout, is very quickly and easily broken, and all the deterioration of large destructive arcs is eliminated.

If the current collector initially engages the pan with power on the coil KL of relay X will be instantly energized and pick up armature A into engagement with contact 19, and incident to this pickup armature A will disengage the normally closed back contact 20. As soon as armature A engages contact 19 current will flow from the trolley conductor D, thru wire D Wire 10, front contact 19 of relay X, armature A of relay X, wire 12, solenoid SN of track switch N, wire i l, wire 16, to ground G, energizing solenoid SN and throwing the switch to the curved position, if it should be in the straight ahead position, but if it should be in the curved position, however, no change will occur in the position of the switch, and it will be held in this position. As soon as the armature A of relay X is closed, contact 20 is opened, as already stated, and is preferred to be in advance of the operation of relay Z, which is accomplished by the spacing of the contact elements E and C of trolley contactor P. The opening of contact 20 opens the circuit of coil B of relay Z, therefore coil B cannot be energized and cause an operation of its armature A To sum up the operation of the system, if the car operator desires to go straight ahead he sets his controller to power off with the intention of coasting past the trolley contactor P. As soon as the current collector 11 engages the trolley contactor P, relay Z will operate and the track switch will operate to the straight ahead position.

If the car operator desires to take the curve he will turn his controller to power on with the intention of passing the contactor drawing power. V] hen the current collector W engages the trolley contactor P with power on, relay X will operate, and the track switch will be thrown to the curved position.

There are, of course, modifications and arrangements of the parts which may be made from that shown in the above disclosure and which will still fall within the scope of my invention. Y

1 claim:

1. In a switch operating system the combination of an electrically operated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to be engaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting current to the track switch solenoids for operating the switch in the direction desired when the current collector engages the trolley contactor with power on or power off, control switches to control each branch circuit incli- Vidiually, each switch provided with an operating coil, one switch to close the circuit for operating the track switch straight ahead when the system works power off, and the other switch to close the circuit for operating the track switch to the curved position when the system works power on and open the controlling circuit of the other switch to prevent operating currents being applied to both operating solenoids simultaneously.

2. In a switch operating system the combination of an electrically operated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to be engaged by a current collector, sep arate circuits for conducting current to the track switch solenoids for operating the switch in the direction desired when the current collector engages the trolley contactor with power on or power off, control relays to control each branch circuit individually, each relay having an operating coil, one relay to control the circuit for operating the switch straight ahead when the systemworks power off and the other relay to control the circuit for operating the switch to the curved position when the system works power on, said latter relay having a com mon armature operating between two contacts, one back and one front, one contact to control the track switch solenoid circuit, and the other to control the circuit of the first mentioned relay.

3. In a switch operating system the combination of an electrically operated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to be engaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting current to the track switch solenoids,controlrelays to control each branch circuit individually, each relay having an operating coil and controlling front contacts arranged within magnetic blowout arc chutes, one relay to control the circuit for operating the switch straight ahead when the system works power off, and the other relay to control the circuit for operating the switch to the curved position when the system works power on, the latter relay being provided with a back contact permitting the operation of the first mentioned relay when closed, and preventing an operation when open.

4. In a switch operating system the combination of an electrically operated, track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to be engaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting current to the track switch solenoids, control relays to control each branch circuit individually, each relay having an operating coil and controlling contacts arranged within magnetic blowout arc chutes, one relay to control the circuit for operating the switch straight ahead when the system works power off and have its operating coil in series with the other track switch solenoid, the other relay to control the circuit for operating the switch to the curved position when the system works power on its operating coil being in series with the car circuit, the latter being provided with a back contact for controlling the first mentioned relay to prevent operating currents being applied to both track switch solenoids simultaneously.

5. In a switch operating system the combination of an electrically operated track switch, atrolley conductor and trolley contactor to be engaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting current to the track switch solenoids, control relays to control each branch circuit individually, each relay having an operating coil and controlling contacts arranged within magnetic blowout are chutes, one relay to control the circuit for operating the track switch to the straight ahead position, and the other to control the circuit for operating the switch to the curved position, the latter relay having an armature common to one track switch solenoid and arranged that when its controlling means is operative it will direct operative current into the track switch solenoid, and when inoperative it will provide a ground return, thru said track switch solenoid, for the first mentioned relay, by closing a circuit at its backcontact,

6. A switch operating system comprising an electrically operated track switch, a trolley conductor, a trolley contactor to be engaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting current to the track switch solenoids for operating the switch in the direction desired when the current col lector engages the trolley contactor with power on or power oil, control switches to control each circuit individually, each switch provided with an operating coil, one arranged to be in series with the car circuits, and the other arranged to be in series with one of the solenoids, means cooperated with each switch to retard its opening providing the switch was actuated by its operating coil, so that intermittent contacts of the current collector, and trolley contactor will not inpower on or power oil, control switches to control each branch circuit individually, each switch provided with an operating coil, one arranged to be in series with the car circuits, means cooperated with each switch to retard its opening providing the switch was actuated by its operating coil, so that intermittent contacts of the current collector and trolley contactor will not interrupt the current flowing to the track switch solenoids, and means for operating the first control switch before operating the second control switch.

8. In a switch operating system the combination of an electrically operated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to be engaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting current to the track switch solenoids for operating the switch in the direction desired when the current collector engages the trolley contactor with power on or power oil, control switches to control each branch circuit individually, each switch provided with an operating coil, one switch to close the circuit for operating the track switch straight ahead when the system works power off, and the other switch to close the circuit for operating the track switch to the curved position when the system works power on, and open the controlling circuit of the other switch to prevent operating current being applied to both operating solenoids simultaneously, and means for operating the first control switch before operating the second switch.

9. In a switch operating system the combination of an electrically operated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to be engagedby a current collector, separate circuits for conducting current to the track switch solenoids for operating the switch in the direction desired when the current collector engages the trolley contactor with power on or power oil control relays to control each branch circuit individually, each relay having an operating coil, one relay to control the circuit for operating the switch straight ahead when the system works power off and the other relay to control the circuit for operating the switch to the curved position when the system works power on said latter relay having a common armature operating between two contacts, one back and one front, one contact to control the track switch solenoid circuit, and the other to control the circuit of the first mentioned relay, and means for operating the first control switch before operating the second control switch.

10; In a switch operating system the combination of an electrically operated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to be engaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting current to the track switch solenoids, control relays to control each branch circuit individually, each relay having an operating coil and controlling front contacts arranged within magnetic blowout arc chutes, one relay to control the circuit for operating the switch straight ahead when the system works power off, and the other relay to control the circuit for operating the switch to the curved position when the system works power on, the latter relay being provided with a back contact permitting the operation of the first mentioned relay when closed, and preventing an operation when open, and means for operating the first control switch before operating the second control switch.

11. In a switch operating system the combination of an electrically operated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor. to be engaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting current to the track switch solenoids, control relays to control each branch circuit individually, each relay having an operating coil and controlling contacts arranged within magnetic blowout arc chutes, one relay to control the circuit for operating the switch straight ahead when the system works power 0E and have its operating coil in series with the other track switch solenoid, the other relay to control the circuit for operating the switch to the curved position when the system works power on its operating coil being in series with the car circuit, the latter being provided with a back contact for controlling the first mentioned relay to prevent operating currents being applied to both track switch solenoids simultaneously, and means for operating the first control switch before operating the second control switch.

12. In a switch operating system the combination of an electrically operated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to be engaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting current to the track switch solenoids, control relays to control each branch circuit individually, each relay having an operating coil and controlling contacts arranged within magnetic blowout arc chutes, one relay to control the circuit for operating the track switch to the straight ahead position, and the other to control the circuit for operating the switch to the curved position, the latter relay having an armature common to one track switch solenoid, and arranged that when its controlling means is operative it will direct operative current into the track switch solenoid, and when inoperative it will provide a ground return, thru said track switch solenoid, for the first mentioned relay by closing a circuit at its back contact, and means for operating the first control switch before operating the sec ond control switch.

13. In a switch operating system the combination of an electrically operated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to be engaged by a current collector, separate circuit for conducting current to the track switch solenoids, relays to control each branch circuit individually, each relay having an operating coil and controlling contacts arranged within magnetic blowout arc chutes, one relay to control the straight ahead switch 0 eration, and the other relay to control the curved switch operation, the latter relay being provided with means for opening the circuit of the first mentioned relay, when the latter relay is in an operative state, to prevent both track switch solenoids being energized at the same time, and means for operating the first control switch before operating the second control switch.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

FRANK H. RICHTERKESSING.

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