US2383037A - Railway traffic controlling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

s- 31 'H. L. BONE ET AL 7 I I RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed April- 15, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v V I v V vr o Fig 2. g'iii? E i INVENTORS I fi'pbepe L. 50120 and YHJ'IR ATTORNEY Aug. ,21, 1945.

H. L. BONE ET AL' RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1944 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQRS jzrbelf Z. 0129 a129 THE/12. A'rroNEY Aug. 21, 1945.

H. L. BONE'ET AL RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS 4 SheetQ-She et' 3 Filed April 15, 1944 INVENTORS 1%1169/2 [.3009 and Aug. 21, 1945. H. L. BONE ET AL RAILWAY'TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet '4 m m 6 EM. m E l A P m mm u w l mm m P H .INFT HP m V gr mm l lwwqifl R%.Q% RAM RWNW NR ri Q M fifi $5 m wk NS un R, m mm m s: Ir MQ n .n Y L "r Q E w%\ U V lllllu o N Q fi wk w s Patented Aug. 21, 1945 I UNITED STATES PATE O 3 RAILWAY TRAFFIC conraoLLING 3 APPARATUS 3 Ourinvention relates to railway traflic controlling apparatus, and particularly to apparatu for controlling railway switches.

, With the conventional type of railway switch in which the switch points normallystand in one extreme position or the other, it sometimes happens during heavy snowstorms that snow be comes packed between the open switch point and the adjacent stock rail tosuch an extent that the switch cannot be reversed until someone is sent to the switch location to remove the packed snow. This is undesirable particularly wherethe switch is located at an outlying location, and frequently results in train delays. 3 3

In a copending application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 513,931, filed on December 11, 1943, by Harry L. Black, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, there is disclosed a switch arrangement for preventing switch failures of the type just frne cessary circuits for controlling the switchand lock movement in a switch arrangement of the type just described to obtain the desired switch operation.

Another object of our invention is to use a combination of contacts on the switch machine and on the usual switch stick relays to so energize the usual switch control relays as to cause the switch machine to move to the mid position and3there stop when use of the switch is not required, and at the same time retain all of the described. According to thi arrangement, the

movable switch points are individually connected throughseparate lost motion connections to an operating rod, which latter, in turn, is connected to a conventional switch and lock,movement equipped with a, circuit controller of the type whiehis provided when the switch and lock movement isvto ,be used to operate a movable point fro-g. The switch and lock movement nor mally stands in its mid stroke position; and the movable switch rails are both held closed under these conditions by a spring rod which biases them to their closed positions, the necessary movements of the points totheir closed positions being permitted by the lost motion connections between the movable points and the operating rod. When it is desired to line up a trafiie route over the switch, the switch and lock movement is cuit controller. When a train approaches, the

operated; from its midstroke position to one extreme position or. the other depending upon which one of the two possible traflic routes is desired, and this operation of the switch and lock movement causes the operatingrod togopen the one point or the other as the case may be against th'eeilect of the spring rod, and to positively hold the point which is not opened in its fully closed position against the associated stock rail. 3 In either extreme position of the switch and lock movement, the locking plunger cooperates with the ,usual lock rod te lock the points intheir corresponding positions, and the usual point/doe tectormechanism provides an indication that the points are in the proper. positions for, traflic movements over theswitch, 3 3 3 Onetobject of our invention isto provide the safety features of the switch being locked in either the normal or reverse position when the switch points are in the positions for train movements over the switch.

According to our invention, the switch and lock movement is controllel by the usual switch stick relays which, in turn,may be remotelycontrolled by a three position lever either through direct wire connections or by codeover a line circuit. Whe no train is approaching, the lever normally stands in the mid position, and under these conditions the switch machine moves to its mid position and there stops as a result of the opening of contacts operated by the switch movement cirlever operator moves the lever to its normal or its reverse position depending upon whether he wishes to move the switch to its normal or reverse position, and this causes the switch movement to move to a corresponding extreme position. The operation of the switch movement to an extreme position causes the opera'ting rod to open the one point against the effect of the spring rod and positively hold the other point in the closed position. Thelocking plunger cooperates with the usual lock rods to lock the points in their extreme position and the usual point detector mechanism provides an indication when the points assume the proper extreme positions.

Signalsgoverning train movements over the switch cannot be cleared unless the switch movement occupie the properextreme position, the switch is locked, and the point detector indicates that the parts are in their proper locked positions. ,Other objects and characteristic features of our invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 3

We shall describe several forms of railway trafiic controlling apparatus embodying our invention, and shall then pointout the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 i a top plan view partly in cross section showing a railway switch A provided withone form of switch operating mechanism to be controlled by means of control circuits embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly diagrammatic, and partly in section showin on an enlarged scale certain of the parts of the switch and lock movement illustrated-inlfig. 1. Fig;-3 is'a sectionalv view taken on. the line III-III of Fig. 1. Figs.

4, and 6 are diagrammatic view shOWing different circuit arrangements for controlling the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, and embodying our invention.

slot I 2a formed in the throw bar I2, while the projections 24 and 25 cooperate, respectively, with spaced recesses 26 and 21 formed in the underside of a slide bar I8. The throw bar I2 is slidably mounted in the bottom of the mechanism casing at one side of the axisof "the; shaft 20, andis operatively. connected at oneendwith one end of the operating rod I3. The slide bar I8 is-slidably mounted in the bottom of the mech- Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several w'ewss' Referring first to Fig. 1, the: reference-charac ter A designates a railway switch comprising, as

usual, two fixed or stock rails I and la and two movable rails or switch points 2'. and 2a. The fixed rails I and Ia are laid on tie plates 3 and are secured to cross ties 4 in the usual manner. The movable rails are individually movable, and

are both biased to closed. p'ositionsin which they engage the associatedstock rail by means of a spring connecting rod' SC.

The spring connecting rod SC may have any suitable form, and as here shown comprises a tubular casing 5 secured at one end by means of a supporting rod 6 to the switch point 2, and provided at the other end with an axial opening I which slidably receives another supporting rod 8 secured to the other switch point 2a. The supporting rod 8 is guided at its inner end by a tubularprojection 9 formed on one end of the casingv 5 and is surrounded by a compressed coil spring I 0, one end of which abuts against the one end Wall 5a of the casing 5, andthe other end of which abuts against a circular plate II secured to the supporting rod 8. The spring I0' is provided. with sufiicient compressionto normallyyieldablyhold both switch points in closed 1 positions against the adjacent stock rails.

The switch points are arranged to be individually moved from the normally closed position to an. open position to line up a trafiic route over the switch by means of a switch and lock moveswitch basket I6, and a throw rodv H. The throw ro d I5 is secured adjacent one end to the switch point 2 and is slidably supported at .the other end underneath the stock rail la by a bracket I secured to the rail la. The throw rod I1 is similarly secured at one end to the switch point 2a and is slidably supported at the opposite end by a bracket I secured to the rail I.

The switch and lock movement may be of any of the usual types, but as here shown it is of the type described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,293,290, granted to W. Zabel on February 4,v 1919, for Railway traffic controlling apparatus. Inasmuch as the switch and lock movementcis similar to that shown in the said Zabel patent it is believed that for purposes of the present invention it is sufiicient to point out that this switch and lock movement includes main operating shaft 20, the lower end of which terminates in a crank 2I.. This crank extends in opposite directions from the shaft, and is provided on its lower side with a depending crank pin 22 carryinga roller 23, and on itsupper side. with, rounded upstanding projections 24 and 25 disposed on opposite sides of the shaft 20. The roller 23 cooperates with a' cam 1 locking dogs 29 and 3D.

anism casing in a position in which it overlies thethrow'bar IZ- at right angles, and is provided at its left-hand end with a lock box provided with vertically ofiset and longitudinally spaced The lock dog 29 cooperates'with notches 33a and 34a provided in the lower edges of a pair of lock bars 33 and 34 slidably mounted in the mechanism casing parallel to the throw bar I2, while the dog 30 cooperates with othernotches 33b and 341) provided in the upper edgesof the lock bars 33 and 34. The lock bars are adjustably attached to the switch points 2 and 2a, respectively, by means of connectin rods 35 and 35a, and are so adjusted that the notches 33a and 341; will align with the dog 29 when and only when the switch points 2 and 2a occupythe positions topermit traffic to move over the main track past the switch, and that thenotches 33b and 34b will align with the dog 39' when and only when the switch points occupy the proper positions to permit traffic to move into or .out of the siding or branch track over the switch. v

The shaft 2U is arranged tobe operated be-, tween its two extreme positions by means of an electric motor M, which is connected with the shaft through suitable reduction gearing designatedRGin' Fig. 2. I

Sufiicient lost motion is provided between the operating rod I3 and the switch baskets I4 and I6 so that when the throw bar I2 of the switch and lock movement is in its mid stroke position as shown in Fig. 2, the switch points will each be held in engagement with the associated stock rail bythe spring connecting rod SC, as shown in Fig.1. When the throw bar I2 occupies its mid stroke position, the roller 23' engages the cam sl'ot I211 adjacent its right-hand I end within the straight walled portion thereof, and the slide bar I8 is held in its mid stroke position by engagement of the projections 24 and 25' with the curved flanges which form continuations of theouter sides of the recesses Hand 21 in the slide bar. With the slide bar I8' in its mid stroke position, the locking dogs 29 and 30 are disposed on opposite sides of the lock bars 33 and 34 'so that both switch points are unlocked, and since the switch points are unlocked they can be trailed by a train approaching the switch in a trailing direction either on the siding dr on the main track, the necessary movement of the points during the trailing being permitted by the above referred to lost motion connections between the operating rod l3 and the switch baskets I4 and I6. I

When it is desired to set the switch for main line traflic over the switch the motor M is energized over circuits which we will describe presposition in opposition to the bias of the spring lfl of the springconnecting rod SC. During the greater part of .this rotationof the crank the pro jections 24 and 25 continue toengage the curved fiangeswhich form continuations of the outer sides of the recesses 26 and 21 so that longitudinal movement of the slide bar 18 is prevented." 'How ever, prior to the completion of th'erotation of the crank projection 24 enters the recess26 and causes it to move to "the right to its right-hand extreme positio-ni When this latter movement takes place, the lower notches 33a and Ma-inthe lock bars 33 and 34 willbe in alignment with the dog 29, and this dog will. therefore enter. these notches to lock the switch-points in their normal positions. i i

When the parts occupy'their normal positions as shown inFig. 2 and it is desired to set :the switch for traffic from the maintrack into the siding or from the siding into the main track the motor M is then energized over other circuits which we will describe presently in the direction to cause theshaft 20 to rotate in a clockwise direction to its other extreme position. The operation of the parts under these conditions is similar to that just described except for the fact that the direction of motion of the parts is reversed,

is moved to its open position-the operating rod =43.

l3 acts through the switch basket l4 or It as the case may be to force the other switch point to,

and hold it in, its closed position. Theswitch and lock movementincludes a circuit controller operated in accordancewith -the positionof the slide bar I Band the position of two separate point detector rods I9 and [9a. This circuit controller may be similar in all respects to that described in the previously identified Zabel patent, and it is believed to beunnecessary to dis- Q cuss the construction of this circuit controller in detail herein beyond the discussionwhich, will appear hereinafter in connection with the various circuits for controlling the motor-M presently to be described. The detectorrods l9 and |9a are separately connected to the switch points 2 and 2a for individual operation thereby, as shown in.

Fig. l. i

Referring now to Fig. 4, as here shown the motor M is controlled by a switch operating relay WR. and a circuit controller 00!. The switch control relay WR is of a well-known polar stick type which retains its polar contacts in their last operated positions when the relay becomesdeenergized. That is to say, therelay requires a rea versal in the polarity of the current supplied thereto to efiect a reversal in the positions of its polar contacts. 1 U i The circuit controller CCI comprises two contacts 46--41 and 48-49 which may be the usual motor cut-out contacts of the circuit controller oftheswitch and lock movement referred to hereinbefore. The contact 4641is closed in allpositions of the switch and lock movement except the extreme position in which it looks the switch point The relay WR is controlled in part by another.

circuit controller CCZ, the contacts of which are operated in accordance with the position of the operating rod l3. This circuit controller maybe i separate from the switch and lock movement as indicateddiagrammatically in Fig. 1, or it may be builtinto the switch and lock movement. As shown,fthiscontroller comprises acontact 4243 which is closed when the operating rod l3 occupies its upper extreme position, as viewed in Fig. lyor any position betweenits upper extreme position and its mid stroke position, but which is open inthe mid stroke position of the operating rod, and a contact 42-45 which is closed when the operating rod occupies its lower extreme position as viewed in Fig. l. orany posititon between its lower extreme position and its mid'stroke position, but which is open in the mid stroke position of the operating rod. i i i Associated with the motor M is an overload device OR, the function of which is to interrupt the circuitfor relay WR and thus effectdeenergization of the motor M to prevent damage to the motor in the event that excess current is supplied to the vmotor for a timesufiicient to damage the motor." This device is hereshown as a relay having two windings 50 and 5|. The winding Si is generally. referred to. as an overload winding, and *as will be" explained more in detail hereinafter, this Winding is supplied with the motor our- .;-5 rent. The other winding 50 is generally referred to as a holding winding and becomes energized whenever relay WR becomes energized over circuits whichtwill become apparent as .the description proceeds). Winding 5| is connectedin multiple with a thermal resistor 52 which under normal conditions carries the majorportion of the motor current; When the motoris overloaded this resistor heats up and thereby'increases its resistance. r This increase in resistance causes a larger voltagefdrop acrosswindingil, thus cause ing-suflicient current to flow in the. winding, to cause'relay. OR to close its armature. Q

Therelay WR is also controlled in part by normaland reverse switch control relays NWS and l RWS and in'partb'ya lock relay LR, and the relays 'NWS a'ndRWS, in turn, are controlled in part bythe relay LR and in part by a lever VI.

The lever VI as here shown is a three position lever movable between an intermediate or central position x and normal and reverse extreme positions n and 1'. It is provided with a contact 53 -54 which is closed in its as position, its 11. positionor any position intermediate these two position; with a contact 53-55 closed only in its 1- position; a contact Eli-58 closed only in its 72 position, and a contact 56-431 closed in its r posi-. tion, its rposition or any position intermediate these two positions. This lever will usually be located at a point remote from the switch such as thedispatchers ofiice in a centralized traflic controlling system.

Thecircuits for controlling the 100k relay LR form no part of our present invention and are Well known. R It is believed therefore that for purposes of ourpre'sent invention it is sufiicient to pointout that this relay willbe energized to cause it to pick up its armature only when traffic conditions are favorable for operating switch S. i i The relays NWS and RWS may be controlled .the lever VI in any suitable manner which will, cause these relays to. both closetheir normal contacts when lever VI occupies its. normal, position, to both close their reverse contacts when lever VI occupies its reverse position, and the. one relayto close its normal contacts and the other its reverse contacts when lever VI= occupies its central position. For simplicity in illustrating ourinvention We have shown direct wire control for these relays, butitshould be particularly pointed out that these relays may for example comprise the normal and reverse code switch control relaysofa field storage unit inwhich. event these relaysv would respond to the; proper control code.

The apparatus also includes a: center tapped battery shown. in the: lower left-hand corner of Fig; 4. The end terminals of this battery are designatedB and N while the center-tap is designatecl C.

As shown in Fig 4, lever VI occupiesits mid stroke position; andlunder these conditions anormalenergizing circuitior relay NWS- is closed at contact 53--54 of lever VI and a reverse energizing circuit for relay RWS. is closedat contact Sit-5T of lever VI. Thesecircuits eachinclude a frontcontactfifl' of relay LR, and will be obvious from an inspectionxof the, drawings; By virtue of thesercircuitsrelay NWS is energized in its normal direction so that its normal'contacts are closed, andrelay- RWS is energized. in.- its reverse-edirection so. that. its. reverse contacts are closed. With relay NW S energized in its normal direction and relay RWS energized; in its" reverse direction, all circuits forv relay WR'. are open and this relay is, therefore. deenergized. All energizing circuits ior'motor M areiopen-atifront contact 6| of relay WR, and motor M is, therefore, also deenergized All: parts of the switch and lock movement of which:motor:M forms a part occupy the positions in which they are shown in 2, and both switch points 2- and. 2a of switch Av are held closed by spring connecting rod SC. Both windings of overload relay 0R are deenergized.

We shall now assume that with: all parts, in their normal positions as shownin Fig: 4, the

' operator desires to condition the switch for'main line traific movements over it To do this, he moves lever VI from its central or 31? position, to its normal position n; As soon as lever-VI is moved away from its .1! position, the reverse: em

ergizing circuit which was previously closed; for relay RWS at contact 56-51' of lever VI becomes opened, and When the lever reaches its, normal position a normal energizing'circuit for this relay becomes closed over which'current will flow from tap C through front contact 60- of relay the.

" contact 80 of relay LR, Wire BI, and normal contact 64 of relay NWS to terminal G. Since the normal contacts of relay WE are already closed when this circuit becomes closed the closing of this circuit merely causes relay WR to close its front neutral contact 6|. The closing-ofthis'latter contact establishes a circuit to operatemotor M to its normal extreme position passing from terminal B through front contact B l of relay-WR,,

troller CC I and the field Winding 4| of motor M to terminal C. i The current which normally flows in'winding SI of relay OR under these conditions is insufficient to pick up the armature of this relay and the armature of this relay therefore remains in its released'position. The operation of the'motor M under these conditions operates the switch and lock movement from its mid stroke position to its one extreme position, thereby opening point 2a and looking it in its'open position. When the locking stroke of the slide bar I8 is completed contact 4641 opens and deenergizes motor M. 1

If motor M should become stalled for any reason during the operation of the switch and lock movement, then the resulting increase in the motorcurrent would cause resistor 52 to heat and thereby increase its resistance to the point where relay OR, may be traced from terminal B through r normal contact I0-II of relay RWS, front contact I4 of lock relay contact 'I'I-'IB of relay OR, winding 50 of relay OR, a, current, limiting resistance 88', front contactv of relay LR, wire BI, and; normal contact 6465 of relay NWS to terminal C. By virtue of this holding circuit, relay OR will remain energized until lever NI 'is moved' away from its normal position to interrupt the normal energizing-circuit for relay RWS and complete the reverse energizing circuit for this relay;

When the switch has been positioned for main line traffic in the manner described above, and it is desired to restore it to the position shown in Fig. 4, lever VI is returned to its central position :11. This causes relay RWS to again become energized in the reverse direction, and when this happens a reverse energizing circuit becomes com pleted for relay WR at reverse contact 10 -12 of relay RWS which circuit ma -be traced trom tap C through normal contact 64-65 of relay NWS, wire 8|, front contact 80 of relay LR, wire I9, the winding of relay WR, wire I8,contact IS-16 of relay OR, front contact M of relay LR, reverse contact IO-12 of relay RWS, normal contact ISL-68 oi'relay NWS, wire 89 and contact 4243 of: circuit controller CO2 to terminal N; Relay W'R therefore reverses its polar contacts and closes neutral contact 6|, whereupon motor M becomes energized over a circuit passing from terminal B through front contact SI of relay WR, reverse contact -8? of relay WR, winding 5| of relay OR in multiple with resistor 52, armature 40 of motor M, reverse contact 8284 of relay WR, contact'48,49 of circuit controller CCI, and field winding II. of motor M to tap C. The direction of current flow through the armature 40 when this latter circuit is closed is such that motor M now operates in the opposite direction from the. direction in which it operated to position the switch for main line trafiic, and the 'thereasons pointed out h'ereinbefore.

switch and lock movement therefore operates the operating rod I3 in the direction to permit point 2a to close under the bias of spring connecting rod SC. When the switch and lock movement reaches its mid stroke position contact 42-43 of circuit controller C02 opens and deenergizestrelay WR. The deenergization of relay WR in turn deenergizes motor M, and when motor M be comes deenergizedall parts are restored to the position shown in Fig. 4 'exceptfor the polar contacts of relay WR' which remain closed in their reverse position, 1 I a We will now assumethat the parts are intheir normal positions, asshown in Fig. 4, and that it is desiredto positition the switch for movement from the main line into the siding or branch track. To do this the operator will move lever VI from its central position to its right hand or reverse position r. This movement will interrupt the normal energizing circuit for relay NWS and will close a reverse energizing circuit for this relay including contact. 53-55 of leverVI Relay NWS will therefore open; its normal .contact 64-65 and close its reverse contact 64-66. When reverse contact64-66 becomesclosed, a

reversingenergizing circuit for relayWR is completed at this contact and-current fioWsfrom terminal B through contact 64-66 of relay NWS,

ates the switch and lock movement to the extreme positionin which it opens the switch point 2 and locks it in its open position. As soon as the switch and lock movement reaches this extreme position contact 49-49 of circuit controller CCI opens and deenergizes motor M.

It should be pointed out that while the motor is operating under the conditionsjust described, the motor current will of course flow through thewinding 5| of relay OR in multiple with resistor.

52, but unless the motorcurrentincreases above its normal operating value, the current flowing in winding 5| will be insufiicient'to operate this relay, However, if the motor current increases more than a predetermined amount above the normal value relay OR will then pick up for picking up "of the relay under these conditions will deenergize relay WR at contact 15-16 of relay OR, and .will complete another holding circuit for this relay passing from terminal B through reverse contacts 64-66 of relay NWS, wire BI, front contact 80 of relay LR, resistance 88, winding 59 of relay OR,'contacts 11-16 of relay 0R, front contact 14 of relay LR, reverse contact -12 of relay RWS', and reverse contact 61-69 of relay NWS to terminal C. Relay OR will therefore remain energized until lever VI is subsequently moved away from its reverse position. l

The

' We will now assume that switch S has been op- "erated. to the position to permit traflic to move over the switch into or out of the sidin and it is desired to restore the switch to its normal po-,

movement of the lever causesrelay NWS toagain and will cause motor M to operate in the direction to restore the parts of the switch and lock movementv to their central positions. :When they reach these positions contact 42-45 of circuit controller CO2 will open and will dcenergize relay WR which, in turn, willdeenergizemotor M. The movement of the parts of the switch and lock movement to their mid stroke position will permit the springconnecting rod SC to close both swit'chpoints, and all parts will then be restored.

- or branch track according as lever VI occupies itscentral, its normal orits reverse position.

v arel set to their stop positions." i

The movement of traffic over the switch is controlledby signals RA, RB, LA, and'LB. The signals may be controlled by any suitable circuits forming no part of our invention and therefore not shown in the drawings. It should be pointed out, however, that these signals would be controlled in part by the point detector contacts of the circuit controllerof the switch and lock movement in such manner that 'these signals could not becleared unless one switch point or theother movedto' its proper open position and isfully locked in thisposition so that con ditions are safe fortraffic to move overthe switch. Referring next to Fig. 5, wehave here illustrated an arrangement of circuits for controlling the motor M of the switch and'lock movement SM whereby theswitch points are automatically set to the'closed point position when the signals which govern traffic movements over the switch As here shown; the supplyof current to the motor M'is controlled by the relay WR and by the circuit controller CCI in the manner described iniconnection with Fig. 4, but the relay WR instead of. being. controlled by normal and reverse switch control relays as shown in Fig. 4, is controlled by left andright-hand signal control relays LHS and .RHS, and, by a switch control relayWS. l

The signal control relays LI-ISandRHS are of which retain their polar contacts in their last operated positions when deenergized, and arecontrolled by asignal lever and a trackrelay TR.

The lever V3 is movablebetween a centralposition O and left-hand and rightfhand positions V3, a push button PB,

LH and RH, and is provided with a plurality of Contacts SW-9|} -92, 93-94, 93-95, 96-91, 96-98, 99-100, and 99-l0l. Contact/S QB-9| and 93-94 are closed when lever V3 occupies its 0 position, its RH position or anypositionintermediate these two positions; contacts 96-91 and 99-400 are closed when ever V3 occupies its position, its LH position or any position 'intermediate thesextwo positions; contacts '90--:92 and 93--.95 are closed only when lever V3 occupies its LE -position, and contactsSG-QB and:99--I DI are closed only when lever V3 occupies its RH :position.

The push button "PB comprises a contact {I02 biased to an .open position vby a spring I03.

The track relay TR is included in a detector. track circuit which is formed .by dividing the track rails I and la on opposite sides of :the switch S into a track sectionDE by means of insulated joints :IDLand which circuit includes the rails .I and .Ia of the section DE, the winding of the track relay TR connected between the rails adjacent one .end of the section, and a track battery I05 .connectedlbetween the rails adjacent the other end of the section.

The relays WS is also .of the two winding vmagnetic stick polar type which retains the polar contacts closed in their :last operated position when the relay becomes neenergized and :is controlled by the lockrelayLRiand bya switch lever V2. The switch lever V2 has normaland reverse positions n and .1 ,and a contact I.0.6I;0?I closed only in the normakposition .of the lever and a contact -:I-06108 closedjonly in the reverse position of the lever.

The circuit controller CCI as shown in Fig. 5 includes the usual pointdetector contacts IIO III, I-I0-I;I.,2,:.I I3--II4, and -II3II5. Contacts -I I0I II and I'I 3II4 are closed only when the switch points are properly locked in the position iormain .li-ne trafiic over the switch A, while contacts I I-,0-I I2 and I I3--I I5.are closedonly when the switch points are properly locked in the position for traific movements over the switchinto or out of the branch track or siding.

The winding III of relay WS is provided with an energizing circuit which is closed only when lever V2 occupies its n position, and which passes .from terminal B of a suitable source of current 'through contact IDS-I07! of lever V windin I I! of relay WS, and front contact 60 of relay LR. to terminal 0. When this circuit is closed winding II! is supplied with current of such polarity that the polar contacts of relay WS move to their normal positions in which they are shown in Fig. 5.

The winding 8 of relay WS is similarly provided with an energizing circuit which is closed only when lever V2 occupies its 1' position, and which passes from terminal B through contact 106-408 of lever L, winding IIB of relay WS, and front contact 60 of relay When this circuit is closed winding H8 is supplied with current of such polarity that the polar contacts of relay WS move to their reverse positions. It will be seen, therefore, that when the lock relay LR is energized, relay WS will closeits normal or its reverse contacts according as lever V2 occupies its n or its rposition.

The winding I I9 of relay LHS is provided with an energizing circuit which passes from terminal B through contact I102 of push button PB, contact 90-9I of lever V3, winding I I9, and contact 93-94 of lever V3 to terminal C. This circuit may 'be closed by operating push button PB when lever V3 occupies its 0 position or its .RI-I position, and when closed causes winding H9 to be supplied with current of such polarity that if winding I20 is then deenergized and the normal contacts 'of the relay are not already closed they will become closed as shown.

:The" winding H9 of relay LHS is also provided withw'another energizing circuit which passesfrom terminal B through-contact 1102 of push' button PB, contact 93'95 .of lever 7V3, the winding 119 of relay LHS .andicontact 90-42 of lever V3 to terminal 0. This latter circuit may be closed by pushing push button PB only when lever V3 occupies its LH position, and when closed causes winding ;I L9 'to be :supplied with current of such polarity that relay lLl-IS will close its reverse contacts.

The winding I20 of relay LHS is provided with an energizing circuit which includes the winding 12.2 of :relay RES .in series, and which passes from terminal B through back contact I25 of track irelay TR, winding I22 .of relay RHS, and winding .120 of relay LHS to terminal C. This circuit becomes closed whenever track relay TR becomes cleenergized due .to the presence of a train in section DE,/and when lclosed causes the windings 120 and 122 of relays LHS and-RHS to 'be supplied with current of such magnitudeand polarity that 'if the other windings of these relays are then deenergized, these relays will both operate their polar contacts to the normal positions shown.

Winding IZI of relay RHSis provided with an energizing circuit which passes from terminal B through contact 102 of push button PB,-contact -91 .of lever V3, winding I21, and contact SS-I010 of lever V3 to terminal I3. This circuit may be closed by'actuating push button PB whenever lever V3 occupies its 0 .or its LH position and whenclosed causes winding 124 to be supplied with current of vsuch polarity that it will close its normal contacts if they are not already closed and if winding I1! is not simultaneously energized.

- Winding III of relay is also provided with 40 a second circuit which may :be traced from terminal B through contact 102 of push button PB, soon-tact 298-41" [of .lever 5Z3, winding 124, and contact -48 =o-fi'lever. V3 to terminal C; circuit may be closed bywoperatmg push button position and when closed causes Wilildi-Dg 1'21 aofsre'layRHS to be supplied with current. of such polarity that dihisrelay wfll close .its reverse contacts if these contacts are not already closed.

Signal BA is provided with an energizing cirwhich is closed when and .ionly when track relay. isvienengized, the :switchpo'ints rare locked-in the proper position for :main line .tr-aftoo over the switch, the contactslof relay LHS occupy theirnormal positions, and the contacts-oi relay R I-IS occupy their reverse positions. circuit passes from terminal B through front contact of track relay TR, :normal contact .I-I.35 of relay LI-IS, reverse contact d 3.2 -I3'4 .of re'layiRI-IS, wire 139.,contactaHB-IH:oflcircult controller 'OCI, and the winding of signal BA to terminal 2C.

,Signal EBB is provided with an energizing circuit which is :similar to thatjust .descn'ibed with the single exception that thislat'ter circuit daecomes closed only when the switch points are locked in the :positions tor traffic movements cover the switch into or out of the branch track .slding and which includes contact iI'3-;Il5 of circuit controller 001 in place 1055 contact 118-41. of circuit controller \CC I,

:Signal .LA is provided wtih on energizing circhit which-is closed when and only when track This I switch, the contacts of w relay LHS occupy their reverse positions, and the contacts of relay RHS occupy their normal positions. This circuitpasses from terminal B through front contact I30 of.

track relay TR, normal contact I32I33 of relay RHS, wire I38, reverse contact I 35I3l of relay LHS,wire MEI, contact !IIII of circuit controller CCI, and the winding of signal LA to terminal C. i 1 I Signal LB is provided with abircuit which is similar to that just traced except that this circuit includes contact IIll-I I2 of circuit controller CCI in place ofcontact I IIl-I I I so that this circuit can only be closed when the switch is set for traffic out ofthe branch-track or siding.-

i In explaining the operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. as a whole, we will assume that the parts are all in the positions illustrated and that the operator wishes to permit a train approaching section DE from the left to proceed along the train track over the switch. To do this he will move lever V3 to its RH position and actuate push button PB; This will complete the reverse energizing circuit for relay RHS sothat this relay will open its normal contacts and close its reverse contacts; *As soon as the reverse contacts ofrelay RHS become closed, a normal energizingcircuit becomes completed for relay WR andcurrent flows from terminal B through normal contact [AI-442 of relay WS, reverse con; tact I44 I4 6 of relay RHS, front contact I4 of relayLR, contact IE-I6 of overload relay OR, wire I8, the winding of relay WR, wire 19, front contact 80 of relay LR, reverse contact I4'|I48 of relay RHS,and normal contact I53I54' of relay, WS to terminal C. Relay WR therefore becomes energized by current of normal polarity and completes an energizing circuit for motor M identical with that described in connection with Fig. 4. Motor M thereupon becomes energized and operates the switch and lock movement to its one extreme position to open the switch point 2c, and to lock this switch point in its open position and the switch point 2 in its closed position. When the switch and lock movement has completed the locking of the switch points, contact 46-4l of circuit controller CCI opens and deenergizes motor M and contact II3-II4 of circuit controller CCI becomes closed and completes the energizing circuit for signal RA. This signal therefore clears,. and when it clears the relay Ll-IS and RHS to become closed at contact,

I25 of the track relay, and relay RHS therefore immediately becomes energized in the normal dicontact 42-43 of circuit controller CCI to terminal N. Relay WR therefore. becomes energized in the reverse direction and completes a circuit for motor M which causes the partsof the switch and lock movement to return to their mid stroke positions, whereupon contact 42-43 of circuit controller CCI opens and interrupts the circuit for relay WR. Relay WR then again becomes deenergized and stops the motor. The movement of the parts of the switch and lock movement to their mid stroke positions causes contact II3-II4 of circuit controller 002 to open, andas a result signal RA returns to its stop position.

If when motor Mwas moving the switch point 2a to its open position under the conditions just described, the motor current had exceeded the value necessary to cause the OR relay to pick up its armature, the resultant closing of contact IS-11 would have completeda holding circuit for winding 50, while the resultant opening of contact 15-46 would have interrupted the circuit for relay WR and would then have caused this relay to become deenergized and deenergize which becomes closed under those conditions may be traced from terminal B through contact virtue of this circuit relay OR will remain energized until lever V3 is operated to another position and push button PB is operated to reverse relays RHS or lever V2 is operated to reverse relayWS. Wewill now assume that with the parts in'the 450 positions shown inFig. 5, the operatorwishes to permit a train approaching section DE "from the left to enter the branch track or siding. To

rection and restores its normal contacts to the positions shown. When the train vacates section DE, the lock relay again becomes energized and completes another energizing circuit for relay WRpassing from terminal C, through con.- tact I50--I52 of relay LI-IS, contact I4|--I49 of relay RH$,-front contact 8001 relay LR, wire 19,

the winding of relay WR, wire 18, contact I5--'I6 do this, he will move the switch lever V2 to 'its reverse position prior to moving lever V3 to its RH position and operating push button PB. The movement of lever V2 to its reverse position will cause relay WS to operate its polar contacts to their reverse positions and as a result when relay RHS reverses its contacts due to the operation of push buttonPBQa-reverse energizing circuit for relay WR; will become completed passing from terminal B throughreverse contact i53-I55 of relay WS, reverse contact I4I--I4B of relay RHS, front contact of relay LR,wire 19, the winding of relay WR, wire 18,contact 15-46 of relay OR, front contact 14 of relay LR, reverse contact I44--I46of relay RHS and reverse contact I4I-I 43 of relay'WS to terminal C. Relay WR will therefore become energized in the reverse direction and will complete an energizing circuit for motor M similar to that described in connection with Fig. 4, so that motorM will now operatekthe switch and lock movement from it's midstroke position to the extreme position in whichthe switch point 2 becomes opened. When the switch and loci; movement reaches this extreme position and has locked the switch points in the corresponding positions, contact 48 49 of circuit controller CCI will open .and will deemergize motor M. Furthermore contact lit-AME ofcircuit controller CCI will become closed and will complete the previously traced circuit fo r signal RB. Signal RB will therefore clear and the lock relay LR. will become deenerg'izedq: Thedewill both become energized. The energization -of the track relay will interruptthe circuit which was previously closed ,forrelay RHS but the con.- tacts of this relay will remain in their normal po sitions. The energization of the lock relay will complete another circuit for relay WR passing from terminal B through contact 42'-.45 of ,ci-rcuit controller GCZ, wire 1.6.0. normal contact SI-4.62 of relay LHS, normal contact Mil-145 of relay RHS, front contact 14 of relay LR, contact 'l.5--l6 of relay .OR, wire 18, the windin of relay WR, wire .19, front contact 80 of relay LR, normal contact 141-149 of relay RHS, and normal contact |Ui52 .of relay LHS toterminal C. Relay WR will therefore become energized by current of .normal polarity and will cause 1.;

motor M tooperate the switch and lock movement in the direction to restore the parts to their mid stroke position. When theparts of the movement reach their mid stroke position contact 42-45 of circuit controller CClwill open and will ,deenergize relay WR, which in turn will interrupt the motor circuit and thus stop the motor. The operation of the switch and lock movement to its mid stroke position will permit the switch point 2 to return to its normally closed position under'the action of the spring connecting rod SC.

If the motor M had become overloadedwhile operating the switch point 2 to its open position for any reason, the resultant energization of the overload relay OR would have caused it to close its contact 16-|1 and open its contact 157 16. The closing of contact l6f|1 under these conditions would have completed another holding circuit for winding 50 while the opening of contact 1 -16 would have interrupted the circuit for relay WR, and would thus have caused this relay to become deenergized and deenergize motor M. The holding circuit for winding 50 under these conditions may be traced from terminal B of the source through reverse contact 153-155 of relay WS, reverse contact I4'l|48 of relay RHS,

the winding of relay WR, wire 19, front contact 80 of relay LR, normal polar contact l.4'| -l49 of relay RHS, reverse contact l.50| 5| of relay LHS, and normal polar contact 1153-454 of relay WS to terminal C. Relay WR will therefore become energized with current of normal polarity and will complete the energizing circuit for motor M including the normal polar contacts of relay WR. The completion of this circuit will cause motor M to operate the switch and lock movement to the extreme position in which switch point 2a becomes opened and .both switch PO lts become locked. When the switch and lock movement reaches this extreme position and the switch points :become locked, contact 4. 64'| of circuit controller CCI will open and will interrupt the motor circuit and contact llO-Ill of this circuit controller will become closed and will complete the energizing circuit for signal LA. Signal LA will therefore clear and lock relay will become deenergized and will interrupt the circuit for the switch-operating relay WR. As soon as signal LA clears, the train may proceed into section DE, and when the train does this track relay TR will become deenergizedand will cause signal LA to return to the stop position. The deenergization of the track relay will also complete I the circuit for winding I of relay LHS.so that contact 42-43'of circuit controller CO2.

this latter relay will now restore its polar con: tacts to their normal positions. When the train vacates section DE, track relay TR and lock relay LR will both again become energized, and as soon as the lock relay becomes energized relay WR will become energized in the reverse direction over the previously described circuit including Motor M will thereupon become energized and will op? front contact 80 of lock relay LR, resistor 88,

lever V2 in the position shown, and will move lever V3 to its LH position and operate push button PB. When push button P13 is operated relay LHS will reverse its polar contacts, and the reversal of these contacts, in turn, will complete an energizing circuit for relay WR passing from terminal B of the source through normal contact I.4l--l42 of relay WS, reverse polar contact I6'|l63 of relay LHS, normal polar contact I44--l45 of relay RHS, front contact 14 of relay LR, contact15-l6of overload relay 0R, wire 18,

erate in th direction to restore the switch and lock movement to its mid stroke position. When the switch and lock movement reaches this P Sition, contact 4243 of circuit controller CCI will open and will deenergize relay WR which, in .turn, will deenergize the motor M.

If it is .desired to permit a train on the branch track to proceed past the switch into the main track, the operator will move lever V2 to its 1 position, lever V3 to its LH position and will then operate push button PB. The movement of lever V2 to its 1* position will cause relay WS to close its reverse polar contacts, while the operation of push button PB following the movement of lever V3 to its LH position will cause relay LHS to .also close its reverse polar contacts. With the reverse polar contacts of relays WS and LHS closed'another energizing circuit for relay WR becomes closed passing from terminal B through reverse polar contact I53I55 of relay WS, reverse polar contact ll 5| of relay LHS, normal polar contact I4ll49 of relay RHS, front.contact 80 of relay LR, wire 19, the winding of relay WR, wire 18, contact'1516 of overload relay OR, front contact 14 of relay LR, normal contact l44v I of relay 'RHS, reverse polar contact I6II63 of relay LHS, and reverse polar contact l4l- -l43 of relay WS to terminal C. The closing of this energizing circuit causes relay WR to become energized with current of reverse polarity, whereup motor M becomes energized in the direction to open the switch point 2. When the switch point 2 becomes opened and both switch points become locked contact 48-49 of circuit controller CCI opens and deenergizes motor M, and contact Ill-l 12 becomes closed and completes the circuit for signal LB. Signal LB thereupon clears to indicate that the train may proceed. When the train enters section DE track relay TR becomes deenergized. and deenergizes signal LB putting this signal to stop, From this point on the operation of the apparatus is identical to that previously described after signalRB had moved toits stop position due to a train entering section DE. If motor M had become overloaded when it was operating under the conditions just described, either to open the switch point 2, or to subsequently permit it'to close, the overload relay R would have operated to deenergizethe motor in a manner which is similar to that described hereinbefore in connection with the clearing of signal RB except for the fact that the holding circuit which would have become closed for winding 50 of relay OR if the overload had occurred while switch point 2 was being opened would have been different from that previously describeddue to the fact that thereverse contacts of relay LHS would then have been closed. This circuit may be traced from terminalB through reverse contact I53-I55 of relay W S, reverse contact I5lI-I5I of relay LHS, normal contact I41-I49 of relay RHS, front contact 80 of relay LR, resistance 88, winding 50 of relay OR, contact IE-I'Iof relay OR, front contact I4 of relay LR, normal contact HUI-I45 of relay RHS, reverse contact I6I--I63 of relay LHS,and reverse con tact HII-I43 of relay WS to terminal C. i It follows from the foregoing that withth apparatus arranged as shOWn in Fig. 5, if either of the signal control relays LI-IS or RHS is operated to clear one of the signals governing trafiicover the switch S, the switch and lock movement will assume a position in accordance with the position of the switch control relay WS. However, if the signal "relays are set to cause the signals governing traflic overthe switch to assume their stop positions, the ,circuits are so arranged that the switch and lock movement will be automatically operated to its mid position to permit the switch points to move to their closed and I66. The winding I65 as shownis arranged positions in response to the bias of the spring connecting rod SC. Moreover, when a train movement over the switch has occurred, as soon as the train clears section ,I JE, the switch and lock movement will automatically return to its mid stroke position and the switch points to their closed positions.

Referring now to Fig. 6, in the control arrangement here illustrated the switch oper t g relay WR is controlled by the lock relay LR, by the switch control relay WS and by a time element relay TER in such manner that the switch will assume the closed point condition a predetermined length of time after the signals have been placed at stop, or after the switch control relay has been operated to change the position of its polar contacts provided the signals are not sub sequently cleared within said predetermined length of time.

As shown in Fig. 6, the two windings In and" I I8 of relay WS are provided with energizing circuits which are identical with those described in connection with Fig. 5 except for the fact that the contact I02 of push button PB has been included in each of these circuits so that in order to close these circuits it is necessary to move lever V2 to the proper position and then operate the push button. i

Associated with the relay ws is a relay TESR of the two winding polar magnetic stick type. This relay is generally referred to in accordance with railway signaling practice a a time element stick relay and is provided with two windings I65 to be energized whenever either one of the windings III or I I8 of relay WS becomes energized, over a circuit which is completed by the closing of contact I02 of push button PB, and the parts are so arranged that whenever this winding becomes energized relay TESR will open its reverse polar contacts. The winding I66 of relay TESR is arranged to be energized whenever time element relay TER becomes deenergized over a circuit which includes back contact, I6'I of relay TER, The current supplied to the winding I66 over this circuit flows in the direction to operate the polar contacts of the relay to their reverse positions.

The time element relay TER may be of any suitable type which willoperate the necessary contacts in the desired manner. As here shown, it is provided with three contacts I61, IBB-I'IO, and I1I-I'I3 which close immediately when the relay becomes deenergized and which subsequently remains closed until a predetermined time interval expires after the relay becomes energized, and with two other contacts I 68l 69 and I I I-I 12 which open immediately when the relay becomes deenergized and which remain open after the relay becomes energized until the predetermined time interval has expired.

The relay 'IER as'shown is controlled by the lock relay LR and the time element stick relay TESR over a circuit which passes from terminal B through reverse contact I16 of relay TESR, front contact I14 of relay LR and the winding of relay TER to terminal C. l

As shown in Fig. 6, lever V2 occupies its n position and push button PB is open. Under these conditions, the circuits for both windings I I1 and I I8 of relay WS and the circuit for winding I65 of relay TESR are all open. The polar contacts of relay WS are held by the magnetic stick properties of the relay in their last operated positions which positions are illustrated as being their normal positions. Section DE is unoccupied and the signals L and R are all in their stop positions. The lock relay LR is therefore energized. The reverse polar contact I16 of relay TESR is closed and since relayLR is energized, the energizing circuit for relay TER is closed. Relay TER is therefore energized, and as a result the energizing circuit forwinding I66 of relay TESR is open at contact I61 of relay TER. All circuits for relay WE are open, and this relay is therefore deenergized so that overload relay OR and motor M are both deenergized. The switch and lock movement occupies its mid stroke position, and the points of switch A are both held closed by the bias of the spring connecting rod SC.

We will now assume that the operator desires to position the switch for main line trafi'ic over it. Sincelever V2 already occupies its n position, hemay do this by merely operating push button PB. ;When hegdoes this, winding II! of relay WS and winding I 65 of relay TESR will become simultaneously energized. The energizationof winding I II of relay WS will have no effect on the remainder of the apparatus since the normal polar contacts of this relay are already closed. The energization'of winding I 65 of relay TESR, however, will cause this relay to open its reverse contact I16, whereupon relay TER will become deenergized and will open its contacts I68-I69 and I'II--I'I2 and will close its concuit for winding I66 of relay TESR, and this relay will therefore immediately reclose its reverse polar contact I16 and thus establish the energizing circuit for relay TEE. The contacts in, |B8'- -ll', and l'H -l'l3 of relay TER, however, will now remain closed and the contacts flit-469 and IH-Il2 will remain open until the expiration of the time interval for which relay TER; is set. The closing of contacts |68l10 and lH--ll3 of relay TER completes an energizing circuit for the switch operating relay WR which circuit. may be traced from terminal 13 through normal contact l4l-l42 of relay WS, contact |'Hl"!3 of relay 'I'ER, front contact 14 of relay LR, contact 'l6 of relay OR, wire 18, the winding of relay WR, wire 19, front contact 80 of relay LR, contact l68 llll of relay TER and normal polar contact I53-I54 of relay WS to terminal C. The current flowing in this circuit energizes relay WR in the normal direction and causes it to close its front contact 6|. As soon as this contact becomes closed, the energizing circuit for motor M previously described in connection with Fig. 4 becomes closed, and the motor starts to operate the switch and lock movement to the xtreme position in which switch point 2a is open. When the switch and lock movement reaches this extreme position contact 4B--41 of circuit controller, CCI opens and deenergizes the motor. As soon as the operation of the: switch and lock movement is completed, the: lever operator will be apprised of this fact by suitable means not shown and he will thereupon cause the desired signal to be cleared. When the signal clears, the lock relay LR will become deenergized and will deenergize relay WR), to thereby cause the switch points to remain in the positions for main line traflic over the switch. The time interval for which relay 'I'ER is set will be in accordance with time looking standaids for interlocked switches and will depend upon the distance between the distant and home signals, train speeds, braking distances and related conditions. In any event this time interval will be made long enough so that under normal operating conditions it will not expire until after the switch and lock movement has completed its stroke and the signal has had an opportunity to clear. If the operator does not clear the signal before this time element expires, then the lock relay will be energized when contacts l6-8-'l 69 and I! II I2 of relay TER become closed at the expiration of the time interval and the closing of these contacts will complete another energizing circuit for relay WR passing from terminal C through contact I68l69 of relay TER, front contact I80 of relay LR, wire 19, the winding of relay WR, wire 18, contact 15'|6 of relay OR, front contact 14 of relay LR, contact Hi -I12 of relay TER, wire l'l5, and contact 4243 of circuit controller 002 to terminal N. The current flowing in the circuit will energize relay WR in the reverse direction, and will thus cause motor M to restore the switch and lock movement to its mid stroke position. When it reaches this position the resultant opening of contact 42-43 of circuit controller C02 will interrupt the circuit for relay WR, and will thus cause this relay to become deenergized and deenergize motor M.

Assuming that the operator has caused signal LA or RA to become cleared following the operation of the switch and lock movement to its one extreme position under the conditions just described, and that a train subsequently moves over section past the switch, when the train clears section the resultant reeriergization of the locking relay will complete the energizing circuit for the time element relay TEE and as soon as the time interval for which this relay is adjusted has expired, the resultantclosing of contacts 168*[69 and Hi -I12 of'the relay, will complete the circuit described above for re-- lay WR and will thus cause the switch points to be returned to their normal closed positions.

If the motor current increases more than a predetermined amount above its normal value. while the motor is operating the switch and lock movement to either extreme position to open the switch point 2, the overload relay OR will operate to deener'gize the motor in the same manner as with the apparatus previously described in connection with Fig. 4. However, when the overload relay operates under these conditions, the closing of the contact 16 -11 will complete a holding circuit for winding 50 passing from ter minal B through normal contact l4l-l42 of relay WS, contact I'll- H3 of relay TER, front contact 14 of relay LR, contact l6-'|'l of relay OR, winding 50, resistance 88, front contact Bl] of relay LR, contact I68-l10 of relay TER and normal contact l53--l54 of relay WS to terminal C. This circuit will maintain relay OR energized until the polar contacts of relay WS are reversed.

If the motor current increases sufliciently to.

operate relay OR while the motor is returning the switch and lock movement to its mid stroke position from the extreme position in which the switch point 2a is open, the closing of contact (G-11 will complete another'holding circuit for winding 50 of relay OR passing from terminal C through contact Isa-469 of relay TER, front contact 80 of relay LR, resistance 88, winding 50 of relay OR, Contact Hi-'1'! of relay OR, front contact 14 of relay LR, contact |1I--l12 of relay TEE, wire H5, and contact 42-43 of circuit controller' CCZ to terminal N. This circuit will retain relay OR energized until the operator operates push button PB to energize relay TESR; in the normaldirection and thus deenergize relay TER. If the operator desires" to position the switch 'for traffic into or out of the-branch track or siding he will move lever Y2 toits r position and then operate push button PB. When push button PB is operated under these conditions it will cause relay TESR to open its contact I16 and thus deeriergize relay TER in exactly the same manner as was described her'einbe'for'e when the push button was operated with lever V2" in its N position. Relay WS, however, will now reverse its polar contacts, and as soon as these contacts have become reversed, relay WE willbecoine energized in the reverse direction and will" reverse its polar contacts by virtue of a circuit passing from terminal B through reverse contact l53* l55 of relay WS, contact l68---Ilfl of relay front contact of relay LR, wire 19, the winding of relay WR, wire 18, contact 1516,of relay OR, from contact 14' of relay LR; contact l1|- |'13 of relay and reverse contact l4|- -|43 to termimu C. The energization or may in the reverse direction will cause the motor M to operate the switch and lock movement to the extreme position in which the switch 'pointZ becomes opened. and when it reaches this position contact 48-49 of circuit controller CCI will openand will deenergizeniotor M. If the operator causes signal RB or LB to clear before relay TER has completed its time element, the resultant deenergization of the lock relay LR, will again deenergize the time element relay and will also deenergize relay WR so that the switch and lock movement will remain in its extreme position; However, if the operator does not clear one or the other of the signals RB or LB before relay TER completes its time element, the resultant closing ofcontacts l68-l69 and l'H--l12 of relay TER willcomplete a circuit for relay W'R passing from terminal B through contact 42-55 of circuit controller CC2, wire I15, contact I'll-I12 of relay TER, front contact '14 of relay LR, contact IS-{l6 of relay OR, wire 18, the winding of relay WR, wire 79, front contact 80 of relay LR, and contact l68l69 of relay TER to terminal C. Relay WR will therefore become en-- ergized in the normal direction and will cause motor M to return the switch and lock movement to its mid stroke position to thus permit the switch point 2 to reclose. When the switch and I lock movement reaches its mid stroke'position this relay completes its time element the switch machine will operate to restore the switch and lock movement to its mid stroke position in exactly the same manner as was described above when the operator did not clearone or the other of signals RB or LB before relay TER completed its time element.

If motor M becomes overloaded while it is operating the switch and lock movement to the extreme position to open switch point 2, theoverload relay will operate to deenergize motor M, and another holding circuit, for winding 50 will become closed. This circuit will be identical with that described above when motor M became overloadedwhile operating the switch and lock movement to its other extreme position except that this circuit will now include reverse contacts |53--l55 and l4ll43 of relay WS in placeof the normal contacts l53-l54 and Idl -I42 of this relay. 7

Likewise if the motor M becomes overloaded when it is' operating the switch and lock movement to its mid stroke position from the position in which the switch point 2 is open overload relay OR will again operate to deenergize the motor, and under these conditions winding 50 Will become energized over a circuit which is identical to that described above when motor M became overloaded while operating the switch fromits other extreme position to its mid stroke position except for the fact that this circuit includes contact 42 -45 of circuit controller CO2 in place of contact42-43 of circuit controller CC i l It follows from the foregoing that with the apparatus arranged as shown in Fig; ,6, any time the operatoroperates push button PB, the resultant operation of the TESR relay causes the time element relay TER to become deenergized, which, in'turn, causes the switch and lock movement to move to one extreme position or the other in accordance with the position of the polar contacts of the switch control relay WS, and that if L the signals arenot cleared for traffic movements over the'switch so that the locking relay is deenergized, the switch machine willreassume its mid strokeposition automatically after the time element for which the time element relay is set has expired. Furthermore, if the signals are cleared, upon the expiration of a predetermined time interval after the train has completed its movementover the switch, the switch and lock movement will automatically return to its mid stroke position.

Although we have herein shown and described only a few forms of railway trafiic controllin apparatus embodying our invention, it is understoodthat various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention. Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: i

1, In combination, a normal and a reverse switch control relay each capable of assuming normal and reverse positions, means'for selectively energizing said relays to cause them both to assume their normal positions, both to assume their reverse p0sitions, or 0ne to assume its normal position and the other its reverse; position, a railway switch having independently movable switch points, and means controlledby said relays for causing said switch points to 'bothassume closed positions or one orthe other switch point to move to an open position'according as one relay occupies its normal position and the other relay its reverse position, or as both relays occupy their causing both relays to close their normal contacts, both relays to close their reverse contacts,

or one relay to close its normal contacts and the other its reverse contacts according as said lever occupies its normal, its reverse, or intermediate position,'and means controlled by said relays for controlling said switch in such manner that one point or the other will be open or both points will be closed according as the normal contacts of both relays are closed, the reverse contacts of both relays are closed, or the normal contacts of one relay and the reverse contacts of the other relay are closed.

3. In combination, a railway switch having independently movable switch points biased to normally closed positions, a switch and lock movement operable between an intermediate and two extreme positions and operativcly connected with said switchpoints in such manner that both points will be permitted to move to their normally closed positions in response to said bias or one point or the other will be opened to line up one or the other of two traffic routes over the switch accord ing as said switch and lock movement is operated to its intermediate, or to one or the other of its extreme positions, a motorincluded in said switch and lock movement for, operating it, a polarized switch operating relay, a first circuit controller responsive to the position of the switch and lock movement and having a first contact closed at all times except when the switch and lock movement occupiesits one extreme position and a second contact closed at all times except when said switch andlock movement occupies its other extreme position, a second circuit controller responsive to the position of the switch points and having twocontacts one of which is closed when the one switch point occupies any position but its closed position and the other of which is closed when the other switch point occupies any position but its closed position; means including the normal polar contacts of said switch operating relay and said first contact for energizing said motor in the direction to operate said switch and lock movement to its one extreme position, means including the reverse polar contacts of said switch operating relay and said second contact for energizing said motor in the direction to operate said switch and lock movement to its other extreme position, a lever operable between an intermediate and two extreme positions, means effective when said lever occupies its intermediate position for energizing said switch operating relay in the direction to close its normal or its reverse polar contacts according as said one or said other contact is then closed, and other means for energizing said switch operating relay in the direction to close its normal contacts or its reverse contacts according as said-lever occupies its one or its other extreme position.

4. In combination, a railway switch having independently movable switch points biased to normally closed positions, a switch and lock movement operable between an intermediate and two extreme positions and operatively connected with said switch points in such man'- ner that both points will be permitted to move to their normally closed positions inresponse to said bias or one point or the other will be opened to line up one or the other of two trafiic routes over the switch according as said switch and lock movement is operated to its intermediate or to one or the other of its extreme positions, a polarized switch operating relay, means for energizing said switch and lock movement in a manner to cause it to move toward its one or its other extreme position according as said switch operating relay is energized by current of one polarity or the other, a lock relay icked up only when trafiic conditions are favorable for operating said switch, normal and reverse polarized switch control relays each having normal and reverse polar contacts, means for energizing said switch operating relay with current of said one polarity when said lock relay is picked up and the normal polar contact of both said switch control relays are closed, means for energizing said switch operating relay with current of said other polarity when said lock relay is picked up and the reverse polarized contacts of said switch control relays are both closed, a circuit controller responsive to the positions of the switch points and having two contacts one of which is closed when the one switch point occupies any position but its closed position, and the other of which is closed when the other switch point occupies any position but its closed position, means effective when said lock relay is picked up and the normal (polar contacts of the one switch control relay and the reverse polar contacts of the other switch control relay are closed for energizing said switch operating relay with current of one polarity' or the other according as the one or the other contact of said circuit controller is then closed, and means for selectively energizing said switch control relays.

'5. In combination, a railway switch havin in dependently movable switch points, a switch and lock movement operable between an intermediate and two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch points of said switch in such manner that said points will both be closed or one point or the other will be opened according as said switch and lock movement occupies its intermediate position or is moved to one extreme position or the other, signals governing trafiic movements over said switch, right-hand and left-hand signal control relays, means controlled by said relays for controlling said signals, a switch control relay, means controlled by said switch control relay and by said signal control relays for selectively energizing said switch and lock movement to operate it between its intermediate and two extreme positions, and means for selectively controlling said switch and said signal control relays. 6. In combination, a railway switch having independently movable switch points, signals governing traffic movements over said switch, right-hand and left-hand signal control relays governing the ener'gization of said signals in accord'ance with the positions of the switch points, a polarized switch control relay, means controlled by said switch control relay and by said signal control relays for causing both switch points to occupy closed positions when said signal control relays are operated to the positions to cause said signals-to indicate stop and for causing one switch point or the other to move to an open position depending on the positions of the polar contacts of said switch control relays when said signal control relays are conditioned to cause a signal to clear for traffic movements in either direction over said switch, and means for selectively controlling said switch and signal control relays.

7. In combination, a railway switch having the switch points independently movable to closed and open positions, signals governing traffic movements over said switch, right-hand and lefthand signal control relays governing the energi zation of said signals, a switch control relay operable to two positions, means controlled by said relays for causing both switch points to assume their closed positions whenever said signal control relays are conditionedto cause the signals to indicate stop and for causing one switch point or the other to assume its open position in ac cordance with the position of said switch control relay whenever the signal control relays are conditioned' to cause a signal to indicate proceed, and means for selectively controlling said switch and signal control relays.

8. In'combination, a railway switch having the switch points indepenently movable to closed and open positions, signals governing trafiic movements over said switch, right-hand and left-hand signal control relays governing the energization of said signals, a switch control relay operable to two positions, means controlled by said relays for causing both switch points to assume their closed positions whenever said signal control relays are conditioned to cause the signals to indicate stop and for causing one switch point or the other to assume its open position in accordance with the position of said switch control relay whenever the signal control relays are conditioned to cause a signal to indicate proceed, means for delaying the clearing of any one of said signals until the switch points have assumed positions corresponding to the position of said switch control relay, and means for selectively controlling said switch and signal control relays.

9. In combination, a railway switch having the switch points independently movable to closed and open positions, signals governing tr'afiic movements over said switch, right-hand and left-hand of said signals, a switch control relay operable to two positions, means controlled by said relays for causing one switch point or the other to assume, its open position so that both points will occupy a position corresponding to that of the switch control relay whenever the signal control relays are operated to effect the clearing of a si nal, said open switch point being restored to its closed position whenever the signal control relays are operated to restore a signal to its stop position, and means for selectively controlling v said relays.

10. In combination, a railway switch having the switch points independently movable to open and closed positions, a switch control relay operable to two positions, means for energizing said relay to operate it to either one ofits two positions, signals governing trafiic movements over said switch, and means controlled in part by said switch control relay for causing one switch point or the other to move to its open position whenever said switch control relay becomes energized and to subsequently return to its closed position automatically unless said signals are cleared within a predetermined time interval after said switch control relay becomes energized.

11. In combination, a railway switch having its switch points indepenedntly movable to open and its closed position automatically at the expiration of a predetermined time interval unless said signals are cleared prior to the expiration of said time interval.

12. In combination, a railway switch having its switch points independently movable to open and closed positions, a lever having two positions, a

push button, a time element stick relay having two windings, a time element relay, a switch control relay having two positions, means for energizing said switch control relay to operate it to its one position or the other position when said push button is operated depending upon whether said lever then occupies its one or its other position, means effective whenever said push button is operated to energize the one winding of said time element stick relay to cause it to assume one position, a lock relay picked up only when traffic conditions are favorable for operating said switch, means effective when said time element relay becomes deenergized for energizing the other winding of said time element stick relay to cause it to assume another position, means effective if said lock relay is energized when said time element stick relay occupies its other position for energizing said time element relay,

, means effective when said time element relay closed positions, signals governing traific movements over said switch, a lever having two positions, a push button, and means set into operation whenever said push button is operated for causing one point or the other to open depending on whether said lever then occupies its one or its other position and to subsequently return to becomes deenergized for causing one point or the other of said switch to move to its open position depending upon Whether said switch control relay then occupies its one or its other position, and means effective whenever said time element relay completes its time interval for causing both switch points to assume closed positions if said lock relay is then energized.

HERBERT L. BONE. CRAWFORD E. STAPLES.

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