US 3,963,203 AGranted

Automatic control system for railroad interlocking

AssigneeWestinghouse Air Brake Company

InventorFrank T. Pascoe

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Abstract

Trains approaching the junction switch for two converging rail lines are detected by separate approach relays which repeat one or more track sections along each approach line. Each approach relay is reset when the train from the corresponding branch, as designated by switch correspondence relays, occupies the switch detector track section. The approach relays control the position of a magnetic stick sequencing relay. The reset of each approach relay by switch section occupancy assures the alternate positioning of the sequencing relay when successive trains simultaneously approach on both branches. The sequencing relay position selects a corresponding interlocking route relay which prepares and initiates the establishment of the route over the junction switch for the next train. Since the sequencing relay alternately operates to each of its positions, the route relays are alternately selected and trains thus alternately move from each approach branch line into the single track.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A control arrangement for automatically alternating the passage of trains from two converging tracks through a track switch into a single track, comprising in combination,

a. a first and a second approach relay coupled for registering the occupancy of the one or the other converging track, respectively, by an approaching train,
b. train detector means coupled for detecting a train occupying a prefixed interlocking area where said tracks converge through said track switch into said single track,
c. an indication means controlled by said switch for registering the established route condition,
d. a sequencing means operable to a first and a second condition corresponding to one and the other converging tracks, respectively,
e. route selection means controlled by said first and second approach relays and by said sequencing means and coupled for enabling the preparation of a route from one or the other converging track as an approaching train is detected in the corresponding track and said sequencing means operates to its corresponding condition,
f. a reset circuit means controlled by said train detection means and said indication means and connected for resetting the approach relay, corresponding to the converging track on which a train, now detected in said prefixed interlocking area, approached, to a non-occupancy condition to register that train's passage into said single track, and
g. an operating circuit means controlled by said first and second approach relays and connected for operating said sequencing means to a condition corresponding to a first approaching train registered occupying a particular converging track and to the other condition when passage of said first train into said single track is registered and a second approaching train is also registered occupying the other converging track.

4 more elements

In an automatic control system for a railroad interlocking, through which trains converge from two approach tracks through a track switch onto a single track, an arrangement for automatically alternating the movement of trains from the approach tracks, comprising in combination,

a. a first and a second approach detection relay, each coupled for detecting the occupancy of the one and the other approach track, respectively, by an approaching train,
b. a detector relay coupled to the rails within said interlocking limits and responsive to the passage of a train for registering the occupancy of the switch section,
c. a switch position indicator coupled for indicating the position of the track switch selectively joining the approach tracks to said single track,
d. a reset circuit network controlled by said detector relay and said switch position indicator and connected for selectively actuating each approach detection relay to a non-occupancy position when a train from the corresponding approach track occupies the switch section,
e. a sequencing relay operable between a first and a second position in accordance with the actuating energy applied,
f. route control means controlled by said approach detection relays and by said sequencing relay for alternately initiating the establishment of routes from each track when approaching trains are successively detected and said sequencing relay alternately operates between its first and second positions, each route being finally established when a preceding train completes its passage into said single track, and
g. a control circuit network controlled by said approach detection relays and said route control means and connected for operating said sequencing relay alternately between its first and second positions when trains are successively detected in each approach track, said approach detection relays are reset by passage of each train through said interlocking limits, and the existing established route is cancelled.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.