US 5,691,888 AGranted

Power controlling unit for a trolley pole switch controller

AssigneeWestinghouse Air Brake Company

InventorsJohn H. Corvin, Charles C. Siegling, III, Francis A. Launier

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Abstract

A power controlling unit for use with a radio board of a trolley pole switch controller is disclosed. The trolley pole switch has at least one frog for switching the path of travel that an energy collector takes through a junction of catenaries. The power controlling unit includes three reduction stages, a chopper control stage, and two output stages. A first reduction stage reduces power received from one catenary to an initial power level. The chopper control stage outputs two pairs of alternating signals. Controlled by a first pair of alternating signals, a second reduction stage reduces the initial power level to a secondary power level to operate the radio board. As long as it receives the initial power level, the third reduction stage reduces the secondary power level to a primary power level to operate the power controlling unit. Controlled by a second pair of alternating signals and the initial power level, when a turn output stage receives a turn command from the radio board, it switches power from one catenary to a turn solenoid of such frog thereby switching the path of travel that the energy collector will take to a turn catenary. Controlled by the second pair of signals and the initial power level, when a straight output stage receives a straight command from the radio board, it switches power from one catenary to a straight solenoid of such frog thereby switching the path of travel that the energy collector will take to a straight catenary.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A power controlling unit for a controller of a trolley pole switch for use with a radio board of such controller, such trolley pole switch having at least one frog for switching the path of travel therethrough of an energy collector assembly of a trolley pole at a junction of power conduits at which a turn power conduit and a straight power conduit diverge from such straight power conduit, said power controlling unit comprising:

(a) a first reduction means for reducing and regulating power received from any one of such power conduits to an initial power level;
(b) a chopper control means for outputting a first pair of alternating logic signals and a second pair of alternating logic signals;
(c) a second reduction means controlled by said chopper control means such that when said second reduction means receives said first pair of alternating logic signals from said chopper control means, said second reduction means reduces said initial power level received from said first reduction means to a secondary power level usable by such radio board for operation of such radio board;
(d) a third reduction means for receiving said secondary power level from said second reduction means and said initial power level from said first reduction means such that said third reduction means reduces said secondary power level to a primary power level usable by said power controlling unit to operate same as long as said initial power level is received from said first reduction means;
(e) a turn output means for receiving said second pair of alternating logic signals from said chopper control means and said initial power level from said first reduction means such that when an intermediate turn command signal is also received from such radio board, said turn output means switches power in response thereto from any one of such power conduits to one electrical operator of such at least one frog thereby switching the path of travel that such energy collector assembly will take through such at least one frog to such turn power conduit;
and
(f) a straight output means for receiving said second pair of alternating logic signals from said chopper control means and said initial power level from said first reduction means such that when an intermediate straight command signal is also received from such radio board, said straight output means switches power in response thereto from any one of such power conduits to another electrical operator of such at least one frog thereby switching the path of travel that such energy collector assembly will take through such at least one frog to such straight power conduit.

4 more elements

A power controlling unit for an electronic controller of a trolley pole switch for use with a signal processing unit of such electronic controller, such trolley pole switch having at least one frog for switching the path of travel therethrough of an energy collector assembly of a trolley pole at a junction of power conduits at which a turn power conduit and a straight power conduit diverge from such straight power conduit, said power controlling unit comprising:

(a) a first reduction means for reducing and regulating power received from any one of such power conduits to an initial power level;
(b) a chopper control means for outputting a first pair of alternating logic signals and a second pair of alternating logic signals;
(c) a second reduction means controlled by said chopper control means such that when said second reduction means receives said first pair of alternating logic signals from said chopper control means, said second reduction means reduces said initial power level received from said first reduction means to a secondary power level usable by such signal processing unit for operation of such signal processing unit;
(d) a third reduction means for receiving said secondary power level from said second reduction means and said initial power level from said first reduction means such that said third reduction means reduces said secondary power level to a primary power level usable by said power controlling unit to operate same as long as said initial power level is received from said first reduction means;
(e) a turn output means for receiving said second pair of alternating logic signals from said chopper control means and said initial power level from said first reduction means such that when an intermediate turn command signal is also received from such signal processing unit, said turn output means switches power in response thereto from any one of such power conduits to one electrical operator of such at least one frog thereby switching the path of travel that such energy collector assembly will take through such at least one frog to such turn power conduit;
and
(f) a straight output means for receiving said second pair of alternating logic signals from said chopper control means and said initial power level from said first reduction means such that when an intermediate straight command signal is also received from such signal processing unit, said straight output means switches power in response thereto from any one of such power conduits to another electrical operator of such at least one frog thereby switching the path of travel that such energy collector assembly will take through such at least one frog to such straight power conduit.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.