US2089835A - Apparatus for detecting the passage of railway cars - Google Patents

Description

1937- .1. w. LOGAN, JR 2,089,835

APPARATUS FOR DETECTING THE PASSAGE OF RAILWAY CARS Filed Oct. 31, 1935 Center L022 01*" ID-aclc 11 2* V /:L/ I I Szandard Cogpler 164 17 5 2 270 Center Line of Track.

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INVENTOR John WLoyan Jr.

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H115 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR DETECTING THE PASSAGE OF RAILWAY CARS John W. Logan, Jr., Forest Hills, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 31, 1935, Serial No. 47,669

8 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for detecting the passage of railway cars and particularly to apparatus by which the passage of cars is detected optically.

The present invention is especially suitable for, although not limited thereto, use in connection with track switches in gravity classification yards. In such yards, the minimum spacing between cuts of cars which are to be classified is determined to a large extent by the lengthsor the detector track circuits and the greater the spacing between cuts of cars, the slower is the operation of the yard. It has been proposed heretofore to use optical means for detecting the passage of a car over a track switch to reduce to a min imum the spacing between cuts of cars. The cars to be classified include many having special body constructions, some having a depressed center portion while others have a relatively high center portion. Consequently, 'a light beam directed across a track for interception by the body of a car of standard construction may allow a period of noninterception at the middle of a'car of such special construction with the result the switch operating means may be momentarily unlocked and movement of the switch points started while such car is passing thereover. Again, a light beam directed at right angles across the track passes between thecars'of a cut of cars consisting of two or more cars coupled together and periods during whichtlie switch locking means is released may occur; When such light beam is directed across the'track not at right angles then the period of interceptio by a car is longer than is desirable. r

A feature of my invention is the provision of novel and improved apparatus wherewith the passage of a railway car of whatever construction, and the passage of two or more cars coupled together, may be detected without an interruption. That is, in the preferred embodiment of my .invention it is proposed to locate a source of light and a light sensitive unit effectively influenced by a light beam from such source in such a manner that the light beam is continuously intercepted throughout a complete passage of all kinds of cars and also throughout the complete passage of two or more cars coupled together. Other features and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification progresses.

I will describe two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

' In the accompanying drawing-,Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic views of two different forms 01f apparatus each of which embodies my in vention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference characters I" and la are the track rails of a railway track, and the reference character V designates a railway car having the usual truck wheels 3 and land a car coupler 5. The significant thing about the car V to be here noted is the fact that the -coupler 5 is 2 ft. 10 in. above the top of the rails I and la, and which height is standard 'for'all car couplers whatever type of body construction the 'car may have. In accordance with universal practice the coupler 5 centers at the center line of the track. c f l A light source unit 2 is mounted on the outer end of a track tie 8. The light unit 2 may take difierent forms and as here shown includes a' source of light such as an electric lamp B'placed in a suitable weatherproof housing havingsecured therein a lens I for projecting alight beam. The lamp 6 is supplied with current from any convenient source such as the secondary -win-d' ing 9 of a transformer T, the primarywinding I0 of which is connected with a generator not shown. This light unit 2 is preferably construct- Q5 ed so as to extend little'if any above' the top of the rails, and is so positioned as to directla light beam across the track at a vertical angle as indicated by the dotted lines I I. The upward slope of the light beam II is such that it crosses the center line of the track at substantially 2' ft. 10 in. above the top of the rails. That-is, the light beam I I is projected from the unit 2 across the track substantially at right angles to'the rails and at a vertical angle such that the beam crosses the center line of the track at the standard height of car couplers. It is apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the railway car-Y may have a center portion depressed as low as construction limits will permit, or it may have a body as high as clearance limits will or it may be a car of the usual body construction and yet it will continuously intercept the light beam I I during the passage of the car past. such I location. Furthermore, it is clear that when 5 two or more cars coupled together pass the location of the light beam, there will benoperiods of noninterception due to the light beam passing between the cars. At the same time the light beam II will not be intercepted prior to; the arrival of the leading end of the car at the 10- -cation and the beam will be cleared as soon as the rear end of the car has passed by the location since, as stated hereinbeforathe beam is relay M, the arrangement being such that when 1 the unit 12 is exposed to the light beam. II the relay I4 is energized and its front contact I5 is closed, but that interception of the light beam causes the relay M to become deenergized and its back contact l6 closed. The relay l4 may be employed to control over its contacts l5 and I6 a detector lock circuit fora track switch in the vicinity at which the light beam ll crosses the track or it may control any other signaling circuit desired. It follows, therefore, that normally the light beam ll eifectively influences the light sensitive unit l2 and the relay I4 is picked up to close its front contact !5, but that the upward slope at which the light beam H crosses the track is such that the beam is continuously intercepted during the passage of all kinds of cars and during the passage of two or more cars coupled: together, and the relay I4 is continuously deenergized and its back contact IE3 is closed during, such passage.

It is to be noted that the position of the unit 2 is such as not to interfere with a man riding on the car step l1. That is, at least' one of the optical units of the apparatus embodying my invention is so located as not to interfere with a man riding on the car steps. Furthermore, it will be clear to all who arefamiliar with railway track construction that the arrangement here disclosed is such as to permit the unit 2 being located near switch frogs and other places where the space between the rails is limited.

At locations where itis not practical to mount the light source unit 2 on a track tie, it may be located on a separate foundation outside of the track as disclosed in Fig. 2. In such event the same. arrangement, of directing the light beam acrossthe track at a vertical angle such that the. light beam crosses the center line of the track at the car coupler height of 2 ft. 10 in. would still be effected. The apparatus when arranged'in the manner disclosed in Fig. 2 will provide continuous interception of the light beam during the passage of all kinds of cars and of two or more cars coupled together the same as in Fig. 1. Furthermore, it is clear that the light source unit 2 and the light sensitive unit l2 may be reversed in locations and the light beam ll directed downward to cross the center line of thetrack at the car coupler height and the same operation of the control apparatus obtained should it seem desirable to do so.

Although I have herein shown and described only two formsv of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isi 1. Apparatus for detecting the passage of railway cars along a track comprising, a light source located on one side of the track vertically disposed with respect to the height of car couplers above the top of the rails, said source positioned to project a light beam across the track at right angle to the track rails and at a vertical angle to cross the center line of the track at substantially the height of said car couplers, a light sensitive unit located on the other side of the track in the path of said light beam, and signaling means controlled by said unit.

2. Apparatus for detecting the passage of railway cars along a track comprising, a light source located on one side of the track and disposed to projecta light beam across the track at a vertical. angle such that the path of such light beam is intercepted by the car couplers as well as by the car bodies, a light sensitive unit located on the other side of the track and disposed in the path of said light beam, and signaling means controlled by said unit for uninterruptedly detecting the passage of a plurality of cars coupledtogether.

3.. Apparatus for detecting the passage of railway cars along a track comprising, a light source located on one side of the track and disposed below the standard height of car couplers, said source positioned to project a light beam across the track at right angle to the track rails and. at a vertical angle such that the light beam intersects the center line of the track at substantially said standard height of the car couplers, a light sensitive unit located on the other side of the track and disposed above the height of the car couplers to be in the path of said light beam, and signaling means controlled by said unit for uninterruptedly detecting the passage of a plurality of cars coupled together regardless of the type of body construction of such cars.

4. Apparatus for detecting the passage of railway c'ars along a track comprising, a light source and a light sensitive unit responsive to such light, said source and unit located on opposite sides of the track one above the height of the car couplers and the other below such height and disposed with respect to each other such thata lightbeam directed from the source toward the unit crosses the center line of the track at the height of: said'car-couplers, and a signaling device controlled by said unit whereby the passage of a plurality of cars coupled together is detected without an interruption even when the cars have unusual body construction.

5. Apparatus for detecting the passage of railway cars along a track comprising, a light source and a light sensitive unit responsive to the light from said source, said source and unit located on opposite sides of the track directly opposite each other and disposed at such unequal heights with respect to the top of the track rails that a light beam directed from the source toward the unit crosses the center line of the track at the height of the car couplers, and a signaling device controlled by said-unit for continuously detecti-ng passage of a single car and of a plurality of cars coupled together.

6. Apparatusfor detecting the passage of railway cars along a track comprising, a light source and a light sensitive unit responsive to the light from said source, said source and unit located on opposite sides of the track directly opposite each other and disposed at unequal heights with respect to the top of the rails in such a manner that the light beam from said unit slopes upwardly to intercept cars at the coupling center line, and-signaling means controlled by said unit for continuously detecting the passage of a plurality of cars coupled together.

7. Apparatus for detecting the passage of railway c-ars along a track comprising, a light source located outside of one rail and below the level of the top of the rails, said source positioned to project a light beam across the track at right angle to the track rails and upwardly to cross the track center line at substantially two feet 10 ten and one-half inches above the rail siu'faces,

a light sensitive unit responsive to the light from said source and located on the outside of the other rail in the path of said light beam, and signaling means controlled by said unit.

8. Apparatus for detecting the passage of railway cars along a track comprising, a light source located outside of one of the rails and at a height approximately the same as the top of such rail, said source disposed todirect a light beam across the track upwardly at an angle to cause the path of the beam to be intercepted by the couplers of a car as well as by the car body, a light sensitive unit located on the outside of the other rail and disposed at a height to be in the path of said light beam, and a signaling device controlled by said unit for detecting the passage of a plurality of cars coupled together without an interruption.

JOHN W. LOGAN, JR.

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