US3638014A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle track block signal apparatus
Assignee: Saab AB
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Filing: 1969-09-22
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Granted: 1972-01-25
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Expires: 1989-09-22
Abstract
Abstract The condition of a signal for each block of vehicle track corresponds to that of a bistable memory unit placed in one condition by momentary output of an arrival detector and in its other condition by momentary output of a departure detector. All detectors are actuated by a single type of vehicle-carried exciter. An arrival detector is located near each end of each block. A departure detector is spaced along the track from each arrival detector, in the direction away from the other arrival detector.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunnar Alexius Wallgard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:27
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L13/00; B61L13/04; B61L13/047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
428 words
Means for automatically causing a signal to have one condition or another, depending upon whether or not a block of lengthwise extending track is occupied by a vehicle, said means comprising: A. a pair of arrival-detecting members, one located near each end of the block of track, each responsive to movement of a vehicle past its location to produce a momentary output; B. a pair of departure-detecting members, each responsive to movement of a vehicle past its location to produce a momentary output, each of said departure-detecting members being located near an arrival-detecting member but being spaced along the track therefrom in the direction away from the other arrivaldetecting number; C. a memory relay having 1. an energizable actuator, 2. switch means electrically connected with the actuator, said switch means being normally open but being closed when the actuator is energized, and 3. a control element connected with the signal to control the condition thereof, said control element having one position, corresponding to one condition of the signal, when the actuator is energized, and having another position, corresponding to another condition of the signal, when the actuator is unenergized; D. first and second relay means, each having 1. energizable actuator means, and 2. contactor means movable between open and closed positions, biased to one of said positions and movable to the other of said positions upon energization of the actuator means; E. means defining a first memory relay energizing circuit connected with the actuator of the memory relay and comprising the contactor means of the first relay means, through which circuit the memory relay actuator can be momentarily energized when the switch means is open; F. means defining a second memory relay energizing circuit connected with the switch means to be completed by closure thereof and through which the memory relay actuator can be maintained energized when said switch means is closed, said second memory relay energizing circuit comprising the contactor means of the second relay means, so connected as to provide for momentary deenergization of the memory relay actuator; G. means connecting each of said arrival-detecting members with the actuator means of one of said relay means to provide for momentary change of position of the contactor means of said one relay means in response to a momentary output from an arrivaldetecting member; and H. means connecting each of said departure-detecting members with the actuator means of the other relay means to provide for momentary change of position of the contactor means of said other relay means in response to a momentary output from a departure-detecting member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
428 words
Means for automatically causing a signal to have one condition or another, depending upon whether or not a block of lengthwise extending track is occupied by a vehicle, said means comprising: A. a pair of arrival-detecting members, one located near each end of the block of track, each responsive to movement of a vehicle past its location to produce a momentary output; B. a pair of departure-detecting members, each responsive to movement of a vehicle past its location to produce a momentary output, each of said departure-detecting members being located near an arrival-detecting member but being spaced along the track therefrom in the direction away from the other arrivaldetecting number; C. a memory relay having 1. an energizable actuator, 2. switch means electrically connected with the actuator, said switch means being normally open but being closed when the actuator is energized, and 3. a control element connected with the signal to control the condition thereof, said control element having one position, corresponding to one condition of the signal, when the actuator is energized, and having another position, corresponding to another condition of the signal, when the actuator is unenergized; D. first and second relay means, each having 1. energizable actuator means, and 2. contactor means movable between open and closed positions, biased to one of said positions and movable to the other of said positions upon energization of the actuator means; E. means defining a first memory relay energizing circuit connected with the actuator of the memory relay and comprising the contactor means of the first relay means, through which circuit the memory relay actuator can be momentarily energized when the switch means is open; F. means defining a second memory relay energizing circuit connected with the switch means to be completed by closure thereof and through which the memory relay actuator can be maintained energized when said switch means is closed, said second memory relay energizing circuit comprising the contactor means of the second relay means, so connected as to provide for momentary deenergization of the memory relay actuator; G. means connecting each of said arrival-detecting members with the actuator means of one of said relay means to provide for momentary change of position of the contactor means of said one relay means in response to a momentary output from an arrivaldetecting member; and H. means connecting each of said departure-detecting members with the actuator means of the other relay means to provide for momentary change of position of the contactor means of said other relay means in response to a momentary output from a departure-detecting member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
switch means electrically connected with the actuator, said switch means being normally open but being closed when the actuator is energized, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
switch means electrically connected with the actuator, said switch means being normally open but being closed when the actuator is energized, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
switch means electrically connected with the actuator, said switch means being normally open but being closed when the actuator is energized, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
switch means electrically connected with the actuator, said switch means being normally open but being closed when the actuator is energized, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
225 words
contactor means movable between open and closed positions, biased to one of said positions and movable to the other of said positions upon energization of the actuator means; E. means defining a first memory relay energizing circuit connected with the actuator of the memory relay and comprising the contactor means of the first relay means, through which circuit the memory relay actuator can be momentarily energized when the switch means is open; F. means defining a second memory relay energizing circuit connected with the switch means to be completed by closure thereof and through which the memory relay actuator can be maintained energized when said switch means is closed, said second memory relay energizing circuit comprising the contactor means of the second relay means, so connected as to provide for momentary deenergization of the memory relay actuator; G. means connecting each of said arrival-detecting members with the actuator means of one of said relay means to provide for momentary change of position of the contactor means of said one relay means in response to a momentary output from an arrival-detecting member; and H. means connecting each of said departure-detecting members with the actuator means of the other relay means to provide for momentary change of position of the contactor means of said other relay means in response to a momentary output from a departure-detecting member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
225 words
contactor means movable between open and closed positions, biased to one of said positions and movable to the other of said positions upon energization of the actuator means; E. means defining a first memory relay energizing circuit connected with the actuator of the memory relay and comprising the contactor means of the first relay means, through which circuit the memory relay actuator can be momentarily energized when the switch means is open; F. means defining a second memory relay energizing circuit connected with the switch means to be completed by closure thereof and through which the memory relay actuator can be maintained energized when said switch means is closed, said second memory relay energizing circuit comprising the contactor means of the second relay means, so connected as to provide for momentary deenergization of the memory relay actuator; G. means connecting each of said arrival-detecting members with the actuator means of one of said relay means to provide for momentary change of position of the contactor means of said one relay means in response to a momentary output from an arrival-detecting member; and H. means connecting each of said departure-detecting members with the actuator means of the other relay means to provide for momentary change of position of the contactor means of said other relay means in response to a momentary output from a departure-detecting member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus of the type comprising display means having alternative conditions which respectively indicate whether or not a vehicle occupies a lengthwise extending block of track along which vehicles may run in both directions, control means governing the condition of the display means, trackside detectors for producing momentary outputs to which the control means can respond, and exciter means carried by each vehicle using the track for cooperation with the detectors to cause the same to produce their outputs, said apparatus being characterized by: A. the exciter means carried by each vehicle comprising an exciter located at each end of the vehicle, said exciters being spaced to opposite sides of the vehicle centerline so that the left and right orientation of the exciters with respect to the front and rear of the vehicle is the same irrespective of the direction in which the vehicle runs, and the exciters being located similarly on all vehicles using the track; and B. the detectors for the block of track comprising
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus of the type comprising display means having alternative conditions which respectively indicate whether or not a vehicle occupies a lengthwise extending block of track along which vehicles may run in both directions, control means governing the condition of the display means, trackside detectors for producing momentary outputs to which the control means can respond, and exciter means carried by each vehicle using the track for cooperation with the detectors to cause the same to produce their outputs, said apparatus being characterized by: A. the exciter means carried by each vehicle comprising an exciter located at each end of the vehicle, said exciters being spaced to opposite sides of the vehicle centerline so that the left and right orientation of the exciters with respect to the front and rear of the vehicle is the same irrespective of the direction in which the vehicle runs, and the exciters being located similarly on all vehicles using the track; and B. the detectors for the block of track comprising
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
a pair of departure detectors, each so connected with the control means that a momentary output from the departure detector causes the display means to be placed in the other of its conditions, said departure detectors being located a. one near each of the arrival detectors but spaced therefrom along the track in the direction away from the other arrival detector, and b. each departure director being at the same side of the track as its adjacent arrival detector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
a pair of departure detectors, each so connected with the control means that a momentary output from the departure detector causes the display means to be placed in the other of its conditions, said departure detectors being located a. one near each of the arrival detectors but spaced therefrom along the track in the direction away from the other arrival detector, and b. each departure director being at the same side of the track as its adjacent arrival detector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
contactor means movable between open and closed positions, biased to one of said positions and movable to the other of said positions upon energization of the actuator means, one of said relay means having its contactor means normally open and connected in an energizing circuit with the actuator of the memory relay, and the other having its contactor means normally closed and connected in an energizing circuit with said switch means and the actuator of the memory relay to provide for momentary deenergization of the memory relay actuator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
contactor means movable between open and closed positions, biased to one of said positions and movable to the other of said positions upon energization of the actuator means, one of said relay means having its contactor means normally open and connected in an energizing circuit with the actuator of the memory relay, and the other having its contactor means normally closed and connected in an energizing circuit with said switch means and the actuator of the memory relay to provide for momentary deenergization of the memory relay actuator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further characterized by; C. the control means comprising a memory unit having two alternative conditions which respectively correspond to said conditions of the display means and each of which the memory unit tends to maintain, said memory unit having two input elements and being convertible from one of its conditions to the other by a momentary input to one of said input elements and from its said other condition to its first mentioned condition by a momentary input to the other of said input elements; D. means providing a connection between each arrival detector and one of said input elements of the memory unit; and E. means providing a connection between each departure director and the other of said input elements of the memory unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
a control element connected with the display means to control the condition thereof and which has one condition when said actuator is energized and another condition when said actuator is unenergized; and G. said input elements respectively comprising a pair of relay means, each having
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
a control element connected with the display means to control the condition thereof and which has one condition when said actuator is energized and another condition when said actuator is unenergized; and G. said input elements respectively comprising a pair of relay means, each having
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
a control element connected with the signal to control the condition thereof, said control element having one position, corresponding to one condition of the signal, when the actuator is energized, and having another position, corresponding to another condition of the signal, when the actuator is unenergized; D. first and second relay means, each having
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
a control element connected with the signal to control the condition thereof, said control element having one position, corresponding to one condition of the signal, when the actuator is energized, and having another position, corresponding to another condition of the signal, when the actuator is unenergized; D. first and second relay means, each having
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further characterized by; F. said memory unit comprising a memory relay having
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-24 | 1975-07-26 | 1976-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-24 | 1979-07-26 | 1980-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-24 | 1983-07-26 | 1984-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |