AUTOMATIC TRAIN DISPATCHER

• US 3,575,594 A
• Filed: 02/24/1969
• Issued: 04/20/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joel E. Elcan
• Original Assignee: Joel E. Elcan
• Inventors: Elcan, Joel E.
• Application Number:
  US04/801,586
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• US Class Current: 246/2.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/04 Indicating or recording train identities

Abstract

An automatic train dispatcher for directing the departure of railroad trains from a station in accordance with prescheduled departure times. Control apparatus responds to readout from a prerecorded schedule and to train arrivals to normally authorize departures by the schedule. Remote control by the system supervisor is superposed on this normal operation to advance or retard departure times to meet unusual operating situations. Advance and retard control functions are separately received and registered at the station. An advance control immediately activates the departure signal. A retard control interrupts the prescheduled readout control and inhibits the activation of the departure signal until released. The release action is specifically an advance control which is effective only to cancel the interrupt and inhibit conditions.

Claims

1. Train dispatching apparatus for a wayside station location along a stretch of railroad track, comprising in combination, a. means for registering each prescheduled departure time of a train from said station location, b. signaling means for directing when activated the departure of a train from said station, c. train detection means for detecting the arrival of a train at said station, d. an operating means comprising a first and a second portion, 1. said first portion controlled by said registering means and operable to a successive position normally in response to each registered prescheduled departure time, 2. said second portion controlled by said train detection means and operable to a successive position in response to the arrival of each train at said station, 3. said first and second portions connected for jointly activating said signaling means only when a train is at said station and said portions occupy out-of-correspondence positions, e. a departure advance control device selectively operable to an activated condition and directly connected when activated for operating said first operating means portion to an out-ofcorrespondence position, f. a departure retard control device selectively operable to an activated condition and connected when activated for interrupting all control connections to said first operating means portion and the joint control of said signaling means by said first and second portions.

2. said position repeater relay being energized when both switches occupy corresponding positions, b. said register means connected for energizing the first switch magnet when a prescheduled departure time is registered, c. said train detection means connected for energizing the second switch magnet once for each arrival of a train at said station, to normally step said second switch into a corresponding position with said first switch, d. said advance control device connected for energizing said first switch magnet when said device is activated, e. said repeater relay and said train detection means connected for jointly activating said signaling means when said relay is deenergized and a train is occupying said station track, f. said retard control device connected for interrupting all control connections to said first switch magnet and for inhibiting any activation of said signaling means when said retard device is activated.

3. said first and second portions connected for jointly activating said signaling means only when a train is at said station and said portions occupy out-of-correspondence positions, e. a departure advance control device selectively operable to an activated condition and directly connected when activated for operating said first operating means portion to an out-of-correspondence position, f. a departure retard control device selectively operable to an activated condition and connected when activated for interrupting all control connections to said first operating means portion and the joint control of said signaling means by said first and second portions.

4. Train dispatching apparatus as defined in claim 3 which further includes, a. a slow release relay means directly repeating the activation of said retard control device, b. said relay means connected for interrupting all control connections to said first portion of said operating means when said retard control device is activated and for retaining said interruption beyond the period during which an advance control function received to reset said retard control device is effective to operate said first portion of said operating means.

5. A Train dispatching apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which, a. said operating means comprises a first and a second stepping switch and a switch position repeater relay,

6. Train dispatching apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which said retard control device is directly connected for holding energized said position repeater relay for inhibiting any activatiOn of said signaling means while said retard control device is activated.

7. Train dispatching apparatus as defined in claim 6 which further includes, a. a slow release relay means directly repeating each activation of said retard control device, b. said device repeater relay means connected for interrupting all energizing connections to said first switch magnet to retain that magnet deenergized while said retard control device is activated and beyond the period during which an advance control function received to reset said retard control device is effective to energize said first switch magnet.

8. Train dispatching apparatus as defined in claim 7 which further includes, a. a passenger signaling device for warning when activated that a train is scheduled to depart from said station, b. a train signaling device for directing when activated the train operator to depart from said station when said passenger signaling device becomes inactive, c. a timing means jointly controlled by said position repeater relay and by said train detection means for measuring a preset period of time when said relay is released and a train occupies the station track, d. an activating circuit for said train signaling device including a released position contact of said position repeater relay and a contact closed by said train detection means when a train is occupying said station track, and e. an activating circuit for said passenger signaling device including,