This class includes patents relating to the following means
for the safeguard and control of traffic upon or across railways
(that is, fixed tracks for occupant- controlled vehicles) or which
by structure are especially adapted for such use, viz:
A. Signals, including those used for communication between
occupants of a car or train.
B. Indicators, recorders, telegraphic, telephonic, or other
similar apparatus when especially designed for use in connection
with car or train movements, except manually-set devices, such as
train and engine signs and markers capable of general use.
C. Devices on the roadway, such as signals, switches, circuit
closures, gates, etc., actuated or controlled from or by the moving
vehicles, except circuit-controllers actuated by the vehicle for
the purpose of energizing sectionalized conductors used for supplying
propulsion-current thereto.
D. Automatic train stop and speed control means, the actuation
of which is initiated by agencies not on the train or by wheel derailment
or defects in train structure and mechanism, the automatic stop,
for classification purposes, being considered an equivalent of and
substitute for a railway signal; but train stopping and control mechanism
cooperating with obstacles fixed in position upon the track which
have no moving parts are excluded from this class except when they
cooperate with speed-responsive devices on the train.
E. Safety devices, including derailing switches and blocks,
used for preventing accidents caused by the misplacement of switches,
disregard of signals etc.
F. The structure of signals, switches, frogs, and crossings
and their appurtenances.
G. Mechanism for the manual or other actuation of any of
the devices of the class.
INDEX TO TECHNICAL LITERATURE
In many of the subclasses there have been placed upon the
official search-cards references to such literature as appears to
relate to the subject-matter of such subclass; but no attempt has
been made to make these references complete. It has not been deemed
advisable to print these references in connection with the respective
subclass definitions; but they can be inspected in the Public Search-Room
in connection with the Chief Draftsman"s classified copies
of patents. The list of works indexed is given below.
Literature in Scientific and Technical Information Center
Alternating Current Signaling, 1915, The Union Switch and
Signal Co., Swissvale, Pa. Automatic Block Signal and Signal Circuits,
Scott, New York, 1908. Block and Interlocking Signals, Elliott,
New York,1896. Block System of Signaling on American Railroads,
The, Adams, New York, 1901. First to Fifth Annual Reports Block
Signal and Train Control Board, Interstate Commerce Commission,1909
to 1913. Locking, Laverack, New York, 1907. Mechanical Railway
Signaling, second edition, Wilson, London, about 1909. Notes on Track
Construction and Maintenance, Camp, Chicago, 1903. Perfect Railway
Signaling, Spang, 1902. Power Railway Signaling, Wilson, 1908. Railroad
Signal Dictionary, The, Adams & Hitt, New York, 1908. Railroad Signal
Dictionary, The revised edition, New York, 1911. Railway Appliances,
Barry, New York, 1896. Railway Block Signaling, Pigg, London. Railway
Engineer, The, (about 1909). Railway Signal Association, Digest
of Proceedings, Vol.1, 1895-1905; Vol.2, 1905; Vol.3, 1906; Vol.4,
1907; Vol.5, 1908; Vol.6, 1909. Railway Signal Association, Journal,
1910, Vol.XIII; 1911, Vol.XIV; 1912, Vol.XV; 1913, Vol.XVI; 1914, Vol.XVII;
1915, Vol.XVIII; 1916, Vol.XIX;1917, Vol.XX. Railway Signal Engineering,
L. P. Lewis, London,1912. Railway Signaling, Pittsburgh, 1908. Railway
Signaling in Theory and Practice, Latimer, Chicago, 1909. Railway
Track and Track Work, Tratman, New York, 1908. Safe Railway Working,
Stretton, 1886. Signal Engineer, The, 1908, Vol.1; 1909, Vol.2; 1910,
Vol.3; 1911, Vol.4; 1912, Vol.5, 1913, Vol.6; 1914, Vol.7; 1915,
Vol.8; 1916, Vol.9. Street Railway Road Bed, Pratt and Alden, New
York, 1898.
SECTION II - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS
MEANS PECULIAR TO SPECIAL TYPES OF RAILWAYS
Means peculiar to special types of railway, such as mono-rail,
rack-rail, electric, pneumatic, logging, cash-carrier, elevated,
cable, suspended, etc., and not of general utility or if claimed
in connection with structure of such special types of railway will
be found in the appropriate subclasses of other classes, for which
see References to other Classes, below. But when such means are directed
to the structure or operating mechanism of the switches of this
class (246) subclass 415, they will be found in this class (246)
subclass 419, indented thereunder.
SIGNALS AND INDICATORS IN OTHER CLASSES
For signals used for communication between occupants of a
car or train see References to Other Classes, below.
For manually-set devices, such as train and engine signs,
and markers capable of general use see references to Other Classes,
below.
Where a semaphore is of the well known conventional railway
type, (which is more fully described in the definition of subclass
479 of this class), the patent is classified here, but otherwise
is some subclass of Class 116, Signals and Indicators, or Class
340, Communications: Electrical, unless claimed for railway use,
in which case it is here classified.
SPEED CONTROL IN OTHER CLASSES
For speed control vehicles, when all of the mechanism is upon
the vehicle and there is no cooperation with devices on the track
or roadway, see References to Other Classes, below.
TRAIN STOPPING IN OTHER CLASSES
For train stopping and control mechanism cooperating with
obstacles fixed in position upon the track which have no moving
parts see References to Other Classes, below.
Closures (gates) when performing a stopping rather than a
signalling function will be found elsewhere, except that railway-gates
and mine-doors actuated by the energy of a moving vehicle or electrically
controlled therefrom will be found in subclasses 125 and 292 of this
class (246) and in the various subclasses indented thereunder.
TRACK STRUCTURE
For track structure other than as indicated above, see the Search
Class references below.
Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting, see the obstacle-operated, obstacle-controlled,
and electrically-controlled subclasses of the changeable exhibitors
for station, street and similar annunciators and card, picture and
sign exhibitors not especially adapted for use as cab-signals, when
placed in vehicles and actuated or controlled by obstacles or electrical contacts
upon the track, except when there are claims upon the structure
of the track-obstacle or intermittent electrical contact and no
claims upon the structure of the annunciator or exhibitor in which
case they are placed in this class (246).
Motors: Expansible Chamber Type, appropriate subclasses for speed control vehicles,
when all of the mechanism is upon the vehicle and there is no cooperation
with devices on the track or roadway.
Signals and Indicators,
subclasses 28+ and 200+, for hand actuated train-indicators
or signals and indicators placed on moving trains or cars to indicate
their motion or the speed or direction of their motion or which
perform merely an identifying function, such as train or engine
markers.
Internal-Combustion Engines, appropriate subclasses for speed control vehicles,
when all of the mechanism is upon the vehicle and there is no cooperation
with devices on the track or roadway.
Telegraphy, for telegraph systems, note especially
subclass 43 for space induction systems which are oftentimes
used in train communication; (signals used for communication between occupants
of a car or train).
Motor Vehicles,
subclasses 167+ for a motor vehicle provided with means for controlling
its operation which is responsive to electromagnetic radiation,
magnetic force, or sound waves received from a source, or reflected
from an object or surface, which is located apart from the vehicle;
and subclasses 170+, for a motor vehicle provided with
means which is responsive to the speed of the vehicle for maintaining its
speed at, or preventing it from exceeding, a particular value.
Motor Vehicles,
subclasses 170+ , appropriate subclasses for speed control vehicles,
when all of the mechanism is upon the vehicle and there is no cooperation
with devices on the track or roadway.
Electricity: Transmission to Vehicles, for the transmission of electricity to a moving vehicle, where
no claims are made upon the apparatus actuated by the current or
covering the uses to which the current is applied;
subclasses 16 through 21for circuit controllers actuated by the vehicle
for the purpose of energizing sectionalized conductors used for
supplying propulsion current thereto.
Electricity: Motive Power Systems, for speed control vehicles, when all of the mechanism
is upon the vehicle and there is no cooperation with devices on
the track or roadway.
Wave Transmission Lines and Networks, note particularly
subclasses 24+ for coupling networks which may be used in railway-signaling systems,
and subclasses 1+ for plural-channel systems including
such coupling networks.
Telephonic Communications, for telephone systems, note
subclass 55 for space induction systems; (signals used for
communication between occupants of a car or train) and Class.
Electrical Audio Signal Processing Systems and
Devices, especially
subclasses 77+ and 86 for one-way electrical audio signal transmission
systems for trains (signals used for communication between occupants
of a car or train).
Electricity: Motor Control Systems,
subclasses 800+ and 825+ for speed control vehicles, when
all of the mechanism is upon the vehicle and there is no cooperation
with devices on the track or roadway.
Material or Article Handling, for train stopping and control mechanism cooperating
with obstacles fixed in position upon the track which have no moving
parts.
Rotary Expansible Chamber Devices, appropriate subclasses for speed control vehicles, when
all of the mechanism is upon the vehicle and there is no cooperation
with devices on the track or roadway.
Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative
Location,
subclasses 1+ for vehicle indication, operation, or guidance
which requires a mathematical calculation. Note, where significant
vehicle structure is recited, classification is in the appropriate
vehicle class.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Systems and devices specially adapted for the control of
train movements by train-orders or by their equivalents transmitted
from a central or directing station.
Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting,
subclasses 541+ for number-display devices and similar markers
displayed on trains to indicate car or train numbers or give other
information useful to the train-dispatcher or other officials.
Signals and Indicators,
subclass 30 for train-markers referred to above, and subclass
173 for flags used as train-markers and for supports for such flags.
Illumination,
subclasses 253 and 459+ for signal and indicating lights carried
by engines and cars, and 253, and 478+ for illuminated
train and engine markers.
Telecommunications,
subclasses 500+ for miscellaneous radio systems comprising a plurality
of transmitter and/or receiver means with a central control
station.
This subclass is indented under subclass 2. Systems and devices in which the train-dispatcher can set
or control the operation of railway-traffic-controlling devices
from a distance.
Communications: Electrical,
subclass 298 for signal box systems having answer back or return
call provision, and subclasses 313+ for miscellaneous signaling
systems having answer back provision.
This subclass is indented under subclass 3. Systems having the signals given upon the engine cab or
car or having mechanism which is actuated to stop the train or to
control its motion.
This subclass is indented under subclass 3. Systems having means so that any one of a plurality of signals
may be independently set or controlled from a distance, the number
of line-wires used being less than the number of signals controlled.
157, 164, 165, 424, 425, and 426, for selective
mechanism and devices and all subclasses in the titles of which
the words "Cab and control" appear, for means
for actuating signals on trains.
Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems,
subclasses 112+ for switching arrangements for distribution systems,
particularly subclass 140 in which a remote switch is controlled
by the exercise of control over the power current supplied to the switch.
Communications: Electrical,
subclasses 825+ for selective signaling systems in which signals
may be selectively controlled; and subclass 825.72 for radio-wave
systems for controlling a device.
Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems
and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation),
subclasses 73+ for miscellaneous systems for controlling a device
by means of reflected or otherwise returned radio waves (radar).
Telephonic Communications,
subclasses 242+ for automatic telephone systems which usually involve
selecting means; and subclasses 350+ for call transmitters
for telephone systems.
This subclass is indented under subclass 2. Telegraphic or telephonic systems specially adapted for
communication between trains and the dispatcher or other stations.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Systems in which an inductive relation is established between
the train and line, no physical connection being established.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Systems in which a current is transmitted to or from the
train by one or more continuous contacts with line conductors other
than the traction rails, which may or may not be sectionalized.
68, 71, 73, and 86, for system using the traction-rails
or the return of the signal-current to the car, also the foregoing
subclasses and in addition subclasses 65 and 66 for continuous- contact
systems.
This subclass is indented under subclass 10. Systems in which two or more continuous contacts are used.
(1)
Note. See the search note to subclass 10 for continuous-contact
systems and also for systems disclosing the return of the current
through the traction-rail.
This subclass is indented under subclass 9. Systems in which each train has its instruments cut constantly
into the line in series with those of other trains or stations.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Emergency stations without operators, located along the
permanent way between regular stations, at which trains may stop
or be stopped for communication by telegraph or telephone with the
dispatcher or other trains or stations or from which in an emergency
signals may be controlled.
Electrical Connectors, for an electrical connector, per se, see especially
subclasses 477+ for an electrical connector of the overhead line
type having a handle, tool or manipulating means.
This subclass is indented under subclass 2. Day or night signals or combinations of same used for the
purpose mentioned and usually adapted to be supported by or attached
to the roof or outer wall of a station or signal cabin and provided
with means for operating them from within the same.
(1)
Note. This subclass also includes devices used at stations
for holding train orders.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Systems in which the physical possession by an officer of
the train of a train staff, ticket, tablet, or other token is a
prerequisite to entrance upon the section or block.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Systems in which a space interval is maintained between
trains on the same track, usually by the subdivision of the way
into definite sections termed "blocks", the movement
of traffic being governed by cab or wayside signals or devices which
control the brakes or motive power, or both.
(1)
Note. Home signals indicate the presence or absence of trains
within the block about to be entered. Distant signals (usually
semaphores having notched blades) indicate the condition of adjacent or
distant blocks other than the block about to be entered. The combined
functions of the home and distant signals are sometimes performed
by a three-position signal, indicating by its three positions, respectively,
the presence of a train in the block ahead, the second block ahead, or
that both blocks are clear.
for systems closely related in function where the
physical possession by an officer of the train of a staff ticket
or other token is a prerequisite to entrance upon the block.
This subclass is indented under subclass 20. Systems in which the train automatically cooperates with
human agency in the actuation or control of the elements of the
system.
(1)
Note. These systems are sometimes called "controlled
Manual". The electric control by trains of manually-actuated signals
or vice versa is an example of such cooperation.
This subclass is indented under subclass 22. Systems in which means are provided for actuating audible
or visual signals upon the cab or train or for stopping it or controlling
its speed.
This subclass is indented under subclass 22. Systems in which the signal clearing operations require
the cooperation of the operators at each end of the block and also
the absence of trains from the block, which when present, by electrical
means, render it impossible to clear the signals.
This subclass is indented under subclass 27. Systems in which the traffic- controlling devices are actuated
and controlled only by electrical means.
(1)
Note. The means employed upon the train for operating cab
signal and train-control mechanism may by of any type--e.g., electrical,
fluid-pressure, mechanical, etc.
Railways,
subclass 238 for vehicle propulsion control by block system wherein
a peculiar type of guideway is claimed (e.g., cable, model, overhead,
etc.).
This subclass is indented under subclass 28. Systems in which the traffic- control devices are actuated
and controlled by waves of radiant energy as heat, light, etc.
Telecommunications,
subclasses 200.1+ and the classes and subclasses specified in the
Notes thereto for photocell-controlled electric circuits and photocell
apparatus.
This subclass is indented under subclass 29. Systems in which the signals or automatic-stop devices are
actuated or controlled by the methods of so-called "wireless
telegraphy", making use of Hertzian waves.
Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and
Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation), appropriate subclasses for miscellaneous radio-signaling
and teledynamic systems, particularly
subclasses 61+ for the miscellaneous systems for controlling a
device by means of reflected or otherwise returned radio wave energy; See
the classes under "SEARCH CLASS" in the class
definitions of Class 343 for the other classes which provide for
radiant-energy systems for controlling a device.
This subclass is indented under subclass 28. Systems in which means not on the car or train are provided
whereby under conditions of danger the supply of propulsion current
is cut off or is so reduced that the car is stopped or its speed
controlled..
(1)
Note. The control of the supply of propulsion current is
most cases will be by other cars or trains which constitute a hazard
to the controlled car or train.
and the subclasses specified in the Notes thereto,
for train-control devices located on the train whereby the motor
of an electric car is deprived of propulsion current.
Railways,
subclass 238 for vehicle propulsion control by block system wherein
a peculiar type of guideway is claimed (e.g., cable, model, overhead,
etc.).
Electricity: Transmission to Vehicles,
subclasses 16 through 21for conductor-supply systems for railways wherein
the conductor is provided with a plurality of sections, one or more
of the sections being manually de-energized and the system having means
for connecting the de-energized section to the supply feeder.
This subclass is indented under subclass 31. Systems in which the flow of propulsion current to one car
or train under conditions of danger controls the flow to other cars
or trains.
This subclass is indented under subclass 28. Systems in which signals are so arranged as to give danger
or caution indications to trains running in both directions on the
same track.
(1)
Note. The so-called "A. P. B." or absolute-permissive
block systems are here included.
(2)
Note. Only systems controlled by track-circuits are here
included.
This subclass is indented under subclass 28. Systems in which an alternating or pulsating current used
for actuating or controlling the traffic controlling devices and
derived from a source not on the train uses both traction rails as
conductors in series for the major portion of the block.
This subclass is indented under subclass 34. Systems in which super-imposed propulsion current, either
direct or alternating, is returned through one of the traction rails
which is not sectionalized.
This subclass is indented under subclass 35. Systems in which both traction rails are used for the return
of the super-imposed propulsion current, neither rail being sectionalized.
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