VE LAC Automatic Classification Yard;.·J·

INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF

TYPE VR VE LAC® RECORDER RACK

MANUAL NO. 538

March 1960

AO. 60-100-3. 60.1

INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF TYPE VR VELAC®RECORDER RACK

SECTION I

INTRODUCTION

1-1. PURPOSE

The Type VR VELAC® Recorder Rack was designed primarily to facilitate periodic classification yard appraisal progr~ms and to provide a permanent in­formation and check station from which the maintainer or other authorized per­sonnel can select, monitor and automatfcally record relay roomequipment func­tions and general yard operations.

1-2. DESCRIPTION (See Figures 1 and 2)

The Recorder Rack consists primarily of. a jack panel, storage tray, volt­meter control panel, desk shelf, two instrument shelves and associatedwiring assembled on a standard 19-inch heavy-gage steel frame.

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1-3. Jack Panel. Located on the upper half of the equipment is a silk-screened jack panel containing operational output, pen recorder input, and voltage outlet jacks. For convenience and safety, all jacks on the panel are color-coded, and each jack is identlfied by a circuit designation printed directly beneath it. (See Paragraph 3-8). These circuit designations represent functions of automatic switching and group, intermediate and/or master retarders in Type VR VELAC® Classification yard installations. These functions can be properly monitored by following the detailed instructions given in Section III.

CAUTION

Improper jumper connections can 1ead to invalid readings and possible damage to sensitive instru­ments. Refer to Section III for detailed instruc­tions for proper jumper procedures.

1-4. Storage Tray. Immediately below the jack panel is a three compartment tray. This tray is to be utilized for the storage of the jack plug connectors, special analyzer leads and jack tool which are provided with each Type VR VELAC® Recorder Rack. The jack connectors come in three standard sizes; long, medium and short.

1-5. Voltmeter Control Panel. At the middle of the rack is the voltmeter con­trol panel which contains interlocked push-button retarder selectors and rotary­switch function selectors, each of which is related to a particular retarder. These selectors permit the maintainer to check, in conjunction with the proper voltmeters, the curved track rolling resistance. and the actual versus the re -quested speed.

1-6. Desk Shelf. Each rack is provided with a desk shelf for convenience and utility.

1-7. Instrument Shelves. Two instrument shelves are located below the desk shelf of the Recorder Rack. These shelves are designed to accommodate two portable graphic D. C. voltmeters and two 20-pen portable D. C. recorders. Each instrument shelf is equipped with appropriate A. C. outlets for the graph motor drives. Since the recorders and voltmeters are standard railroad equip­ment, none are furnished with the Recorder Rack.

2-1. RACK POSITIONING

SECTION II

INSTALLATION

Since accessibility to the rear of the rack is necessary, particularly during initial wiring, a hinged-type rack is mandatory if the equipment is placed back to back with other apparatus. While the rack may be stationary~ it would be most advantageous if it were placed adjacent to or_ across from the automatic switch­ing test panel.

2-2. · WIRING

Except for the necessary use of #22 shielded wire from all VE LAC® veiocity meter, group speed storage, and master and intermediate speed selection panels, all inter;.rack wiring is to be #16 tower and case~

. 2-3. Wiring is brought through the chase from the associated racks, dropped from the,.~hase, and connected to the swing-down terminal board at top rear of recorder rack. lithe rack is hinged, enoughslack must be provided to allow for maJd.mum rack swing. These inter-r~ck leads are brought from the rear of the terminal board, .between the terminal strips and connected to front terminals.

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2-4 •. · A:.ttach all leads to recorder rack terminal board first, then fasten other ends of leads · to appropriate racks. This procedure guards against live wire mishaps· which could ~ect yard operatioµs. . .

2-5. No terminal is provided on the masrer'or intermediate retarder VELAC® terminal board for velocity meter output; therefore, this #22 shielded lead, equipped with a B.N.C. type co~al connector (A/N UG-88/U), is dropped free from chase, down along the side of the rack and cut long enough to reach all .test jacks on the· velocity meter panels. Make certain that the .wire J.ead does not ground through the shield. A grounC;t at this poi~t will seriously-affect yard opera-

. ' --tion. This same arrangement applies to the master or intermediate speed se ... lection panel leads.

2-6. Finally,. mount the recorders ·and voltmeters on the instrument shelves. Since all cable connections for these.instruments are longenough to reachCeither shelf, the maintainer has a choice as to how he wishes to arrange the recording devices. The cable leads for.the twenty-pen recorders are equipped with am-phenol connectors. ·

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2-7. However, the individual motor drive plugs must be insertedrinto the proper A.· C. outlets. Since some installations have. varied from others, refer to the application circuits for this information. The outlets on most racks for _the VMO and SS-RC voltmeters are located on the upper shelf.

2-8. Position motor switches to OFF, and check ink supply for all pens.

3-1. GENERAL

SECTION III

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Anyone using the Recorder Rack should he thoroughly familiar with the Union . Type VR V~LAC® system. Union Type VR VELAC® Manual 526 will present a general review of the system and Manual 52 7, particularly Sections II and III, ds recommended as a more detailed source of information.

3-2. In addition, certain rules and procedures must be observed before manipu­lating the pen recorders or voltmeters in order to obtain reliable data and to avoid possible damage to the equipment. For example, as an aid and safety feature, each jack on the panel is color coded with respect to its negative or positive potential (OV to in excess of lOOV) applied at that point. An explanation of this code follows: ·

Red: 0 to HOV. No plug shall be connected from a red-circled jack to any other jack or pen jack, except where noted on circuit schematics.

Yellow: 0 to ±lOOV. No plug shall be connected from a yellow-circled jack to any other jack or pen jack.

Blue: 24V. When a blue -circled jack is connected to a pen (+) jack, N24 is to be connected to the associated pen (-) jack.

Green: 14V. When a green-circled jack is connected to a pen (+) jack, Nl4 is to be connected to the. associated pen (-) jack.

White: Pen (-).

Black: Pen (+).

NOTE

Only bltie (24V) and green (14V) coded output jacks may be used in conjunction wi_th the twenty-pen re­corders. In general, the red and yellow coded jacks serve as tap points into which the maintainer can plug a voltage analyzer, using the special leads provided, or an auxiliary voltmeter. The color code is also reproduced in the lower right hand corner of the jack panel.

3-3. Before any attempt is made to monitor the speed control equipment, the recording voltmeters should be properly calibrated. If the recorded data is to be examined closely, it will be necessary to check the recording and the validity of the ·speed storage, curved rolling resistance, _and velocity meter voltage out­puts. Under such circumstances, the test procedures in the following paragraphs (3-4, 3-5, and 3-6) should be observed, and all discrepancies should be noted for evaluation purposes.

3-4. GROUP RETARDER

A. To check Velocity Meter Output (VMO) Voltmeter and second section Velocity. Meter Panel:

1. Select push-button on Recorder Rack for the desired group retarder.

2. Using a signal generator, impress 313. 8. cps upon terminals Sig. A. and Sig. B. second section group retarder at the VELAC® rack terminal board.

3. Using a John Fluke D.C. voltmeter, check second sectiongroup retarder Velocity Meter Panel output voltage at test jack. Reading should be 60V.

4. Remove Fluke lead from test jack.

5. Check that VMO recording voltmeter is indicating 60V.

6. Remove signal generator leads from Sig. A and Sig. B •.

B. To. check Speed Storage and Curved· Resistance (SS-Re) Voltmeter, Curved Resistance (Re) Control Panel and first section Speed Storage (SS) Panel:

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1. Select push-button on Recorder Rack for the desired group retarder.

2. Usinga John Fluke D.C. voltmeter, check Re control panel output at test jack. Voltage should be -!DOV.

3. Remove Fluke lead from test jack.

4. Turn rotary-switchon Recorder Rack for groupretarder to Re position.

5. SS-Re recording voltmeter should indicate voltage obtained in Step 2, above.

6. Turn rotary-switch to SS position.

7. SS-Re recording voltmeter should indicate OV.

3-5. MASTER OR INTERMEDIATE RETARDER

The same general procedure as outlined above for a group retarder is followed when checking the VMO voltmeter and second section Velocity Meter Panel voltage output. However, before beginning, it is necessary to connect the VMO wire lead to the master or intermediate Velocity Meter Panel test jack. See paragraph 2-5.

3-6. Since there are no speed storage or curved resistance readings for master or intermediate retarders, tests involving the SS-Re voltmeter need not be made. This voltmeter does not function when a master or intermediate push-button has been selected.

NOTE

When monitoring speed control equipment always push the reset button during those periods when the trim signal lever is in the trim (green) position and when monitoring has been completed.

3-7. TWENTY -PEN RECORDERS

The two twenty-pen recorders are employed to automatically record data on system transfer: and storage of various cut information functions such as weight, cut length and end of cut, identity tag, track occupancy, selected track destina­tion, track code, and other pertinent information.

3-8. Listed below are examples of circuit designations that normally appear qp the jack panel of the Recorder Rack together with abrief explanation of the func­tions they represent in the Type VR VELAC ® Classification System:

AP - Automatic position of the retarder contr~l levers. DTP, CTP - Track occupancy circuits ahead of the master retarder. TP - Lead switch occupancy circuit. RlTP, R2TP - Track occupancy circuits for the first and second retarder

sections respectively. R!EC - Retarder first section end of cut. CLVEC - End of cut at leaving end of master retarder. CLV - Correct leaving velocity from the master retarder. CLVP - Correct master leaving velocity repeater at group r~tarders. GT, FT, ET, DT - Track occupancy circuits ahead of group retarder. CLA, CLB, CLC - Cut length determinants ahead of group retarder. CA - Computer alarm, an indication of computer failure. GC - General cancellation of initial storages. ASC - Automatic switching cancellation of initial storage Ban.le "A" - or in

some cases Bank "B ". RTYNC - Assignment of a measured tangent rolling resistance to a cut. Cl, C3 ~ Coupling speed modifier switch positions. F, N, S - Master weather switch positions. Re - Curved track rolling resistance. Rt - Tangent track rolling resistance. le, 2c, 3c, etc. - Selected track destination. 1 & 2 MBX - Alternating current supply to first and second retarder sections,

respectively. 1, 2, 3ATAC - Tag code assigned at master retarder location for storage

of tangent rolling resistance voltages. l, 2, 3ART - Tangent rolling resistance tag code assignment repeaters at

group retarders.

NOTE

Depending upon the descretion of the circuit de -sign.er, one of the last two nomenclatures above will appear on the jack panel as Rt Tag Code Re­peaters in the group retarder blocks.

RH!, RH2 - Heavy weight cuts in the first and second retarder sections, respectively.

RLI, RL2 - Light weight cut in the first and second retarder sections, respectively.

NOTE

The recording of RH! and RLI (or RH2 and RL2) at the same time indicates a medium weight cut.

Tl, T2, T3, T4 - Binary track destination code.

3-9- To employ one of the recorders follow the procedure below: (Figure 2 il­lustrates similar connections).

A. To check whether retarder control levers are in automatic or manual position.

I. Connect master retarde.r Al' jack (green, 14V) to pen #I (+) located at the top of the pen recorder A block on the jack panel.

2. Connect group retarder I AP jack to pen #2 (+); connect group retarder 2 AP jack to pen #3 (+), etc., working down the jack panel to consecutively higher­numbered pen (+) jacks for each group retarder.

3. Complete the battery circuit for each pen (+) that was utilized in para­graphs (I) and (2) by connecting the corresponding pen(-) to battery common (Nl4) in the following manner:

(a) Connect a jack plug connector from one of the Nl4 jacks (green), located at the side of the jack panel, to one of the two pen #I (-) jacks.

(b) Select shorter jack plug connectors and connect the consecutivelyhigher­numbered pen (-) jacks in series with the pen #I (-) jack until a corres -ponding pen (-) jack has been connected for each pen (+) jack: employed in conjunction with a green function (14V) jack.

B. To check the position of the weather switch and coupling si:eed modifier levers.

I. Connect the F jack (blue, 24V) in the master retarder block to pen #20 (+), located at the bottom of the pen recorder A block of the jack panel. Connect the N jack to pen #19 (+) and the S jack to pen #18 (+).

2. Connect jacks Cl and C3 (blue, 24V) in group retarder 1 block to pen (+) jacks #17 and #16.

3. Connect jacks Cl and C3 in each of the remaining group retarder blocks to consecutively lower-numbered pen(+) jacks.

4. Complete the battery circuit for each pen(+) that was utilized in para­graphs (1), (2), and (3) byconnecting thecorrespo_ndingpen(-) to batterycommon (N24) in the following manner:

(a) Connect a jack plug connector from one of the N24 jacks (blue), located at the side of the jack panel, to one of the two pen #20 (-) jacks.

(b) Select shorter jack plug connectors and connect consecutively lower­numbered pen(-) jacks in series with the pen #20 (-) jack until a correspond­ing pen (-) jack has been connected for each pen (+) jack employed in con­junction with a blue function (24V) jack.

CAUTION

Care must be exercised when operating the Re -corder Rack or following the procedure outlined in paragraph 3-11 to avoid crossing battery common.

C. Next, open the pen recorder case and turn switch to ON position. This action initiates the recorder drive motor, and since steady A. C. has been applied to its outlet socket, the graph will continue to record until switch is turned to OFF position. However, the recorder drive motor will not function during those periods when the trim signal is in the trim (green) position. Pen Recorder B functions the same as Peri Recorder A.

NOTE

It is sometimes convenient to use Pen Recorder A for all green (14V) jacks and Recorder B for all blue (24V) jacks, eliminating the necessity of re_. connectingvarious pens(-) each time the recorders are used. It is, however, advisable to disconnect all leads to pen (+) jacks at the function jack end when recorders are not in use.

The procedures for monitoring the functions in Steps A through C are rep­resentative of any desirable combination of retarder and/or automatic switch­ing operations which can be monitored following the same general principles out­lined above.

3-10. RECORDING VOLTMETERS

The recording voltmeters are employed to specifically monitor VELAC® speed control equipment. By turning the rotary switch for a selected group re­tarder to the Re position and pushing the associated push button for that par­ticular group, the SS-Re meter will record the rolling resistance of a car on curved track ln pounds per ton (lb/ton).

NOfE

Since .. 4Vrepresents 1 lb/ton resistance and maxi­mum measurable resistance is 25 lb/ton, the out­put of the Re summingpanel should·be -lOOV or 25 lb/ton. When the system is not computing (group approach, or, track circuit unoccupied), as the car shunts the approach track ci!cuit, -4V will represent each lb/ton resistance measured.

3-11. Thus, a -80V readingwould indicate a 20 lb/ton car; that is, -80 divided by -4 equals 20 lb/ton. This reading is properly taken when the car shunts the first

section retarder (CT) track circuit and picks RI TP. Thi,s shunting is indicated by the right-hand (front view) pen on the SS-Re voltmeter.

3-12. Once a car has progressed to and picked RITP, it is possible to turn the rotary switch (quickly) to the SS position. The same voltmeter will now record the first section speed storage panel output in requested miles per hour leaving speed from the retarder. A reliable measurement is taken when the voltage maintains a steady reading. Since this is a stored voltage, the voltmeter should read OV before computing is initiated providing SS had been originally selected instead of R • c

NOTE

When interpreting the speed storage measurement, a 4V readingwill represent a desired leaving speed of 1 mph. A SOV readingwould, therefore, indicate that the car should have a leaving speed of 12. 5 miles per hour (SOV /4).

3-13. Immediately following the recording of SS or Re, the VMO voltmeter will indicate the actual leaving speed of the car as the cut traverses and leaves the R2TP circuit. This measurement should be taken when the cut vacates R2TP. Vacating is indicated by the left side pen (front view) on the VMO voltmeter.

3-14. To check the accuracy of requested speed versus actual speed, subtract the voltage reading obtained from 100 and divide result by 4; then compare this answer to that obtained above for SS.

3-15. Again viewing the voltmeters from the front; note that the right side pen on the VMO voltmeter picks to indicate a heavy-weight car and that the left side pen on the SS-Re voltmeter picks for a light-weight car. Both pens picking in­dicate a medium -weight car. When monitoring_ the master or an intermediate retarder, only the heavy-weight pen will be available for weight indication pur­poses. Consequently, if this pen does not pick, it must be assumed that the car registered as a light-weight cut. No further information is required, however, since these retarders are only circuited to distinguish between two weight cate­gories, '1ight" and "medium or heavy''.

Printed in U.S.A.

Storage Tray

Voltmeter Control Panel

Desk Shelf

Pen Recorder Cable Leads

Instrument Shelves

Voltmeter Cable Leads

Figure I ... View of typical VELAc® Recorder Rack

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Figure 2 . . . Typical pen recording connections on jack panel.