SGE DOUBLE LINE BLOCK INSTRUMENT

INTRODUCTION
This instrument is used for double line block working. One station will have
two block instruments, one for station in advance and another for station in
rear. The instrument is simple, compact and robust in design. It requires
simple regular maintenance and scheduled overhauling to ensure its trouble-
free working. It shows three positions of block section for each line namely
LINE CLOSED, LINE CLEAR and TRAIN ON LINE.
In NON-RE area, it requires 3 wires (min.) along with earth return for its
working. One for Top indicator, One for Bottom indicator and One for Block
bell and Telephone.
In DC traction area instead of earth return, metallic return is used to avoid
interference from stray current.
In AC RE area, it requires two Phantom lines along with earth return, one
phantom for Top indicator and another phantom for Bottom indicator and two
pair of cable, one for bell code exchange and other for block telephone.
MAIN COMPONENTS
The block instrument mainly consists of following parts :
1. Top Indicator (Upper Needle)
2. Bottom Indicator (Lower Needle)
3. Bell Plunger
4. Commutator & Commutator segment
5. Door Lock Assembly
6. Bell Unit consisting of Block Bell, Bell Relay and Bell Coil
7. SM’s Key
The top portion consists of Top and Bottom indicators. The bottom portion is
made up of cast iron and consists of Commutator, Bell plunger and S.M’s key.
Sealing & double locking arrangements are provided on the back side of the
block instrument. A telephone is also connected as an external part of Block
Instrument. A separate three position polarised relay is wired in series with
the top indicator and housed inside an apparatus case/Relay room through
which Last stop signal is controlled .

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 Fig1:
Front view of
Double line Block
instrument

There are three types of Double line block instruments:

(i) SGE type :Byculla make, (ii)IRS type : Howrah make and (iii)SR type:
Podanur make.The main difference among them are tabulated below:
TABLE A
S. Name of part SGE Type SR Type IRS Type
1. Door lock Mechanical Electrical Mechanical
Mechanism Stick Stick Stick
2. Resistance of 50 ohm 48 ohm 14.8 ohm
Electric Lock Coil
3. Working Current of 200 ma 250 ma 250 ma
Electric Lock Coil
4. Resistance of Bell 500 ohm 400 ohm 400 ohm
Relay
5. Working Current of 20 mA 25 mA 25 mA
Bell Relay
6. Resistance of bell 60 ohm 48 ohm 30 ohm
Coil
Some important parameters of SGE type block instruments are given below,
which is most commonly used:

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 TABLE B
S. Name of unit Resistance Rated Rated
N. working working
current voltage
1. Top indicator 140 Ohms 17 to 25 mA 2.38 V
2. Bottom indicator 140 Ohms 17 to 25 mA 2.38 V
3. Door lock coil 50 Ohms 200 mA 10 V
4. Bell coil 60 Ohms 150 mA 9V
5. Bell relay 500 Ohms 20 mA 5V
6. Polarised relay 77 Ohms 17 to 25 mA 2.38 V
POWER SUPPLY ARRANGEMENTS
Double Line Block Instrument requires following supply for its working in
Non RE area :
(a)Block Needle battery (9 V + line drop) (b)Bell battery (6 V + line drop)
(c)Telephone battery (3 V to 4.5 V) and (d)Local Battery (12/ 24 V)
And following supply for RE area :a) Block Needle battery (14 V + line drop)
b)Telephone battery (3 V to 4.5 V) c) Local Battery ( 12/ 24 V)
Block Battery & Bell Battery shall be separate for each Block instrument. No
other circuit and/ or circuit of other block instrument shall be fed from Block
Battery.
EARTH
A separate earth should be provided for Needle and Bell circuit of each block
instrument. The resistance of earth shall not exceed 10 Ohm. Where more
than one earth is used, the distance between earthing pipes shall not be less
than 3 mtrs. The conductors leading to these earthings should be electrically
insulated from each other through out and also from metallic structures
connected to different earth.
FAILURE OF SGE DOUBLE LINE BLOCK INSTRUMENTS
The Block Instruments shall be considered to have failed and block working
suspended in the following circumstances –
(a) When the indications on the 'Train Going To' dial at sending station do not
correspond with the indications of the 'Train Coming From' dial at receiving
station.
(b) When ever there is reason to believe that there is contact between the
Block and any other circuit.

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Note : If an intermittent contact exists between the block and the
circuit an irregular movement of the indicator or irregular bell beats or both.
will be observed. If permanent contact exists there may be a permanent
wrong indication or bell beats or both. A contact between block wires might
cause signals given on the instrument to be repeated on the neighbouring
instrument or change of indications in the instruments.
(c) When a train arrives at a station without "Line Clear".
Note : In this case the irregularity shall be reported as an accident unless the
Driver is in possession of an –“Authority to Proceed Without Line Clear".
(d) If the Block Instrument or its battery counter is found without seals or
locks.
(e) Whenever Single Line working is introduced.
(f) When the dial indicator glass is broken.
(g) If the Operating Handle can be restored from “Train On Line” position to
“Line Closed'” position before complete arrival of the train.
(h) Where the Operating Handle cannot be turned to “Train On Line” or “Line
Clear” or to “Line Closed” in the process of granting or cancelling line Clear.
(i) Where signals on the bell are not received distinctly or fail altogether.
(j) When a train that has entered the block section on “Line Clear” is pushed
back for any reason into the station.
K) If it is known that the instrument is defective in any .way not specified
above.
TESTING
 Check double locking arrangement on back cover. Ensure that sealing
is intact.
 Check that SM`s key is effective and commutator gets locked in its last
operated position.
 Check all springs for proper tension of 250 + 5 grams.
 Check for the correspondence between commutator handle and
Indicator (except where “Auto-Train On Line” feature is provided.)
 Check line and telephone battery voltage, also measure the working
current of block instrument and compare with the standard values.
 Check single stroke bell for its efficient functioning.
 Check door lock assembly for perfect working including force drop
arrangement.

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  Check full notch and half notch on locking plate, they should be
correctly shaped and are in square. Holding pin is not worn out, full
notch should be square and half notch should be beveled.
 Ensure that LSS cannot be taken “OFF” without obtaining line clear
from receiving station.
 Ensure that LSS assumes “ON” aspect automatically when FVT is
occupied by first vehicle and it could not be retaken “OFF” on same
line clear.
 Ensure that commutator could not be turned back from ‘Train On
Line” to “Line Clear” position when turned from “Line Clear” to
“Train On Line” directly, unless the train sequentially operates the two
track circuits and after the passage of train, all reception signals have
been put back to “ON”.
 Check that Sealing of polarised relay is intact.
 Check wiring of instrument, no loose wires should get entangled in the
moving part.
 Measure earth resistance. Value should not be more than 10 ohm.
MAINTENANCE
• Needle indicators must be properly maintained so that they operate
fully and return to the normal position, when the commutator is
brought to Line Closed position.
• It should be ensured that the commutator movement is smooth while
turning it from one position to another position.
• It should be ensured that commutator gets locked, when it is turned
from “Line Clear” to “Train On Line” position, before Train On Line
indication contacts are made.
• See that all terminals screws, nuts, lock nuts and locking screws are
tight and all split pins are opened.
• Inspect the contact surfaces on the butterfly assembly. If pitted, clean
them with chamois leather.
• Check the resistance of indicator coil, lock coil and their working
currents. If considerable difference is noted between subsequent
readings, locate the fault and rectify the same.

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 • Check the full lock notch and half lock notch on the locking drum, for
their correct shape & squareness. Correct them if necessary.
• Check that no loose wire get trapped in the moving parts.
• Check that only correct springs make when commutator is in “Line
Clear” and “Train On Line” positions.
• Check that the desired springs make when bell plunger is pressed and
that bell beats are registered properly when bell plunger is pressed by
the adjacent station.
• Check the coil resistance of bell relay, bell coil and their working
currents during inspections. If considerable difference is noticed
between subsequent readings, locate the fault and rectify it.
• Check the telephone battery, replace if necessary.
• All batteries must be kept clean. Terminals must be free from dirt and
corrosion.
• Ensure that for same block instrument, batteries for Indication and
bell circuit are separate.
• Indication battery for two block instruments of adjacent section at a
station should also be separate.
• Ensure that wire connection at the terminals are firm.
• Check and ensure that earth and earth connections are effective and in
good condition.
• Ensure that common earth is not used for indication circuit because in
case of leakage or breakage of one earth, both the instruments will
come in series.
PERIODICITY OF OVERHAULING
A thorough periodical overhauling in Workshop is necessary and the period
shall not exceed 7 years.
PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RE AREA
The following precautions shall be taken for block instruments on AC
traction:

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A block filter of an approved design shall be used between the block
instrument and line wire. It is essential that the line and block instrument
terminals of the filters are never interchanged. The Block filter is a low pass
filter consisting of series choke coils S1 & S2 in each line and the shunt
condenser C1. The condensers adopted are 4-terminal condensers to prove the
continuity of conductors forming the condenser. Also two gaseous type
Lightening Arrestors with a flash voltage of 150 V are provided on the line
side for high voltage protection.
GUIDELINES FOR EFFICIENT WORKING:
(Ref Rly. Board letter No.81/104/SG/G/3 dt. 30-4-85).
1. Shelf type relays or QSPA1 type or two Nos. of QNA1 type relays in
tandem with a minimum pick up time of 300 ms should only be used in stick
relay circuit SR.
2. Polarised relays conforming to IRS-S31-80 should only be used in the
block circuits. However, AEI-GRS polarised relays with contact gap of 1.5
mm and minimum pick up current of 16 mA can be allowed to continue till
they are progressively replaced with polarised relays conforming to IRS-S31-
80.
3. 3-position polarised relays should be overhauled once in 10-12 yrs.
4. All block instruments should be manufactured only to IRS design.
5. All the block instruments manufactured in the Railway Workshop also
should be duly inspected by RDSO.
6. Sequential clearance of two circuits should be provided for block
clearance.
7. If any of the following conditions are observed, the lock and block should
be treated as defective and its working suspended:-
i) the last stop signal is not restored to ON position automatically by the
passage of the train.
ii) if it is found possible to take OFF the last stop signal without containing
the "Line Clear" indication on the instrument.
iii) if the block instruments commutator could be turned from TOL to Line
Clear position without the arrival of train.
iv) when the block instrument shows erratic movements of the indicators or
is defective in any other way.

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