Patent GB-190424295-A (GB)
Title: Railway Signals Indicators and Improvements in, and connected with Railway Signals and Railway Control
Inventor: O'DRISCOLL JOHN ROCHFORD
Filed: 1904-11-10
Granted: 1905-03-23
Abstract: 24,295. O'Driscoll, J. R. Nov. 10. Contacts, mechanical; indicators and repeaters, signal; signals on engines and trains ; electric railways and tramways, signalling on.-Miniature signals on a vehicle adjacent to the engine or on the guard's van, or the controllera on electric railways, are actuated by mechanical contact with verticallymovable rails 1, 2, Fig. 1 (Sheet 8), laid between the ordinary rails 3, 4 and operated by a signalman. Flanged wheels 29, 30 engage with the signal rails 1, 2, and may be carried upon the ordinary vehicle wheel axle 28, which is then provided with bosses 35, 35<A>, to prevent the wheels from moving along the shaft; or a separate fixed axle may be provided for the wheels 29, which respectively receive signals for the main and branch lines or sidings. Each signal wheel 29 comprises an outer, flanged, rotating portion 36, Fig. 3 (Sheet 9), moving by a flange-and-groove connection upon a central fixed portion 37, to which is fixed a rod 31 extending up through the floor of the vehicle to actuate the miniature signals. The axle 28 rotates in a block formed of two portions 38, 38<A> which slide vertically by means of flanges in grooves in the sides of an opening in the fixed part 37, two spiral or C springs 41, 40 being interposed. When a fixed auxiliary axle is employed, it forms an integral part of the pieces 38, 38<A>. Thus, the wheel riding on to a raised portion of the signal rail is elevated, compressing the spring 40 and extending the spring 41 so that the rod 31 is raised. The signal rail is provided with a portion 5, Fig. 4 (Sheet 5), raised by the signalman, and a hinged inclined approach rail 14 with a pin-and-slot hinge 21, 22 and a divided pointed tail-piece 14<A> which embraces and is guided by a fixed rail 19 of double-flanged girder section, the ordinary fixed rail 19<A> being of boxgirder section. This fixed rail may extend up to the next movable rail 5 or may be dispensed with by using an incline. The movable rail 5, Fig. 2 (Sheet 2), may be raised to three or more different heights by eccentrically-mounted discs 10, 11, or cams rotated from the signal box by a rack engaging with a pinion on the disc axles. The rails may be locked in any position by pins actuated from the signal box engaging in slots in the rail 5. The discs 10, 11 engage the lower portions 5<A>, 5<D> of the rail 5, other portions 5<B>, 5<c> being used as guides sliding in a box-shaped case 6 which also contains the discs 10, 11. Three or more indications are thus given by either signal wheel upon a miniature semaphore or disc of the indicator on the vehicle, in which the rods 31, 32, Fig. 1 (Sheet 15), passing from the two signal wheels are each provided with racks 74, 73, engaging spur-wheels 72, 71, which carry disc indicators or miniature semaphores to give 'safety,' caution,' and danger' notifications. At the same time, a bell or gong is sounded, the strikers 66, 67 of which are mounted on a pivot 80, and are rocked both in the upward and downward movements of the rods 31, 32 by either faces of notches 82, 83 in the rods 31, 32. The signals may be given by lowering the rails, and thus causing the signal wheels to descend, or electric indicators may be actuated or coloured lamps on the train may be electrically lighted by causing the ascent of the signal wheels to complete different electric circuits for each signal to be transmitted. As the fixed portion 37, Fig. 3 (Sheet 9), of each signal wheel is raised relatively to the fixed axle bearing 38, different pairs of contacts between these sliding pieces are closed at different heights.