Patent GB-190100706-A (GB)
Inventor: BENJAMIN EDGAR LIONEL
Filed: 1901-01-10
Granted: 1902-02-10
Abstract: 706. Benjamin, E. L. Jan. 10. Indicating and recording movements of trains; signals an engines etc.; contacts, electric; contacts, mechanical; electric and rope railways and tramways, signalling on; signalling to cabins and stations; signalling and communicating between trains; semaphore &c. signals; signals, lamp; fog and audible signals.-Electrical annunciators, recorders, switching-apparatus, and the like are operated with a small number of transmission lines, a relatively large number of indications being effected by circuit closing and interrupting devices adapted to produce different combinations of the circuits and the elements in the receiving devices, taken two or more at a time, or different permutations of them as regards the order of making the connections. Mechanical apparatus may be arranged similarly, with cams or tappets operating rods or flexible connections. The electrical transmitters may be hand switches, arranged to close selected circuits simultaneously, or successively in definite orders. The system may be used for automatically indicating or registering the passage of particular vehicles or classes of vehicles on railways or tramways, and the transmitters then consist of differently-shaped contact plates or brushes X, Fig. 6, carried by the different vehicles, and adapted to supply current to parallel contact bars C<2>, connected separately to the circuit wires. Such contact bars may be on the rail level, or in conduits of cable or other railways, or overhead. The car contact-plates may be twoarmed to continue the connection while passing over obstacles. They may be raised when not required to act, but may be locked to avoid interference. An electric lock for this purpose may be released by application of a voltaic cell provided with contact terminals. A car may carry more than one contact-plate. Otherwise the cars may carry bars over stationary brushes ; on alternating systems, induction devices may be used without actual contacts. Several electrical receivers are specified. One form of recording indicator is shown in Fig. 6. The line currents pass through electromagnets D, E, F and operate the armatures of these in opposition to springs. The armatures, either directly, or through coupling bars such as F<3> and switches, then complete a circuit through one of several styles N<2>, bearing on travelling paper, which is driven by a clock M and passes through a solution such that the current from the style marks the paper electrochemically. The armatures carry pointers in front of dials, to give immediate indications. In a modification of such a recorder, the line currents pass directly to the styles. Solutions may be used such that the marks are obtained at one pole only, currents in different directions being transmitted. The record may be made on a drum which is movable laterally by electromagnets and ratchet gear, to take two or more successive records from the styles ; or the styles may be movable to two drums. The styles may be formed as type. Photographic recorders may be arranged similarly. In place of the styles and recording apparatus, connections may be made to an ordinary electrical indicator. Polarized and differential electromagnets may be used. Pairs of electromagnets may operate armatures carrying typing levers to mark on travelling paper. The electromagnets may be used to release detents. The armatures of the electromagnets may carry shoots to conduct checks into a receptacle, which may be one of the compartments of a box revolved by a clock ; a check so delivered may register the passage of a particular vehicle at a time indicated by the position of the box. Or the checks may be delivered so as to operate typing levers against travelling paper. The invention is applicable to train alarm systems. On railways and tramways, in addition to the application previously mentioned, the invention may be used to indicate the route of an approaching vehicle at a station, or on the vehicle itself by electric lamp and audible signals or otherwise, the vehicles and their positions in car-sheds, or the passage of cars on the sections of a trolley line, to check the driving. A bell or other audible or visible announcing medium may be employed for attracting attention on the rendering of indications, by the apparatus, of passing cars, &c. Recording electric meters may be used in connection with the latter application. Points or signals may be worked automatically by the currents transmitted from the passing vehicles. The system may also be used for signalling to drivers or others on selected trains from a station, or in a semaphore signalling scheme.