Patent GB-189824125-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and connected with Electrical Railway-signalling Apparatus.
Inventor: NEUMANN FERDINAND
Filed: 1898-11-16
Granted: 1899-09-09
Abstract: 24,125. Neumann, F. Nov. 16. Controlling and locking signals; interlocking; indicators and repeaters, point or switch and signal; semaphore &c. signals; indicating route to drivers; signalling to stations ; signalling and communicating between trains; contacts, electric. -Relates to electrical signalling apparatus for protecting stopping and through trains at stations, and is described as employed on a single line having a loop line at the station, the operation of the signals being effected by means of the apparatus described in Specification No. 25,915, A.D. 1897. Fig. 3 shows the means employed for locking the switch bolts at the ends of the loop line The switch bolt a is locked by the end b of the lever b<1>, a<4> engaging in the notch a<1>, and is unlocked, when the electromagnet m is energized, by the armature lever b<4> engaging the arm a<4> of the locking-lever. The signalling-circuits, which are dependent on the condition of the switches, include mercury contacts b<3>, a<5>, which are closed respectively by the forked end b<2> on the locking-lever, and by the lug a<2> on the switch bolt engaging the pivoted contactmaking flaps a<6>, a<7>. The station signals may be arranged to show which line is open, in addition to the usual ' danger ' and line clear' indications, two semaphore arms being employed, of which one is put to ' line clear' when one line is open, and both are put to `line clear' when the other line is open. Figs. 5 and 6 show the mechanism for effecting these operations, the wheels F<1>, F<2> being driven by independent clockwork apparatus of the kind described in Specification No. 25,915, A.D. 1897. The semaphore arms are operated by band gearing from the pulleys m<1>, m<2>, which are actuated by the connecting-rods r from the crank-wheels h<1>, h<2>. The wheel h<1> gears with the pinion g<1>, which carries two ratchetwheels d<1>, d<2>, engaged respectively by the pawls k<1>, k<2> on the pinions f<1>, f' driven by the wheels F', F<2>. With this arrangement, the wheel F' actuates the corresponding signal through the wheel h<1>, and the wheel F<2> actuates both signals through the wheels h<1>, h<2>. The mechanism necessary for operating three or more signals in a similar manner is also described. Fig. 10 shows the trainoperated mercury contact employed for closing certain signal-controlling circuits. The train passing over the rail S depresses the plunger m<2>, which, acting by the disc m<1> on the diaphragm m, forces the mercury from the chamber M<2> into the chamber n, so connecting the terminals of the line-wires l. When the train has passed, the mercury returns slowly to the chamber M'. Fig. 11 shows a mercury contact making and breaking apparatus employed in the signalling-circuits, whereby certain groups of contacts are opened and closed simultaneously. The contact-forks w, which connect the mercury cups p<1>, are operated through the rods w<4> from the drop-levers w<1>, when the electromagnets w<3> are energized, the magnets, by attracting their armatures, allowing the supporting-pins of the levers w<1> to drop into the forks w<2>. The contacts are re-set by the clockwork mechanism shown, which is started by energizing the electromagnet z<3>, and is stopped by the pin z<6> engaging the drop-lever z<4>. The signalling-apparatus is controlled from the station by a hand-switch, which is moved on to one or other of four groups of contacts, according to the direction in which the train is travelling, and the line on which it is to be admitted. The hand-switch actuates a contact, which controls the release of the switch bolts, so that the switches cannot be unlocked unless the hand-switch is in its neutral position. The handswitch is also locked by a pin, which, when released to permit the movement of the switch, breaks a contact in the signal-operating circuit, and so puts the signal to danger.' The operation of the apparatus as a whole, for operating the station signals, without and in conjunction with distant' signals, is fully described in the Specification, which also describes in detail the various controlling. circuits made and broken by the automatic and other accessories. Signal bells are also provided at the station to indicate the correct working of the apparatus, and for giving an alarm in case of a train starting from a station running through the points before the latter are correctly set &c. Emergency keys are also provided for use in re-setting the apparatus to its normal condition, in case its ordinary working has been upset by abnormal causes.