Improvements in the Means of Communicating between the Compartments of Railway Carriages and the Guards of Trains.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
:―
Improvements in the Means of Communicating between the
Compartments of Railway Carriages and the Guards of Trains.
1 WILLIAM GRIMES of No. 76 Summer Lane Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Tailor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is in the first place to afford passengers in contiguous
compartments of railway carriages a ready means of communication in cases of
danger, and also in combination a means of signalling the guards of a train. In
accordance with this invention the partitions separating the several compartments
of a carriage, are made each with one or more circular or other shaped openings of
moderate size and at a convenient height for access by passengers. Each opening
is fitted with a metal lining secured to the partition by flanges and screws.
Το
this lining is hinged an inner case of about the thickness of the partition, also of
sheet metal by preference, and so as to be opened in the manner afterwards
described.
In the centre of this case is a movable stud piece projecting through the front of
same and kept in position by a guide on the back plate of the case.
Inside the
case and working upon guides thereupon is a vertical sliding piece of a plate like
shape with a central opening through which the said stud piece passes freely.
From this central opening a narrower slot is made downwards. The said stud
piece is made with a notch or groove into which the narrower slot in the vertical
sliding piece passes easily when the notch or groove in the stud piece is opposite
thereto. The stud piece works against a spring at the back of the case, and has a
stop inside the front to keep it in position, so that the pressure of the thumb or
hand on its projecting end will force it back and bring the notch or groove opposite
the slot in the vertical sliding piece, which is then forced upwards by the action
of a spring. The bottom of this vertical sliding piece forms when down a bolt to
the metal lining and its upward movement releases this bolt and with it the hinged
case so far as the front attachments are concerned.
I also construct inside the case devices by which the same upward movement of
the vertical silding piece releases a detent and sets in motion an alarum movement
upon a bell or gong inside the case.
I also prefer to affix a locking bar or bolt or other similar device at the back of
the hinged case, which can only be released by, passengers in the compartments next
to that in which an alarm may arise.
Also inside the opening in the partition between the compartments, and to which
access is only to be had when the hinged case is released, I arrange a knob or handle
which when operated by passengers makes by means of any known electrical or
mechanical connections a signal to the guards of the train.
The action is as follows. In case of danger in any compartment the passengers
would press back the central stud piece on the apparatus nearest to hand. This
would by means of the bell or gong, signal to passengers in the next compartments,
at the same time releasing the inner bolt of the hinged case. The passengers in
the latter compartments by releasing the fastening on the back can swing open the
hinged portion of the apparatus, thus leaving a clear opening between the compart-
ments of the carriage. The knob or handle in connection with the signal to the
guards of the train can then be used by passengers in either compartment. The
apparatus made to be easily reset after use by the guards or other officials.
Dated this 24th day of March 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of Communicating between the
Compartments of Railway Carriages and the Guards of Trains.
I WILLIAM GRIMES of No. 76 Summer Lane Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Tailor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
The object of this invention is in the first place to afford passengers in contiguous
compartments of railway carriages a ready means of cominunication in cases of
danger, and also in combination a means of signalling the guards of a train.
In accordance with this invention the partitions separating the several compart-
ments of a carriage are made each with one or more circular or other shaped
openings of moderate size and at a convenient height for access by passengers.
Each opening is fitted with a metal lining secured to the partition by flanges and
screws. To this lining is hinged an inner case of about the thickness of the
partition of sheet metal by preference and so as to be opened in the manner
afterwards described.
In the centre of this case is a moveable stud piece projecting through the front
of same and kept in position by a guide on the back plate of the case. Inside the
case and working in guides thereupon is a vertical sliding piece of a plate like shape
with a central opening through which the said stud piece passes freely. From this
central opening a narrower slot is made downwards. The said stud piece is made
with a notch or groove into which the narrower slot in the vertical sliding piece
passes easily when the notch or groove in the stud piece is opposite thereto. The
stud piece works against a spring at the back of the case, and has a stop inside
the front to keep it in position so that the pressure of the thumb or hand on its
projecting end will force it back and bring the notch or groove opposite the slot in
the vertical sliding piece, which is then forced upwards by the action of a spring.
The bottom of this vertical sliding piece forms when down a bolt to the metal lining
and its upward movement releases this bolt and with it the hinged case so far as the
front attachments are concerned.
I also construct inside the case devices by which the same upward movement of
the vertical sliding piece releases a detent and sets in motion an alarum movement
upon a bell or gong inside the case.
I also prefer to fix a locking bar, bolt, or other similar device at the back of the
hinged case which can only be released by passengers in the compartment next to
that in which an alarm may arise.
Also inside the opening in the partition between the compartments, and to which
access is only to be had when the hinged case is released, I arrange a knob or
handle which when operated by passengers makes by means of any known electrical
or mechanical connections a signal to the guards of the train.
The action is as follows. In the case of danger in any compartment the passenger
would press back the central stud piece on the apparatus nearest to hand. This
would by means of the bell or gong signal to the passengers in the next compart-
ment at the same time releasing the inner bolt of the hinged case.
The passengers
in the latter compartment by releasing the fastening on the back can swing
open the hinged portion of the apparatus, thus leaving a clear opening between the
two compartments of the carriage. The knob or handle in connection with the
signal to the guards of the train can then be used by passengers in either com-
partment. The apparatus is made to be easily reset after use by guards of the train
or other officials.
I now proceed to particularly describe and ascertain the. said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed reference being had to the accompanying
drawings,

page_text: several parts of my invention."
Figures 3 and 4 Sheet 2 shew in elevation and section to a scale of about half
size the communicator in one of its forms as affixed to the partition of a railway
carriage.
Figures 5 and 6 Sheet 3 shew in elevation and horizontal section, a modified form
of the apparatus.
The same letters of reference apply to corresponding parts throughout the whole
of the figures.
In Figures and 2 A. A. is the communicator as shewn in position in the
partition of a railway carriage. When only one is used to each compartment I
prefer to place it centrally as shewn in full lines. If two are used they may be
placed conveniently as shewn by the dotted lines.
I will now proceed to describe fully this portion of my invention by reference to
the figures in Sheet 2.
A. A. is the outer frame or lining of the opening in the partition attached to the
same by the screws a a. This forms the fixed portion of the apparatus. B. B. is
the hinged case which is shewn in Figure 4 as thrown open on its hinge a².
The barrel part 6 of this case is made conical so as to easily open and shut within
the thickness of the partition of the carriage, and when shut is secured by the lever
fastening a³.
The front of the case B is formed with a hinged flap 62 which can be opened as
shewn in the drawing when required. This flap when closed is secured by a spring
catch operated by the stud which is only accessible when the apparatus
is open.
C is the moveable stud piece sliding on guide cattached to the back of the case and
fitted with retracting spring c. The stud piece is notched as shewn at c³. D is a
The middle
vertical sliding piece supported by suitable guides within the case.
plate is pierced with the slotted opening d for passing the notch c³. The bottom
end is formed into a bolt for engaging with the outer frame A. A. when the
apparatus is closed, and is also fitted with a retracting spring. The top part d
operates the electrical devices afterwards described.
E. is a frame attached by screws or otherwise to the back of the case B and
carries a winding spring with ratchet stop e train of wheels e²e and hammer e³
to ring the alarm bell or gong e. The winding key e is attached and hinged
as shewn to hang flat when not in use. A detent holds the hammer, until
the movable stud piece C is operated.
If danger
So far the operation of the apparatus is as follows. When the case B is shut
within the frame A and secured thereto by the bolt and by the fastening a³,
the only parts exposed as liable to be handled by passengers are on one side
the head of the moveable stud C and on the other the fastening a
should arise in one compartment the stud C is pushed back and the notch c³
allows the piece D to pass when the bolt is withdrawn by the spring . At
the same time the movement of the stud C releases the detent e and sets the
alarum bell or gong going. The case or door B can then be opened by any
passenger in the next compartment by releasing the fastening a³ and thus a
communication is opened between any two contiguous compartments of a railway
carriage.
I now proceed to describe my invention in that part which relates to com-
municating at the same time to the guards of trains.
Referring again to Figure 4, it will be seen that in the segmental space above the
flap when the door B is closed, a stud or button F is mounted upon a guide f
which when raised presses upon the arms ff of the electric wires f³ƒ³. These
are in connection with a battery placed in any convenient position in the guard's van
or other portion of the train and by thus completing the current alarum bells may
be rung either at the engine or in the guards van. Upon starting the danger signal
as above by pressing the stud C and thus releasing the vertical sliding piece D, the

page_text: top do of the latter comes in contact with and raises the stud or button F, and forms
an electrical communication simultaneously.
After the door B' is opened the passengers in either compartment can keep up
the communication by still pressing the stud or button F which is then exposed,
or by closing the apparatus until relief arrives.
In order to indicate to the guards of the train the compartment of the carriage
in which the danger signal arises, I use certain mechanical devices in combination
with my communicator which I will now describe.
As shewn in Figure 1 Sheet 1 a signal plate G of any convenient shape and size
is mounted upon a vertical spindle g just under the roof of the railway carriage and
one, or one on each side of the train, to each partition between two compartments.
The spindle g is fitted with a spiral or other spring by which the plate G is held
open or at right angles to the carriage side when not otherwise operated.
9
A small chain or flexible band or cord of wire or other material g³ connects this
with the following device operated by the communicator.
A sliding piece is fitted inside the case B and curved to fit the sweep of the
barrel of the case, as shewn on Figure 4. This is slotted and held in position by
guide studs g 7. At its inner end is a hole go through which passes the bolt .
Its other end is connected with the said chain or cord g³.
This chain or cord passes through suitable openings with guides or small pulleys
both in the case B and frame A. When the apparatus is set the sliding piece o is
drawn inwards by the finger on the stop y, and is secured by the bolt holding
the signal plate G close to the side of the carriage. In the case of danger, and the
instant the stud C is pressed in, the piece g' with the chain or cord is released and
the signal plate outside projected to draw the attention of the guards.
This outside signal could also by well known means be worked from the electric
wire connections. The wires for connecting the carriages ff Figures 1 and 2
may be coupled in any usual manner or small special couplings may be affixed to
the vacuum brake couplings, as shewn ff and the connection made at same
time.
It is obvious that many variations from the construction of the apparatus as
hitherto described may be made without departing in any way from the main
idea of my invention, and I will now describe one variation, viz. :-that of a
rectangular communicator which may be preferred to the circular communicator
above described..
In Figures 5 and 6 Sheet 3 a rectangular form of communicator is shewn capable
of being opened in either direction and the signal originated from either side of the
partition between two railway carriage compartments. A A is the frame or lining
of the rectangular opening in partition. B is the inner case or door of similar shape
opening upon its hinge a² so as to throw open in either direction. CC are two
central moveable studs operating from either side the two vertical sliding pieces D D.
The clock movement EE for ringing the alarum bell or gong et is the same as in
the previous pattern, except the extension of the frame at e' to carry the end of the
stud guide C. The detent e is worked by either stud C or C. Both the bottom
bolt and the electric button or stud F are operated by either vertical piece D in
the following manner. The ends of these pieces are connected with swivel
pieces HH at top and bottom respectively with jaws and pins. Upon pushing
either central stud the corresponding piece D at once retracts and draws the bolt
and connects the electric cominunication F, but the door or case B cannot be opened
but upon pushing the opposite stud C which acts instead of the lever fastener a
By this device one communicator will serve two compartments. The devices for
operating the outside plate signal G remain practically the same except in being
adapted to the rectangular shape of the case as shewn in Figures 5 and 6 Sheet 3.
I prefer to construct the communicators of sheet or cast brass or other durable
metal with the working parts or bearings of steel and the heads of the moveable
studs C of ivory ebony or other similar material but other variations both of
material and details of construction may be adopted.

page_text: For instance the sliding pieces DD may be made to work horizontally or at any
angle and the central stud C instead of being retracted by the spring C may be
similarly operated by the central part being formed at an angle to the notch C³ so
that when the pieces DD are retracted by the finger on the stop d' the stud is at
the same time reset.
Further instead of the clock-work movement for ringing the alarum bell or gong
it may be operated from the wires ff by well known electrical devices.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The construction and use in the partitions of railway carriages of one or more
small cases or doors B hinged and mounted in suitable openings in the said partitions
so as to shut within about the thickness of the same, on one side of such case or door
is a moveable stud C, which when pressed by passengers in one compartment by
means of devices within the said case or door, rings a bell or goug and at the same
time releases a bolt or other fastening which enables passengers in the next
compartment to open the said case or door B, and thus communicate with the
compartment in which the signal arises substantially as above described.
2. The construction and use of similar means of communication in which the
said cases or doors B can be opened from either side and have studs C Con
both sides for same purpose each with corresponding devices for signalling and the
bolts or fastenings so arranged that by pressing the stud in the next compartment
to that in which the signal arises the cases or doors B are released and communica-
tion opened from either side substantially as above described and shewn in
Figures 5 and 6,
3. The devices Fff and / or equivalent devices in combination with the
foregoing for simultaneously ringing electrical alarums bells in guards vans
substantially as above described.
4. The use also in combination of the devices G and g to g or equivalent devices
either mechanical or electrical for indicating outside the train the compartment in
which a danger signal arises substantially as above described.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1892.
WILLIAM GRIMES.