Improvements in Lock and Block Electric Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lock and Block Electric Apparatus for Railways.
I, EDWARD TYER, of Ashwin Street, Dalston, in the County of London,
Eléctrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus which I combine with the existing lock and
block electric instruments whereby the signalmen in different cabins communicate
with each other. These instruments are usually provided with two plungers, by
pushing one of which the operator can signal that the line is free and by pushing
the other he can signal that a train is in the section. The instrument has also on
its dial small semaphores or other signals, one of which is worked by the distant
signalman showing that the line is free or blocked, and the other of which shews
the operator what signal he is sending. Sometimes, through carelessness, the
wrong plunger may be pushed giving the distant signalman a wrong signal. One
part of my invention relates to means of preventing this which I effect in the
following manner.
By means of a laterally sliding spring bolt I stop the clear signalling plunger,
which cannot be pushed in unless at the same time the signalman moves the lateral
bolt.
The pushing in of this plunger removes a stop from the other plunger which can
now be pushed in signalling line blocked. This action moves a stop which prevents
the clear signalling plunger from being moved a second time until by an electric
current from a distant station or from a rail contact made by a train passing a
distant point, excites an electromagnet which attracts its armature, the stop being
thus withdrawn and the plungers being restored to their normal condition. In
this condition a screen shews the signal "Train clear of section," but when the
other plunger is pushed in a disc comes, in front of the screen shewing "Train in
section."
I also arrange in combination with the ordinary block signalling instrument two
electro magnets each having a polarized armature, the first magnet serves to
actuate a catch piece which locks or unlocks, the armature of the second electro
magnet. This second electro magnet has its coils wound, with two wires.
The two magnets are connected together in series, and also in circuit with the
biock signalling instrument. The armature of the second magnet has an arm
attached which makes..contact with a pin in connection with a local battery and
the electro magnet of a signal lever lock of the kind described 'in 'my Specification
No. 8331 of 1893.
h
"
Whenever a current from a distant station operates the block signalling
instrument so.as to show." Line clear" both of the electro magnets are excited, the
first one actuating the catch piece, and the second the contact arm in circuit with
the lock on the signal lever, unlocking it. The signalman can then lower his
outdoor signal to the clear position, and in so doing he closes the circuit of a local
battery with the second wire of the second electro magnet which then breaks the
contact of the arm attached to the signal lock, and at the same time locks the
armature of the second electromagnet.
I thus provide against the negligence of the distant signalman who, having once
signalled that the line is clear, and received the intimation that a train has in

page_text: consequence been admitted to the section, may omit to put his signalling instrument
in such a condition that he is unable to signal that the line is clear.
The local circuit operates by means of a contact spring brought into action by
the signal lever.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Lock and Block Electric Apparatus for
I, EDWARD TYER, of Ashwin Street, Dalston in the County of London,
Electrical Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to apparatus which I combine with the existing lock and
block electric instruments whereby the signalmen in different cabins communicate
with each other. These instruments are usually provided with two plungers, by
pushing one of which the operator can signal that the line is free and by pushing
the other he can signal that a train is in the section. The instrument has also on
its dial small semaphores or other signals, one of which is worked by the distant
signalman showing that the line is free or blocked, and the other of which shews
the operator what signal he is sending. Sometimes, through carelessness, the
wrong plunger may be pushed giving the distant signalman a wrong signal. One
part of my invention relates to means of preventing this which I effect as I shall
describe referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a front view, the door of the instrument being shewn open.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the lower part of the case and the apparatus therein.
Fig. 3 is a part front view showing the armature in its position when not
attracted.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the locking lever.
By means of a laterally sliding spring bolt A on which is fixed a catch a I stop
the clear signalling plunger C which cannot be pushed in unless at the same time
the signalman moves the lateral bolt by pressing on an external knob B the stem b
of which faces the end of A.
The pushing in of the plunger C by acting on an arm D' pushes back and up a
bar c connecting the two lever arms D D₁ and removes a stop e from the other
plunger E which can now be pushed in signalling line blocked. The face of the
stop e being a rounded slope on which E acts this action of E raises a stop d which
prevents the clear signalling plunger C from being moved a second time, a latch
pin engaging in a hole in an arinature fand holding d up until an electric current
from a distant station or from a rail contact made by a train passing a distant point
excites an electro-magnet F which attracts its armature fallowing the arms DD'
to drop, the stops d and e being thus withdrawn and the plungers being restored to
their normal condition. In this condition a disc G shews the signal "Train clear
of section but when the plunger E is pushed in the bar c being thus farther
raised raises a pin g projecting from the short arm of the lever which carries the
disc G moving the disc away from screen H which shews "Train in section.'
"
"
I also arrange in combination with the ordinary block signalling instrument
electro magnets so arranged as to provide against the negligence of the distaut
signalman who having once signalled that the fine is clear, and received the intima-
tion that a train has in consequence been admitted to the section, may omit to put
his signalling instrument in such a condition that he is unable to signal that the
line is clear.

page_text: Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively side and front elevations (the casing being
removed) of this arrangement of electro magnets. K is an upper electromagnet
having pole pieces between which can vibrate a polarised armature k¹ having a
lever arm forming a catch piece which locks or unlocks the armature of another
lower electro magnet L. This lower electro magnet has its coils wound with two
wires, and its armature is of cylindrical form capable of partially rotating
between the two poles mm of a permanent magnet M and the two poles 17 of the
electro magnet L. On the armature is fixed a lever N one end of which has a
piu n to engage with ³, the other end n¹ is arranged to make a contact with P.
The two magnets are connected together in series, and also in circuit with the
block signalling instrument. When n' makes contact with P it closes the circuit
of a local battery and the electro magnet of a signal lever lock of the kind
described in my Specification No. 8331 of 1893.
.6
,"
Whenever a current from a distant station operates the block signalling
instrument so as to shew Line clear both of the electro magnets K and L are
excited, the one upper armature moves to the left lowering the catch piece k*
and the lower one L moves its armature to make contact at P and thus closes the
circuit of the electric lock on the signal lever, unlocking it. The signalman can
then lower his outdoor signal to the clear position, and in so doing he closes the
circuit of a local battery with the second wire of the lower electro magnet L
which is thus excited by a reverse current aud its armature moves so as to break
the contact at P and at the same time to take such a position that it is locked by 2
the armature of the electromagnet K remains in the position to which it had been
previously moved.
The disc shewing "Train on line "is on arm 12 attached to the armature & so
that when the armature turns bringing n' in contact with P, this disc is turned
It is
aside disclosing the "Line clear" signal on a stationary disc Q behind it.
convenient also to provide a disc T bearing the words "Line closed" which is held
aside by a catch R until the signalman by pressing an external knob S causes
the catch to rise allowing the disc T to fall in front of the "Train on line " disc
against a pin projecting from that disc.
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When the armature l' is again moved
to the right, its pin moves the disc T to the position shewn in Fig. 6 in which
position it is held by the catch R. The whole apparatus is enclosed in a casing
indicated by the dotted lines, this casing having a glazed aperture through which
the signals on the disc and screen are visible.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In combination with the two plungers of lock and
instruments, a laterally sliding spring bolt, a rocking bar
stops for the plungers, an electro magnet and armature,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
block electric signalling
having on its lever arms
arranged and operating
2. In combination with the ordinary block signalling instruments two electro
magnets with their polarised armatures, the one operating a catch holding the
other, which when released makes contact for a local circuit operating the outdoor
signal lock, and which by the lowering of the outdoor signal is caused to turn back
to the position where it is caught, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Di tuh day of August 1895
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for Applicant.