An Improved Railway Signal.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Railway Signal.
I, CHARLES ARNDT FINLEY, of Holton, in the County of Jackson, and State of
Kansas, United States of America, Farmer, 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 :-
This my invention relates to an improvement in railway signals; and it consists in
the combination of a suitable number of bells mounted over or alongside of the track
upon suitable supports, and connected to certain levers, and the wires which are
connected to the levers, and operated by the locomotive as will be more fully described
hereinafter.
The object of my invention is to mount large bells over the track at suitable
distances apart, and which bells are rung at certain points along the track by the
passage of the locomotive so as to give notice to trains approaching each other, and
thus give the engineers time to stop their trains before a collision occurs.
I now proceed to describe my said invention, reference been had to the accom-
panying drawings and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon, like
letters referring to similar parts throughout.
Fig. 1. is an elevation of my improved signal, showing it in operation, and Fig. 2.
is a plan thereof.
In the drawings, A represents the bell, secured to a rod C, which is journalled in
the upper ends of posts B, placed on opposite sides of the track. The rod C, is
cranked at each end as shown at D. Suitable right-angled levers E, are pivoted to
each post in such a position that the arms F come into contact with the cranked
portions D of the rod C. The other arms G, are secured to rods or wires H having
their lower ends attached to right-angled levers I, one of which is pivoted to
each post.
The bell signals, described above, are placed at distances of preferably one mile, or one
half mile between them along the track, and are connected by wires, rods or the like, Q
one end of which is attached to the levers I, at J-to levers K mounted on shafts, L.
The shafts L are mounted in suitable brackets M. Upwardly projecting levers N are
mounted on the shafts L, and have downwardly extending arms, which carry
weights O adapted to swing in a cavity P, made in the centre of the track for the
purpose. The wires, rods or the like Q, are preferably supported upon pulleys R
secured to short posts S, and are kept taut by the weights O. At the points T the
wires or rods Q diverge, but consist of a single strand, or rod for the rest of their
length. Each diverging end of the wire or rod is secured to one arm of each
lever K.
The operation of this my invention is as follows:-When a train advances in either
direction the pilot of the engine comes into contact with either one of the levers N
and pushing it forward draws the wires, rods or the like Q and thus operate the levers
upon the posts B and ring the bell, in advance of the locomotive at any regulated
distance to alarm the engineer on the approaching train, and then after the locomotive
has passed the bell a regulated distance it again rings the same bell, so as to give
notice to the engineer of a train which may be following that another train is in
advance.
As will be seen, the parts which constitute my signal are few, simple, and are
operated entirely by the passage of the locomotive, and thus nothing is left to the
memory or care of the engineer.

page_text: 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 :-
An improved railway signal consisting of a bell supported by a rod or bar carried by
two posts on opposite sides of the track, a system of levers arranged upon the posts,
levers mounted upon shafts extending across the track, and having a lever at one end,
and connecting-wires running over pulleys secured to supporting posts arranged
along each side of the line, all substantially as and for the purposes herein before set
forth and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 4th day of January 1890.
CHARLES ARNDT FINLEY.
By his Agents,
Horn & Son.