IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF WORKING RAILWAY BREAKS AND COMMUNICATING SIGNALS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Chalmers, of the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MODE OR METHOD OF WORKING RAILWAY BREAKS AND COMMUNICATING
SIGNALS."
Sealed the 30th March 1855, and dated the 4th October 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Chalmers at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th October 1854.
I, DAVID CHALMERS, of the City of Manchester,-in-the County of Lancaster,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF WORKING RAILWAY BREAKS AND COMMUNICATING
SIGNALS" to be as follows:-
I fix a lever with a weight at the end of it to the centre shaft of the break,
which lever may be of any convenient length, say, the extent of the carriage,
and the size of the weight may be regulated according to the pressure or power
required. To work the said lever and weight, I fix a pully in any convenient
position under the carriage, and attach a chain, each end of which is fastened
to the lever, and thus forms a kind of endless chain, so that as the pully is
turned, the lever and weight is raised or lowered, as required. In order to give
the person in charge of the breaks the means of turning the said pully, I fix

page_text: a shaft with one or more universal joints longitudinally under the carriage;
extending to each end thereof, and working into a vertical shaft at the end or
side of the carriage by means of bevil wheels or similar contrivances. This
vertical rod may extend to the top-of-the carriage, or may terminate at any
convenient position for the person in charge to work it, which he does by
turning a wheel, which gives a revolving motion to this vertical shaft, and by
means of the bevil wheels or other power aforesaid, gives also a revolving
motion to the longitudinal shaft under the carriage; and by means of other
bevil wheels, motion is given to the aforesaid pully to raise or lower the lever
and weight, as already described, in order to attach or detach the breaks to the
wheels, as required. To work a number of these breaks at the same time, I
extend the said longitudinal shafts a little beyond each end of the carriages,
and support them by hanging brackets; I connect the longitudinal shafts of
each carriage by sliding socket joints, so that the said joints will slide in and
out with the buffer rods; this connection gives the person in charge of the
breaks power to work any reasonable number that may be required. In order
to communicate signals between the guard and engine driver, or from one part
of the train to another, I fix along the top of each carriage a tube made of
india-rubber, gutta percha, or any flexible material, and connect the same by a
simple socket joint, which, as soon as inserted in its place, is tightened by
means of a lever and catch to keep it air-tight, thus forming a continuous and
perfect speaking tube, by which the guard can communicate with the engine
driver, and vice versa, in oral language, which must be the most perfect and
safest of all signals. These my improvements will be clearly understood by
reference to the accompanying outline Drawing, which shews the general
principle of my Invention, but not all the details thereof.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Chalmers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd April 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
CHALMERS, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said David Chalmers, Her special licence that I, the said David
Chalmers, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said David Chalmers, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF WORKING RAILWAY BREAKS AND
COMMUNICATING SIGNALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
David Chalmers, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Chalmers, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
My Invention relates to an improved mode or method of working or applying
breaks to railway and other carriages, to stop or retard their progress when
necessary, and also to an improved mode or method of communicating signals
between the guard and engine driver, or from one part of a train to another;
and consists of attaching a lever and weight to the centre shaft of the break,
which are worked by an endless chain and pully, the said chain and pully
operating upon the break blocks by means of a shaft, with one or more universal
joints placed longitudinally under the carriage, extending to each end thereof,
and communicating with a vertical shaft at the end or side of the carriage by
means of bevil wheels or similar contrivances. This vertical rod or shaft may
extend to the top of the carriage, or may terminate at any convenient position,
and the person in charge of the breaks gives a revolving motion both to it and
to the longitudinal shaft by turning a wheel, thus acting upon the pully and
chain for the purpose of raising or lowering the lever and weight, to attach or
detach the breaks to the wheels, as may be required. To work a number of
these breaks at the same time, I extend the said longitudinal shafts a little
beyond each end of the carriages, and connect them by sliding socket joints or
bell-mouth couplings, so that the said joints or couplings will slide in and out.
with the buffer rods; this mode of connection gives the person in charge of the.
breaks the power of working any reasonable number of them that may be

page_text: required. In order to communicate signals between the guard and engine
driver, or from one part of a train to another, I fix along the top, bottom, or
side of each carriage a tube made of india-rubber, gutta percha, iron, brass, or
other metal or material, and connect the same by a simple socket or slip joint;
which, as soon as it is inserted in its place, is tightened by means of a thumb
screw or a lever and catch, to keep it air-tight, thus forming a continuous and
perfect speaking tube, by which the guard can communicate with the engine
driver, and vice versa, or, if desirable, a connected branch tube may be placed
in each carriage, to give the passengers the power of communicating with the
guard or engine driver. These my said improvements will be clearly under-
stood by reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which the
same letters of reference are used to represent the same parts in each of
the Figures.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of two carriages, shewing my said improve-
ments; and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. a represents the lever and weight
attached to the centre shaft of the break b, (the size of the said weight may
be regulated to the pressure or power required); c, the pully; d, the endless
chain, each end of which is attached to the lever, so that as the pully is
turned, the lever and weight is raised or lowered, as required; e, the longitu-
dinal shaft; f, the universal joints; g, the vertical shaft, working into the said
longitudinal shaft by the bevil wheels ; i, a wheel, by turning which a
revolving motion is given both to the vertical and longitudinal shaft, and thus
tum the pully and chain to raise or lower the lever and weight, as required,
to attach or detach the breaks; are hanging brackets at the ends of the
carriages to support the projecting longitudinal shaft; 1, the sliding socket
joints or couplings; m, springs to keep the said couplings with bell-mouths at
a proper height to be coupled with the next carriage; n, the signal tube; o,
the socket or slip joint to connect the said signal tubes of each carriage
together, which are tightened by means of a thumb screw or lever and catch;
p, a branch tube, which may be placed in each carriage to allow the passengers
to communicate with the guard or engine driver when necessary.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said Invention,
I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the exact
details herein set forth, as such may be varied or modified without departing
from the principle thereof. But I claim as my Invention, and which to the
best of my knowledge and belief has not been hitherto used within this realm,
the mode or method of applying and working breaks to the wlieels of railway
and other carriages, and of forming or arranging a signal or mode of com-
munication from guard to engine driver, or from the passengers to the guard

page_text: or engine driver, as herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Chalmers, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of March, One thousand eight:
hundred and fifty-five.
DAVID CHALMERS. (L.s.)
Sigued, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named David Chalmers, in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.