Year: 1886

page_text: I BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of
23 Southampton Buildings in the county of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of said invention, a communication to me from abroad by
Joanny Guetton of Trigny (Rhône) in the Republic of France, Gentleman, to be as
follows:-
This apparatus is composed of two hollow discs, each of which is formed of two
circular planes of glass or other transparent material, held at a given distance apart
from each other by a ring of metal or other material.
These discs are placed one above the other in a vertical plane and are fixed to a
common axis, perpendicular to this plane and passing through the middle of the
line which joins the centres of the two discs.
It therefore results that as the combined apparatus is capable of turning around
this axis, each of the discs can in its turn, occupy the upper position whilst the
other will occupy the lower.
The interior capacities of the discs are in communication by a tube and one of
them is filled with a colored material such as sand or liquid capable of flowing
regularly and in a given time from one to the other disc.
This apparatus is placed upon a post or column like existing signals and discs.
Along the line is placed a lever which is worked by a roller fixed to the locomotive
or to a carriage or van and which by the aid of suitable connections or mechanism
transmits its motion to the discs in such manner as to cause them to effect a
semi-revolution each time that is to say to reverse the respective position of
each disc.
Having explained the construction of the apparatus I will now explain the mode
of operation of the same. We will suppose that it required to protect during ten
minutes all the trains passing on a line, the apparatuses placed along this line will
be regulated, so that the flowing of the sand or other material from one disc to the
other will occupy ten minutes. The passage of each train causing the discs to
change their position, the full disc is raised which indicates that the line is closed

page_text: but at the same time the flow of the sand or other material into the lower disc
commences and at the end of ten minutes the upper disc being empty announces
that the line is open.
This method does not require any connection between the discs, and protects each
train during a given time previously determined.
•
These apparatuses can also be put into electric communication with each other,
in order that the working of one of them may transmit to any one of them either
in advance or in the rear a determined signal.
For this purpose there will be placed in the tube of communication between the
discs, a valve furnished with two openings, the one regulated for a slow flow
calculated for the duration of protection of the train, the other for a rapid and
almost instantaneous flow.
This valve is put into operation by an electric current determined by the
movement of one of the other discs.
In this manner the train will be protected as by the preceding method, by
passing in front of each apparatus, but at the same time, the motion of this
apparatus being communicated to the valve of that placed at one, two or three
distances behind it, this latter will be instantaneously emptied and will indicate
that the line is clear.
The above examples will sufficiently indicate the nature of the present
invention.

page_text: Improvements in Railway Signalling Apparatus.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Joanny Guelton, of Frigny in the Republic of France)
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, and accompanying drawings (that is
to say):
1
This invention relates to apparatus to be used for the purpose of automatically
signalling on Railways, in place of the different kinds of discs, semaphores, and
block systems, heretofore ordinarily used for the purpose of blocking or opening
the lines.
The accompanying drawings are in illustration of the invention :-
The apparatus consists essentially of two receivers a and c each formed by the
space left between two circular or other plates of glass or other transparent material,
held in metal frames (sheet 2).
These receivers are placed one above the other in the same vertical plane, and
communicate by a tube b, b, through the piece d, d, which connects them. At the
centre of the piece d, d, is fixed a horizontal axis F round which the whole can
turn. This axis is carried by a cast iron column (Sheet 1) which also carries the
whole of the apparatus. It is pierced, a little below the axis with an opening
through which is directed the light from a lamp placed behind and fixed to a vertical
support E.
One of the receivers is filled with a substance, coloured or uncoloured, which can
easily pass from one to the other through the communicating tube b; b, and it will:
be seen therefore that by turning the apparatus half, round at sufficient intervals
of time each receiver will be filled and emptied alternately, according to its position
above or below..
This intermittent revolving movement is given to the apparatus by the passage
of the trains upon the line, by means of the mechanism shewn in sheets 1 and 2.
For this purpose the locomotives are provided with a roller or special wheel M which
operates as it passes the projection K. forming part of the lever J, which lifts a
balance weight I connected with a pall h itself acting upon a ratchet R fixed upon
the same axis as the wheel G, the movement of which is transmitted by a pitch
chain of the ordinary kind to the apparatus above.
.
:
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-Supposing that a train is leaving
a station, then as it passes the first apparatus upon the line it lowers the pro-
jection K and raises the balance weight I by means of the lever J. The pall his
moved back over the ratchet without moving the latter, but as soon as the pro-
jection K is released,. the balance weight I falls back moving with it the ratchet R.
and the chain wheel, so as to give a half revolution to the apparatus and invert the
position of the receivers. The opaque substance contained in the receiver thus
turned uppermost will show that the line is blocked. The opaque substance will
then flow down to the lower receiver through the tube b, b, the size of which is so
proportioned that the flow lasts for ten minutes or other determined space of time,

page_text: during which the line remains blocked. During this time the lower receiver is
covered by the plate P which allows the light of the lamp to show through an
opening covered with coloured glass.
•
Figure 2 shews that the transparent plates which form the receivers are not
parallel but are brought closer together towards the axis of the apparatus, the object
being to keep a larger surface of the disc covered during the principal part of the
determined interval of time, a large part of the opaque substance flowing down
without its level descending in the same proportion.
The disc may remain covered during nearly the entire determined interval of
time when the substance is flowing, by limiting the capacity of the reservoir to-
say a tenth of the quantity of the flowing substance, the other ninetenths
remaining in a reservoir N shewn in dotted lines above the receiver. If therefore
the flow is arranged to take ten minutes, the receiver will remain entirely full for
nine minutes and will only be gradually emptied during the last minute.
The apparatus may be made to operate on what is known as the block system,
by means of electricity. For this purpose there is added to the apparatus (sheet 2)
a small valve e at the middle of the tube b, b, which valve remains ordinarily closed,
but is opened at the requisite time by means of an electro magnet having a current
of electricity sent through it. For instance, supposing that a train is leaving a
station upon a line provided with this improved signalling apparatus, upon
passing-the first it will block the line behind it and will signal automatically to the
next station, so that at each station a record can be taken upon a table, numbered
in accordance with the signalling apparatus, of the position which it occupies on
the line. In the meantime the apparatus which is passed will continue to indicate
that the line is blocked, as the communication between its receivers will remain
closed by the valve..
When the train has reached the second signal, it will again automatically block
the line behind it, but when it passes the third it will not only block the additional
liue behind it but will simultaneously send a current of electricity to the first
signal which will open the valve and allow the substance to flow down the tube
as already described and leave the line behind such signal clear. In the same
way, on arriving at the fourth signal it will open the second, and so on
successively.
A train stopped in a station for shunting or other purpose, will remain blocked
the whole of the time occupied and will only open the line behind it after it has
started; or in exceptional cases the line may be opened by a special apparatus in
each station under the charge of the station master.
The signalling apparatus just described may operate in front of the train as well
as behind it, so that it can be used with advantage on single lines. In such case,
in order that the signal may be transmitted in advance of the train, the normal
position of the two receivers will be reversed, that is to say in the absence of any
signal the upper receiver will remain full, the flow from it being prevented by the
valve. When the train gives notice of its passing one of the preceding signals, the
latter will open the valve and the substance will flow.
Where there may be danger of any interruption to the electric current, it may
be easily replaced by compressed air acting through a pipe of small diameter. At
the moment when a train passes, the apparatus which it operates sets in motion a
small air compressor which forces into the pipe a quantity of air sufficient to open
the valve between the receivers of the signal which is to be shewn.
This method of apparatus may be employed either alone, or. together with the
electric current first described, so as to obtain additional security.
The improved automatic signalling apparatus may be modified and added to more
or less, so that it may be applicable to all circumstances under which such signalling
upon railways is required; and as it requires no constant attendance it may be
introduced and worked at little cost in all positions where advisable, or it may be
worked by the officials at the stations instead of the ordinary discs, semaphores, and.
the like devices,

page_text: The apparatus may be arranged to open the line automatically either behind or
in advance of a train at any distance thought necessary; and it may be used to
indicate upon tables at the stations the precise position of any train whether
running or standing.
Where it is used upon a line entirely, it simplifies the whole system of signals.
Any suitable substance may be used to flow from one receiver to the other as
described. One which effectively answers the purpose consists of a sand or powder
made of eggshells dried by heat, powdered, sifted, and tinted with any colour.
This powder possesses the advantages that it does not scratch the vessel which
contains it, undergoes no alteration whatever the temperature and is readily
coloured with any desired colour.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. In railway signalling apparatus, the two receivers communicating together
directly or indirectly, and arranged and operating substantially, in the manner and
for the purpose described and shewn.
2. In combination with the two receivers so arranged and operating, the valve
operated by electricity or otherwise, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose described and shewn,