Improvements in and relating to Railway Signalling Apparatus for Automatically Replacing the Arm to Danger, and for other purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1892-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Railway Signalling Apparatus for
Automatically Replacing the Arm to Danger, and for other
purposes.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT SYKES Senior, of 9 Vernon Road, High Street,
Clapham in the County of Surrey, Telegraph Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows
My invention relates to improvements by which the passage of a train may
automatically replace to the danger attitude a signal which has previously been
given authorizing its movement. For such signals, such as advance signals
especially, it is desirable in view of signalmen frequently leaving such signals
normally off, that the passage of a train should replace them to danger after having
gone out of the section. Although the train itself replaced them to danger, yet.
by what is known in the trade as "back stroke locking" I force the signalman to
replace his lever operating such advance signal before he can lower signals
immediately in the rear a second time for the passage of trains.
The further uses of my apparatus would apply to cases, for example, where a
stop signal and a distant signal would be on the same post, the stop signal
controlling the distant signal. In this case I abolish what is usually termed the
co-acting apparatus and I arrange an ordinary balance lever upon the post with a
connection from the said lever to the two arms, the stop and distant, and
mechanically the two arms work simultaneously.
It is further applicable to any set or sets of arms which apply to the same pair
of metals and more than one of which can never be at "safety" at the same time.
For instance, suppose one line was the means through which twelve bays at a
terminal station were entered, my apparatus would apply that mechanically all the
twelve arms would work simultaneously if the balance lever working such arms
was raised, but as more than one can never be used at the same time my apparatus
prevents the remaining eleven from being operated after the proper one has been
lowered.
It will be observed that while saving the connections the levers themselves may
also be saved, as electric connection may be made by the movement of the point
levers in the signal box so that the operation of the one signal lever shall lower
either one or other according to the movement of the point levers and the electrical
release made by such lever.
Referring again to the case where a stop and distant signal are on the same
post, the stop signal applying to the near cabin and the distant signal to the far
cabin. The distance of wire to the stop signal is usually short, approximately
about 200 yards, and that is not a difficult amount of wire to compensate for; but
in the case of the distant signal the usual distance being 800 yards the extremes
of weather make it necessary for compensation. With my invention I abolish the
wire for operating this distant signal, that is to say, that the far man whose distant
signal is upon the post upon which the stop signal controls it, has no signal wire
for operating such signal but has an electric line wire run to my apparatus upon
the post which is fitted in the upright rod operating the two signals. It will be
seen that the necessity for compensation for distant signals is completely obviated
as the signal is practically slotted mechanically and electrically combined.
The action of my invention is as follows:-
Assuming the case hereinbefore referred to, of a stop and distant signal on the
ame post, with an ordinary single balance lever, I arrange that in the upright rod
rom the balance lever to the distant and stop signal arms my apparatus is inserted.

page_text: The shape preferably is circular and the rod from the balance lever into the lower
part of my apparatus, is flattened and loose and works in a sleeve and it is bevelled
at its upper end. Working immediately above the bevelled end of this rod is
centred a click and above the click is centred a cam frame with a roller on its
lower end, the cam being at the right side. At the end of the click is provided a
pin or rod working through a suitable guide. To the left of such pin is fixed an
electro magnet, an armature is centred above and worked by the electro maguet
and a link from the top of the armature is connected to a cross bar. At the right
hand end of the cross bar is provided a weighted lever in which a friction roller is
inserted some short distance from the fulcrum.
To the upper end of the weighted lever is inserted a pin and the action of the
cross bar normally holds the weight in its normal position through the pin
projection. Suitable springs are provided from the cross bar to the armature and
from the casing to the cam frame. The rod from the top of my apparatus to the
arms is rigidly fixed to my apparatus.
The apparatus can be modified to suit special requirements, for instance a certain
amount of the interior of the apparatus can be dispensed with and the magnet
worked direct upon the roller doing away with the cross bar and weighted lever, or
an electro-magnet may be fixed at the side working an armature, a short connection
being arranged from the end of the armature terminating in a slot operating about
a pin attached to an L lever the said Llever being centred to a permanent centre
in the box. The other arm of the lever is normally in a central position on the
side of the roller and the whole is arranged that the arm holds the roller
immediately underneath the upright rod from the lever. Normally when no
current is passing the movement of the balance lever upward moves the whole
box and the arm is deflected. A current through the electro-magnet is sufficient
to attract the armature and move the lever beyond the centre of the said roller.
When an upward movement of the balance lever now takes place the roller is
thrust further to the right and no action takes place on the arm.
A further modification would be an electro-magnet fitted at the side in a box
which when the current is on would permanently hold the roller and when the
whole is operated the balance lever moving upward and the upright rod with it
would deflect the arm. When the current is not passing through the electro-
magnet then the upright rod from the balance lever acting through its bevel would
move the roller to the side and there would be no deflection of the arm to the
safety attitude.
Dated thin 02nd dow of March 1900
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, London, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Railway Signalling Apparatus for
Automatically Replacing the Arm to Danger, and for other
purposes.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT SYKES, Senior, of 9 Vernon Road, High Street,
Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Telegraph 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 improvements by which the passage of a train may
automatically replace to the "danger" attitude a signal which bas previously been 5
given authorizing its movement. For such signals, such as advance signals
especially, it is desirable in view of signalmen frequently leaving such signals
normally off, that the passage of a train should replace them to danger after

page_text: having gone out of the section. Although the train itself replaced them to
"danger," yet by what is known in the trade as "back stroke locking" I force
the signalman to replace his lever operating such advance signal before he can
lower signals immediately in the rear a second time for the passage of trains.
The further uses of my apparatus would apply to cases, for example, where a
stop signal and a distant signal would be on the same post, the stop signal
controlling the distant signal. In this case I abolish what is usually termed the
co-acting apparatus and I arrange an ordinary balance lever upon the post with
connections from the said lever to the two arms, the stop and distant, and
mechanically the two arms work simultaneously.
It is further applicable to any set or sets of arms which apply to the same pair
of metals and more than one of which can never be at "safety" at the same time.
For instance, suppose one line was the means through which twelve bays at a
terminal station were entered, my apparatus would apply that mechanically all the
twelve arins would work simultaneously if the balance lever working such arms
was raised, but as more than one can never be used at the same time my apparatus
prevents the remaining eleven from being operated after the proper one has been
lowered.
It will be observed that while saving the connections, the levers themselves may
also be saved, as electric connection may be made by the movement of the point
levers in the signal box so that the operation of the one signal lever shall lower
either one or other according to the movement of the point levers and the electrical
release made by such lever.
Referring again to the case where a stop and distant signal are on the same post,
the stop signal applying to the near cabin and the distant signal to the far cabin.
The distance of wire to the stop signal is usually short, approximately about
200 yards, and that is not a difficult amount of wire to compensate for, but in the
case of the distant signal the usual distance being 800 yards the extremes of weather
make it necessary for compensation. With my invention I abolish the wire for
operating this distant signal, that is to say, that the far man whose distant signal is
upon the post upon which the stop signal controls it, has no signal wire for operating
such signal but has an electric line wire run to my apparatus upon the post which
is fitted in the upright rod operating the two signals. It will be seen that the
necessity for compensation for distant signals is completely obviated as the signal
is practically slotted mechanically and electrically combined.
In order that my invention may be better understood and more readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the drawing hereunto annexed. The same
numbers refer to the same parts or substitutes therefor in the several figures.
Figure 1 illustrates an enlarged view of my apparatus with the cover removed,
the apparatus being in the normal position.
Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged view of my apparatus in its worked position,
that is to say, after the treadle has been depressed by the train.
Figure 3 illustrates a signal post showing the position in which my apparatus is
fixed in the upright rod.
Figure 4 illustrates an alternative method of effecting my invention.
Figure 5 shows another alternative method of effecting my invention.
1 is the signal arm, 2 is that portion of the upright rod connected from the arm
to the top of my apparatus, 3 is my apparatus, 4 is the lower portion of the
upright rod connected to the balance lever 5, 6 is an electro-magnet, 7 the
armature, 8 a spring connected from the end of the armature to the support 9,
10 is a downward link through which the end of the armature projects, 11 is a
cross bar centred to the supporting piece 9, 12 is a weighted lever in the top of
which there is cut a recess 13 into which recess the end 14 of the cross bar 11
engages, and normally holds the weighted lever in the position shown in Figure 1.
15 is a friction roller, 16 is a click centred to the casting, 18 is the bevel or tooth
of the said click, 19 is an upright rod centred to the said click and operated through
a guide 20, 21 is a lever or cam frame, on the lower end of the said lever 21 is

page_text: fixed the roller 22, a projection 23 is formed on the under side of the lever engaging
normally with the projection 18 upon the click 16, a projection 24 is made on the
side of the cam frame or lever, a spring 25 connects the said projection 24 with the
click 16, a pin 26 insulated with ebonite or other suitable material projects through
the casting and operates at the back as shown in Figure 3, dotted position, with a
spring fixed upon the post the said spring being insulated in the proper manner.
A wire from the said pin proceeds through the battery to the treadle fixed in front
of the signal or at any suitable spot. 27 is the wire from the electro-magnet which
is fixed to the case, and 28 is the wire from the centre of the pin 26. The circuit
is complete when the treadle is depressed; the battery operates through the pin 26
when contact is made with the spring 29 Figure 3.
Figure 4 shows a different shaped armature, the catch or projection 31 operating
with the projection 32 upon the lever 33. A spring 34 connects the arm 31 of the
armature to the electro-magnet 35.
In Figure 5 the roller 38 on the lever 36 acts itself as the armature and the
current is normally on.
The action of my invention is as follows:-In the normal condition the lever set
apart in the signal box to operate the signal arm, would if operated lower the said
signal through my apparatus rising and falling, forming as it were part of the
upright connection to the arm, it will be seen on reference to Figure 1 that
the lever or cam frame 21 is engaged by means of its projection 23 with the
projection 18 upon the click 16, and that the upper part of the upright rod 4
pressing against the click the whole thing moves upward and if no electrical
contact is made with the treadle it would move down in the same position, that is
to say it would not be disconnected. When, however, the arm is deflected and not
put to "danger" again either through negligence or any other cause, and the train
depresses the treadle, a current is sent through the electro-magnet 6 which attracts
the armature 7, expands the spring 8, pulls downward the downright piece 10 and
raises the end 14 of the cross bar 11; by that action the weighted lever 12 is
operated and instantaneously drops down on to the top of the upright piece 19, and
the click 16 is consequently depressed sufficient to free the lever or cam frame 21,
and the arm being forced to "danger" by its weight (spectacle or otherwise)
forces down the upright rod 2, the apparatus itself therefore is forced downward
and the bevelled top part of the upright rod 4 acting upon the roller 22 the said
roller is forced aside into the position illustrated in Figure 2, and at the same time
the projection 24 on the cam frame 21 forces the weighted lever 12 back again
by means of the roller 15. The arm is now at "danger" although the lever in the
signal box operating the said arm is in its worked position. Upon the signalman
now placing his lever to the normal position he moves down that portion of the
downright rod numbered 4 and the spring 25 forces back the roller to its normal
position and engages the lever or cam franie 21 again with the click 16. The
apparatus is then in its normal condition ready for the signalman to operate
the arm.
In Figure 4 the action is similar. When the treadle is operated and the current
is sent through the electro-magnet 35 the armature 30 is attracted, the spring 34 is
expanded and the end 31 of the armature acting as a click is moved out of gear
with the projection 32 upon the lever 33, consequently the arm in going to
danger" forces down the upright rod 2 and the apparatus 3 as a whole is moved
down, also the roller is thrust out of its position by the upper bevelled portion of
the upright rod 4. The return motion is similar to that described with reference
to Figures 1 and 2.
66
In Figure 5 the action of the parts is similar. The roller 38 is normally held
as an armature by the electro-magnet 37 and when the signal is deflected the whole
apparatus moves up similar to that described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 4.
Iininediately the treadle is depressed contact is broken and the arm rising to
danger" and forcing down the upright rod 2, the apparatus is moved down also
and the roller is thrust out of its position similar to that previously described.
"i

page_text: With reference to the case of a stop and distant signal on the same post with an
ordinary single balance lever, I arrange that in the upright rod from the balance
lever to the distant arm my apparatus is inserted. Of course the usual separate
rod connection runs from the same balance lever to the stop signal arm and there
is only one mechanical connection between the balance lever and the signal box to
which the stop signal is connected. An electric wire is connected from the signal
box to which the distant signal refers to the apparatus inserted in the rod operating
the distant signal arm on the post, and it is arranged that the current is normally
on in Figures 1, 2 and 4, so that unless the distant signalman takes off his current
and makes connection between the click and the lever or cam frame, the operation
of the stop signal would not operate the distant signal, the roller and cam being
thrust aside exactly as if the train had depressed the treadle in the description
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 2.
Of course with reference to Figure 5 the current is normally on, and in that case
if the signalman in the box to which the distant signal refers did not wish to give
authority for the distant signal to be operated, he would simply press a button, or
plunge, or perform some other movement which would break the contact and allow
the roller 38 to be thrust aside, the distant signal in that case not being deflected.
If the distant signal is required to be operated, the permission of the distant
signalman must first be given and he must arrange accordingly.
In the illustrations shown an electro-magnet is arranged, but it is obvious that if
desirable a permanent magnet might be provided as a substitute for the electro-
magnet surrounded in the usual way by wire, and then the roller would be normally
held as an armature as in Figure 5. A current sent through would counteract or
nullify the permanent magnet, free the roller 38 and allow the arm to go to
danger," or prevent it from being operated in the case of a distant signal. It is
therefore to be understood that I do not debar myself from substituting permanent
magnets for electro-magnets, and arranging the details as is obvious accordingly.
I am aware that various inventions have been devised both for operating signal
arms electrically, and in consequence replacing them electrically, I am also aware
that attempts have been tried before purporting to the replacing of any arm to the
'danger" attitude upon the passage of a train or vehicle, I therefore do not claim
broadly the principle involved.
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 railway signalling, apparatus for replacing the arm to the "danger
position in the passing of a train or vehicle over a treadle, substantially as
described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In railway signalling, arrangements whereby a signalman electrically controls
the operation of a signal arm, substantially as described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. In railway signalling, the combination of apparatus substantially as described
for the purposes specified and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1892.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
70 & 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, London, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
70 & 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, London, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.