Improvements in Railway Signal Lamps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1893—Accepted, 20th May, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Signal Lamps.
I, ARTHUR GEORGE EVANS of 116, Palace Chambers, Bridge Street,
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil 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 has reference to improvements in railway signal lamps and consists
in affording facilities whereby the attendant can clean the lens of the lamp and also
the side of the spectacle next the lens. At the present time if the spectacle is
placed a sufficient distance from the hood surrounding the lens for the convenient
insertion of the hand for the purpose of cleaning the spectacle, it offers the great
disadvantage that when a signal is at "danger" a driver on an engine standing near
the signal post may see the light from the lamp between the spectacle and the lens,
which shows white, and take that as an “all right” signal, whereas the arm might
be at "danger" and the spectacle at "danger "also. This is a serious objection.
If the spectacle is fixed quite near to the hood surrounding the lens then the
hand cannot be inserted for the purposes of cleaning. The latter is the more
common form of fixing the spectacle, and consequently the lenses are seldom
cleaned and the side of the spectacle nearest the lens is also left in a dirty
condition.
To obviate these difficulties I arrange that, firstly, a piece of the hood on the
upper side is taken completely away, as in Figure 1 of the drawings annexed, so
that the hand may be inserted for the purposes of cleaning the lens and spectacle,
and the spectacle is arranged if desirable right up close to the hood surrounding
the lens. The second form is that the upper portion of the hood is arranged with
a hinge and catch so that it may be moved out of the way and the hand can be
inserted for the purposes of cleaning, as in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings
annexed. The third method, as in Figures 7, 8 and 9, is that a portion of the hood
is hinged and can be moved out of the way, the same as in Figures 4 to 6, but it
falls by gravitation to its normal position, being prevented from opening right back
by the projecting portion of the lamp.
In order that my said invention may be better understood and more readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 illustrates my invention with the piece completely cut away and the
spectacle in position.
Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan on top of Figure 1.
Figure 4 illustrates my invention with the piece hinged and a catch provided.
The spectacle in this figure is as in Figure 1, close up to the hood.
Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a plan on top of Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a view of the lamp with my third method, hinged and falling by
gravitation.
1
Figure 8 is a side view of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a plan on top of Figure 7.
The same letters refer to the same parts or substitutes therefor in the several
figures of the drawings
In Figures 1, 2 and 3, a is a signal lamp, b is the hood surrounding the lens of
the said lamp, c is the cut away portion of the said hood, for the insertion of the
hand for the purposes of cleaning the lens and spectacle. In Figures 4, 5 and 6, is
shown my arrangement with the cut away portion d of the hood hinged at e and
fitted with a catch for holding the same in its normal position. Figures 7, 8 and 9
TD 031

page_text: illustrate a similar arrangement to that shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, but in lieu of
the catch (Figs. 4, 5 and.6), it is weighted at g so that it always returns to its
Dormal position.
It is obvious of course that the position of the piece of the hood arranged for the
purposes of cleaning the lens and spectacle may be altered to suit any special
requirements, and it may be weighted, more than its normal weight, to fall by
gravitation, or any convenient form of fastening may be used.
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 signal lamps, the construction of the hood surrounding the lens for
the purposes specified, substantially as described, for the purposes specified and as
illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 in the drawings.
2. In railway signal lamps, the construction of the hood surrounding the lens for
the purposes specified substantially as described for the purposes specified and as
illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 of the drawings annexed.
3. In railway signal lamps, the construction of the hood surrounding the lens for
the purposes specified substantially as described for the purposes specified and as
illustrated in Figures 7 to 9 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1893.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
70 & 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, S. W., London,
A gentfor the said Applicant.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
70 & 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W., London,
A gentfor the said Applicant.