IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALLING APPARATUS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Cariss, of the City of York, in the County of York,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALLING
APPARATUS."
Sealed the 4th April 1876, and dated the 2nd February 1876.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Cariss at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd February 1870.
JOHN CARISS, of the City of York, in the County of York, Engineer. "IMPROVE
MENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALLING APPARATUS."
This Invention, which relates to certain improvements in railway signalling
apparatus, has for its object the prevention of the possibility of the arms of sema-
phore signals sticking or being impeded in their free movement, such as would be
caused through or by an accumulation of snow or other impediment.
To attain this object this Invention comprises the combination of certain improve-
ments in the method of working the said signal arms and various combinations
of means employed to effect such improved working.
The improvements in the method of working consist in causing the signals to be
pulled from the signal cabin to "danger" instead of the present method of causing
them to be pulled to "all right," and still automatically to cause them to fly to
danger" should the wire communicating from the signal cabin break.
These improvements are designed for the following reasons and will at once
commend themselves to practical men besides complying with the present Board of
Trade Regulations as to the last-mentioned point.
As at present the signal arms are pulled to "all right," and the signal wires are
slackened to let them go to "danger," any excessive accumulation of snow upon
them or any slight obstruction resting upon the signalling wire prevented their
free movement and efficient action, and there is thus no means of giving a direct
thrust or movement to the signal arms to cause them to overcome such accumulation
or obstruction, but the object of this Invention is to allow this to be effected by my
improved method of working, and the various means I employ of carrying the same
into practice.
The following is a combination of means which at present I find to be particularly
applicable in effecting the improved working of the signal arms-From the tail of
the usual semaphore arm I bang or depend a rod, which near its lower extremity
is provided with a stop, which at the position of danger abuts against and rests upon

page_text: a casting affixed to and projecting from the usual signal post. Through and below
this casting the rod depends, and also between two adjacent guide pullies, just
below which it is coupled to a connecting rod, the other or lower end of which is
connected to a stud projecting from a double grooved pulley wheel, which is centred
on a short axle bolted to the signal post. Round this pulley wheel in the grooves
are passed the usual signalling chain, which is made fast to the periphery of the
said pulley wheel at one part, and a second chain, to which is attached a pre-
ponderating counterweight, and which is connected to the said periphery at another
part.
By the usual means, in combination with these improvements, or with other
equivalent details or means which immediately suggest themselves, the signal arm
is thus enabled to be pulled to danger with any requisite amount of force to over-
come any accumulation of snow or other ordinary obstruction, the said stop and
casting limiting the motion of the signal arm, the signal lever being made fast in
the notch of its quadrant in the signal cabin in the usual manner.
To signal "all right" the wire is slackened; the said weight then causes the
partial rotation of the pulley wheel and the consequent lowering of the signal arm;
the signal lever is again made fast in the signal cabin as ordinarily, thus the
signal arm is held in the position of "all right;" this is a second position of the
stud and motion of the apparatus. But in the event of the signalling wire breaking,
the weight causes a further motion of the pulley wheel and consequent raising of
the signal arm to "danger," in which position it is retained by the weight stop and
casting till the proper connection is again made with the signal cabin and the
working resumed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Cariss in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th June 1876.
JOHN CARISS, of the City of York, in the County of York, Engineer.
MENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALLING APPARATUS."
86
IMPROVE-
This Invention which relates to certain improvements in railway signalling
apparatus, has for its main object the preventing of the arms of semaphore signals
sticking or being impeded (through or by such a cause as an accumulation of snow)
in their free movement to the position indicating "danger," and it consists of or
comprises certain improvements in working the said signal arms and various com-
binations of means employed to effect such improved working.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe the manner in which I carry the same into practical effect, and in order
that the Invention may be distinctly understood I have annexed hereunto one
Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and lave marked the same with figures and
letters of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof,
that is to say -
The improvements in the working consist in causing the signal arms to be pulled
from the signal cabin to the position of "danger" instead of the present method of
causing them to be pulled to the position of "all right," and still to cause them
automatically to fly to "danger" should the wire communicating from the signal
cabin break.
These improvements are designed for the following reasons, and they will at once
cominend themselves to practical men besides complying with the present Board of
Trade Regulations as to the last-mentioned point.
As at present the signal arms are pulled to "all right," and the signal wires are
slackened to let the said arms go to "danger," any excessive accumulation of snow
upon them or any obstruction resting upon the signalling wire prevents their free
movement and efficient action, and there is thus no means of giving a direct action

page_text: or movement to the signal arms to cause them to overcome such accumulation or
obstruction, but the object of this Invention is to allow this to be effected by my
improved method of working and the various means I employ of carrying the same
into practice.
The following are combinations of means which are modifications particularly
applicable in effecting the improved working of the signal arms-On the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, 1 represents the usual semaphore arm, and 2, the usual
signal post. From the tail of the arm 1, or from the keyed crank 3 with which
the axis 19 of the said arm is usually provided, I hang or depend a rod 4 formed
near its lower extremity with a stop-piece 5, which at the position of "danger'
abuts against and rests upon a casting 6 affixed to and projecting from the post 2.
Through and below this casting the rod 4 depends and also between two adjacent
guide pullies 7 (or an equivalent guide arm) carried by the said casting.
وو
In the modification illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the lower end of the rod 4 is
coupled to one end of a connecting rod 8, the other end of which is connected to a
stud.9 projecting from a double grooved pulley wheel 10 centred on a short stud or
axle 11 carried by a plate 12 bolted to the post 2. Round one of the grooves of the
wheel 10 is passed the usual signalling chain 13, which is made fast to the periphery
of the said wheel at one part, and to which is attached the wire communicating
from the signalling lever in the cabin, and round the other of the grooves of the
said wheel is passed a second chain 14, to which a preponderating counterweight 15
is attached, and which is connected to the said periphery at another part.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the lower end of the rod 4
is coupled to connecting rods 16, the lower ends of which are curved (or they may
be straight) and slotted as shown in Figure 3, and in these slots engage pins 17
working in connection with a weighted lever 18 centred on the stud 11. The usual
signalling chain 13 is connected to the end of the short arm of the lever 18.
Figure 3 illustrates the lever 18 in three positions, and the connecting rods 16 in
two. A represents the position of the said lever when pulled to "danger" from
the signal cabin. The said connecting rods are then in the position indicated
by the full lines. B represents the position of the said lever when at "all right"
with slackened chain 13 and slackened wire from cabin. The said connecting rods
are then caused by the weight of the signal arm to assume the position indicated by
the dotted lines. And C represents the position of the said lever when at "danger
through the said wire or chain 13 breaking. The said connecting rods are then
again brought to the position indicated by the full lines.
"
By the usual appliances in combination with. these improvements (or with other
equivalent details or means for effecting the improved working), the signal arm 1 is
thus enabled to be pulled to "danger" from the cabin with any requisite amount of
force to overcome any accumulation of snow or other ordinary obstruction, the stop
5 and casting 6 limiting its motion. The signal lever is made fast in the notch
of its quadrant in the signal cabin in the usual manner.
To signal "all right" the wire 13 is slackened. The weight 15 then causes the
partial rotation of the pulley wheel 10, and the consequent lowering of the signal
arm 1 (or in the secondly described modification, the signal arm 1 falls by its own
weight to the position of "all right") the signal lever is again made fast in the
signal cabin as ordinarily, and thus the arm 1 is held in the position of "all right;"
this is a second position and motion of the apparatus. But in the event of the
signalling chain or wire 13 breaking, the weight 15 causes a further motion of the
wheel 10, or the weighted lever 18 causes the depression of the connecting rods 16
and the consequent raising of the arm 1 to danger, in which position it is retained
by the said weights, stop piece 5, and casting 6, till the proper connection is again
made with the signal cabin and the working resumed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of my
sáid Invention, together with the manner in which I carry the same into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention, the above
described improvements in the working of signal arms, and the combinations of

page_text: means for effecting such working, substantially as described and as illustrated on
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, or any mere variation or modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Cariss, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
JOHN CARISS. (L.S.)