A NOVEL INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING SIGNALS OR COMMUNICATING INTELLIGENCE BETWEEN RAILWAY STATIONS AND OTHER DISTANT POINTS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Sandys, of Aldersgate Street, Electric
Engineer, for the Invention of "A NOVEL INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR
CONVEYING SIGNALS OR COMMUNICATING INTELLIGENCE BETWEEN RAILWAY
STATIONS AND OTHER DISTANT POINTS."
Sealed the 18th June 1861, and dated the 22nd December 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Sandys at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd December 1860.
I, GEORGE SANDYS, of Aldersgate Street, Electric Engineer, do hereby
5 declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NOVEL INSTRUMENT OR APPA-
RATUS FOR CONVEYING SIGNALS OR COMMUNICATING INTELLIGENCE BETWEEN RAILWAY
STATIONS AND OTHER DISTANT POINTS," to be as follows:-
Electro-magnets have heretofore been employed for signalling by means of
a combined bell and needle arrangement, but I am by a more simple arrange-
ment than heretofore enabled to communicate between two distant points any
prearranged code of bell signals, independently of a specific communication
indicated upon a dial by means of a pointer or index hand, which is deflected
and remains at rest until it is released by being answered, or a return signal
is made.
Instead of connecting the two soft iron.cores composing the electro-magnet

page_text: at one end thereof in the ordinary manner of making such apparatus so as to
leave two poles only available, and instead of causing an armature to be
brought into contact with the poles when the current is sent through in either
direction, and taking advantage of this action to produce simultaneous action
upon the needle and the bell, I employ each end of each pole of the coil
magnet or of the combined coils by mounting an armature, which is con-
nected with the bammer of the bell at one end of the magnetic coils, whilst at
the other end the two opposite poles are caused to act upon or attract the
permanent magnet or tail piece of the suspended pointer or index hand, so
that when the current is passed in one direction, the corresponding pole causes
the needle to be deflected either to the right or to the left, as the case may be;
whilst if the current is caused to flow in the opposite direction, a corresponding
change in the direction of the deflection is effected. Or instead of two
soft iron cores only, they may be divided in their length, and be rejoined by
an armature or soft iron connecting piece, back to back, so that four distinct
poles are still left for effecting the separate actions upon the bell and the
permanent magnet connected with the needle pointer.
By means of a key, finger-piece, or lever any number of strokes may be
given to the hammer acting upon the bell, and this is effected without affecting
the position of the needle after first contact has been made.
Either distinct single instrument may be used for communicating in each
direction, as "out" and "in," or two sets of electro-magnets, with two bells
and two needles, may be combined within the same case, and a single dial
may have engraved or otherwise marked upon the face thereof the requisite
signals. More than two sets of apparatus may however be combined within
the same case if found desirable, but with the view to avoid the effect of the
electric current passing through one set of magnets acting upon another con-
tiguous arrangement, I prefer to employ two or more single instruments.
Each time that the electric current is passed in opposite directions through
the magnètic coils, the soft iron poles and coils are demagnetised or discharged
and left free for immediate action.
Cl
For the purpose of signalling the positions of railway trains "out" and
in," from the terminus to the next station, or vice versa, or from any one
station to others, as "up" and "down," on the same line, the signal is com-
municated by touching the key, and a corresponding deflection of the needle
is produced, and any number of bell signals may be given in accordance with a
pre-arranged code, thus, for instance, supposing the departure of a train to be
signalled from a terminus to the next station, the pointer is caused to indicate,
say, "train out," but when the train has passed the station to which that

page_text: signal has been sent, the needle is released from the position at which it was
previously at rest, and deflected in the opposite direction to indicate, say,
"clear," or any other expression by which the announcement is made that the
road between the two stations is open or clear. In the same way any other
signals or communications may be made of the same or similar nature or
import as those already indicated, or any other combination of words or signals
may be substituted.
Although I have described instruments particularly suited for signalling
between railway stations, and have referred to the ordinary expressions
employed upon railways, instruments according to my present Invention may be
employed for various other purposes and in other situations, the code adopted
and the engraved signals upon the face of the dial being suitably arranged,
and in each case the two operations are performed independently through the
use or employment of four poles of a single or divided electro-magnet.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Sandys in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd June 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
SANDYS, of Aldersgate Street, Electric Engineer, send. greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent; bearing date the Twenty-second day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Sandys, Her special licence that I, the said George
Sandys, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Sandys, 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 "A NOVEL INSTRUMENT
OR APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING SIGNALS OR COMMUNICATING INTELLIGENCE BETWEEN
BAILWAY STATIONS AND OTHER DISTANT POINTS," upon. the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said George Sandys, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particu-
larly 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

page_text: Great Seal. Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.:
:
NOW KNOW.YE, that I, the said George Sandys, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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, and accompanying two Sheets of Drawings:—
Electro-magnets have heretofore been employed for signalling by means of
a combined: bell and needle arrangement, but I am by a more simple arrange-
ment than heretofore enabled to communicate between two distant points any
prearranged code of bell signals, independently of a specific communication
indicated upon a dial by means of a pointer or index hand, which is deflected
and remains at rest until it is released by being answered, or a return signal
is made.
Instead of connecting the two soft iron cores composing the electro-magnet
at one end thereof in the ordinary manner of making such apparatus so as to
leave two poles only available, and instead of causing an armature to be
brought into contact with the poles when the current is sent through in either
direction, and taking advantage of this action to produce simultaneous action
upon the needle and the bell, I employ each end of each pole of the coil magnet
or of the combined coils by mounting an armature, which is connected with
the hammer of the bell at one end of the magnetic coils, whilst at the other end
the two opposite poles are caused to act upon or attract the permanent magnet
or tail piece of the suspended pointer or index hand, so that when the current
is passed in one direction the corresponding pole causes the needle to be
deflected either to the right or to the left, as the case may be, whilst if the
current is caused to flow in the opposite direction a corresponding change in
the direction of the deflection is effected; or instead of two soft iron cores
only, they may be divided. in their length, and be rejoined by an armature or
soft iron connecting piece back to back, so that four distinct poles are still left
for effecting the separate actions upon. the bell and the permanent magnet
connected with the needle pointer.
By means of a. key, finger-piece, or lever any number of strokes may be
given to the hammer acting upon the bell, and this is effected without affecting
the position of the needle after first contact has been made.
Either distinct single. instruments may be used for communicating. in each
direction, as "out" and "in," or two sets of electro-magnets, with two bells
and two needles, may be combined within the same case, and a single dial may
have engraved or otherwise marked upon the face thereof the requisite signals.
More than two sets of apparatus may be, however, combined within the same
•

page_text: case, if found desirable; but with the view to avoid the effect of the electric
current passing through one set of magnets acting upon another contiguous
arrangement, I prefer to employ two or more independent single instruments.
Each time that the electric current is passed in opposite directions through
the magnetic coils the soft iron poles and 'coils are demagnetized or dis-
charged and left free for immediate action.
For the purpose of signalling the position of railway trains "out" and "in"
from the terminus to the next station, or vice versa, or from any one station to
others, as "up" and "down," on the same line, the signal is communicated by
touching the key, and a corresponding deflection of the needle is produced.;;
and any number of bell signals may be given in accordance with a. pre-
arranged code; thus, for instance, supposing the departure of a train to be
signalled from a terminus to the next station, the pointer is caused to indicate,
say, "train out," but when the train has passed the station to which that signal
has been sent the needle is released from the position at which it was pre-
viously at rest, and deflected in the opposite direction, to indicate, say, "clear,"
or any other expression by which the announcement is made that the road
between the two stations is open or clear. In the same way any other signals
or communications may be made of the same or similar nature or import as
those already indicated, or any other combination of words or signals may be
substituted.
Although I have described instruments particularly suited for signalling
between railway stations, and have referred to the ordinary expressions em-
ployed upon railways, instruments according to my present Invention may be
employed for various other purposes and in other situations, the code. adopted,
and the engraved signals upon the face of the dial being suitably arranged,
and in each case the two operations are performed independently through the
use or employment of four poles of a single or divided electro-magnet.
In Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a
double needle instrument, constructed in accordance with the present Inven-
tion, in which two pairs of electro-magnets are shewn; the poles at the front.
end acting upon the armature connected with and moving the needle or
pointer, whilst the opposite poles act upon the armature connected with the
bell hammer, as described.. Fig. 2 is another plan view taken below that of
Fig. 1, and exhibits. an arrangement for working the instrument, and so direct-
ing the electric current that one of the needles or pointers shall be moved
over either to the right or to the left upon the face of the dial, and at the
same time the bell signal will be struck; and this action is produced whether
the lever handle of the instrument be moved by its attendant or by the.

page_text: attendant at the next connected station. This Figure also shews the manner
in which I prefer to connect up the various parts of the instrument with the
earth and the battery.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the instrument case, showing the two needles
or pointers, and also the handles or levers for changing the direction of the
electric current, and for operating the apparatus; part of the front case is
shown as broken away to allow of the magnets and the armature being seen.
In this view the needles or pointers indicate that both lines are clear..
In Sheet 2, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a larger instrument; it is shewn
as removed from the case. In this instrument each magnetic coil is shewn as
being divided in its length, whilst the soft iron core of each magnet is con-
tinued through...
Fig. 2 is a front -elevation of the case of an instrument of the size and
kind shown at Fig. 1. In this view also part of the case is broken away to
shew the position of the magnets, armature, and needle or pointer.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a small single needle instrument, and exhibits
modifications in the mode of working the needle or pointer, as well as in the
combination of the needle and hammer instruments. In this arrangement the
poles of the magnets are approximate by means of continuations projecting
inwards screwed on to each soft iron core: But for the purpose of giving an
increased motion to the needle, I have attached to the spindle of the armature
a wheel or toothed quadrant, which acts upon a small pinion fixed upon the
pivot of the needle or pointer, and thus the limited action of the armature
between the poles is converted into a sufficiently large are of travel in the
pointer or needle to insure its coming to rest. The introduction of the pro-
jections from the soft iron cores enables the bell armature to be placed in front
and to be operated upon as shewn in Fig. 4; Fig. 4 being a side elevation of
Fig. 3. In this view the back ends of the soft iron cores of the magnets are
connected together, and the bell armatures placed in front, as just described..
Fig. 5. is another mode or method of enabling the needle or pointer to
'describe a larger arc, and come. to rest upon the stop pins by means of the
jaw formed termination to the lower end of the needle or pointer.
'
I have only shewn Figs.. 3, 4, and 5, in Sheet 2, as modifications of the
instruments constructed according to my Invention, and as previously described.
and illustrated in Sheet 1 by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and in Sheet 2 by Figs. 1
and 2, more particularly as to the means of moving the needle or pointer.
through a larger arc.
In each of the Figures in Sheets 1 and 2, the several parts are so clearly
shown, and their respective uses are now so well. understood, that detailed
any

page_text: description, aided by letters of reference, is rendered unnecessary; but I have
upon such parts of the several instruments and their connections as might be
mistaken or confused, designated in writing their respective names or uses.
What I claim is, first, the construction and mode of working electro-mag-
netic signalling apparatus, as described in my Provisional Specification and
in the first part of this my Final Specification, and as illustrated by
Figs. 1, 2, & 3, Sheet 1, and by Figs. 1 & 2, Sheet 2, in the two Sheets of
Drawings hereunto annexed.
Second, the mode or method of combining a needle and bell action for the
purposes set forth, in the manner herein described, and as illustrated in the
herein-before mentioned several views as contained in the accompanying
Drawings.
Third, the contrivances shewn in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, Sheet 2, for increasing
the arc travelled by the needle or pointer, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Sandys, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
JAMES STEVENSON,
19, Salisbury St., Adelphi.
GEORGE SANDYS. (L.S.)