Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 15th Jan., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling on Railways.
I, ARTHUR DYSON, of 15, Clay Street, Tuel Lane, Sowerby Bridge, in the County
of York, Pattern Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in appliances for giving signals to the
drivers and guards of railway trains in foggy weather, the object being to dispense
with the detonators or signals as heretofore employed, and also with the services
of the men necessary for placing such detonators in position. The invention con-
sists of a bell or gong controlled by the signalman from the signal cabin in the
ordinary manner, and actuated by the wheels of the passing train or locomotive.
The apparatus is simple in its construction and efficient in its action, and is not
liable to get out of order.
According to this invention I employ a bell or gong the flapper of which is
mounted on a cross shaft weighted at one end to keep the flapper out of contact
with the gong.
On this shaft is also a fixed quadrant or pulley with one end of a
chain attached thereto, the other end of such chain being connected to a quadrant
or pulley on a second shaft, one end of which is by crank or link attached to the
end of a rocking lever on the opposite end of which is a runner lying (when in its
active position) close to the rail of the permanent way. On the second mentioned
shaft is also a finger to which is attached a chain communicating with one of the
ordinary signal levers in the signal cabin.
The action is as follows: When the apparatus is in the active position and a
train passes, the flanges of the wheels act on the runner and depress the rocking
lever and through the crank, cross shafts, quadrants, and connections, the flapper
is jerked against the gong and the signal given and repeated as each wheel passes
over the runner.
If it is desired to knock off the signal, the signalman in his cabin pulls the lever
and the chain pulls the finger on the second shaft and gives a partial turn thereto,
and the crank or link acts on the rocking lever, lowering the runner thereon until
it is below and clear of the flange of any passing wheel.
A spring may be interposed in the chain connecting the quadrants on the first
and second shaft which compensates for variation in the depth of the flanges of
different wheels. The flapper and weight on the first shaft return the parts to
their normal position.
The whole of the apparatus excepting the gong may be boxed in to protect it
from the weather and dust or dirt.
1000
BRIERLEY & HOWARD,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling on Railways.
I, ARTHUR DYSON, of 15, Clay Street, Tuel Lane, Sowerby Bridge, in the County
of York, Pattern Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in appliances for giving signals to the
drivers and guards of railway trains in foggy weather, the object being to dispense
with the detonators or signals as heretofore employed, and also with the services
of the men necessary for placing such detonators in position. The invention con-
sists of a bell or gong controlled by the signalman from the signal cabin in the
ordinary manner, and actuated by the wheels of the passing train or locomotive.
The apparatus is simple in its construction and efficient in its action, and is not
liable to get out of order.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, the following is a com-
plete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus for purpose aforesaid.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the improved apparatus as used at level crossings or for
warning persons employed on the line of the approach of a train.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3.
According to this invention I employ a bell or gong 1 the flapper 2 of which is
mounted on a cross shaft 3 weighted at one end 4 to keep the flapper 2 out of con-
tact with the gong 1. On a second cross shaft 5 is also a fixed quadrant or pulley 6
with one end of a chain or wire 7 attached thereto, the other end of such chain
or wire being connected to a quadrant or pulley 8 on the shaft 3. One end of
the shaft 5 is by crank or link 9 attached to the end of a rocking lever 10 on the
opposite end of which is a runner 11 lying (when in its active position) close to the
rail 12 of the permanent way. On the second mentioned shaft 5 is also a finger
or lever 13 to which is attached a chain 14 communicating with one of the ordinary
signal levers in the signal cabin.
The gong 1, brackets 15-15 for the shafts 3 and 5, and the fulcrum stud 16 of
the rocking lever 10 are all carried on a metal plate 19 fixed by bolts 20 to the
sleepers.
The periphery of the runner 11 is preferably covered with rubber or other soft
material to prevent noise and sparks when struck by the wheels of a passing train,
and in order to facilitate the removal and replacement of the runner 11, the latter
is fixed in the open ended slot 21 by means of bolt 22.
The chain or wire 7 has a spring 23 interposed in its length in order to accom-
modate its action to the varying depth of flanges of wheels passing over the
runner 11 as hereinafter described.
On the shaft 3 is a fixed finger 24 which comes into contact with the blade
spring 25 fixed to the plate 19, and this finger 24 meeting the resistance of the
spring 25 prevents the flapper 2 striking the gong 1 unless the flapper is brought
up with considerable force (as when the apparatus is in operation) when the
resistance of the spring 25 is overcoine.
At 26 is a guide pulley mounted in a bracket 27, the chain or wire 14 passing
over said pulley. 28 is an additional weight to assist the weight 4 in its functions.
The action is as follows:-When the apparatus is in the active position and a
train passes, the flanges of the wheels act on the runner 11 and depress the rocking

page_text: lever 10 and through the crank 9 gives a partial turn to the cross shaft 5, and the
quadrant G and connections impart a rapid part rotation to the shaft 3 and the
flapper 2 is jerked against the gong 1, and the signal given and repeated as each
wheel passes over the runner, the resistance of the spring 25 being overcome.
If it is desired to knock off the signal, the signalman in his cabin pulls the
lever and the chain 14 pulls the finger 13 on the shaft 5 and gives a partial turn
thereto, and the crank or link 9 acts on the rocking lever 10 lowering the
runner 11 thereon until it is below and clear of the flange of any passing wheel.
The spring 23 interposed in the chain 7 connecting the quadrant 6 and pulley 8
on the first and second shafts 3 and 5 compensates for variation in the depth of
the flanges of different wheels. The flapper 2 and weights 4 and 28 on the
shafts 3 and 5 return the parts to their normal position.
The whole of the apparatus excepting the gong may be boxed in to protect it
from the weather and dust or dirt.
When the apparatus is to be used for signalling at a level crossing or for
warning plate layers and others occupied on the line, the apparatus is divided as
shewn by Figs. 3 and 4, the operating end being connected to the gong or alarm
end by wire or chain 7 which may be 200 or 300 yards long, and in this case I find
it is advantageous to employ a double wire rope 7 as being more positive in its
action than a single one. When used at a level crossing or as an alarm signal
only, the apparatus need not necessarily be connected to the signal cabin. The
flappers 4 may be in duplicate as shewn and operated by a train, coming in either
direction by employing two operating ends connected by wires 7 as described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
(1) The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts con-
stituting the improved signalling apparatus, as and for the purpose herein
described and substantially as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
(2) The general construction, arrangement and combination of parts constituting
the improved signalling apparatus, as and for the purpose herein described and
substantially as illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 of the annexed drawings.
(3) The rocking lever 10, crank or link 9, shaft 5, quadrant or pulley 6, con-
nections 7, pulley or quadrant 8, and gong and flapper 1-2, all in combination as
and for the purpose herein described and substantially as illustrated by the
drawings annexed hereto.
(4) The wire or chain 14, finger or lever 13, shaft 5, quadrant or pulley 6, con-
ections 7, quadrant or pulley 8, shaft 3, and gong and flapper 1-2, all in com-
bination as and for the purpose herein described and substantially as illustrated
by the annexed drawings.
Dated this Oth da...
זג
ARTHUR DYSON,
By his Agents, Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.