Improved Means for Automatically Stopping or Reversing Engines and Trains on Railways.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1892-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Automatically Stopping or Reversing Engines
and Trains on Railways.
I, JEAN MARIE LAFFAS, of 49, Rue de Londres, Paris, in the Republic of
France, 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 and accompanying drawings, that is to say :-
My invention has for its object to automatically stop, first, every train, engine,
or carriage, which may pass the stopping signal or other signal used on railways, to
arrest trains.
Second, to automatically stop every train or carriage directly it leaves the rails.
The apparatus consists of three distinct parts; First, a block or stop A,
Figure 1, arranged preferably between or adjoining the rails and capable of being
raised when desired either above the level of the rails themselves, or to such a
position in relation to the transverse section of the engine or carriages as to effect
the release of a distributing device. Second, a distributing device C carried by
the engine or by one or more of the carriages of the train, this distributor being
connected with the air brakes so that the stoppage of the train is certainly effected
when it comes in contact with the raised stop. Third, moveable side rails B,
Figures 2 and 3, adjoining the main rail at certain stations, points, crossings,
swing bridges, and other places where trains might meet.
The stop consists of a strong piece A having two pivots c turning in two supports d
carried by the sleepers. A rode by which the apparatus can be worked is jointed
to the end of a double lever f at or near the centre of the stop A. This rod e is
connected to the signalling apparatus ordinarily used, so that when the signal is set
at danger the stop is at the same time raised.
The atomatic distributor C, Figures 4 and 5, consists of a small cylinder ; in
which works a tight piston the rod of which rests upon a cam m at the upper end
of a lever n.
The lever n turns upon an axis o carried by lugs p upon the cylinder.
At the upper part of the cylinder is a pipe q by which the space above the piston
communicates with the main pipe of ordinary compressed air brakes, and about
the middle of the cylinder ; is an opening for the escape of the air from such
main pipe.
The moveable side rails B, Figures 1 and 2, carried by jointed arms pivotted in
the ordinary way upon the chairs or upon the sleepers, form an important part of
the safety apparatus, their object being to completely prevent the movement
of the stop and of the signal during the passage of a train over those parts
of the line which are provided with the side rails, or whilst the train is resting
upon them.
The safety stop should be arranged at a distance only sufficient to allow
the stoppage of a train in the space which separates it from the point to be
protected.
The moveable safety block is connected to the protecting signal in such manner
that it is only raised so as to project above the rail so as to meet the barn carried
by the engine or carriage, when the signal is at danger, and it is lowered when the
signal is lowered to safety. The safety block is also absolutely connected with the
moveable side rails so that it cannot be lowered to the level of the rails until the train
has left the part of the line provided with these side rails.
The safety block may however be worked independently of any signal, either on
the
spot or from a distance, and by any suitable connection mechanical, electrical,
or of other kind. The safety block may be arranged permanently or temporarily,

page_text: in order to stop trains for any accidental or unforeseen reasons, at any point of the
line, and it may be made of any suitable material such as metal or wood and either
elastic, flexible, or rigid.
The stop block described may in some cases be replaced by any other form of
stop capable of moving from its normal position the lever upon the engine or
carriages of the trains running upon the line, by which the air brake is set in
operation. This lever, which is arranged to come in contact with the stop when.
the latter is raised into the proper position, may consist of a simple lever upon a
cock or valve instead of one operating the automatic distributor shewn in the
drawing, which distributor is arranged for the purpose of setting in action com-
pressed air brakes as described, or for operating a steam ejector by which ordinary
atmospheric brakes are operated. Or the moveable lever may be made to operate
magnetic brakes upon trains, by causing the opening or closing of an electric
circuit as required.
The apparatus described may also be very easily and simply combined with gear
for reversing the engine when the latter is not provided with special or continuous
brakes. Or it may be applied to any kind of separate brake suitably arranged to
allow this automatic operation.
The arrangements described and shewn and the relation of the different parts of
the apparatus to prevent with certainty collisions with trains will also have the
great advantage that any derailment of an engine or carriage is rendered harmless
by the lower end of the lever described and shewn at once coming in contact with
the ballast so that an automatic and immediate stoppage of the train is at once
effected without manual intervention.
The details of the apparatus which form the subject of the invention may be
varied more or less as may be found desirable in different circumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of automatically stopping trains without the intervention of an
attendant.
2. The use of an apparatus, very simple and efficacious, for setting in action con-
tinuous air brakes, vacuum brakes, electrical brakes, or brakes of any other kind,
substantially as described.
3. The application upon the engines or carriages of trains, of releasing apparatus
consisting of a simple lever or other equivalent devices, in order to automatically
set in action the brakes of trains when such devices come in contact with suitable
stops arranged upon the line, substantially as described and illustrated.
4. The arrangement in a suitable position of a moveable stop which
when required can be raised so that the lever or other devices upon the
train come in contact with it and release the air distributing device, or other
device by which the brakes are set in operation substantially as described and
illustrated.
5. The arrangement of separate side rails at the parts of the line which are
to be protected, such as stations, crossings, points, swing bridges, and other places
where there is a liability of collision, substantially as described and illustrated..
6. The application of the apparatus described to any kind of carriage, whether
for passengers or goods.
7. The connection of the moveable stop with the separate side rails, and the lever
by which the stop is operated, in any part of the line where such side rails are
arranged for the protection of trains.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant,