Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Compensating the Expansion and Contraction of Railway and other Signal Wires, and for Preventing Accident in case of Injury to or Failure in any Part of the Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 29th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 29th Apr., 1887
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Compensating the
Expansion and Contraction of Railway and other Signal Wires,
and for Preventing Accident in case of Injury to or Failure in
any Part of the Signalling Apparatus.
I JOHN WEAVER SOMERTON of Alma Villa London Road in the City of Worcester
Accountant do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
The proper working of railway and other signals is sometimes interfered with by tho
expansion and contraction of the signal wire caused by changes of temperature and
my invention has for its object to compensate automatically any change in the length
of the signal wire and to maintain it in a uniform or nearly uniform state of tension.
My said invention consists of the arrangement or combination of parts hereinafter
described whereby a uniform or nearly uniform tension in the signal wire is maintained.
The arrangement or combination of parts constituting my invention also ensures the
movement of the signal to the "danger" position should the wire break or other part
of the apparatus fail to perform its function.
I will describe my invention in connection with a railway signal.
Instead of connecting the working wire by which the signal is operated directly to
the actuating hand lever in the signalman's cabin as is usual I attach the said wire to
or pass it over the end of the vertical arm of a bell crank lever having motion in a
vertical plane. The horizontal arm of this bell crank lever has a counter balance
weight sufficiently heavy to keep the wire tight while allowing it to expand or contract
freely but the said counter-balance weight is not sufficiently heavy to overcome the
weight at the signal end of the wire. This bell crank lever is quite independent of
and is not directly connected to the actuating hand lever.
A second straight lever or arm turns upon the same centre as the bell crank lever
and as a counter-balance weight sufficiently heavy for the working of the signal. This
second lever is connected by a chain or other flexible or jointed connection to the
apparatus hereinafter described carried by the hand lever. The said second lever is
so arranged that when the hand lever is moved in the ordinary way it causes the said
second lever to descend upon and depress the horizontal arm of the bell crank lever.

page_text: The combined weights carried by the two levers exceeds the weight at the signal end
of the wire and the said combined weights acting through the bell crank lever over-
come the signal weight and pull the signal "off" that is bring it to its "all right"
position. On the hand lever being put back to its original position it raises the second
lever when the signal again moves to "danger," by the action of the weight at the
signal end of the wire.
The connection between the hand lever and the second lever is so arranged as to
allow the latter more travel or movement than is necessary simply to pull the signal
"off" and the said connection being jointed or flexible permits the bell crank and
second levers when operating conjointly to pull the signal "off" the same freedom of
movement for compensation as when the bell crank lever only is engaged and the
signal at "danger." Whether the signal is either in the "all right" or danger'
positions the effect of the compensating apparatus is such that the lever on the signal is
always (except during the time of altering the indication) held firmly against one or
other of the stops thus giving a perfect indication notwithstanding any expansion or
contraction of the wires used to operate the said signal.
«
"
In order to prevent any failure of the connection between the actuating hand lever
and the second lever causing the signal to be pulled off I employ an oscillating lever
attached to and carried by the actuating or hand lever to one end of which oscillating
lever the connection to the second lever is fastened. The other end is hook shaped
and holds an eye or loop forming the extremity of the working wire (or a chain
continuation of it) which wire or-continuation after passing over a roller on the end of
the vertical arm of the bell crank lever is conducted to the said oscillating lever. When
the second lever is raised the weight upon it maintains the oscillating lever against a
stop and holds the end of the wire (or its chain continuation) securely but should
the connection between the actuating or hand lever and the second lever become
detached or broken the oscillating lever becoming free to move its hook like end is
pulled downwards and the loop of the wire or chain slips off it. The wire is thus
permitted to run out and the signal immediately assumes its "danger" position. An
eccentric or cam or other equivalent mechanism is employed in conjunction with the
oscillating lever by means of which when the second lever is lowered intentionally by
movement of the actuating or hand lever the oscillating lever is locked and the wire
prevented from running out.
The end of the wire at the signal is attached to a safety bar or link having hooks
or notches. The said bar or link is connected to the lever and balance weight upon
the signal in such a manner that in the event of the balance weight dropping off or
becoming otherwise inoperative the wire becomes disconnected and the signal
immediately resumes its "danger" position.
Dated this Sixth day of July 1886.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Compensating the
Expansion and Contraction of Railway and other Signal Wires,
and for Preventing Accident in case of Injury to or Failure in
any Part of the Signalling Apparatus.
JOHN WEAVER SOMERTON of Alma Villa, London Road in the City of Worcester,
Accountant do hereby declare the nature of my Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The proper working of railway and other signals is sometimes interfered with by
the expansion and contraction of the signal wire caused by changes of temperature
and my invention has for its object to compensate automatically any change in the
length of the signal wire and to maintain it in a uniform or nearly uniform state of
tension.
My said invention consists of the arrangement or combination of parts hereinafter
described whereby a uniform or nearly uniform tension in the signal wire is main-
tained. The arrangement or combination of parts constituting my invention also
ensures the movement of the signal to the "danger" position should the wire break
or other part of the apparatus fail to perform its function.
I will describe my invention in connection with a railway signal.
Instead of connecting the working wire by which the signal is operated directly to
the actuating hand lever in the signalman's cabin as is usual I attach the said wire to
or pass it over the end of the vertical arm of a bell crank lever having motion in a
vertical plane. The horizontal arm of this bell crank lever has a counter balance
weight sufficiently heavy to keep the wire tight while allowing it to expand or
contract freely but the said counter balance weight is not sufficiently heavy to over-
come the weight at the signal end of the wire. This bell crank lever is quite
independent of and is not directly connected to the actuating hand lever.
A second straight lever or arm works upon the same centre as the bell crank lever
and has a counter balance weight sufficiently heavy for the working of the signal.
This second lever is connected by a chain or other flexible or jointed connection to
the apparatus hereinafter described carried by the hand lever. The said second lever
is so arranged that when the hand lever is moved in the ordinary way it causes the
said second lever to descend upon and depress the horizontal arm of the bell crank
lever. The combined weights carried by the two levers exceeds the weight at the
signal end of the wire and the said combined weights acting through the bell crank
lever overcome the signal weight and pull the signal "off," that is, bring it to its
"all right" position. On the hand lever being put back to its original position it
raises the second lever when the signal again moves to "danger" by the action of the
weight at the signal end of the wire.
The connection between the hand lever and the second lever is so arranged as to
allow the latter more travel or movement than is necessary simply to pull the signal
"off" and the said connection being jointed or flexible permits the bell crank
and second levers, when operating conjointly to pull the signal "off," the same
freedom of movement for compensation as when the bell crank lever only is

page_text: «
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engaged and the signal at danger." Whether the signal is either in the
all-right" or "danger" position the effect of the compensating apparatus is such
that the lover on the signal is always (except during the time of altering the indication)
held firmly against one or other of the stops thus giving a perfect indication notwith-
standing any expansion or contraction of the wires used to operate the said signal.
In order to prevent any failure of the connection between the actuating band lever
and the second lever causing the signal to be unintentionally pulled off or brought to
its "all right" position I employ an oscillating lever or tumbler attached to and
carried by the actuating or hand lever, which oscillating lover or tumbler is secured
in position by the connection to the second lever. The said oscillating lever or tumbler
is hook shaped and holds an eye or loop forming the extremity of the working wire
(or a chain continuation of it) which wire or continuation after passing over a roller
on the end of the vertical arm of the bell crank lever is conducted to the said oscil-
lating lever or tumbler. When the second lever is raised the weight upon it
maintains the oscillating lever or tumbler against a stop and holds the end of the wire
(or its chain continuation) securely but should the connection between the actuating
or hand lever and the second lever become detached or broken the oscillating lever or
tumbler becoming free to move its hook like end is pulled downwards and the loop of
the wire or chain slips off it. The wire is thus permitted to run out and the signal
immediately assumnes its "danger" position. An eccentric or cam or other equivalent
mechanism is employed in conjunction with the oscillating lever or tumbler by means
of which when the second lever is lowered intentionally by movement of the actuating
or hand lever the oscillating lever or tumbler is locked and the wire prevented from
running out.
The end of the wire at the signal is attached to a safety bar or link having hooks or
notches. The said bar or link is connected to the lever and balance weight upon the
signal in such a manner that in the event of the balance weight dropping off or
becoming otherwise inoperative the wire becomes disconnected and the signal immedi-
ately resumes its "danger" position.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation the arrangement of my invention in connection
with the ordinary actuating hand lever in the signalman's cabin, the several parts being
represented in the positions which they respectively occupy when the signal stands in
its normal or "danger" position.
Figure 2 represents a similar view to Figure 1 showing the several parts in the
positions which they respectively occupy after the signal has been "pulled off" or
moved to its "all right" position.
Figure 3 represents an end elevation of the bell crank lever and second weighted lever.
Figure 4 represents in side elevation and Figure 5 in plan the oscillating lever or
tumbler and the cam on the arm of the actuating hand lever together with other parts
of my invention, drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figure 6 represents my improved safety bar or link applied to any ordinary signal
and Figure 7 represents the said safety bar or link drawn to a larger scale.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the
Drawing.
A is the working wire by which the signal (represented in Figure 6 or other signal)
is worked. The said wire A passes over the roller B carried upon the end of the
vertical arm of the bell crank weighted lever C under the roller D and rising vertically
passes over the small roller or guide wheel E carried upon one of the arms F' of the
ordinary actuating hand lever F turning on the centre F.
From the roller or guide wheel E the wire A, or its chain continuation, passes and
is connected to the hook shaped end of the oscillating lever or tumbler G carried upon
the other arm F of the hand lever F (see Figures 4 and 5); H is the second weighted
lever moving on the same centre as the bell crank weighted lever C. Through the
said second lover H the bell crank lever is operated by means of the arm H² crossing
the said bell crank lever (see Figure 3). It will be seen by an examination of

page_text: Figure 1 that the second weighted lever H in the normal position of the parts is
supported above and clear of the bell crank lever C by the arm F of the hand lever F
through the following mechanism; J is a vertical jointed connection or rod on the second
weighted lever H the said rod carrying at its top a rack K. Parallel to the said rack
K is a second jointed rod I the connection between the said two rods J and I being
made and broken by the pawl or jointed clutch L on the said rod I gearing with and
being ungeared from the rack K. When the pawl L is engaged with the rack K the
rod J and weighted lever H are supported in their raised positions as seen in Figure 1.
Other means than those represented may be employed for gearing together the two
rods J and I. The upper end of the rod I is jointed to the crank M turning on the
centre S and the connection is continued from the crank M through the links N to
the oscillating lever or tumbler G on the arm F* of hand lever F. The arm F' of the
hand lever is furnished with a cam P (see Figure 4) which engages with the cross pin
or bolt R carried between the links N for the purpose of locking the said links as
hereinafter described. The crank M is so arranged as to cause the strain of the
weighted second lever H to boar in the direction of the centre F3 on which the hand
lever turns, thereby relieving the said hand lever of the said strain from the weighted
lever H. On one of the links N between the crank M and the oscillating lever or
tumbler G is a stop O (best seen in Figures 4 and 5) for locking or securing in
position the said oscillating lover or tumbler. It will be seen that, so long as the
links N are maintained in the position represented in Figure 1, by the action of the
weighted lever H and the connections described; the movement of the oscillating lever
or tumbler to disengage the loop of the wire A from the hook of the said oscillating
lever or tumbler is prevented by the stop 0. When the parts of the mechanism are
in the positions represented in Figure 1 the bell crank lever C is free to rise or fall
for keeping the wire always in a state of tension while the superior or heavier weight.
upon the signal end of the wire A retains the signal in its danger position notwith-
standing alterations in the length of the wire.
When the hand lever F is moved by the signalman for the purpose of "pulling off"
the signal or bringing the signal to its "all right" position, the several parts take the
positions represented in Figure 2; that is to say, the cam P upon the arm F' of the
hand lever engages with the cross pin or bolt R on the links N and locks them and
through the stop O also locks the oscillating lever or tumbler although the latter
is relieved of the weight of the second lever H. By the changed position of
the crank M it moves upon its axis S sufficiently far to allow the clutch or pawl. L
on the rod I being lowered onto the stop or rest T and disengaged thereby from
the rack K. The rack and its rod J together with the weighted lever H are thereby
free to descend. As the weighted lever H descends it acts upon and depresses the bell
crank lever C by the action of the cross piece H on the said lever H and the combined
weights of the two levers H and Covercome the weight at the signal end of the
wire A and pull the signal off or bring it to its "all right" position and as the con-
tinuity of the connection at K L I between the hand lever F and the second lever H
is broken (thereby permitting more travel in the wire A than is necessary to pull the
signal off) the said levers H and C have complete freedom of movement for compensa-
tion while the signal is at its "all right" position, thus ensuring a perfect indication
in the last named position notwithstanding any alteration in the length of the wire.
On putting the hand lever F back to its normal position (Figure 1) the changed
position of the crank M causes the pawl L to engage with the rack K, thereby restoring
the continuity between the hand lever F and the weighted lever H, and at the same
time lift the rod J and the said weighted lever H from the crank lever C and allows
the signal to resume its normal or danger position as shown in Figure 6. This
movement of the hand lever F also releases the cam P from the cross pin R and the
oscillating lever or tumbler G is secured in its position by the stop O as before
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 5.
In the event of any failure or derangement in any of the various connections I J K
LMNO between the hand lever F and the second weighted lever H whereby the
latter is not properly raised the oscillating lever or tumbler G not being secured by

page_text: the stop O in the manner hereinbefore described is free to turn upon its axis U, as the
eye V of the links N is elongated or cut away to permit of this movement. The
oscillating lever or tumbler being thus free to move its hooked end is pulled down by
the tension of the wire A and the said wire being thereby released runs out and the
signal immediately resumes its "danger" position. Should any part of the wire A break
when the signal is working the latter resumes its danger position in the ordinary way.
Although I have represented in the accompanying Drawing the arrangement of
parts which I prefer to use, and which I have found to answer well in practice, for
connecting the second weighted lever H to the arm F of the ordinary actuating hand
lever yet I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself thereto as the said
weighted lever H may be connected to the actuating hand lever in other ways without
departing from the nature of my invention.
I will now describe the safety bar or link represented in Figures 6 and 7: W is the
safety bar applied to the balance lever X and weight Y of the ordinary signal 8:
Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of the safety bar W. The slotted or hooked end Z
of the safety bar W is carried by a pin or stud 2 fastened to one end of the balance
lever X and the other end is retained in position by an eye 4 or set screw on the
balance weight Y. An eye 5 is formed near the hooked end of the bar W to which
the working wire A of the signal is fastened. The connection between the balance
lever X and the working wire A is thus completed and works in the ordinary way;
but should the balance weight Y become detached from the balance lever X or the
latter break the hooked end of the safety bar W slips off the stud or pin 2 thus
disconnecting the working wire A from the balance lever X and preventing the signal
being "pulled off" by the weighted lever C Figures 1 and 2, at the signalman's end of
the wire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and
the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my invention
of "Improvements in apparatus for automatically compensating the expansion and
contraction of railway and other signal wires and for preventing accident in case of
injury to or failure in any part of the signalling apparatus
,,
First The combination with the bell crank weighted lever of a second auxiliary
weight or weighted lever for pulling off and maintaining the signal in its all right
position substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing.
Secondly Connecting the second or auxiliary weight or weighted lever with the
actuating hand lever by a connection substantially of the kind hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing for permitting of the descent of the second
or auxiliary weight or weighted lever and the conjoint action of the bell crank and
second levers for pulling the signal off.
Thirdly The combination of the oscillating lever or tumbler described and repre-
sented with the actuating hand lever and the stopping and locking appliances of the
said oscillating lever, by the use of which combined parts the movement of the signal
to the danger position is ensured should any part of the connection between the
actuating hand lever and the second weighted lever fail to perform its function and
the oscillating lever or tumbler is locked on moving the hand lever for pulling off the
signal substantially as described and illustrated.
Lastly-The combination with the ordinary balance lever of the signal of the safety
bar or link constructed substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying Drawing for disconnecting the signal wire in
case of accident to the said balance lever or weight.
Dated this Twanty sixth day of March 1887