IMPROVE- MENTS IN ELECTRIC GATE BLOCKING APPARATUS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, EDWARD EBENEZER EVANS Cloth Manufacturer of Brimscombe Mills, near
Stroud, Gloucestershire do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ELECTRIC GATE BLOCKING APPARATUS to be as follows:-
My invention is more particulary applicable to the locking of Gates on Level
Railway Crossings but it can also be applied to a variety of other purposes.
The value of this Improvement as applied to Railway Gates consists in giving
the signal man power to block or lock all the Gates connected with his signal box,
so that on the approach of a train, he has power to lock each gate seperately or
collectively, so that no person can cross the line, till he has released the locking
gear.
To effect this purpose I place an Electro Magnet in the gate post or other
convenient position, which controles a catch This catch in its normal position is
kept clear of the bolt or finger on the gate, either by a spring or a balance weight
or other equivalent device but on the Electro Magnet being put into action, this
catch is drawn either up or down (by the action of the magnet) over the bolt or
finger on the gate, so that it can not be opened till the Electric Current is taken
off. In this arrangement it is assumed that the gates are hung so that they
automatically close themselves. The necessary Electric Current is furnished by a
battery which I prefer to place in the signal man's house.
The whole of this apparatus is fitted inside the gate post so that it can not
be meddled with in any way.. As an additional warning or security I place a bell
in any convenient position, which is rung by the Electric Current, and which
continues to ring as long as the gate is locked.
I can also reverse this arrangement by keeping the gate always locked so that it
is only opened by the will of the signal man, whose attention may be called by
the person wishing the gate open, by an ordinary bell push or other convenient
means.
I also arrange that on the completion of the circuit, "a bell is rung in the signal
box, thus showing that the gate is effectively locked and vice versa.

page_text: Improvements in Electric Gate Blocking Apparatus.
I EDWARD EBENEZER EVANS, Cloth Manufacturer of Brimscombe Mills, near
Stroud, Gloucestershire do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ELECTRIC GATE BLOCKING APPARATUS and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My Invention is more particulary applicable to the locking of Gates on Level
Railway Crossings, but it can also be applied to a variety of other purposes-The
value of this Improvement as applied to Railway Gates consists in giving the
signal man power to block or lock all the gates connected with his signal box so
that on the approach of a train he has, power to lock each gate seperately or
collectively, so that no person can cross the line till he has released the locking
gear, and in order that the said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended a Sheet of Explanatory
Drawings The arrangement shown being that, in which the gate is so hung, that
it naturally closes and locks itself, and is only opened by the will of the signal
man. Figs. 2 and 5 shew a plan and elevation of an ordinary Railway Crossing
Gate, fitted with my improvements and Figs. 1. 3 & 4 shew enlarged detailed
views of the same. 1 is a catch of the Fig. 4 type centred at 2 and kept up against
the stop 3 by a spring or balance weight 4. This catch is made of steel or of any
other material which is subject to magnetic influence.
If we now suppose that the gate which has been previously open closes; the
finger 5 on the gate will push the catch 1 down and passing over the 4 portion of
the catch will prevent its being opened again till the catch 1. is drawn down.
This is effected, by means of the Electro Magnet 6 & 7 through which a current
of electricity may be passed by the signal man establishing a connection between
the battery and the magnet. This he can do by a lever 8 shown in enlarged size
at Fig. 4. the lower portion of which 10 when in contact with the plate 9
establishes a current through the magnet, but when the lever is moved over to the
position shewn by the dotted line 11 the connection is broken:
Another plan of doing this is shewn in Figs. 2 & 5, in which the handle 9
breaks or establishes the current.
In order that the signal man may be assured that the gate or gates on his
system are properly locked I consider it advantageous to place an electric bell in
the signal box which rings on the completion of the current, and which is s0
arranged that the circuit can not be completed till the gates are closed and locked.
To effect this object I make the bolt on the gate the medium for the completion of
the electric current, for as the gate closes the bolt passes into a bell-mouth opening
made of two metallic plates, each of which is connected with a wire and thus the
current is completed as soon as the bolt passes between the plates and the bell
continues to ring as long as the gate is closed. In this arrangement there is a
seperate bell for each gate.
As an illustration of one of the many ways, in which my system of locking
gates may be advantageously applied, I may mention the case of side gates or
doors in gentlemans parks which may be unlocked from the house.

page_text: Having now particulary described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare what
I claim is
1st The application of an Electro Magnet for controlling the locking gear of
gates, doors, &c. which locking gear may be released or put into operation at will
by the suspension or maintainance of an Electric Current.
2nd The mechanical details substantially the same as that shewn in the
drawings.
3rd Ringing a bell within hearing of the operator, as soon as the gates or doors
are properly secured.