AN IMPROVED MODE AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS, INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALIZING Appa- RATUS
Year: 1853

page_text: PROVI
Dy mistop
Palmer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 25th October 1853.
(Void by reason of notice to proceed not having been given within the.
time prescribed by the Act.)
I, CHRISTOPHER RICHARD NORRIS PALMER, of Amwell, in the County
of Hertford, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for AN IMPROVED MODE AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING
ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS, INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALIZING Appa-
RATUS," to be as follows:-
My Invention, in the first place, consists in a new mode and apparatus
for signaliz on railway trains between guards and drivers. I work
my apparatus, for whatever purpose applied, by means of liquids
atmospheric air, or gasses or elastic fluids, condensed or non-condensed,
using liquids or air or elastic fluids, according to circumstances and
the nature and purpose of the signal required. The apparatus generally
will work with either liquids or fluids.
My apparatus for signaling on a train in motion (as specified in my
first Patent) is as follows:-In the guard's box, or in any carriage
where he may be seated, whether inside or outside the carriage, I
place a small cylinder or air vessel containing a piston and rod working
perpendicularly and air-tight, with or without a lever or handle-

page_text: attached. Elastic vessels may be used in place of metal cylinders
if preferred. The size of the cylinder varies according to the average
length of the train or signal distance. [That generally used by me
since May last is 16 inches high by 3 inch. diameter; the signal chain
after ment is about inch diameter, and signals the length of forty
carriages.]
At the lower part of this cylinder, below the piston, an air and water
tight tube or pipe of a quarter inch or other small diameter is inserted.
This conductor is made of metal, gutta percha, india-rubber, or partly
of each. If not required to link and unlink between the carriages, it
may be in one length, and according to the distance of guards and
drivers from each other. In general it will be chiefly metallic, the
tube being permanently fixed under or along any part of the carriages.
Between the carriages iny conductor is of vulcanized india-rubber
tubing of similar diameter, about two feet in length, and coated with
an elastic steel spring; it links and unlinks in one second by means of
treble air and liquid tight joint, so constructed that the half of any
one joint will link with the half of any other, even where there are a
thousand carriages.
On the engine or tender, or close to the driver or opposite guard, I
place or hang another but smaller cylinder (or vessel), with piston and
rod working perpendicularly therein (about 6 inches high by 3 inches
diameter), and I connect the guards and drivers cylinders, and the
atmospheric or elastic fluid (or liquid) contents, by inserting the opposite
end of the conductor into the lower part of the smaller cylinder beneath
the piston.
A bell or alarum (so constructed that they will signal and the
trigger reset immed upon being forcibly struck by the upward motion
of the rising piston rod) is placed in a box above or near the cylinder.
Detonators, powerful percussion or fulminating caps, fixed on a revolving
and self-acting cylinder with other signalia for use, are provided; each
by ordinary mechanical contrivances being worked or discharged by
the rising piston. The revolving cylinder may discharge 50 or any
number of detonator caps consecutively, the trigger resetting after each
stroke of the hammer.

page_text: Now the guard having occasion to signal the driver or opposite
guard; depresses the piston rod in his own cylinder (or for short
distances he can signal by blowing into the conductor thro' a mouth
piece), he displaces or forces the contents of the cylinder [whether air,
liquid, or elastic fluid] into and thro' the, conductor tube at the foot,
and thereby causes the piston rod in the small driver's cylinder' opposite
to rise almost instantaneously, the length of the train being perfectly
immaterial. The power of the rising piston rod discharges any number
or species of signalia to which it is attached, the. piston rod remaining
fixed; and the various motions which the guard can give it are applied
by my Invention to convey all the most requisite signals; as "start,""
"look out," "caution," "put on middle break," "danger," "all breaks
on," "release breaks," &c.
By using two or more. conductor chains of course the number of
signals may be doubled. Signals may also be given and received by
the middle guard and passengers by inserting branches into the
conductor, and providing similar signalizers and signalia. The engine
driver and first guard can also signal the rear guard by, this one
conductor chain only, provided that one only signals at same time.
The driver may, if preferred, be signalled by a separate or additional
whistle valve opened on the engine for the purpose. To do this. I use
a cylinder of rather larger diameter placed on the engine or tender,
and work the whistle valve by connecting it with the piston rod. My
Invention giving me an unlimited amount of motive power at command
on the engine, by increasing the diameter of the cylinders, I enable
any guard (by adding mechanical contrivances) to shut off, steam, or
reverse the engine instanter, in case of need. The guards, when greater
power required, obtain it by giving one or more additional strokes of
the piston, emptying the cylinder each time. After effecting the object
required he allows the air to escape instanter thro' a valve or vent in
his own.cylinder.
The joint I use between the carriages is made on made on the fishing
rod joint principle, the male portion being slightly angular, and when
inserted forms a perfect cup,.air, liquid, and steam tight from metallic
surface alone. To render the joints more than treble air tight an

page_text: inner and smaller tube is brought up thro' the whole length of the
female portion or further; and within the joint, at one or both ends
[also on shoulder half way if desired], india-rubber or elastic cushions
or washers are placed; the two ends of the joint thus meet with india-
rubber pressure also on the shoulder. The chief novelty of this joint
(which I apply for conducting all liquids, gasses, or elastic fluids, as
well as on signal chairs) consists in the inner tube being with the joint
of indefinite length, and preventing escape by compelling the air or
liquid escaping to pass in a backwards and forwards or zig-zag, and in
a direction directly opposite to the stream or current of air or liquid
passing thro' the joint with power and velocity, also combining doublé
or treble india pressures, in addition to the air-tight security obtained
from the metallic surfaces alone.
Outside the joint and cup is a bayonet catch or spring fastening of
any description to secure the joint. These joints I make of any metal,
generally gun metal or brass, grinding in air-tight or not, according to
the purpose required. The reaction of the rubber inside keeps the
joint fixed in the slot. The length and diameter of the joints and
inner tube will be regulated by the purpose required. They may be
made of or cast in gutta percha of any length, and with or without inside
india-rubber shoulders or washers.
By inserting a whistle piece into the driver's end of the conductor, all
the guards, by regulating their piston stroke, can give him the six
'different whistle signals, delivered close to him, which the drivers now
give to the guards, or condensed air may be used by the guards and
these signals given. After a bell or detonator signal is given, the air
may escape thro' a self-acting valve and whistle, and give in fact double
signals.
I also apply my apparatus to give all tlie colored signals as follows:-
J' provide guards and drivers with flags of the colors required, also a
powerful lanthorn containing the same colors for night signaling. The
guard or driver wishing to give a color signal depresses the piston in
his cylinder, and strikes the "look out "signal on the drivers bell, &
hoists the colored flag or 'lamp, which is immediately noticed by the
driver. The passengers could also signal thus if desirable.

page_text: Other colored signals could be shewn at either end of the conductor
by using additional tubes, the pressure of air or liquid at one end
raising a colored piston rod painted the color required, and striking a
bell or detonator at same instant. These pistons or colored liquids
may be raised and seen thro' transparent cylinders if preferred. They
would be placed in a row in a box suspended close to the driver or
guard.
The apparatus used for communicating or signaling on a train is
also applicable, with trifling alterations, to signal at stations, tunnels,
junctions, and all other places on a line of railway where signals are
required. For these stationary signals the conductor chain is in one
length & without joints. I fill it with air, condensed air, gas, or
elastic fluid, or a mixture or combination of liquids, not water alone; at
each end of the chain I fix elastic or air & liquid tight bags to con-
fine the contents of the chain. The latter is placed along the rail or
underground. At the station the opposite end of the chain or bag is
placed in a small cylinder with piston rod acting upon an alarum or
detonators; a similar is placed at the other end, but without signalia,
and by mechanical contrivance the approaching train presses the bag,
discharges the contents, and the piston rod at the station rises and
discharges the signal or alarum. By similar apparatus the pressure of
the train wheels will send communication or signal backwards or to the
station last left. By an apparatus of the same kind, with mechanical
contrivance, the station masters and all other railway officials may
almost instanter place fog or detonator signals across the iron rail to
signal or stop an approaching train. This species of apparatus is
imade either self-acting, or the signal is worked by forced air from
a cylinder or condensed air discharged into the conductor by officials.
Where my telegraph apparatus can remain stationary, I apply my
Invention as a substitute for speaking tubes and bell pulling by wires
generally, and I combine the velocity of the telegraph with the
simplicity and economy of ordinary bell and wire apparatus, and by
ordinary contrivances and weighting the bags or pistons I obtain double
action to and fro by one conductor. The apparatus is applicable on
board. ships, in: famines, ctories, large buildings and houses, and

page_text: establishments of all descriptions, the species of apparatus and signalia,
silent or sounding, be adapted to each case. By attaching the piston
rod to a chain pulley, clock face, and indicator hand, the signalizer
can, with or without a duplicate dial face, work the hand to any-signal
required, by the pressure of air from his cylinder or air vessel. From
the loóker out to the helmsman on board ship, and other purposes, it
will also be applicable.
I also provide guards and drivers with cylinders containing condensed
air, instead. of cylinders worked by pistonsand rod. The requisite and
regulated quantity of densed air is discharged into the conductor, and
rising pistons strike signals on the engine, or wherever they are placed;
the air escapes thro' a valve in either cylinder [with a whistle signal
or not]. By my apparatus.I obtain, apply, and conduct an unlimited
amount of power to any distance, and by allowing it to expand in a
cylinder of the requisite diameter I can. rise & fall or work all kinds
of signals required on trains on railways, or for other purposes.
Where liquids are used and joints required, I add little stop cocks
or other contrivances to the joints. I do not use water only, but a
combination or mixture of any liquids not liable to freeze or congeal
or evaporate thro' the conductor or bags. I obtain generally the power
to signal by liquids, by pressure of the near bag causing the other
distant bags to swell and raise a piston & rod in cylinders opposite,
and. I use liquids as a telegraph on railways only unless confined
in bags.
My Invention is also applicable, and by similar enlarged apparatus
I obtain, conduct, and apply motive power for working breaks on
express and other trains instanter, and in releasing the wheels and
breaks instanter also.
On all or any of the breaks or passenger carriages I fix a cylinder
of larger diameter, with a piston and rod working perpendicularly or
horizontally therein; the diameter being regulated by the amount of
break power required. The piston when at rest will be about half an
inch from the bottom of the cylinder. The piston rod is connected
with and acts upon an iron beam or levers, and by ordinary mechanical
appliances the motive power of the rising piston and rod is brought to

page_text: bear upon the wheels, or to work any description of break to which it
may be attached.
I cause the piston in every break cylinder throughout a train to rise.
simultaneously, with enormous and unlimited power, by the same
nieans as I employ to enable the guards and drivers to raise the pistons.
in the small cylinders attached to the signalia, viz. atmospheric air or;
condensed air, being forced thro' a conductor of quarter inch diameter
into the distant cylinders.; The conductor and joints linking and.
unlinking instanter between each carriage is similar to the signal
conductor, and the cylinders are also connected with each other in the.
same manner..
Unless condensed air be used, I find the guards and drivers may
work the breaks with two or more strokes from their signalizing
cylinders. I prefer their using small metallic air vessels containing
any quantity of highly condensed, and sufficient to break the whole
train several times during each journey. By opening a small valve,
the whole of the breaks are released instanter.
These break pistons ought to work true and air tight, as in steam
cylinders, but where cheaper cylinders are preferred I introduce, below
the pistons, elastic or air, tight bags of india-rubber, gutta percha,
or other material; the air or condensed air rushing in will swell the
bags and raise every piston and apply every break instanter and
simultaneously, or slowly, if preferred, at the driver's option.
I also apply these break cylinders, with certain alterations, in lieu of
the present buffers, which are found almost useless in collisions.
The piston & rod of course works horizontally, and are placed in
front of the engines and carriages. The size, length, strength of metal,
and diameter are regulated by the degree of elastic resistance power
(and bursting power) required on the engines or carriages whereon
they may be placed.
My Invention enables the elastic power of buffers to be regulated
according to the position or place of the carriages on which they are
fixed, and by regulating this buffer power, which I do to an unlimited
extent, the rear carriages and the whole train may begin to move
before the buffers powers on the engine and leading carriages are
exhausted (on violent collision in front).

page_text: The buffer pistons will work in the cylinders true, or sufficiently
true for ordinary travelling, and may be kept at the front end of the
cylinder by ordinary means.
Where enormous buffer or elastic power is required, I obtain it to
an unlimited extent as follows:-I fill an elastic or air-tight bag with
air, gas, condensed air, or other elastic fluids, of any required density;
this is inserted into the cylinder behind the piston. When collision
occurs the piston is forced against bag, but the latter being elastic, and
its contents also, the elastic buffer power I thus obtain is almost
unlimited. If highly densed air be used, I fill the bags thro' a valve
after they are placed in the cylinders, and at any time can refill them.