IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF RAILWAY SIGNALS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Theodore Sington, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
AND WORKING OF RAILWAY SIGNALS."
Sealed the 2nd July 1875, and dated the 6th January 1875..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Theodore Sington at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th January 1875.
I, THEODORE SINGTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
5 do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF RAILWAY SIGNALS,” to be as
follows:-

page_text: Fourthly. The mode of interlocking the signal levers with the point
levers.
Fifthly. The use of the electric current for working the signal.
Sixthly. A powerful electric bell intended to be used as a fog
bell.
Seventhly. An improved mode of arranging the signals and posts
arising out of the greater facilities offered by this new agency.
The signal, the shape of which varies with its position and purpose, is
suspended from a horizontal arm attached to the signal post by its
longitudinal axis, and is so weighted by an adjustable weight that when
in its normal or "danger" position it hangs so as to present its full
face to any one approaching it along the railroad.
Between the post and the signal a space intervenes large enough to
allow a powerful electro-magnet to be placed (protected from the weather
by a suitable box properly secured to the signal frame), the magnet is:
connected with the signal house by a proper wire for the transmission of
the electric current.
A portion of the signal (hereafter called an arm) is so placed in
juxtaposition with the magnet as to be acted upon by its armature when
it is moved by the attractive power of the magnet.
The action of the magnet on the signal through the armature is as
follows:-The armature which is provided with a small pivot at each
end works in two sockets so as to be able, either to lie flat on the face of
the magnet's poles, or to be inclined to the same at the angle of forty-
five degrees. To the back of the armature an arm is attached, to one
end of which small friction wheels are fixed that act on the arm attached
to the axis of the signal, and at the other end are adjustable weights
that keep the armature in its normal position, namely, at the angle of
forty-forty degrees to the face of the poles of the magnet; when it is
in this its normal position the signal shows its full face to the railroad.
Whenever the circuit of wire between the magnet and its battery is
closed by a movement of the signal lever, the magnet acts on its
armature so as to make the same lie flat on the face of the poles; this
position is retained until the circuit of wire is again broken by a move-
ment of the signal levers, when the armature acted upon by the
adjustable weights above mentioned resumes its normal position.

page_text: The signal and semaphore levers are ranged in a line continuous to the
point levers on a suitable table or stand fixed to the floor of the signal
house; they are in the form of a small lever handle of a convenient
length and section to be handled, and are placed each in a recessed
hollow or box formed in the top of the table; they work horizontally 5
round a pin or centre fixed to the bottom of the recess close to the back
of the same, so as to permit the lever to move round one hundred and
eighty degrees.
'
On the under side of the lever handle two small metal knobs or
buttons are fixed, properly insulated, connected to insulated wires passing 1
through the length of the lover and into the enclosed space of the tablo
or stand, and thence one to the caution and one to the danger signal.
On the bottom of the recess or box corresponding knobs or buttons are
fixed, one circular, the other oblong, connected by means of wires passing
through the enclosed space of the table or stand to the batteries. Both 1
the knobs and the wire are insulated.
At the end of the lever handle a knob is fixed at right angles to it,
rising above the level of the table or stand top.
In suitable places on the bottom of the recess or box labels with the
words "danger," "caution," "open," or their equivalents, are fixed, 2
and on the table or stand top opposite each recess or box are a series of
labels with the words "up main,” “down main,” as may be required.
Over each recess or box a lid is fixed, working on hinges or in sockets,
with a hole pierced through the front part over the knob fixed to the
lever handle and an arm attached to the back, which works through an 2
aperture in the table top with every movement of the lid.
-
The above describes the construction and all the different parts of the
table or stand with the signal and semaphore hand levers; the mode of
working the same and interlocking them with the point levers is as
follows: The principle adopted for preventing the signalman from g
working wrong signals and semaphores (generally called interlocking) is
that of making every movement of the point levers close the lid of such
of the recesses or boxes containing the signals and semaphores that are not
to be used in conjunction with that position of the point lever, and cause
the lids of those recesses or boxes to open the signal and semaphore levers 3
in which may be used in conjunction with it, thus making it impossible

page_text: for the signalman to work a wrong signal or semaphore lever, as all such
have their lids closed, and could only be worked by having them forcibly
opened.
. The mode of interlocking is effected by simply attaching to the spindle
or axis connected with the point lever, and which passes under the whole
length of the table or stand (as described above), arms under such of the
signal and semaphore hand levers as are to work in conjunction with the
point lever, and to connect the extremities of theso arms with the
extremities of the arms attached to the lids of the recesses or boxes by
means of suitable bands or cords with loops to such of the other arms as
may be necessary, thus forming a complete system of interlocking the
lids of the recesses or boxes containing the signal and semaphore hand
levers.
All the hand levers working the signals and semaphores are in their
normal position at right angles to the back of the recess or box, and
whilst in this position have no influence on the magnet; and the signals
and semaphores are therefore also in their normal position. If whilst
in this position the lid is down the signalman is enabled to see that the
hand lever is in its normal position by the protruding of the knob
attached to the hand lever through the hole in the lid; this can be
emphasised by color.
Should the man have omitted after working the hand lever to return
the same to its normal position again he will have his attention drawn
to the fact by hearing the lid when closing strike the top of the knob
and produce a bell-like note, and the knob will keep the lid partially
open, and it will remain so until the hand lever is moved to its normal
position, when it will close.
When the hand lever is exposed and the signalman wishes to work his
signals he moves the hand lever to the left for "caution," and to the right
for "open," through an arc of ninety degrees for each, upon which the
metal knobs or buttons attached to the bottom of the hand lever come
in contact with the knobs or buttons fixed to the bottom of the recess or
box upon which the circuit between the batteries and the magnet is
completed, and the electric current acts on the magnet, which imme-
diately works the signal in the manner described above. Upon moving
the lever arm back to its normal position again the contact between the

page_text: knobs or buttons is broken, and the magnet losing its power ceases to
influence the signal or semaphore.
A fog bell constructed of a bell magnet and armature could be worked
on the same principle on which the signal and magnet work, the friction
wheels of the latter being substituted by a clapper. The bell could be
made to ring at stated intervals as long as the line is blocked, & cease
doing so when the same is clear. A distinction between "caution" and
"danger" could be formed by the greater or less rapidity of the ringing.
This could be worked by employing a toothed wheel insulated, to form
and break the circuit of the current between the magnet and the battery:
at regular or irregular intervals as it revolved. This wheel could be
actuated by means of a clock motion, which could be worked and
stopped at will. This clock motion forms no portion of the Invention,
as it can be made without difficulty, and is no novelty.
The fog bell should be attached to tho signal post at a convenient 1
height from the ground, and be sheltered from the weather; it may
either be attached to the "caution "
or to the "danger" post, or one
may be attached to cach.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Theodore Sington in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th July 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THEODORE
SINGTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Sixth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Theodore Sington, Her special license
that I, the said Theodore Sington, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Theodore Sington, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term

page_text: therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF RAILWAY SIGNALS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Theodore Sington, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
O Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Theodore Sington, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
3 following statement and accompanying Drawings:-

page_text: figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation thereof:-
In Sheet 1 of the Drawings Figs. 1 to 6 illustrate the construction and
mode of fixing the signal to the signal post.
The signal a, a, (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4), the shape of which varies
with its position and purpose, is supported on a horizontal arm b, b,
attached to the signal post c, c, by its longitudinal axis, and is so
weighted by an adjustable weight d, d, that when in its normal or
"danger position" it hangs so as to present its full face to any one
approaching it along the railroad, as shown at Fig. 1.
Between the post c, c, and the signal a spaco intervenes large enough
to allow a powerful electro-magnet to be placed (protected from the
weather by a suitable box e, e, properly secured to the signal frame)
the magnet is connected with the signal house by a proper wire for the
transmission of the electric current, as herein-after described. ff, is the 1
colored lamp, and 9, 9, the lamp.
In some cases I prefer to place the box e, e, containing the electric-
magnet on the outside of the signal post c, c, as shown at Fig. 5, and
in cases where the rising and falling semaphore arm is used instead
of the "face and edge" signal I arrange the same as shown at
Fig. 6.
The action of the electro-magnet on the signal is illustrated at
Figs. 7 & 8, which are side and end viows of the apparatus contained
in the box e, e, drawn to a larger scale.
A portion or arm a*, a*, of the signal is inside the box e, e, is so 2
placed in juxtaposition with the electro-magnet h, h, as to be noted
upon by its armaturo i, i, when it is moved by the attrative power of
tho magnet.
The action of the magnet h, h, on the signal a, a, through the
armature i, i, is as follows:-The armature which is provided with a 3
small pivot at each end works in two sockets so as to be able either to
lie flat on the face of the magnet poles (as shown in dotted lines), or to
be inclined to the same at an angle of about forty-five degrees. To the
back of the armature an arm k, k, is attached, to one end of which small
friction wheels 1, 2, arc fixed that act on the arm a* attached to the axis 3
of the signal, and at the other end are adjustable weights m, m, that

page_text: keep the armature in its normal position, namely, at about the angle of
forty-five degrees to the face of the poles of the magnet h, h; when it is
in this its normal position the signal a, a, shows its full face to the
railroad (see Fig. 1).
Whenever the circuit of wire between the magnet and its battery is
closed by a movement of the signal lever the magnet h, h, acts on its
armature i, i, so as to make the same lie flat on the face of the poles, as
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7; this position is retained until the
. circuit of wire is again broken by a movement of the signal levers, when
the armature i, i, is acted upon by the adjustable weights m, m, above
mentioned resumes its normal position.
When the armature changes its normal for its abnormal position it
acts through the arm k, k, and friction wheels 1, 2, above mentioned on
the arm a* attached to the axis of the signal a, a, in such a manner that'
5 whilst the arm k of the armature moves through an arc of about forty-
.five degrees the arm a* of the signal is caused to move through an are
of about ninety degrees; the signal d, d, which moves through an aro
similar to that through which the arm moves attached to its axis thus
presents its feather edge to one approaching it along the railroad,
) and thus practically becomes invisible as a signal, as shown at Fig. 2.
Figs. 9 and 10 show another way of arranging the electro-magnet;
and Fig. 11 shows the way of adapting this system to the ordinary
semaphore signals now in use.
In applying the electro-magnet and armature to signals such as are
; now used or are in position and working, all that is necessary is to
attach one end of the armature by means of a rod j,j, (see Fig. 11), to
that part of the existing apparatus to which the wire from the signal
box is or should be attached, the wire being of course first removed.
I may here remark that it is not absolutely necessary that the electro-
magnet should stand upright, that is, with the poles uppermost; it will
work equally well lying flat, as shown at Figs. 9 and 10, or in a diagonal
position, or even reversed, that is, with the poles downwards; when in
either of the latter positions the weights above described for drawing
and holding the armature off from the poles of the magnet, when it is
not in action, may be dispensed with, as the armature will fall by its
own weight; its action can if necessary be assisted by a small counter-
weight. The reversing of the magnet and armature of course reverses
c

page_text: signal; they are in form of a small lever handle d, d, of a convenient
length and section to be handled, and are placed each in a recessed
hollow or box e, e, formed in the top of the table ƒiƒ; they work hori-
zontally round a pin or centre 9 fixed to the bottom of the recess, closo
to the back of the same, so as to permit the lever to move round one
hundred and eighty degrees.
•
On the under side of the lever handle d, d, (see Fig. 17,) two small
metal knobs or buttons h, h, are fixed, properly insulated, connected to
insulated wires i, i, passing through the length of the lever and into the
enclosed space of the table or stand, and thence one to the caution and
one to the danger signal.
On the bottom of the recess or box corresponding knobs or buttons k, k,
are fixed, one circular the other oblong, connected by means of wires
passing through the enclosed space of the table or stand to the batteries.
Both the knobs and the wire are insulated.
At the end of the lever handle a knob 2, 1, is fixed at right angles
to it, rising above the level of the table or stand top.
In suitable places on the bottom of the recess or box labels with the
words "danger," "caution," or other equivalents are fixed, and on the
table or stand top opposite each recess or box are a series of labels with
the words "up main” “down main,” as may be required.
Over each recess or box a lid m, m, is fixed working on hinges or in
sockets with a hole pierced through the front part over the knob fixed to
the lever handle, and an arm n, n, attached to the back which works
through an aperture in the table top with every movement of the lid.
The above described the construction and all the different parts of
the table or stand with the signal or semaphore hand levers; the mode
of working the same and interlocking them with the point levers is as
follows:-The principle adopted for preventing the signalman from
working wrong signals and semaphores (generally called interlocking) is
that of making every movement of the point levers close the lid of such
of the recesses or boxes containing the signals and semaphores that are
not to be used in conjunction with that position of the point lever, and
cause the lids of those recesses or boxes to open the signal and semaphore
levers in which may be used in conjunction with it, thus making it
impossible for the signalman to work a wrong signal or semaphore lever

page_text: as all such have their lids closed and could only be worked by having
them forcibly opened.
The modo of interlocking is effected by simply attaching to the
spindle or axis b, b, connected with the point lever a, a, and which
passes under the whole length of the table or stand (as described above) 5
arms c, c; under such of the signals and semaphore hand levers as are
to work in conjunction with the point lever and to connect the
extremities of these arms with the extremities of the arms attached
to the lids of the recesses or boxes by means of suitable bands or
cords o, o, with loops to such of the other arms as may
bo necessary,
thus forming a complete system of interlocking the lids m, m, of
the recesses or boxes containing the signal and semaphoro hand
lovers.
1
All the hand levers d, d, working the signals and semaphores are in
their normal position at right angles to the back of the recess or box e, e, 1
and whilst in this position have no influence on the magnet, and the
signals and semaphores are therefore also in their normal position. If
whilst in this position the lid m, m, is down the signalman is enabled to
see that the hand lever d, d, is in its normal position by the protruding
of the knob attached to the hand lever through the holo in the lid; this 2
can be emphasised by color.
Should the man have omitted after working the hand lever d, d, to
return the same to its normal position again he will have his attention
drawn to the fact by having the lid m, m, when closing strike the top of
the knob 1, 2, and produce a bell-like note, and the knob will keep the 2
lid partially open, and it will remain so until the hand lever d, d, is
moved to its normal position when it will close.
When the hand lever d, d, is exposed and the signalman wishes to
work his signals he moves the hand lever to the left for "caution," and
to the right for "open," through an arc of ninety degrees for each, upon 3
which the metal knobs or buttons attached to the bottom of the hand
lever come into contact with the knobs or buttons fixed to the bottom of
the recess or box upon which the circuit between the batteries and tho
magnet is completed and the electric current acts on the magnet which
immediately works the signal in the manner described above, with 3
reference to Sheet 1 of the Drawings. Upon moving the lever arm
back to its normal position again the contact between the knobs or

page_text: buttons is broken and the magnet losing its power ceases to influence
the signals or semaphores.
Contact between the terminals of the wires from the battery and the
signals can also be made by any of the ordinary appliances now used for
bringing the ends of two wires together, such as any of the various
forms of the "pushers," more especially when only two signals (such as
"line clear" and "line blocked") are required.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed or carried into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I
claim as my Invention the general construction and arrangement of
apparatus for working railway signals, as herein-before described and
illustrated on the Drawings annexed, or any mere modification or imita-
tion thereof, constructed and operating in substantially the same or a
similar manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said Theodore Sington, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
זוTAMAי הסממנית