Self-acting Railway Signalling and Point Locking and Indicating and Bell-ringing Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th July, 1892-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Self-acting Railway Signalling and Point Locking and Indicating
and Bell-ringing Apparatus.
1, GEORGE HENRY WOOD, of Lund House Green, near Harrogate, in the
County of York, Confectioner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has reference to automatically actuating apparatus from some part
or parts attached to an engine or other portion of a train in motion, the sema-
phores at railway crossings, known as "block signals,"--at the same time by suitably
arranged mechanism to automatically cause the engine whistle to be sounded both
in foggy and clear weather--and thereby attract the attention of the engine driver
or stoker or guard. This I call a blind signal. In connection with the above-
mentioned block signalling apparatus I use mechanism by which I cause both the
open and closed points of the crossing lines to be so locked in position that it is
impossible for one point to become closed or the other opened accidentally, such
change being also automatically effected after a train has passed the said points or
as otherwise required.
My object is to ensure perfect safety to passing trains and the dispensing with
an attendant signal man (particularly at country stations) and his liability to
forgetfulness through overwork or otherwise, I also employ in connection with the
abovenamed mechanism an indicator shewing the position of a passing train.
Connected to the indicator is a bell that rings in whichever direction a train is
passing or has passed.
1001
G. H. WOOD,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Self-acting Railway Signalling and Point Locking and Indicating
and Bell-ringing Apparatus.
I, GEORGE HENRY WOOD, of Lund House Green, near Harrogate, in the
County of York, Confectioner, 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:-
This invention has reference to automatically actuating apparatus, from some
part or parts attached to an engine or other portion of a train in motion for the
semaphores at railway crossings, known as "block-signals," at the same time by
suitably arranged mechanism to automatically cause the engine whistle to be
sounded both in foggy and clear weather, and thereby attract the attention of the
engine driver or stoker or guard. This I call a blind signal. In connection with
the abovementioned block signalling apparatus, I use mechanism by which I cause
both the open and closed points of the crossing lines to be so locked in position
that it is impossible for one point to become closed or the other opened accidentally,
such change being also automatically effected after a train has passed the said
points or as otherwise required. My object is to ensure perfect safety to passing
trains and the dispensing with an attendant signal man (particularly at country
stations) and his liability to forgetfulness through overwork or otherwise.
I also employ in connection with the abovementioned mechanism an indicator
shewing the position of a passing train.

page_text: Connected to the indicator is a bell that rings in whichever direction a train is
passing or has passed.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1, is a plan shewing my improvements applied.
Fig. 2, is a side elevation, partly in section, of Fig. 1.
According to my improvements A. is a signal situated at any convenient distance
from the station signal B. In connection with the signals A and B, are cross-
bars C and D, having cranks E and F to which levers G and H are connected at
one end and pivotted to the rail J at the other end.
The cross-bars C and D are connected with rods K₁ operating the semaphores or
arms L' of the signals A and B at one end and secured to the permanent way at
the other end. My blind signalling arrangement consists of levers K and L secured
at one end to the cross-bars C and D by means of rods M and N, and at the other
working in slide boxes O and P.
R is a cross-bar to which is secured the point locking block S by means of
pivotted rod T. U is a short cross-bar for working the other point locking block V,
which is secured to the cross-bar U by means of pivotted rod W.
X is an indicator and bell ringing arrangement which consists of upright Y
carrying indicators Z. The bell arrangement consists of an inverted dome Z' and
superposed plate Z³. Within the dome is a plate connected to the plate Z. The
hammer for striking the dome is carried upon the spindle of a pinion gearing with
a spur wheel having upon its spindle a pinion gearing with a spur wheel upon or
connected with the upright Y.
Z³ is a cross-bar having a crank Z to which a lever Z is connected at one end
and pivotted at its other end to the rail J.
1 is a wire passing from cross-bar C to cross-bar Z and connected with
indicator X for working the same in the required manner. 2 is a similar wire
passing from cross-bar C to cross-bar Z³ and connected to the point locking cross-
bar U for working the block V. 3 is a wire passing from cross-bar D to another
indicator and bell ringing apparatus exactly like indicator and bell ringing
apparatus X, the wire passes forward to the same cross-bar as No. 4 wire, to which
cross-bar is a lever exactly like lever Z. 4 is a wire passing from cross-bar D to
cross-bar R and working the point locking block S; the wire passes forward to
another cross-bar exactly like cross-bar Z.
The last vehicle or guards van of the train is provided with a runner A¹ (for
depressing the levers fixed to the rails) secured to a screw A2 worked by a hand
wheel A or otherwise from such vehicle as may be best adapted for the vehicle to
which the runner A' is fixed, so that the said runner can be put in and out of
contact with the levers on the rails when required.
B is a wheel (operated by the levers of the blind signal) secured under foot-
board B of the engine, B3 being a rod communicating with the whistle of the
'engine.
The action is as follows:-
On the runner A' depressing the lever G the semaphore of the signal A is put at
danger and the blind signal lever K is raised so that should another train follow
before the last vehicle of the first train has depressed the lever Z, so as to clear the
*line as hereinafter explained, the lever K would operate the whistle of the second
train, and attract the drivers attention to the signal A being at "danger."
By the depression of the lever G the lever Z is raised by means of the wire 2
which also operates the cross-bar U, thereby causing the block V to be withdrawn,
the wire 1 turning the indicator X, and causing the bell Z¹ to ring. The train goes
forward to the next signal B, depresses the lever H, and raises the blind signal
lever L in the same manner.
On depression of the lever H the point locking block S is withdrawn by means
of wire 4. The train then passes forward to the lever Z³, and on the runner A¹
depressing it, the lever G is raised, so lowering the arm of the signal A and putting

page_text: the line at "clear"; the lever H being raised in a similar manner by the next
lever Z, further on the line.
My invention may also be worked by hand when required by means of a loose
lever connected with or fixed to the upright of the indicator so that such indicator
or upright is caused to operate the cross-bars and the levers connected therewith in
the required manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction and use of self-acting railway signalling and point locking
and indicating and bell ringing apparatus operating as and for the purposes such as
shown and described.
2. In connection with railway signalling the employment of a blind signal
apparatus operating so that when the lever controlling the signal places it at danger,
on a train approaching the said signal an audible sound or whistle is given to the
driver calling his attention to the signal being at "danger" substantially as shown
and described.
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1000
JOHN E. WALSH,
Royal Exchange Chambers, Boar Lane, Leeds,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Royal Exchange Chambers, Boar Lane, Leeds,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.