IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Tyer of Ashwin Street Dalston in the County
of Middlesex for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS
FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS,
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Tyer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th April 1882.
EDWARD TYER of Ashwin Street Dalston in the County of Middlesex,
IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS".
In the Specification to Letters Patent granted to me on the 1st July 1881
I described a method of signalling on railways by means of electric lights, and I
described apparatus for operating according to that method. My present invention
consists in improvements in the construction and arrangement of various parts of
such apparatus, whereby I am enabled to simplify them and render their action
more certain.
For the purpose of effecting make or break of electrical contact by the passage
of a train over a certain part of the railway I employ the following arrangement.
At the side of the line I mount on a horizontal axis a permanent magnet
weighted so that it lies horizontally or nearly so, and near the axis over the
magnet but not touching it I arrange an adjustable stud projecting down from a
bracket clamped to the rail, so that on the rail being deflected by the passage of a
train, this stud presses on the magnet and causes it to rock through a considerable
arc. Near to the end of this magnet, within a weather-tight case of non-magnetic
material, I mount on a horizontal axis another magnet provided with suitable
arms for making or breaking contact by pressing together or separating spring
contacts within the case connected to the external circuit. The magnet within the
case presenting its poles towards those of the external magnet follows the move-
ments of the latter, and accordingly when this is moved by a passing train the
internal magnet is caused to rock on its axis and by this movement it makes or
breaks the electrical contacts as the case may be. Each magnet is preferably made
of approximately horse-shoe form pressing both its poles towards those of the
other.

page_text: In the Specification above referred to I described an apparatus in which n
polarised relay for determining whether of two coloured lights should be displayed
as a signal is combined with another relay for opening and closing the signalling
and repeating circuits. According to my present invention I simplify this
apparatus dispensing with one of the electro-magnets in the following manner.
I provide one electro-magnet consisting of two separate coiled cores lying side by
side. At the one end of these cores is mounted the cylindrical arinature operating
as the polarised relay making contact for the one or the other of the coloured
lights as determined by the action of the signalman on his lever or block signalling
instrument. At the other end of the cores is mounted a spring armature having
suitable springs for making or breaking the contacts of the required circuits.
Thus when an electric current passes through the coils of the electromagnet it
performs the double function of attracting its armature at one end thus making
and breaking the necessary contacts, and of moving the cylindrical armaturo at its
other end thus closing the circuit for the one or the other of the coloured lights.
In order that the movement by the signalman of one of his signal lovers may
bring into condition for operation the electric circuit required without necessitating
the use of more than one line wire, 1 arrange the movement of the lever to work a
comminutator of the following kind. It consists of a sliding rod which is pressed
by a spring against an arm connected to the signal lover. On the rod are fixert
several insulated metal rings or plates, and at the side of the rod, are arranged
insulated springs connected respectively to the several circuits, each spring having
a stud which bears against the side of the rod. The rings or plates on the rod are
made of such breadth and in such positions relatively to the spring studs that
when the signal lover is moved the rod following its motion causes the required
contacts to be made and broken by bringing some of its rings or plates to face
some of the studs and others of the rings or plates away from others of the studs.
This form of commutator is obviously applicable for closing and opening electrical
circuits for signalling according to methods other than that described in my
previous Specification above referred to. In like manner the improved apparatus
which I have herein before described for making or breaking contact by passage
of a train may be employed in any system of electrical signalling in which the
passage of a train over a part of the line is required to close or open a signalling
circuit.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Tyer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd October 1882.
"
EDWARD TYER of Ashwin Street Dalston in the County of Middlesex
IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS for SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS"
In the Specification to Letters Patent granted to me on the 1st July 1881 I
described a method of signalling on railways by means of electric lights, and I
described apparatus for operating according to that method. My present invention
consists in improvements in the construction and arrangement of various parts of
such apparatus, whereby I am enabled to simplify them and render their action
more certain.
For the purpose of effecting make or break of electrical contact by the passage
of a train over a certain part of the railway I employ the following arrangement.
At the side of the line I mount on a horizontal axis a permanent magnet
weighted so that it lies horizontally or nearly so, and near the axis over the magnet
but not touching it I arrange an adjustable stud projecting down from a bracket
clamped to the rail, so that on the rail being deflected by the passage of a train,
this stud presses on the magnet and causes it to rock through a considerable arc.
Near to the end of this magnet, within a weather-tight case of non-magnetic
material, I mount on a horizontal axis another magnet provided with suitable arms
for making or breaking contact by pressing together or separating spring contacts
within the case connected to the external circuit. The magnet within the caso
presenting its poles towards those of the external magnet follows the movements of
the latter, and accordingly when this is moved by a passing train the internal magnet
is caused to rock on its axis and by this movement it makes or breaks the electrical
contacts as the case may be. Each magnet is preferably of approximately horse-
shoe form presenting both its poles towards those of the other.
In the Specification above referred to I described an apparatus in which a
polarised relay for determining whether of two coloured lights should be displayed
as a signal is combined with another relay for opening and closing the signalling
and repeating circuits. According to my present invention I simplify this apparatus
dispensing with one of the electro-magnets in the following manner. I provide one
electro-magnet consisting of two separate coiled cores lying side by side. At the
one end of these cores is mounted the cylindrical armature operating as the polarised.
relay making contact for the one or the other of the coloured lights as determined
by the action of the signalman on his lever or block signalling instrument.
the other end of the cores is mounted a spring armature having suitable springs
for making or breaking the contacts of the required circuits. Thus when an
electric current passes through the coils of the electro-magnet it performs the
double function of attracting its armature at one end thus making and breaking
the necessary contacts, and of moving the cylindrical armature at its other end thus
closing the circuit for the one or the other of the coloured lights.
At
In order that the movement by the signalman of one of his signal levers may
bring into condition for operation the electric circuit required without necessitating
the use of more than one line wire, I arrange the movement of the lever to work
a commutator of the following kind. It consists of a sliding rod which is pressed
by a spring against an arm conuected to the signal lever. On the rod are fixed
several insulated metal rings or plates and at the side of the rod are arranged
insulated springs connected respectively to the several circuits, each spring having
atud which bears against the side of the rod. The rings or plates on the rod are

page_text: made of such breadth and in such positions relatively to the spring studs that when
the signal lever is moved the rod following its motion causes the required contacts
to be made and broken by bringing some of its rings or plates to face some of its
studs, and others of the rings or plates away from others of the studs. This form
of commutator is obviously applicable for closing and opening electrical currents
for signalling according to methods other than that described in my previous
Specification above referred to. In like manner the improved apparatus which I
have herein before described for making or breaking contact by passage of a train
may be employed in any system of electrical signalling in which the passage of a
train over a part of the line is required to close or open a signalling circuit.
Fig 1 is a section and Fig 2 is a plan of improved apparatus which I employ
for causing electrical contact to be made by the passage of a train over part
of the railway On the rail R between a pair of sleepers I clamp an arm A
projecting laterally from the rail, and having at its end an adjustable screw a
Under this I mount on a horizontal axis a permanent magnet M of elongated
horse-shoe form loaded with a weight m so ns to keep the magnet horizontal or
nearly so, and within a weather tight case C I mount on centres bb another
permanent magnet B of nearly circular form, this magnet having a spring arm ])
projecting down from it with its lower end at a little distance from the edge of a
inetal strip E. This strip is fixed to an insulated plate P to which is connected
the line wire L, the casing C magnet B and its arin D being connected by a
wire T to earth When a train passes over the rail R its deflection causes the
screw a to press down one arm of the magnet M, rising its polar ends. The
ends N S of the magnet B are thus by attraction caused to rise and the lower end
of its arm D makes contact with the metal strip E thus making electrical connection
of the line wire L to earth T. This apparatus modified as shewn in Figs 3 and 4
serves also for causing electrical contact to be broken by the passage of a train.
In this case the one wire L of the electrical circuit is connected to an insulated,
plate P on which are fixed several springs X. The other wire L' is connected to an
insulated plate P¹ from which project pins p making contact with the ends of tho
springs X. When owing to the passage of a train the arms N S of the magnet B
ascends the lower part of its spring arm D pressing against the springs X pushes
them away from the pins p'and thus breaks the electrical connection of the
wires L Li.
Instead of employing two separate relays as formerly described for making
contact with either of the two coloured lights, I combine the two relays in one
apparatus of which Fig 5 is a plan and Fig 6 is an end view. In this apparatus
MM are two limbs of an electro magnet between which is fixed a permanent
magnet N. S. The ends of the limbs M M and the limbs NS present themselves at
four parts of the circumference of the divided cylindrical armature H which is
polarised by induction from the permanent magnet N S and which when the
electro-magnet M M is excited by a current of electricity is caused to turn partly
round in the one direction or the other according to the direction of the electrical
current through the coils of M. M. On the axis of the armature H. is fixed an arm h,
which according as H turns in the one direction or the other makes contact with
the one or the other of the two springs R R the one connected by a wire to the
green light and the other to the red light. At the other end of the magnet M M
there is mounted an armature A which is pressed back by a spring a and has
a stud a pressing back n contact spring X, but which, when the agnot M M is
excited is attracted allowing X to make contact with a spring Y and itself making
contact with a spring Z. The electrical connections are arranged as follows. On
the base of the apparatus are fixed four insulated plates P P P P³. The line
wire L from the contact making apparatus shewn by Figs 1 and 2 is connected to

page_text: the plate P which is connected through the coils M M to the plate P¹ and this is
connected to the continuation L' of the line wire which extends to the contact
breaking apparatus shown by Figs 3 and 4 and then through the commutator,
battery and indicator at the signal cabin to earth. The plate P is connected to
earth and to the spring X so that when the armature A is attracted bringing X
and Y into contact there is connection made from L' through P¹, the coils
of M M, P, Y, X and P to earth and thus the attraction of the armature A is
maintained notwithstanding that contact is not maintained for the line wire L. The
plate P is connected to one pole of the local battery employed for working the
light signals and as this plate carries the spring Z whenever the armature A is
attracted making contact with Z, the local battery is put in connection with the
metal of the relay, the cylindrical armaturo H its arm and the one or the other
of the springs R R' so as to produce the green or the red light according as a + or
current is being transmitted through the line wire L When this current is
caused to cease by the passage of a train at the contact breaking apparatus, the
magnet M M loses its attractive power, and the armature A is pressed back by its
spring a breaking contact at Z and so extinguishing the light and also breaking
contact of X and Y and thereby completing the line L L ready for a succeeding
action.
a
-
The current, whether + or - caused by the signalman to be transmitted along
the line wire L' according as he desires the one or the other light to appear, is, as
I have previously described, determined not by his will but by the position of the
handle which he employs for transmitting telegraphic block signals or the lever by
which he works the semaphore signal, so that when his signalling handle or lever
is in the position corresponding to line blocked or danger, the current transmitted
is necessarily such as to produce the red light, and when his handle is in the
position corresponding to line clear or safety the current transmitted is such as to
produce the green light. Fig. 7 shews an arrangment of commutator which 1
employ for this purpose, A is a lever which may be connected either to the block
signalling handle or to the ordinary signal lever. Against this lever a sliding
rod B is pressed by a spring b. On this rod is fixed a number of insulated
metallic rings R R R R* and two insulated plates R and R and at the sides
are fixed insulated plates and contact springs as follow:-
=
✗' connecting to indicator of the block signalling instrument.
X² connecting to the line wire.
✗³ connecting to the
-
pole of the signalling battery.
✗* connecting to the + pole of the signalling battery.
X³ connecting to earth.
-
In the position of the commutator shewn in Fig. 7 which is the position corre-
sponding to line clear or safety, the + pole by X' communicates through R³ with
X of the line wire, and the pole by X communicates through R* with X³ to
earth. When by moving the signalling handle or signal lever to the line blocked
or danger position the lever A and rod B are raised upwards, the contact studs
of X and X are both on the plate R connecting the pole of the battery to the
-
line, and the studs of X and X are both on R³ connecting the + pole to earth.
The lever A or the signalling handle or lever by which it is worked may be
interlocked with the other handles or levers so as to prevent conflicting signals
froin being given.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim :-
First. For causing electrical contact to be made by passage of a train over part
of a railway, the use of apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as
described with reference to Figs 1 and 2.
Second. For causing electrical contact to be broken by the passage of a train
over part of a railway, the use of the modified apparatus substantially as described
with reference to Figs 3 and 4.

page_text: Third. The combination of the polarised relay and the relay for opening and
closing the signalling circuit, substantially as described with reference to Figa 5
and G.
Fourth. The construction of commutator substantially as described with reference
to Fig 7.
In Witness whereof I the said Edward Tyer have hereunto set my hand and
seal this nineteenth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
EDW TYER. (L.S.)