CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY BREAKS AND SIGNALS
Year: 1857

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Tatlow and Henry Hodg-
kinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 1st August 1857.
We, JAMES TATLOW, of Wirksworth, in the County of Derby, Manu-
facturer, and HENRY HODGKINSON, also of Wirksworth, in the County of
Derby, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY BREAKS AND SIGNALS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in applying to the locomotive engine, tender, break
van, or other carriage a break or drag, in such manner that the whole or
portion of the weight of such locomotive, tender, or carriage shall be taken
off the wheels and transferred to a shoe or drag.
The method in which we construct and apply this break or drag is as
follows Beneath the locomotive, tender, break van, or other carriage we
place a shaft, upon which is centred at each end a bar or rod, the opposite.
ends of which have attached to them the break or drag. These breaks or
drags are placed above the rails, and are formed with a flange similar to the
flange on the tyre of the wheels. These drags are made of soft iron or steel,
and plane or toothed on the under side to increase the grip or bite upon the

page_text: rails. The drags may also be formed in two or more pieces, so that when
the part subject to wear becomes destroyed it may easily be replaced. To the
top part of the drag is placed a vertical bar, the upper part of which is
toothed on one side, into which gears the teeth of a of a pinion, set in motion
by toothed gearing and a hand wheel or other contrivance, similar to those now
in use for applying the ordinary breaks. By the arrangement thus described,
when the drag is applied to the rail, the friction is so greatly increased that
a train can be stopped far more readily and rapidly than by the ordinary
breaks which act upon the wheel only, at the same time the wear and tear
to the tyre is much diminished.
Should it be deemed expedient, we also cause sand, grit, or other material
to be passed through a hole in the front or other part of the drag, in order to
increase the frictional contact between the drag and the rail.
In connection with the above improved drag or break we propose to use an
improved signal, constructed and acting as follows, for the purpose of com-
municating between the engine driver and the guard or other person or persons
in charge of the train:-To the under side of the locomotive engine, tender, and
carriages is fixed a series of hinged bearings having eyes or sockets in their
lower ends, through which is passed a rod or rods; one end of each of these
rods is formed with a hinged square socket or tube, and the opposite end of
each of the rods is furnished with a square piece, which fits into the brass
socket or tube. The length of these square pieces and their sockets should
be such as to allow of sufficient play between the carriages forming the
train. Upon the engine or tender and the guard's van or other carriage is is
placed a dial, having marked thereon, in exact accordance with each other,
a series of signals. Round this dial an index hand or pointer is caused to
revolve, and point to any particular signal marked upon the dial. The method
of connecting the pointers with the series of rods beneath the carriages is as
follows: The index hands are centred upon a rod turning in brackets. Upon
this rod is keyed a bevil wheel, which gears into a similar bevil wheel upon
a vertical shaft, having another bevil wheel upon it which gears into a wheel
upon a horizontal shaft in a line with the rods beneath the carriages. These
horizontal shafts terminate in a manner similar to the rods beneath the car-
riages, so that the line of communication between the engine driver and the
guard or other person may be completed. For further calling the attention
of the guard or driver when giving the signals we place a bell or alarum, which
is struck or sounded at the same time that the index is turned. Balance.
weights are placed upon the rods beneath the carriages, so that, after a signal

page_text: has been given, the weights restore the index hands always to their normal
position. Should it be found more convenient, the dial may be made to
revolve, and the index hands remain stationary. If desired, a communication
may be established between the interior of any carriage or carriages and the
engine driver or guard or other person by an arrangement of gearing similar
to that before described.