Improvements in Railway Signalling.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 14th May, 1892.
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Signalling.
I, JOHN PRESTON of 11 Friar Street Lancaster Poulterer 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 relates to an improved means for signalling from a signal box on
to a moving locomotive in which electricity is used for transmitting the signal, the
arrangement being adapted especially for use in foggy weather.
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In carrying out my invention I fix on the sleepers in insulating chairs a bar or
bars of copper or other metal, and connect up a battery or batteries placed prefer-
ably at the signal post with a switch actuated from the rod working the ordinary
signals, the bars above mentioned and one of the rails. Metal brushes are attached
to the engine and reach down-far enough to meet the bars, completing the circuit
and giving the signal.
In order to transmit the signal, I use a bell and an indicator, and arrange the
circuit so that the bell shall always be rung on the engine passing over the bars,
letting the driver know his position and calling attention to the signal, which is
given by the indicator. According to one arrangement three signals can be given,
one for stopping, one for caution, and the third indicating that the line is clear.
For this purpose I use two batteries, composed of two or more cells, one of which
is connected to one set of bars and to earth, four bars being used in this case, two
at the centre and two nearer the rails, the two central and the two side bars being
connected to each other. Two sets of bars are used in order that the signal may
be given in whichever direction the engine is running, one of the brushes meeting
one of the side bars, and the other one of the central bars. If the battery above
inentioned be connected to the central bars, the central brush is in connection.with
the bell so that it may be rung whatever signal is to be given, the circuit passing
back through the engine to earth.
The second battery is connected at one pole to one of the contacts of the switch,
at the other pole to a second contact, and at the middle to the outer bars, the
moving contact of the switch being connected to earth. The switch may be turned
When the
to either contact piece or may be turned past, opening the circuit.
danger signal is to be given, the circuit passes from one pole through the switch to
earth, so that when the engine passes over the bars, the current will pass through
the engine and indicator to the bars and back to the centre of the battery. When
caution is required the current is reversed, and when no danger, the circuit is
broken and the bell only rung.
When only two signals are required, one bar is used in the centre, and one brush,
or if preferred the bar may be at the side and two brushes may be used to give
signals in both directions. Only one battery is used with connection at the centre
as before, the circuit passing through both bell and indicator, the switch reversing
the current according to the signal to be given. The brush consists of a pivotted
metal strip at the end of a rod attached to the floor of the engine, and covered
with insulating material, and springs, one vertical; and two others. horizontal.or
nearly so, so that the brush will give both vertically and laterally when it strikes
the bar, the bars being made with turned down ends so that the blow shall not be
too violent.
Referring to the accompanying sheets of drawings,
Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical sections at right angles to each other of the brush &
tions Fic 2 chome the bell and indicator and Fio. 4 a diagrammatic view.of

page_text: the bars, batteries and switch_arranged for the three signals, Fig. 5 is a side
elevation of one of the bars, and Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a diagrammatic view
of battery, bar and switch, and an elevation of the bell and indicator arranged for
giving two signals.
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Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is a tube fixed to the floor of the locomotive having
a slot 2 in which slides a pin 3 attached to the insulating tube 4 containing the
rod 5 and brush 6 pivotted to the end of the rod as shown. The spring 7 is attached
at the top to the tube 1, and at its lower end to the insulating tube 4, the springs 8
being attached to the rods 9 fixed under the floor of the engine. According to the
first arrangement in which three signals may be given, two of these brushes are
used, one being connected to the terminal 10 on the bell 11 (Fig. 3), and the other
to the terminal 12 on the indicator 13. The other terminals of both bell and
indicator are connected with any suitable point on the engine. The battery 14
(Fig. 4) used to excite the bell, is connected to the central contact bars 15 and to
earth or one of the ordinary rails. The second battery 16 has one pole connected
to the contact piece 17 on the switch 18, the other to the contact 19, and the
centre to the bars 20, the arm 21 being connected to the rail or to earth. This
arm can be moved to either of the contacts 17 and 19, or should the line be clear
and no signal be required it can be pulled down to its lowest position as shown,
opening the circuit. It is actuated through the pin 22 by the rod working the
ordinary signals or directly from the lever in the signal box. Arranged as shown,
when the signal is for caution, the switch is moved to the contact 17, and when
the engine passes over the bars, the current will flow from the battery through the
switch to the rail or earth, thence through the indicator, the bell ringing a little
beforehand to call attention to the signal, back through the bars to the negative
pole at the middle of the battery. If the switch is put at danger, over the contact
piece 19, the current will flow in the reverse direction, the second half of the
battery 16 being used, and will turn the needle of the indicator in the opposite
direction. The bars 15 are placed a little in front of the other bars, so that the
bell shall always ring before the signal is given. The bars are curved at the ends as
shown in Fig. 5 for the purpose above mentioned.
In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 only one bar 23 is used and the
battery 14 is dispensed with, the second one only being employed, one pole of which
is connected to the contact piece 24 of the switch 25, the other to the contact 26,
and the middle of the battery to the bar 23. The brush on the engine is connected
to the terminals 27 and 28 on the bell & indicator, both the other terminals being
connected to the engine as before, so putting the bell and indicator in parallel. This
arrangement is preferable, but they may be arranged in series instead.
signal is given, the indicator points to the left, turning to the right for the other,
the bell ringing each time. I have shown an indicator having a hand, but any
other convenient form of indicator may be used.
When one
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 :-
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(1) In an electrical apparatus for railway signalling, the combination of a bar or
bars fixed between the rails, a battery or batteries, and a switch for reversing or
opening the circuit, with a brush or brushes, and a bell and indicator on the engine
arranged so that the bell is always rung on the engine passing over the bar or bars,
the signal being given by the indicator.
(2) In an electrical apparatus of the kind described the brush 6 pivotted to the
rod 5, enclosed in the insulator 4 and tube 1 and provided with springs 7 and 8
substantially as and for the purposes described.
(3) In an electrical apparatus for railway signalling, the combination of the
batteries 14 and 16, the two sets of bars 15 and 20 and the switch 18, the whole
connected up and acting substantially as described and shown.

page_text: (4) The modification in which only two signals are given comprising the
battery 16, reversing switch, bar 23, bell & indicator substantially as shown in
Figs. 6 and 7.
Dated this 29th day of March 1892.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.