Improvements in Electrical Attachments for Railway Switches or Points, applicable for Ringing an Audible Signal on the Loco- motive of a Train which is Approaching a Switch which has been Misplaced.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 24th Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Attachments for Railway Switches or
Points, applicable for Ringing an Audible Signal on the Loco-
motive of a Train which is Approaching a Switch which has
been Misplaced.
We, ARTHUR WELLESLEY BERNE and CHARLES ANDREW FISH of 66 N. Rampart
Street, and 32 S. Peters Street, both in New Orleans, in the State of Louisiana and
United States of America, Electrician and Steamship Owner respectively, 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:-
Our invention relates to an improvement in electrical attachments for railway
switches, and its novelty will be fully understood from the following description and
claims, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, and the objects of our
invention are to ring a bell in the cab of a locomotive when a train is approaching a
switch which bas been misplaced, thereby warning the engineer, and enabling him to
stop the train, and avoid danger.
We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view.
Figure 2 is an end view showing rail with spring under same.
Figure 3 is a side view of locomotive showing brush attached to cross arm of pilot,
bell in cab, and wire connections.
Figure 4 is a sectional front view of brush.
Figure 5 is a sectional side view of brush.
Similar letters referring to similar parts throughout the several views:―
In the drawings
A, is a switch adjusted to rail in the ordinary manner, resting under one of the rails
of the main line, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 we place a box as designated by B.
Within said box, we place two metal plates, as shown by C and D ; these plates are
so attached within box B as to occupy the position shown in Figure 2 when the
switch is closed or at "safety," and to form a contact when the switch is open. E is
a wire attached to plate C, and which is carried on poles to battery F, and thence to
insulated bar G. Lying parallel with G is a bar H, to which is connected a ground
wire M, and attached to plate D is a ground wire L. N designates rail of main
track; O is a metal brush attached to ends of the heel of the pilot of the locomotive.
P shows bell in cab of locomotive. R are wires placed on each side of locomotive and
which connect brushes O and bell P through battery S.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
If the switch A is thrown to "danger" to main line, the rail N will be moved so as
to connect with the side track as shown in Figure 1, but, by referring to Figure 2,
C will show that, in the moving of rail N, the bolt, descending from same, will bear
down the spring top of box B, thus forcing the contact piece against contact
piece D, which will connect the contact piece through the wire L to the ground, which
will make a complete circuit.from ground L-through E through-battery F to insulated
bar G placed alongside of track at any desired distance from switch. Directly
opposite the bar G is placed the bar H, which is also grounded by wire M.
now be seen that, in case of switch being thrown to "danger "to main line, a complete
circuit will be formed, excepting the break between bars G and H.
It will
As shown in Figure 3, a brush is attached to both sides of the pilot of the locomotive,
in such a manner that both brushes will come in contact with their respective bars G
and H, but, as the brushes are connected so as to pass from one through the battery S,
thence through continuously ringing bell P, thence to the opposite brush, and

page_text: through H. to the ground by wire M, it will be seen that, in the event of the switch A
being thrown to "danger" to main line, a complete circuit will be formed, provided
a locomotive arrive at the bars G and H while the switch is at danger, as follows,
from ground wire L, Figure 1, through contact piece C, through contact piece D,
through line wire E, through battery "F, through insulated bar G, through brush
on locomotive to wire R, through battery S, continuously ringing bell P, thence
through wire R on locomotive to opposite brush O, thence through bar H, and
through ground wire M, which will cause the bell P to ring, notifying the engineer
that switch A is at "danger," or, if the switch A is to "safety," the circuit will be
broken between the contact pieces C and D, as shown in Figure 2, and the bell
will not then ring, and, by this means, the engineer will know that switch A is at
"safety."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In an electrical attachment for railway switches such as described, two contact
plates resting under rail of main track, whereby circuit is closed when rail is
displaced, as set forth.
2. In an electrical attachment for railway switches such as described, the com-
bination of an insulated bar, battery, line wire, contact plates, rail and switch, for
opening or closing a circuit, as set forth.
3. In an electrical attachment for railway switches such as described, the com-
bination of an insulated bar adjusted on one side of track, with a disconnected
bar on the opposite side of track, for opening and closing a circuit, as set forth.
4. In an electrical attachment for railway switches such as described, the com-
bination, with the heel of the cross arm of a locomotive, of brushes for closing a circuit,
and ringing a bell in cab of locomotive, as set forth.
5. In an electrical attachment for railway switches such as described, brushes
attached to the heel of the cross arm of a locomotive, for closing a circuit, and ringing.
bell in cab of locomotive, in combination with disconnected bars placed on opposite
side of track, battery, line wire, and contact plates resting under rail of main track,
for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 23rd der of December 1890
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.