between Passengers and Guards, Applicable for Alarm Communications Generally.
Year: 1885

page_text: between Passengers and Guards, Applicable for Alarm
Communications Generally.
I, JOHN PUNTIS Stationmaster L. & S.W. Rly. Basingstoke Hants, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for COMMUNICATION OF AN ALARM, AND ANY
OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSE to be as follows:-
I make a partial compression, or exhaustion of the air, by means of a forcibly
acted upon Piston and rod in a cylinder-or by a Bellows-similarly acted upon.
From the cylinder or Bellows-I lead a pipe, in which are entrances, or exits
capable of being opened or closed automatically or otherwise, to where required.
An opening made anywhere in this pipe causes the air in this cylinder or Bellows
to lose its cohesive or resistive power, so that the Piston and rod or Bellows-board,
or rod, or arrangement,-falls-rises-or moves, and the desired end is accomplished
by such movement. I carry out my idea of making a communication between
Passengers and Guards thus:
I fix a pipe from end to end of the Train with flexible couplings between the
carriages, and have in every compartment of such train an easily accessable
arrangement for a Passenger to make an opening in this pipe.
"
I fix my apparatus, which complete I name Detector," in the Guards Van of
the train or wherever thought best it should be fixed. I open a cock or valve
outside the cylinder and taking the Piston rod in my hand, I force the Piston up
the Cylinder so driving the air out through the aforenamed cock or opening-which
I immediately close. I now attach weights-springs-or any other power to the
Piston-Rod so as feebly to expand the air in the cylinder and pipe. So long as
the atmosphere is excluded from the inside of the cylinder and Pipe of Detector―
so long will the Piston retain its position in the cylinder; but so soon as an
opening is made in any part of the pipe, the sustaining power of the air on the
Piston will cease, and the Piston acted upon by the force applied to the Piston-
rod, will fall and this movement will cause any pre-arranged alarm to be given.
I claim to reverse this movement, the difference being, I leave the Piston at the
bottom of the cylinder-and apply the weights-or other force feebly to endeavour
to compress the air in the cylinder and pipes.

page_text: So soon as an opening is made in any part of the pipe the air will rush out of
such opening its resistance to the Piston in the cylinder will cease, and the
Piston acted upon by the force applied to the Piston rod will rise-or move along
the cylinder and cause any pre-arranged alarm to be given.
I claim to carry out this invention by the aid of a Bellows arrangement if
I see fit.
For alarm communications generally, any power that can make an opening in
the pipe leading from, and connected with the "Detector"-can carry out my
object of making a communication for any purpose; but primarily that of an
alarm.

page_text: Communications Generally.
JOHN PUNTIS, Stationmaster L & SW Rly Co Basingstoke Hants, I do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for ALARM SIGNALS AND OTHER SIMILAR
PURPOSES, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
I elucidate my mode of procedure and describe the action and source of my
motive power by the aid of the accompanying drawing which shows "The
Detective" (not Detector) in its integrity. Fig. 1 is a front view Fig. 2 is a
section. A. A Fig's. 1, and 2, is a Cylinder of any sort of material air tight at the
bottom, or one end thereof but open at the top, or other end thereof to the air.
B. B. Fig's. 1, and 2, is a Piston made to work air tight by any known means in
the Cylinder A. To this Piston is attached a rod b to be of any length or size-
with a cross handle at any convienent part. Leading from this rod to the alarum H
is a cord or chain b x, attached to a large cog wheel which working a smaller
one winds the alarum when a downwards movement of the Piston rod is made.
d. d. Fig's. 1, and 2, are cords or chains fastened to the Piston at the eyes—
e. c. e. e. Fig's. 1. and 2. and brought up the cylinder and over common Pulleys or
wheels c. c. c. c.-Fig's. 1. and 2. and securely fastened to weight F. Fig. 1.
From the bottom, or one end of Cylinder A. is connected an air tight pipe, or
tube J. J. Fig. 1.-running to nearly the top-or to any part, or distance thereof-
of "The Detector." At the top of this pipe or tube, in the T, or cross piece of
pipe-is fixed a cock, or valve-K, having one end open to the air.
At the other end of the T, or cross piece, is another cock, or valve, the one end.
of which is connected with the main pipe, or tube of communication.
When these cocks (or valves) K-and L Fig. 1 are closed, the space between
the under or unexposed face of piston B. is shut off from connection with the
atmosphere, and the further mode of working is thus :-
Open cock K. Force down piston and rod B. b-by the cross handle. This
movement will wind the Alarum H, by means of the cord or chain-b, x.
Shut off cock K. and see cock L. is open and in communication with main
pipe-which must be air tight throughout.
The Piston and rod will now remain at that portion of the cylinder to which it
has been forced-(unless the length of main pipe is so extensive or other causes-
render the air so elastic that the Piston and rod rises-after being forced down-
Then take hold of handle of Piston rod, and lift it as high as convenient-and
while still holding it up-turn off cock L. Then let go the handle and open
cock K. and again force down Piston and rod. Close cock K. and open cock L
when it will be found that the piston will remain firmly down-if not-the latter
process must be again repeated.)-The weight F suspended by cords or chains d. d.
-running over wheels c. c.-c. c.-Fig's. 1 and 2. while cord or chain G connected
with alarum H. and also cord g. connected with latch I. are hanging loose. Now

page_text: close Flap or door-N.-and Taps cocks &c., are shut up, and nothing but cross
handle of piston rod is visible nor can be got at till a signal is given.
So long as the pressure of the atmosphere is excluded from the air tight pipes
and cylinder so long will the piston remain at the bottom thereof, ready to make
a desired signal-The motive power acting as follows.
Open a cock, or valve in the main pipe any distance from cock L when―at once
-the equilibrium of the pressure of the atmosphere will be restored to all the
exposed parts of the Piston and rod B. b. Weight. F will fall and so exert its
power on Piston and rod B. b causing it to rise-or move along the cylinder A.
Chains or cords G. g. will be tightened. G will cause the Alarum to sound.
g-will lift the catch and cause the Flap or door to fall, being urged thereto by
spring m. and so the desired signal is given.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. To have invented and discovered a mode and method of making signals for
any purpose whatever-as fully heretofore described-by the way of and means
employed to cut off the pressure of the atmosphere from one side or portion of a
packed Piston or a piston of any sort or description working air tight in a
cylinder of any approved material air tight all over and at one end, with a pipe or
pipes also air tight-leading therefrom to where desired-from the air tight end
of such cylinder. The other end or top of the same cylinder I leave open to the
pressure of the air so that it may exert its force on the upper or exposed surface
of the aforenained Piston.
To the Piston, or piston rod,-at any part or point thereof I attach springs-
or a spring weights or a weight-or I act upon the Piston and rod by any known
power suitable.
The motive power to make a signal is gained by restoring the equilibrium of
Pressure of the atmosphere to all parts of the aforenamed Piston and rod, so that
the weights springs or other known power may lift or move the aforenamed piston
and by an arrangement of chains or cords-or by direct action of the piston and
its rod elongated or otherwise for the purpose signals be made. (The efficacy of
my invention will not be affected should variations of temperature cause the Piston
to rise somewhat in the cylinder after "The Detector" is "set").
2. As this invention and discovery could not be worked without a combination
of other arrangements-which combination is contained in the case, or box-
which for the purposes of identification I name "The Detective," I claim this
"The Detective" as an integral-whole apparatus-able in its entirety to carry
out my ideas.
3. I also claim to vary my mode of working my invention-so long as I adhere
to the principles of action for my motive power as declared in claim 1.