Improvements in and in connection with Departure Indicators for Railway Trains.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 18th May,
1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Departure Indicators for
Railway Trains.
We, HEINRICH STOCKнЕIм, and OTTO STROH BACH, both of Mannheim,
Baden, in the German Empire, Engineers, 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 apparatus for announcing the departure of railway trains,
and not only to those forms of such apparatus as are employed on railway
platforms, but also to those which are placed in the waiting-rooms, the vestibules of
station buildings, and so on.
The apparatus is designed for indicating the times of departure of the trains, and
may be combined with an apparatus for indicating the kiud of train, and its
direction of travel.
The apparatus for indicating the time of departure of the trains consists of a box
furnished with several windows, in which box, behind the windows, are a number
of plates, or discs, carrying the hour and minute figures, these discs or plates being
kept in a raised, i.e. an invisible position by means of a number of rollers which
have their peripheries divided spirally by means of slots, the rollers corresponding
in number with the plates, and being susceptible of a rotation to the extent of one
tooth at a time by the action of the oscillations of the armature of an electro-
magnet placed behind the plates, whereby, each time, one of the slots of the
corresponding plate is turned, and the latter being thereby set free returns to its
lowest position, and thus becomes visible behind the corresponding window. The
closures and openings of the circuit which give rise to the oscillations of the
armature of the electro-magnet are effected in a signal-box where there is arranged
in a box, and connected with a shunt mechanism, a roller or disc for each series of
plates, such rollers or discs being provided with the corresponding numbers, of
which one at a time is shewn behind a slot in the box. The shunt mechanism can
be raised by pressing on a lever which is connected with it, and falls again when
the pressure is removed; the roller or disc thereupon turns a number, and at the same
moment closes temporarily the electric circuit into which the electro-magnet which
operates the numbered discs is inserted, by means of the contact of a rod with two
contact springs, thus causing the oscillation of the armature of the electro-magnet,
and the descent of a numbered plate, which latter may be raised again later by
mechanical means.
The indicator for the kind of train, and the destination of the latter, which for
platform machines is preferably combined with the apparatus just described for
announcing the time of the departure, consists of a disc rotably mounted in a box,
upon which disc the kinds of train intended to be indicated are radially inscribe.l
and which, by means of a shunt mechanism which acts upon its toothed periphery
and is operated from the signal-box by mechanical means, can be caused to
rotate, and its inscribed sectors be thus brought behind corresponding openings in
the box, whilst the direction of the journey is inscribed upon plates which slide up
and down in grooves in the same box, these plates being likewise operated from the
signal-box by mechanical means, i.e. lowered and caused to appear behind
corresponding openings in the box.
The apparatus for indicating the kind of train and its route, etc. which is

page_text: combined with the above mentioned apparatus for announcing the hour of departure
is, on the contrary, in forms of apparatus for waiting rooms, entrance halls of
stations, etc., a case, fixed in the position in question, conspicuously, the casing being
divided into several compartments, according to the dimensions of the room, each
such compartment having several openings, behind which the appropriate inscription, i
such as the route, description of train, etc., is exhibited upon plates lowered by an
electrical release, whereupon the lowered plates of a compartment rest upon a
common frame, and may be restored to their normal, i.e. their invisible position, by
mechanical means. The operation of these various plates is similarly brought
about by a signalman, by means of a directing or controlling apparatus.
In the accompanying drawings ;-
Figures 1 to 12 refer to an apparatus for indicating the time of departure of
railway trains for platforms constructed according to my invention; and,
Figures 13 to 24 refer to a similar apparatus for waiting rooms.
Figure 1 shews the apparatus employed to operate the arrangement for indicating
the time of departure of the trains, partially in longitudinal section, and partially in
front elevation:
Figure 2 is a cross section of Figure 1:
Figure 3 shews a cross section of the case which contains the plates for indicating
the time of departure of the trains :
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of part of this case; and,
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of the case:
Figures 6 and 7 shew the stand for operating the indicating apparatus in the
signal box, in front elevation and in longitudinal section respectively:
Figure 8 shews the case which contains the indicator plates or discs for the
description of train and its route, in front elevation:
Figures 9 and 10 are a cross section and a longitudinal section respectively of
Figure 8:
Figure 11 shews the upper part of Figure 8 in section :
Figure 12 is a similar view to Figure 11 but illustrating a somewhat modified
construction:
Figure 13 shews in front elevation the casing which contains the indicator plates,
with, by way of example, four compartments, in an apparatus to indicate the time
of departure of trains, to be used in a waiting room :
Figure 14 shews a compartment of the same in section; and,
Figure 15 is a cross section of a similar compartment on a somewhat larger
scale:
Figures 16 and 17 shew on an enlarged scale two views, taken vertically to each
other, of the electric release arrangement for the plates of the same apparatus:
Figure 18 is a section along the line X-X of the Figure 17; and,
Figure 19 is a view of a detail:
Figures 20 and 21 shew in front elevation and in longitudinal section respectively
the directing or controlling arrangements which serve to operate a compartment of
this indicating apparatus for a waiting room:
Figure 22 is a section along the line Y-Y of Figure 20; and,
Figures 23 and 24 shew on a larger scale the contrivance for making or breaking
contact in order to operate the time indicating tables in side and front elevation
respectively.
To the pillar A in the signal box is secured the stand B carrying four control
discs or rollers a', a, a, a, the peripheries of which are provided with the proper
numbers. The two discs a', a which carry the hour numbers are placed loose, side
by side, upon the same shaft c which is mounted in a common frame C secured in
the casing B. The discs are partially visible behind a slot in the casing B: the
two minute figure discs a, a are similarly mounted. Each of the rollers a', a³, a³, a
is connected with a ratchet wheel aº in which the recurved limb of a double
pawld d can engage, and this double pawl d is secured to a rod D which is mounted.
so as to slide vertically in the frame C. The rod D is ordinarily kept upright by
1

page_text: the upper
limb of the piece d upon the wheel aº, and is connected at its lower end
to an arm e of an angle lever e, e' which is jointed to the framing C so that when
pressure is made upon the arm e' this lever is raised, and consequently the upper
limb of the piece à is raised out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet
wheel aº, and the lower limb of the same caused to engage in the teeth of the said
wheel. Thereupon the edge of this limb meets the surface (which is made oblique
to correspond) of a tooth of the ratchet wheel so that the latter turns to the extent
of half a tooth in the direction of the arrow, Figure 2; as soon as the pressure
upon the lever arm el ceases, the rod D falls downward by gravity, whereupon the edge
of the upper limb of d in turn comes into contact with the oblique surface of a
tooth, and thereby completes the rotation of the ratchet wheel a to the extent of
a whole tooth, so that after one up-and-down movement of the rod D, the next
following figure of the corresponding disc a'u is shewn behind the corresponding
slot b. At the upper end of the rod D is a piece d' of insulating material, such as
ebonite, vulcanite or the like, in which a metal rod d is so inserted and secured that its
two ends project somewhat laterally, and as the rod D ascends each of these ends
comes into contact with a contact spring f, or f, which contact springs stand in the
circuit of the clamps f,f which are connected up to a source of electricity so that
as the rod D moves upward, in consequence of the contact of the rod d' with the
two contact springs f,f, an electric circuit is closed, which is broken again as the
rod D descends by the separation of the rod a from the contact springs again.
In each of these circuits one or two of the electro-magnets E, E', E¹³, E³
(Figures 3, 4 and 5) is or are inserted, and these bring about the descent of the
plates which indicate the time of departure according as these plates are to be
visible on one or both sides. In this latter case, the indicating plates F, F1, F2, F³
are present in a double series. The electro-magnets E, E' which serve to operate
the hour indicating plates F, F' are excited by the contact brought about by the
rotation of the control figure rollers a', a², whilst the electro-magnets E³, E³ which
operate the minute plates F, F are excited through the rotation of the
rollers a³, a*.
The plates for indicating the hour of departure F-F are mounted in the
casing G (which is furnished with corresponding slots or windows 9°) and are
inserted in grooves or guide-pieces g', ' in which they are able to slide up and
down. The plate F with the hours of 10 and upwards is only present once for each
side of the casing, whilst of the plates F¹ there are ten with the unit hour figures 1
to 0; on the other hand, there are five plates F2 with the tens of minutes from 1 to 5
and ten with the units of minutes from 1 to 0, F. In their highest position,
the figure plates of each series are held by a roller g against whose periphery they
lie, these rollers are rotably mounted between the points of screws g* which are
screwed into corresponding bearings secured to the guiding pieces g', and the rollers
engage through corresponding openings in the guide-pieces g¹ below their respective
figure plates. Each of the rollers 9 is furnished on its periphery with a number of
spirally divided notches g' corresponding in number to the number of the figure plates
concerned, so that as the roller rotates, one of these notches comes to lie beneath
one of the plates held by the roller, and in consequence of this, this particular plate
is no longer supported in any way, and falls into its lower position in which it is
visible through the corresponding window go. To each roller g' is attached a
ratchet wheel g with which the two points of the armature 9' engage alternately.
This latter is secured at the free end of the armature h of the electro-magnets E-E³
(which armature is jointed at its other end to a magnetic bobbin) and is pulled upon
during excitation by the poles of the corresponding electro-magnet, which is fastened
to the corresponding sliding piece g', whilst when the exciting electric current is
interrupted the armature h with the armature g' falls by gravity so that at each
up-and-down movement of h and 9', by the alternate engagement of the two points
of the armature in the teeth of the ratchet wheel 9, the latter, and with it the
roller g, is rotated to the extent of one tooth and the next following figure plate
thereby lowered.

page_text: If, for instance, it be required to exhibit the time "10 h. 35 m." it is necessary
to turn, by pressure upon the lever arm e', the ratchet wheels of the rollers a¹, a³,
a³, a to the extent of so many teeth as that the figure 1 is shewn by the roller a²,
the figure 0 by the roller a², and the figures 3 and 5 by the rollers a, a' behind the
corresponding apertures in the case B. By the closures and interruptions of the
circuit the plates of each series F are lowered, then all the plates of the series F',
next the figure plates 1, 2, 3 of the series F, and finally the plates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of
the series so that the plates which remain visible behind the openings go of the
casing G indicate 10 h. 35 m., as shewn in Figure 8.
In their lowest position, the figure plates F to F rest upon arms h¹ of a frame H,
which latter slides upon guide-rods, and is lifted automatically, together with.
the figure plates which rest upon it or have sunk down on to it, by means of
traction cords h' which run over rollers h³ and are provided with counterpoises,
whilst the frame is brought into its lowest position by the application of a weight
or by any other suitable means. In the combination of the indicator of the time
of departure of the trains with that for the description of train and route, to be
bereinafter described, the lowering of the frame H is effected by the weight of a
heavy descending plate for indicating the route, which is in this case supported by
cross pieces connected to the frame H by means of rods (Figure 10) while
when this plate is raised the frame H is automatically raised by the weights h.
For the apparatus for indicating the description of train and its route there is a
casing I, in the upper part of which, and on either side, two discs i, are rotably
mounted. These latter are divided up into several radial sectors, of which each,
in the disc i, bears the description of a particular kind of train, for example,
"express," "passenger," whilst on the sectors of the second disc i¹ the classes of
carriage in the corresponding train are inscribed, for example, "I-II CL."
"I-III Cl." etc., one of these sectors being shewn at a time behind the corre-
sponding opening in the casing or . The discs i, are provided with teeth i' on
their periphery behind which engage the knife edges, of a double pawl.
On the one knife-edge there are attached two traction cords which run over
guide-rollers and are provided with counterpoises which constantly tend to
bring the double pawl into the position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 11. On the
second knife edge there.is attached the end of a traction cord j, the other end of
which runs over suitable guide-rollers, and is connected to j¹ in the casing ; on the
stand A in the signal box (Figure 7).
66
On the axis of the crank there is fixed a toothed wheel and this is in
engagement with the toothed wheel through the intermediary of a trans-
mitting gear, the wheel having arranged on its axis the control discs which
are furnished with inscriptions corresponding to those upon the discs i, i such as
Express train," "Passenger train," and "I-II Class," "I-III Class" which
are exhibited through two small windows, lying opposite each other diametri-
cally in the casing J. The control discs can be turned by means of a key which
is inserted into its axis, and the proportion of the transmission by the gearing is
such as that a fraction of a rotation of the disc, for example th, shall give rise
to a complete rotation of the crank j.
In the first half of the rotation of the crank, the double pawl of the discs i, is
changed from the position shewn in dotted lines, Figure 11, to that shewn by full
lines, and these discs are thereby turned through a space equal to one tooth so that
another inscription becomes visible behind the windows, During the second
half of the rotation of the crank, the control disc is further rotated, until its
inscription, visible behind the windows *,, agrees with that upon the discs i, i
which is shewn behind the windows 2,. The double pawl at the same time is
brought back to the position shewn by dotted lines in Figure 11 by means of the
weights ?".
If it be desired to shift the discs i, through two or more sectors a corresponding
number of complete turns of the crank inust be made.
The weights?' are made up of several pieces which lie one above another and are

page_text: guided by rods so that it is easy to regulate the pull of the covas of the weights
according to the number of the pieces.
The lower part of the casing I is open at both its long edges, and in the interior
of this case there are inserted several plates K in guide pieces upon which plates
the chief stations of the various lines of travel are inscribed, and which are
independently connected; by means of a cord running over suitable guide-rollers,
with cord drums / placed in the casing J of the stand A in the signal box, so that
by corresponding rotation of one of these drums by means of a key the desired
plate K may be lowered in the casing and its inscription be made visible at both
sides of the casing which is open below, whilst by rotating the drum in the opposite
direction, the lowered plate is raised and disappears within the upper part of the
casing. In this uppermost position the plates are retained by pawls which
engage in the teeth of the ratchet wheels which are fastened to the drums l, and
thereby prevent the unintentional rotation of these drums. M is a plate carrying
instructions for the signalman in charge of the apparatus. On each side of the
casing I there may be further a movable arrow N which indicates the direction, or
the line of rails where the particular train indicated stands, or will stand, and
which is similarly actuated by a traction rope n from a rope-drum 1 in the
casing J.
U
Figure 12 shews another double pawl arrangement for the discs i, i. In this
case there is between cach pair of discs i, i, an angle lever O which is rotably
mounted in the casing I and whose horizontal limb is provided with a weight o,
whilst at its other erect end the lever o is jointed on to it, the ends of the latter
being carried out as pawls o², o³, of which the one o' has a thrusting action, and the
other of a pulling action upon the teeth of the particular disc i or . The weight
is also connected by a cord to the crank so that during the first half of the
rotation of the crank in question the angle lever O, the weighted arm of which is
guided by an arc o', makes a corresponding excursion outward, and the discs i, ¿¹
are thereupon rotated to the extent of one tooth by means of the pawls o³, o³ whilst
during the second half of the rotation of the crank the weight o restores the pawl
mechanism to the position shewn in Figure 12.
In case the apparatus, instead of being intended for a platform, should be
required for use in a waiting room or entrance hall, it is preferable to construct
it as shewn is Figure 13. According to this plan of construction (Figure 13)
the casing A* is so arranged that the indicator. plates when lowered are visible
on both its longitudinal sides and for this reason the casing might consist not of
four compartments, but of fewer or more. Each compartment is in the present
case provided on each of its longitudinal sides with four openings a¹x, a²x, a³×, a**.
Behind the openings a* is the box ax which contains the plates ax for indicating
the time of departure of the train, the internal arrangement of which has already
been described in referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, whilst behind a* the route
indicator plates B*, behind a the plates indicating the description of train C*.
and behind a the plates D* indicating the platform or staircase, can be
exhibited. The plates B*, C*, D* which are present in definite number in each
series are able to slide up and down in corresponding grooves in the guide
pieces b*, Figures 14 and 15, and in their lowest position in which they are
visible through the openings a¹, ax, ax in the casing rest upon cross pieces of
a frame ex, which likewise is able to rise and fall in the compartment, so that
when this frame is raised by means of a traction cord which is attached to its upper
part the whole of the lowered plates B*, C*, D* of the corresponding compart-
ments A-A* are raised, and brought into their initial position, in which they
are invisible through the openings in the casing. In this upper position each of
the plates is retained by a nose attached to its upper end, the nose engaging with
the correspondingly recurved end of an angle lever e*. All the angle levers e* are
rotably mounted upon an arbor e'x which is carried by the cross bridge E* secured
to the casing A*. The bridge Ex also carries an arbore which carries a number
of discs &³ corresponding to the number of levers, each of the discs being provided

page_text: with two notches e*; each of the discs has in contact with its periphery the lower
end of a lever e*, so that when these discs rotate, one of the notches e takes up
its position opposite to the lower part of the corresponding lever e*, the lower
end of which, in virtue of its own gravity or of that of the plates B, C, D*,
which it supports, sinks into the notch, and consequently the recurved end of the
lever ex slides away from below the nose d*, the latter is set free, and the
corresponding plate is allowed to fall.
The arbor carries at one end a ratchet wheel e, which, if each disc e³ be
furnished with two notches e, carries twice as many teeth as there are discs ;
these notches are arranged spirally round the row of discs, so that each time the
wheel e rotates one of the levers e* to the extent of one tooth the lever which
comes next in order falls into one of the notches et in its disc, and thus frees the
corresponding plate. Thus, in one half rotation of the arbor e³, one row of
Botches on the discs effects the release of the plates, whilst during the other
half rotation of this arbor the second row of notches & comes into play.
The rotation of the wheel e, or of the arbore, is caused by two electro-
magnets Fx, G*, fixed on the cross bridge Ex, between the opposed poles of which
the magnet armature fx can oscillate, one of the ends of the latter is rotably
attached at f, while the other end carries a wheel armature gx, the teeth glx
and g³x of which at each to-and-fro movement of the maguet armature fx alternately
engage with the teeth of the wheel e, and thereby cause the latter to rotate to the
extent of one tooth in the direction of the arrow xa, Figure 16.
:
The two electro-magnets F*, G* may be inserted in the same circuit. When the
circuit is interrupted, the armatures 7x and g* are in the position shewn in
Figure 16, the contact spring fx being at the same time in contact with the contact
plate if now the circuit be closed by means of the directing or control
apparatus, the electro-magnet Fx is excited, the armature f* attracted by the
poles of the electro-magnet, and the wheel turned by glx to the extent of half a
tooth in the direction of the arrow *, the contact spring fx is then pushed
from fx to 9x by the armature f*, which causes the current to pass through
the electro-magnet G* instead of through F, the latter being thus excited, the
armature x is attracted by its poles, and the wheel is turned by ³ to the
extent of half a tooth more in the direction of the arrow .c, whereby a plate B*, C*,
or D is released; the current being at the same time interrupted again from the
directing apparatus so that the armatures f*, and * remain in the initial position
shewn in Figure 16 until the circuit is again closed, when the process is again
repeated, and so on. A check pawl which engages with a ratchet wheel i¹×
which is placed upon the arbor e prevents backward rotation of the arbor e³ and
therefore of the discs e³.
The closure and interruption of the circuit are effected as already mentioned by
the directing apparatus H which is shewn in Figures 20 to 24. It is preferably
fixed upon a stand 1x. For each series of plates B, C, D* or for each electro-
magnet F*, G* there is a mechanism for closing and opening the circuit, which
mechanism has a control disc with figures, and is situated in the casing * of the
apparatus H*, whilst for the time indicating plates there are four such mechanisms,
i.e. one for each series of plates with figures a°x.
In each of these mechanisms a ratchet wheel k¹ is fixed upon an axle k*, and
also a control figure plate . The number of teeth in this ratchet wheel k²
corresponds to the number of the plates to the release of which the apparatus is
destined. On the upper end of a rod which can be shifted vertically in the
casing and carries the pawl mechanism of the wheel there is secured an
insulated contact pink, whilst the lower end of the same is connected by a joint
with one arın of an angle lever x, x jointed to the casing so that by
pressure upon the other arm lx the rod k is raised; this allows the pink to
come into contact with two contact springs n*, n* which are secured to the
casing h* and insulated, and inserted in the circuit of the corresponding electro-
magnets F*, G*, so that the circuit is closed by them and the armature f* of

page_text: pair of magnets caused to oscillate.
As soon as the pressure upon ceases.
rod slides downward, the pin 2 leaves the springs nx, and the circuit is
eby opened again. By this rise and fall of the rod k³, the ratchet wheel t
with it the control figure plate are turned to the extent of one tooth so.
by the appearance of the corresponding figure of this disc behind the opening
window of the casing * the closure of the circuit and its interruption or the
ect release of the plates B, C, D* or ax in the casing of the indicating
aratus can be controlled from the signal box.
elow the casing h* there is mounted upon the stand 1*, so as to rotate
izontally, the roller m which is connected with the pin p by means of the wheel
ring ox, and can be turned by a crank attached to the rectangle of the pin ⟫
ch projects on the outer side of the apparatus H*, or by means of a key. On
drum mare fastened the traction cord or cords c³, the other end or ends of
ch is or are connected with the frame cx, so that by a corresponding rotation
the pin p this frame can be raised, and the plates B, C, D which are
ing upon it in their lowered position may be brought to their initial position.
the empty frame be lowered.
* is a table of directions for the signalman in charge of the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
m is:-
An apparatus for indicating the departure of railway trains, in which the
chanism for releasing the plates indicating the time of departure is clectrically
rated from the signal box, and which is characterized by-
(a) An arrangement for opening and closing the circuit, with four
rollers a, a, a, a or discs ³ with figures arranged in the signal box and
consisting of two contact springs n*, n* or f, f for each such roller or
disc with figures, each being connected with the poles of a source of
electricity in the circuit of which there is inserted the electro-magnet which
operates the corresponding time indicator plate, and of a rod D or k³ to the
upper end of which guided by a frame there is secured an insulated contact
pin dor k, whilst the lower end of the rod D or is connected to the one
arme or of an angle lever e, e¹ or *, *1 jointed to the same frame, and
to which rod D or there is further secured a double pawl d or k¹ the
limbs of which may alternately engage in a toothed wheel which is attached
to the roller or disc with figures in question, so that by a brief pressure or
thrust upon the arm e, e', or l*, * the rod D or is raised, and the two
contact springs for *, n* are connected up by the rod or k+ so that
the closure of the circuit is effected, whilst when the lever arm el or l×³ is.
set free the rod D or sinks down again, the rod dork at the same time
leaving the springs f. ¹ or n*, n* and the circuit being opened, and thus at
each closing of the circuit and the opening which follows a time indicating
plate is released, and at the same time too the corresponding control roller
with figures is rotated to the extent of a tooth, i e. of a figure.
(b) The release mechanism for such indicator plates which is situated
in a casing G furnished with windows go, and has corresponding time
indicating tables F, F, F, F and consists for each series of plates of one
of the electro-magnets E, E', E, E with an armature h, g' and a roller ³
connected with an escapement wheel g upon which roller rest the figure
plates FF (which slide in guide grooves) and which is furnished with
a number of notches spirally arranged upon its edge corresponding w
the number of figure plates so that at each excitation of the electro-
magnet brought about by the mechanism described in paragraph (a), the
oscillation of its armature h, g' gives rise to the rotation of the escapement
wheel and therewith of the roller g³ to the extent of one tooth, in
consequence of which one of the notches g' comes beneath the corresponding

page_text: figure plate, so that the latter is set free and, sliding down, becomes visible
behind the corresponding window of the casing G, and further, the
arrangement of a frame H, guided by rods and furnished with arms A' in the
casing G which may be kept in its lowest position by_any_contrivance
desired, and upon the arms of which the figure plates F-F rest when
lowered, such frame being connected by cords ', running over rollers ³
with weights so that when the contrivance which holds the frame is
released the frame and the plates which are resting upon it are brought
automatically back to their upper position by the weights, substantially
as set forth.
In combination with the apparatus for indicating the departure of railway
ns described in Claim 1, an apparatus for indicating the description and route of
n, consisting of
(a) The operating and control mechanism, situated in the signal box, with
a control disc placed in a case J, with the transmitting gear, the
crank and the rope drum with check wheels and check pawls by
means of which through the intervention of cords the discs for shewing the
description of train and the plates shewing the route, upon the indicating
apparatus may be operated.
(b) The discs i, which are rotably mounted in the casing 1 and are provided
with teeth on their circumference upon the radial sectors of which discs
(two of which sectors, lying at opposite ends of a diameter, are shewn
together behind two windows, of the casing I) the various descriptions
of train are inscribed; and a pawl mechanism with knife edges 1*,*, or
four pawls, connected in twos o, which engage with the teeth of the
discs, which mechanism is connected by a traction cord with the
crank so that in one half of the rotation of the crank the discs i, are
turned to the extent of one tooth, and during the other half of the rotation
of the crank the pawl mechanism is brought back to its normal position by
means of weights or o.
(c) The plates K which slide in corresponding grooves in the casing I with
inscriptions indicating the various routes of the trains, which plates are
connected separately by means of traction cords with a rope drum so
that they can be lowered and raised by appropriate movements of this
latter, being held in their upper invisible position by the check pawls P
which engage with check wheels 1, whilst in their lower position they rest
in the open part of the casing I and indicate the routes of the trains,
substantially as set forth.
3. In the apparatus for indicating the departure of railway trains described in the
preceding claims, the employment of cross pieces connected by rods ® with
frame H, on which cross pieces each of the lowered route indicating tables K
nes to lie, the frame being thus kept in its lower position, whilst, when
corresponding route plate is raised, the frame H together with the time
icating plates which rest upon it, is raised by the weights, substantially as set
th.
. An apparatus for indicating the departure of railway trains of the kind
cribed in Claim 1 for entrance halls of stations, waiting rooms, and so on,
Bisting of
(a) A casing A* to be erected in the station entrance hall, waiting
room, etc., which is divided into compartments such as A', A2, A' in which
the plates B, C, D shewing the route. description and platform are
arranged to slide up and down in grooves in the slides 6x, and with the
tables (which are connected with the release mechanism described in
Claim 2 (b), and are placed in a second casing a* to indicate the time of
departure) are kept in their upper invisible position by an electrical release
mechanism, whilst on one or more of the longitudinal sides of each compart-
ment in the casing there are situated openings a¹x-a** behind which the

page_text: plates B, C, D* and ax which have been allowed to fall by the release
mechanism are exhibited, and in which further in each compartment
there is arranged a frame c* which is connected with a traction cord c³ and
can move up and down, upon which frame the indicating plates B*, C*, D*, aºx
rest when lowered so that by traction upon the cord the whole of the
lowered plates in the compartment are raised, and brought back to their
initial position.
(b) A directing or control apparatus I*, H*, J* which serves to operate one
or several indicating apparatus, and which is provided with an arrangement
for making and breaking contact k* k², k³, k³, k, k³, n*, l*, 1×¹ (inserted in
the circuit which actuates the electrical release mechanism for the
plates B, C, D*, ax) for each series of plates and further carries a
drum m to which are attached the cord or cords c³ and which can be turned
by means of a wheel gearing o* by a crank mounted upon the square
end of a pin p which projects outward by means of which the frame c* which
Supports the indicator plates which have been lowered can be raised or let
down, substantially as set forth.
5. In the apparatus for indicating the departure of railway trains described in
aim 4, for entrance halls of stations, waiting rooms, etc., the mechanism for
ecting the electrical release of the plates B, C, Dx, consisting of the two
ctro-magnets F*, G* which may be alternately inserted in the same circuit, and
e combined with an armature fx placed between the convergent poles of the two,
d carrying the wheel armature g*, further, of the arbor & carrying the escapement
eel e, the ratchet wheel x, and the discs e, the discs es being provided with
tches running spirally round the row of discs, and of the levers ex rotably
ounted on a common axis, on the under ends of which levers (which ends are bent
ck at right angles) the plates B*, C*, D* rest by means of their noses d*, and which,
t only by their own gravity, but also by that of the plates which they support,
e pressed against the periphery of the discs es so that at each closure of the
ectric circuit (effected by a contact maker and breaker in the directing
echanism) in which one of the electro-magnets Fx, Gx is inserted at a time, the
ter are successively excited, the armatures fx, 9x caused to oscillate and the
capement wheel and with it the axle e and the discs are turned to the extent
one tooth, in consequence of which one of the notches e* of the next following
ce comes to stand opposite its lever ex, and the latter, descending into this
tch, slides from beneath the nose dx of the corresponding indicator plate, where-
on the latter, being set free, slides down, whilst a pawl ix, engaging in the check
eclx prevents the axle e from rotating in the reverse direction, substantially
set forth.
6. The improved apparatus for announcing the departure of railway trains herein-
fore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 15th day of December 1894.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Fiusbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.