Improvements in Signalling on Rail and other Ways, and in Appliances in connection therewith.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd June, 1891-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signalling on Rail and other Ways, and in
Appliances in connection therewith.
We, ROBERT ADAMS, of 67 Newington Causeway, London S.E., Engineer,
ARTHUR WELLESLEY PRATT, of 18 King Edward Street, Islington, London, N.,
Draughtsman, and STANHOPE ALBANY SAY, of 40 The Avenue, Acre Lane,
Brixton, London, S.E., Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention
to be as follows:
The object of our invention is to effect improvements in apparatus for signalling
by detonators or their equivalents with the aid of electricity, pneumatic, hydraulic,
or other means for the manipulation thereof.
In carrying out our invention with electric connections and appliances, we fix by
the side of one of the rails (preferably on the near side) a permanent steel magnet
with soft iron shoes, the magnet having a coil or coils of insulated wire wound upon
it, one end of the wire going to earth and the other being carried into the apparatus
hereinafter described and connected with a relay, but both ends of the wire may be
carried into the machine and connected with relay or otherwise if so desired.
This apparatus consists of a wheel or disc, suitably mounted and having upon its
periphery a number of grooves or indentations. Above the wheel or disc is situated
one or more chambers or magazines, with openings in the bottom, in which chambers
are placed the explosive cartridges. These cartridges fall into the grooves in the
wheel as cach groove is brought in succession beneath the openings in the chamber,
and are carried forward to the firing mechanism, which consists of a bolt or striker
actuated by a spring or weight or otherwise, as may be found convenient. In
connection with the firing bolt we sometimes apply a retaining pawl and electro-
magnet, the use of which is hereinafter described. Electro motors, solenoids, or
electro magnets, are also fitted to operate pinions or other suitable gear so as to
actuate the firing bolt and grooved-wheel.
When a wheel of a train passes over the shoes and magnet by the side of the
rail, a current is induced in the wire which passes to the relay, the tongue or blade.
of which is drawn over and closes a circuit in connection with a battery, or other
source of electricity. This current preferably passes round the electro magnet in
connection with the pawl and firing bolt, and, the core of the electro magnet
becoming magnetised, draws to itself the retaining pawl, releasing the firing bolt,
which is propelled by the spring or other power against the cartridge or detonator,
and explodes it.
In this action of propelling the firing bolt, a second circuit from the same or
other source or sources of electricity, or otherwise, is closed in connection with the
electro-motors, solenoids or electro-magnets, which draw back the firing bolt and
partially revolves the grooved wheel, so as to bring another cartridge into the firing
position the spent cartridge being automatically or otherwise discharged.
At the same time a bolt or pawl comes into action and locks the cartridge wheel
or disc in position. This bolt or pawl is released from the cartridge wheel or the
mechanism in connection with the cartridge wheel, at the next firing, allowing the
wheel to turn and bring the next cartridge into firing position.
At the same time that the firing bolt is withdrawn, the circuit of the electro-
magnet of the pawl is broken, thereby allowing the pawl to fall and retain the
firing bolt ready for the next firing. When the firing bolt is fully withdrawn
the circuit of electricity is broken in connection with the actuating motors, and they
cease to act until the next explosion takes place.
The reciprocating motion imparted to this striking or firing bolt may be effected

page_text: by means of cams cranks or otherwise, in connection with the electro-motors,
solenoids, or electro-magnets, or other motor, and may be drawn backwards against
a spring or other power, and may be discharged by the direct action of the magnets
or otherwise.
We preferably, but not necessarily use specially prepared cartridges, for the
purposes of giving the signal, somewhat similar to whose used in breech loading
guns, but preferably without the usual flange at the back end.
The circuit of electricity may be closed as hereinbefore mentioned by induced
magnetism acting on a relay, or by means of a lever by the side of the rail.
The wheel of the train passes over this lever and depresses it, making the necessary
contact.
The explosion of the detonators, and resetting of the apparatus, may also be
effected by the signalman or others independently of the train; or, if desired,
the train may cause the explosion, and the signalman, or others, effect the resetting
for the next explosion. Or the signalman or others may cause the explosion and
the train be allowed to reset the apparatus, as found convenient.
In case the electric current should fail, the pparatus may fire any number of
signals by means of a weight or weights raised to a suitable height which weight
falls a number of small distances in succession, each descent being sufficient to
reset the apparatus after each explosion. In this case the discharge would be
effected by a lever at the side of the rail, instead of the before mentioned permanent
magnets, or it may be otherwise arranged as desired. The before mentioned electro-
motors &c. would be employed to raise the weight to the necessary height as it fell
to actuate the apparatus. Notice may be given to the signalman, or others, when
the signal has exploded, by the current which is used each time to operate the
machine being also made use of to give an audible or visible signal at any desired
place.
A signal in connection with an independent source of electricity can be made to
come into operation, and give warning, should the working current ever fail.
The same, or another apparatus, may be operated by one signalman or others, to
give notice to the engine driver when he is to proceed after being signalled to stop.
Two or more machines may be combined for this purpose. In some cases a suitable
pawl may be arranged, in connection with the firing mechanism, to prevent a second
signal being fired by a train until the train had proceeded a short distance. The
wheels would then pass over a second magnet or lever and release the mechanism
for firing. The object of this is to prevent a second shot being fired by the same
train, should it come to rest over the magnets or levers, and then restart.
signalman or others may have full control over the machine at all times.
Two or more machines may be mounted on one base.
But the
The machines may be worked in conjunction with the semaphore arms, being put
in or out of action as the arms are being manipulated.
Analogous operations to the foregoing may be performed by means of pneumatic,
hydraulic, or other well known means of communicating power and motion;
cylinders, pistons, piston rods, plungers and valves being fitted for that purpose,
either in combination with or independently of electricity.
Dated 23rd August 1800
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signalling on Rail and other Ways, and in
Appliances in connection therewith.
We, ROBERT ADAMS, of 67 Newington Causeway, London, S.E., Engineer,
ARTHUR WELLESLEY PRATT, of 18 King Edward Street, Islington, London, N.,
Draughtsman, and STANHOPE ALBANY SAY, of 40 The Avenue, Acre Lane, Brixton,
London, S.E., Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement :-
The object of our invention is to effect improvements in apparatus for signalling
by detonators or their equivalents, with the aid of electricity, pneumatic, hydraulic,
or other means for the manipulation thereof.
In carrying out our invention with electric connections and appliances, we fix by
the side of one of the rails, one or more permanent steel magnet or magnets, with
soft iron shoes, each magnet having a coil or coils of insulated wire wound upon
it, one end of the wire going to earth, and the other being carried into the apparatus
hereinafter described and connected with a relay. But both ends of the wire may
be carried into the machine, and connected with the relay or otherwise, if so
desired. Or the relay may be in any other desired position, say, in the signal box,
and electrically connected with the apparatus by suitable conductors.
Instead of the magnets fixed by the side of the rail, or in combination there-
with, we may sometimes employ a lever, pivotted near one end, by the side of
the rail.
The apparatus consists of a wheel or disc, by preference vertically arranged
and suitably mounted; and having upon its periphery a number of grooves or
indentations. Above the wheel or disc is situated one or more chambers or
magazines, with openings in the bottom, in which chambers are placed the explosive
cartridges. The cartridges fall into the grooves in the wheel, as each groove is
brought in succession beneath the openings in the chambers, and are carried
forward to the firing mechanism, which consists of a bolt or striker, actuated by
a spring or weight or otherwise, as may be found convenient. The striker is
held and discharged through a pawl or catch falling into a notch. The whole
of the firing is similar in principle to that adopted in central fire guns.
One or more electro motor or motors, solenoids, or electro-magnets, is or are
also fitted to operate pinions, or other suitable gear, so as to actuate the firing
bolt and grooved cartridge wheel.
When a wheel of a train passes over the shoes and magnet by the side of the
road, a current is induced in the wire which passes to the relay, the tongue of
which is drawn over and closes the circuit of a battery or other source of
electricity. This current passes to the electro magnet in connection with the pawl
that retains the firing bolt, and, the core of the electro magnet becoming
magnetized, draws to itself the retaining pawl, releasing the firing bolt, which is
propelled by the spring or weight against the cartridge or detonator, and
explodes it.
In this action of propelling the firing bolt, a second circuit from the same or
other source of electricity, is closed in connection with the electro-motors, solenoids,
or electromagnets, which draw back the firing bolt and partially revolves the
grooved wheel, so as to bring another cartridge into the firing position, the spent
cartridge being automatically or otherwise ejected. The shaft on which the
cartridge wheel is fixed carries a disc having holes therein, corresponding in number
and position with the grooves in the cartridge wheel. The firing bolt is arranged
parallel with the shaft of the grooved wheel. The circular motion of the one, and
reciprocating motion of the other, are so adjusted, that, when the grooved wheel
has completed its partial revolution, bringing a fresh cartridge into position, the
firing bolt continues its backward movement, and the rear end enters a hole in the
before mentioned disc, and thus the groove wheel, with its cartridge, is rigidly held
in position until the same is released against the cartridge when the disc and
grooved wheel are free to move again. At the same time that the firing bolt is
released, the current of electricity is automatically cut off from the electro-magnet
of the pawl, allowing the pawl to drop and retain the firing bolt, when drawn back
ready for the next firing. When the firing bolt is fully withdrawn the current of
electricity is automatically cut off from the actuating motors, and they cease to act
until the next explosion takes place.
The firing bolt is drawn back by means of a cam, crank, or lever, as may be

page_text: arranged, in connection with the electro motors, solenoids, or electro magnets, and
it may be drawn backwards against a spring or other charging power, and the
retaining pawl may be operated by the electro magnet in connection with the relay
and battery as already described; or the permanent steel magnets and relay may
be dispensed with, and the circuit of electricity closed directly by means of a lever
depressed by a train passing over it; the lever having upon it contacts suitably
arranged for making and breaking the circuit.
Or the retaining pawl may be operated by a direct mechanical connection with
the lever pivotted near the rail.
We preferably but not necessarily use specially prepared cartridges, for the
purpose of giving the signals, somewhat similar to those used in breech-loading
guns, but preferably without the usual flange at the back end.
The explosion of the detonators, and resetting of the apparatus, may be effected
as before described, automatically, by the train, or by the signalman or others,
independently of the train; or, if desired, the train may cause the explosion, and
the signalman, or others, effect the resetting for the next explosion, or the signal-
man or others may cause the explosion, and the train be allowed to reset the
apparatus, as found convenient.
In case the electric current should fail, the apparatus may fire any number of
signals by means of a weight or weights raised to a suitable height, which weight
or weights fall a number of short distances in succession, each descent being
sufficient to reset the apparatus after each explosion. In this case the retaining
pawl would be operated by the direct mechanical connection between it and the
lever by the side of the rail as before mentioned. The electro motors &c. would be
employed to keep the weights to their proper height, and should the current fail,
these would descend as before described and work the apparatus. When the
weights have descended any prearranged distance, a visible or audible signal can
be given to the signal-man or others from an independent source of electricity, or
mechanically, who would then know that the current had failed, and who could at
once take steps to keep the apparatus in action by raising the weights by hand.
Each time an explosion takes place a signal may be given to the signalman, by
bell or otherwise, operated by an independent current, or otherwise.
The same or another apparatus, may be operated by the signalman or others, to
give notice by an explosion to the engine driver, when he is to proceed after being
signalled to stop. Instead of an explosion a bell or gong fixed on the post carrying
the semaphore arms, or in any other position, may be sounded by electricity or
mechanically. Two or more machines may be continued for this purpose when the
method employed for completing the circuit, is that of the permanent steel magnets,
fixed by the side of the rail, in case the train came to rest over them the apparatus
would be reset, and when the train began to move again a cartridge would be
exploded. This in many cases would be undesirable. To prevent this we place by
the side of the rail another magnet or other magnets identical with the first
magnets, and at a distance somewhat exceeding the length of the longest train, and
when the train passes over it, currents are induced, which go to a relay, for the
purpose of bringing the battery or other source of electricity into communication
with the apparatus, and so operate the motor, as before described. Thus the
apparatus remains discharged until the train has proceeded such a distance as no
longer to have any influence over the discharging mechanism after it has been
reset. But the signalman or others may have full control over the machines at
all times as desired. The machines may be worked in conjunction with the
semaphore arms, being put in or out of action as the arms are being manipulated,
either by cutting off the source of supply of electricity, or by shifting the levers
by the side of the rail, where this method is adopted, so that the levers are not
depressed by the train-wheel; or both mechanisms may be combined.
Analogous operations to the foregoing may be performed by means of pneu-
matic, hydraulic, or other well known means of communicating power and motions;

page_text: cylinders, pistons, piston rods, plungers and valves being fitted for that purpose,
either in combination with or independently of electricity.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, illustrating one
method of carrying out our invention; in which drawings similar letters and figures
of reference indicate corresponding parts and the electrical connections are shown
diagrammatically.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a plan (in which certain details are omitted for
greater clearness), and Fig. 3 an end elevation of the apparatus.
a is the bed plate. bare magazines (of which there may be 2, 3 or more) con-
taining a number of cartridges c c. d is the tail end of a striker used for firing the
cartridges. The striker is fitted with a spring (not shown in the drawings) which
throws it forward, when released, and thereby explodes a cartridge. is a seear
attached to the striker d. e is an armature pivoted at e¹ and carrying a pawl or
trigger e², which holds back the seear d¹ and striker d until an electric currant
circulates in the coils of the electro magnet f, whereby the armature e is attracted
and the striker d is released. g is an electro motor, which drives the worm g¹ when
connected with the battery. hand k are two wheels fast on one axle, the wheel/
being in gear with and driven by the worm gl. k is a volute cam attached to the
wheel k. When these wheels are driven in the direction of the arrow, the cam k¹
actuates the roller d² fitted to a pin attached to a striker d, and thereby draws the
striker back to the position of "cock." The armature e is at the same time
released from the magnet by the interruption of the current; the pawl e² then falls
and retains the striker in position ready for firing a cartridge.
² is a pin carried by the wheel h. This pin moves the wheel m to the extent of
one tooth, during each revolution of the wheel h. The wheel m is fast on the axle i,
and drives the same intermittently.
nand o are two dises fast on the axle i. A number of grooves or indentations
are formed in the periphery of the disc o, and a corresponding number of perfora-
tions are made in the disc n. The grooves in the disc o receive the cartridges from
the magazines bb, and carry them down to the position for firing, the central
fulminate of the cartridge being placed exactly opposite to the striking end of the
striker d. The holes in the disc n receive the tail end of the striker d, which
preserves the alignment of the striker and cartridge previous to firing.
p is one of the rails of the permanent way. r is a wheel of an engine or
carriage. s is a parallel-motion bar, of a length equal to the longest wheel base of
an engine or carriage. This bar is fitted close to the rail, and is supported in
position by two or more weighted levers t pivoted at t¹ and carrying balance
weights 2; the lever t being jointed to the bar at t³. s' is a link pivoted to the
bars at s², the lower end being jointed to a lever u pivoted at ul. One end of this
lever u is fitted with a rod u², insulated at u, which dips into a mercury cup v.
The other end of the lever u is also fitted with a rod u³, insulated at u, which dips
into a mercury cup v', when the wheel depresses the bar s.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:
When the wheel r depresses the bar s, the rod u³ is immersed in the mercury in v¹
and at the same time the rod u² is withdrawn from the mercury in e. The current
from the battery w can then pass by the conductor 1, through the switch 13 to the
electro magnet f, and back to the battery by the conductor 2, rod u³,
in and conductor 3. This causes the magnet to attract the armature e, and lift
mercury
the pawle, thereby releasing the striker d and permitting it to fire a cartridge.
The forward motion of the striker moves the lever a, connected with the switch y
to the position shown in Fig. 1.
When the train has run past the bar s, and allowed it to rise, the current can
then pass by the conductor 4, rod u², mercury in v, conductor 5, through the
motor g, conductor 6, through the switch y by the brushes, as shown, and con-
ductor 7, to the battery. The motor then starts driving the wheels h and k,
whereby the striker d is drawn back, and the discs o and n are rotated; the disc o

page_text: carrying an unfired cartridge into position. A switch 10 is fitted on the end of
the axle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This switch permits the current to pass by
the conductors 8 and brush 9, through the switch 10, by brush 11 and conductor 12,
back to the battery, after the current has been broken by the action of the striker d,
on its being drawn back, as before described.
This arrangement of circuit allows the motor to complete its operation previously
to the current being broken by the switch 10, as shown in Fig. 1.
The switch 13 may be operated automatically by the same movement which
operates the semaphore arms, or it may be used by the signalman or otherwise.
The position of the switch 13, shown in Fig. 3, corresponds with the "danger"
position of the semaphore arm.
In some cases we dispense with the mercury cups vv, and substitute frictional
or any other suitable form of switches for effecting the purpose described.
It is obvious that the connections may be varied in character and otherwise
arranged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In signalling by detonators on rail and other ways, the combination of electro
motors and electro magnets, or solenoids, with a firing bolt and grooved wheel and
disc, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The improvements in signalling on rail and other ways, and in appliances in
connection therewith, substantially as herein before described.
1001
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicants.