New or Improved Apparatus for Checking the Speed of Railway- trains when Entering Stations, Approaching Dead-ends, or under similar Circumstances.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Apparatus for Checking the Speed of Railway-
trains when Entering Stations, Approaching Dead-ends, or under
similar Circumstances.
ALEXANDER MARSHALL, 45 Hill Rise, Richmond Surrey no occupation
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 apparatus for checking the speed of railway trains when
entering stations, approaching dead-ends, or under similar circumstances, and has
for its object to provide auxiliary and self-acting means whereby trains may be
checked in their speed or brought to a standstill if desirable, when running into
stations, approaching the dead-ends of sidings, or under like conditions, to prevent
accidents to such trains if any mishap occurs to the ordinary brakes controlling such
trains, to render such brakes ineffective, such auxiliary speed-checking means
being also applicable to assisting the said ordinary brakes to bring the trains to a
standstill, when it is not desirable to employ the full power of the said ordinary
brakes.
And in order that the said invention may be the more readily understood, I have
shewn same upon the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, wherein :
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of my invention applied to a single line railway, the
apparatus being shewn fixed to the platforms on each side of same, and open in the
position ready for operation.
Fig. 2 being an end elevation partly in section, shewing the apparatus closed or
out of use, while
Figs. 3 and 4 are plans of Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.
In the said drawings forming part of this Specification, like letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
According to my invention, I provide two or more (preferably two) plates a a' of
steel or other resilient metal capable of withstanding considerable strain, which
plates a a are rectangular in shape. These said plates a a' are binged one (in the
case of two only being employed) to the right-hand platform and the other to the
left-hand platform b', by hinges c c' of any suitable form, pins c² e designed to enter
openings in the hinges and corresponding recesses in the hinge-pius thereof, being
provided, for the purpose of enabling such hinges to be locked to maintain the
said plates a a¹ in the position shewn by Figs. 1 and 3.
Any other suitable means may be employed to effect the above purpose, in lieu of
the pins and openings and recesses aforesaid if found desirable.
Strong spiral springs d d are interposed between the said plates a a' and the
platforms bb', the ends d' d³ of the said springs d d being fixed to the inner sides
of the respective plates near the forward ends thereof, while the other ends d' d³
of such springs enter horizontal recesses formed in the vertical sides of the respective
platforms, in which recesses the said extremities d' d' are fixed by rivets or other
suitable means.
The position of the apparatus is determined by the line to which same is
applied being an "up" or a "down" line, the hinge-ends of the plates in every
case being located so as face toward the direction from which the trains approach.
The forward ends a² a³ of the plates a a' may be outwardly curved or straight
as shewn by the drawings, and to one of these forward ends, a² I may hinge or

page_text: suitably connect one extremity of a rod e, the other end of which is designed to
enter a horizontal slot e¹ formed in the end a³ of the plate a¹ and be held therein
by a spring catch or its equivalent, so that by this means the ends a² a³ of the
plates, will be braced together sufficiently firmly to offer additional resistance to
the train passing between same, while at the same time the said rod e will be
capable of being displaced when the vehicle at the front of the train strikes same.
Any other form of brace may be employed in lieu of, and to effect the same purpose,
as the one described.
In operation the plates a a¹ are locked in the position shewn by Figs. 1 and 3, so
that upon a vehicle or train travelling between same, the forward ends a² a³ would
come into contact with the sides of same, at a point determined by the height at
which the said plates a a¹ are hinged, and exert sufficient side pressure upon such
vehicle or train as to bring same to a standstill, or considerably check the speed at
which it was travelling, according to the strength of the springs dd and the
resiliency of the metal composing the plates a a', which by being formed of resilient
material, constitutes springs in themselves.
The brace e at the forward ends of the twiu apparatus, is displaced by the contact
of the engine or other vehicle at the head of the train, and falls down to a vertical
position, being suspended in that position by the plate a to which it is hinged or
otherwise connected.
When not required for use, the hinges of the plates may be unlocked and the
latter turned upon the said hinges so as to lie flat against the vertical sides of
the platforms, a lever or any other suitable means being employed to effect this
purpose.
Suitable catches (not shewn) may be provided to maintain the plates in the shut
position shewn by Figs. 2 and 4.
The apparatus as above described may be connected in any suitable manner with
the levers in a signal-man's cabin, so that the signal-man in charge can put such
apparatus out of, or into action, as required.
In places along a line where the sides of platforms or the like are not available
for fixing the apparatus to, I may erect strong supports suitably stayed, to which
the apparatus may be fixed, in a manner similar to that in which same is applied to
the said platform sides.
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. In apparatus such as described, the resilient plates hinged to the opposing
sides of platforms or the like, in such a manner as to be locked at an angle
to such sides, substantially as, and for the purpose described, and as illustrated.
2. In combination with plates hinged to the opposing sides of platforms or the
like, between which are laid the rails, said plates being capable of locking at an
angle to the said platform sides or the like, the use of spiral springs interposed
between such plates and the objects to which they are hinged, substantially as and
for the purpose specified and as illustrated.
3. The apparatus for checking the speed of railway-trains or for bringing same
to a standstill when entering stations, approaching the dead-ends of sidings, or
under similar circumstances, substantially as described, and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of November 1894.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, Agents for the Applicant.