Improvements in Railway Signalling.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1898—Accepted, 12th Feb., 1898
CUALI UPIE DIEUITIVATION.
Improvements in Railway Signalling.
I, JOHN CONNOR, of 44, High Street, Crewe, Cheshire, Boiler Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
This invention relates to improvements in connection with signalling on railways,
and its object is to provide an arrangement which will be especially useful for sig-
nalling during fogs, the signals being transmitted directly to the engine driver
or guard or to both. This signalling apparatus may be operated from the ordinary
signals so as to work along with them or may be entirely independent.
The apparatus consists of a plate or bar placed between the rails and fitted on
the sleepers. This bar is of T shape in cross section, but the top flange or plate is
bent or curved down at each end to receive the device on the engine which comes in
contact with it. This bar or plate is carried by means of rocking arms which are
pivoted to supports fixed on the sleepers. These rocking arms are forked and are
connected by pins or bolts to the lower part of the T plate. This arrangement
allows the plate or bar to be raised or lowered and when in its raised position it
is adapted to actuate a device on the engine, but when lowered it allows the engine
to pass without giving a signal. The plate is operated by means of a chain or
other connection passing from one end to the ordinary signals or to the signal box.
The signal on the engine is transmitted by means of a sliding rod carried in suit-
able brackets, this rod meeting the plate as above described when in signalling
position, and causing a gong or bell to be struck òr a whistle to be sounded, or
giving a signal in some other audible or visible manner.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the arrange-
ment on the ground, and Fig. 2 shows the apparatus carried by the engine or
guards van.
These
Referring to Fig. 1, A is the T shaped plate or bar, the upper side of which is
adapted to transmit a signal. This part is bent down at a at each end to lessen
the concussion. This plate is perforated at a¹ to receive the bolts or pins connect-
ing it to the arms B. These are forked at their upper ends, the Hange of the
plate extending in the forks so that the plate is held in a secure manner.
arms are pivoted to the base plates C, these base plates being formed with lugs to
receive the arms, and fixed by bolts or otherwise to the sleepers D. The plate may
extend across any desired number of sleepers. The chain a serves to raise the
plate into signalling position, the plate being preferably raised in its normal
position.
The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 consists of the rod E carried in the brackets F
and adapted to slide in the said brackets to limit the extent. The lower part of
the rod is pivoted to the plate e which slides over the plate A and raises the rod.
This rod when it is actuated operates a bell or whistle in any well known manner
so as to give a signal directly to the engine driver or guard.

page_text: 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) An improved apparatus for use in railway signalling, consisting of a T
shaped plate fitted between the rails carried on suitable arms, means for raising and
lowering the said plate and a rod on the engine projecting downwardly so as to
meet the plate when in its raised position, and to transmit the signal to the engine
or guards van, substantially as described.
(2) In an improved apparatus for railway signalling, the combination with a
sliding rod fitted to the engine or guards van, and a hinged plate at the lower end,
of a plate placed between the rails, forked arms carrying the said plate and
pivoted to it, base plates fixed to the sleepers carrying the said arms which are
pivoted to them at their lower ends, and means for operating the plate from the
signals or signal boxes, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(3) The improved apparatus for use in railway signalling, having a plate carried
on pivoted arms secured between the rails and means for transmitting the signal
from the said plate to the engine or guards van, constructed and operating substan-
tially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes
specified.
Dated this 6th day of December
1907
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.