IMPROVEMENTS IN WORKING RAILWAY SIGNALS, IN REGISTERING THE ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES OF TRAINS, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED. THEREIN, PART OF D
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Sykes, of Nunhead, in the.
County of Surrey, and Frank Richard Francis, of New Kent Road,
in the same. County, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WORKING
RAILWAY SIGNALS, IN REGISTERING THE ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES OF
TRAINS, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED. THEREIN, PART OF
D"
Sealed the 21st January 1873, and dated the 19th November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Sykes
and Frank Richard Francis at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 19th November 1872.
We, WILLIAM ROBERT SYKES, of Nunhead, in the County of Surrey,
and FRANK RICHARD FRANCIS, of New Kent Road, in the same County,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WORKING RAILWAY SIGNALS, IN REGISTERING THE ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES OF
TRAINS, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OF WHICH
INVENTION IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER REGISTERING PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
-

page_text: The primary objects of our Invention are to work railway signals
without the necessity of employing signalmen, and at the same time to
register automatically the times of arrival and departure of the trains.
.
We arrange on a level with one of the rails at the place where it is
desired to work a signal a spring of sufficient strength to resist the
weight of a man or men passing over it, but not sufficiently strong to
resist the weight of a train, engine, or carriage; this spring is so placed
that when a passing train, engine, or carriage bears upon it, the said
spring is forced into contact with another spring which is insulated
from the line, but is in electric connection with electro-magnets for
working the signal lights or lamps, or signal arms; the electro-magnets
are thus caused to make the lights, lamps, or arms indicate danger.
These lights, lamps, or arms are subsequently returned to caution, or all
clear when the same train, engine, or carriage, in passing over and
bearing upon another similar spring which may be placed at such a
distance from the first spring as the traffic of the line may render
desirable acts in like manner upon electro-magnets in connection with
the lights, lamps, or arms first mentioned.
For example, a train on leaving station No. 1 acts upon a spring
outside that station, and thereby moves the signals at that station to
danger; on reaching a position midway or between stations Nos. 1 and 2
it acts upon another spring and moves the signals, which may be the
"distant" signals in connection therewith, to danger, without interfering
with the signals at station No. 1. Then on leaving station No. 2 it acts
upon another spring, thereby moving the signals at this station to
danger, and at the same time returning the signals at station No. 1, and
the intermediate or distant signals to caution. This mode of working
signals automatically may of course be modified to adapt it to the
various systems now in use on different lines. In connection with our
mode of working we employ at each signalling point a pair of lamps or
a double lamp, shewing danger and caution respectively, and so
arranged that either of them may be made dark as required; that is to
say, that when the electric current from one of the springs before
described passes through one pair of magnets danger is shewn, and
when the current from another spring passes through another pair of
magnets of the same lamp or pair of lamps caution or all clear is
shewn. This may be conveniently effected by employing a pair of
light balanced discs placed so as to be acted upon by the electro-

page_text: magnets, and to be thereby alternately raised or lowered to darken the
corresponding lights. Or a single lamp may be used, and be made to
shew danger or caution as required by means of a pair of properly
colored glasses worked by the electro-magnets.
In order to register the times of arrival and departure of the trains
we cause the spring, on being forced down by a passing train as before
described, to be put in connection by a wire with electro-magnets which
actuate a pointer or marker. This pointer or marker on being so
actuated makes a perforation or impression upon a strip of paper or
other suitable material which is caused to travel by clockwork. As this
strip travels the hours and minutes are embossed or impressed upon it
by drums or rollers between which it passes, these drums or rollers
being driven by the clockwork. Hence the mark caused to be made by
the passing train will appear on the paper immediately opposite the
corresponding time as embossed on the paper; proper registration is thus
ensured.
This electric registering apparatus may be advantageously adapted to
other registering purposes, for example for checking the working of
ordinary block signalling instruments, so that the true time of the
arrival or departure of a train may be ascertained should any dispute
arise between two stations.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Sykes and Frank Richard
Francis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
ROBERT SYKES, of Nunhead, in the County of Surrey, and FRANK
RICHARD FRANCIS, of New Kent Road, in the same County, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said William Robert Sykes and Frank
Richard Francis, Her special licence that we, the said William Robert

page_text: Sykes and Frank Richard Francis, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said William Robert Sykes and
Frank Richard Francis, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WORKING RAILWAY SIGNALS,
IN REGISTERING THE ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES OF TRAINS, AND IN THE MEANS
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE TO
OTHER REGISTERING PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said William Robert Sykes and Frank Richard Francis, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our,
or one of our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Robert Sykes and Frank
Richard Francis, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, that is to say :—
The primary objects of our Invention are to work railway signals
without the necessity of employing signalmen, and at the same time
to register automatically the times of arrival and departure of the
trains.
We arrange on a level with one of the rails at the place where it is
desired to work a signal a spring of sufficient strength to resist the
weight of a man or men passing over it, but not sufficiently strong to
resist the weight of a train, engine, or carriage; this spring is so placed
that when a passing train, engine, or carriage bears upon it the said
spring is forced into contact with another spring which is insulated
from the line, but is in electric connection with electro-magnets for
working the signal lights or lamps, or signal arms; the electro-magnets
are thus caused to make the lights, lamps, or arms indicate danger.
These lights, lamps, or arms are subsequently returned to caution, or all
-

page_text: clear, when the same train, engine, or carriage in passing over and
bearing upon another similar spring which may be placed at such a
distance from the first spring as the traffic of the line may render
desirable acts in like manner upon electro-magnets in connection with
the lights, lamps, or arms first mentioned.
For example, a train on leaving station No. 1 (see diagram Figure 4)
acts upon a spring outside that station, and thereby moves the signals
at that station to danger; on reaching a position midway or between
stations Nos. 1 and 2 it acts upon another spring and moves the signals,
which may be the "distant signals" in connection therewith to
danger without interfering with the signals at station No. 1. Then on
leaving station No. 2 it acts upon another spring, thereby moving the
signals at this station to danger, and at the same time returning the
signals at station No. 1, and the intermediate or distant signals to
caution. This mode of working signals automatically may of course be
modified to adapt it to the various systems now in use on different lines.
This part of our Invention will be fully understood on reference to
Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the annexed Drawings, and to diagram Figure 4
before referred to. Figure 1 being a side view; Figure 2, a plan; and
Figure 3, a section of a rail with a spring in connection therewith as
herein-before explained. A is the rail, and B the spring, which as
before stated must be of sufficient strength to resist the weight of a man
or men passing over it, but not sufficiently strong to resist the weight of
a train, engine, or carriage. The spring is fixed at one end to the flange
of the rail by screws C, C, while the other end is attached to the rail by
other screws D, D, which pass through slots E, E, in the spring, these
slots thus allowing a longitudinal play to the spring B; F is a socket,
in which a tube G of ebonite or other suitable insulating material is
fitted. In this tube is a brass tube H, and within that another brass
tube I kept pushed outwards by a spring. The tube I carries a silver
point L for making contact. In the normal position the end of the
spring B is clear from the point L, but when the spring is forced down
by a passing train its end is pushed into contact with the point L, and
as the spring in the tube I is in electric connection with electro-magnets
for working the signal lamps or lights, or signal arms, the lights, lamps,
or arms are caused to indicate danger. These lights, lamps, or arms are
afterwards returned to caution, or all clear, as herein-before explained
in accordance with the system of the particular railway.

page_text: In connection with our mode of working we employ at each signalling
point a pair of lamps or a double lamp, showing danger and caution
respectively, and so arranged that either of them may be made dark as
required; that is to say, that when the electric current from one of the
springs before described passes through one pair of magnets danger is
shown, and when the current from another spring passes through
another pair of magnets of the same lamp or pair of lamps, caution or
all clear is shown. This may be conveniently effected by employing a
pair of light-balanced discs placed so as to be acted upon by the electro-
magnets, and to be thereby alternately raised or lowered to darken the
corresponding lights.
Figure 5 is a back elevation, and Figure 6 a side elevation, showing a
double lamp with a pair of light balanced discs as just explained.
A and B are the two lamp glasses or bull's-eyes showing danger and
caution respectively; C and D are a pair of discs connected together
by a beam or arm E centred or balanced at the point F. At this point
a permanent magnet G is connected to the said beam; H is an electro-
magnet wound with two distinct insulated wires, one of which is in
connection with the spring which causes this lamp to indicate danger,
while the other is in connection with the spring which causes this
lamp to indicate caution. Thus one wire acts upon the permanent
magnet G in one direction, and the other wire in the opposite direction;
and the oscillation or movement thus given to the permanent magnet
is imparted to the pair of discs C and D so as to cause them to darken
and clear the corresponding bull's-eyes respectively. Or a single lamp
may be used and be made to show danger or caution as required by
means of a pair of properly colored glasses worked by the electro-

page_text: by electro-magnets N in the manner already herein-before explained, so
as to bring the danger and caution glasses behind the bull's-eye at the
proper times. The lamps shown in Figures 5 and 6, and in Figure 7
may be worked electrically otherwise than from the spring B of
Figure 1.
Figure 8 is an elevation showing a similar arrangement to that shown
in Figure 7 for working a signal arm. A is the arm, centre at B; C is
a rod, connected at its upper end to the arm A at D, and at its lower
end to a lever E, which carries a balance weight; F, G, is an armature
connected to the lever E, and working between two electro-magnets H, H.
Figure 9 is a horizontal section through the line a, a, of Figure 8.
In order to register the times of arrival and departure of the trains
we cause the spring, on being forced down by a passing train as before
described, to be put in connection by a wire with electro-magnets which
actuate a pointer or marker. This pointer or marker on being so
actuated makes a perforation or impression upon a strip of paper or
other suitable material which is caused to travel by clockwork. As
this strip travels the hours and minutes are embossed or impressed upon
it by drums or rollers between which it passes, these drums or rollers
being driven by the clockwork. Hence the mark caused to be made by
the passing train will appear on the paper immediately opposite the
corresponding time as embossed on the paper; proper registration is thus
insured. The chief feature of novelty in this registering apparatus is
that the drums or rollers emboss or impress the time upon the paper as
it passes between them.
This registering apparatus may be advantageously adapted to other
registering purposes; for example, for checking the working of ordinary
block signalling instruments, so that the true time of the arrival or
departure of a train may be ascertained should any dispute arise between
stations; also as a tell-tale for night watchmen, and for other like
registering purposes.
The construction and action of this registering apparatus will be
understood on reference to Figure 10. A, A', are electro-magnets in
connection respectively with two lines of rail, the number of magnets
being regulated according to the number of lines to be registered in the
apparatus; B, B³, are armatures actuated by these electro-magnets, and

page_text: connected to levers C, C¹, centred at D, D¹, and carrying at their
opposite ends markers E, E'; F, G, are two drums driven by ordinary
clockwork, and in gear with each other by means of the wheels H.
These drums are embossed with figures or other desired indications,
which as the drums revolve become embossed upon a strip of paper I.
This strip of paper is given off from a spindle in a box or case K, and is
drawn along by the drums, the pressure being regulated as required by
means of a screw L. The upper drum F has in its periphery two
grooves M, M', as seen more clearly in the edge view Figure 11; these
grooves corresponding respectively with the two markers E, E¹. Thus
every time either of the markers is actuated by the corresponding
electro-magnets it makes a mark upon the paper I, and the time that
this mark was made can be ascertained whenever desired by comparing
it with the corresponding time embossed opposite to it on the paper.
The drum shown in Figure 11 will emboss hours and quarters.
Figure 12 shows a strip of paper embossed by drums which have the
minutes marked thereon, while the hours (also indicated in this Figure)
may be embossed by another drum, or be subsequently marked by hand,
the marks made by the markers are also indicated in this Figure.
When this apparatus is used as a tell-tale for watchmen, the marker
may be actuated simply by pressing upon it by hand, a spring being
fitted to return it to its normal position.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim, —
First. The mode or system of and the means or apparatus for working
railway signals, substantially as herein-before described and represented
in Figures 1 to 4.
Second. The employment of the spring B arranged and acting sub-
stantially as herein-before described and represented in Figures 1 to 3.
Third. Constructing signal lamps or lights substantially as herein-
before described and represented in Figures 5 and 6.
Fourth. Constructing signal lamps or lights substantially as herein-
before described and represented in Figure 7.
Fifth. Constructing apparatus for registering the times of arrival and
departure of trains, and for other registering purposes, in such manner.

page_text: that the apparatus itself embosses or impresses the time upon a plain
travelling strip of paper, substantially as herein-before described and
represented in Figures 10 and 11.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Sykes, for myself and on
behalf of the said Frank Richard Francis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
WILL". ROBT. SYKES. (L.S.)