IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Funnell, of 54, East Street, Brighton,
in the County of Sussex, Watch and Clock Maker, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS."
Scaled the 15th January 1869, and dated the 17th July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Funnell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 17th July 1868.
I, EDWARD FUNNELL, of 54, East Street, Brighton, in the County
of Sussex, Watch and Clock Maker, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS," to
be as follows:-
The principle of this improvement being the distant oscillation of a
disc combined with the striking of a bell or gong on the passage of a
train over the connected treadle, the utility being that every approaching
train produces warning to the signalman or gatekeeper at any distance in
the advance without the aid of manipulation.
The principle on which I propose to carry this improvement into effect
is particularly shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed as explained in

page_text: the description thereof herein contained, reference being had to figures
and letters marked on the Drawings in correspondence with figures and
letters inserted in the description.
Fig. 1, R, r, represents the upper surface of the rails; E, f, the flange
and tire section of railway whcels; B, a, bearing fixed to the side of the
outer rail on which the treadle T is mounted.
Fig. 2 represents the treadle mechanism; F, the square frame on
which the movements are mounted, which I propose fixing to the ground
in a longitudinal line of the outside rail, and also perpendicular; A, the
horizontal axle, as shewn by dotted lines, is prolonged through B and F.;
'T, the treadle fixed to A, the section of which is conveyed by dotted
lines; W, the wheel is set upon A and turns freely; L, l, the lever fixed
to A at the back of W; J, the pall is attached to L; a, the spring
attached to L and J; d, the spring attached to L and F; e, the stop pin
fixed to F; S, 8, the escape wheel and pinion; P, p, the pallets and
pendulum; C, c, the crank lever moves freely on a stud at h; R, the
perpendicular rod jointed to C and moves freely through G the guide,
W, the carth wire fixed to F, and terminates in a spiral spring, and
also attached to R; V, insolated cup; Q, the bulb of quicksilver;
E, represents the first wheel of a train at the point of contact with the
treadle; D, the side view of a rail.
Fig. 3 represents the signal movements which I propose to fix inside
the signalling cabin and also to connect the battery. H, the hammer
moves on a stud fixed at 2; V, the spring forces H against the stop
at 3; b, the horizontal detent attached to H and rides on the top of a
projecting pin at 4; D, the disc which I propose to mount on an axle
with small pivots; S, S, the black spots for the indication of oscillation;
e, the pallet fixed to the axle; w, the coiled spring attached to the axle
at the inner end and to the frame at the outer end; C, the magnetic
coil; a, the armature fixed to H; B, the bell; E, the battery; w, the
line wire connected to F, C, and Q; W, the earth wire to battery.
Having given reference to the whole by figures and letters I now
describe the operations produced by passing trains. On referring to
Fig. 1 it is obvious that E will make contact with T, also T, as shewn
Fig. 2, will be pressed downward by the passage of E, thus producing
upward movement to L, J, in the same ratio, by which the tension of d
is expanded, W remaining locked by S, 8; P, p, will cause the point of J
to pass over the teeth of W, as prescribed by the arc of L, the descent

page_text: of L being prevented by the point of J locking into an opposite space in
the teeth of W by the tension of a, by which the return movement of
L, T, is united with W, the tension of a being, thus transmitted through
J, W, 8, S, p, will cause P' to oscillate and allow. S, W, to rotate by the
outlet of a tooth at each viberation of P, by which C, c, R, will rise at
every succeeding tooth of W and fall at every succeeding space until the
tension of d has brought L down on.to the former stop at e, thus R will:
remain disconnected from Q by the point of C resting on a tooth of W;
it is also obvious that every descent of R into the quicksilver will com-
plete an electric circuit through C and E, Fig. 3, by which the armature
of H will be brought to the pole of C, and H strike the bell accordingly,
and that every ascent of R will produce a broken circuit by which the
hammer will be forced against the banking stop at 3 by the tension of
V, it being also obvious the forward motion of the hammer will allow b
to make contact with e, by the impulse of which an oscillating movement
will be given to S, S, and maintained by the rewinding of the attached.
spring at each vibration for a period..
Having thus described the movements of my said improvement, it.
being obvious, firstly, that the centre of action of the treadle being
mounted parallel with the upper surface of the rail will allow the point.
of contact to receive depression by the wheels of trains passing in a
forward or backward direction without producing an abutment, and that.
the small are produced in the. action partakes of a perpendicular line of
descent; secondly, that the rotating of wheels and pinions being regu-
lated by the oscillation of the pendulum, thus producing a gradual
upward movement to the treadle by which the wheels of a passing train
are prevented from making unnecessary contacts, also having in its effect
the production of a number of electric circuits requisite for the per-
formance of the intended object, and, the gradual making and breaking
of contact with the electric circuit; lastly, that the obvious vibrating of
a spotted disc for the indication of the approaching train on the section
to which the connected bell is intended to proclaim, having for its.
object the preventation of mistakes where several are employed to
represent the approach or departure of trains connected with other
5 sections..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Funnell in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 15th January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
FUNNELL, of 54, East Street, Brighton, in the County of Sussex, Watch
and Clock Maker, send greeting-
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself,, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Edward Funnell, Her special licence that I, the
said Edward' Funnell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Edward Funnell, my 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 SIGNALLING
ON RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Edward Funnell, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly 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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters.
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Funnell, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
The principle of this improvement being the distant oscillation or
movement of a disc combined with the striking of a bell or gong
on the passage of a train over the connected treadle, the utility being
that every approaching or preceding train gives warning to the signal-
man or gatekeeper at any distance in the rear or advance without the
aid of manipulation.

page_text: The principle on which I propose to carry this improvement into
effect is particularly shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed, as
explained in the description thereof herein contained, reference being had
to the figures and letters marked on the Drawings corresponding with
figures and letters in the description.
Fig. 1 represents the upper surface of the rails on which the wheels
of the trains traverse. E, f, the section of the wheels, and T, the upper
side of the treadle, the bracket B is fixed to the outside of the outer rail
on which the treadle is mounted.
Fig. II. represents the treadle mechanism attached to the vertical
square frame F, which is fixed in a parallel line with the outside rail,
and at a convenient distance to clear passing trains. The treadle is
connected with the movements by the horizontal axle A, and terminates
with a pivot working into F and turning freely. D represents the inside
of the outer rail, and E, the edge of the first wheel of an approaching
train meeting the raised position of the treadle T. The wheel W is set
on an axle A and turns freely. Levers L, M, are fixed to A. The
pall J is attached to L, and is pressed between the teeth of W by the
tension of the spring a. The spring d attached to L and F forces L on
to the stop e.
The pinions revolves on pivots, to which is fixed the
escape wheel S. The dots represent projecting pins. The palletts p, p,
and pendulum P oscillate on the axis at n. The crank C, c, turns on a
stud at h, to which are fixed the springs m, t, u; m is also fixed to F and
t, u, press on the surface of the insulator G; x, y, represent platinum
points projecting above the surface of G, and to which the wires W, w,
are attached. The earth wire Z is attached to m and R, D.
Fig. III. respresents the electric bell and gong apparatus, which is
fixed inside the signalling station, and is connected by telegraphic wire
to the treadle movements in the rear and in the advance, the bell being
a signal for approaching trains and the gong for preceding trains. An
aperture in the case permits the disc to represent train on line or line
clear. The earth wire Z is attached to D and to the batteries A, a, the
connecting wires W, w, are also attached to A, a, and to the magnetic
coils C, c, the hammer H, h, moves on a pivot at p, and to which is
fixed the armature d and strikes against the bell B. The spring m
The
presses H, I, on. the stop l. The disc D turns on a pivot at n.
hammer turns on a pivot at p, to which is attached the armature a.

page_text: The stop e also strikes against the gong G. The spring n presses. e
against the edge of D.
Fig. IV. represents the movements operated by a train passing over
the treadle.
Having referred to the whole by figures and letters, I will now
describe the operations produced by passing trains. On referring to
Fig. I., it is obvious that the tire of E. will make contact with T, also.
E, as shewn, Fig. II., will depress T to a level with the upper surface.
of the rail (as shewn, Fig. IV.) thus producing upward movement to
L, J, and downward movement to M in the same ratio as prescribed
by the are of T; C, c, being thus liberated will unite with the pins of
S by the tension of m, the changed position of J into W retaining the
extended tension of d, and being thus transmitted through W, 8, S; P, Pi
will produce the vibrations of P, and allow S, W, to turn in the
direction of the arrows at every outlet given by P, by which C, c, t, u,
will be lifted by each succeeding pin of S for the breaking of contact
and fall into each following space for the making of contact with x, y,
until the return of M unites with C for the prevention of further contact
with x, y, and L banks on stop e, by which the treadle resumes its
former position.
Having thus described the treadle movements, it being obvious that
the uniting of u, y, will complete an electric circuit through C, Fig. III.,
and thus produce forward motion to the hammer H for the striking of
the bell, by which D will be carried upward and locked over the
point of e for the indication of train on line. Also the backward
motion will be given to H by m at every broken circuit repeated by the
separation of u, y. Each contact t, x, Fig. IV. will also produce
forward movement to h for the striking of the gong, by which D is
liberated to fall from e for the indication of line clear, and A will be
pressed backward by n at the repeated separation of t, x.
Having thus described the movements of my said improvement,
it is obvious, firstly, that the centre of action of the treadle being
mounted parallel with the upper surface of the rail will allow the
point of contact to receive depression by the tire of the first wheel
of a train passing in a forward or backward direction without producing
an abutment, and that the small are produced in the action partakes
of a vertical descent; secondly, the gradual return of the treadle being
regulated by a pendulum transmitting the vibrations through wheels

page_text: and pinions, by which the treadle is prevented from making unnecessary
contacts with the succeeding wheels of a passing train; also producing
the gradual succession of contacts and insulations with an electric circuit
for the deliberate striking of a bell combined with the movement of a
disc at a distance in advance or rear of a passing train.
Having thus described the nature and movements of my said improve-
ment, and the manner in which the same may be carried into effect, I
wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to any form or
configuration by which the mechanism can be made to perform the
principle herein set forth.
I claim no right to the construction of the magnetic coil or mode of
striking a bell uncombined with my self-acting mechanism, as herein
set forth.
I claim the right to the form and production of the treadle, as herein
set forth and described.
I claim the right to the adoption of wheels and pinions, as herein
set forth and described.
I claim the right to the application of the pendulum, as heroin set
forth and described.
Lastly, I claim the right to the construction of the disc, as herein set
forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Funnell, have hercunto
set my hand and scal, this 14th day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.