IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAY TRAINS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Joseph Mackie, of No. 3, Delahay
Street, Great George Street, in the City of Westminster, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAY
TRAINS."
Sealed the 31st July 1874, and dated the 3rd February 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Joseph Mackio
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 3rd February 1874.
I, SAMUEL JOSEPH MACKIE, of No. 3, Delahay Street, Great George
Street, in the City of Westminster, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON
RAILWAY TRAINS," to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention has partly for its object to improve the signalling
apparatus described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Charles
Owen on the 23rd November 1872 (No. 3512), in which a battery is
placed in the guard's van at each end of a train, and two insulated wires
are carried along the train, and so coupled to the batteries that no

page_text: current shall pass so long as there is no connection between the two
wires;
but if at any point along the train the wires are brought into
connection alarm bells are caused to ring in each guard's van.
The object of this Invention is, firstly, to construct the instrument,
which is acted upon by the passenger to give an alarm in such a manner
that when a passenger gives an alarm and sets the bells ringing in the
guards' vans, the passenger can see by an index upon the instrument that
the bells continue to ring, and also to construct the apparatus in such a
manner that the guards may, when they have observed that the alarm has
been given, break the connection between the wires which has been set
up by the passenger, and so stop the ringing of the bells, and set the
wires free for the guards to communicate with one another. To effect this
the alarm instrument in each carriage is constructed with a plate to be
pressed inwards whenever an alarm is to be given. When the plate is
thus pressed inwards an armature is brought into contact with an
electro-magnet, and at the same time a contact apparatus completes a
connection between the two wires, and allows a current to pass through
the coils of the magnet. Thus the electro-magnet retains the contact
maker, and keps up the connection between the two wires, and the
bells in the guards' vans continue to ring until the guards break the
connections with the batteries. The electro-magnet is then put out of
action, the front plate having been moved back by a spring, and
the contact between the two wires is again broken. The index in the
instrument in the passengers' compartment therefore returns to its
former position, and so announces to the passenger that his call has
been noticed. The guards can then signal with one another through
the two wires.
A similar arrangement of apparatus can also be applied to electrical
train signal apparatus in which a single battery only is used. To
indicate to the guards which compartment in the train requires attention
a rod or bar fitted with a show disc or index is coupled to the instrument
in such a manner that on pushing the front plate of the instrument the
disc or index shall fly out of the pannelling of the carriage, so that it
may be seen alongside of the carriage.
The coupling between the carriages consists of two metallic cables or
wire ropes, each insulated and bound together; they terminate at both
ends in two large brass or metal hooks, there being two at each end. A

page_text: wood or other non-conducting shoe is fitted over each pair of hooks, and
is arranged so as to be easily seized by the hand for the insertion of the
hooks into their places. These hooks are fixed into the carriages in
corresponding sockets forming bayonet joints, so as to be in close
contact with the metallic conductors fitted over the carriages of the
train, and which conductors are wholly or in part made of flat bars
screwed to the carriages, and extending downwards upon the front and
rear panels of the same, passing inside the bayonet joints where the
hooks or couplings are fixed.
In order to signify to the guards whether all the couplings have been
effected, or all the couplings of the train have been hooked on, or
whether any carriage has broken away in any part of the journey, it is
arranged that the conductors descending the fronts and rears of every
carriage will have a tendency by their natural spring, or by extra springs
fitted for the purpose, to touch one another, thereby completing the
circuit in the batteries and ringing the bells to advise the guards that
such contact exists. This contact is broken by the mere act of inserting
the hooks. This is done by arranging the hooks with proper projections
so as to interpose between the conductors aforesaid, and separating them.
Every part of this gear is so arranged and made so strong that the
weakest point is exactly where the interposition between the conductors
takes place; and it is therefore evident that in any break-away of the
carriages the separation will always take place at such interposition,
that is to say, the interposition will be removed, and the conductors will
touch one another, causing thereby the bell or bells to ring. This said
interposition between the conductors and the corresponding weakness of
parts can evidently be placed in any part of the coupling, and arranged
so that both parts of the train will after any break-away have their con-
ductors respectively in contact, so that the front and rear bells will both
ring.
Another mode of break-away may be by jointing the couplings at the
centre with two insulated draw tubes to fit two others of the like
nature, one sliding over the other, a spring being attached to one tube of
each couplet in such a way that when the two half couplings are drawn
apart the springs make contact between the contiguous tubes, and
the bells are thereby rung. This species of coupling may be hinged or
otherwise attached to each carriage.

page_text: An outside signal or indicator for the compartment or carriage whence
the passenger's signal issues may be arranged by a straight bar or rod
passing from the passengers' signal apparatus to the side of the carriage.
Being held by a detent on the push or pull of the passengers' signal
apparatus one of the studs liberates a trigger, and a spiral spring then
thrusts the rod forward, bearing on its end or side a disc carrying on
each side a small mirror, preferably convex, the purpose of the double
mirror being to serve the purpose of a light at night by reflecting the
light from the lamps illuminating the train. When thrust out the disc
is held by a second detent, which has to be liberated by the guard by a
special pin or key acting on a trigger. When this has been done the
rod can be replaced in its normal position. The outside signals can also
be made to shew on both sides of a train if desired, and they may be
liberated by the same trigger.
For bringing foreign carriages not fitted with the proper gear into
electrical circuit with the rest of the train a long coupling of wires or
wire rope is carried over or under such carriages, and secured to the
interposed truck, carriage, or van either at the eaves atop or to the
floor, and is secured in position by simple clips screwed on to such
carriages.
The batteries used with the foregoing electrical gear are affixed by
bayonet joints the same as the bell apparatus, whereby proper electrical
contact is always ensured.
In some cases I form the double line of electric wires by a single cord
containing the two wires insulated from each other; and I also, when
preferred, arrange the tubular break-away as a single tube divided
longitudinally, the contact of the studs or springs or walls of the tube
being broken by the two moieties of the tube being forced apart by an
intermediate insulated plug or wedge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Joseph Mackie in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd August 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
JOSEPH MACKIE, of 6 (late No. 3), Delahay Street, Great George Street,
Westminster, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Samuel Joseph Mackie, Her special
licence that I, the said Samuel Joseph Mackie, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel Joseph
Mackie, 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 APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAY TRAINS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Joseph Mackie, 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
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Joseph Mackie, 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 :-
This Invention has partly for its object to improve the signalling
apparatus described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Charles
Owen on the Twenty-third November, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-two (No. 3512), in which a battery is placed in the guard's van
at each end of a train, and two insulated wires are carried along the

page_text: train, and so coupled to the batteries that no current shall pass so long
as there is no connection between the two wires; but if at any point
along the train the wires are brought into connection alarm bells are
caused to ring in each guard's van.
The object of this Invention is, firstly, to construct the instrument,
which is acted upon by the passenger to give an alarm in such a manner
that when a passenger gives an alarm, and sets the bells ringing in the
guards' vans, the passenger can sec by a index upon the instrument that
the bells continue to ring; and also to construct the apparatus in such a
manner that the guards may, when they have observed that the alarm
has been given, break the connection between the wires which has been
set up by the passenger, and so stop the ringing of the bells, and set the
wires free for the guards to communicate with one another. To effect
this the alarm instrument in each carriage is constructed with a plate to
be pressed inwards whenever an alarm is to be given. When the plate
is thus pressed inwards an armature is brought into contact with an
electro-magnet, and at the same time a contact apparatus completes a
connection between the two wires, and allows a current to pass through
the coils of the magnet. Thus the electro-magnet retains the contact
maker, and keeps up the connection between the two wires, and the
bells in the guards' vans continue to ring until the guards break the
connections with the batteries. The electro-magnet is then put out of
action, the front plate having been moved back by a spring or springs,
and the contact between the two wires is again broken. The index in
the instrument in the passenger's compartment therefore returns to its
former position, and so announces to the passenger that his call has
been noticed. The guards can then signal with one another through the
two wires.
A similar arrangement of apparatus can also be applied to electrical
train signal apparatus in which a single battery only is used. To
indicate to the guards which compartment in the train requires attention
a rod or bar fitted with a show disc or index is coupled to the instrument
in such a manner that on pushing the front plate of the instrument the
disc or index shall fly out of the panelling of the carriage, so that it
may be seen alongside of the carriage.
The coupling between the carriages consists of two metallic cables or
wire ropes, each insulated and bound together; they terminate at both

page_text: ends in two large brass or metal hooks, there being two at each end. A
wood or other non-conducting shoe is fitted over each pair of hooks, and
is arranged so as to be easily seized by the hand for the insertion of the
hooks into their places. These hooks are fixed into the carriages in
corresponding sockets forming bayonet joints, so as to be in close
contact with the metallic conductors fitted over the carriages of the
train, and which conductors are wholly or in part made of flat bars
screwed to the carriages, and extending downwards or upwards upon the
front and rear panels of the same, passing inside the bayonet joints
where the hooks of couplings are fixed.
Instead of the removable couplings fixed hinges may be used.
In order to signify to the guards whether all the couplings have heen
effected, or all the couplings of the train have been hooked on, or
whether any carriage has broken away in any part of the journey, it is
arranged that the conductors descending the fronts and rears of every
carriage will have a tendency by their natural spring, or by extra springs
fitted for the purpose, to touch one another, thereby completing the
circuit in the batteries, and ringing the bells to advise the guards that
such contact exists. This contact is broken by the mere act of inserting
the hooks. This is done by arranging the hooks with proper projections,
so as to interpose between the conductors aforesaid, and separating them.
Every part of this gear is so arranged and made so strong that the
weakest point is exactly where the interposition between the conductors
takes place; and it is therefore evident that in any break-away of the
carriages the separation will always take place at such interposition,
that is to say, the interposition will be removed, and the conductors will
touch one another, causing thereby the bell or bells to ring. This said
interposition between the conductors and the corresponding weakness of
parts can evidently be placed in any part of the coupling, and arranged
so that both parts of the train will after any break-away have their con-
ductors respectively in contact, so that the front and rear bells will both
ring.
Another mode of break-away may be by jointing the couplings at the
centre with two insulated draw tubes to fit two others of the like
nature, one sliding over the other, a spring being attached to one tube
of each couplet in such a way that when the two half couplings are
drawn apart the springs make contact between the contiguous tubes, and

page_text: the bells are thereby rung. This species of coupling may be hinged or
otherwise attached to each carriage.
An outside signal or indicator for the compartment or carriage whence
the passengers' signal issues may be arranged by a straight bar or rod
passing from the passengers' signal apparatus to the side of the carriage.
Being held by a detent on the push or pull of the passengers' signal
apparatus one of the studs liberates a trigger, and a spiral spring then
thrusts the rod forward, bearing on its end or side a disc carrying on
each side a small mirror, preferably convex, the purpose of the double
mirror being to serve the purpose of a light at night by reflecting the
light from the lamps illuminating the train. When thrust out this disc
is held by a second detent, which has to be liberated by the guard by a
special pin or key acting on a trigger. When this has been done the
rod can be placed in its normal position. The outside signalls can also
be made to shew on both sides of a train if desired, and they may be
liberated by the same trigger.
For bringing foreign carriages not fitted with the proper gear into
electrical circuit with the rest of the train a long coupling of wires or
wire rope is carried over or under such carriages, and secured to the in-
terposed truck, carriage, or van either by the eaves atop or to the floor,
and is secured in position by simple clips screwed on to such carriages.
The batteries used with the foregoing electrical gear are affixed by
bayonet joints the same as the bell apparatus, whereby proper electrical
contact is always ensured.
In some cases I form the double line of electric wire by a single cord
containing the two wires insulated from each other; and I also, when
preferred, arrange the tubular break-away as a single tube divided longi-
tudinally, the contact of the studs or springs or walls of the tube being
broken by the two moieties of the tube being forced apart by an inter-
mediate insulating plug or wedge; or the two exterior and the two
interior socketing tubes may be entire, and respectively fit cach, an
insulating material being placed between them.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I have shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed
views and sections of the apparatus constructed in the manner I prefer
for carrying out my Invention.

page_text: Figure I. shows a front view of the interior of a passengers' signal
apparatus; and Figure 2, a longitudinal section of the same.
A is the plate which is to be pushed inwards by the passenger to give
the signal. The forcing down of the stud J acts on the wedge or inclined
plane K, and puts the armature B in contact with the magnet C, the
current then passing through which retains the armature in place, and
the electric current rings the bells in the fore and rear guards' wans.
D, D, D, D, are steadying pins for the push plate; E, E, E, E, india-
rubber or other springs for bringing back the push plate to its normal
position; L is an opening or window in the push plate for rendering
visible the white or red disc F and F'. Over and attached to the push
plate is a glass cover M, Fig. I. G is the contact maker with the
point H on the electric circuit wire holder W. While the signal is on,
and the bells ringing, the red disc is shown; but when the electric
circuit is disrupted the white disc returns to its normal position behind
the window by the action of the spring S and the gravity of the disc.
The essential portions and parts of the couplings between the
carriages are shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 11. The two metal
hooks at B, B1, Figure 5, with the sockets D, D', for holding them to
the carriage, and which are intended to break away if the train parts.
C is the wood or other insulator; H, H', the studs, which being forced
along the grooves G, G¹, Fig. 4, in the electric circuit bars; E, E¹,
Figure 4, force the two bars apart, and prevent them making contact at
the lugs Z, Z'; B, Figure 3, shows the form of the bayonet hook
making metallic contact with the circuit bar E. Figures 6 and 7 show
the draw tube connecting and break-away coupling, A, B, and A¹, B',
being corresponding pairs of tubes which interfit; C, C, are springs
which fly out when the tubes are drawn asunder, and make electrical
contact to complete circuit, and thus automatically signal; Figure 11
is the draw tube coupling arranged for a single rope with the two
electric wires disposed one inside the rope the other twisted round the
exterior. A, A, B, B, are the external metallic tubes; C, C¹, the interior
metal tubes or tube and plug; D, D¹, the external circuit wire; E, E,
insulator. Figure 8 is the clip for fastening the throw rope over or
under intermediate and foreign carriages; Figure 9 is the bayonet joint.
A, A, flat circuit bar; B, B, socket fastened to wall of carriage E;
C, C, bayonet hook fastened to battery D; Figure 10, horizontal section
of socket.

page_text: Figures 12, 13, 14, 15, electric signall bell apparatus, namely, Figure 13,
view of interior from the front. A, A, circuit bars; B, B, magnet; C, C,
small magnet with armature D for making contact with the metal con-
nection E and F; J, signal bell; G, contact maker for signalling between
guard and guard or guard and driver; H, contact breaker for breaking
the current, and liberating the passengers' signal gear; Figure 13, longi-
tudinal section of the apparatus; Figure 14, interior view from the back;
Figure 15, horizontal section of the apparatus.

page_text: the receipt of his message, and to clear the main electric train lines for
signalling between guard and guard or guard and driver.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Joseph Mackie, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Third day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.