IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR GIVING ALARMS OR SIGNALS, APPLICABLE FOR USE IN COMMUNICATING BETWEEN PASSENGER AND GUARD ON RAILWAY TRAINS AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES AND IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING VESSELS WITH COMPRESSED AIR"
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anthony Metcalfe Gibson of Ravenstonedale in the
:
County of Westmoreland for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS
OR APPARATUS FOR GIVING ALARMS OR SIGNALS, APPLICABLE FOR USE IN
COMMUNICATING BETWEEN PASSENGER AND GUARD ON RAILWAY TRAINS AND
FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES AND IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING VESSELS WITH
COMPRESSED AIR"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anthony Metcalfe Gibson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd March 1883.
ANTHONY METCALFE GIBSON of Ravenstonedale, in the County of Westmoreland
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR GIVING ALARMS OR SIGNALS APPLI-
CABLE FOR USE IN COMMUNICATING BETWEEN PASSENGER AND GUARD ON RAILWAY
TRAINS AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES AND IN APPARATUS. FOR CHARGING,
VESSELS WITH COMPRESSED AIR
j
"
My Invention relates to means or apparatus for giving an alarm or signal from 'a
railway carriage to the guards van of a railway train or from any other place where
alarms or signals are required to be given, which apparatus may be worked separately
or in combination with Apparatus for indicating from which compartment or place the
alarm or signal has been given, both the alarm apparatus and indicating apparatus'
being put into operation by a pull from the same cord
In carrying my invention into effect I provide a chamber or container which I
charge with air to a very high pressure, as for instance to six hundred pounds per
square inch, this chamber or container may be of any suitable shape and size but'
in order to combine strength with capacity, I prefer a cylinder with flat ends,
which may be secured to the top of a railway carriage or in any other convenient
position the said securing being effected for example by cross rods fixed to the
sides of the cylinder, and forming a bayonet joint with an iron ring fastened to the
top of the railway carriage or other part. To this air chamber or container is
TD 071

page_text: connected an apparatus consisting of a cock and a whistle, the whistle being an
ordinary steam whistle or a lip whistle or any other suitable form of whistle and
by opening the cock a current of air from the air chamber will make the whistle
sound This apparatus may be either screwed into the air chamber or be placed at
a distance from it and connected to it by a tube, the air chamber or container will
also be provided with a valve for charging it with air, this valve may consist of a
flat disc attached to the end of a spindle which passes through a mounting screwed
into the air chamber and having a bulb shaped top, the spindle is of a triangular or
other suitable section so as to form a passage through the mounting to the valve
for the admission of air for charging the chamber; as soon as the air chamber is
charged the internal pressure forces the valve tight to its seat and the spindle
projects above the mounting and thus acts as an indicator
To the cock of the whistle is attached a suitable lever or handle in such a position
that the cock may be opened by pulling a chain or cord connected to the said lever
or bandle, the escape of air from the air chamber with great force upon the whistle
will cause the whistle to sound an alarm, the cock of the whistle can be so arranged
by means of a spring tap as to close when released from the pull and to cease the
alarm or it may be arranged that when once opened the whistle will continue to
Bound until the air chamber is exhausted
In order to show from which compartment of the train or other place the signal
or alarm has been given I provide an apparatus or indicator acting in connection
with the whistle. This indicator consists of a metal plate or disc of a suitable size
and having a bull's eye of glass or other transparent material of a red or other
conspicuous colour this plate or disc is fixed to a rod, or staff the foot of which
works in a hinge upon a frame This frame is provided with a long arm to the
further end of which is attached a spring, the free end of the spring reaches to the
foot of the rod or staff of the indicator and acts upon a projection of suitable form
and by this means the indicator is lifted to and sustained in the vertial position by
the action of the spring, this occurs when the indicator is released from a lever
which holds it down in a horizontal position when not required, this lever is placed
in a suitable position for that purpose and consists of two arms the shorter one
holding down the rod of the indicator and the longer one being connected to the
chain or cord which pulls the lever round to release the rod or staff. In order that
the bull's eye of the indicator shall be visible in the dark the light of a lamp may
be turned upon it, and in the case of a railway carriage where the rays of the lamp
will require to be directed to the bulls eye, this may be done by means of glass
or transparent substance made of a proper shape and placed in a proper position.
The apparatus may be put into a proper position by a cord or chain passing over
pulleys but connected to the lever of the whistle cock and also to the catch or lever
for releasing the indicator, thus a pull from the same cord will open the cock and
sound the whistle and at the same time will release the indicator which will be
caused by its spring to rise to the vertical position
Where an air brake is used this apparatus can be connected to the pipes from
the engine and sounding the alarm will not exhaust the air container
The size of the air container may be varied to suit different purposes being large
for Houses, Mines or larger areas than for railway carriages and the cock and
whistle may be placed in any convenient position whether at a greater or less
distance from the container and can be worked by cranks, wire pneumatic electric
or any other suitable contrivance
The apparatus could be arranged for one large signal apparatus to serve several
indicators as for instance one air container to each coach with an indicator to each
compartment
The following is an apparatus specially constructed to charge the air chamber
through the valve as before mentioned I construct the said apparatus as follows A
strong stool is provided for carrying the charging apparatus to which a pump or
air compresser may be fixed. Upon this stoolis fixed a strong vessel with an

page_text: india rubber collar in its neck to receive the bulb on the end of the charging or
inlet valve, the said vessel is provided with an indicator to show to what pressure
it is charged, the air being delivered into it from the pump or air compresser
through a strong flexible pipe regulated by a cock. The vessel to be charged is
forced into air tight contact with the charging apparatus by means of a lever
having for its fulcrum a strong iron stud with universal joint and securely fixed at
bottom to the stool, the other end of the lever being held in position between two
uprights by means of an adjustable pin or its equivalent, this lever is provided
with clips for securing the vessel. to be charged with air in a vertical position and
to force down the bulb end of its inlet valve into the india rubber collar with
sufficient pressure to be air tight under high pressures

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Anthony Metcalfe Gibson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st September 1883.
ANTHONY METCALFE GIBSON of Ravenstonedale in the County of Westmoreland
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR GIVING ALARMS OR SIGNALS APPLI-
CABLE FOR USE IN COMMUNICATING BETWEEN PASSENGER AND GUARD ON RAILWAY
TRAINS AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES AND IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING
VESSELS WITH COMPRESSED AIR"
My Invention relates to means or apparatus for giving through the agency of
compressed air an alarm signal from a railway carriage to the guard's van of a
railway train or from any other places where alarms or signals are required to be
given which apparatus may be worked separately or in combination with apparatus
for indicating from which compartment or place the alarm or signal has been
given both the alarm apparatus and indicating apparatus being put into operation
by a pull from the same cord. The Invention further relates to apparatus for
charging vessels with compressed air to be used in carrying my Invention into
effect.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
accompanying Drawings like letters of reference indicating the same parts in all
the corresponding figures.
Figure 1 is a transverse section and Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal section of
a railway carriage with signal and indicating mechanism applied thereto in
- accordance with my Invention. Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a transverse
section and a plan of the vessel for containing the compressed air. Figures 5 and 6
are respectively vertical and horizontal sections of the inlet valve of the said
vessel. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate in plan and side elevation respectively the
mechanism for holding down and releasing and elevating the indicator. Figures 9
and 10 illustrate two forms of the apparatus for charging the vessels A with
compressed air.
According to my Invention I provide a chamber or container A which I charge
with air to a high pressure which may if required be as high as six hundred pounds
per square inch but a much lower pressure will be found sufficient for ordinary
purposes; this chamber or container A. may be of any suitable shape and size but
in order to combine strength with capacity I prefer in most cases a cylinder with
flattened ends like that shewn at Figures 3 and 4. The said chamber or container
may be secured to the top of the railway carriage as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 or
in any other convenient position the securing being effected for example by means
of bars or rods a³ a² fixed to the sides of the cylinder A and forming a bayonet
joint with a ring D fastened to the top of the Railway carriage or other part the
said ring having openings a' d² fig 4 communicating with undercut recesses 80
that when the bars a¹ a² are passed into the said openings they can be turned into
the undercut parts and thus the chamber be securely fastened in place To the
said air chamber or container A is connected an apparatus consisting of a cock e¹
and a whistle E the said whistle being like an ordinary steam whistle, lip whistle
or any other suitable form of whistle or alarm the apparatus being so constructed
and connected to the chamber or container A that a jet of air therefrom can on
opening the cock e¹ be discharged to sound the whistle.
This apparatus may be either screwed into or connected directly to the air
chamber or it may be placed in any suitable position and connected to the said
Chamber by a tube.

page_text: The said air chamber or container A is also provided with a valve through which
it can be charged with air to the required pressure; this valve may consist of a
flat disc fattached to the end of a spindle f which passes through a mounting F
screwed into or otherwise in communication with the air chamber and having a
bulb shaped or otherwise suitably formed top f³ in order that it may be brought
into air tight contact with the charging apparatus as hereinafter explained. The
passage through the mounting and the spindle f* may be of any suitable form
in cross section provided that a space is left between them for the passage of
the air.
When the chamber A is charged with compressed air the internal pressure forces
the disc ftightly against the underside of the mounting F and closes the passage
therethrough the distance to which the spindle f³ projects beyond the mounting
serving as an indication as to whether or not the chamber or container A is charged
with air under pressure. To the cock e¹ of the whistle E is attached a suitable
lever e² or handle in such a position that the cock may be opened from the inside
of the carriage or other place by pulling a chain or cord z connected to the said
lever or handle when the escape of compressed air from the chamber A acting with
great force against the whistle E will cause the said whistle to sound an alarm.
The cock or tap of the whistle can be so arranged by means of a spring as to close
when released from the pull and so cease the alarm or it may be arranged that
when once opened the whistle will continue to sound so long as air is discharged
with sufficient force from the chamber A. In order to show from which compart-
ment of the train or other place the signal or alarm has been given I provide an
apparatus or indicator (figures 1, 2, 7 and 8) acting in connection with the alarm
giving apparatus. This indicator consists of a metal plate or disc B of a suitable
size and preferably having a bulls eye b of glass or other transparent material of a
red or other conspicuous color; the plate or disc B is fixed to a rod or staff b¹ the
foot of which works on a pin 62 as a hinge the said pin being carried upon a frame
or bracket be The said hinge is so constructed that the staff or rod 6' can be
turned down to a horizontal position in only one direction from the vertical this
direction being preferably towards the position from which the bulls eye is best
seen or in the case of trains or other moving bodies to the direction in which the
train is moving. This rod or staff carrying the plate or disc will remain in a
horizontal position when not in use but will rise to and remain in the vertical
position as soon as the alarm is given. This may be done for example by providing
a spring G acting upon the foot of the rod or staff 6' of the indicator which is
provided with a projection 65 upon which the said spring bears so as to tend to
raise the said rod. The indicator is when in its normal position held down by a
catch or lever. The said lever or catch may be placed in any suitable position for
this purpose and consist of two arms h³ h³ connected or formed together and
working on one centre h¹ one arm (h³) acts as the catch to hold the indicator
down the other arm (h).is provided with a cord y attached to one end. By pulling
this cord the catch is brought into the position shewn in dotted lines in figure 7
and the indicator being released from the catch will by the action of the spring G
before described rise to and be retained in the vertical position and cannot be
brought back to the horizontal position by the action of the cord or of the lever
to which the cord is attached. The rod b' is provided with a foot or projection b³
which comes in contact with a projection b' on the bracket 66 when the indicator
reaches the vertical position The indicator may be raised to and retained in the
vertical position by any other equivalent or suitable contrivance such for example
as a spiral or coiled spring to lift the indicator up and any suitable latch or catch
may be used to secure it when up. In order that the bulls-eye of the indicator
sball be visible in the dark the light of a lamp may be turned upon it and in the
case of a railway carriage where the rays of the lamp will require to be directed
to the bulls-eye this may be done by means of glass or transparent substance made
of a proper shape and placed in a proper position for example as indicated in
Figure 2

page_text: The apparatus may be brought into operation by means of a cord or chain
connected to the lever of the whistle cock and another cord or chain connected
to the catch or lever which holds down the indicator but these two cords or chains
unite into one before passing over pulleys into the Railway compartment or other
place; thus a pull from the cord or chain which is accessible from the compartment
or other place operates upon the whistle cock and the indicator lever simultaneously
When the whistle cock is of the ordinary construction the whistle will continue to
sound until the air chamber is exhausted or if the cock or tap of the whistle be
provided with a spring as hereinbefore mentioned the alarm will only continue
so long as the cord is pulled. In cases where a train is provided with a brake
worked by compressed air the chamber A can be connected to the pipes from the
engine and a continuous supply of air under pressure may be delivered as required
into the said chamber and with such an arrangement the sounding the alarm will
not exhaust the air container The size of the air container may be varied to suit
different purposes being preferably larger for houses mines or large areas than for
railway carriages and the cock and whistle may be placed in any convenient
position whether at a greater or less distance from the container and can be worked
by cranks, wires, pneumatic, electric, or other suitable contrivances.
The apparatus may be arranged for one large signal apparatus to serve several
indicators as for instance one air container to each railway carriage with one
indicator for each compartment.
There are well known methods of charging vessels with air to any desired
pressure and I do not limit myself to the use of any particular kind but in order
that the air chambers or containers may be charged in cases where it is desired to
charge them by hand power and on the spot I construct a portable charging
apparatus as illustrated in figure 9. A strong stool K is provided for carrying the
charging apparatus to which a pump or air compresser may be fixed. Upon this
stool is fixed a strong vessel L with an india-rubber collar in its neck to receive
the bulbs on the mounting of the charging or inlet valve, Figures 3 and 5. The
said vessel L is provided with an indicator 13 to show to what pressure it is
charged the air being delivered into it from the pump or air compresser through
a strong flexible pipe the passage through which is regulated by a cock The
vessel A to be charged is forced into air tight contact with the charging apparatus.
"This may be done by means of a lever having its fulcrum upon a strong iron
stud or support k¹ with universal joint and securely fixed at bottom to the stool
the other end of the lever being held in position between two uprights ³ by means
of an adjustable pin or its equivalent; the lever is provided with clips k* for
securing the vessel A to be charged with air in a vertical position whilst forcing
down the bulb end of its inlet valve into the india rubber collar 12 with sufficient
pressure to be air tight under high pressures In place of the lever as just described
the vessel to be charged may be brought into air tight contact with the charging
apparatus by means of a screw m' (as shown in figure 10) working in a frame m
which is secured to the stool K the end of the screw m¹ being provided with a
disc m³ or collar which forces the air chamber A into air tight contact with the
charging apparatus L as before described.
'
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that I do not limit myself to the precise
details hereinbefore described and illustrated as the same may be varied without
departing from the nature of my Invention but what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before
in part recited Letters Patent is
First In apparatus or means for giving alarms or signals on railway_trains,
or for other like purpose, the employment of compressed air for sounding or
operating a whistle or alarm, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
I
Second: In apparatus or means for giving alarms or signals on railway trains;

page_text: or for other like purpose, the employment of a vessel A for compressed air provided
with a whistle E and means for operating the same and with a valve for charging,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated more particularly in figure 3
of the accompanying drawings
Third-In an apparatus for giving alarms or signals on railway trains, or at
other place, the combination of an alarm apparatus provided with a whistle
or alarm operated by compressed air, with one or more indicators, the said whistle
or alarm, and indicator or indicators, being arranged to be operated simultaneously,
substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings
Fourth The portable charging apparatus for charging the vessels of the alarm
apparatus with compressed air, as described and shewn in figures 9 and 10 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Anthony Metcalfe Gibson have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of August One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
ANTHONY METCALFE GIBSON (L.S.)