IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF SIGNALS TO THE DRIVERS OF Loco- MOTIVE ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Judge, Engineer, of Number Fifty-seven, Bondgate,
Bishop Auckland, in the County of Durham, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF SIGNALS TO THE DRIVERS OF Loco-
MOTIVE ENGINES."
Sealed the 18th May 1877, and dated the 4th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Judge at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1876.
JAMES JUDGE, Engineer, of Number Fifty-seven, Bondgate, Bishop Auckland,
in the County of Durham. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF
SIGNALS TO THE DRIVERS OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
I attach to a locomotive engine two weigh bars parallel to each other, and con-
nected so as to work together, one placed transversely underneath the engine and
the other above. Each weigh bar carries an arm, the lower one an arm projecting
downwards, by preference about midway between the rails, and the upper one an
arm projecting horizontally, so as by any convenient arrangement to attach to
a whistle handle. I so arrange this attachment and the whistle as that while the
arm on the lower weigh bar is vertical the whistle is shut off, and when it is moved
from its vertical position either forwards or backwards the whistle cock is open.
I prefer to accomplish this effect as regards the whistle by having two passages in
the plug of the cock, so that movement either way should open it. I attach to the
upper weigh bar a rod or handle, so as to enable the engine driver to close the
whistle after it has been opened.
I intend the arrangement described to operate as a danger signal, so that when
the arm on the lower weigh bar comes in contact with an obstruction raised on the
blocked line the whistle should be sounded.
The obstruction referred to consists of a moveable arm, which can be worked
alone or together with other signal apparatus in such manner as that when the signals
are at danger the obstruction is in position for the descending arm on the lower
weigh bar of any passing engine to strike against it, whilst if the line is clear it is
out of the way.

page_text: up the expanded wire; F, F, are sheaves, which guide the signal wire to the
sheave D on the compensator; G, G, wire from signal box to signal. Thus it will
be seen as the wire A expands the weight E falls and raises the lever and sheave D,
which in turn takes up the slack; when the wire A. contracts the reverse takes
place.
In Figure 3 A is a bar fixed across the frame of the engine or some other
suitable place; B is a perpendicular lever that comes in contact with the pro-
jection E (Figures 2 and 3); C is a lever fixed on the bar A and connected with
the rod D and the crank F, which opens the whistle, G being a lever connected to
rod H. From this it will be seen that whichever way the engine is moving the
lever B is acted upon and opens the whistle.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The combined arrangement of apparatus, substantially as herein described,
for sounding automatically the whistle of a locomotive engine in order to convey
signals to the driver of the engine.
Second. The combination with a locomotive engine of the system of lever arms,
weigh bars, and whistle, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Judge, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES JUDGE. (L.S.)