Improvements in Mechanism for Automatic Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1893—Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Automatic Signalling on Railways.
I, JOHN COOMBS of Myrtle Road, Sheffield, in the County of York, Manager,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for railway signalling, to
be operated automatically by the passage of rolling stock upon the permanent way
or rails.
The apparatus may be constructed in its most simple form, to strike a gong, or
more than one if preferred, or to produce some other sound suitable for signalling
purposes, or it may be combined with mechanism to work the arm of a semaphore,
or other day signal; or in combination with an electric circuit to give indications
at a great distance, or to the nearest signal box. It is however intended to be
chiefly used as a fog or night signal, when the ordinary signals cannot be seen.
I will premise that the apparatus is put into action by the flange of the wheels
of rolling stock, such as those of a train when passing upon the rails.
In carrying out one arrangement of my invention, I propose to use a base plate
of suitable form, which is fixed so that it passes under the outside rail of either the
up or down line.
An upright support rises from the base close to the inside of the rail, to which
it is secured, and it carries a vertically moving tappit, the head of which is suitably
rounded off or inclined, and preferably works in a slot formed in the side of the
head of the rail.
The bottom end of the tappit rests upon the short end of a horizontal pivotted
lever of any suitable length, the opposite end of which is weighted and is attached
by means of a connecting rod or link to a gong-hammer, pivotted upon a support
rising from the base plate, and so fixed as to act or strike upon two gongs.
When a train is passing, the flange of each wheel as it passes over the head of
the tappit depresses it and raises the long arm of the lever, thus causing the
hammer to vibrate and to strike the gongs:
A slide block or other form of catch may be connected by a wire or like means
to the signal box, to enable the signalman to throw the apparatus out of working
position by raising the horizontal lever and dropping the tappit below the line of
contact with the flange of the wheel.
With each depression of the tappit-head, contact may be made in an electric
circuit and a bell be rung in the signal box, or in other place so that the official
may have an indication that the apparatus is in working order.
If desirable the horizontal lever, or other movable part of the apparatus, may
through a series of levers and wires or rods, be connected with the arm of a
semaphore or other sight signal in such a manner as to operate same, when
sounding the gong as before described.
Dated the 9th day of February 1893
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Automatic Signalling on Railways.
I, JOHN COOMBS of 169 Myrtle Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
3 Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 relates to improvements in mechanism for signalling on railways,

page_text: The apparatus may be constructed in its most simple form to strike a gong at the
side of the rails, or more than one if desired, or to produce some other sound
suitable for signalling purposes, or it may be combined with mechanism to work
the arm of one or more semaphore or other day signal; or in combination with an
electric circuit arranged to give indications at long distances, or to near
signal boxes.
It is however intended to be chiefly used as a fog or night signal, when ordinary
signials cannot be seen. I will also premise that the apparatus is put into action
by the 'flange of the wheel of an engine or other railway vehicle when passing upon
the rails.
The annexed drawings will illustrate my invention in its application to operate
a gong.
Fig. 1, is an elevation of outside rail, showing two forms of vertical slide.
'Fig. 2, plan of same, with first lever, and slide-bar to operate signal box gong.
'Fig. 3, elevation of first lever.
Fig. 4, plan of gong lever.
Fig. 5, elevation of signal box, gong, and lever.
Fig. 6, elevation of signal gong, and levers off action.
Fig. 7, elevation of signal gong, and levers set for action.
In carrying out my invention in the form shown in the drawings, I fix to the side
of the rail 1, or to a separate base if preferred, a support or carriage 2, for a
vertically moving slide or tappit 3, the head of which is suitably rounded off as
shown, or movable inclines 4, may be used, or other equivalent inclined path leading
up to and acting as compressors upon the head of the tappit 3, for the purpose of
preventing concussion.
The bottom end of the tappit engages with the end of a horizontal pivotted
lever 5, the fulcrum being at 6, and its opposite end is provided with a weight 7,
which keeps the tappit in its raised and normal position.
Upon the lever 5, and towards the weighted end, I fix a connecting link 8,
attached to a second lever 9, rocking in a bearing 10, the opposite end being
arranged to operate the hammer 11, which sounds the gong 12, or more than one if
desired, or it may actuate other sound producers, or be connected with or capable of
working the arm of a semaphore.
The construction of the gong mechanism is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The
hammer 11, is pivotted in a standard 13, and the tail is suitably formed to be
operated by the end of the lever 9. Fig. 6, shows the position of the lever and
hammer when out of action, and Fig. 7, shows the position when the signalman has
from his box put the apparatus into signalling order.
The weighted arm 14, is connected by wire 15, or the like, to a lever in the signal
box, to enable the man to throw the apparatus out of action, by forcing down the
end of the lever 9. When this is done the weighted end of the lever 5, is raised,
which depresses the opposite end and lowers the tappit 3, at the same time it
permits the weight 16, to draw the thick part of the slide bolt 17, under the lever
preventing its return to the former position; at the same time the wire 18, or
equivalent connection, causes a gong 19, or the like to sound in the signal box,
intimating, that such action has actually taken place.
When the signalman desires to put the apparatus into action he pulls back the
lever 20, Fig. 5, in his box to the position shown by dotted lines, this action draws
back the slide bolt 17, and permits the lever 5, to assume its normal position, and
raise the tappit.
If a train now passes upon the line, the flange of the wheel depresses the tappit
and operates the levers 5 and 9, causing the hammer to strike the gong; at the
same time the slide bolt 17, is released and the gong in the signal box sounds
intimating that a train has passed over and sounded the signal gong 12.
If the fog
or other reason for requiring the signal has passed away, the

page_text: signalman draws back the lever attached to wire 15, which draws down lever 14,
and depresses the end of lever 9, raising lever 5, and allowing slide bolt 17, to
pass under it, thus lowering the tappit out of action and permitting trains to pass
without effecting the gong.
I may apply the before described device for the purpose of operating one or more
semaphores to give warning at crossings or junctions, so that for example when a
train on the main line has passed a certain place, the mechanism before described
will raise the arm of a semaphore at the said place, to prevent the passage of a
following train, and also other semaphores at the junction or in other desired
positions to give warning to trains on the other converging lines that a train is
passing along a certain section of the line; when such protected section was passed
the train would operate another similar apparatus at the last semaphore, and the
arms would drop from "danger" to "road clear."
Sound signals and semaphore signals may be combined, as for example one
branch line may have its exit upon the junction from a tunnel, and a gong or a lamp
signal would be the most advisable, while another branch line would have a
semaphore, all being worked automatically by the tappit and levers before
described.
This automatic arrangement of signalling is intended to dispense with the fog-
signalman, and the use of detonators, a serious item of expense, and a source of
danger. The construction and working of the apparatus is such that the chance of
breakage or getting out of order is reduced to a minimum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same may be carried into practice, 1 declare
that what I claim is :-
1. The improved mechanism for signalling on railways, put into action by the
wheels of rolling stock (such as a passing train,) arranged, constructed, and
operating substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
2. A signalling apparatus for railways, consisting of the combination of a
vertically moving tappit 3, a connected lever 5, on a fulcrum 6, and provided with
a weight 7, said lever connected preferably with a horizontal arm 9, arranged to
operate the striker of a gong or more than one if desired, or other signals or
semaphores, substantially as herein before described, reference being had to the
drawings.
3. A signalling apparatus for railways, constructed to sound a gong, or operate
any other sound or sight signal automatically on the passing of a train or the like,
and also to intimate to the signal box that such action has taken place, consisting
of a tappit 3, lever 5, arm 9, with their necessary details of construction, in com-
bination with a slide bolt 17, and draw weight 16, connected by wire 18, or other
means, to a lever 20, in the signal box, with means for sounding a gong or bell,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
4. A gong for the purpose of fog signalling, operated by the action of a vertically
moving tappit, depressed by the wheels of a passing train or the like, and a variable
form of intermediate mechanism substantially as herein before described.
Dated the 31st day of October 1893.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.