Improvements in Railway Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Railway Signalling Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM BEWICK QUELCH, of Croft, near Darlington in the County of
York, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
My invention relates to railway signalling apparatus of the kind described in
the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me Nos. 20861 of 1894
and 25715 of 1896, the object of my invention being to simplify the construction
and increase the efficiency of such apparatus.
a
"
In my said former specifications I described the use of a cam or motion plate
which I termed a receiver," the movement of which, produced by contact with
transmitter" upon the line, was directly utilized for operating the signal
upon the locomotive. With this arrangement, however, the whole of the friction
receiver."
due to the operation of the locomotive signal is thrown upon the said "
The object of one part of my invention is to reduce to a minimum the resist-
receiver" and to this end
ance which is opposed to the movement of the said
I arrange that the locomotive signal shall be operated by a falling weight, the
receiver" and
said weight being normally held in a raised position by the
released so as to allow it to fall when the receiver is operated, the portion of
the surface of the "receiver" which supports the weight being made of arc or
other suitable shape to permit of the said weight being readily released. Or
instead of a weight a spring may be used.
"
22
"
The object of another part of my invention is to improve the construction of
the transmitter by providing that it may be struck from or in either direction
by any rigid part of the train or other object, and be depressed so that neither
is injured. For this purpose the transmitter is mounted upon one end of a
weighted lever, the weight being so arranged and the lever so pivoted that the
transmitter shall offer the desired resistance to the "receiver" but yield under
the abnormal pressure before referred to. The wires or rods for moving the
transmitter out of the path of the receiver" may be connected to this lever.
Or instead of thus arranging for moving the transmitter out of the path of the
said "receiver" the transmitter may be pivoted on the end of the said lever and
have the operating wires or rods connected to it in such a manner that it can,
when not required to operate upon the signal of the locomotive, be turned upon
its side out of the path of the " receiver."
In this case no movement is imparted to the lever, carrying the said transmitter
under normal circumstances.

page_text: Improvements in Railway Signalling Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM BEWICK QUELCH, of Croft, near Darlington in the County of
York, Civil Engineer, 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 ; —
--
My invention relates to railway signalling apparatus of the kind described in
the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me Nos. 20861 of 1894
and 25715 of 1896, the object of my invention being to simplify the construction
and increase the efficiency of such apparatus.
"
66
ور
In my said former specifications 1 described the use of a cam or motion plate
which I termed a receiver," the movement of which, produced by contact with
a transmitter upon the line, was directly utilized for operating the signal
upon the locomotive.
With this arrangement, however, the whole of the friction
due to the operation of the locomotive signal is thrown upon the said "receiver."
The object of one part of my invention is to reduce to a minimum the resist-
ance which is opposed to the movement of the said receiver and to this end
I arrange that the locomotive signal shall be operated by a falling weight, the
said weight being normally held in a raised position by the receiver" and
released so as to allow it to fall when the " receiver is operated, the portion of
the surface of the "receiver" which supports the weight being made of arc or
other suitable shape to permit of the said weight being readily released. Or
instead of a weight a spring may be used.
"
"
The object of another part of my invention is to improve the construction of
the transmitter" by providing that it may be struck from or in either direc-
tion by any rigid part of the train or other object, and be depressed so that
neither is injured. For this purpose the transmitter" is mounted upon one
end of a weighted lever, the weight being so arranged and the lever so pivoted
that the transmitter" shall offer the desired resistance to the "receiver" but
yield under the abnormal pressure before referred to. The wires or rods for
moving the transmitter out of the path of the "receiver " may be connected
to this lever. Or instead of thus arranging for moving the "transmitter" out
of the path of the said "receiver the transmitter may be pivoted on the
end of the said lever and have the operating wires or rods connected to it in
such a manner that it can, when not required to operate upon the signal of the
locomotive be turned upon its side out of the path of the "receiver."
"
In this case no movement is imparted to the lever, carrying the said
mitter" under normal circumstances.
In the accompanying drawings,
65 trans-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive and the rails carrying the same
and having my improvements applied thereto :
Figure 2 and 2 are respectively a front and a rear elevation of the locomotive
and also showing a visual signal; and,
"
Figure 3 is a plan of the rails and the transmitter":
Figure 4 is a front view drawn to a larger scale shewing the arrangement of
the receiver" and the falling weight in connection with it; and
Figure 5 is a side view of the upper portion of Figure 4:
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are respectively a front elevation, a vertical section and a
horizontal section of a spring box in connection with the pivot of the said
"receiver," the said box being drawn to the same scale as Figures 4 and 5:
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively a front view and a side view drawn to an

page_text: whistle:
Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating a modification in
the arrangement of the falling weight:
Figures 12 and 13 are elevations at right angles to each other of the "trans-
mitter"; and
Figures 14 and 15 are views similar to Figures 12 and 13 respectively
illustrating a modification of the said transmitter":
65
Figures 16 and 17 are also views similar to Figures 12 and 13 of another
modification of the transmitter";
Figures 18 and 19 are an elevation and a plan of a further modification of
the same.
68
Similar letters of reference illustrate corresponding parts in the several figures.
a is the
receiver," b is the "transmitter" and c is the weight the falling
of which serves to operate the signal which, as indicated in Figure 1, is given
by means of a whistle d but which may be a gong or any other suitable form
of sounding apparatus.
The "receiver " a is formed of two parts a¹, a the former of which is pro-
vided with a boss e fixed upon a shaft f carried transversely of the locomotive
in suitable bearings, as shown clearly in Figure 2, whilst the other part a³ is
fixed to the said shaft inside the frame of the engine, also as shewn in Figure 2,
and projects upwardly therefrom. The part a should be of a form whereby a
maximum of strength with a minimum of weight is obtained.
"
The portion of the shaft f which projects outside the framing of the engine
is surrounded by a cylindrical box fixed to the frame, as shewn in Figure 8,
which cylindrical box g together with the boss e of the receiver" form a
spring box somewhat similar to that described in my former Specification
No. 25715 of 1896, the said boss being adapted to rotate in the end of the box g.
h is the spring within the said box and i is the pin which normally is in contact
with one end of the spring, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 6, and
which when the "receiver" strikes the transmitter" causes the coiling of the
spring, the * receiver when it has passed out of engagement with the said
transmitter" being returned to its normal position by the said spring. ho, ho are
stop surfaces on the box y to limit the movement of the "receiver."
""
"
In this arrangement of spring box, as shewn in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the bottom
side of the box is made thicker than in my former arrangement and is provided
with a longitudinal slot 2 at opposite sides of which at the two ends of the
box the ends of the spring h bear. This arrangement enables the spring to be
taken out and replaced with greater facility than in the said former arrangement.
In order that the " receiver" may act in either direction according to the
direction in which the locomotive is travelling a spring box is placed at each
side of the engine the springs in which act in contrary directions to each other
so that normally the receiver is kept in a vertical position. The spring
boxes may be arranged inside the frame of the engine and sometimes two
receivers" may be employed on opposite sides of the locomotive the additional
"receiver" being indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2. If only one receiver"
is used both of the springs may sometimes be arranged in one box.
"
61
".
a
The falling weight c is carried on one end of a lever pivoted at jupon a
suitable support and the other arm of which has an extension carrying
roller, which when the part a³ of the receiver is in its normal position
bears against the underside of a projection k upon the said part a and so holds
up the weight. The free end of the arm of the lever is suitably connected
with the signalling device, for instance through the medium of a rod or wire 1,
a bell-cranked lever and a vertical spring rod (or rod only) which engages
with the lever 3 of the cock of the whistle d, as shown in Figure 1. To
enable the whistle to be operated independently under ordinary circumstances
without interference with the rod the upper end of the said rod is formed with

page_text: a slot m through which the lever of the whistle passes, as shewn in Figures 9
and 10; a flexible connection may be used instead of the rod 18.
With this arrangement it will be understood that when the "receiver" a
strikes the "transmitter band is thereby oscillated the projection k will be
moved away from the roller so that the weight will fall and thereby,
through the medium of the connecting parts, operate the whistle d.
To enable the parts to be re-set after the weight has fallen I advantageously
form the vertical rod 12 with the crank n, Figure 1 or a ring n¹ shewn in
dotted lines in Figure 2 which serves as a handle by means of which the desired
pull may be exerted upon the weight e to lift it, or the parts may be returned
by moving the lever of the whistle. Any other suitable means, however, may
be employed for returning the lever and weight c. In order that, as the said
weight is returned, the roller shall engage beneath the projection k, the upper
surface of the said projection is formed with inclines which will cause the
movement of the receiver in one or the other direction in order to allow
the roller to pass it.
"
I sometimes modify the arrangement hereinbefore described for holding the
weight by causing the roller to bear upon the top of the projection k, as
shewn in Figure 11; in this case the said roller, when the weight e drops,
passes below the said projection and to permit of its being raised again the
underside of the said projection is formed with inclined surfaces instead of the
upper side as hereinbefore described; in either case the falling of the weight
effects the operation of the whistle d.
In Figure 4 it will be noticed that the lower end of the "receiver" is provided
with an antifriction roller p which comes into contact with the "transmitter";
instead of using a roller, however, the lower end of the said "receiver
formed with two elastic arms as illustrated at q, in Figure 11.
"
"
may be
The transmitter" b which is shewn in Figures 12 and 13 comprises the
lever pivoted upon a suitable support and having pivoted to one end the
inclined plane s against which the receiver" acts, the other end of the said
lever carrying a weight s which is so regulated that whilst the transmitter"
will offer the desired resistance when struck by the "receiver" it will yield in
case it is struck by any rigid part of the train or other object or if the blow is
greater by reason of increased speed. The pivoted inclined plane s may be
operated through the medium of a wire t which, when pulled, will turn the
inclined plane to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 13, the
weighted lower end of the said inclined plane serving to return it to its vertical
position when the wire is slackened; or the said inclined plane may be operated
through the medium of a rod t', the thrust of which serves to turn over the
inclined plane as described.
6+
In the modification shewn in Figures 14 and 15 the inclined planes is a
fixture relatively with the lever so that whenever the said inclined plane is to
be moved out of the path of the receiver," the lever and weight have to take
the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 15. They will also partake
of this movement when the inclined plane is struck by an abnormal weight.
This transmitter' may also be operated by a pull wire t or by a thrust
rod as shown in Figure 15. When the thrust rod is used the connection
between the said thrust rod and the lever arm to which it is jointed must be
formed with a slot u, as shewn in Figure 15, so that whilst permitting of the
thrust being exerted to move the transmitter out of the path of the
receiver "
it also allows the independent movement of the "transmitter" in case the latter
is struck as hereinbefore indicated. The use of a slot also allows of contraction
or expansion of the connections to the transmitter taking place without affecting
the latter. It also allows of a greater movement of the visual signal than is
required to operate the transmitter.
"
"
Instead of the inclined planes being a fixture relatively with the lever rit

page_text: may be hinged thereto but in such a manner that it maintains a vertical position
while being moved by contact with the receiver thus affording a good bearing
for the latter and reducing wear. This arrangement is illustrated in Figures 16
and 17, the inclined plane being kept approximately in the vertical position by
the front vertical faces of the sides of the support r¹, webs, being formed
on the inclined plane adjacent to the said faces and designed to come into contact
therewith. In this arrangement I have shewn the transmitter as designed to be
operated by a wire either through the medium of a bell-crank pivoted to
the side of the support and engaging beneath a pin (or roller) on the
lever or of a bell-crank pivoted to the back of the said support and having a
roller engaging below the said lever r.
Figures 18 and 19 illustrate a pivoted transmitter similar to that shewn in
Figures 14 and 15, that is to say, having the inclined plane s fixed relatively
with the lever but with its pivot arranged in a direction transversely to the
rail-track instead of parallel to it as previously indicated. This transmitter is
provided with the weight and may be operated by the wire t through the
medium of a weighted bell-crank and pin (or roller) on the transmitter
or in any other suitable manner. When an operating wire is used allowance
for contraction and expansion may be made by a latch or other arrangement
on the signal, by the wire being slack or by the pin or roller or being
placed a little above its operating lever.
The transmitter in all cases deflects if struck with abnormal force without
interfering with or moving the visual signal.
"
Although in the drawings I have shewn the ' receiver" as being mounted
upon the front of a locomotive it is to be understood that such receiver may
be mounted upon any other suitable part of the locomotive for instance as shewn
in dotted lines at the rear in Figure 1 the rod being extended and connected
to a lever j. In this arrangement it will be seen that the receiver is shorter
than that at the front of the locomotive whereby its weight is reduced; it may,
however, be of any suitable length wherever placed. The receiver
"
"
may also
be arranged upon the tender, suitable connections being in all cases provided
between the said "receiver and the signalling device. Also in some cases it
may be advantageous to arrange my apparatus in connection with the guard's
van of a train so as to independently indicate to the guard as well as to the
driver that the signal is against the train.
Although I have in the foregoing description referred to the use of a weight
for operating the signal it is to be understood that a spring may be used instead
thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
"receiver" upon a
1. In railway signalling apparatus of the kind wherein a
train is operated by contact with a transmitter" upon the permanent way and
wherein the movement of such "receiver" is utilized for effecting the operation
of a signal upon a locomotive or other part of a train, the combination with the
said "receiver" of a weighted lever which is normally retained by the "receiver "
with the weight in an elevated position, a whistle or other signalling device
and means for communicating the movement of the weighted lever to the signal-
ling device when the " receiver is displaced, without lifting or forcing the
weighted lever, substantially as described.
"
".
2. In railway signalling apparatus, the combination of a pivoted "receiver"
a pivoted lever carrying a weight adjacent to the said receiver," a projection
or catch upon the said receiver which serves to engage the lever and hold
the weight in a raised position, a spring or springs in connection with a pivot
of the said " receiver for retaining it normally in position and returning it to
position after displacement, a whistle, bell or other signal and means for trans-
"

page_text: mitting the movement of the weighted lever to the said signal, all substantially
as described.
3. In railway signalling apparatus, the combination with a "receiver "adapted
to support a weighted lever in such a manner that when the lever is released
the weight will fall to operate a signal, of a "transmitter" adapted to work in
unison with the ordinary visual signal, the said transmitter having the
inclined surface against which the receiver" strikes carried at one end of a
weighted lever substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Dated the 17th day of March 1899
"
33
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.