CERTAIN IMPROVE- MANDS IN DOREENING
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Barthelemy Urbain Bianchi, Civil Engineer, of
Paris, in the French Empire, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MANDS IN DOREENING GOD DA
Sealed the 11th July 1854, and dated the 7th February 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Barthelemy Urbain Bianchi
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th February 1854.
I, BARTHELEMY URBAIN BIANCHI, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PREVENTING ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS"
to be as follows:-
I apply an electrical apparatus at each station, communicating with a similar
apparatus at the next station by means of a wire carried along the line of
railway. An apparatus is fixed at intervals at the side of the line of railway
and in communication with the line wire, and so arranged that a projecting
arm and pulley or roller attached to the engine or train may come in contact
with this apparatus, and momentarily interrupt the continuity of the wire. A
current of electricity is caused to flow continually through the line wire and
round an electro-magnet contained in the apparatus at each end of the
section of the line comprised between the two stations. The attraction of
the electro-magnet for its armature keeps a detent or catch in its place, and
prevents any motion in the apparatus, but as soon as the current is interrupted
by the passage of the train over one of the interrupting apparatus the detent
is released, and an escape wheel is allowed to advance one tooth; the spindle

page_text: of the escape wheel carries an index, which thus indicates on a graduated dial
the passage of the train over each interrupter. The motion of the index is
thus intermittent, but it may be put in motion by clock-work at a speed
corresponding to or exceeding the maximum speed of the trains, so that it will
arrive at or close to the graduation on the dial a short time before the train
reaches the corresponding interrupter, and the index will then stop until the
train reaches that interrupter, when it will again advance. If the train be
stopped by an accident or otherwise, the index on the dial will stop and
Indicate that the train is between a certain two of the interrupters, and if
these are placed at a mile or half a mile apart the position of the train will be
known within those limits. A similar set of apparatus is employed for each
line of rails or for cach direction on a single line of railway. The motions of
the trains in opposite directions may be shown on two separate dials, or by
two hands on the same dial, or the indices may move in straight lines, instead
of in a circular direction. Each apparatus contains an alarum, which rings
and displays a signal when a train leaves the other station. In order to
communicate with the signal men along the line, another line wire is employed,
through which passes a constant current of electricity, which passes through
an apparatus placed in the section or beat of each signal man. This apparatus
contains an alarum and a signal indicating danger, which is displayed when
the continuity of the wire is interrupted at any point, which can be effected
either at the end stations only or by each signal man. It may also be con-
structed so that two interruptions may display another signal indicating one
line of a double line of rails, and a third interruption may display a signal
indicating the other line of rails, and so arranged as to cover or hide the
preceding signal. The signal men are thus warned to stop all trains on one
or both lines. The apparatus may also be arranged so as to display a large
signal suitable for attracting the attention of the engine driver, so as to act
independently of the signal men or as an additional precaution.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Barthelemy Urbain Bianchi in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 29th July 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BARTHELEMY
URBAIN BIANCHI, Civil Engineer, of Paris, in the French Empire, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord One

page_text: thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Barthelemy Urbain Bianchi, Her special licence that I, the said Barthelemy
Urbain Bianchi, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Barthelemy Urbain Bianchi, 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN PREVENTING ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Barthelemy Urbain Bianchi, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Barthelemy Urbain Bianchi, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the. same, is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Draw-
ings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
My improvements in preventing accidents on railways consist in the con-
struction and application of electric telegraphic apparatus to indicate at the
stations the positions of trains upon the line, and also to communicate between
the stations and the signal-men or watchmen at the intermediate points. I
place an insulated telegraphic wire along the line of railway between two
stations, and I connect it with a series of apparatus, which I call interrupters,
which are placed at intervals (say, of a mile or half a mile) along the line.
These interrupters are so arranged that the continuity of the wire is broken
or interrupted whenever a train passes, as herein-after described. The wire is
connected with an electro magnet at each station, and with a galvanic battery
or other source of electricity at one or both stations, and finally is placed in
connection with the earth at each station. A current of electricity is thus
constantly passing from the battery through the electro magnets and line wire,
and back through the earth to the battery. The armatures of the electro
magnets are thus constantly attracted towards them, and remain motionless.
If. now a train passes along the line, it will cause a momentary interruption
of the current of electricity as it passes each interrupter. At each interrup-
tion the armatures are drawn away from their respective electro magnets by

page_text: means of springs, and are immediately attracted back again. Each motion of
the armature allows the passage of one tooth of an escapement wheel, which
has as many teeth as there are interrupters in the line wire. This wheel will
therefore make. one revolution while the train passes from one station to
another, and will thus indicate at each station the passage of the train past
each of the interrupters.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings is a front view of an
apparatus to be placed at a station for indicating the positions of the trains.
Figure 2 is a front view of the same apparatus, drawn of the full size and
having one half of the front of the case Z removed to show the interior.
Figure 3 is an end view of the same with the end of the case removed. The
same letters refer to similar parts in each Figure. A is the electro magnet,
and a is its armature, which is drawn away by a spring d, when the current of
electricity round the magnet is interrupted. The armature a is mounted on a
lever c, turning upon a pivot at e. The extremity of the lever c carries a
projection or detent which enters between the pins of the escapement wheel b,
and thus locks this wheel and prevents it from moving. The escapement
wheel is connected by the wheels and v with the spring barrel f, and
when the spring is wound up the escapement wheel 6 has a constant tendency
to revolve in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2. t is a pulley mounted
loose upon the spindle of the wheel b, and driven by a clutch, into which it is
pressed by a spring u.. A cord is attached by one end to the pulley t, and the
other end of the cord is passed round a spring barrel at the opposite end of the
apparatus. This cord is attached to a block or carriage working in a horizontal
guidez, and carrying the index g'. As the train passes each interrupter the
armature will leave the magnet and immediately return to it, thus allowing
one tooth of the wheel b to escape, and causing the index g' to be advanced
one division.
When the train has run past all the interrupters, the index g'
will have reached the end of its course, and its carriage will come in contact
with a lever r, which gives motion to the lever and inclined frame s. This
frames then pushes the pulley t out of its clutch, when the cord and index
g are immediately drawn back by the spring barrel at the other end of
the apparatus. The lever r is then returned into its former position by a stop
attached to the cord coming in contact with it, or by means of a similar lever
at the other end of the apparatus connected with it, or in any other suitable
The apparatus is now ready to indicate the passage of the next train.
A button may also be applied for moving the lever by hand, so as to bring
back the index to its starting point. A similar arrangement of machinery
is placed at the other end of the apparatus to indicate the passage of the trains
manner.

page_text: in the opposite direction on the other line of rails. ġ is the index, and y is
the spring barrel which belong to this second apparatus. The indices g and
g may be carried up to the same level, as in Figure 3, or one may be above
the other, as in Figure 2.
In order to call attention to the apparatus when it is put in action by a train
leaving the opposite station, an alarum and a moveable signal are added to the
apparatus. i is a sliding rod or wire, which carries a small plate, on which may
be inscribed the word DEPARTURE.
The lower end of the wire i has a knob or projection which is caught by a
leyer, which is pressed down by a spring k. The lever j is acted upon by a
long pin on the escapement wheel b, when that wheel begins its motion, and
the wire i is thus released and is free to ascend. It is raised by means of a
bent lever or bell crank m and a spring m', which at the same time releases a
detent from the wheel n, which communicates the motion from a spring barrel
o to the revolving hammers h, which then, at the same time that the plate with
the word DEPARTURE rises out of the case containing the apparatus through a
slit made for the purpose, strike upon the bell p. The station master or other
attendant, having his attention thus called to the apparatus, immediately
pushes down the plate, and thus introduces the detent into the alarum appa-
ratus and stops it. The index g' continues its motion as herein-before described.
Another signal and an alarum apparatus striking upon the same or a different
bell is placed at the other end of the case and in connection with the index g;
but these are so arranged as to come into action on the arrival of the train at
the distant station, instead of on its departure from the station at which the
apparatus is placed; this is readily effected by varying the position of the pin
in the escapement wheel. The indices g, g', are made to stop a little short of
the marks or graduations indicated by the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., which corre-
spond to the positions of the interrupters on the railway and the pins on the
escapement wheel. When, therefore, the train passes one of the interrupters,
the index immediately moves forward to within short distance of the mark
corresponding to the next interrupter, and it remains there until the train
reaches that interrupter, and then it again advances, and so on. In order to
render the motion of the index still more similar to that of the train, the
motion of the escapement wheel may be regulated by a revolving fly or vane,
or by a pendulum or balance wheel so adjusted that the motion of the index
may correspond to the maximum velocity of the train or a somewhat greater
velocity. The indices will thus move gradually, instead of suddenly, from one
mark to another, and will then wait until overtaken by the train, as herein-
before described. Figure 4 is a front view of another form of the apparatus, in

page_text: which the indices move in a circular direction, in lieu of moving in a rectilinear
direction. In this case it is not necessary to provide any means for bringing
back the indices, for when they have finished one course they are ready for
recommencing the next. Figure 5 is a front view of the same, with one half
of the front of the box Z removed; and Figure 6 is an end view of the same,
with the end of the box removed. f is a spring barrel which drives the escape-
ment wheel b, which again drives the wheel e', which carries one of the indices.
The spindle of one index g¹ passes through the hollow spindle of the other
index g, and a separate set of apparatus is used to give motion to each index,
as in the first-described apparatus. The escapement wheel b carries a pin l,
which raises a lever j, and withdraws a detent from the spring barrel o, which
causes the hammers h of the alarum to strike upon the bell p. At the same
time the motion of the lever j lifts out a catch which retains in its place a
signal k. This signal is immediately thrown out by a spring into a horizontal
position, and remains projecting through a slit in the case until it is pushed in
again by hand. The electro magnets A, armature a, and lever or detent c, act
in a similar manner to the corresponding parts in the first-described apparatus.
Figure 7, Sheet II., is a vertical section of one of the interrupting apparatus
herein-before mentioned; Figure 8 is an end view of the same; and Figure 9
is a side elevation of the same. The apparatus consists of a cast-iron box
Z, one of whose sides is capable of being removed to obtain access to the
interior. a is a lever, made of tee-iron, and turning upon a fulcrum b;
k and are two
and working through a slit in the top of the box.
cylindrical boxes containing helical springs 1, 1, which force the lever a
upwards. The lever a is connected by a short connecting rod to a small
lever e, which carries a wire d, which dips into a cup c containing mercury.
The wire d is soldered or otherwise put in connection with the wire g
which is covered with gutta percha to insulate it. This wire q is part of
the line wire, which is supported upon posts, or otherwise fixed and insulated
like the ordinary line wires used for electric telegraphic purposes. v is a wire
dipping into the mercury cup c, and connected with the continuation of the line
wire. The current of electricity thus passes along the line wire until it
arrives at q, and it then passes through the wire d and the mercury in c to the
wire v, and then continues its course along the line until it enters the next
interrupter, and so on, passing through all the interrupters until it arrives
at the opposite station. If now the lever a of any one of the interrupters be
depressed, the wire d will be lifted out of the mercury, and the conducting
contact being thus broken, the apparatus herein-before described, which are
placed at each end of the line wire, will be brought into action in the manner

page_text: 5
herein-before described. The depression of the levers a is effected by a roller
or wheel g, Figure 7, which is attached by a support or bracket to the frame
of the locomotive engine, and projects from its side. . The line h shows the
course or path of the roller g.
Figure 10 is a side view on a smaller scale, shewing part of a locomotive
engine with the roller g approaching the lever a of the interrupter, which is
in connection with the line wire o. Figure 11 is a plan of a portion of a line
of railway with the interrupter a at its side. a¹ is another interrupter placed
on the opposite side of the line of rails, and connected with a separate line
wire n, and apparatus for shewing the passage of the trains in the opposite
direction. This is especially adapted for railways having only a single line of
rails; when a double line of rails is employed the interrupter a¹ is placed at
the side of the second line of rails. Each line of rails may, however, have
interrupters on both sides, and corresponding wires and apparatus to indicate
the backward motion of trains, which are sometimes rendered necessary by
stoppages or otherwise. The engine is furnished with a support on each side
for fixing the roller g, and one of these positions is always used when the
engine is running forwards, and the other when it is running backwards.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of one of the interrupters, and it also shows a
lever g', which may be substituted in lieu of the roller g, Figure 7. The lever
turns on a pin on the frame of the locomotive engine, and is pressed down by
a spring. It depresses the lever a in passing over it, like the roller g. By
means of the apparatus herein-before described the motion of the trains is
signalled to the stations at each end of the section of the line, and by intro-
ducing additional apparatus at intermediate points the same information may
be communicated to those points. It must be understood that the sections of
the line are to be of such lengths that no more than one train is to be upon
the same line of rails in any one section at the same moment.
The next
described apparatus is intended for conveying signals from the stations at each
end of a section of line to the intermediate points at which the watchmen or
signal men are placed to warn the trains of danger and to guard the line. One
of these apparatus in indicated at Y in Figure 10, Sheet II., being placed in a
small shed or watch-box. A separate line wire is employed for these apparatus,
as shewn at b, in Figures 10 and 12.
Figure 13, Sheet III., is a front view of one of these apparatus, and
Figure 15, is a similar view, with the front of the apparatus removed. Figure 14
is an end view, with the end of the case removed. This apparatus consists of
an alarum and a moveable signal very similar in construction to those already
herein-before described. A is an electro magnet provided with an armature a

page_text: attached to a lever c, which turns on a pivot e. The armature is drawn away
from the magnet by a spring when the current is interrupted, but it remains in
contact or close proximity to the magnet when the apparatus is at rest, a con-
stant electric current being maintained in the line wire, and through the
apparatus. The lever c carries a stop or detent which locks the wheel n, and
prevents it from being driven round by the spring barrel o. When the current
is interrupted, the detent is withdrawn from the wheel n, which is immediately
driven round by the spring barrel o, and communicates motion by toothed
wheels to the hammers h, which strike upon the bell p, and thus call the
attention of the signal man. K is a small plate, on which may be inscribed
the word DANGER, and which is retained by a small fork on the end of the
lever c.
The same motion of the lever c which releases the alarum also
releases the signal plate K, which is thrown out by a spring into a horizontal
position, as shewn in Figure 13. The attention of the signal man is thus
called by both an audible and a visible signal. In order to enable the signal
men to communicate information of danger to the stations, and to one
another, a small button, shewn at q, in Figure 13, is added to the apparatus, by
means of which the signal man can interrupt the current in the wire, and
thus ring all the alarums and exhibit the signals at the stations, and also at
all the intermediate points. In Figure 12, Sheet II., a, a, are the commutators
or interrupters at one of the stations, and c is that at another station. Any
simple commutator or interrupter may be employed for this purpose. In lieu
of or in addition to the small signal plate for calling the attention of the signal
man, a large signal may be displayed by the apparatus, so as to attract the
attention of the driver or guard of an approaching train. Figure 16, Sheet
III., is a side elevation of a watch box, with such a signal mounted on a bracket
or support; Figure 17 is a front view of the same; Figure 17 bis is a front
view of portions of this apparatus drawn to a larger scale. S is the signal,
which may consist of a flat disc in the day time, and a lamp at night. It is
mounted on an axis, and when turned edgeways towards an advancing train,
as in Figure 17, is scarcely visible, but is displayed by turning it at right
angles to the line, as in Figure 16; a long lever bis attached to the signal, and
the end of this lever is confined by a detent a in the apparatus placed at the
watch box, and hercin-before described in reference to Figures 13, 14, and 15.
A strong spring is contained in the cylindrical box c, which spring has a
constant tendency to turn the signal round so as to display it. As soon there-
fore as the current in the watch box apparatus is interrupted, the lever bis
released, and the signal makes one quarter of a revolution, and is thus displayed.
A stop is fixed to prevent it from moving too far. In Figure 16 is also shewn

page_text: an end view of the interrupting apparatus a, and roller g, herein-before
described in reference to Figures 7, 8, and 10; and the same are shewn on a
larger scale in Figure 16 bis.
Figure 12, Sheet II., is a diagram explanatory of the arrangement of the
apparatus and wires for a double line of railway. Thus A is an apparatus.
similar to that herein-before described in reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3,
Sheet I., which apparatus is placed at the terminus of the railway, as for
example, at London. B is a similar apparatus, placed at the first station, as
for example, Croydon, and communicating with the apparatus A by the line
wires n and o, one of which n serves for the up trains, and the other o for the
down trains. c is another similar apparatus, communicating in a similar
manner by the wires n¹ and o' with a similar apparatus at the next station, as
for example, at Merstham. e is a galvanic battery, one of the poles or electrodes
of which is placed in communication with the earth, while the other com-
municates through the instruments with the line wires n, o, n', o', and also
through the commutators a (already herein-before described) with the line
wires b, b, in connection with the watchmen's apparatus. The current from
the battery is thus divided into six separate currents or streams, which are
conducted into the earth at the London station and the Merstham station, and
return through the earth to the battery e at the Croydon station. The wire n
is in connection with the interrupting apparatus on the up line, and the wire o
is in connection with those on the down line. It is thus only necessary to have
a galvanic battery at every alternate station. The apparatus herein-before
described in reference to Figures 13, 14, and 15, for communicating between
the signal men or watchmen and the stations is more particularly applicable to
a railway with only a single line of rails, as it only conveys one simple signal
indicating danger. Figure 19, Sheet III., is a front view of a somewhat similar
apparatus adapted for railways with a double line of rails, and which is capable
of indicating on which line the danger exists. Figure 18 is a front view of
a similar apparatus, with the front of the case removed. Figure 20 is a front
view of a commutator or interrupter adapted for this apparatus. One section
or length of wire b is connected to the metallic lever or arm k, while the next"
length of wire is connected to the four insulated studs m, n, o, p. In its ordi-
nary state the arm k is in contact with the stud m, and the current thus passes*
without interruption. By moving the arm k to n, the current is interrupted
and again re-established; by moving k to o, the current is interrupted and
re-established a second time; and by moving the arm k to p, the same effect
is produced a third time. These interruptions give motion, by means of an
electro magnet A, and armature a, to a lever c, which carries a detent, as in the

page_text: apparatus shewn in Figures 13, 14, and 15, and by means of which an alarum
is rung as in that apparatus. The detent acts on an escape wheel b, with
three pins 1, 2, 3, so that at each interruption the wheel 6 makes one-third
of a revolution. This wheel also carries three other pins 4, 5, 6, of different
lengths, and placed at different distances from the centre of the wheel.
The catches
These pins act upon three catches or detents g, h, and i.
h and i are placed side by side, and retain two signal plates marked respec-
tively UP LINE and DOWN LINE. The catch I retains a signal plate marked
STOP on the apparatus placed at the watchmen's positions, and which plate
in the corresponding apparatus at the station is marked HELP. Supposing a
stoppage to occur on the down line, the nearest signal man moves the lever k
of his commutator, Figure 20, to the stud o, and in so doing he produces
two interruptions in the current of electricity. The effect of the first inter-
ruption is to allow the wheel to turn round one-third of a revolution, in
doing which the pin 4 comes in contact with the catch g and releases the
signal STOP, which is thrown out by a spring on its axis at u. This signal plate
has attached to it an arm or lever a, which forms the stop or detent for the
alarum, which is thus run by means of its spring barrel y, at the same time
that the signal sTOP is displayed. The second interruption allows the wheel b
again to move round, and thus to bring the pin 5 in contact with the catch h.
The signal plate DOWN LINE is thus released, and is thrown out by a spring
upon its axis at v.
The signal men are thus all warned to stop trains on the
down line, and the attendants at the stations are informed that HELP is required
on the DOWN LINE. If the stoppage has occurred on the up line, the signal
man moves the arm of the commutator to the stud p, instead of to the stud o.
By this means three interruptions are produced, and the pin 6 on the wheel b
comes in contact with the catch i, and releases a third signal plate marked
UP LINE, which is thrown out by a spring upon its axis at v¹. This plate is made
to cover and hide the plate marked DOWN LINE, so that there is no confusion in
the signals although both are displayed. If the stoppage be of such a nature
as to interfere with the traffic on both lines, the information may be commu-
nicated by first moving the lever k to the stud o, so as to display the signal
DOWN LINE, and then after a determinate interval of time, as for example
one minute, the lever k is moved to the stud p, so as to display the signal
UP LINE.
Having now described the nature of the Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is,―
Firstly, the constructing and applying electrical apparatus in conjunction
with a line wire and apparatus acted upon by the passage of the trains, in

page_text: manner herein-before described, so as to indicate at the stations the advance
and approximate position of the trains.
Secondly, the constructing and arranging electrical apparatus at the sta-
tions, and at the positions of the watchmen or signal men, so that such several
apparatus may be traversed by a continuous current of electricity, and be
capable of communicating signals from any one of such apparatus or instru-
ments to all the others by momentarily or temporarily interrupting the
continuity of the wire, one or more times in succession, as herein-before
described. Also the arranging such apparatus so as to display signals capable
of attracting the attention of, the engine driver, or other persons on the
train.
Thirdly, the mode of combining the various apparatus herein-before
described, and arranging them so as to be worked by one and the same
galvanic battery, as herein-before described in reference to Figure 12,
Sheet II..
In witness whereof, I, the said Barthelemy Urbain Bianchi, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of July, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
o Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD,
.: Ing Civil,
Rue des Filles du Calvaire, No. 6,
à Paris.
BY U. BIANCHI. (L.S.)