IMPROVEMENTS. IN APPARATUS FOR GIVING SIGNALS ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Smirke, of 24, Berkeley Square, in the
County of Middlesex, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS.
IN APPARATUS FOR GIVING SIGNALS ON RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 9th March 1853, and dated the 19th January 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sydney Smirke at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 19th January 1853.
I, SYDNEY SMIRKE, of 24, Berkeley Square, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GIVING SIGNALS ON RAILWAYS" to be
as follows:-
This Invention consists of giving motion by a connecting rod or
instrument to a pump or air-compressing apparatus by the rotation of
one of the axles of a railway carriage, there being an excentric on such
axle. The compressed air passing through an ordinary whistle sounds
it when requisite. The pumping is only brought into action by the

page_text: guard or other person connecting the mechanical apparatus attached to
the axles and the pumping apparatus when there is a necessity for
sounding the whistle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Sydney Smärke in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th July 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
SYDNEY SMIRKE, of 24, Berkeley Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Sydney Smirke, Her special licence
that I the said Sydney Smirke, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Sydney Smirke, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR GIVING SIGNALS ON RAILWAYS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Sydney Smirke, by an instrument
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 J, the said Sydney Smirke, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invcution, and in what manner the same is to
he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention consists of giving motion by a connecting rod or in-

page_text: strument to a pump or air-compressing apparatus by the rotation of one.
of the axles of a railway carriage, there being an excentric on such axle..
The compressed air passing through an ordinary whistle sounds it when
required. The pumping is only brought into action by the guard or
other person connecting the mechanical apparatus attached to the axles
and the pumping apparatus when there is a necessity for sounding the
whistle. And in order that the said Invention may be more fully,
understood, and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the
means
aranway carriage having my improvements
applied thereto; and Figure 2, shews a separate view of the valve P, on
a larger scale. A, part of the body of a railway carriage; B, the axle
or shaft of one pair of the wheels; C, and D, the body of the pump
for condensing the air; E, and F, the pistons; on that marked E, are
shewn the butterfly valves; G, and H, cross heads connected with each
other by two side motion links not shown in the Drawing; the pistons
are attached to these cross heads by the piston rods g, g. I, shows the
heart wheel or excentric fixed on the axle, and working in the gabs or
forked end of the connecting rod K, which is thrown in and out of gear
by the rod L, which is moved upwards and downwards by a short level
or screw under the control of the guard. The air is condensed by the
valve and piston E, and forced through a small valve marked P, into
the chamber D, from whence it is ejected into the whistle or trumpet
which creates the sound. Figure 2, shows the valve P, to a larger
scale, and the valve thereof being shewn at the point of the backward
stroke of the piston E, allowing the orifice to be opened through which
the air is forced towards the sounding instrument.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is performed, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the details herein given, as variations
may be made; but what I claim is, the communicating motion, when
desired, from the axles of railway carriages to pumping or air-condensing

page_text: apparatus having whistles or sounding apparatus applied; thereto for the
purpose of giving signals.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Smirke, have hereunto.
set niy hand and seal, this Nineteenth ilay of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
B. GOBEY,
4, Old Square,
Lincoln's Inn.
SYDNEY SMIRKE. (L.S.)