IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAY TRAINS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Carl Glaser, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia,
and Empire of Germany, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAY TRAINS."
A communication from Louis Toepffer and August Schaedel, of Berlin, in the
Kingdom of Prussia, and Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Carl Glaser at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1879.
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and Empire of
Germany, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
SIGNALLING ON RAILWAY TRAINS." A communication from Louis Toepffer and
August Schaedel, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to apparatus intended to place it in the power of railway-
passengers to give a signal for stopping the train in cases of danger; it acts upon
the opening or severance of a tube containing air in a state of compression.
The entire apparatus consists, as shown on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing,
of three principal parts, namely,
-
A tubing A which is carried along the roof of each carriage to the guard's van
in the same manner as the signal cord hitherto in use. A signal apparatus B, with
bell and optical signal in the carriage of the guard. And,
Shears C fitted to the roof of the carriage, for the purpose of severing the air
tube when required.
The tubing A consists of vulcanised india-rubber, say, about 1% of an inch of
innner and 1/2 an inch of outer diameter. For the better preservation of the india-
rubber the tube should have an outer coating of hemp. One end of the tubing is
connected with an air holder or receiver d inside the signal apparatus (see
Figure II.) in the guard's-carriage; the end of the tube at the other extremity of
the train is hermetically closed. The tube is provided with a T branch e and
cock f, and by a compressible air bag or vessel attached to the latter air can be
forced into the tube and through it into the air holder or receiver of the signal-
apparatus. The air holder has lateral folds similar to those of a common bellows,
and on air being forced into it by the air bag or vessel it expands. When the air
Drine C

page_text: in the holder and the tubing has been sufficiently compressed the air cock is closed
and the apparatus is in working order. If the tubing A is now opened or severed
the compressed air escapes, the air holder collapses, and resumes its former folded
condition with a result in the signal apparatus which will be seen from the
following description of the latter :-
The signal apparatus B (Fig. I., II., III.,) consists partly of the above mentioned
air holder, which in its expanded condition supports a weight g running in guides
and connected by a small chain with an ordinary bell apparatus i. The length
of the chain is so adjusted that it hangs loose when the weight is supported by the
charged or expanded air holder; when however the bellows collapses the weight
hangs suspended from the lever by the chain, and acting upon the former it starts
the bell and so gives the desired signal. The optic signal k is given by the high
or low position of the weight.
It should be remarked that the weight resting upon the air holder tends greatly
to accelerate the outflow of air when the tube is opened, and that the signal is given
almost instantaneously.
The shears C (Figures IV., V.,) for operating the opening or severance of the
tubing by the passengers in case of danger is placed on the carriage roof, and
worked by a lever which can be set in motion from the inside.
• For the stationary part 1 of the shears I have selected the form of the hooks or
forks at present in use for the reception of the signal cord, but providing it with an
edge at the part where the cutter n presses and severs the india rubber tubing
when the lever O forming part of the shears is depressed, which is easily done from
inside the carriage by pulling the strap or cord p connected with the end of the
lever.
The severed tubing can be reunited instantly, and it is therefore not necessary
to provide trains with reserve tubing.
It may be here remarked that the apparatus may be worked on the same
principle but with rarefied instead of compressed air, in which case the air holder
would be in a folded condition when ready for giving a signal, and would extend or
expand on the signal tube being severed or opened and air entering; also, instead
of the weight resting on the air holder a spring might be arranged as well as any
other kind of signal instead of the bell.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Friedrich Carl Glaser in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th October 1879.
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and Empire of
Gerinany, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
SIGNALLING ON RAILWAY TRAINS." A communication from Louis Toepffer and
August Schaedel, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, and Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to apparatus intended to place it in the power of railway
passengers to give a signal for stopping the train in cases of danger; it acts upon
the opening or severance of a tube containing air in a state of compression.
The entire apparatus consists of three principal parts, namely:-A tubing A
which is carried along the roof of each carriage to the guard's van in the same
manner as the signal cord hitherto in use; a signal apparatus B with bell and
optical signal in the carriage of the guard; and a shears C fitted to the roof of the
carriage for the purpose of severing the air tube when required.
The tubing A consists of vulcanized india rubber of, say, about 1/oth of an inch of
inner and 1/2 an inch of outer diameter, and for the better preservation of the india
rubber the tube may have an outer covering of hemp. One end of the tubing is
connected with an airholder or receiver d inside the signal apparatus (see Fig. 2)
in the guard's van, the end of the tube at the other extremity of the train being
hermetically closed. The tube is provided with a T branch e and cock f, and by
a compressible air bag or vessel attached to the latter air can be forced into the
tube and through it into the air holder or receiver of the signal-apparatus.
The air holder has lateral folds similar to those of a common bellows, and on air
being forced into it by the air bag or vessel it expands. When the air in the holder
and in the tubing has been sufficiently compressed the air cock is closed and the
apparatus is in working order. If the tubing A is now opened or severed the
compressed air escapes, the air holder collapses, and resumes its former folded
condition, with a result in the signal-apparatus set forth in the following description
thereof:-
The signal-apparatus B (Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) consists partly of the above mentioned
air holder, which in its expanded condition supports a weight grunning in guides,
and connected by a small chain / with an ordinary bell apparatus i. The length
of the chain is so adjusted that it hangs loose when the weight is supported by the
charged or expanded air holder. When however the bellows collapses the weight
hangs suspended from the lever by the chain, and acting upon the former it starts
the bell and so gives the desired signal. The optic signal k is given by the high or
low position of the weight.
It should be remarked that the weight resting upon the air holder tends greatly
to accelerate the outflow of air when the tube is opened, and that the signal is given
almost instantaneously.
The shears C (Figs. 4 and 5) for operating the opening or severance of the
tubing by the passengers in case of danger is placed on the roof of the passenger
carriage, and worked by a lever which can be set in motion from the inside.
The form of the hooks or forks at present in use for the reception of the signal
cord has been selected for the stationary part 1 of the shears, but it is provided
with an edge at the part where the cutter n presses and severs the india rubber
tubing, when the lever o forming part of the shears is depressed, which is easily
done from the inside of the carriage by pulling the strap or cord p connected with
the end of the lever,
The severed tubing can be reunited instantly, and it is therefore not necessary
to provide trains with reserve tubing.
I would here observe that the apparatus may be worked on the same principle
but with rarefied instead of compressed air, in which case the air holder would be

page_text: :
in a folded condition when ready for giving a signal, and would extend or expand
on the signal tube being severed cr opened and air entering; also, that instead of
the weight resting on the air holder a spring might be arranged, and that any other
alarm signal may be substituted for the bell.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention communicated
to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is or may be performed,
I claim as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly. The use of apparatus for signalling on railway trains in which the
warning signal or alarm is actuated either by severing or by opening the air
conduit, followed by the emptying or by the filling of an air holder or receiver
substantially as herein-before described.
Secondly. The use of the change of pressure produced in the receiver by the
opening of the air conduit so as to set at work either the weight or the spring
-substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Carl Glaser, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
FRIEDRICH CARL GLASER. (L.S.)