Improvements in and connected with Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Signalling on Railways.
I, ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL TAIT BOND, of 3, Pemberton Gardens, St. John's
Park Holloway, N. no occupation, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a method of and means for signalling
on railways, more especially in foggy weather and thus to obviate the use of
detonators.
In carrying my invention into effect, I proceed in or in about the following
manuer. Between the metals are laid three insulated rails (hereinafter referred to
as 1, 2, and 3) for such a distance as will enable a train to pull up before reaching
the sigual post.
These insulated rails are raised a few inches above the ordinary metals so as to
allow the wheels on the engine referred to hereafter to clear the points.
In the signal box or elsewhere suitably situated are two batteries or other
sources of electricity. The rails 1 and 2 are respectively connected with the +
and pole of one of the batteries (hereinafter referred to as the safety battery)
and the rails 2 and 3 respectively with the and + poles of the other battery
(hereinafter referred to as the danger battery). The poles of 1 and 2 are
connected so as to complete the circuit as are also those of 2 and 3. The poles of
the safety battery are also connected to two terminals on the side occupied by the
signal lever when at "danger," and the poles of the "danger" batters are
connected to two terminals on the side occupied by the signal lever when at
"safety." In other words the wires connecting the danger rails 2 and 3 with the
battery run through the two terminals placed at the safety position of the signal
lever, and those from the safety rails 1 and 2 run through to the two terminals
placed at the danger position of the lever. The signal lever has a cross bar so
arranged that when brought over either to the danger or safety positions, the cross
bar will connect the terminals on that side and thus break the circuit. On the
engine are placed two electric bells of different tones, one denoting danger and the
cther safety. Each bell is brought into contact with two of the insulated rails by
meaus of two wheels, those of the danger bell running on rails 2 and 3, and those
of the safety bell running on rails 1 and 2. When contact takes place between the
above mentioned wheels and the insulated rails, either the danger or safety bell
rings according as the lever occupies the safety or danger position. Thus, assuming
the signal lever to be midway between its danger and safety position and the
wheels on the engine to pass over the three rails 1, 2, and 3, then both bells would
ring, but on bringing the cross har of the signal lever into its danger position and
in contact with the terminals of the safety battery, the bells rung by 1 and 2 will
be silenced owing to the circuit being broken, thus allowing only the danger bell to
ring, and vice versa when the lever is put over so that its cross bar connects the
terminals of the danger battery, it breaks the circuit on that side and allows only
the safety bell to ring. So in either position the driver is warned of the position
of the signal.
It will be seen from the above that neither signalman nor driver has anything to
lo in addition to their ordinary work, as the simple act of putting the sigual lever

page_text: to danger or safety insures the ringing of the required bell when the engine passes
over the three insulated rails above mentioned.
Dated this 14th day of September 1896.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.
improvements in and connected with Signaling on қanways.
I, ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL TAIT BOND, of 3, Pemberton Gardens, St. John's
Park Holloway, N. no occupation, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide an improved method of and means for
signalling on railways, more especially in foggy weather, thus obviating the use of
detonators.
In carrying my invention into effect, I proceed in or in about the following
manner, making reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings and diagrams in
which
Fig. 1. shows partly in plan and partly in elevation the general arrangement.
Figs. 2, and 3, eud views of the lever and terminals to be hereafter explained.
Figs. 4, and 5, side view and end view respectively of the three contact or
connecting wheels (carried by the locomotive) for the purpose of completing the
electric circuit.
Figs. 6, and 7, are diagrams showing respectively the circuit when the signal
lever is in the danger and safety position.
Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever appearing.
Between the ordinary rails or metals a are laid three insulated rails 1, 2, apl 3,
for such a distance as will enable a train to pull up before reaching the signal
post b. The rails 1, 2, and 3, are raised a few inches above the ordinary metals a,
to allow the connecting wheels carried on the engine as hereafter described to clear
the points.
In the signal box or elsewhere suitably placed, are two batteries or other sources
of electricity cc. The rails 1, and 2, are respectively connected with the +
and poles of the battery c (hereinafter referred to as the "safety battery"),
and the rails 2, and 3, respectively with the and + poles of the other battery c
(hereinafter referred to as the "danger battery"). The poles of the "safety
battery" are connected with two terminals d d' on the sile occupied by the signal
lever e when at "danger," and the poles of the "danger battery" are connected to
the two terminals ff on the side occupied by the signal lever when at "safety."
In other words, the wires connecting the danger rails 2, and 3 with the battery c
run to the terminals placed at the safety position of the signal lever and those
from the safety rails 1, and 2 run to the two terminals d d placed at the danger
position of the lever. The signal levere has a cross bar g so arranged that when
brought over to the danger or safety positions, the cross bar will electrically
connect the terminals on that side.
of different
On any suitable part of the engine are placed two electric bells
tones, one denoting "danger" and the other "safety." Each beil is brought into
electrical connection with two of the insulated rails 1, 2, and 3, by means of two of
three wheels 4, 5, 6, those for the danger bell running on rails 2, and 3, and those
for the safety bell running on rails 1, and 2. When contact takes place between
the above mentioned wheels 4, 5, 6, and the insulated rails 1, 2, 3, either the danger

page_text: or safety bell rings according as the lever e occupies its safety or danger position.
Thus, assuming the lever e to be midway between its danger and safety positions,
and the wheels 4, 5, 6, to pass over the three rails 1, 2, 3, then both bells will ring,.
but on bringing the cross bar g into its danger position and in contact with the
terminals ad of the safety battery the bell rung by rails 1, and 2, and
wheels 4, and 5, will be silenced owing to the current being shunted, thus allowing
only the danger bell to be rung by rails 2, and 3, and wheels 5, and 6, and vice versa,
when the cross bar is in its safety position and in contact with terminals f of the
danger battery c.
So, in whichever position may be the lever e the driver is warned of the position
of the signal, and this without either signalman or driver having anything to do in
addition to their ordinary work, as the simple act of putting the signal lever e into
its danger or safety position ensures the ringing of the required bell when the
engine passes over the three insulated rails 1, 2, and 3.
Considerable variation being possible in the arrangement and disposition of the
parts forming my invention without departing from the essential features of it,
I reserve the right to make such variations as circumstances and convenience may
require or necessitate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
CLAIMS.
1. The improved method of and means for signalling on railways, the said
means consisting essentially of two electric bells of different tones situated on the
engine, one indicating the danger, and the other the safety position of the signal,
one of the said bells being sounded when the engine passes over three suitably
situated rails placed between the usual "metals," the current being shunted as, and
when, the signal lever is brought into its "danger" or "safety" position, the
whole provided for and operating substantially as described in the above
specification and exemplified in the accompanying drawings and diagrams.
2. The improvements in and connected with signalling on railways, the said
improvement being provided for and operating substantially as described in the
above specification, and exemplified in the accompanying drawings and diagrams.
Dated this 29th day of January 1897.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.