Improvements relating to Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Signalling on Railways.
1, GEORGE LOPES of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway, London
Bridge Terminus, B.A., M. Inst. C.E., Chief Assistant Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
The object of this invention is to give warning to the public at the level cross-
ings of railways, and also to workpeople employed in tunnels and other hazardous
positions, of the approach of a train or engine. Many level crossings are at points
of the line of railway where the land on both sides belongs to the same owner, and
are consequently much in use at certain times of the year, and these crossings are
generally unprotected by signal in any way. Some such crossings also are on
curves in the line, and at other places where it is impossible to see an approaching
train, and the consequent risk to life, in crossing the line, is very great.
In carrying out my invention, I prefer to use an audible signal, such as an
electric bell, which place with a local battery in convenient proximity to the
crossing or other hazardous position.
This bell is also in connection, by wires, with a suitable contact maker, placed
at a convenient distance away, and operated by the passing train or engine.
By these means, the bell is rung while the train is some distance away, and will
ring continuously until the train has passed, so that a person at or near the crossing,
or other hazardous position, will be warned in time to get away safely, or prevented
from crossing.
At some convenient point near the crossing or other hazardous position, I provide
a second contact maker, by which another circuit may be closed, a reverse current
being sent to disconnect the bell, thus stopping the ringing.
For a crossing signal, the arrangement will of course be permanent, but for
permanent way repairing work, the arrangement may be made of a portable
character.
may
Although I prefer to use electricity for my purpose, it will be obvious that I
also use mechanical means for ringing the bell, raising a semaphore, or other visible
signal.
Dated this 6th day of December 1894.
NEWTON & SUN,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements relating to Signalling on Railways.
1 GEORGE LOPES, of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, London
Bridge Terminus, B.A., M. Inst. C.E., Chief Assistant 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 :-
The object of this invention is to give warning to the public at the level cross-
ings of railways, and also to work people employed in tunnels and other hazardous
positions, of the approach of a train or engine. Many level crossings are at points
on the line of railway where the land on both sides belongs to the same owner, and

page_text: are consequently much in use at certain times of the year, and these crossings are
generally unprotected by signal in any way. Some such crossings also are on
curves in the line, and at other places where it is impossible to see an approaching
train, and the consequent risk to life in crossing the line is very great.
In carrying out my invention, I prefer to use an audible signal, such as an electric
bell, which place with a local battery in convenient proximity to the crossing or
other hazardous position.
This bell is also in connection, by wires, with a suitable contact maker placed
at a convenient distance away, and operated by the passing train or engine.
By these means, the bell is rung while the train is some distance away, and will
ring continuously until the train has passed, so that a person at or near the crossing,
or other hazardous position, will be warned in time to get away safely, or prevented
from crossing.
At some convenient point near the crossing or other hazardous position, I provide
a second contact maker, by which another circuit may be closed, a reverse current
being sent to disconnect the bell, thus stopping the ringing.
For a crossing signal of any importance, the arrangement will of course be
permanent, but for crossings which are made use of only at certain specified
times, or for permanent-way repairing work, the arrangement may be made of a
portable character.
Although I prefer to use electricity for my purpose, it will be obvious that I
may also use mechanical means for ringing the bell; or I may use electricity, or
mechanical means, for raising a semaphore or other visible signal.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown at
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, in diagrammatic form, a double line of rails with my invention
applied thereto.
Fig. 2 shows in side elevation, and Fig. 3 in plan, both on an enlarged scale, the
treadle which I prefer to use for the purposes of my invention.
Fig. 4, Sheet II, shows in diagrammatic form, my invention as applied to a
single line of rails, and
Fig. 5, Sheet I, is a side view, on an enlarged scale, of a switch or reverser,
which is also shown at Fig. 2, in position with other mechanism which will be more
particularly referred to hereafter.
A represents the level crossing, B is the up line, and C the down line. D repre-
sents a treadle which will term the positive treadle, and E is another treadle,
which I term the negative treadle.
The positive treadle D will be placed some distance away from the crossing A,
say, about a quarter of a mile, and the negative treadle E will be placed close to
the crossing.
G represents a horse-shoe magnet, H an electric bell, and J a battery. These
parts are all connected to wires, as shown; thus, a wire a connects earth to
treadle D; another connects treadle D with a positive coil e surrounding a
movable armatured; a third e connects coil c with battery J; and a fourth f
connects battery J with earth.
When a train passes over treadle D, the circuit is completed, and the bell H is
rung; thus, the current passes from J, through e, to positive coil c; then, by b,
to D, and on to earth a, whence it passes to f, and back to J.
In passing through the coil c, the current makes the armature d, S, and it is
thus attracted towards the N pole of magnet, the magnetism of which holds the
armature in that position until the current is reversed, as will be explained. The
movement of the armature brings it into connection with an electric contact, g
connected with the bell wire g', and the bell circuit is thus closed, the current
passing from J, by wire i, to armature d; thence, by g g', through bell H; then,
by g, tof, and back to J.
The treadle E is connected to earth, and also by wire 2, through a reverser or
negative coil / surrounding the flexible armature d, to battery J, by wire ', and
thence, by f, again to earth. The train passing over the treadle E, sends a reverse

page_text: current, which changes the polarity of the armature 7, which is then withdrawn to
its normal central position, thus breaking the bell circuit, and stopping the ringing
of the bell, as will be readily understood.
The treadles each consist of a length of trough iron K, which is supported by
brackets K' from one of the line rails. This trough carries, in suitable bearings,
rocking contact makers L, which are operated by the levers M, suitably mounted
in the trough. N is a bracket rigidly secured to the rail, and it projects through
the back of the trough, its outer end being provided with an adjustable pin, which
overlies and just touches the shorter arms of the levers M. As the train passes
over the rail at the point where the bracket N is secured, the rail, and with it the
bracket, is depressed, and the levers M are slightly rocked in their pivots, and, in
turn, tip the contact makers. The contact makers are hollow, and contain
mercury, which, by the tipping of the device, is caused to make connection
between two wires.
These treadles are called Syke's treadles, and being now well known, further
description of the treadle and its operation is unnecessary.
In adapting the invention to a single line of rails, to act both ways, I employ
only one negative treadle. I adapt to the positive treadles a reversing device; and
I also employ two additional batteries, one for the bell, and for the negative
treadle E.
The reverser consists of two parts, a tumbler T and a switch S. The tumbler
consists of a slotted plate with two horns j, k, which are intended, one at a time, to
project above the head of the rail to which the tumbler is pirotted (see Fig. 2).
The tumbler is kept up to its position by springs below and it is connected by the
rod to the switch S. The object of the slot is to allow for the depression of the
tumbler against the pressure of the spring, as each wheel of a train passes over
the projecting horn k.
The switch consists of two insulated semicircular plates m, m³, mounted on an
insulated disc, to which axial motion is given by the arm n, which is secured to the
disc, and is also connected to the rod 1. The plates m, m', receive the rubbing
contacts oo from the opposite poles of the battery J, and also the rubbing
contacts ppl of the line wires.
Suppose a train is passing in the direction of the arrow, the first wheel of the
engine will strike against the horn j (see Fig. 4), and knock the tumbler over into
the position shown, with the horn & above the rail. The effect of this movement
will be to move the switch into the position shown. The parts will then be free to
act, when the remaining wheels of the engine or train depress the rail, and
communicate motion to the treadle D. The circuit will be thus closed, and the
current will pass from carbon (positive pole) of battery J, too; thence, by plate m,
contact p, wire r, coil c, to earth; thence to earth at treadle D, through treadle,
to contact pl, plate m¹, contact o', to zinc (negative pole) of battery J. The current
acts on the flexible armature d of the bell circuit, as before described, and closes
the circuit, thereby ringing the bell. The bell circuit is from battery J¹ to bell H;
thence, by wire gl and contact g, through armature d and earth at d, to earth at
battery J.
As the train passes over treadle E, a negative current will come into play,
thus: It passes from battery J2, through treadle, to earth; thence to earth at c',
through coil c, in the reverse direction, by wire r, to battery J2 again. The
negative current will change the polarity of armature d, and withdraw it from
the contact point g, thus breaking the circuit, so that the ringing of the bell will
be stopped.
Should, however, the treadle E arrangement fail from any cause, the second
distance treadle D may be used to stop the bell, the operation of this device being
exactly the reverse of that previously described. This second distance treadle will
also serve as the warning treadle for a train coming from the opposite direction,
the operation being practically that previously described.
The above described arrangements are more especially intended to be permanent.

page_text: For temporary purposes, I may clip to the rail a reverser or reversers, or similar
device, which, when moved by the train, will complete the circuit, and ring or stop
the bell, as the case may be, the parts being returned to their normal positions by
hand or automatically.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would here remark
that I may employ for the purposes of my invention, any other form of treadle
than that herein described; also that I do not confine myself to the mechanical
details herein shown and described; but what I claim is :-
1. The mode herein described for automatically giving warning at a level
crossing, or other hazardous position, of an approaching train, and for removing
the warning when the train has passed, which mode consists in placing at a distance
a device to be operated by the passing train, for causing a warning signal to be made,
and placing at or near the crossing a corresponding device, also to be operated by
the passing train, for changing the signal, as set forth.
2. The mode herein described for giving warning at a level crossing, or other
hazardous position, of an approaching train, and for removing the warning when
the train has passed, which mode consists in placing on the line, at a distance from
the crossing, a device which is operated by the passing train, whereby a positive
current of electricity may be sent to a bell circuit, for the purpose of ringing an
electric bell, and in placing at or near the crossing a device, also to be operated by
the passing train, whereby a negative current may be sent to the bell circuit, to
arrest the sounding of the bell, as set forth.
3. The means herein shown and described for giving warning at a level crossing,
or other hazardous position, of an approaching train, and for removing the warning
after the train has passed, and consisting in a treadle or similar device operated by
the passing train, to close an electric circuit, whereby a positive current is caused
to act upon an armature, to close a bell circuit, and set the bell ringing; means for
retaining the armature in such position; and a second treadle or similar device
operated by the passing train, to close an electric circuit, whereby a negative
current acts in the reverse direction on the armature, causing it to break the bell
circuit and arrest the sounding of the bell, as set forth.
4. The arrangement of mechanisms for giving warning at level crossings, or
other hazardous positions, on a double line of rails, of approaching trains, and
for removing the warning when the trains have passed, as herein shown and
described.
5. The arrangement of mechanisms as herein shown and described, for giving
and removing the warning of approaching trains, as applied to a single line
of rails.
6. The combination of parts constituting the "reverser," for use in automatic
signalling on railways, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 4th day of Santambor 100×
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.