Improvements in and relating to Block Signalling Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th, Dec., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Block Signalling Apparatus
for Railways.
We, GEORGE KIFT WINTER M. Inst. C.E., M.I.E.E., Telegraph Engineer,
Madras Railway, Arkonam, Madras, and GEORGE BLISS WINTER A.I.E.E.,
Assistant Engineer, Nilgiri Railway, Coonoor, in the Presidency of Madras do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in and relating to block signalling
apparatus for railways.
The improvements consist :-
In the controlling of the issue of line clear tickets so that a ticket cannot be
issued for a train unless the line clear signal followed by a prolonged current in
the same direction is received and so that the slide withdrawing the ticket cannot
be replaced until the arrival signal followed by a prolonged current in the same
direction is received.
It also consists in so locking the 'switch handle that controls the direction of the
current sent from a station that,
"
1st. The switch handle cannot be turned over to
6 on to give the line clear
signal until this signal is asked for and followed by a prolonged current in the
same direction.
"
2nd. When at "on" that is, in the position for giving the line clear signal it
cannot be replaced at "off" to give the arrival signal until,
(a) The home or distant signal has been lowered.
(b) The train has passed over a treadle which has been set by the lowering of
the home or distant signal.
on
"
It is also so arranged on single lines that when the switch handle is at "
the ticket drawer cannot be withdrawn and that when the ticket drawer is out the
switch handle cannot be placed at " on."
66
The switch handle is made to act on a counting mechanisin so that each time the
switch handle is put to on "the register is moved forward one unit and it may
be so arranged that the number so registered may agree with the number on the
ticket issued at the distant station. This may be used in conjunction with the
block apparatus described in the Specification of Patent No. 15090 dated
8th December 1885, or by a simpler arrangement, the motion of the plate at the
one station and the motion of the switch handle at the other may cause distinctive
signals to be shown, showing, not only whether a train is on the line or not, but
also if it is, the direction, in which it is running.
In the case of a single home signal being on the platform and there being no
distant signal this may be made to make one contact and the treadle when pressed
by the train the other.
As it may sometimes be necessary to cancel a line clear signal already given,
arrangement is made by which the contacts ordinarily made by the combined action
of the home signal and the train may be made by a contact maker in the signal box,
the contact maker being protected by a glass cover which has to be broken before
such contact can be made. The glass cover can only be replaced by an
authorized person, so that the fact of a line clear signal having been cancelled is
made manifest.

page_text: Other detecting arrangements for protecting and recording the cancelling signal
are obvious.
Another way of enabling the block to be cancelled or removed when necessary
is to have a separate plunger which should be so locked that it can only be used
by the station master and which if pressed while the distant station sends a
prolonged signal will liberate the switch handle and 'allow it to be turned to "off.”
This arrangement is necessary if ballast or material trains are allowed to return to
the station from which they started without going through the section and thus
liberating the switch handle in the ordinary way.
As the handle controlling the direction of the current is locked in position after
being turned over to give a line clear signal and the handle and ticket drawer
are interlocked it is obvious that if necessary the same wire may be used for
sending ordinary messages between the stations without danger of affecting the
liberating mechanism.
The following is a brief description of the apparatus.
The
Underneath a vertical tube containing the tickets is a sliding plate which is
used for withdrawing the tickets. This is made in two planes one the height of
a ticket above the other so that when the plate is in its place, a ticket falls into
the lower part of the plate and is withdrawn when the plate is pulled out.
rest of the tickets being supported by the highest part of the plate. Attached to
this plate are two racks each acted on by a paw!, one rack and pawl prevent the
withdrawal of the plate unless the line clear signal is obtained and the current
prolonged, the other rack and pawl prevent the replacement of the plate unless the
arrival signal has been obtained and the current prolonged.
The pawls ordinarily press against their racks and thus prevent any motion of
the plate but each pawl can be withdrawn from the plate by the action of an
electro-magnet one electro-magnet acting on the pawl which allows the plate to be
withdrawn and another electro magnet acting on the pawl which allows the plate
to be replaced.
These electro magnets are actuated by local currents and a polarized relay
determines into which of these magnets the local current shall flow. This polarized
relay, which is a compound one, is acted on by the signals from the distant station
and the local current is unable to flow unless the current from the distant station
is actually flowing and thus acting on the unpolarized armature. This always
causes the local circuit to ring a bell but it is prevented from acting on the
unlocking coils by a short circuiting key. When this key is pressed it opens the
circuit through the proper coils, as controlled by the polarized tongue of the relay.
Attached to the ticket slide is an inclined plane which during the withdrawal
and replacing of the slide actuates the plate showing the condition of the line as to
trains going from the station.
"
At the side of the instrument above described is the commutator lever. This
has two positions "off" and "on"; it acts by reversing the poles of the line
battery. Attached to it is a segment of a toothed wheel with two pawls acting
on it. One pawl prevents the lever being put from "off" to
unless an
electro magnet is acted on by a current; the other pawl prevents the lever
being put from " on to "off" unless another electro magnet is acted on by
a current..
"
❝ on
When the official at the distant station asks for line clear he sends the signal and
prolongs the last beat, the same plunger mentioned above is then pressed and the
lever is unlocked and can be put to "on."
While at "on" the line clear signal can be sent which followed by a prolonged
beat enables the official at the distant station to withdraw his ticket slide. During
the passage from "off" to "on" the handle is made to actuate a counting
mechanism which records the number of times the signalman has given line clear
or in other words accepted a train. The position of the lever also is made to
act on a sliding plate showing the condition of the line as to trains approaching
the station.

page_text: until
Having put the handle to "on the signalman cannot put it back to off
1st. The home or distant signal is lowered.
2nd. Until the train arriving has pressed a trigger which in the ordinary way
is set in the act of lowering the home or distant signal.
If the rules of working are so framed that ballast and material trains have to go
right through the section and are not allowed to return to the station from which
they started without going to the station at the other end of the section it will
only be necessary to provide a contact maker covered by a glass which inust be
broken before contact can be made to allow the handle to be replaced to
when it is required to cancel a block.
"off"
But if as is usually the case the rules allow ballast and material trains to back
to the station from which they started without going through, it is necessary
to have a simpler procedure. This is afforded by an additional button or plunger
in the instrument which is kept under lock and key by the station master and should
only be used by him.
This plunger is inoperative except when a prolonged current is being received
from the distant station, so that should it be required to remove the block either
in consequence of a ballast train returning or a train unable to proceed this key
may be used to enable the section to be cleared.
The station to which the train has returned gives the arrival signal followed by
a prolonged beat and the official at the station to which the train would under
ordinary circumstances have gone is then by pressing this protected plunger enable
to bring his switch bandle from "on" to "off," and so give the signal allowing
the ticket drawer at the station to which the train has returned to be replaced and
the block to be cancelled.
on."
,,
A tappet locking bar sliding between the lever and the ticket slide prevents the
lever being put to 66
on "when the slide is out, or the slide being pulled out while
the lever is at "
When this instrument is used with the interlocked semaphore described in the
Specification of Patent No. 2390 of 12 June 1880 we prefer to have the following
arrangement. The semaphore arm is simply locked by a clutch, forming part of
the lever .carrying the armature. The motion of the ticket drawer when it is
withdrawn sets a small trigger which completes a circuit through the semaphore
electro magnet and releases the arm. When the arm is lowered it completes a
circuit which liberates the trigger and breaks the circuit through the semaphore
coils. The trigger cannot be re-set until the drawer is replaced and again pulled
out on receipt of the next line clear signal.
This arrangement can be used with or without the apparatus for putting the
signal to danger automatically by the train, described in the Specification of the
Patent above referred to.
In lieu of issuing ready printed tickets the same arrangement can be modifie
to print blank tickets.
Suppose that the slide is withdrawn and a printed ticket taken from it for a
train ready to start, the slide as before stated cannot be replaced until the arrival
of that train is signalled. Before replacing the slide a blank ticket is placed in it,
and on the receipt of the arrival signal the slide is pushed in; the tickets so use i
instead of being blank may be supplied numbered consecutively. In place of the
column of ready printed tickets is a printing apparatus which on the pressure of a
handle prints the ticket but though printed the ticket cannot be withdrawn until
the line clear signal for the next train has been received.
The printing apparatus may also be so locked that it cannot be used until the
line clear signal is received.
Deted this 2nd day of A1 1005
:
.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.

page_text: T
Improvements in and relating to Block Signalling Apparatus
for Railways.
We, GEORGE KIĘT WINTER M. Inst. C.E., M.I.E.E. Telegraph Engineer
Madras Railway, Arkonam, Madras, and GEORGE BLISS WINTER A.I.E.E.,
Acting Assistant Telegraph Engineer Madras Railway, Arkonam, Madras,
previously of Coonoor, Madras, 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 :-
This invention has for its object improvements in and relating to block signalling
apparatus for railways.
The improvements consist :-In the controlling of the issue of line clear tickets
so that a ticket cannot be issued for a train unless the "Line clear" signal followed
by a prolonged current in the same direction is received and so that the slide with-
drawing the ticket cannot be replaced until the arrival signal followed by a
prolonged current in the same direction is received.
It also consists in so locking the switch handle which controls the direction of
the current sent from a station that,―
First. The switch handle cannot be turned over to "on" to give the "Line clear"
signal until this signal is asked for and followed by a prolonged current in the same
direction.
66
on
"
Second. When at
"that is, in the position for giving the "Line clear
signal it cannot be replaced at "off" to give the arrival signal until
(a) The home, distant or any named signal has been lowered to admit the train
either into the station or into the section in advance.
(b) The train has passed over a treadle which has been set by the lowering of
the semaphore.
on
It is also so arranged on single lines that when the switch handle is at
"C "the
ticket drawer cannot be withdrawn and that when the ticket drawer is out the
switch handle cannot be placed at "on."
17
The switch handle is made to act on a counting mechanism so that each time the
switch handle is put to "on the register is moved forward one unit and it may be
so arranged that the number so registered may agree with the number on the ticket
issued at the distant station. This may be issued in conjunction with the block
apparatus described in the Specification of G. K. Winter's Patent No. 15090 dated
8th December 1885 or by a simpler arrangement, the motion of the plate at the
one station and the motion of the switch handle at the other may cause distinctive
signals to be shown, showing, not only whether a train is on the line or not, but
also if it is, the direction, in which it is running.
In the case of a single home signal being on the platform and there being no
distant signal this may be made to make one contact and the treadle when pressed
by the train the other.
As it may sometimes be necessary to cancel a "Line clear" already given
arrangement is made by which the contacts ordinarily made by the combined action
of the home or other signal and the train may be made by a contact maker in the
signal box, the contact inaker being protected by a glass cover which has to be
broken before such contact can be made. The glass cover can only be replaced by
an authorised person so that the fact of a "Line clear" signal having been cancelled
is made manifest.
Other detecting arrangements for protecting and recording the cancelling signal
are obvious.
Another way of enabling the block to be cancelled or removed when necessary

page_text: is to have a separate plunger which should be so locked that it can only be used by
the station master and which if pressed while the distant station sends a prolonged
signal will liberate the switch handle and allow it to be turned to "off." This.
arrangement is necessary if ballast or material trains are allowed to return to the
station from which they started without going through the section and thus
liberating the switch handle in the ordinary way.
As the handle controlling the direction of the current is locked in position after
being turned over to give a "Line clear" signal and the handle and ticket drawer
are interlocked it is obvious that if necessary the same wire may be used for sending
ordinary messages between the stations without danger of affecting the liberating
mechanism.
The following is a description of the apparatus :-
Underneath a vertical tube containing the tickets is a sliding plate which is used
for withdrawing the tickets. This is made in two planes, one the height of a ticket
above the other so that when the plate is in its place a ticket falls into the lower
part of the plate and is withdrawn when the plate is pulled out, the rest of the
tickets being supported by the higher part of the plate. Attached to this plate
are two racks each acted on by a pawl; one rack and pawl prevent the withdrawal
of the plate unless the "Line clear" signal is obtained and the current prolonged,.
the other rack and pawl prevent the replacement of the plate unless the arrival
signal has been obtained and the current prolonged.
The pawls ordinarily press against their racks and thus prevent any motion of
the plate but each pawl can be withdrawn from the plate by the action of an electro
magnet one electro magnet acting on the pawl which allows the plate to be with-
drawn and another electro magnet acting on the pawl which allows the plate to be
replaced.
These electro magnets are actuated by local currents, and a polarized relay
determines into which of these magnets the local current shall flow. This polarized
relay, which is a compound one, is acted on by the signals from the distant station
and the local current is unable to flow unless the current from the distant station is.
actually flowing and thus acting on the unpolarized armature. This always causes
the local circuit to ring a bell but it is prevented from acting on the unlocking
coils by a short circuiting key. When this key is pressed it opens the circuit
through the proper coils as controlled by the polarized tongue of the relay.
Attached to the ticket slide is an inclined plane which during the withdrawal and
replacing of the slide actuates the plate showing the condition of the line as to traics
going from the station.
At the side of the instrument above described is the commutator lever. This
has two positions "off" and "on"; it acts by reversing the poles of the line
battery. Attached to it is a segment of a toothed wheel with two pawls acting on
it. One pawl prevents the lever being put from "off" to "on "unless an electro
magnet is acted on by a current; the other pawl prevents the lever being put
from " Oll to "off" unless another electro magnet is acted on by a current.
"
When the official at the distant station asks for "Line clear "he sends the signal
and prolongs the last beat; the same plunger mentioned above is then pressed and
the lever is unlocked and can be put to "
on."
While at "on" the "Line clear" signal can be sent which followed by a
prolonged beat enables the official at the distant station to withdraw his ticket
slide. During the passage from "off" to "on" the handle is made to actuate a
counting mechanism which records the number of times the signalman has given
"Line clear" or in other words accepted a train. The position of the lever also is
made to act on a sliding plate showing the condition of the line as to trains
approaching the station.
Having put the handle to
until,―
66
"
on
the signalman cannot put it back to "off"
First. The home, distant or any signal named for the purpose is lowered.
admitting the train either into the station or into the section in advance.

page_text: .
Second. Until the train arriving has pressed a trigger which in the ordinary
way is set in the act of lowering the home, distant or any signal named for the
purpose.
If the rules of working are so framed that ballast and material trains have to
go right through the section and are not allowed to return to the station from
which they started without going to the station at the other end of the section it
will only be necessary to provide a contact maker covered by a glass which must
be broken before contact can be made to allow the handle to be replaced to "off"
when it is required to cancel a block.
But if, as is usually the case the rules allow ballast and material trains to back
to the station from which they started without going through, it is necessary to
have a simpler procedure. This is afforded by an additional button or plunger in
the instrument which is kept under lock and key by the station master and should
be only used by him."
This plunger is inoperative except when a prolonged current is being received
from the distant station, so that should it be required to remove the block either in
consequence of a ballast train returning or a train being unable to proceed this key
may be used to enable the section to be cleared.
The station to which the train has returned gives the arrival signal followed by
a prolonged beat and the official at the station to which the train would under
ordinary circumstances have gone is then by pressing this protected plunger enabled
to bring his switch handle from "on" to "off," and so give the signal allowing the
ticket drawer at the station to which the train has returned to be replaced and the
block to be cancelled.
"
"3
A tappet locking bar sliding between the lever and the ticket slide prevents the
lever being put to
66 on when the slide is out or the slide being pulled out while
the lever is at on.'
When this instrument is used with the interlocked semaphore described in the
Specification of G. K. Winter's Patent No. 2390 of 12th June 1880 we prefer to
have the following arrangement: The semaphore arm simply is locked by a clutch
forming part of the lever carrying the armature. The motion of the ticket drawer
when it is withdrawn sets a small trigger which completes a circuit through the
semaphore electro magnet and releases the arm. When the arm is lowered it
completes a circuit which liberates the trigger and breaks the circuit through the
semaphore coils. The trigger cannot be re-set until the drawer is replaced and
again pulled out on receipt of the next line clear signal.
This arrangement can be used with or without the apparatus for putting the
signal to danger automatically by the train described in the Specification of the
Patent above referred to.
In lieu of issuing ready printed tickets the same arrangement can be modified to
print blank tickets.
Suppose that the slide is withdrawn and a printed ticket taken from it for a train
ready to start, the slide as before stated cannot be replaced until the arrival of
that train is signalled. Before replacing the slide a blank ticket is placed in it,
and on the receipt of the arrival signal the slide is pushed in; the ticket so used
instead of being blank may be supplied numbered consecutively. In place of the
column of ready printed tickets is a printing apparatus which on the pressure of a
handle prints the ticket but though printed the ticket cannot be withdrawn until
the "Line clear" sigual for the next train has been received.
The printing apparatus may also be so locked that it cannot be used until the
"Line clear" signal is received.
The accompanying drawings and the following description of same will enable
our invention to be fully understood.
Figure illustrates diagrammatically the circuit arrangements of the instrument
complete.
LB is the line battery but it also acts as a local battery when called into play
by the contact made by the unpolarized armature C.

page_text: As a line battery it is connected to the commutator D which is actuated by the
handle H. This serves to determine the direction of the current when signals are
given by the plunger P.
As a local battery it serves to ring the bell B when contact is made by the
armature C and when a prolonged beat is sent from the distant station and the
short circuiting key K is pressed it liberates one or other of the racks a or e fixed
underneath the ticket slide. The question as to whether it should release the
rack e allowing a ticket to be withdrawn or the rack a allowing the slide to be
replaced is determined by the position of the relay tongue R which tougue is acted
upon as to its position by the current received from the distant station.
Figure 1 shows the condition of the circuits allowing the ticket slide to be
pulled out, those circuits not affected being omitted for the sake of clearness. The
incoming current which is in the reverse direction to the normal has-attracted the
unpolarized armature C, closing the local circuit, and has at the same time moved
the relay tongue from T to S. This being so, when K is pressed as shown in the
drawing, the local current flows from the positive terminal of the line battery L B
through R and the relay contact S, through the coil G and through the back
contact of the Morse key S K through the bell coil B and attracting it, thence
through the armature contact C to the negative pole of the battery.
This current which flows through the coil G (as described) attracts the armature
of its electro magnet and allows the pawl to fall away from the rack as shown in
the drawing and the ticket slide can now he pulled out.
Figure 1 shows the condition of the circuits allowing the ticket slide to be
pushed in, omitting those circuits not affected. In this figure a current in the
normal direction is being received from the distant station, and as before, attracts
the unpolarized armature C, but in this case the relay tongue is moved back to its
normal contact T by the action of this current. The short circuiting key K being
pressed, the local current now flows from the positive pole of the line battery L B
through the contact T, the coil M, through the coil F, and now as before through
back contact of the Morse key SK, through the bell coil and through the contact
at C to the negative pole of the battery.
This current which has now been shown to flow through the coil F, attracts the
armature of its electro magnet and allows the pawl to fall away from the rack a
and the ticket slide can now be pushed in.
on."
Figure 1 shows the condition of the circuits allowing the switch handle to be
put from "off" to
The incoming current which is in the normal direction
attracts the armature of the unpolarized relay, causing contact to be made as before
at C.
As the relay tongue is against the contact T, its position is not affected by
the incoming current. On the key K being now pressed as shown in the drawing
the local current flows from the positive pole of the battery L B through the
relay R, its contact T through the coils M and F through the bell coil and thence
through the contact C to the negative pole. This current which now flows through
the coil M attracts the armature of its electro magnet and pulls the pawl away
from the toothed wheel attached to the switch handle as shown in the drawing.
The switch handle can now be turned over from "off" to "on."
The switch handle having been put to "on," which has to be done in order to
give permission for a train to enter the section from the other end, two methods,
shown in Figures 10 and 1, are provided for bringing the handle back to "off."
That shown in Figure 1º is that used in the ordinary way on the arrival of the train.
The contacts and v¹ and n and n¹ which are made by the apparatus shown in
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 (hereinafter to be described), complete a local circuit,
causing a current to flow from the local battery through the electro magnet M¹,
which attracts an armature pulling away the pawl from the toothed wheel attached
to the switch handle Has shown in this figure. The switch handle can now be
moved from "on" to "off" and the arrival signal given; this followed by a
prolonged beat allows the ticket slide at the distant station to be pushed in as
before described.

page_text: The second of these methods illustrated by Figure 1 is that adopted in cases
where it is necessary to cancel the block, either in consequence of a train unable to
proceed, or when a ballast or material train returns to the station from which it
started without going through the section to the distant station, and thus not
liberating the switch handle in the usual way.
In this case it is necessary for the station from which the train is unable to
proceed, or to which it has returned, to give a prolonged beat. The distant station
will during this beat unlock the switch handle by pressing the key S K. This will
cause the local current from the line battery LB to flow through the relay
contact T, the coil M³, the bottom contact of the key SK and thence through the
bell coil and armature contact C to the negative pole of the battery.
This current flowing through the coil M¹ in attracting its armature pulls the
pawl away from the toothed rack attached to the switch handle H and allows this
switch handle to be pulled from "on" to "off."
When an interlocked starting semaphore is used in connection with the
instrument the method by which this semaphore is worked is shown in
Figures 2, 2A and 2B.
Figure 2 shows the condition of the semaphore circuits when the ticket drawer
is in its normal position.
As the ticket drawer is being drawn out, the tumbler t advances to U, and on
passing it turns the lever V U on its pivot U bringing the arm V U into contact
with the spring V₁. This arm is kept in this position by a projection engaging
in a trigger O (Figure 2). This contact causes a current to be sent through an
electro magnet at the starting semaphore and unlocking it so that it can be
lowered.
Figure 2B shows the electric starting semaphore lowered. When this is 80, two
springs at the semaphore are brought into contact, completing another branch of
the circuit and causing a current to flow through the electro magnet coil N,
attracting an armature to which O is attached, causing the arm V U to fall down
out of contact with the spring V₁, thus putting the electro magnet coil at the
semaphore out of circuit.
The semaphore arm being raised to danger cannot now be unlocked until the
ticket drawer is pushed in and again withdrawn after obtaining a fresh line clear
signal from the distant station.
As the ticket drawer is pushed in, the tumbler t tilts up on passing U, and thus
does not affect the position of the arm V U.
One method of unlocking the switch lever when the train arrives is shown in
Figures 3 to 6. Figure 3 represents this apparatus in plan, Figure 4 in longi-
tudinal section, and Figure 5 in side, elevation; Figure 6 is a vertical section
through CD in Figure 3.
The slide SL in this apparatus is joined at each end C'D' to the signal wire
and works with it. This slide carries the cam m pivotted at p. When the wire is
pulled so as to lower the semaphore the upper projection m¹ comes in contact with
the lower projection to of the cam W and turns it on the pivot p.. As soon as the
projecting part W is thus raised a third cam W₁ falls underneath it and at the
same time raises the trigger T¹ by the side of the rail. The pulling of the slide S L
brings two springs vand o connected with the switch handle releasing circuit, into
contact but the circuit is still broken until two other springs n and n are brought
into contact with a metal pin Z on the cam W and this happens after the train has
passed over the trigger T¹ and thus pulling the cam W₁ from under the cam W
and allowing the cam W to fall into the position shown in Figures 4 and 5. The
contacts made by this apparatus are those referred to in the description of the
Fig. 1º.
The actual block instrument is shown in Figures 7 to 11. In these figures some
of the parts are omitted for the sake of clearness.
Fig. 7 is a plan looking downwards with the cover removed.
Fig. 8 is a side elevation with the cover removed.

page_text: Figure 9 is the front elevation of the instrument with the cover on showing the
handle i by which the ticket drawer is pulled out. The movement of this slide
actuates a vertical slide (shown at el in Figure 8) by means of an inclined plane
shown at in Figure 8.
The position of this vertical slide is down or up, according as the ticket slide is
in or out, and by its position it is made to indicate through the right hand window
of the instrument the condition of the line as to trains going to the station to which
the instrument is connected. This mechanism is shown in Figure 8, but it is shown
enlarged in Figure 12.
The state of the line as to trains coming from the station to which the instrument
is connected is shown through a window on the left by means of a vertical sliding
plate moving up and down, the movement of this slide being actuated by a bent
arm attached to the handle H indicating in the same manner as in trains going.
Underneath the two windows and midway between them may be the name of the
station to which the instrument is connected.
The manner of the indication is a matter of detail. At present we prefer the
method shown in Figures 14 and 15.
Figure 10 is a vertical section through the line Y Y of Figure 7 and showing
how the commutator handle H is controlled by the magnet M and M'.
Figure 11 is a plan with the cover on, showing the counting figures.
Figure 12 is the enlarged drawing referred to in the description of Figure 8.
Figure 13 shows a simple method of printing tickets inside the instrument before
their issue. In this modification instead of a column of tickets in the vertical
tube a' a¹ there, is inserted a printing press operated by a handle not shown in the
drawing. Between the press and the ticket slide 16 is an inking slide K" Ku
which has to be pulled out before printing the ticket so that the type holder Pu
can pass down on to the ticket through the aperture 01 O' in the inking slide.
The ticket, although it may be printed at any time, can only be withdrawn during
the receipt of the prolonged beat after the line clear signal has been given by the
station. Ink can always be applied to the inking pad IP by pulling out the inking
slide which can be done at any time when found necessary.
"
Figures 14 and 15 show one method of indicating the condition of the section
under control of the instrument. Underneath the words "from" and " to should
be printed or painted the name of the station at the further end of the section.
Figure 14 shows the appearance of the windows when the switch handle is at
"off" and the ticket slide drawn out.
Figure 15 shows the appearance of the windows when the switch handle has
been placed over to " Oll "and the ticket slide in.
When both the switch handle and the ticket slide are in their normal position
both windows will show "cleared.".
.
We are aware that it is not new to electrically release an authority for a train to
proceed over a section of railway, as this has already been done in what is known
as the "tablet" system, and also in the electrically controlled "staff" system. We
therefore do not claim this feature broadly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim in respect of block signalling apparatus for railways is :-
1. The controlling electrically of the liberation of line clear tickets as an
anthority to pass over a section of railway, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. The mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described, whereby the libera-
tion of line clear tickets as an authority to pass over a section of the railway is
electrically controlled.
3. In mechanism for electrically controlling the liberation of line clear tickets as
an authority to pass over a section of the railway, the combination with the ticket
receptacle and its drawer, of two racks having their teeth in reverse direction for
B

page_text: preventing respectively the withdrawal and the return of the drawer, these racks
being electrically controlled through the intermediation of pawls from the distant
station, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein before described.
4. In combination with the mechanism for electrically controlling the liberation
of line clear tickets as an authority to pass over a section of the railway, an
apparatus for printing the tickets, in the instrument itself before their issue, their
issue being electrically controlled substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. Means whereby the action of the train on its arrival coupled with the lowering
of the home, distant, or any named signal admitting the train into the station or
into the section in advance, serves in lieu of the replacing of the authority in the
apparatus at the arrival station, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
.described.
6. The arrangement and combination of parts, substantially as herein before
described and represented in the accompanying drawings, constituting improved
block signalling apparatus for railways.
Dated this 27th dex of December 1805
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.