Improvements in Staff Apparatus for Controlling the Traffic on Single Line Railways.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Aug., 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Staff Apparatus for Controlling the Traffic on
Single Line Railways.
We, FRANCIS WILLIAM WEBB, of Crewe, in the County of Chester, Mechanical
Engineer, and ARTHUR MOORE THOMPSON, of the same place, Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as follows:―
There are two well known systems on which the traffic on single lines of Railway
is regulated, the "Staff system" and the "Tablet system."
The "Staf' system" is that in which a staff is employed as the authority for a
driver to proceed on his journey, and the safety of this system of working is assured
by there being only one staff and consequently only one train in the section at a
tine, but with a heavy and variable traffic it is impossible to so time the trains that
the staff is always at the right end of the section and consequently delays are
frequent.
The "Tablet system" is in the principle of its working the same as the "Staff
system," but to avoid the delay caused by the absence of a staff, a number of metal
discs or tablets are provided in suitable receptacles at each end of a section of single
line, these receptacles being so controlled that only one disc or tablet can be in use at
a time, but the moment the tablet in use has arrived at, say, Station B from
Station A, and deposited in the receptacle at B, Station A with the permission of
Station B, can withdraw another tablet, and so all delay is avoided. This "Tablet
system" is fully described in the specification of Letters Patent granted to Edward
Tyer numbered 1262 and dated the 30th March 1878.
The object of our invention is to provide a simple form of apparatus whereby the
use of the staff may be retained, and the delay consequent on its present mode of
working avoided, by having a suitable number of staffs in a magazine at each end of
a section, the magazines being electrically connected and controlled in such a way
as to prevent more than one staff being in use at a time.
We accomplish this object of our invention by constructing our magazines in the
form of a column which supports a head of a drum form.
The column is divided vertically by a slot in which the requisite number of staffs
are placed horizontally one over the other and the staffs are so formed that they
cannot be placed in the slot, or withdrawn without passing through a suitable hole or
slot formed in the above mentioned drum head. In this drum head are 5 discs of
metal, separated about one inch apart, and joined together by a common boss free
to turn on a horizontal axis, and at four equidistant points on the periphery of each
disc we cut a notch, whose depth and breadth equals the diameter of the staff.
These four notches being at equal distances apart, it follows, that if we turn the
discs on their horizontal axis so that the first set of notches are directly over the slot
in the column, we shall have the second set on the left hand, the third set on the top,
and the fourth set on the right hand. We now continue the slot in the column
into a segmental slot in the drum head circling round the discs to a position directly
opposite the second set of notches, where we enlarge the slot or opening sufficiently
to enable a staff to be withdrawn. To withdraw a staff we lift it through and up the slot
in the column, and then into the first notches in the discs, over the slot in the column we
now draw it through the segmental slot in the drain head radially with the discs until
it arrives at the enlarged portion where we withdraw it; we thus turn the discs a
quarter of a circle in doing this, the first set of notches taking the place of the second,
the second taking the place of the third and the fourth taking the place of the
first.
TË MA now Henlace the staff we have withdrawn we shall turn the discs back again

page_text: to their former position, and it will be readily understood that no matter how many
staffs are taken out, or how many put back again, we always get one set of notches
directly over the slot in the column forming the magazine, and one set opposite the
enlarged portion in the said drum head, and thus the apparatus is, so far, always in a
position for a staff to be taken out or put in.
To lock the discs in position we provide pawls in connection with three of the discs,
which pawls engage with one set of the notches before described. The discs are
thus incapable of being turned until these pawls are lifted clear of the notches.
To lift the pawls we provide each staff with suitable lifting pieces or keys, and the
lifting is done simultaneously with a staff being placed in one of the notches, the
pawls automatically engaging with another set of notches as the staff is taken out or
put in. These pawls are provided for the purpose of preventing the discs from being
turned by illegitimate means, but so far it will be seen that any number of staffs may
be taken out, and we now describe the means we adapt to prevent more than one
staff being out at a time.
The fifth disc is provided with an electric lock actuated by a current sent from the
station to which the staff is to be sent.
Two line wires are employed for the transmission of this current and for the purpose
of illustration we name these wires the "top line" and the "bottom line."
In working a section of a single line of Railway, one apparatus is fixed at one
end of the section, which we may call station A, and another at the other end,
station B, and we now assume that the section is clear, that all the staffs are in their
respective apparatus, and that the electric locks in each apparatus are switched on to
the "bottom line."
Station A, rings to station B, that he has a train waiting, station B, accordingly
sends a current to A by the "bottoin line" and unlocks A's electric lock. A, now
withdraws a staff which turns the discs in his apparatus a quarter of a circle and
switches his electric lock on to the "top line" A's lock is now on the top line and B's
lock remains on the bottom, and consequently another current sent froin either end
would have no effect.
The staff withdrawn from A is given to the driver, and carried to B, B places the
staff in his apparatus, and by so doing turns the discs in his apparatus back a quarterofa
circle, and switching his electric lock onto the top line. Both apparatus are now on the top
line. and all staffs in, consequently a current sent from either end would release a
staff again, the withdrawal of the staff switching the apparatus on to the "bottom
line" thus again cutting off the current from each end.
Instead of employing two line wires a single wire can be employed by sending
currents alternately of an opposite polarity and passing it through polarised switches
to the electric lock, but for simplicity we prefer the double wire.
Each staff is provided with a suitable key for locking intermediate sidings.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.
Improvements in Staff Apparatus for Controlling the Traffic on
Single Line Railways.
We, FRANCIS WILLIAM WEBB, of Crewe, in the County of Chester, Mechanical
Engineer, and ARTHUR MOORE THOMPSON, of the same place, Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the saine is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
There are two well known systems on which the traffic on single lines of Railway
is regulated, the "Staff system" and the "Tablet system."
The "Staff system" is that in which a staff is employed as the authority for a
driver, to proceed on his journey, and the safety of this system of working is assured
by there being only one staff and consequently only one train in the section at a

page_text: time, but with a heavy and variable traffic it is impossible to so time the trains
that the staff is always at the right end of the section, and consequently delays are
frequent.
The "Tablet system" is in the principle of its working the same as the "Staff
system" but to avoid the delay caused by the absence of a staff, a number of metal
discs or tablets are provided in suitable receptacles at each end of a section of single
line, these receptacles being so controlled that only one disc or tablet can be in use.
at a time, but the moment the tablet in use has arrived at say station B, from
station A, and is deposited in the receptacle at B, station A with the permission of
station B, can withdraw another tablet, and so all delay is avoided, this "Tablet
system" is fully described in the specification of Letters Patent granted to Edward
Tyre numbered 1262 and dated the 30th March 1878.
The object of our invention is to provide a simple form of apparatus whereby the
use of the staff may be retained, and the delay consequent on its present mode of
working avoided, by having a suitable number of staffs in a magazine at each end of
a section the magazines being electrically connected and controlled in such a way as
to prevent more than one staff being in use at a time.
We accomplish this object of our invention by constructing our magazines in the
form of a column which supports a head of a drum form.
The column is divided vertically by a slot in which the requisite number of staffs
are placed horizontally one over the other and the staffs are so formed that they cannot
be placed in the slot, or withdrawn without passing through a suitable hole or slot
formed in the above mentioned drum head. In this drum head are 5 discs of metal,
separated about one inch apart, and joined together by a common boss free to turn
on a horizontal axis, and at four equidistant points on the periphery of each disc we
cut a notch whose depth and breadth equals the diameter of the staff.
These four notches being at equal distances apart, it follows that if we turn the
discs on their horizontal axis so that the first set of notches are directly over the slot
in the column, we shall have the second set on the left hand, the third set on the top,
and the fourth set on the right hand; we now continue the slot in the column into a
segmental slot in the drum head, circling round the discs to a position directly opposite
the second set of notches where we enlarge the slot or opening sufficiently to enable
a staff to be withdrawn. To withdraw a staff we lift it through and up the slot in
the column, and then into the first notches in the discs over the slot in the column,
we now draw it through the segmental slot in the drum head radially with the discs
until it arrives at the enlarged portion where we withdraw it; we thus turn the discs
a quarter of a circle in doing this, the first set of notches taking the place of the
second, the second taking the place of the third and the fourth taking the place of the
first.
If we now replace the staff we have withdrawn, we shall turn the discs back again
to their former position, and it will be readily understood that no matter how many
staffs are taken out, or how inany put back again, we always get one set of notches
directly over the slot in the column forming the inagazine, and one set opposite the
enlarged portion in the said drum head, and thus the apparatus is so far, always in à
position for a staff to be taken out or put in.
To lock the discs in position we provide pawls in connection with three of the discs,
which pawls engage with one set of the notches before described. The discs are thus
incapable of being turned until these pawls are lifted clear of the notches.
To lift the pawls we provide each staff with suitable lifting pieces or keys, and the
lifting is done simultaneously with a staff being placed in one of the notches, the pawls
automatically engaging with another set of notches, as the staff is taken out or put
in. These pawls are provided for the purpose of preventing the discs from being
turned by illegitimate means, but so far it will be seen that any number of staffs may
be taken out, and we now describe the means we adopt to prevent more than one staff
being out at a time.
"
The fifth disc is provided with an electric lock actuated by a current sent from the
station to which the staff is to be sent.

page_text: Two line wires are employed for the transmission of this current and for the
purpose of illustration we name these wires the "top line" and the "bottom
line."
In working a section of a single line of Railway, one apparatus is fixed at one end
of the section, which we inay call station A and another at the other end, station B,
and we now assume that the section is clear, that all the staffs are in their respective
apparatus and that the electric locks in each apparatus are switched on to the "bottom
line."
Station A rings to station B that he has a train waiting, station B accordingly sends
a current to A by the "bottom line" and unlocks A's electric lock, A now withdraws
a staff which turns the discs in his apparatus a quarter of a circle and switches his
electric lock on to the "top line," A's lock is now on the top line and B's lock
remains on the bottom, and consequently another current sent from either end would
have no effect.
The staff withdrawn from A is given to the driver, and carried to B, B places the
staff in his apparatus, and by so doing turns the discs in his apparatus back a quarter
of a circle and switching his electric lock on to the top line. Both apparatus are now
on the topline, and all staffs in, consequently a currentsent from either end would release
a staff again, the withdrawal of the staff switching the apparatus on to the "bottom
line" thus again cutting off the current from each end.
Instead of employing two line wires a single wire can be employed by sending
currents alternately of an opposite polarity and passing it through polarised switches
to the electric lock but for simplicity we prefer the double wire.
Each staff is provided with a suitable key for locking intermediate sidings.
In order that our said invention may be well understood we shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 shows a front elevation of our apparatus-A is the column which forms
the magazine for holding the staffs, B, is the vertical slot in which the staffs are
placed, is the drum shaped head of the apparatus which contains the five discs, and
the electrical and mechanical locking devices to be described in detail hereafter―D is
the slot in the head which forms a continuation of the vertical slot B of the column,
E is a further continuation of the slot formed circumferentially, and F is the
enlarged opening by which the staffs are taken out or put in. G shows a number of
staffs in position in the magazine.
Two sets of springs are provided at G¹ as shown, to prevent damage to staffs due to
them being allowed to fall from the top to the bottom of the slot, the upper set of
springs also serve the purpose of holding a few staffs near the top of the column for
immediate use.
H is a mechanical dial, the point of which is turned by the signalman to remind
him whether a staff is out or not, I is a galvanometer which indicates when a current
is flowing, and when a staff may be withdrawn. J is an electric switch which
determines the direction in which a current is sent and K is a key by which the
electric currents are transmitted these will be described more fully further on.
Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the apparatus.
Figure 3 shows a view of one of the staffs; L, M, N, O are the lifting pieces or
keys for lifting the pawls or locks which secure the discs in the drum head of the
apparatus in position, and P is a key formed at one end of the staff for locking and
unlocking the points of intermediate sidings.
Figure 4 shows a plan section taken through the column at X-X fig. 1 to illustrate
how the lifting pieces or keys are utilised to prevent a staff being withdrawn, excepting
at the enlarged opening F figure 1.
Figure 5 shows an enlarged front view, of the head of the apparatus with the front
cover removed to show the interior parts, Q is one of the five discs turning on a
common centre R, and S are the notches cut at four equidistant points on the periphery
of the discs, their depth and width being equal to the diameter of the staffs, E shows
the circumferential alot in dotted lines previously referred to in figure 1, and F, is

page_text: the enlarged opening which is made of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter
of the lifting pieces or keys which are formed on the staff.
T is a pin upon which the mechanical locks or pawls for securing the discs in
position are centred, U is a lever turning on the centre T which carries the coils V
of an electro magnet. W is a wedge shaped lock attached to a lever W₁, which also
turns on the centre T and this lever forms an armature for the electro magnet V and
is lifted with the magnet coils should a current be passing through the coils.
X is a tail piece forming part of the lever U which carries the electro magnet
coils V and it is provided so that the coils may be lifted when a staff is taken out or
put in the apparatus by means of one of the lifting pieces previously described in
figure 3 tails somewhat similar in forin are provided in connection with the mechanical
pawls but they cannot be clearly shown in this view and are shown by figures 10
and 12, to be described hereinafter.
Y is an automatic commutator which switches the current alternately from the top
to the bottom line wire as the discs are turned a quarter circle; Y₁ Y being pro-
jections on one of the discs (disc , fig. 13) which actuate this commutator. J is a.
cam fixed to the handle shown upon the dial J fig. 1, the turning of which switches
the line wires in. the one position on to the bells, and in the other on to the magnet
coils. K is the spindle attached to the key K figure 1 the depression of which sends a
current according to the position of the cain Jeither to the bell or the magnet coils
of the distant apparatus. Z shows a side view of one of the electric switches.
Figure 6 shows a plan of the interior of the head, the top cover being removed.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the head with the side casing removed to show the
arrangement of the electric switches.
a, and b, are the switches actuated by the cam J figures 1 and 5.
c, and d, are the switches actuated by the key K figures 1 and 5, and e, and f, are
the commutator switches actuated by the commutator Y figure 5.
f, is a safety switch actuated by lever of the switch d, its purpose is fully described in
figure 17 under name of safety switch B.
Figure 8 shows the discs g, h, i, j, k, removed from the head for greater clearness,
and these are indicated by similar letters in figure 5. These discs are tied together by
two bolts which are passed through the bosses from end to end as shown by dotted lines;
and figures 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 show the discs separately in the order of their position
and indicated by the same letters as in figures 6 and 8 showing more clearly the
arrangement of the locking pawls, the other parts are also indicated by the same letters
as in figure 5. In figs. 10, 11 and 12 both a side and edge view of the disc, and
other parts is represented.
Disc 9, figure 9 is a plain disc, and has no pawl in connection with it.
Disc H, figure 10 has one pawl in connection with it. T is the centre previously
referred to in figure 5 upon which the pawl l, turns and this pawl engages with the top
notch S. m, is a tail piece by which the pawl is lifted clear of the notch S when a
staff is put in, when a staff is taken out the turning of the disc itself lifts the pawl
which is made of a wedge form for the purpose.
Figure 11 shows the disc i, with which the electric lock engages.
Tis the centre upon which the lever U of the magnet coils and the lever W¹ of the
lock armature are centred; W is the wedge shaped lock attached to the lever W' of
the armature and which prevents the disc from turning to allow a staff to be taken
out unless a current is passing through the magnet coils V in which case the armature
is attracted by and lifted with the magnet coils by the tail piece X which is acted upon
by one of the lifting pieces on the staff figure 3, should a current not be passing through
the magnet coils V, the armature is not attracted and the tail piece X will lift the
coils alone, leaving the armature behind, and the disc will remain locked.
The wedge shape of the lock W permits the disc to turn when a staff is put in the
apparatus, but it prevents it from turning to admit of a staff being taken out.
11, is a detector lock which when the lock armature is lifted comes in front of the
quadrant n, which is attached to the key K figure 1 the object of this detector is that
should the lock armature lever W', not fall into its place and lock the disc, the key Ķ

page_text: is locked and so prevents any further signal being given until the error has been
put right. V are the electro magnet coils referred to in figure 5.
Disc j, figure 12 has two mechanical pawls or locks in connection with it; T the
centre on which the pawls turn, O the pawls engaging with the top notch ; p, is the
tail piece of the first pawl which is precisely similar to the pawl shown in figure 10
the lock being of a wedge form which permits the discs to lift the pawl when a staff
is taken out; p. is the tail piece of the second pawl, the lock in this case being of a
rectangular form which prevents the discs from turning either from right to left, or left
to right until the lock is lifted clear by the staff. 7,are four notches out at intermediate
points between the notches S, and the rectangular lock would engage with these on
the discs being turned one-eighth of a revolution if it were not for the small projection r,
on the tail p, which lifts the lock clear as it passes, these notches are provided as
an additional means of security against any attempt to turn the discs by illegitimate
means.
Fig. 13 shows disc k,-Y¹ Y2 are cam projecting pieces for the purpose of lifting the
commutator Y the use of which is explained in fig. 14.
Figure 14 is a view of the commutator Yand a side view of the two switches e, and f,
which it actuates.
The disc k, is here shown with the projection Y₁,just starting to lift the commutator,
the lifted position of which is shown in dotted lines.
Figure 15 is a view of the key K with a side view of the two switches it actuates
c, and d; K is the key centre as shown in figure 1, n, is the quadrant for the detector
lock figure 11; q, is a lever attached to the key spindle which presses against the
switches c, and d, and reverses their position, the reverse position being shown in
dotted lines.
Figure 16 is a view of the switches a, b, actuated by the cam J figure 5 which is
turned by the handle shown by J figure 1.
Figure 17 is a diagram showing the electric circuits for two apparatus, and in order
that this arrangement may be fully understood we describe the operation of signalling
between A apparatus and B apparatus as follows.
We will assuine that the signalman working the apparatus at A has a train waiting
to proceed to B; he rings to B by pressing down the key K. fig. 1, this brings the
switches c, and d, in contact with 1 and 2 (see the left of fig. 17) a current will now
flow from the apparatus battery or the bell battery according as the switches a, and b,
stand for the bell or apparatus; they are here shown to stand for the bell, and the
current consequently flows from the pole 3 of the bell battery through 1 to 4 to 5
to 6 to the bottom line entering the B apparatus (on the right of fig. 17) at 7 passing
through 8 to 9 to 10 to 11 (the bell) to 12 to 13 to the top line and back to 14 which
is the opposite pole of the bell battery at A. thus completing the circuit, B
acknowledges the bell signal and both signalmen turn the cam J fig. 5 of their appa-
ratus switching the line wires from the bells to the magnet coils or apparatus B now
gives A permission to take a staff by pressing down his key K which brings the
switches c, and d, in contact with 15 and 16 (on the right of fig. 17) the cam J having
been turned and the line wires switched on to the magnet coils, a current leaves the
apparatus battery of B at 17 and passes through 15 to 18 to 19 through the galva-
nometer coils, the needle of which it deflects, then through 20 to 21 to 22 to 23, and
the switches a, and b, being now reversed the current passes through 23 to 7 and out
to line by the bottom line entering the A apparatus 6 and switches a, and b, being
reversed through 6 to 22 to 23 to 24 to 25 to 26 through the galvanometer coils, the
needle of which it deflects to 27 to 28 to 29 through the electro magnet coils to
earth, thus completing the circuit.
A so soon as he sees his galvanometer needle deflected withdraws a staff, and
immediately the discs are moved by the action of withdrawing the staff, the commu-
tator Y figs. 5 and 14 cuts off the current as it at once switches A's apparatus on to
the top line wire, the current being cut off, the galvanometer needles resume their
vertical position, thus indicating to the signalman at B who has kept his key K
depressed that a staff has been taken from Ä's apparatus.

page_text: The apparatus at A is now switched on the top line and as B's apparatus is still
switched on to the bottom line no current from either apparatus can be sent through
the electro magnet coils.
The staff taken from A's apparatus can now be replaced if necessary in A's appa-
ratus which would result in the commutator switching the bottom line wire on to A's
apparatus as before, or the staff can be carried to B, and placed in B's apparatus
resulting in B's apparatus being switched on to the top line wire, both apparatus
would then be in connection with the top line wire, a current can be sent through
the magnet coils of either apparatus, thus A can give B permission to take a staff,
or B can give A permission.
The safety switches marked A and B shown by fig. 17 in connection with appa-
ratus A and apparatus B, are provided in case the poles carrying the two line wires
should be blown down, and the wires get entangled, enabling the A apparatus to
send a current say on the bottom line which would get across to the top line, and
enable B to take a staff out, when another staff might be already out.
To obviate any danger of this being done we provide the safety switches which
permit the return of the current sent say by the bottom line by A through the said
switch by the top line to the opposite pole of his battery, a small portion only of the
current passing through the coils of B's apparatus, these coils being wound so as to
give a resistance five or six times greater than the resistance of the line wires,
consequently the small amount of current passing through the magnet coils has not
power to lift the lock, the bell coils are similarly treated so that the bells will not
ring should such a fault exist.
When there are a number of stations, each intermediate station will be provided
with two apparatus, one for each section of line. The staff for one section will as is
usual differ in form from the staff for the other section, and we take advantage of
this difference in forin to ensure that the staff for one section shall not be used in
connection with the apparatus for the other section.
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 is.
1. The apparatus for controlling the issue of staffs for regulating the running of
trains on a single line of railway substantially as hereinbefore described and illus-
trated by the drawings.
2. Staffs provided with a key, keys or projections for the purpose of actuating locks
or bolts in connection with apparatus for the issue of such staffs, for regulating the
running of trains, on single lines of railway substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. Apparatus for electrically controlling the issue of staffs, or their equivalents
for regulating the running of trains on a single line of railway by means of two line
wires, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
4. The safety switches A and B substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and illustrated by reference to fig. 17 of the drawings.
5. Staffs provided with a key P for locking and unlocking the points of inter-
mediate sidings in combination with projections L, M, N, O or their equivalents
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by figs. 3 and 4 of the
drawings.
Dated this First day of August. 1889