CERTAIN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE EXPLOYED FOR SIGNALS OF RAILWAY TRAINS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION filed by Frederic Newton Gisborne and
Herbert Allmau at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 11th January 1869.
We, FREDERIC NEWTON GISBORNE, Civil Engineer, of 445, West
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, and HERBERT ALLMAN, Consulting
Engineer, of Ampthill Square, in the said County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVED
APPARATUS TO BE EXPLOYED FOR SIGNALS OF RAILWAY TRAINS, AND FOR OTHER
LIKE PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention may be generally described as being certain improved
apparatus applied to railway trains for effecting and maintaining &
communication between the guard, passengers, and engine driver.
We employ a flexible cord made either of vegetable fibre, such as
hemp, or of metallic wires, or wire used singly, or in the form of a
twisted cord; this cord communicates at one end with a steam whistle
or other sound giving apparatus on the engine, the other end being fixed
to a large drum in guard's van which keeps the rope tight by the action
of a weight. At intervals the cord is supported and kept in place by

page_text: "
spring clips fitted with friction rollers. By spring clips we mean spring
frames to rollers, which spring opens on the upper side so as to allow
the cord to be pushed in.. The general arrangement of drum and whistle
united by a cord is not new..
We wish it to be understood that our Invention or detail consists of,-
First. The peculiar construction of whistle or other sound giving
instrument which allows an interval of time to elapse after being put
in motion before giving any sound; this interval is necessary to prevent
signals being given by a momentary slack in the cord.
Second. The form of friction roller spring clips, as herein-before
described, which enables the cord to be very quickly strung in gear after
the train is made up.
Third. A peculiar form of cutting apparatus of the same form and
construction as a cutting pliars used in cutting wire for cutting the
cord fixed to each carriage which cannot be moved or used without
destroying an envellope.
Fourth. An apparatus fixed to the weight pulley in guard's van for
ringing a bell by the fall of a weight on the cord being cut.
Fifth. An electric apparatus used for the similar purpose of making
signals consisting of an apparatus on the engine being a permanent
magnet and a soft iron electro-magnet which by their adhesion together
keep the whistle cock shut; but when a current of electricity is sent.
from the guard's van (which contains a battery) though the conducting
wire magnetism is induced in the electro-magnet on engine, which
being repelled from the permanent magnet opens the whistle.
'
Sixth. The employment of wire cord and suitable cutting apparatus,
as herein-before described.
Seventh. An india-rubber air ball which delays the action of the steam
whistle or other sound giving apparatus. The indian-rubber air ball
being furnished with a small hole emits the air slowly, delays the giving 8
of the signal. If the ball be so placed as to retard the motion-of
the apparatus while the air is being emitted. The amount of delay is
regulated by the action of a screw closing the aperture.