Improvements in or connected with Railway Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Railway Signalling
Apparatus.
A communication by JAMES Fox of Elizabeth, County of Union and State of
New Jersey, United States of America, Manufacturer of Railroad Signals.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil 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 :-
This invention relates to a device for projecting torpedoes upon a railway track
for the purpose of giving an audible signal.
The invention is best described by reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which :-
Figure 1 is a plan of the complete device.
Figure 2 is an end view of a portion of the device shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, mostly in vertical
section.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the device shown in Figure 1at the line X, some
of the parts being omitted.
Figure 5 is a modification for preventing interference by snow.
In Figures 1 and 2 the torpedo is not projected.
Figure 6 shows the principal portions of the device when the torpedo is projected,
the same being a plan.
Figure 7 is a central vertical section of the device shown in Figure 6.
Figures 8 and 9 are sections of modifications.
Figure 10 is an elevation showing how the device is operated. at a distant point
by a railway train.
Figure 11 is a rectangular view of a portion of Figure 10, not clearly shown in
the latter.
The torpedoes are a, and they rest upon a platform b, which is carried by flexible
steel bands e passing over rollers d. The flexible bands carry balancing weights.e.
The torpedoes lie upon one another between guides f, which are attached to the
inner sides of a casing g, having friction rollers h pressing upon the torpedocs. The
whole depth of the box g may be taken up by the torpedoes, while the weights
would be nearest the top of the box g. When the torpedoes are all used up, the
weights e are at the bottom of the box. To the underside of the-rail i. are attached
horizontal supports ; having cross connections jt. The box g has a projecting
compartment g for containing and protecting the projector-m and for carrying a
spirally grooved drum n. The two boxes 9 and are preferably of metal and
waterproof, and rigidly held together. Sometimes they are provided with screws
or similar means, so that their height above. the ground may be adjusted, whereby
the torpedo, when projected, will just graze the upper surface of the rail. The
horizontal case is constructed with a removable cover g", below which are
located the rollers h. The torpedo placer or retractor or projector m consists. sub-
stantially of two levers pivotted to the common point, forming a kind of tool
having the appearance of shears or tongs. This device m is free to be moved
horizontally and to assume the two positions shown respectively in Figure 1 OD
the one hand, and Figures 6 and 7 on the other. It is pivoted upon a centre
bar A, which projects beyond the box g' and is connected to an operating lever A¹
by means of a crank B and a connecting rod B'. A semaphore may be attached
o the mechanism, so that a visual signal may be set simultaneously with the

page_text: torpedo. Instead of projecting the torpedo by hand, by the use of the lever A',
the same may be projected by means of a chain which can be attached to the
crank B. This chain may be similar to that usually employed in block signal
systems operated by hand.
Each torpedo, as shown, is provided with a casing lettered L. This casing
contains a fulminate, and is generally made of a piece of metal in the form of sheet
metal. As the jaws of the projector m move forward, they enter the casing at the
end and grip the casing, because of the rollers M, which spread apart the jaws.
The gripping process is similar to that of removing a sheet of drawing from a card-
board cylinder used in mailing. One inserts his fingers, and then spreads them
apart, thereby gripping the rolled up drawing. If the train should pass over the
torpedo, which is often done when the engineer forgets to look at the visual signal,
the torpedo explodes, thereby blowing the casing to atoms, and, consequently, the
casing does not have to be withdrawn.
The mechanism above described for operating the centre bar A may be replaced
by a spirally grooved drum n. It is important to mention that this groove at each
end should pass circularly instead of spirally for about half a revolution; but for
the rest of the distance it should be a spiral groove. This is clearly shown in the
figures, the groove being lettered n¹. Into the groove projects a pin E, which is
carried by the same plate F to which the centre bar A is attached; therefore,
when the drum n rotates, the torpedo does not move during the motion of the pin E
through the circular groove; but the torpedo is projected during the motion of the
Fiu throughout the length of the spiral groove. The drum is rotated so much that
the pin travels throughout the length of the circular groove at the opposite end of
the drum. The object of having the circular groove is so that the torpedo cannot
be operated in any manner whatsoever except by direct application of force to the
rotating of the drum. For example, a mischievous person could not push back
the torpedo by pushing on the same. The manner of rotating the drum may be
carried out in two or more ways. It may be rotated by a string & which passes
to the opposite end of the block, where it is operated through suitable mechanism
automatically by a railway train. The means shown in Figures 1, 3, 10 and 11 is
described as follows:-
The drum n has a shaft H projecting beyond the box g¹ and, carries a pulley f.
A pipe J lies in the groove on the pulley and upon the second pulley I¹ located
upon the ground. When the pipe moves between the pulleys, it is evident that the
torpedo will be projected. The device for operating the pipe at the other end of
the block is shown in Figures 10 and 11. There are rollers which are operated by
a bar K which is attached to the locomotive or car. The pipe J passes between
the rollers as indicated in reference to the rollers I, I'. When the train is in
motion, the rollers turn and pull the pipe which causes the torpedo L.to be
projected.
Rollers M are provided for the purpose of spreading the torpedo projector as it
enters the torpedo so that the latter will be held so tightly that it cannot be pulled
off by hand; but when the projector is retracted, the torpedo will be pulled in
again, so that the torpedoes are not wasted unnecessarily. In order to enable the
torpedo to slide upon the rail even if not very accurately adjusted, or if there is
a film of ice upon the track, the said torpedo is pointed like an arrowhead, as shown
in the figures.
.
The plate F, which carries the centre bar A, slides in grooves in the top of the
boxes and g
Instead of having weights e, the platform 6 may be pushed upward at the release
of every torpedo, by means of a spring O which presses upon the projection. P, as
shown in Figure 9. The projection and spring move loosely in a tube Q.
In Figure 5, the rail is provided with a shelf R for receiving the torpedo.
Above the shelf is an elastic cover R'. When the rail strikes this cover, which
serves to keep off snow from the shelf, the same is.depressed by the car wheel upon
the torpedo, thereby causing it to explode.

page_text: The foundation iron strips jare fastened at one end, by means of lugs, to the
rail i, while the other end may be supported on any suitable foundation built up
from the earth.
T and Tare to prevent the two parts of the projector m from leaving their
pivot. Under T is a slot, the sides of which prevent the jaws from opening too
wide.
Another device like that in Figure 11 is at another point of the track, but the
pipe used passes under the pulley, so that the motion of the train will retract the
torpedo when arriving at the end of the block.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The combination of a helically grooved drum, a sliding torpedo projector
actuated by said drum and having spring-gripping jaws normally free from
tension, and means (such as, for example, rollers M) for contracting said jaws.
2. The combination of a helically grooved drum, a sliding torpedo projector
actuated by said drum and having spring-gripping jaws normally free from tension,
means (such, for example, as rollers M) for contracting said spring, and a torpedo
feeder consisting of a follower 6 mounted upon a tube P and a second concentric
and larger tube containing a spring pressing against said tube P.
3. The combination of a helically grooved drum, a sliding torpedo projector
actuated by said drum and having spring gripping jaws normally free from tension,
means (such as, for example, rollers M) for contracting said springs, and a visual
signal C pivoted to said projector.
4. The combination of a box g, a platform b carrying torpedoes a and carried by
flexible bands c, passing over said rollers d, weights e attached to said bands, and
rollers & pressing upon the uppermost torpedo.
5. The combination of a box 9, a platform 6 carrying torpedoes a and carried. by
flexible bands c, passing over rollers d, weights e attached to said bands, rollers h
pressing upon the uppermost torpedo, and guides flocated upon opposite sides of
said torpedoes and fastened to the inner sides of said box.
6. The combination of a box g, a platform 6 carrying torpedoes a and carried
by flexible bands c, passing over rollers d; weights attached to said bands
rollers pressing upon the uppermost torpedo, guides flocated upon opposite sides
of said torpedoes and fastened to the inner sides of said box, and a box projecting
from the box g and means for adjusting both boxes vertically.
7. The combination, with the rail of a railway track, of a platform R attached
thereto and a hammer R' within the path of the wheels of the train and located
at a distance above the platform R greater than the thickness of a torpedo.
8. An automatic railway signalling apparatus, embracing a torpedo projector,
rollers located at a distant point along the track operated by a railway train and a
chain, pipe or similar mechanical connection or mechanism for communicating
motion from said roller to said projector.
9. In a railway signalling apparatus, the combination, with a torpedo projector,
of a groove drum and a pin fitting loosely into said drum and connected directly or
indirectly to said projector, the groove starting circularly and then spirally, then
circularly.
10. The herein described general arrangement or apparatus for projecting
torpedoes upon a railway track, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11. In combination with the gripping-jaws of a torpedo projector, of a torpedo
and a casing therefor held by said jaws, substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of October 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.