A SIMPLIFIED AND IMPROVED MODE OF COMMUNICATING INTELLIGENCE (BY MEANS OF ELECTRICITY, COMBINED OR NOT WITH STEAM,) ON RAILWAYS BETWEEN THE CARRIAGES ON THE LINE AND THE ENGINE OR TENDER, SO THAT THE GUARDS AND PASSENGERS MAY GIVE NOTICE TO THE ENGINEER OR ENGINE DRIVER FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS OR CASUALTIES, OR THE MITIGATION OF THE EVILS THEREOF, AND THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM LOSS OR INJURY, AND ALSO OF COMMUNICATING SIGNALS BY THE SAME AGENCY, DESCRIBING THE CAUSE OR CAUSES OF
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CRAFT ROBERTS, of Holywell, in the County of Flint, Surgeon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-eighth day of February, in the eleventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Craft Roberts, Her especial license, full power, sole pri-
vilege and authority, that I, the said John Craft Roberts, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, and such others. as I, the said John Craft
Roberts, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term
of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise;
and vend, within England, Wales, the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and
in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands
of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my Invention of "A
SIMPLIFIED AND IMPROVED MODE OF COMMUNICATING INTELLIGENCE (BY MEANS OF
ELECTRICITY, COMBINED OR NOT WITH STEAM,) ON RAILWAYS BETWEEN THE CARRIAGES
ON THE LINE AND THE ENGINE OR TENDER, SO THAT THE GUARDS AND PASSENGERS
MAY GIVE NOTICE TO THE ENGINEER OR ENGINE DRIVER FOR THE PREVENTION OF
ACCIDENTS OR CASUALTIES, OR THE MITIGATION OF THE EVILS THEREOF, AND THE
PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM LOSS OR INJURY, AND ALSO OF
COMMUNICATING SIGNALS BY THE SAME AGENCY, DESCRIBING THE CAUSE OR CAUSES OF

page_text: ALARM, AND A NEW MODE OF SECURING THE PASSAGE OF ELECTRICITY FOR THE ABOVE
PURPOSES, TO BE SUBSTITUTED OR NOT FOR THE SIDE CHAINS, AND OF COMMUNICATING
INTELLIGENCE BETWEEN DISTANT PLACES ON THE LINE;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said John Craft Roberts, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe
and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Craft Roberts, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say) :-
=
This Invention consists principally of an improved mode and apparatus for
communicating alarum signals, or intelligence by means of alarum signals,
from any carriage forming a portion of a railway train, to the engineer or
attendant at the locomotive engine or tender, such apparatus being capable of
being used either by the passengers in any carriage of the train, or by the
guard or guards exclusively. In the accompanying Drawings the improved
apparatus which I employ for the carrying out of my Invention is clearly
shewn. The Figures in Sheet 1 exhibit two arrangements of apparatus for
producing audible signals, and in Sheet 2 the means of applying electro-mag-
netism for working the signal apparatus is shewn. I will now first describe
the construction and action of the audible signal apparatus, and afterwards
explain the means which I employ for completing the circuit and breaking the
current of electricity in a train of carriages, so as to create a temporary magnet,
which, by its attractive power, throws the signal apparatus into action.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, represents in side elevation one arrangement of my
improved apparatus for communicating audible signals; Fig. 2 is a vertical
section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus. This
apparatus is brought into connection with the interior of the boiler of the
locomotive engine in order that the steam or other elastic vapor contained
therein may be allowed at certain periods to escape in small quantities and
produce the alarum required. A is a hollow vertical pillar, which may be
screwed into the boiler B. of the locomotive engine, as shewn, or otherwise
connected with the interior of the boiler. At the top of this pillar is a steam

page_text: whistle C, which is intended to produce the alarm. D is a steam cylinder, and
E its valve chest, brought into connection with the central passage of the pillar
A by means of a pipe a. The construction of these parts of the apparatus
will be best seen on referring the vertical section Fig. 4. The steam cylinder
D is provided with a piston b, the rod of which carries connecting links c, for
the purpose of working a lever d, one end of which is connected to the links c,
and the other to the square end of a conical stopcock e in the hollow
pillar A. This cock when, turned in its seat shuts off all communication
with the steam boiler and the upper part of the hollow pillar. f is a stud
projecting from the pillar A, and carrying a vibrating lever g, one end of which
is connected to a rod h, which carries the slide valve of the steam cylinder,
and the other is jointed to a rod i, pendant from a rocking arm k, which
is supported by a stud 7, also projecting from the pillar A. Pendant from
the outer ends of the arm k is a horizontal bar or arinature m, which hangs
immediately above the poles of an electro-magnet F. This magnet is formed
in the usual way, of coils of copper wire surrounding a bar of soft iron. The
magnet is supported in an isolated state by a bracket attached to the pillar.
When it is desired to communicate a signal to the engine driver the electric
circuit is completed, as will be hereafter explained, and a current of electricity
is carried through the coils of wire surrounding the bar of soft iron F, which
is then immediately converted into a powerful electro-magnet. The horizontal
bar or armature will be then drawn down towards the poles of the magnet, and
thereby depress the shorter end of the lever g while it raises the longer end
of that lever. This action will raise the slide valve of the valve chest E, and
allow of steam which passes from the boiler of the locomotive up the hollow
pillar A, and along the pipe a into the valve chest, to enter the steam cylinder
below the piston and force that piston upwards, whereby the crank c and the
lever d will be put into action and cause the stopcock e to turn until its bore is
brought into a line with the central passage in the pillar A. Steam will then rush
directly up that passage and cause the whistle to sound until the magnetic power
of the bar of soft iron F is destroyed (by breaking the current of electricity);
and the armature m is allowed to rise into its elevated position. In order to
ensure the return of the moving parts to their quiescent position, I attach to
the rigid pipe a and the lever g a coiled spring, which by its contracting force
will draw down the lever g as soon as the armature m is released. The
descent of the piston is also ensured by a coiled spring, which is contracted
as the piston rises, but which, when the elastic force of the steam is removed
by the descending valve of the valve chest closing the ingress passage to the
cylinder D, will expand and force down the piston to its lowest position, the

page_text: steam beneath it being allowed to escape at an opening made for that purpose
in the valve chest. I would remark, that when the metal of an armature is
placed in actual contact with the poles of an electro-magnet, the magnetism is
retained for some time after the electric current is removed, and the armature
is thereby held fast. To obviate the difficulty arising from such properties,
and procure the instantaneous release of the armature, I interpose a piece of
ivory or other non-conducting substance between the armature and one or
both poles of the magnet, as at present practised, so as to prevent actual mag-
netic continuity.
Fig. 5, Sheet 1, represents, in front view, a modification of the above-
described apparatus, the steam as a motive power being in this instance dis-
pensed with. Fig. 6 is a vertical section, and Fig. 7 a plan view of the same.
Instead of the central passage in the pillar A for the issue of the steam to the
whistle being carried up in a continuous vertical line, it is bent out in a hori-
zontal direction, and returned again to its vertical line for the purpose of
forming a seat for a valve E, the action of which is to cut off the passage of
the steam, or let it on to the whistle, as required. Connected to the valve E
is a vertical rod a, which slides in a steam-tight box, and is jointed to one end
of a horizontal rocking lever b, supported by the stud of a bracket arm c,
which is bolted in the pillar A. The other end of the rocking lever b carries
the armature m, which is acted on as before described by the electro-magnet F.
d is a coiled spring for returning the valve to its seat. The whistle is placed
as before at the top of the pillar A. When an audible signal is required to
be given by this apparatus, the circuit is completed, and the current of elec-
tricity will then run through the coils of wire surrounding the bar of iron F,
and convert it into an electro-magnet. Its attractive force will then draw
down the armature m, and thereby lift the valve from its seat; the steam
from the locomotive engine boiler will then rise up the pillar and pass to the
whistle, which will continue to sound an alarum until the circuit is broken.
e is a cock under the command of the engineer, for cutting off the steam from
the whistle when required, irrespective of the other parts of the apparatus.
In Sheet II. of the Drawings, the mode of forming the metallic connection
for the electric current to pass to the signal apparatus at the desire of any
person in the train is clearly shewn. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of two
railway carriages connected together, and shewing the mode of arranging the
electric conducting wires, and joining the wires of one carriage to those of
another. The end of a locomotive boiler is also shewn as carrying the signal
apparatus, which is brought into the electric circuit by the conducting wires;
as shewn. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the carriage framing, shewing the position

page_text: of the conducting wires. A is the galvanic trough or battery, which may be
fixed beneath the body of any one of the carriages of a train, or beneath the
engine or tender, and to the negative and positive ends of the battery the
conducting wires a, a, are attached as usual. These wires are at their other
ends secured to isolated metal staples b, b, in the end framing. c is another
wire running parallel with the line of wires a, and connected at each end with
isolated staples d, d. Every carriage in the train is provided with two lines of
wires, which are secured in their places by isolated staples. There are also
vertical wires e, e, joined to the horizontal wires, and connected at their upper
ends with an apparatus B, which, when required, brings the two wires into
metallic contact, and thus (when the signal apparatus is brought into connection
with the battery by the wires f, f.) completes the electric circuit. The means
which I employ for obtaining a metallic connection of variable length between
the conducting wires of the soveral carriages of the train is a spring clip and
jointed staple, pendant from their respective carriages, as shewn in the Drawings,
but any other convenient means may be adopted. The apparatus B, which
completes and breaks the circuit as required, is placed for convenience in the
side of the carriage at the command of the passengers; it is shewn detached and
on an enlarged scale at Figures 10, 11, and 12. By the peculiar construction
of this apparatus, which I denominate the detective communicator, the guard
may readily ascertain from what carriage the alarum, whether necessary or
fictitious, has proceeded. Fig. 10 represents the apparatus as it would appear
within the carriage; Fig. 11 is a cross section in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 10,
and Fig. 12 is a view in the line 3, 4, of Fig. 11. a is a knob of ivory or
other non-conducting substance attached to a sliding pin b, which carries a
non-conducting ring or collar c for a bolt d to rest against. This bolt has
always an inclination to move forwards, it being pressed against by a spring e,
attached to the disc f. 9 is a spring, also attached to the disc f, and intended
to press against the pin 6 and keep the knob a in the position shewn in the
Drawing. To these springs e and g the vertical conducting wires are
respectively connected. When, therefore, the knob a is forced inwards to a
recess made for its reception, the end of the bolt d comes into contact with
the metal pin b, and completes the electric circuit, whereby the signal apparatus
or the engine is put into action. In order that the guard may ascertain by
inspection from which carriage the alarm has been sounded, I continue the
pin 6 through the side of the carriage, and attach to its outer end a knob h,
which will protrude when the circuit has been completed, and remain in that
position until released. This is effected by the guard inserting a key and
forcing back the bolt d, when the spring 9 returns the parts to their former

page_text: position. In order to convey intelligence to the engineer by signals pre-
arranged between him and the guards, such signals consisting of two or more
rapidly succeeding sounds of the whistle, I propose that there shall be no more
locking in the apparatus B for the guards' carriages, but that the surface of
the non-conducting collar c shall be flush with the surface of the pin b, so that
the pin may be quickly returned to its original position by the spring 9, and
thus a rapid succession of sounds, by repeatedly completing and breaking the
circuit, may be effected.
"
The last part of my Invention, which refers to the communicating of intel-
ligence between distant places on a line of railway, consists in the employment
of my improved arrangements of apparatus before described in connection with
the stationary telegraph wires of railways, but as the whistle of such apparatus
requires a rush of steam or other vapor to bring it into action, it is obvious
that the application is limited to those parts of a line where stationary engines
are employed, such as at the mouth of tunnels, the commencement of heavy
gradients, &c., but in the case of atmospheric railways it may be used at
almost any station. The mode of actuating the apparatus when thus applied
being precisely similar to that described with reference to the train of
carriages, no further explanation will bo necessary.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner of carrying the same
into practical operation, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts as shewn and
described, as they may be greatly varied without departing from the nature and
object of my Invention; but that which I claim under the above in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the combined application of electro-magnetism and steam, or other
elastic fluid, for turning the stopcocks of railway whistles, whereby signals or
intelligence by means of signals may be conveyed from one part of a railway
train to another. I also claim the general arrangement of apparatus, as shewn
at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the accompanying Drawings, for effecting this
operation.
Secondly, I claim the mode of working the signal whistle of a railway train
through the agency of electro-magnetism, as described with reference to
Figures 5, 6, and 7, of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of bringing the electric circuit within the com-
mand of the passengers or guards of a train, as described. And particularly
I claim the construction and employment of the detective communicator,
whereby a visible proof of which carriage the signal proceeded from will be
presented to the guard.

page_text: And, lastly, I claim the application to railways generally of my improved
arrangements of electro-magnetic apparatus above described, such apparatus
being brought into connection with the stationary telegraph wires and the
steam or vapor generators of stationary engines, as above explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Craft Roberts, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.