Improvements in the Means or Method of Signalling on Tramways.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means or Method of Signalling on Tramways.
We, JAMES KAY, of 100, Birch Lane, West Bowling, Bradford, in the County
of York, Wool and Waste Carder, and ALFRED HORSWILL GIBBINGS, of 31, Pember-
ton Drive, Bradford, aforesaid, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the means or method of signalling
on tram lines and particularly applicable to tramways laid in alternate sections
of double and single lines or ways worked on the overhead electric cable and
trolley system, and its object is to provide means for automatically signalling
from one end of the single sections to the other as soon as a car passes on to
a single section.
For this purpose we provide an electric signal light at each end of the single
sections by preference on two of the posts supporting the electric cable and each
light is controlled by a switch at or near the opposite end of the single section.
The switches are located sufficiently near the cable to enable a projection or
projections on the trolley arm to operate the switches as they pass. As soon as
a car is about to pass on to a single section the switch at that end is closed and
the light at the other end thereby turned on and so giving a visible indication at
the other end that a car has passed on to the single section.
The light may be kept lit until the next car passing in the reverse direction
reaches the same switch by which the electric circuit is closed and opens it.
Or provision may be made for opening the switch as the car leaves the single
line, in this case the switch controlling the light may be worked electrically
from one end or the other or from both ends. Or the light may be controlled
from each end by two switches and a suitable arrangement of wiring.
Dated this 10th day of September 1898
improvements in the means or method of signalling on tramways.
We, JAMES KAY, of 100, Birch Lane, West Bowling, Bradford, in the County
of York, Wool and Waste Carder, and ALFRED HORSWILL GIBBINGS, of 31, Pember-
ton Drive, Bradford, aforesaid, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: -—
This invention relates to improvements in the means or method of signalling

page_text: on tram lines and particularly applicable to tramways laid in alternate sections
of double and single lines or ways worked on the overhead electric cable and
trolley system, and its object is to provide means for automatically signalling
from one end of the single sections to the other as soon as the car passes on to
one of the single sections.
For this purpose we provide an electric signal light at each end of the single
sections and the lights are controlled by switches at or near the ends of the
single section. The switches are located sufficiently near the cable to enable
a projection or projections on the trolley arm or other convenient part of the car
to operate the switches as it passes. As soon as the car is about to pass on to
a single section the switch at that end is closed and the lights at both ends of
the single section thereby turned on so giving a visible indication that a car has
passed on to a single section. The lights are kept on until the car reaches the
other end of the single section where a switch is provided for turning the lights
out.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings Figure 1, is a plan view of the
commencement of a single section of a tramway with a tram car shown with its
trolley in the act of operating the switch to turn on the lights preparatory to
passing on to the single section. Figure 2, is an elevation of the same.
Figure 3, is a diagram illustrating the system of wiring between the switches
and lamps.
Figure 4, is a view on a larger scale of a portion of a trolley arm with the
switch and switch operating pieces.
Figure 5, is a cross section of the same, and
Figure 6, is a detail hereinafter referred to.
The switch A is fixed in the pendant box B clamped to the arm C of the cable
carrying standard C at each end of the single sections of the tramway. The
switches have three contact blocks a, e & i and rotary diametrical contact pieces A²
fixed on the shaft A3 supported at each end in the pendant bearing brackets B³
clamped to the arm C. A star piece A having four arms A5 is fixed on each
end of the shaft A3 and a projection 1) is provided on the end 12 of the trolley
arm D3 supporting the trolley D. The parts are so relatively arranged that as
each projection D passes one of the star pieces A* it engages one of the arms A5
and turns the switch just a quarter of a revolution and the arrangement of wiring
is such that when the lights are out this movement of the switch lights them
and vice versa.
The lights E may be carried upon standards E a little ahead
of the points where the switches are operated.
The switches and lights are connected up as shown in Figure 3. When the
rotary contact pieces are, for instance, in the position shown in full lines the
lights are on and a car is presumed to have passed on to the single section then
as the car leaves the single section it moves the contact piece at the end by
which it leaves into the position shown by the broken lines and by thus breaking
the contact extinguishes the lights as well as leaving the switches in such a
position that when either is moved a quarter of a revolution by a car passing
on to the single section the lights are again turned on.
To insure the rotary switches or contact pieces moving just 90 degrees each
time they are operated the piece H is fixed to the shaft A3. This piece has
depressions H2 in each of its four sides as shown in Figure 6 and the projection J,
on the spring finger J2 fixed to the box B, springs into said depressions and
instantly completes each movement of the switch as well as checks further
movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
_
Tramway signalling apparatus consisting of suitable switches adapted to be
automatically operated by a projection on the trolley arm or an equivalent part
i

page_text: of the tram car and located in an electric light circuit having its connections
and lights arranged substantially as herein shown and described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Doted this 9th day of June 1899
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Patent Agents, Bradford