IMPROVED APPARATUS TO ELECTRICALLY INDICATE THE MOVEMENTS OR PASSAGE OF TRAINS ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Cooper Warburton and Richard Robert Harper
both of 166 Fleet Street in the city of London for an Invention of IMPROVED
APPARATUS TO ELECTRICALLY INDICATE THE MOVEMENTS OR PASSAGE OF
TRAINS ON RAILWAYS
1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Cooper Warburton
and Richard Robert Harper at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 23rd May 1883.
EDWARD COOPER WARBURTON and RICHARD ROBERT HARPER both of 166 Fleet
Street in the city of London IMPROVED APPARATUS TO ELECTRICALLY INDICATE
THE MOVEMENTS OR PASSAGE OF TRAINS ON RAILWAYS.
The object of this invention is to provide a safe and thoroughly reliable electrical
contact maker in the form of a treadle over which all kinds of Railway and other
rolling stock either of a light or ponderous pounding character may safely pass
and effectuate, without damage to such treadle; and at the same time without
interference or damage to permanent way and Rolling Stock. It is also arranged
so as to be free from weather interference and the usual detrimental action of
Frost, snow, hail or rain, either in its mechanical or electrical portions.
In describing this invention it may be taken to consist of an oblong iron box of
suitable dimensions and with a widely projecting base plate for stability of position
when placed on the outside and close to the rail between two sleepers the object
being that the tread of the wheel and not its flange (in the case of Railway rolling
stock) shall by its superior breadth over the rail head depress bent or segmental
levers actuating electrical contact machinery on the passage of a wheel or wheels
over them.
The machinery may be further described as follows.
Two bent outside levers keyed upon separate axles (level with each other)
passing through the box at right angles to its longitude.

page_text: Within the box and keyed on or near the middle of the same axles are two
similarly bent irons one of which is forked and provided with friction rollers
within the fork so as to permit entry and work in the same fork of the other iron
and so that the outer treadles may be actuated at one and the same time by
transmitted action in which ever direction the wheel of a carriage, engine, or roller
may come. A spring placed in eyelets between these two bent irons or segments
maintains the normal position of the outside treadle when not in use.
Suitable adjustment stops are provided to suit the several applications of this
instrument.
Any suitable electrical contact may be actuated by this depression of the
treadles. Lids are provided (and fully weathered in the castings) for entry and
adjustment and for fitting the electrical contact makers. But its chief uses would
be (in connection with Warburton and Harper's residually polarised Magnetic
Relay) in the forms of.
First. Railway Semaphore Signal Audible Repeaters which appeal to the ear of the
engine driver etc in cases of fogs (or darkness when lamps are out) and save the
danger and costs of fogging the line as well as delay to traffic.
Second Automatically warning workmen in Tunnels.
Third Automatically warning junction signalmen of the first approach on any one
fork of the lines about him of a train
•
Fourth Automatically warning Level crossing Gate keepers and the public that a
train is approaching
These treadle boxes may also be used with simple mechanical alarums' attached
for warning drivers when in tunnels or in fogs that they are nearing the tunnel
end or a signal post. It may also be taken as a substitute for service in many
already established Railway electrical signalling and locking appliances where
lasting properties and easy maintenance of rail contacts are needed

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Cooper Warburton and Richard Robert Harper in the Great
Seal, Patent Office on the 23rd November 1883.
EDWARD COOPER WARBURTON and RICHARD ROBERT HARPER both of 166 Fleet
Street in the city of London IMPROVED APPARATUS TO ELECTRICALLY INDICATE
THE MOVEMENTS OR PASSAGE OF TRAINS ON RAILWAYS
The object of this invention is to provide a safe and thoroughly reliable electrical
contact maker in the form of a treadle, over which all kinds of Railway and other
rolling stock either of a light or ponderous pounding character may safely pass
and effectuate without damage to such treadle and at the same time without
interference or damage to permanent way and rolling stock. It is also arranged
so as to be free from weather interference and the usually detrimental action of
Frost snow, hail or rain either in its mechanical or electrical portions.
.:
In describing this invention which is clearly represented in the annexed
drawings it may be taken to consist of an oblong iron box A of suitable dimensions
and with a widely projecting base plate B for stability of position when placed on
the outside and close to the rail between two sleepers the object being that the
tread of the wheel and not its flange (in the case of Railway Rolling stock) shall by
its superior breadth over the rail head depress bent or segmental levers actuating
electrical contact machinery on the passage of a wheel or wheels over them.
Figure is a sectional elevation of the treadle lever. C'C' are two bent outside
levers keyed or cast upon separate axles D (level with each other) passing through
the box at right angles to its longitude.
Within the box and keyed or cast on or near the middle of the same axles are
two similarly bent irons E, F, one of which is forked and provided with friction
rollers G, H within the fork so as to permit entry and work in the same fork of
the other iron and so that the outer treadles may be actuated at one and the same'
time by transmitted action in whichever direction the wheel of a carriage or
engine or roller may come. A spring or springs I, J, placed in eyelet irons K
between or on either side of these two bent irons or segments maintain the normal
position of the outside treadles when not in use: Suitable adjustment stops or
buffers L M are provided to suit the several applications to this instrument.
The lower friction roller H is insulated or made of an insulating material and
makes contact by pressing down the spring N so that it slides on the terminal P
but any suitable electrical contact may be actuated by the depression of the,
treadles.
In the improved modification shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 instead of the springs
I, J being placed in eyelets between the two bent irons or segments 'E' F¹ the
springs are fixed in eyelets in bent levers k fixed to the axles of the two bent
outside levers C C on each side of the segments. The plain segment is lengthened
and bent to carry an insulated roller which takes against the upper contact spring
R and presses it into contact with the curved spring S which is suitably insulated.'
T is a flexible buffer of insulating material such as india rubber and an adjustment
stop which may also be used for the conductor to earth. Figure 2 is an elevation'
of the treadle in its normal position. Figure 3 an elevation showing the position
during the passage of a train and figure 4 is a plan.
L
5.
Lids are provided (and fully weathered in their castings) for entry and adjust-
ment and for fitting the electrical contact makers, but its chief uses would be in
connection with "Warburton and Harpers residually polarized magnetic Relay 921
in the forms of

page_text: 1st Railway semaphore signal audible repeaters which appeal to the ear of the
engine driver etc in cases of fogs (or darkness when lamps are out) and save the
danger and costs of fogging the line as well as delay to traffic.
2nd Automatically warning workmen in Tunnels
3rd Automatically warning junction signalmen of the first approach on any one fork
of the lines about him of a train
4th Automatically warning level crossing gate keepers and the public that a train
is approaching.
These treadle boxes may also be used with simple mechanical alarums attached
for warning drivers when in tunnels or in fogs that they are nearing the tunnel
end or a signal post. "It may also be taken as a substitute for service in many
already established railway electrical signalling and locking appliances where lasting
properties and easy maintenance of rail contacts are needed.
To accomplish this end the bottom of the treadle lever box may be cut open
sufficiently to allow a spiral or other spring holding a small bell pendant thereto to
be attached so as to be violently shaken by the vibration of the outside levers on
the train passing over same.
Figure 1 shows an arrangement in which the vibration of the outside levers is
communicated by means of a spring to a hammer n which strikes against two bells
m. m. suspended on spirals..
F
"
To follow as much as possible the present system of fogging a line' where one
explosion of a detonator, or fog signal represents caution" while two such
explosions mean "stop quickly." it may be so provided that the mechanical alarum
be placed in a suitable position before reaching the signal so that it may only mean
caution to a driver in case the signal stands at "all right" and the electrical treadle
cannot therefore give (by disconnection of its electrical circuit,) a second or "stop
quickly" signal. By such arrangement a warning "I am approaching a signal"
can be provided in foul or fair weather, in the light or in darkness.
"
The distance of a treadle placed near to a signal to set the bell ringing from that
(treadle on the course of the journey) which has to stop such bell may be of any
length.
The railway semaphore audible signal will be understood by reference to Figure 5.
a is a tremulous warning bell to be fixed to or near a signal post. b is a signal repeater
commutator to be fixed to the rod of the signal semaphore and actuated thereby.
c is the local battery to the warning bell a. represents Warburton and Harpers
residually polarised magnetic relay which would be fixed on or inside the wainscot
lined battery box containing the two batteries c and c¹.. e is the treadle lever
connections actuated by Warburton and Harpers treadle whereby the line battery c¹
is thrown into and out of circuit. is a treadle lever and g a battery at the distant
station for reversing polarized relay d and stopping the ringing of the warning
bell a
Figure 6 shows the arrangement for automatically warning workmen in
Tunnels.
In this case the warning bell, polarized relay, local and line batteries may, be
fixed in or on one battery box and may be portable so that they may be arranged
in any part of a tunnel where men are at work. The treadle f and battery g would
be placed at such a distance as to give timely warning of the approach of a train.
The method of automatically warning junction signalmen of the first approach
on any one fork of the lines about him of a, train will be understood by reference
to Figure 7. The treadle levers and batteries jk. m, n and p q represent the
distant treadle levers on three forks. The junction treadle lever ƒ may be substi-
tuted by a small "Morse" tapper key to enable the signal man to stop the ringing
of the alarm bell as soon as the train has passed the distant, treadle lever on any
fork.
For automatically warning level crossing gate.keepers and the public that a train
is approaching an arrangement, similar to that used for warning workmen, in a
tunnel is used but the up and down line alarm bells would be placed in such a

page_text: position near the up and down side line gate as to be audible to any one approaching
the level crossing gates. An arrangement for this purpose is shown in Figure 8
Figure 9. shows the position of the treadle outside the rail so as to be depressed
by the tread of the wheel of a passing train.
Figures 10 and 11 are two elevations of the residually-polarized-magnetic-relay.
A' is a plate of zinc or any suitable material to which are screwed two permanent
magnets B B with like poles opposite. C¹ is an electro magnet through which
the current from the line battery of, say, the up line of the railway passes and
which is fixed by the bracket C³ to the plate A¹. The poles of the electro magnets
are forked as shown on the drawing and in the fork is a weighted armature Y
attached to a steel spindle Z which passes between the poles N, N, of the magnets
and carries the contact piece D¹ for making and breaking the local battery circuit
E is the electro magnet of the down line and F is its armature whose spindle ✗
passes between the poles S S of the permanent magnet. The action is as follows:-
On the train passing over and depressing the treadle, the treadle lever connections
are actuated and a current sent through the electro magnets in one direction. By
this the armaturé is attracted to that pole of the electro magnet the polarity of
which is the opposite of that given to the spindle and armature by the permanent
magnet and when in this position the circuit of the local battery is completed and
the warning bell set ringing by means of the contact piece attached to the spindle.
The armature is held thus by residual magnetism until a current in the reverse
direction is sent through the electro magnet by the train passing over the distant
treadle when the armature returns to its original position
Having now described the nature of our said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed We declare that We claim.
First. The improved apparatus to electrically indicate the movements or passage of
trains on railways substantially as described and as shown in the annexed
drawings.
Secondly. The treadle lever contact maker as described and as shown in Figures 2.
3 and 4 of the annexed drawings
Thirdly. The improved residually-polarized-magnetic-relay substantially as described
and as shown in the annexed drawings
In witness whereof we the said Edward Cooper Warburton and Richard Robert
Harper have hereunto set our hands and seals this thirteenth day of November in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three
T A WADDIIDTON
al
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