Improvements in Railway Signals.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896
Improvements in Railway Signals.
RICHARD CHARLES VANS COLINA, Gentleman, Suffolk House 10 Lennox
Villas Church Road Willesden in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-:
I fit closely against one side of the lower part of a rail of a railway line, an
iron bar, a portion of which is prolonged horizontally beneath the rail, and is
slotted to receive the screwed lower end of a vertical standard, moulded to the
shape of the rail on the other side and reaching as far up as below the head of same.
This slot also receives a second standard which carries a set screw by means of
which the first standard is held tightly against the rail, said standards having first
been screwed up firmly by locknuts beneath the slot.
On the reverse side of the rail the iron bar is turned off at an angle from
below the head of the rail, and carried horizontally towards and attached in any
suitable way to the short end of a small lever fulcrummed on a short vertical
standard. The longer end of this lever is pivotted at a short distance from its
termination, to the vertical rod of a dash pot, or air valve, which regulates the
return action of the lever, and the extremity of the said lever is placed within
striking distance of an electrical contact, so that a train passing over the rail
depresses by its weight the rail-bar, and also depresses the short end of the lever
and tips up the long end of same, and thus forms an electrical contact which sets the
circuit in operation, whereby the desired electrical message is conveyed to the point
required.
When it is preferred to operate the signal mechanically, a bell crank or any
other suitable mechanical device can be employed to convey the power from the
lever in any direction required.
The lever, air valve, and contact, can be enclosed in a case or other receptacle
on or near the permanent way.
The invention is readily attached to any rail when in position, and is especially
designed to give notice of the approach of a train at level crossings, or during
fogs.
Dated this 21st day of February 1895.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant:
Improvements in Railway Signals.
1, RICHARD CHARLES VANS COLINA of Suffolk House, 10 Lennox Villas,
Church Road, Willesden, Gentleman, 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 refers to automatic signals for notifying the passage of trains
over a given point, and is designed to supply a simple effective signal which will

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give notice of the approach of a train during foggy weather, or in a snow storm,
and conversely may be used to sound an alarm which will apprise the driver of the
train of the proximity of a station when he is unable to discern the usual
signals.
In applying my invention I proceed as follows:-
I fit closely against one side of the lower part of the rail of the permanent way
an iron bar a portion of which is prolonged horizontally beneath the rail and is
slotted to receive the screwed lower end of a vertical standard moulded to the
shape of the rail on the other side and reaching as far up as the head of same.
This slot also receives a second standard which carries a set screw by means of
which the first standard is held tightly against the rail, said standards having first
been screwed up firmly by lock nuts beneath the slot.
The iron bar is turned off at an angle from below the head of the rail and carried
horizontally towards and attached in any suitable way to the short end of a small
lever fulcrummed on a short vertical standard.
The longer end of this lever is pivotted at a short distance from its termination
to the vertical rod of a dash pot or air valve which regulates the return action of
the lever, and the extremity of the said lever is placed within striking distance of
an electrical contact so that a train passing over the rail depresses by its weight
the rail-bar and also depresses the short end of the lever and tips up the long end
of same and thus causes an electrical contact which sets the circuit in operation,
whereby the desired electrical message is conveyed to the poiut required.
When it is preferred to operate the signal mechanically a bell crank or any
other suitable mechanical device can be employed to convey the power in any
direction required.
The lever, air valve and contact can be enclosed in a box or other receptacle on
or near the permanent way. The invention is readily attached to any rail when in
position and can be utilised to operate a gong on the spot or at a distance, or to do
both, as may be required.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which,
Fig. 1 shows a plan view of my improved train signalling apparatus one railway
line only being shewn.
Fig. 2 shows an end elevation of Fig. 1.
The alarm box is shown in section to allow of the interior mechanism being seen.
Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal elevation of the mechanism in the alarm box, the
sides of the box being shown in section.
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of my alarm apparatus fixed on a railway track
to indicate for instance when a level crossing is clear.
Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of an alternative form of contact piece which gives
a longer contact.
k, Fig. 5 is a slot cut in the lever f, in which moves a guide pin projecting
from the arm m, which in this case is fulcrummed to standard ¹, instead of the
lever f.
n, is a quadrant shaped contact plate attached at one end by arm m, and at the
other end by arm o, to f¹.
a, is the alarm box, in which is arranged the mechanism which gives an alarm
by electricity or otherwise when a train is approaching. This mechanism is
operated by means of the deflection of one or both of the railway metals as
described below.
b, is one of the railway metals beneath which between the sleepers is attached an
iron tie-bar c, connected to rail b by means of the adjustable plate c', (moulded to
the shape of the rail) and locking bolt c². The earth or ballast is hollowed
beneath the tie bar to ensure a deflection taking place. The free end of this tie-bar c,
is led into the alarm box a, through a slotted opening a', and rests upon the end of
a horizontal swinging arm d by means of bolt e¹.
It will be seen, by this means that any deflection occurring to the rail will be

page_text: transmitted at once to the swinging arm d which will be drawn downwards, the
opening a', which is slotted, in the box a, allowing this movement.
When the swinging arm d, is pushed downwards a link e, attached thereto, draws
down the end of a long lever f, fulcrummed to an upright standard f¹, on which also.
the arm dis pivotted at the point d'.
The
The travel of the outer end of this lever f, is regulated by altering the position.
of the fulcrumf, and I usually place it as near as possible to the link e.
outer end of this lever is furnished with a small piston rod and piston working air-.
tight in a cylindrical air vessel g, provided with a tap 9', which can be adjusted so
as to regulate the speed of the piston.
The lever f, when raised makes the electrical or other contact which continues.
until the piston falls and this raising of the lever draws air into the container g,
through the tap g', which cannot escape except through the same tap as the.
lever falls.
The aperture of the tap being small the air requires a long time to enter and
escape and the contact is kept up as long as is necessary by regulating the tap.
To give the necessary signal, a sliding electrical contact is arranged as shown in
Figs. 1 and 3, by means of the free end of lever f, when actuated, sliding up and.
down a small contact piece h.
Should a gong on the spot be required a wire, rod or chain or other suitable.
device can be attached at the point . or elsewhere to operate same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
An automatic signal for railways consisting of the tie bar c, with its adjustable.
standard c', locking screw c², and bolt e¹, the swinging arm d, link e, lever f,.
standard f, contact h, or n, or their mechanical equivalents, and with or without
the air regulator g, as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 28th day of December 180
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, E.C., Patent Agent..