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

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means or Method of Signalling on Electric
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, Pemberton
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, and its object is to provide means for auto-
matically signalling from one end of the single section to the other as soon as a
car passes on to a single section.
For this purpose we employ a wire along the single sections parallel to the
electric cable or conductor in electrical connection with a signal light located at
or near the opposite end to that by which the cars pass on to the single lines. A
contact arm or contact piece is attached to the trolley (or the equivalent device
for electrically connecting the car with the cable) adapted to engage the said
wire and electrically connect it with the cable and thereby lighting the lamp
at the opposite end thus giving a visible indication to the drivers in charge of
cars approaching the opposite end of the single sections that a car has already
passed on to the section. A trolley may be used on the said arm or contact piece
to engage the signalling wire and a springy arm or contact piece may be used.
The invention is applicable to electric tramways in which the cables or con-
ductors are laid either under-ground or over-head.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1898
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Patent Agents, Bradford.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means or Method of Signalling on Electric
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, Pemberton
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 particularly
lescribed 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, and its object is to provide means for auto-
matically signalling from one end of a single section to the other as soon as a
car passes on to a single section.
To fully describe our invention, reference is made to the accompanying sheet
of drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures.
Figure 1, represents an elevation of a trolley head fitted with our improve-
ments. In this figure the two cables and the supplemental wires are shown in
section.
Figure 2, is a plan view of the same.
Figure 3, is a side elevation of the trolley head.
The electric cable 2 is the ordinary cable against which
the cable 3, is the one employed for the return journey.
tions of the tramway, wires 4,4 are fixed, each of which is
more adjacent to it.
the trolley runs and
Over the single sec-
parallel to the cable
other convenient part
A lever 5 is pivoted on a stud 6 fixed to a collar 7 or
on the trolley arm and electrically connected to the trolley 1.
When the trolley is against either of the cables 2 and 3 the arm 9 of the
lever 5 projects beneath the wire 4 and is kept in contact with it by the weight 10
on the other arm 12 of the lever. By this means the wire 4 is electrically con-
nected to the trolley.
Between the wire and "earth" at one or both ends but preferably at both ends
of the single sections an electric signal lamp is provided, consequently as soon
as a car passes onto a single section of the tram way the lamp or lamps is or are
lighted by the electric current passing from the trolley cable to the wire 4 through
the lever 5, thus giving visible indication at the ends or ends of the single sec-
tion that a car is at present on that particular section.
When the car is not on a single section the lever 5 assumes a more vertical
position, and the wires 4 at each end are inclined upwards and towards the cables
so as to guide the arm 9 beneath the wire when the car passes on to a single
section.
A suitably arranged spring may be used instead of a weight.
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 :-
In electric tramways, the combination with the cable for feeding the trolley,
of the wire for supplying the signal lamp or lamps, and means for electrically
connecting same when a car passes on to a single section, substantially as herein
shown and described.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1800