IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO PREVENT RAILWAY ACCIDENTS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Ilughes, of the Firm of Hughes &
Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO PREVENT
RAILWAY ACCIDENTS."-A communication from Jean Aimé Delormas,
jeune, and Amable Gaspard Terrel, both residing at Lyons, in the
Empire of France.
Sealed the 21st April 1859, and dated the 30th October 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th October 1858.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes & Son, Patent Agents,
$123, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO PREVENT
RAILWAY ACCIDENTS," a communication from Jean Aimé Delormas, jeune, and
Amable Gaspard Terrel, both residing at Lyons, in the Empire of France, to
be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to a peculiar arrangement of apparatus for
preventing one train running into another when either train has by accident
or otherwise got on the wrong line and thereby in danger of running into a
train ahead of it, and consists,—
Firstly, of placing or fixing blocks of stone or other suitable material at
regular given distances along the line on the left-hand side, and inside the
rails, which blocks are laid level with the rails, and have metal projections
attached to them above the level of the rails.

page_text: Secondly of an apparatus which is fixed to the right-hand side of the engine,
having a shaft or trigger reaching a few inches beyond the level of the rails
and at a distance from the rails corresponding with the distance of the blocks.
The said shaft is connected to another shaft by means of a moveable rod and
works on a swivel in connection with a bell; so that if a train should get on
the wrong line, the said shaft or trigger would come in contact with the
projection on the blocks and give the necessary signal by sounding the bell,
and thus warn the engine driver or person in charge of the train of the
danger
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th April 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes & Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery
Lane, London, W.C., send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
ine, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence that I, the said
Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO PREVENT RAILWAY
ACCIDENTS," a communication from Jean Aimé Delormas, jeune, and Amable
Gaspard Terrel, both residing at Lyons, in the Empire of France; upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertain in and by the
following statement, that is to say:―
The said Invention relates to a peculiar arrangement of self-acting apparatus
for giving warning to the engine driver or guard if the train or engine should
by accident or otherwise be advancing to or having arrived upon the wrong
line, and consists of placing near the crossings of the line certain projections
which act upon a powerful striking or signal apparatus attached to tho
locomotive or guard's van, which improvements will be clearly understood by
reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings with the letters of reference
thereon.
Fig. 1 is a detached elevation of a striking apparatus for giving signals.
Fig. 2, the same apparatus attached to a locomotive or other carriage. Fig. 3,
a plan of part of the main line and a crossing with the switches placed the
wrong way, and also the improved arrangement for acting upon the signal
apparatus. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the main line, but with switches
shewn the right way, and the apparatus placed as when no signals are
required.
In Fig. 1, representing a simple and economical striking apparatus, there is
a trigger or lever a, connected to the eccentric b, working on its centre on
axle c; the said trigger being moved either to the right or left when it comes
in contact with any of the projections on the main line or crossings if the
train should have taken the wrong course. The eccentric supports and acts
upon a moveable latch d working on its pin or centre c and guided at the
other end in a slot or guide f. The latch d is furnished with the tooth g,
which catches the rod h and holds it when no signal is necessary. The rod h
works on a pivot at the bottom and is guided by a suitable bearing at its
upper part, and is also turned when required by a spiral spring in the box i.
At a disc or holder is placed, to which is connected a bell the striking of
which forms the warning or signal.
The operation of the apparatus is as follow:-When the train is on the
wrong line, the trigger or lever a comes in contact with one of the projections
on the railroad, and thereby moves the eccentric 6, which raises the latch so
that its tooth no longer holds the rod h, which then turns violently by means
of the spring in the box i, and rings the bell. In Fig. 1 the tooth of the
latch is maintaining the rod h in a state of rest, but the moment the latch is
lifted, the disc makes half a revolution, and the bell can be perceived from the
side. After the bell has rung, the engine man or guard returns it to its

page_text: original position. When the rod h turns, the small arm 7 works upon an
inclined plane which releases the ordinary spring of the hammer of the bell,
which causes the striking or signal sound.
In Fig. the apparatus already described is fixed to the locomotive or
carriage, so that the trigger a may be acted upon by one of the projections on
the line when the train is on the wrong course; but if the said train is on the
right line, the projection is so placed that the trigger passes at the side and is
not operated upon. If the bell should have rung and not been heard, the
attendant will ascertain the mistake by noticing that the disc and bell have
turned half round.
In Figs. 3 & 4 is shewn the apparatus for acting upon the trigger a of the
striking movement on the main line. At a suitable distance from the crossing
is placed a bar or plate m working on a pivot fixed to one of the sleepers, its
other end being turned upwards as at n, which forms one of the projections
heretofore mentioned. o represents a swivel, connected by the rod p to the
bar m for the purpose of placing the projection either in or out of line with
the trigger; 9 is another swivel working simultaneously with the swivel o by
connecting them with the rods r. On the pins or centres s are placed the
moveable switches t, between which is another projection for acting upon
the striking apparatus when the train is actually passing on to the wrong line.
Supposing a train was required to travel from the point v to the point w, it
will be perceived that in Fig. 3 the switches are wrongly placed either by tho
negligence or mistake of the pointsman, and the train instead of passing to
w would go over the crossing towards the point x, but the projection n acts
upon the striking apparatus as the engine or carriage passes over it, and thus
warns the attendant that he is advancing to the wrong line, and for still
greater safety he is again informed by the projection u that he is at the
crossing and just upon the wrong line. In Fig. 4, which represents the
switches in their right position, the projection n is a little on one side so as
not to operate upon the trigger of the striking apparatus and the train passes
ou without any signal to the point w, the engineman or guard having at the same
time an assurance of safety. It will be seen that the positions of the plate m
and projections n are regulated by the switches, for when the latter are right,
the projection n is at the side, out of the way, but when wrong, the projection
is moved so as to be under the trigger. With regard to the projection u, it is
the wrong position of the switches, and consequently the engine or carriage
that enables the trigger to be acted upon, and thus give an additional signal.
Thus, by the application of the aforesaid swivels to switches and projections,
certain means are provided for giving movement to a signal apparatus long

page_text: before the danger has actually arisen, and also by placing projections at any
dangerous position the necessary warning can be obtained.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this Invention, as
communicated to me by the said Jean Aimé Delormas, jeune, and Amable
Gaspard Terrel, I would have it distinctly understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein set forth, as such may be varied or modified
without departing from the principle thereof; but I claim the employment of
a striking or signal apparatus, applicable to locomotive engines or carriages,
acted upon by moveable and stationary projections upon railways, in order to
give warning to the engineman or guard when the engine or train is passing
to or upon the wrong line, as hercin described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered, by the within-
named Edward Thomas Hughes, in the
presence of
JULES MULOT,
Clerk to Messrs. Hughes & Son.