Year: 1889

page_text: WO FREDERICK STITZEL and CHARLES WEINEDEL of Louisville, County of
Jefferson, State of Kentucky and United States of America, Engineers do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to an improvement in semaphore signalling mechanism that
is particularly adapted to signal danger or indicate safety when the device is employed
in connection with the block system of railway service.
The object of our present invention is to provide a signalling apparatus with devices*
and circuits by which the signal blade at each end of the block will be set at danger
automatically when the train enters said block.
A further object is to provide electric circuits by which the operation of a sema-
phore at one end of the block will automatically operate a semaphore at the other.
end of the block and the signal blades of both instruments remain set at danger as
long as a train remains in said block.
With these objects in view our invention consists in certain features of construction
and combination of parts that will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the
claims.
Referring to the drawings making a part of this application,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the signal apparatus complete with the front removed.
to show interior mechanism, the parts being set to indicate safety.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the working parts as viewed from the right side of the
somaphore, the casing being broken away or removed on that side.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the machinery showing the somaphore blado set for danger
a portion of the frame being broken away to expose parts behind it.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the operating mechanism taken on the line ww see Fig. 1
or above the armature bar.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation in section of the thermo motor taken on an
axial line through both chambers.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the mechanism as viewed from the left side, this side
of the case being removed.
Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the semaphore apparatus with the casing shown in
section to expose the interior.
Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the casing and interior parts taken on the line xx
or between the electro magnets to show the standard and hook latch pivoted on it
that engages the locking bar by one end to hold it horizontal.

page_text: Fig. 9 is a plan view of the railway rails of a block, a battery and two electro-
magnets showing the manner in which the rails are attached to the battery at one
ond of the block and the electro magnets are electrically connected to said rails at
the other end of the block also showing a second circuit through the track and a
conducting wire.
We provide a casing A of suitable material and size to receive the mechanism to
he placed in it and give support to suitable bracketed projections which are attached
to the interior surface of its vertical walls.
The depending bracket plate A is attached to the upper surface of the casing and
hangs down a sufficient distance to engage with its lower end the horizontal
plate A².
Upon the upper surface of the casing A, the shield B is erected, this consists of
two parallel plates a a¹ which are held spaced apart by a horizontal portion a² at the
upper ends of theso plates. This latter named piece may be rivetted to the vertical
plates to connect them or it may be an integral portion of these plates.
The shield B should be stiffened to secure it in place so that it may withstand
wind currents to which it is exposed. To effect this we provide a bracket A' which
is seated upon the top of the casing A has a bearing against the rear surface of the
shield B and is rigidly secured to both so as to form a knee brace to the shield B.
Upon the front side of the plate a of shiold B a white signal is displayed which
may be attached to the shield or the surface be painted to produce a safety emblem
thereon.
Within the shield B a visual signal is pivoted near its contre of length and upon
the side edge of the blade above the point of pivotal support just mentioned a
weight G is affixed so as to overbalance the upper portion of the blade, and cause
it to fall into a horizontal position when the attached mechanism which will bo
horeinaftor described, permit such an action of gravity.
The surface of the visual blade is painted red or any other preferred colour to
indicate an occupancy of the block which the somaphore is intended to make known.
On the horizontal bracket plate A two electro magnets D D' are mounted and to i
the left of these magnets a vertical post E. is erected that extends vertically so as to
engage the top surface of the casing A. Another post E' is placed near the rear of
the casing A in line with the front post E and parallel to it.
Near the top of the posts E E¹, there are screw tapped holes made in axial line
with each other. Into these holes the threaded bolts bare inserted, the inner ends
of the same being cupped to receive the conical pointed ends of the square shaft F.
and thus provide anti friction supports for the shaft which permit to rock freely
therein.
Upon the shaft F near to the front post E, an arm G is located, its hub c having
a round hole made through it at right angles to the body of the arm to allow it to
be placed upon the shaft, and swing freely thereon, the body of the shaft F being
rounded at this end to allow such a connection of parts.
The arm G has a lateral extension d made upon its body which latter is lightened
by a removal of material as shown and at the projecting corner d' of the portion d
a sprocket chaine is connected which is carried up and over a sprocket wheel that
is inounted on and affixed to the cross shaft on which the visual blade C is pivotally
supported to vibrato.
To the free end of the chain e a weight el is attached which hangs pendent and
holds the arm G with its upper edge in the position shown in Fig. 3 or nearly
horizontal. When the arm G is adjusted as just stated, the weight e will have
descended far enough to partially rotate the sprocket wheelf and carry the visual
blade C to a position at right angles to the shield B or to indicate danger.
A counterbalance piece G' is made to project from the hub of the arm G about
in line with the latter, the piece G₁ being of such relative weight as to poise the
arm.
The semaphore at one end of each block has secured to the hub c of the arm G

page_text: a short metallic arm 23 which projects from said hub preferably at an angle to the
arin G and is adapted to enter between and make contact with the two contact
springs 24, 25 advisably secured to the post E by means of bolts or otherwise.
Those springs 24, 25 are made of any suitable material capable of conducting
electricity and are insulated from the post E by means of insulating material 26 and
from each other by non conducting material 27 as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. When
the arm G turns on its shaft the arm 23 will be carried by the hub e between the
contact springs 24, 25, and electrically connect said springs for a purpose hereinafter
set forth.
Between the post E and another shorter upright post E that is erected from the
bottom of the casing A, the gravity bar I is pivotally supported to vibrate freely.
This bar has an armature bar J secured to its ends that is nearest the electro
magnets D D which armature bar extends towards the magnets and is of such a
length as to locate its free ond nearly over the polo piece of the nearest magnet D.
On the free end of the rigid armature bar J just mentioned another bar J' is
loosely supported the connection of the two bars being effected by the insertion of a
vertical ear g through a slot in the top bar J the ear having a rigid connection with
the lower jaw J a cross pin being inserted in a hole in the ear to afford a rocking
bearing.
It is necessary that the portion of the loose bar J' which is nearest the gravity
bar I should be slightly heavier than the other portion so as to hold the latter
part raised off the polo piece of the magnet D'. The fulcrum point of the lower bar
on which it has limited vibration is the one edge of the pole piece or core of the
magnet D that is nearest the gravity bar I.
In order to prevent the lower bar J₁ from having an improper vibratory movement
on its fulcrum point an ear i is loosely inserted through a slot made in the top
armature bar and a pin is inserted through a hole in the projecting end of the
ear to limit the vibratory movement of the lower bar J. The car i is of sufficient
length to allow a proper vortical vibration of the lower bar J' so that its outer end
may be drawn into close contact with the pole piece of the outer magnet D' when
said magnet is energized by completion of an electric circuit through the pair of
magnets.
The length and weight of the gravity bar I is such that it will nearly balance the
compound armature bar J J', the latter preponderating sufficiently over the gravity
bar to cause them to fall gently into place over the poles of the magnets when free
to do so.
A portion of the body of the gravity bar I is cut away to allow the latching dog k
to be pivoted between jaws formed on the bar, this latch dog lying in an inclined
position with its latebing too projecting above the upper surface of the gravity
har, the weight of its body below its pivotal point of support holding it in this
position free to yield when it is pressed against on the outer inclined face k but
locked from yielding when pressure is applied to its opposite inclined face ³ by the
abutment of the finger with the lower surface of the gravity bar 1.
The end of the rocking arm G is extended so as to allow it to have contact with
the outer face of the toe of the latching dog k¹ so that when this bar is moved by
means that will be explained further on in this description the latch will yield and
fall back to hold the arm G in a nearly upright position, providing the gravity
bar is prevented from vibration by the electrical force of the energized magnets D D'
that will attract the compound armature J J', and hold its loose piece in close
contact with their poles.
When the arm G is released from the latch dog k the chain and weight together
with the overweight of the signal blade, will cause the latter to fall to a horizontal
position and the arm rest in the position shown in Fig. 3, and when this occurs, the
top edge of the arm G will abut against the stop or check 10 formed on the adjacent
side wall of the casing A so as to prevent the arm from a further vertical
movement.
Upon the square shaft is securely mounted the thermo motor . composed of two

page_text: conical chambers held together by tubular braces a² a³ those latter also
furnishing a means for the transferring of contained liquid from one chamber to
the other.
At a point midway between the ends of the tubos sa transverse brace t is
fixed to the bodies of these tubes and a squared perforation is made through this brace
at a central point between the tubes a a³ to allow the thermo motor to be placed
upon the shaft F which is adapted to afford vibratory support to the motor.
It will be seen by inspection of Fig. 3 that the lower wall of the chambers' which
is located on the side of the apparatus nearest the electro magnets D D¹ is in line
with the surface of the upper side of the other chamber as shown by dotted
lines r r Fig. 5.
The disposition of the two chambers as just described will cause the chambers to be
in a proper position to receive liquid from the other chamber s¹ when they are located
with the lines nearly horizontal.
8
The heads s of the chainbers & s' are given an inclination from a right angle with
regard to the axis of each chamber, and are slightly convexed or dished outwardly and
it will be noticed in Fig. 5, that the head of the chambers or the one that is lowest
when the motor is given a nearly upright position is made double walled with a space
intervening between these walls.
The spaces that is made between the walls of the heal in chambers is preferably
filled with wire cloth or other cellular metallic fabric that will allow a proper amount
of the liquid that is introduced into this chamber, to enter the space and be quickly
heated by the large contact surface thus afforded, when the exterior face of the head st
is exposed to heat rays from a lamp X or other beat developer that is placed to project
the heat it developes upon it. Two or more perforations u are made through the inner
wall of the head in chambers to permit the flow of liquid from the interior of this
chamber into the space between the inner and outer heals, and a tube S is preferably
made fast to the inner head so as to furnish a direct passage for vapour generated
between the heads to transfer it to the upper portion of the chamber, where it escapes
and by its accumulation produces pressure upon the liquid in the chamber to drive it
through the tubular braces a a³ into the upper chamber s. By this transposition
of the liquid an overweight is produced in the upper chamber that will cause the
motor to vibrate sufficiently to remove the head of the chambers from the lamp X
and lie nearly horizontal, or more properly speaking with the line rr about in a
horizontal plane.
When the motor L is in the position just described, the lower projecting edge of
the chambers will lie on a projecting lug formed on the casing A so that it will be
prevented from falling lower than that point.
We prefer to employ chloroform as liquid to place in the thermo motor, as it is
weighty, is readily vaporized and quickly returns to liquid form when removed from
heut influence.
Upon the shaft I between the motor L and arm G, a quadrant N is placed and
consists of two metal bars that diverge from each other at about an angle of
90 degrees, their adjacent ends centreing in a transverse hub n that has a squared
hole made centrally in it of a size to fit neatly upon the shaft F a set screw
inserted in the hub having contact with the shaft to hold the quadrant in position
firmly.
The outer ends of the bars 5, 6, of the quadrant N are made integral with an
arched metal rim N₁ and bound or limit the length of this arch. To the hub n
opposite the quadrant Na counterbalance N is secured or made integral therewith,
and is of such weight that it will poise the quadrant and atiached parts.
Between the post E and the post E, a locking bar O is pivoted near its centre of
length, the end 01 which extends to lie adjacent to and by the side of the two
magnets D D is of greater weight than the portion 02 that projects in the opposite
direction and a movable weight o is placed on the latter named part. 0° that can be
shifted to slightly overbalance the outer end which is thus caused to shut against thụ
top of the slot in which the free end of the portion O' vibrates.

page_text: The outer end of the portion 01 of locking bar O is cut away on the edge to
permit it to enter a vertical elongated slot made in the upright standard P on which
vibrating latch pis pivoled so that the hook ' on the depending arm 7 of the
latch p will rock below the edge of the end 0¹ and hold this end of the locking
bar O from falling.
It will be noticed that the latch p has an arm p' extending at right angles to
the body of the hook picce q so as to cross the path of the pivoted bar of the
compound armature JJ' which latter named piece is held slightly above the arm p¹
when the two electro magnets D D' are dormant or demagnetized.
In order to avoid frictional resistance that might retard the vibration of the
locking bar O there is a supplementary piece 03 pivoted by one of its ends upon
the lower surface of the end of the locking bar, the other end of this piece (³
being slightly wider than the end of the rocking har, is allowed to move sideways
and adjust itself without friction so that it may be engaged by the latching hook q¹
when the locking bar O is vibrated and its end 0' rises in the slotted standard P to
engage the hook and thus secure the bar in a horizontal position.
The locking bar O is slotted at the point where it is pivoted between its supports
and in this slot a weighted latching block R is loosely nounted on the same rod that
pivotally supports the locking bar, and lies with its body projected vertically
downward, a pin 7 on the side of the locking bar preventing the body of the latching
block R from moving toward the weighted end of the locking bar, while a free
movement in the opposite direction is afforded when the sloping side of the locking
toe 8 of the latching block R is engaged by the quadrant N, or rather by a roller R¹
which is pivotally supported on the rear side of the quadrant at the end nearest the
magnets D D. The diametrical size of the roller R and its position on the side of
the quadrant bar 6 is such in relation to the locking toe 8 of the latching block R that
the roller R will abut against the toe and remain in such contact when the
quadrant N is carried up by the motor L until said motor rests with its upper
chamber & in contact with the stop or projection on the casing A as has been
previously mentioned.
Upon the side of the quadrant N that is adjacent to the rocking arm G there is a
curved latch bar G pivoted by its outer end 9 so as to have a vibratory motion on
this point of attachment. The other end of the curved latch bar G' is caused to have
a limited vertical movement by the insertion of a sot bolt 11 through a slotted
projecting flange 12 and into the side of the quadrant, the length of this slot
determining the movement of this curved latching bar.
Near the point of pivotal support of the gravity bar I on the edge that lies below
the curved latch bar G an antifriction roller R is secured to rotate freely on a stud,
the diameter and point of attachment of the roller T, adapt it to have rolling
contact with the outer surface of the curved latch bar G. On the rear face of the
rocking arm G, a pendent lever 13 will engage the offset levers 14, 15 formed near
the opposite end of this curved bar upon its upper arched surface.
It will be noticed that the offset 14 which is nearest the point of pivotal attachment
of the bar G to the quadrant is not as deep as the shoulder 15 nado near the other
extremity of the bar and that the curved surface of the latch bar G gradually rises
from the offset 14 to afford material for the production of the offset 15 which is formed
by the removal of material from the top surface of the curved bar between the bottom
edge of the offset 15 and the outer end of the bar G.
In Fig. 9 of the drawing, a plan view of the tracks of a block is shown, and it
will be noticed that the battery 20 for production of an electric current is located at
one end of the block with its positive and negative poles connected by conducting
wires 21, 22 to the track ends. At the other end of the block the semaphore
signalling device is placed with its electro magnets D D' attached to the rails
by propor conductors so as to complete the electrical circuit when the battery is
charged.
Another circuit is formed by connecting the contact spring 24 with one of the
rails or a wire leading thereto and the contact spring 25 by means of a wire with one

page_text: end of the coil of the magnets D D' of the semaphore at the other end of the block,
the opposite end of the coil of said magnet being connected to one of the rails or a
wire leading thereto. A battery 28 will be included in this circuit at any desired
point.
The circuit last above described will remain normally closed by contact of the
arm 23 on the hub c of lever G with springs 24, 25.
It is evident from the position of the compound armature bar J J', upon the pole of
the magnet D, and nearly in contact with the pole of the other magnet D', that if the
track is free as shown in Fig. 9), the current of electricity which energizes the magnets
will attract the loose lower bar J with the full force of the magnet to hold it in
contact with the same.
If a locomotive, or car, or train of cars enter the block from either end of the same
the axles and wheels of the car or locomotive will establish an electrical connection
between the tracks and "short circuit" the battery so as to cut out the electro
magnets D D¹ of the semaphore apparatus and rondor them inert thus releasing the
armature J J.
In operation of the semaphore device, it is understood that when the track of a block
is clear of cars or locomotive, the semaphore visual blade will be in an upright
position, and be concealed in the shield B.
It will also be noticed that the tendency of the weight C' and overweight of the
visual signal blade is to move the latter into a horizontal position that indicates
danger. When the blade is in the danger position just mentioned the arm G is
elevated, as shown in Fig. 3.
The top side of the lower chambers of the thermo motor L is in the same plane with
the outer bar 5 of the quadrant N honce, when this chamber of the motor is lowered
to a position that will place its head over the flame of the lamp, the quadrant N will
be vibrated to assume the position shown in Fig. 1 with a shoulder or abutment 18
formed on the outer edge of its arched rim N¹ in contact with the pendent latching
block R and the arm G, which has been engaged by the offset shoulder 14 will be
carried down by the weight of the liquid in the motor, and after tripping over the
latch dog k, by the contact of said latching dog k and the contact of the armature
bar J. J with the poles of the inagnets D D¹.
When the parts aro in the relative positions just mentioned, the track will be clear,
and the armature J. J' will be attracted to hold them to show safety on the shield B by
concealing the signal blade (within said shield.
It will be evident from the foregoing description of the mechanism that operates the
semaphore blade that when the quadrant N is carried up by the motor as the latter
is vibrated by transposition of the liquid from the lower chambers to the upper
chambers, the roller R that is on the rim of the quadrant will have contact with the
pivoted latch of the locking bar O and the locking bar will have its end O¹ engaged on
the top side of the bar by the upper edge of the slot in the standard P, and the hook q
of the latch will lie immediately below the pivoted supplementary piece 0³ on
end O' of the locking bar O. The bar O will thus be held horizontal or prevented
from vibration in the manner just explained when the block is occupied by cars or
locomotive..
The arm G is released to move up and have its latch nearly in contact with the offsot
shoulder 14 that is on the arched latch bar G, by the upward movement of the
armature bar JJ' thus allowing the visual signal blade to fall to a position of danger
by its own gravity and the auxiliary action of the sprocket chain and attached weight.
It is important that the action of the motor and its position relative to the rocking
arm G will in no case prevent the latter from moving upward when the block is entered
and the armature bar J J' released. As if the magnets D D¹ are rendered inert the
overweight of the blade on one side added to the suspended weight will instantly
cause the blade C to fall to danger.
When the magnets D D' of a semaphore at one end of a block are thus rendered
inert by the short circuiting of their battery and the blade O caused to turn to indicate
danger the arm 23 of the hub c being normally held between the springs 24, 25 will

page_text: now be moved from between said springs as the hub rotates and thus break the circuit
completed by the arm 23. This circuit being thus broken the magnets D D' of the
semaphore at the opposite end of the block will be rendered inert and caused to release
its armature JJ' and allow that semaphore blade to be set to danger in the manner
above set forth.
It will be seen that both the circuits above described employ the railroad track, the
latter circuit using a single return wire, and that the short circuiting of one circuit
will operate a semaphore at one end of a block said instrument operating to break the
other circuit and thus cause the sonaphore at the opposite end of the block to be
operated.
When a block has been occupied by cars or locomotive, and these leave the block
to enter an adjacent one, the electro magnets D D' will instantly draw down their
armatures JJ and they by contact with the arm of the latch p will trip the latter
and release the locking bar O which will thus be allowed to vibrate downwardly and
permit the quadrant to fall and carry the arm G downwards so as to vibrate the signal
blade upwardly and thus conceal it behind its shield.
During this operation, the arm 23 on the hub c of arm G will turn with said hub
and enter between the contact springs 24, 25 and thus complete the circuit to the
semaphore at the opposite end of the block and energize its electro magnets to operate
the semaphore as above explained and set the signal at safety.
If the tracks of a block are unoccupied, and the thermo motor L has, by overweight
of contained liquid in its lower chamber vibrated so as to carry the quadrant N and
rocking arm G down, thereby moving the signal blade so as to conceal it and indicate
safety, the quadrant and arm G engaged by it will be locked in the position just
mentione by the simultaneous engagement of the roller on the quadrant with the
latch toe of the pendent latch dog rocking arm G with the latch block O that is
pivoted in the gravity bar I which is a part of the compound armature bar J J.
This locking engagement of parts will not be broken until the armature bar is free
to vibrate and release the arm G, which can only occur when the tracks of the block
are connected by the wheels and axles of a car so as to short circuit the electrical
current and render the magnets dormant as has been explained.
It will be apparent from the foregoing description of our improved semaphore
signalling apparatus, that the relative action of the motor L, quadrant N and rocking
arm G is such with regard to the compound armature bar J J¹ magnets D D' and
rocking bar O that they will co-operate to reliably indicate danger or track occupied by
an automatic release of the visual signal blade C thus allowing it to move by gravity
to a position which will expose its entire surface. And when danger is removed from
the block or the track is entirely clear, the conjunctive action of the motor, quadrant,
rocking arm locking bar, armature and electro magnets and closed battery circuits
will automatically effect the return of the visual blade to its shield and thus conceal
the danger signal from view. It will also be seen that the operation of a semaphore
at one end of a block will automatically cause the semaphore at the opposite end of
the block to operate in the same manner and set both signals to danger, to remain so
set as long as a train is in said block and that as soon as the train leaves the block,
both signals will be automatically set to safety.
Many slight changes might be made in the constructive details of this invention
without departing from the spirit thereof hence we do not desire to restrict ourselves to
the exact details of construction herein set forth, but
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
1. The combination with a railroad track of a semaphore signalling apparatus having
electro magnets located at each ond of a block of said railroad, a closed circuit through
the track and semaphore at one end of the block, and a second closed circuit through
the semaphore at the opposite end of the block, said second circuit being adapted to be
automatically broken by the operation of the first-mentioned semaphore substantially
as set forth,

page_text: 2. The combination with a railroad track of a semaphore signalling device having
electro magnets, a closed circuit through the track and semaphore magnets located at
one end of a block, a second circuit through a semaphore at the opposite end of tho
block and contact pieces attached to the first mentioned semaphore to normally close
the said second circuit substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with a railroad track of two semaphores having electro magnets,
a closed circuit through the railroad tracks, and semaphore located at one end of a
block, a second closed circuit through the track a conducting wire and a semaphore at
the opposite end of the block, and contact pieces attached to the first mentioned
semaphore to normally close said second circuit substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with a railroad track of two semaphores having electro magnets,
a closed circuit through the railroad tracks and a semaphore located at one end of a
block, a second closed circuit through a semaphore at the opposite end of the block,
the track and a connecting wire contact pieces attached to a rigid part of the first
mentioned semaphore and included in said second circuit and an arın carried by a
moving part of the first montioned semaphore to connect the contact pieces and
normally close said second circuit substantially as set forth.
Dated this 12th day of March 1889.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents to Applicants.