IMPROVEMENTS TO BE USED ON RAILWAYS FOR SIGNALLING PURPOSES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Brockelbank, of No. 37, Thornsett Road, Anerley,
in the County of Surrey, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS TO BE USED
ON RAILWAYS FOR SIGNALLING PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Brockelbank at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th June 1881.
GEORGE BROCKELBANK, of No. 37, Thornsett Road, Anerley, in the County
of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS TO BE USED ON RAILWAYS FOR SIGNALLING
PURPOSES."
The object of this Invention is to provide on railways warning signals by sound
as well as signals by visible signs; and also to effect the saving of expense in and
about railway signalling, and to minimize the liability to accident and the con-
sequent danger to travellers by railway and to other persons.
To effect my Invention I fix a suitable frame in a convenient position upon one
side of the engine, and in this frame a vertical axle resting upon shoulders revolves
partially. At the top of this axle I mount an arm (or arms if necessary)
running at right angles or otherwise, according to the exigencies of the engine or
break-carriage, to which I can make any suitable connection for striking a gong,
putting electric bells in motion, blowing the steam whistle, or otherwise calling
the attention of engine driver and guards as may be found satisfactory. At the
bottom of said axle are crank-arms at right angles with the arm or arms at the
top thereof, and at the end of said crank-arms are bosses between which a wheel
freely rotates horizontally on another vertical axle. To provide for the turning of
the engine I fix another similar frame, axle, and wheel on the opposite side thereof,
with a connecting rod between said respective frames to ensure the same effect
whichever way the engine may be turned. For imparting motion to the aforesaid
crank-arms and wheel which is to act upon the gong, electric bells, steam-whistle,
or otherwise, I fix outside the rail on the permanent way, and at a suitable
distance from it a long board or frame to meet the requirements of speed of the trains,
with its face or plane of the width of three or four inches turned towards the

page_text: "
engine. This board or frame at one end rests upon suitable bearings and partially
rotates upon a pivot, the centre and the other end of it run on and are supported
by rollers. By this arrangement the last mentioned end of said board or frame is
moved to and from the rail so as to form an acute angle when pushed towards the
rail, and become parallel to said rail when drawn from it, so that as the engine
proceeds the said wheel on the vertical axle in the said crank-arms, after passing
the pivot end of said board or frame without touching it, is impinged upon by the
said board or frame, and in consequence of the latter being at an acute angle (its
opposite end being nearer than its pivot end to the rail by four to five inches) the
said wheel and crank-arms are slowly pushed over, thereby acting upon the first
mentioned vertical axle, and causing the arm or arms at the top thereof to put in
The aforesaid
action the gong, electric bells in the train, or steam-whistle.
moveable board or frame is actuated by the signal-man in the signal-box, and can
be connected with the distance signal or any other signal by the usual signal-wire
cords or gas pipe used for the points. Thus when the signal lever is put over to
danger" and raises the semaphore, the end of the board or frame opposite its front
end is simultaneously moved over four or five inches towards the rail, and con-
sequently towards the aforesaid wheel on the engine, so that the crank-arms on
the vertical axle are also moved slowly over the like distance as the engine passes,
thereby causing the arm or arms in connection with the gong, electric bells of
train, or steam-whistle, to act and give the alarm to engine-man and guards. . As
the board or frame is placed at a sufficient distance from the signal post to enable
the driver to bring the train to a stand-still near it, I fix on the post a gong or
bell which is acted upon by the hereinbefore mentioned lever in the signal-box in
any desirable way, so that when the signal-lever is put to "safety" and the line is
clear, the gong is struck or the bell rung, and the driver and guards of the train
at once proceed. By this arrangement.all mistake and consequently danger is
avoided, because if even the engine-driver and guards were unable to see, they
could still take the train in safety to the next station, thereby dispensing with
fog-signal-men and explosive signals.
By iny previous Patent, No. 3482, dated 29th August 1879, the aforesaid board
or frame has been secured to be moved for signalling purposes by a wheel on the
engine when passing said board or frame. By my present Invention the action of
the aforesaid wheel, crank-arms, and board or frame is entirely in the hands of the
man in the signal-box.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Brockelbank in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
December 1881.
GEORGE BROCKELBANK, of 37, Thornsett Road, Anerley, in the County
"IMPROVEMENTS TO BE USED ON RAILWAYS FOR SIGNALLING
of Surrey.
PURPOSES,"
The object of this Invention is to provide on railways warning signals by sound
as well as signals by visible signs, and also to effect the saving of expense in and
about railway signalling, and to minimize the liability to accident and the
consequent danger to travellers by railway and to other persons. For the better
explanation of my said Invention I refer to the accompanying. Drawings, in which
like letters designate like parts.
To carry my Invention into effect I fix a suitable frame a, Figure 1, upon one
side of the engine, and in this frame a vertical axle b, Figure 1, resting on
shoulders c, Figure 1, revolves partially. At the top of this axle I mount an arm d,
Figure 1 (or arms if necessary), running at right angles or otherwise, according to
the exigencies of the engine or break-carriage, to which I can make any suitable
connection for striking a gong, putting electric bells in motion, blowing the steam-
whistle, or otherwise calling the attention of the engine driver and guards as may
be found satisfactory. At the bottom of said axle are crank-arms e, e, Figure 1, at
right angles or otherwise with the arm or arms at the top thereof, and at the end
of said crank-arms e, e, Figure 1, are bosses e¹, Figure 1, between which a wheel
rotates horizontally on another vertical axle 1. To provide for the turning of the
engine I fix a similar frame, axles, crank-arms, bosses, and wheel on the opposite
side thereof, with a connecting rod between said respective frames to ensure the
same effect whichever way the engine may be turned. For imparting motion to
the aforesaid crank-arms and wheel which is to act upon the gong, electric bells,
steam-whistle, or otherwise as aforesaid, I fix outside the rails on the permanent
way and at a suitable distance from them, a long board or frame g, Figure 1, to
meet the requirements of speed of the trains, with its face or plane of the width of
three or four inches turned towards the engine. This board rests at one end upon
suitable bearings g', Figure 1, and partially rotates upon a pivot g², Figure 1, the
centre and the other end of it run on and are supported by rollers g³, Figure 1. By
this arrangement the last mentioned end of said board is moved to and from the
rail so as to form an acute angle when pushed towards the rail, and become parallel
when drawn from the said rail. As the engine proceeds, the herein before mentioned
wheel on the vertical axle in the said crank-arms, after passing the pivot-end of said
board without touching it, is impinged upon by the said board; and in consequence
of the latter being at an acute angle (its opposite end being nearer than its pivot
end to the rail by four to five inches), the said wheel and crank-arms are slowly
pushed over, thereby acting upon the first mentioned vertical axle and causing the
arm or arms at the top thereof to put in action the gong, electric bells in the train,
or steam whistle. The said moveable board is actuated by the signal-man in the
signal-box, and can be connected with the distance-signal or any other signal by
the usual signal wire-cords or gas-pipe used for the points. Thus when the signal-
lever is put over to danger and raises the semaphore, the end of the said board
opposite its front end is simultaneously moved over towards the rail, and
consequently the aforesaid wheel on the engine four or five inches, so that the
crank-arms on the vertical axle are also moved slowly over the like distance as
the engine passes, thereby causing the arm or arms in connection with the gong,
electric bells of train, or steam-whistle to act and give the alarm to engine-men

page_text: and guards. As the board is placed at a sufficient distance from the signal-post to
enable the driver to bring the train to a stand still near it, I fix on said post a gong
or bell which is acted upon by the hereinbefore mentioned lever in the signal-box
in any desirable way, so that when the signal-lever is put to "safety" and the line
is clear, the gong is struck or the bell is rung, and the driver and guards of the
train at once proceed. By the aforesaid arrangement all possible mistake and
consequently danger is avoided, because if even the engine-driver, stoker, and
guards were unable to see, they could still take the train in safety to the next
station, thereby dispensing with fog-signalmen and explosive signals. Modifications
of my said Invention are illustrated in Figures 2 & 3, Sheet 1, and 4, Sheet 2, of
the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 2, Sheet 1, represents the board
hereinbefore mentioned in an inclined or slanting position, whereby the wheel of
the engine avoids touching it, but said board is actuated by the same means, vist.,
crank-arm, et cetera, as have been described, and is forced into an upright position ;
Figure 3, Sheet 1, represents said board raised into a horizontal position and
actuated in the same manner and by the same means as have been herein before
described, the difference being that in the latter case the wheel is fixed vertically,
so that when acted upon it is pressed upwards instead of inwards; Figure 4,
Sheet 2, represents a post or other suitable support of a convenient height from the
ground, at the top of which post a board is binged so as to secure a swinging motion.
Underneath said board is placed a vertical stanchion or rod which works upon a
fulcrum at either end. The lower end of this stanchion or rod is connected with a
crank such as has been already described, except that this crank at the end thereof
connected with the stanchion or rod holds a wheel to facilitate its action.
Having now fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the means by
which it is carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I consider as
new and therefore secured to me by the herein before recited Letters Patent
is, substantially as is hereinbefore stated and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Brockelbank, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.