A NEW OR IMPROVED DISTANCE SIGNAL ALARUM FOR RAILWAYS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Funnell, of 54, East Street, Brighton,
in the County of Sussex, Watch and Clock Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED DISTANCE SIGNAL ALARUM FOR
RAILWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Funnell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st March 1870.
I, EDWARD FUNNELL, of 54, East Street, Brighton, in the County of
Sussex, Watch and Clock Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED DISTANCE SIGNAL ALARUM FOR
RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
The principle of this Invention is a treadle attached to the rail at about
80 yards in rear of the distance signal. One or two bells are attached
to a fixed post at about 10 yards in advance of the treadle, and also 40
yards in rear of the distance signal. Passing trains operate the treadle

page_text: which rewinds the alarum apparatus, and the connected hammers at the
bell post rapidly strike the bells when the connected distance signal is
set to danger, the treadle being inoperative to passing trains when the
connected signal shews line clear, the advantage being that the engine
driver can hear the danger signal on passing the bell post when the
utility or view of the ordinary signal is obscured by natural causes.
The nature and particulars of my said Invention will be clearly
understood by reference to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, in
which the same letters and figures of reference are used to represent the
same parts in each Figure.
22
R represents the upper surface of the rail, to which B the bracket
is fixed; C is a side view of the rail; A, the axle, moves freely on
bearings at a, b. T, the treadle, is fixed to A; S represents the
section, and ƒ the front view; D, the lover, is fixed to A; O, the pro-
jecting catch pin, is fixed to D; s shews the spring attached to D, and
also to the frame, the tension of which forces D downwards on to the stop
at e, by which the raised position of the treadle is maintained; E, the
ratchet wheel, is fixed to the axle; F, the wheel, turns freely on the
axle of E, and is united to E by G, the catch attached to F being pressed
into the teeth of E by the spring d, which is also attached to F; the
crank L, 1, is fixed to the axle of E; the catch bolt n slides freely inside
of L, and is moved outward by the tension of the spring u pressing
against the projecting pin of n working through the aperture of L; mis
a bolt attached to 7 and moves freely through the bearing at h; K is a
round box fixed to the frame inside of which is placed the mainspring N
attached at 3, as shewn at Fig. IIII. U represents the axle of E to
which the inner end of N is attached, the tension of N being wound
round U for the production of sufficient power, which will be retained
by L banking on to stop to, Fig. I. V is the catch, which moves freely
on a stud at 5, and is pressed against C by the tension of the spring v.
P is the pinion, to which is fixed the wheel W, and dots represent
projecting pins. X is the pinion, to which is fixed the fly 8, S; H is tho
hammer lever which moves freely on a stud at 6, to which is attached
the connecting wire E, e, through gas pipe to the crank C, Fig. II.,
and continued to the hammer H; S is the spring attached to I, the
tension of which is retained by. a, the projecting stop for H. D is a
bracket fixed to the post P, to which is attached the sliding crank
frame F. G is on iron gas pipe attached to F and continued the whole

page_text: length of the hammer wire and fixed to the framework of Fig. 1, and is
supported by stumps fixed to the ground at intervals. Wheels Fand W
revolve in the direction of the arrows; W, w, is the gravity crank fixed
to the axle at 7, to which is also attached the connected wire to the
signal crank Z; Q is the segment which is also fixed to the axle; Whis
the lever, to which is fixed the projecting pin at 8, and turns on a stud
at 2; d is a lever which turns on a stud at 9.
Having referred to the whole by figures and letters, I will describe the
operations produced by a passing train when the signal is set to danger.
Firstly. It will be obvious that the tire of a wheel projecting over the
upper surface of the rail will depress T, thus produce upward movement
to D, and give upward motion to ", L. will also carry m backward,
rewinding N simultaneously
and E in the direction of the arrow, thus
until the union of D, n, is parted by the prescribed are of L, at which
point the first tooth of V will retain the downward movement of D at C,
and also the are prescribed by E will be retained by G, thus transmitting
the force of N through E, F, P, W, and X, by which X, S, 8, will rotate,
and every succeeding pin on W will produce backward motion to H, E,
and upward motion to H, Fig. II., until L has reunited with e, the
backward movement of m will also unite with V and thus discharge C
from the locking teeth of V, by which n will be forced into L by the
descent of D on to e by the tension of s, and will be forced to the former
position by the tension of u.
Having thus described the operations relative to the danger signal, I
will describe the movements produced by the clear signal.
Fig. III. represents the ordinary construction of a distance signal, the
addition being the uniting of Z with W, Q, Fig. I. It will be obvious
that the wires W, W, being manipulated in the ordinary mode turning
the disc over to right angles with the post will also raise W, Q, h, by
which d is forced forward by the projecting pin of h, which also forces
n into L previous to h uniting with D, thus allowing to raise D without
making contact with n, by which the continued upward movement
produced by W, W, 10, Q, will raise h, D, to the height prescribed by the
arc of Q, thus producing the required descent of T below the surface of
the rail, being thus inoperative to passing trains until the signal is reset
to indicate danger, by which the gravity of W will be liberated to descend
to the former position and h, d, n, will be forced to the former position
by the tension of 8, u. It is also obvious that G being fixed at the E

page_text: end and moving freely on the supporting intervals will give forward
movement to F, Fig. II., when G is expanded, and also backward
movement to F when G is contracted, and the wire E, e, will also bo
affected in the same ratio, by which the hammers will always rise to the
same height at all degrees of temperature.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Funnell in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
FUNNELL, of 54, East Street, Brighton, in the County of Sussex, Watch
and Clock Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Edward Funnell, Her special licence that
I, the said Edward Funnell, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Edward Funnell, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 "A NEW OR IMPROVED DISTANCE SIGNAL ALARUM FOR
RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward
Funnell, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Funnell, do hereby declaro
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement.

page_text: The object of this Invention is to warn the engine drivers of railway
trains of the exhibition of visible danger signals by sound in addition to
sight, so that when the engine driver of a railway train approaching
an exhibited danger signal fails to observe such signal by reason of his
own inattention in not keeping a proper look out or by reason of the
sight of the signal being obscured by fog, steam, or smoke, or any other
obstruction whatsoever to the sight of his eye he receives audible warning
by his car of the position of the signal and its indication of danger.
The nature and particulars of my said Invention will be clearly
understood by reference to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, in
which the same letters and figures of reference are used to represent the
same parts in each Figure.
Figure I. R represents the upper surface of the rail, and C a side view;
d represents the engine wheel, and c, d, section of the edge; B, the bracket,
is fixed to the side of the rail; A, the axle, turns freely on bearings at a, b,
and terminates in a crank, thus forming a treadle, as shewn at T;
S represents the section and fa front view; D, the lever, is fixed to A; C,
the projecting catch, is fixed to D; 8, the spring, is attached to D and also
to the frame; the tension of 8 forces D downward on to a projecting stop
which is fixed to the frame at e; E, the ratchet wheel, is fixed to tho
axis; F, the wheel, turns freely on the axle of E, and connected to E by
G, the catch attached to F; d, the spring, presses G into the teeth of E; L,
1, the crank, is fixed to the axle of E; N, n, the springs attached to Land
also to the frame, the tensions of which forces L on to the projecting
stop fixed to the frame at to; J, the catch attached to Land forced against
the projecting pin fixed to L at 2 by the tension of the spring u; p, the
projecting pin fixed to L; m, the unlocking rod, is attached to and
passes through the bearing at ; V, the catch, moves on a stud which is
fixed to the frame at 5 and forced against C by the tension of the spring
v; P, the pinion, is fixed to the wheel W, dots represent projecting
pins fixed to W; 8, S, the regulating fly, is fixed to the pinion X; II, the
hammer lever, turns on a stud fixed to the frame at 6; E, the iron wire
attached to II, passes through the iron tube or gas pipe G, and is also
attached to the crank C, Figure II., which moves on a stud fixed to the
slide plate F; G is fixed to F and N and supported at intervals by friction
rollers; b, the iron wire, is attached to C and 1; S, the spring, forces the
hammer on to the projecting stop at a; D, the bracket, is fixed to the
bell post P; F is attached to D with a screw passed through the slot.

page_text: Figure III. represents the ordinary distant signal; S, 8, the signal disc;
W, r, the connecting wires attached to the gravity crank Z, and D the
gravity lever fixed to S, s; W being extended and attached to Q, Figure I.;
h, the levers turns on a stud fixed to the frame at 2 and rests on the edge
of Q.
Having described the whole by figures and letters I will describe the
operations produced by passing trains.
Figure III. S, 8, represents the danger signal; it will be obvious, referring
to Figure I., that the forward rotation of d and e will depress Tand produce
upward motion to D, C, J, L, and l, m, E, in the direction of the arrow,
expand the tensions of N, n, s, and D, C, will be locked on to the step
of V simultaneously, thus preventing the recoil of T; D will also be
liberated from J by the prescribed are of L, thus allowing the power
of N, n, to be transmitted through L, E, G, F, P, W, producing the
rotation of S, 8, and W, F, in the direction of the arrows, cach succeeding
pin of W giving backward motion to E and rising H to strike the bell
until the movement of L has descended on w and m, forced V from C;
thus T will return to the former position by the tension of 8 forcing D on
to C, J will also be forced over the point of D by the tension of ",
Figure III., it being also obvious W, to, being manipulated in a forward
direction will turn S, s, to right angles and produce upward motion to Q,
h, Figure I.; the point of h will also make contact with and move J from
the point of D, the continued upward motion of Q, h, will unite to D,
thus removing and retaining T below the surface of the rail until W, 10,
is released and S, 8, Q, turns to the former position, thus D, h, T, will
be forced to the former position by the tension of 8, and J by the
tension of u. It being also obvious the lengths of E, G, will be
increased and diminished according to changes of temperature, G being
fixed at N, and expanding will produce forward movement to F, thus
compensating the increased length of E for the maintenance of the set
degree of motion from II to C, F being also forced backward by the
contraction of G will compensate the diminished length of E, and also
retain the same degree of motion to O conveyed by II.
י
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said
Invention, I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine
myself to the exact details herein set forth, as they can be varied or
modified without departing from the principle thereof; but what I claim

page_text: and desire to be secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
Firstly. The production of the combined movements for the locking
and unlocking of the treadle (which treadle is claimed by me and
described in my Specification of a Patent granted to me dated the
Seventeenth day of July One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight,
No. 2248) by which the force of action is retained for the transmission
of power through the combined and attached movements by which the
united movements are made to perform the intended operations and
maintained from recoiling, as herein-before shewn and described.
Secondly. I claim the construction of the combined movements by
which the alarum is made to sound in advance of approaching trains
for the proclamation of danger to the drivers of engines as an
auxiliary to the distance or other signals set to indicate danger
and being obscured by acts of nature, as hercin-before shewn and
described.
Thirdly. I claim the combined movements for the uniting of the
signal connection by which the attached alarum is made operative
and inoperative to passing trains, as hercin-before shewn and described.
And lastly. I claim as my Invention the combined movements for
the compensation of the wire conducter by which the transmission of
action to the hammers is made to perform without increasing or dimi-
nishing the action of the attached movements with changes of temperature,
as herein-before shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Funnell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 20th day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.