IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL AND ALARM APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS AND RAILWAY TRAINS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Grindley Rowe, of 5, Queen Square, West-
minster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL AND ALARM
APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS AND RAILWAY TRAINS."
Sealed the 9th January 1866, and dated the 19th July 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Grindley Rowe at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th July 1865.
I, JOSEPH GRINDLEY ROWE, of 5, Queen Square, Westminster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNAL AND
ALARM APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS AND RAILWAY TRAINS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates principally to certain improvements connected with
distant or auxiliary railway signals, so as to render them certain of action and
more sure of attracting attention. Parts of my Invention, however, are
without any Imaterial alteration applicable for use as a signal upon railway
trains.
The first part of my Invention is intended to place detonating or fog
signals upon the metals by means of the ordinary auxiliary signal wire when
such signal is at "danger," and to remove the same therefrom when the said
signal is drawn to "line clear."

page_text: The second part of my Invention is intended to indicate by mechanical
appliances to the signal man in charge whether the light contained in the
auxiliary lamp continues to burn or not, which apparatus will also in the
event of the light going out place a fog signal upon the metals near
the signal post to act as a caution signal till the light in the lamp is!
restored.
The third part of my Invention consists in the combination and arrange-
ment of mechanism for keeping the signal wire constantly tight, which
appliances will at the same time compensate by self-action for the natural
expansion and contraction of the signal wire during changes of temperature.
This part of my Invention is also applicable for use upon railway trains
as a means of communication between the passengers, guard, and driver.
As it is my intention to deposit with the Final Specification a Sheet or
Sheets of Drawings, more particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of
my Invention by reference thereto, I will now merely confine myself to a
general outline of same.
To place detonating or fog signals on the metals the said detonators are
first provided with shanks and placed in a tube, the base of which is screwed
down to a plank. On the said plank, at a short distance from the tube, I
place in suitable bearings a wheel or pulley. On this wheel is an arm, kept
in position by a spring. The pulley, of the said wheel receives motion by
means of a weight and chain, and works simultaneously with the line signal;
that is to say, when the line signal passes from "line clear" to "danger"
the arm of the fog signal wheel sweeps a fog signal from the tube and places
it on the metals, and when the line signal is drawn back to "line clear" the
fog signal is carried back also and detached from the armature. A repeating
signal is provided, which cannot be actuated unless the armature has taken a
fog signal from the tube; it consists of a lever working horizontally on the
same fulcrum as the fog signal wheel.
To indicate when the light in the lamp has gone out I place in a box
attached to the signal post a train of wheels and locking apparatus, and in
the lamp I place a compound metal bar or pyrometer with rod attached.
The side of the box and also the side of the lamp is perforated, so that when
the lamp is drawn up by an endless chain passing round two pulleys to its
proper position the pyrometer by reason of the perforations actuates the
locking apparatus. To a small drum or barrel on the spindle of the first
wheel is fastened a gut, cord, or chain, to which is suspended a heavy weight;
this weight, to produce power, is keyed or otherwise fixed on the end of a
Roman balance lever working at the foot of the signal post. When the wick

page_text: or jet in the lamp is lighted the pyrometer contained therein will become
heated, and force the rod forward by expansion through the perforations, and
cause the locking apparatus to lock the train of wheels. Upon the weight
being drawn or wound up it will remain suspended till the light is extinguished,
when the pyrometer in cooling will uncurl itself and return to its original
position, thereby unlocking the train of wheels and releasing the weighted:
Roman balance lever, which in descending will produce sufficient power to
work a wire rope and actuate an alarm signal at the station 1,000 yards
distant. The wire rope in its transit rotates a pulley carrying a small arm;
to the end of this arm a fog signal is fixed, which in the event of the light
going out is placed on the metals to act as a caution signal till the light in
the lamp is restored.
To reduce the two previous features of my Invention to practice it is
necessary that the wire rope should be kept constantly tight, but at the same
time its natural contraction during cold weather must be so provided against
as not to affect the signal apparatus. To accomplish this I form the heel of
the semaphore arm of cast metal sufficiently heavy to counterbalance it, and
instead of employing a crank and working from the side, the heel of the
armature forms a spectacle frame, to which the signal rod is attached. The
signal rod is jointed and divided into two lengths. On the end of one length
is screwed a piece of gas pipe, and one end of the other length is made to
slide telescopically therein. It will thus be seen that instead of the semaphore
arm being drawn up with a jerk it counterbalances itself to danger imme-
diately the signal rod descends, and upon the signal rod being forced upwards:
it naturally travels a short distance (by reason of the telescopic arrangement
therein provided) without affecting the signal arm, and so counteracts any
contraction in the signal wire. To provide against expansion in the signal
wire I dispense with the weighted lever at present in use in connection
therewith and the signal rod, and place at the foot of the signal post in
suitable bearings a revolving pulley and spindle; this pulley has a fluted or
studded groove, and is provided with ratchet teeth. On the same spindle or
fulcrum I place either a larger pulley or a lever provided with a pawl. A
chain with a weight attached leading from the signal wire is passed over the
first-mentioned pulley, which being free to revolve will wind up the slack,
and thus keep the said signal wire constantly tight. The links of the chain.
take into spaces or studs in the groove, and thus a firm grip is obtained:
thereon. The bottom end of the signal rod is attached to or rests upon a
crank pin fixed to the second pulley or lever. When the first pulley is drawn
round by means of the signal wire and chain it carries with it by reason of.

page_text: the ratchet and pawl the second pulley or lever,, and so lifts the signal. rod,
and forces the armature into the box. Upon the signal man releasing the
signal wire the weight, lever, and signal rod will descend, withdraw the
pressure exerted upon the heel of the armature, and allow it to adjust itself
to "danger." The signal rod or the lifting lever may be provided with fork
and roller ends, and work disconnected. When applied to, railway trains a
pulley with a fluted or studded, groove is placed in the guard's van, and
another pulley weighted on one side is placed on the engine; the fulcrum of
this pulley (which is provided with a ratchet and catch to hold it up when
not in use) forms the stop cock of a steam whistle. Each carriage is provided
with its own length (buffer to buffer) of flexible wire or other rope, having at
each end a spring coupling. Passing round the pulley on the engine and in
the van are chains to which the rope is attached. When the train has been
coupled up a weight is slung to the chain in the guard's van; this will keep
the rope tight, and yet allow for variations when ascending or descending.
inclines.
To signal the driver the guard should slack the rope, when the weighted
pulley on the engine being released would open the whistle. The attention
of the guard may be attracted by deflecting or pulling the signal cord and
releasing it suddenly, as the pulley in the van may be constructed so as to
strike a bell or actuate a visible, signal.
I should mention that to keep the spectacle glass constantly clean a brush;
made of any suitable material is placed at; each side of the armature box, so;
as to sweep the glass as it enters and quits the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed 2
by the said Joseph Grindley Rowe in the Great Seal Patent Office "on
the 19th January 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH.
GRINDLEY ROWE, of 5, Queen Square, Westminster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most. Excellent Majesty, Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Joseph Grindley Rowe, Her special licence. that I, the said Joseph
Grindley Rowe, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or, such others as,3
I, the said Joseph Grindley Rowe, my executors, administrators, and assigns,.

page_text: 66
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 SIGNAL AND ALARM APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS AND RAILWAY
TRAINS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Grindiey
Rowe, 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 Joseph Grindley Rowe, do hereby
declare 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 in writing and on reference to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, that is to say:-
My Invention relates principally to certain improvements connected. with
distant or auxiliary railway signals, so as to render them more certain of action
and 'more sure of attracting attention. Parts of my said Invention are,
however, without any material alteration applicable for use as a signal upon
railway trains.
The first part of my Invention is intended to place detonating or fog signals
upon the, metals by means of an ordinary auxiliary signal wire when such
signal is at "danger," and to remove the same therefrom when the said signal
is drawn to "line clear."
The second part of my Invention is intended to indicate by mechanical
appliances to the signal man whether the light contained in the lamp of the
auxiliary. signal continues to burn or not, which apparatus will also in the
event of the light going out place a fog signal upon the metals near to the
signal post, or at some distance beyond the same, to act as a caution signal till
the light in the lamp is restored. . . .
The third part of my Invention consists in a certain novel combination and
arrangement of mechanism for keeping the signal wire constantly tight,
which appliances will at the same time compensate by self-action for the
material expansion and contraction of the signal wire during, changes of
temperature. This part of my Invention is also applicable as a means
of communication between the passengers, guard, and driver, of a railway
train.

page_text: Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improved Signal
and Alarm Apparatus for Railways and Railway Trains," I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed or carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be dis-
tinctly understood, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative
thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, that is to
say:
Figure 1 in the annexed Drawing is a plan view, and Figure 2 an elevation
of my improved apparatus for placing fog signals upon the metals when the
'auxiliary signal stands at "danger," and for removing the same therefrom
when the signal is drawn to "line clear." The fog signals are provided with
locking 'sbanks as shown at a, a, in the detached view, Figure 3. A number
of these signals thus provided are placed in a tube b, b, being introduced
through the opening c, c, and are held in position by means of a weight d, d,
and a spring catch d*, d*, at the outlet behind the tilting lever hereafter
described; e, e, is a pulley mounted in suitable bearings and carrying an arm
ff, which latter is held in the position shown in the Drawing, by means of a
spring g, g, but which, however, allows of its oscillating on its pin in the
manner and for the purpose hereafter described, and also serves to lock the
shanks of the fog signals in the arm; h, h, is the signal wire which connects
the hand lever i, i, with the auxiliary or distant signal. This wire may either
be continuous, and after taking one turn or more round a small pulley k, k,
fixed on the axle of the pulley e, e, as in Figure 1, proceed direct to the signal,
or the part of the wire connected to the signal may be attached to one pulley,
and that connected to the lever fixed to another pulley, as shewn in Figure 2.
The fog signal pulley e, e, is provided with a chain and weight to pull it round
towards the rail as shown at e, e*, Figure 1. The small pulley k, k, is free
to revolve when the signal lever i, i, is released so as to allow the slack
to be wound up, but being provided with ratchet teeth it grasps, upon the
return motion, a pawl upon the pulley e, e, and forces it back in the direction
of the arrow when the lever i, i, is drawn over to the point shown in dotted
lines. It will be understood that the auxiliary signal always stands at "danger,"
unless the hand lever i, i, is moved over into the position shown in dotted lines
which by pulling the wire h, h, in the direction of the arrows draws down the
signal to "line clear," and as this wire passes round the pulley k, k, it
'necessarily (by reason of the ratchet arrangement above described)
brings the pulley e, e, with its arm into the position shown in dotted
lines, thus removing the fog signal a, a, from the metals. In order to

page_text: tube b, b, in its
detach the fog signal or the shanks of exploded signals from the arm
ff, there is a small tilting lever. l. 1, attached to the tube 6, 6, which
causes the arm, f, as it passes to oscillate on its pin, and sweeps the
fog signal or shank from its grasp, as shown in the detached view, Figure 4.
This tilting lever also serves as a shield to prevent the arm f, f, from.striking
against the shanks of the fog signals a, a, in the tube b, b, when the signal is
drawn to "line clear." The signal being at "line clear," and the arm f,f, in
the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, it will be evident that if the
hand lever i, i, be released, and the signal allowed to run to "danger" (by
the falling of a weight as usual, or as hereafter described), the movement
of the wire in, the contrary direction to the arrows will cause the pulley e, e,
to perform half a revolution, taking a fog signal from the
passage, and laying it upon the rail as drawn in Figure 1. The shanks of
the fog signals being locked in the arm on the wheel cannot drop out, and as
they rest against a rigid stop when on the rail they cannot be released by
any person unknown to the signal man. In order to indicate to the signal
man at the lever when all the fog signals have been withdrawn from
the tube, or when from any other cause the arm may not have laid a signal
on the rail, a lever m, m, is provided, being furnished with a weight which
has a constant tendency to draw it, round into the position shown in dotted
lines at Figure 1. The lever m, m, turns loosely on the fulcrum of the pulley e, é.
The extremity of this lever has a downward projection, which the arm fif,
by itself can just pass, but whenever there is a fog signal in the grasp of the
arm it carries the lever forward with it, as drawn at Figure 1. To this lever
is attached a wire rope n, n, the other end of which is connected to a weight
passing over a pulley carrying an indicator in sight of the signal man in such a
manner that when the lever m, m, moves round with the wheel it draws the
.indicator down into a horizontal position, but should the lever remain in the
-position shown in dotted lines the indicator remains vertical, and thus shows
that no fog signal has been placed on the rail.
To indicate when the light in the lamp of the distant signal has gone
;out I make use of the arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6, Figure 5
being, an elevation of the upper part of the signal post with this part of my
Invention applied thereto, and Figure 6 an elevation of the lower part of the
5 same. In a box a, a, at or near the top of the signal post I place a train of
wheels provided with any ordinary locking apparatus, and in the lamp b, b,
I place a compound metal bar or pyrometer c, c, the side of the lamp and of
the box being perforated in such a manner that when the lamp is drawn up
.into its proper position (by, the endless chain or cord d, d, passing round

page_text: the pulleys e, e,) the rod of the pyrometer actuates the locking apparatus.
The train of wheels may be locked by any body capable of being expanded by
heat. To a small drum or barrel on the spindle of the first of the train
of wheels is fastened a chain, cord, or gut f, f, to which is suspended a weight
9, 9, keyed or otherwise fixed on the lever h, h, at the foot of the signal post.
When the wick or jet in the lamp is lighted, the heat thereof will cause
the pyrometer to curl or expand, and by its rod passing through the perfora-
tions in the sides of the lamp and box to lock the train of wheels, and upon
the weight g, g, being drawn or wound up it will remain suspended so long
as the light continues to burn; but as soon as the light is extinguished the
cooling of the pyrometer causing it to uncurl or contract will by its rod unlock
the wheels and allow the weight 9, 9, to fall; and the other end of the lever h,.h,
being furnished with a quadrant i, i, and a chain or wire rope k, k, commu-
nicating with a caution or alarm signal at the station one thousand yards distant,
or elsewhere, will indicate at once that the light is extinguished. By causing
the wire rope k, k, to pass round a pulley 1, 1, (as shewn at the detached
plan view, Figure 7) it may by means of the arm m, m, place a fog signal
on the rail to act as a caution signal till the light in the lamp is restored.
:
To reduce the two previous features of my Invention to practice it is
necessary that the wire rope should be kept constantly tight, but at the same
time its natural contraction during cold weather must be provided against so
as not to affect the signal apparatus. This I accomplish by means of the
third part of my Invention, which is illustrated by Figures 8 and 9 of the
annexed Drawings; Figure 8 being a side view, and Figure 9 a front elevation,
of an auxiliary signal post, with this part of my Invention applied thereto.
In the first place I form the heel a, a, of the semaphore arm (which carries
the red glass) of cast metal sufficiently heavy to counterbalance it, and I
dispense with the side cranks at present in use, and attach the signal rod b, b,
directly to the heel a, a, by means of a pin. This signal rod is divided at
the part marked *, and the upper half is furnished with a tube c, c, into
which the upper end of the lower half slides telescopically. The signal arm
turns round a fulcrum pin fixed, firmly in the signal post, and thus having
only one bearing surface and a straight action all liability to derangement
through cross action is avoided. It will be seen that by this arrangement the
semaphore arm always remains at "danger" until drawn down to." line
clear" by the raising of the signal rod b, b, and that by reason of the
telescopic arrangement c, c, the lower end of the rod can be raised a certain
distance before it moves the upper part of the rod, and thus any ordinary
contraction of the signal wire would not bring down the semaphore arm.

page_text: 14
"
The
same end might be attained by connecting the two parts of the signal rod.
by a pin working in a slot or by other equivalent means.. I may here.mention
that in order to keep the red glass in the heel a, a, perfectly clean, a brush.
made of any suitable material may be placed at each side of the semaphore:
arm box so as to sweep the sides of the glass as it enters and leaves the same.
To provide against expansion of the signal wire. I dispense with. the weighted
lever and pulley as at present in use in connection therewith, and I place at
the foot of the signal post a wheel d, d, having, a studded groove and mounted
on suitable bearings, and with a ratchet wheel e, e, fixed thereto; and upon
the same axle, I place a lever f, f. carrying a pawl 9, 9, taking into the teeth.
of the said ratchet, whell. Round, the stud wheel d,. d, passes a chain h, h,,
one end of which is connected to the signal wire, whilst the other hangs down:
in a well i, i, and supports a heavy weight. The action of this weight
will be to wind up all the "slack and thus keep the signal wire constantly
tight, whilst by reason of the hold of the chain on the stud wheel d, d, and by
means of the ratchet 9, 9, on the lever ff, the chain is always in a position
to act upon the signal rod. Thé outer end of the lever f,f, is forked and.
carries a small friction roller which acts against the lower side of a lever k, k,
to which lever the lower end of the signal rod b, b, is jointed. I would here
remark that instead of the lever f, f, a face plate or disc carrying a pawl and
a friction roller on a crank pin might be employed. When the chain h, h, is
drawn by the signal wire and lever in the direction of the arrow it raises the
levers f, f, and k, k, into the position shewn in dotted lines, and thus by means:
of the signal rod b, b, forces the semaphore arm down into the box and gives
the signal "line clear;" but upon the signal man releasing the signal wire,
the weight on the chain h, h, draws down the lever f, f, and allows the lever
k, k, and signal rod b, b, to descend, and the weight of the latter added to that
of the heel a, a, draws the semaphore arm up to "danger."
i.
When this part of my Invention is to be applied to railway trains, a pulley
with a fluted or studded groove is placed in the guard's van and another pulley
weighted on one side is placed in the engine; the fulcrum of this pulley, which
is provided with a ratchet and catch to hold it up when not in use, forms the
stop-cock of a steam whistle. Each carriage is provided with its own length
(from buffer to buffer) of flexible wire or other rope, having at each end a
spring coupling. Passing round the pulley on the engine and in the van are
chains to which the rope is attached. When the train has been coupled up a
weight is slung to the chain in the guard's van; this will keep the rope tight
and yet allow for variations when ascending or descending inclines. To signal
the driver the guard should slack the rope, when the weighted pulley on the

page_text: engine being released would open the whistle. The attention of the guard
may be attracted by deflecting or pulling the signal cord and releasing it
suddenly, as the pulley in the van may be constructed so as to strike a bell
or actuate a visible signal.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements in Signal and Alarm Apparatus for Railways and Railway
Trains, together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be
performed or carried into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I
claim as my Invention the general construction, combination, and arrangement
of the various parts of my Invention as herein-before described and shown in
the Drawings annexed, or any mere imitation or modification thereof constructed
and operating in substantially the same or a similar manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Grindley Rowe, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
JOSEPH GRINDLEY ROWE. (LS.)
Solicitor & Patent Agent,
1, Serle Street,
Lincoln's Inn.