IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGNETO-ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47. Lincolns Inn Fields in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MAGNETO-ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS". Com-
municated to him from abroad by Theophile Ducousso, Jules Ducousso and
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th August 1882.
44
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGNETO-ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING
ON RAILWAYS" A communication to me from abroad by Theophile Ducousso,
Jules Ducousso and the Société Anonyme Maison Breguet all of Paris in the
Republic of France
The apparatus constituting this Invention is composed of a magnet furnished
with bobbins or coils (or of several magnets furnished with bobbins) the said magnet
or magnets being fixed against the rail and protected by a casing
In virtue of the principle of Page. the passage of the wheel of magnetic metal
over the magnet without touching the same causes alternate induced currents in
the said coils These currents are utilized for acting upon a Hughes' electro magnet
of the polarized, ordinary, or other kind at any distance whatsoever for signalling
and like purposes.
If the effect. to be produced is great the apparatus must be provided with a
relay.
This apparatus will advantageously supply the place of the mechanical devices
electric contacts, and the like for producing an automatic effect at the time of à
train passing without any alteration of the material
According to the said Invention the magnet carries on its poles coils of wire for
the current The said magnet and coils are placed in a case which is fixed upon
the side of the rail by bolts or otherwise. A cover is provided to the box for
removal to enable the magneto-electric apparatus to be inspected when necessary.
This magneto electrical apparatus permits the application of the principle of Page
to the automatic operation, by the passage of the wheels of a train, of apparatus for
signalling warning registering, controlling speed and the like at various places upon
the line of railway.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th February 1883.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGNETO-ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING
ON RAILWAYS" a communication to me from abroad by Theophile Ducousso,
Jules Ducousso, and the Société Anonyme Maison Breguet all of Paris in the
Republic of France
The apparatus constituting this Invention is composed of a magnet furnished
with bobbins or coils (or of several magnets furnished with bobbins or coils) the
said magnet or magnets being fixed in proximity to the rail and protected by a
casing.
In virtue of the principle of Page the passage of wheels of magnetic metal over
the magnet without touching the same causes alternate induced currents in the
said coils. These currents are utilized for acting upon a Hughes' electro magnet or
an electro magnet of the polarized, ordinary, or other kind at any distance for
signalling and like purposes.
If the effect to be produced be great the apparatus must be provided with a
relay. This apparatus will advantageously supply the place of the mechanical
devices electric contacts, and the like heretofore employed for producing an
automatic signalling at the time of a train passing without any alteration of the
permanent way.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
With reference to the accompanying Drawing which represents the simplest
arrangement of the improved magneto electrical apparatus :-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the apparatus with the cover removed:
Figure 2 is a corresponding plan but with the cover in place.
Figure 3 is a transverse section.
I ..
a is a magnet preferably of the Jamin type (with say twenty four plates) on the
poles of which are carried coils b of wire for the current. The said magnet and
coils are placed in a case c which is fixed upon the side of the rail by two bolts as
shewn or otherwise. A removable cover c³ is provided for the box to enable the
magneto-electric apparatus to be inspected when necessary.
One extremity of the wire of which the coils b are formed is connected to the
case at E and the other extremity passes out at L and is connected to a receiver of
any suitable construction which serves to give notice at a distance of the passage
of a train over the place where the herein before described apparatus is situated for
the passage of a mass of metal such as the wheels of a locomotive or railway vehicle
in close proximity to but without touching the magnet a sets up currents in the
coils or bobbins b and these currents act upon the receiving instrument so as to
cause the latter to give notice of the passage of the train.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original

page_text: and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
The improvements in means for electrically signalling on railways hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal the seventh day of February One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
J. HENRY JOHNSON (LS.)