Improvements in or relating to Electric Signalling Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 9th June, 1898-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Electric Signalling Apparatus
for Railways.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK GASCOYNE, of 7, Shakespeare Street, in the City of
Nottingham, House Painter and Artist in Stained Glass, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates mainly to improvements in electrically operated signalling
or indicating instruments which are placed on the engine and also in the signal
cabin, the said instruments being connected to each other by a conductor on the
permanent way and operated simultaneously by an electric current controlled by the
signalman.
In carrying out this invention the visible part of the instrument is preferably
formed by a circular disc on which are printed instructions, or coloured segments,
or both. This disc is mounted concentrically on an horizontal axis behind pre-
ferably two openings in the case of the instrument, so that when the said disc is
moved angularly about its axis, different instructions, or different coloured segments
are exhibited at the openings in the case.
Mounted on the axis of the disc is a magnetic armature and surrounding the
armature are one or two fixed coils of wire hereinafter called the armature coil.
On the exterior of the coil or coils are the poles of preferably two fixed permanent
magnets.
If an electric current is passed through the armature coil or coils in one direction
the armature will be deflected in one direction, and will rotate the disc, if the
direction of the current be reversed the armature will be deflected in the reverse
direction, the action being the same as an ordinary galvanometer.
The action of the permanent magnets returns the armature to its normal position
again.
In connection with the circular disc I employ a detent which engages with
notches in the said disc when the latter has moved the required distance in
either direction.
The detent is raised by an electro magnet, the wire coil of which is connected to
the armature coil so that the electro current is sent through both simultaneously, the
detent being raised and the disc rotated.
Immediately the current is cut off the detent falls and retains the disc in the
position to which it was moved by the current.
In a main line signalling instrument we will suppose that the disc is now
exhibiting the words or signal "line clear," it will thus be retained in this position
until a current is passed through the armature coil in the reverse direction. The
detent will then be raised and the disc will be rotated in the reverse direction until
it exhibits the danger signal or the words "line blocked" and it will be
retained in this position by the detent as previously described.
In connection with the arrangement
arranged preferably in the same case.
described I employ a repeating signal
This signal is preferably comprised of a

page_text: coloured disc placed behind an opening in the case, which disc is raised by an
electro magnet and may be arranged to fall by its own weight.
The coil of this electro magnet is also in circuit with the armature coil and is
operated simultaneously with it, but by interrupting the circuit the signalman may
raise this signal two or more times without altering the position of the disc after
the latter is set, unless he reverses the current.
By this means the signalman may signal special instruction to the driver.
In order that the driver may also interrupt the current and operate the
repeating signal in the instrument in the cabin and thus signal to the signalman,
place a switch in the circuit of the instrument, the contacts of which are
normally held together by a spring but are separated by pressing a push placed
preferably at the side of the case of the instrument.
In addition to the main line instrument described a second instrument may be
employed for indicating when a branch line or siding is open. Ths disc of this
instrument is provided with words or colours to indicate whether the left or
right junction is open instead of "line clear and danger signal. This instrument
is used in conjunction with the main line instrument and is connected by a second
conductor on the permanent way to a corresponding instrument in the cabin.
Dated this Oth dev of Santambon 1907
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Electric Signalling Apparatus
for Railways.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK GASCOYNE, of 7, Shakespeare Street, in the City of
Nottingham, House Painter and Artist in Stained Glass, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates mainly to improvements in electrically operated signalling
instruments which are placed on the engine and also in the signal cabin,
the said instruments being connected to each other by a conductor on the
permanent way, and operated simultaneously by an electric current controlled by
the signalman.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a signalling instrument constructed according to
my invention.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same showing the front removed.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the side of the casing removed.
In carrying out this invention the visable part of the indicating mechanism is
comprised of a disc A on which are printed instructions, different colored
segments, or both, for example, as shown in the drawings the disc A has the words
"line clear" printed on it and also two segments A¹ A¹ which are say colored red
and are indicated by the shaded parts.
The disc A is mounted concentrically on a horizontal axis B immediately behind
two openings C₁ C₁ (see Fig. 1) in the instrument front C, and it is rotated
angularly about its axis B so as to exhibit either the words "line clear" as shown,
or the two colored segments A³ A¹ at the two openings C¹ C¹.

page_text: The axis B is mounted on centres carried in the front C and back plate D and it
is provided with a polarized armature B¹ which is surrounded by two wire coils E E
and a permanent magnet H to increase the efficiency of or intensify the action of
the coil. A current passing through these coils E E deflects the armature B1 and
thus partially rotates the disc A in either direction according to the direction in
which the current passes through the coil, and the position of the disc A may thus
be changed so as to exhibit the words "line clear" or the colored segments A¹ A¹,
by controlling the direction of the current by means of a suitable reversing
switch in the signal cabin, said switch being connected to and operated by the
ordinary signal operating lever if preferred.
The extent of the movement of the disc A is limited by a stop A² which is placed
at a point where the diameter of the disc is reduced 80 as to form two
shoulders A³ A³ to engage with the stop A², as shown in Fig. 2.
The disc A is held in either of its extreme positions by a detent F (see Fig. 2)
which engages in recesses F1 in the edge of the disc, this detent is pivotted at F
and connected to it is the armature F³ of the electro-magnet G. This electro-
magnet is connected to the main circuit of the instrument and the detent F is thus
raised and the disc A. released when a current is passed through the wire coils E E.
Immediately the current is cut off the detent F falls and retains the disc A in the
position to which it was moved by the current.
In connection with the mechanism described I employ what may be termed a
repeating signal, this will always indicate when a current is passed through the
main indicator mechanism, although the latter will make no movement if the signal
given is the same as the former one.
The repeating signal comprises a disc I mounted on an axle I' immediately behind
an opening C in the front C (see Fig. 1). This disc is provided with a colored
segment 12 (see Fig. 2) which is exhibited at the openings C2 when a current is
passed through the coils E E in either direction.
The axle I of the disc I is mounted loosely in bearings J secured to the back
plate D, and the armature J¹ of an electro-magnet J' is secured on this axle as
shown. This electro-magnet is connected to the main circuit of the instrument and
the armature J is thus raised and the disc I partially rotated when a current is
passed through the coils E E.
By interrupting the circuit the signalman may actuate this repeating signal two
or more times without altering the position of the disc A after the latter is set, as
it can then only be changed by reversing the current.
By this arrangement the signalman may signal special directions to the driver or
the driver communicate with the signalman.
In order that the current may be readily interrupted I place a contact breaking
spring K (see Fig. 2) in the main circuit of the instrument, the end of this spring K
normally bears against the stop K' but is moved away from it by depressing a
push K placed in the casing L.
The several parts of the instrument described are preferably connected as
follows.
The terminal screw M (see Fig. 2) is connected to the contact breaking spring K
and the stop K of said spring both to the coils EE and to the electro-magnet G.
The electro-magnet G is connected to the electro-magnet J and both the latter
and the coils EE to the terminal screw M¹.
It will thus be seen that the current takes two courses, one being through the
coils EE and the other through the electro-magnet G and electro-magnet J.
In addition to the main line indicating mechanism described a second set of
indicating mechanism operated in a similar manner may be employed for
indicating when a branch line or siding is open.
The disc N of this mechanism is mounted on an axle N¹ immediately behind two
openings C3 C3 in the front C (see Fig. 2) and said disc is provided with say a
white segment N° (see Fig. 2) and two colored segments N³.

page_text: Normally the white segments N' is in a position between the two openings C³ C³
and the two colored segments are exhibited at said openings, but by partially
rotating the disc N in either direction the white segment is exhibited at one or the
other of the openings.
The disc N is operated in precisely the same manner as the disc A, the axle N¹
being provided with a polarized armature O surrounded by wire coils 01 0¹ and a
permanent magnet P.
The movement of the disc N is checked and also limited by a detent Q which
engages with the pin No on the disc when the latter is in its normal position, but
is raised clear of said pin by the electro-maguet Q1 when the latter is excited.
The detent Q engages with the pins N³ on the disc whether it be raised or
lowered and thus acts as a stop when the said disc is at the extremity of either of
its two movements.
The disc N is returned to its normal position when the current is cnt off by the
action of the permanent magnet P assisted if necessary by a weight on the disc.
Both the electro-magnets Q (see Figure 2) and coils 01 01 are connected to the
two terminal screws R R³ to which the main connections are made, so that the
electro-magnet Q¹ is excited and the detent Q raised simultaneously with the passage
of the current through the coils 01 0¹.
The junction indicating mechanism is used in conjunction with the main line
indicating mechanism and is connected by a second conductor on the permanent
way to the corresponding part of the instrument in the signal cabin.
The whole mechanism is enclosed in a casing L provided with a glass front S.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In electric signalling apparatus for railways the combination with a disc such as A
mounted axially and having printed instructions or different colored segments
on its face of a front such as C provided with an opening or openings C¹ and a
polarized armature B¹ and coils E E for partially rotating said disc in either
direction in order to exhibit different portions of the face of the disc at the
openings C¹ substantially as described.
2. In electric signalling apparatus for railways the combination with a disc such
as A mounted axially and having printed instructions or different coloured segments
on its face of a front such as C provided with an opening or openings C¹ a polarized
armature B¹ coils E E for partially rotating the disc in either directions a detent
such as F engaging in recesses F¹ in the disc A and an electro-magnet G and
armature F³ for raising the detent substantially as described.
3. In electric signalling apparatus for railways the combination with indicator
mechanism which is moved into either of two positions by means of a polarized
armature B¹ and coils E E and is locked in either of the said positions and is only
reversed by reversing the direction of the current in the coils E E of repeating
mechanism which is operated by an electro-magnet in circuit with or connected to
the coils E E substantially as described.
4. In electric signalling apparatus for railways the combination with an indicator
disc such as A mounted axially a polarized armature B¹ coils E E and detent such
as F engaging with the disc A of a repeating indicator such as I operated by an
armature J¹ and electro-magnet J' in circuit with or connected to the coils E E and
a contact breaker such as that provided by the spring K substantially as described.
5. In electric signalling apparatus for railways the combination with a disc such
as N mounted axially and provided with different colored segments N2 N3 N° on its
face of a front C provided with openings such as C³ a polarized armature O and
coils O¹ for moving the segment N2 of the disc N in the front of either of the
openings C a detent such as Q engaging with pins No No on the disc N and an
electro-magnet Q1 in circuit with or connected to the coils 0¹ for operating the
detent substantially as described.

page_text: 6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete electric
signalling apparatus for railways substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.