IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE GUARD AND ENGINE-DRIVER OR OTHER PERSONS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Barsham, of Kingston-upon-Thames,
Patent Cocoa Nut Fibre Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE
GUARD AND ENGINE-DRIVER OR OTHER PERSONS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN."
Sealed the 5th August 1853, and dated the 21st March 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Barsham, at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 21st March 1853.
I, JOHN BARSHAM, of Kingston-upon-Thames, Patent Cocoa Nut
Fibre Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE
GUARD AND ENGINE DRIVER OR OTHER PERSONS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN," to be
as follows:
This Invention consists of applying a sliding rod to each carriage,
with a spring to retain it correctly in one direction, and in order, when a
train is made up of several carriages, that the ends of the succeeding
rods may touch each other; the rods are each made capable of being
clongated or contracted, and thus adjusted in length. By these means,
together with a suitable lever or instrument for the guard or other
person to put the rods in motion, he will be able by the intervention of

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Barsham, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 21st September 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN BARSHAM, of Kingston-upon-Thames, Patent Cocon Nut Fibre
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Barsham, Her special licence
that I, the said John Barsham, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as T. the said John Barsham, my executors,
administrators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
POR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE GUARD AND ENGINE-DRIVER OR OTHER
PERSONS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Barsham, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 John Barsham, do hereby declaro
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof (that is'to say):
This Invention consists of applying a sliding rod to each carriage
with a spring to retain it correctly in one direction, and in order, when

page_text: a train is made up of several carriages, that the ends of the succeeding
rods may touch each other, the rods are each made capable of being
elongated or contracted, and thus adjusted in length. By these means,
together with a suitable lever or instrument for the guard or other
person to put the rods in motion, he will be able by the intervention of
the rods to strike a bell or other sounding instrument, or to move any
form of signal.
.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I will proceed to describe the manner in which
the Invention is to be performed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, shows part of a train of railway carriages having apparatus
applied thereto, according to my Invention. Figure 2, shows an
elevation and plan of part of the apparatus on a larger scale. Figure 3,
shows the means I employ for lengthening or contracting the rods
applied to the railway carriages; and Figure 4, shows two views of the
bearing or supports of the rods. In each of these figures the same
letters of reference are used to indicate similar parts. a, is a rod
which is to be applied to a railway carriage in any convenient position.
I believe the best place to apply it is below the buffers, as is shown in
the drawing. This rod is to be supported at intervals in such manner
as to admit of its being readily moved in the way of its length, for
which purpose I employ straps or bearings b, and grooved rollers c, c.
The rod a, is at all times forced back to a stop by the spring d. At each
end of the rod a, is an enlarged head a'; and in order that the several
rods of a train may touch each other, it is desirable that the rods should
be made capable of being extended or contracted in length, for which
purpose one part of each of the rods a, slides into the other, and there
are grooves e, e, formed in one part, into either of which the spring catch
f, enters when the rod has been brought to the required length. To
the tender is applied another part of the apparatus. a, is the rod, with
a spring g, constantly tending to force back the rod a. To the forward
end of the rod a, is attached by a pin joint a folding finger h, which
rests against the projecting arm i, fixed on the spring barrel j, of the
upright ; and in order to prevent the spring barrel moving the arm

page_text: too far back the stop ³, is fixed. At the upper part of the upright is
a hammer, which is put in motion by the forcing forward of the
rod a, by the guard or other person to the proper distance, so that the
finger h, may be caused to pass beyond the arm i, and allow of the arm
being forced back suddenly by the spring barrel, the reaction of the
spring on the rod a, bringing back the rod a, and the finger to their
proper positions. m, is a lever which may be put in any convenient part
of the carriage, according as it is intended to be put into action by a
guard or other person; this lever at its lower end partly embraces tho
rod a, and by it the rod a, can be moved. It is desirable to remark
that as there is at all times, movement between the carriages, particularly
when the speed of the locomotive is checked, and the carriages, by their
momentum, come up to each other, the apparatus above described
should be set and arranged so as to require more motion of the rods a,
than can take place by such movements of the carriages. The
apparatus above described is simply shown for giving signals by
sounding a bell; but it will be evident that the apparatus might be used
to give motion to any form of mechanical signalling apparatus.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein described, nor do I claim
any of the parts separately.
But what I claim is the combination of apparatus herein described
for communicating between the guard and engine-driver or other
persons in a railway train.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Barsham, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
TATT
JOHN DARSHAM. (L.B.)
Witness, S. CARPMAEL.