IMPROVE. MENTS IN AUTOMATIC SIGNALLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HIPPOLYTE LE LOUTRE one of the Firm of Hippolyte Le Loutre and Co:
of La Varenne, Saint Hilaire, Department. of Seine, in the French Republic,
Mechanician do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN AUTOMATIC SIGNALLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS" to be as follows:
This invention relates to automatic signalling apparatus to be used on railways,
and it has for its object improvements in such signalling apparatus so that it forms
a block system by which it is impossible that two trains can meet or come in
collision.
It consists first of a novel arrangement of apparatus fixed by the side of one of
the rails of the railway, and second of an automatic indicating device upon the
locomotive or other carriage of the train.
The apparatus fixed by the rail consists of a metal box or frame containing
a horizontal steel lever one end of which protrudes from the box and is turned
up and has a curved surface upon which the wheel of a passing carriage operates,
depressing it for a short distance.
The part of the lever within the box is flat, its other end being widened and
provided with a hole through which passes and is fixed the piston rod of a small air
pump fixed below in the box. This widened end of the lever is also arranged so
that, when the other end is depressed by a passing train, it raises a vertical bar, the
upper end of which comes into sight and serves as a danger signal.
After the passage of a train the lever returns to its original position, its wide end
within the box being sufficiently heavy to bring it down, whilst the object of the
air-pump is to prevent the lever from falling until the entire train has passed
when it allows it to descend gently. The lever also serves to complete an electric
circuit by means of two contact pieces which are brought into contact when the
inner end of the lever is raised.
The vertical bar which serves as a signal as described, when raised is retained in
its position by a catch or trigger, and indicates that the road is blocked. An electro-
magnet is arranged in the box and is provided with a moveable armature connected
with the catch which holds the vertical bar in such manner that when the armature
is attracted by the passage of a current of electricity through the electro-magnet,
the catch is withdrawn and the vertical signal bar falls, indicating that the road
is clear.
The entire apparatus is bolted or screwed to the sleepers of the rails.
It serves to operate, when the road is closed, a device fixed upon the locomotive
or other carriage of an approaching train and giving a warning signal both visible

page_text: and audible that the road is blocked. This device consists of a horizontal rod of
sufficient length capable of moving longitudinally for a short distance in guides
upon the side of the frame of the Engine or carriage. Its front end is bent down,
forming a hook which catches the upper end of a vertical lever. As the train
moves forward the lower end of this lever is struck by the vertical signal bar
already described, if the latter remains raised, and the upper end of the lever as it
oscillates consequently draws forward the longitudinal bar which in its movement
makes contact between two pieces which complete an electric circuit by which a
bell or other sounding device upon the Engine or carriage is set in action in the
usual way.
A lever is connected to the bar, so that it can be operated by the Engine driver
or other person to bring the bar back, and its position gives a visible indication that
the bar has been moved and that the line is blocked. The projecting lever can be
readily arranged so that when moved it automatically brings into operation vacuum
or pressure brakes by which the train is retarded or stopped.
It will be easily seen that by the use of this invention it will be impossible for
two trains to meet, even if the driver or other person is unable or neglects, from
any reason, to attend to the levers and other mechanism of which he is in charge.
The apparatus in the several sections of road being connected by properly
insulated wires, when a train passes the fixed apparatus and its wheels pass over
and depress the lever the signal bar will indicate that the road is blocked.
: As it continues its journey, when the wheels pass over the next lever an electric
circuit will be completed by which the signal bar last passed will be released in
the manner described and withdrawn from sight, whilst at the same time the one
now being passed will be raised, and so on successively.
In dark or foggy weather, the driver will have notice that the road is blocked,
by the sounding of the electric bell.
The apparatus described may be modified more or less in its details, and may be
constructed of any suitable materials and dimensions.
1004
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, HIPPOLYTE LE LOUTRE, one of the firm of Hippolyte Le Loutre and Co :-
of La Varenne, Saint Hilaire, department of Seine, in the French Republic,
Mechanician do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AUTOMATIC SIGNALLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS" and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawing:
=
This invention relates to automatic signalling apparatus to be used on railways,
and it has for its object improvements in such signalling apparatus so that it forms
a block system by which it is impossible that two trains can meet or come in
collision..
.
It consists first of a novel arrangement of apparatus fixed by the side of one of
the rails of the railway, and second of an automatic indicating device upon the
locomotive or other carriage of the train.
'
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention. Figure 1 is a
longitudinal elevation of the apparatus in its normal position, figure 2 a plan of
figure 1 the cover of the box in which the apparatus is contained being removed;
figure 3 is a section through x, x, in figure 2, showing the apparatus after it has
been set in operation. Figure 4 is a section through x¹, y¹, in figure 1. Figure 5
is a section through z, z¹, in figure 2 shewing the apparatus in its normal position.
Figure 6 a similar section through 2, 1, after the apparatus has been set in
operation. Figure 7 is a front view of the electromagnet; figure 8 a plan of the
box in which the electro magnet is contained; figure 9 a section through the box
containing the electromagnet and its lever; figure 10 shews the automatic
arrangement carried upon the left side of a carriage, and set in operation by means
of the block system. Figure 11 shews on a small scale the general position of the
signal discs in the block system after the passage of a train. This figure shews
the locomotive after having blocked the road behind, preparing to enter upon the
third section and to block it and open the first section.
The apparatus fixed by the rail consists of a metal box or frame containing a
horizontal steel lever a shewn in figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 one end of which protrudes
from the box and is turned up and has a curved surface upon which the wheel of a
passing carriage operates, depressing it for a short distance.
The part of the lever within the box b is flat and provided with a flange to
prevent it from leaving the box, its other end being widened and provided with a
hole through which passes and is fixed the piston rod of a small air pump fixed
below in the box: This widened end of the lever a is also arranged so that when
the other end is depressed by a passing train, it raises a vertical bar c the upper
end of which comes into sight and serves as a danger signal.
After the passage of a train the lever a returns to its original position, its wide
end within the box being sufficiently heavy to bring it down, whilst the object of
the air pump d, figures 5 and 6 is to prevent the lever from falling until the entire
train has passed when it allows it to descend gently. The lever also serves to
complete an electric circuit by means of two contact pieces which are brought into.
contact when the inner end of the lever is raised.
The vertical bar c which serves as a signal as described, when raised is retained
in its position by a catch or trigger e, figures 5, 6, and 8, and indicates that the

page_text: :
road is blocked. An electromagnet f is arranged in the box and is provided with
a moveable armature g connected with the catch e which holds the vertical bar c in
such manner that when the armature g is attracted by the passage of a current of
electricity through the electro-magnet f the catch e is withdrawn by the movement
of the piece h under its short arm and the vertical signal bar c (figure 5) falls,
indicating that the road is clear.
The entire apparatus is bolted or screwed to the sleepers of the rails.
It serves to operate, when the road is closed, a device fixed upon the locomotive
or other carriage of an approaching train and giving a warning signal both visible
and audible that the road is blocked. This device consists of a horizontal rod
(figure 10) of sufficient length capable of moving longitudinally for a short distance
in guides upon the side of the frame of the Engine or carriage. The front end m
of the rod is bent down, forming a hook which catches the upper end of a vertical
lever n.
.
As the train moves forward the lower end of this lever is struck by the vertical
signal bar c already described, if the latter remains raised, and the upper end of
the lever as it oscillates consequently draws forward the longitudinal bar / which
in its movement makes contact between two pieces which complete an electric
circuit by which a bell or other sounding device 8 upon the Engine or carriage is
set in action in the usual way.
A lever o is connected to the bar so that it can be operated by the Engine driver
or other person to bring the bar back, and its position gives a visible indication
that the bar has been moved and that the line is blocked.
The projecting lever can be readily arranged so that when moved it auto-
matically brings into operation vacuum or pressure brakes by which the train is
retarded or stopped.
It will be easily seen that by the use of this invention it will be impossible
for two trains to meet, even if the driver or other person is unable or neglects,
from any reason, to attend to the levers and other mechanism of which he is in
charge.
The apparatus in the several sections of road being connected by properly
insulated wires, when a train passes the fixed apparatus and its wheels pass over
and depress the lever a the signal bar will indicate that the road is blocked.
As it continues its journey, when the wheels pass over the next lever a an
electric circuit will be completed by which the signal bar last passed will be
released in the manner described and withdrawn from sight, whilst at the same
time the one now being passed will be raised, and so on successively.
In dark or foggy weather the driver will have notice that the road is blocked,
by the sounding of the electric bell, set in operation by the bar 7 and the lever n,
which will strike the bar c raised to show that the line is blocked.
The apparatus described may be modified more or less in its details, and may be
constructed of any suitable material and dimensions.
The sets of signal bars or indicators are connected in pairs or otherwise; that is
to say the signal bar or disc N° 1 will be opened by the passing of the locomotive
or carriage before the disc 3, and the bar or disc N° 2 by its passage before N° 4,
and so on successively to the last point where an electric circuit will be completed
by a stud or button making the necessary contact, and in charge of the station
master or other person superintending the line.
By means of a hand lever and a contact maker upon the rod of the signal disc
or bar, it will be easy to block the road to a train travelling in the opposite
direction to another already upon the same line.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination of the lever a with the vertical bar or signal c lever n and
bar / and an electrical or other warning device, so that notice is given automatically

page_text: until any desired time, that the line is blocked or clear, substantially as herein
described and shewn.
2. The small lever n, and the moveable bar for the purpose of automatically
operating air or steam brakes upon the locomotive or carriages of the train,
substantially as described and shewn.