IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Thompson Glossop, of Sheffield, in the
County of York, Accountant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 4th June 1875, and dated the 2nd April 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Thompson
Glossop at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 2nd April 1875.
I, JOSEPH THOMPSON GLOSSOP, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
Accountant do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS," to be as
follows:-
:-
My Invention relates to an improved arrangement and combination of
apparatus to be employed for signalling on railways, whereby the
ordinary sight signals are dispensed with, and the signal is given to the
driver of a passing train and to the pointsman either wholly or partially
by self-acting means.

page_text: In carrying out my Invention I erect on the side of the line near each
junction or station a box or frame in which there is mounted a shaft
which extends across the line beneath the rails, and is provided with,
say two arms or projections arranged the one at right angles to the other,
but at a suitable distance apart on the shaft. This shaft carries pullies
over which pass two cords, one of which is attached to a pendent weight,
whilst the other cord is secured to another pulley fast on a spindle
which is supported in bearings in the box or frame. On the spindle
there is fixed a lever arm to which is attached a cord which is extended
in one direction to a rocking lever for releasing a weighted pulley on the
shaft in another similar box or frame (herein-after called the distance
signal), whilst the other end is connected to a lever in the signalman's
box, a pulley with a pendent weight being provided on the spindle for
the purpose of bringing the apparatus back to its original position after
having been acted upon as hercin-after explained.
When the apparatus is in its normal condition one of the arms or
projections, say for example, the left-hand one will be in a vertical
position, whilst the other or right-hand one will be horizontal.
These arms or propections are designed for the purpose of giving
warning or signalling to the engine driver in charge of the train. For
this purpose I fix underneath the footboard of the tender or under the
engine two pendent projecting arms mounted on separate shafts, to each
of which is attached a crank arm or disc, one of such crank arms or discs
being connected by means of a rod with a bell or alarum carried by the
tender or engine, whilst the other is connected with the whistle of tho
engine, so that according to which of the arms or projections is in the
vertical position, either the whistle or the bell will be sounded, as the case
may be. The sound of the whistle is protracted in the following manner,
viz'.: The crank arm or disc is connected with the whistle by means of
a rod made in two parts fitting the one into the other, the upper one to
which the whistle is attached being acted upon by a spring, so that when
the lower part of the rod is moved by means of the arm or projection,
the upper part will be released and allowed to turn on its centre, thus
drawing out the whistle which continues to sound until it is replaced in
its normal position by the engineman in charge of the train.
A train approaching a station or junction for example first passes the
distance signal, where the pendent projecting arm connected with the
bell or whistle is acted upon by one of the arms or projections whereby

page_text: the signal is given, after which as the train passes over the shaft
carrying the arms or projections, one of two wheels which are fixed on
the last axle of the tender and the first axle of the engine respectively is
caused to act upon a double inclined plane suitably supported and
5 weighted, and through it upon a lever arm fast on the shaft so as to
change the position of the arms or projections. By this means in the
event of another train succeeding it before the first one has passed the
second box and the station or junction the opposite alarm apparatus, say
the bell or whistle, as the case may be, to that which was sounded on the
preceding train will be acted upon, the arms or projections remaining
in this position until they are again changed by the action of the signal-
man by means of the cords before mentioned.
The object of giving the signal is to warn the driver not only of the
approach to a station or junction, but also to signal to the pointsman to
apprize him of the advance of the train so as to enable him to change
the apparatus, taking off the danger signal as before mentioned. For
this purpose I employ electrical apparatus arranged in the following
manner-Along the line and about 6 inches above and outside the rails
I erect a wire which I make in suitable lengths, one length or connected
lino extending from each station to a convenient distance beyond tho
signal box, with which wire a projection hinged to an insulated bar
carried by the tender and secured to the axle boxes is constantly in
contact, one of such bars being provided on each side so as to afford
facility for the engine running in the opposite direction.
The hinged projection forms a conductor from and to a battery
provided on the tender, with which it is connected by a wire so that the
engine driver by forming the circuit may transmit a current along the
wire to the signalman, and notify to him the approach of the train.
The wires are attached to earthenware carriers suitably grooved and
secured by arms or rods to the web of the rail, and the sleepers or such
wires may be fastened to a metal plate carried in a similar manner. I
also provide on the tender an electric bell, which is arranged in con-
nection with the conducter and battery in such a manner, that when
one train is following another in close succession and the speed of the
former is being retarded, the current will be caused to act upon the
electric ball of the succeeding train, and sound the same so as to warn
the driver to reduce the speed accordingly.

page_text: I also arrange on the shaft carrying the arms or projections of the
distance signal an additional projecting arm, which, when the position of
the shaft is changed by the wheel on the engine or tender operating the
inclined planc, acts upon a contact piece connected with an independent
set of wires leading to a battery in the signalman's box, whereby a
current is transmitted to a bell provided therein which is thus sounded
automatically.
"
The train having passed the distanco signal and arrived at the next
box is acted upon by one of the arms or projections of the same, and
the signal is again given to proceed or otherwise. When the line is
clear the signalman changes the signal by acting upon the cords before
mentioned from “danger (its normal position) to "proceed” and after
the arm or projection has acted upon the whistle, one of two inclines
formed one on the side of the tender and the other on the side of tho
engine is caused to lift a catch and allow the weight on the pulley of the
shaft to set the arm or projection at "danger." This pulley is formed
with a stop on its periphery against which acts a hinged catch so as to
maintain the shaft in position. I also provide an additional weighted
pulley carried on a separate spindle, to which pulley is attached one end
of a cord the opposite end of which is connected to a lever in the signal-
man's box. On the spindle is mounted an auxiliary lever arm which
when the cord is operated lifts the catch firstly mentioned, by which
means facility is afforded for the signalman setting the apparatus at
"danger
" under exceptional circumstances. I also provide in con-
nection with the arms or projections of this socond box a projecting arm
and contact pieco with the requisite wires under the control of the
signalman, for the purpose of indicating to him the relative position of
the signals so as to provide additional security against accident from the
apparatus ceasing to work properly from any cause whatever. I also
propose to connect the whole of the points with the electrical apparatus
from the signalman's box, so that when any point is changed a current
will be directed along the wires and sound the clectric bell on the tender
of an approaching train in order to indicate obstruction or danger.

page_text: med by the said Joseph Thompson Glossop in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st October 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
5 THOMPSON GLOSSOP, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Accountant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the 38th
) year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Joseph Thompson Glossop, Her special
license that I, the said Joseph Thompson Glossop, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as Ị, the said Joseph
Thompson Glossop, my executors, administrators, or 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 FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS,”
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Thompson
Glossop, my executors or administrators, 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 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 Thompson Glossop, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:-
My said Invention relates to an improved arrangement and combi-
nation of apparatus to be employed for signalling on railways, whereby
the ordinary sight signals are dispensed with, and the signal is given

page_text: to the driver of a passing vram and to vo points
partially by self-acting means.
And in order that my 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 Sheets of t
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all the Figures :—
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of my Drawings represents a sectional elevation
of my improved signalling apparatus; Figure 2, a corresponding plan
of the same.
Figure 3 (Sheet 2) is an end clevation of the lower portion of a tender
having my improvements applied thereto, and the remaining Figures
are details which will be herein-after referred to.
In carrying out my Invention Į erect on one side of the line near
each junction or station a box or frame A in which there is mounted
a rocking shaft B carried in bearings C, O, and extending across the
line beneath the rails D. This shaft is provided with two arms or
projections E, E¹, arranged at a suitable distance apart, the one at
right angles to the other, so that when one is in a vertical position
the other will be horizontal. On the shaft B there are also mounted
two pulleys F, G, (or one pulley having two grooves) over which pass
two cords, wire rope, or chains H, I, the one H of which is attached
to a pendent weight K, whilst the other cord or rope I is secured to
another pulley L fast on a spindle M which is supported in bearings
in the box or frame A. On the spindle M there is fixed a lever arm N
to which is attached a cord or wire rope O extending in one direction
to a rocking lever O' for releasing a weighted pulley N' on the shaft Y
in another similar box or frame P (herein-after called the distance
signal). The opposite end of the rope O is connected to a lever in the
signalman's box situate at the station, a pulley Q with a pendent
weight R being provided on the spindle M for the purpose of bringing
the apparatus back to its original position after having been acted upon
as herein-after explained..
When the apparatus is in its normal condition one of the arms or
projections, say for example, that E on the shaft B, and the arm e
on the shaft Y will be in a vertical position, whilst the other arms

page_text: E¹, e', will be horizontal, as shewn in the Drawing. These arms or
projections are designed for the purpose of giving warning or signalling
to the engine driver in charge of the train. For this purpose I fix
underneath the footboard 8 of the tender, Figures 1 and 3, or under the
engine two pendent projecting arms T, T, each mounted on separate
shafts U, U¹, and at a distance apart about equal to the distance
between the arms or projections E, E³, or e, e¹. To each of the shafts
U, U, there is attached a crank arm V, V', one of which, say the
arm V, being connected by means of a rod W with a bell or alarum
carried by the tender or engine, whilst the other, V³, is connected by
the rod W¹ with the whistle of the engine, so that according to which
of the arms or projections E, E¹, or e, e', is in the vertical position
either the whistle or the bell will be sounded, as the case may be.
The sound of the whistle is protracted in the following manner,
videlicet:-The rod W' is made in two parts, see Figures 4 and 5,
the upper one of which having the whistle attached thereto is provided.
with a projection a fitting into a corresponding recess b formed in the
lower part (or vice versa), and it is acted upon by a spring X in such
a manner that when the lower part is moved or lowered by reason of
the arm E coming in contact with the projection T the upper part will
be released and allowed to turn on its centre one quarter of a revolution,
that is to say, until stopped by the projection or pin c coming in contact
with the stud d, and thus drawing out the whistle which continues to
sound until the upper part of the rod W' is drawn back by the engine-
man in charge of the train, when it falls into its place in the lower part
of such rod W³, in which position it remains until again'acted upon in a
similar manner.
The rocking shaft Y, herein-before referred to, of the distance signal
box or frame P is mounted in bearings Z, Z, and is provided in addition
to the arms e, e³, with an arm f, by means of which the shaft is caused
to rock or turn partially round and set the danger signal by the passing
train acting upon a double-inclined sliding bar 9 arranged at a suitable
distance from the distance signal box or frame P, as herein-after more
fully described.
m
in the following manner.. A tmin annuaschine

page_text: acted upon by the arm or projection c, whereby the signal is given to
the driver that he is approaching a station, and that he should therefore
slacken the speed, and also signal to the pointsman in the manner herein-
after described to apprize him of the advance of the train, so as to enable
him, if the line is clear, to change the apparatus, taking off the danger i
signal.
After the engine has passed the shaft Y to a distance, say, about equal
to the combined length of the engine and tender, one of the foro wheels
of the engine will enter between the rails D and the sliding bar 9 causing
the latter to slide sidewise from the rail. This sliding bar is connected 1
to the sleepers / by the links i, and to one arm of a bell-crank k, the
other arm of such bell-crank being connected by the rod 7 with a lever m
hinged to the box or frame P. As the bar g slides from tho rail D the
lever is brought into contact with the projecting arm on the shaft Y,
causing the latter to rock or turn partially round, and thereby raise the
arm or projection e¹ into a vertical position, so that should a succeeding
train pass the distance signal box or frame the arm e¹, by acting upon
the pendent arm T' carried by the engine or tender, will release the
upper part of the rod W' from the lower part thereof, and cause the
whistle to be sounded, thereby indicating to the driver that the preceding :
train has not entered or passed the station. When the arm e¹ is clevated
in the manner just described another arm n, also carried on tho shaft Y,
will be simultaneously removed out of contact with a stud o, and admit of
a plate p with which it is connected making contact with another plate q,
and thereby establish an electric circuit through the wires r, s, which :
communicate with a signalling apparatus at the station, so as to indicato
at such station that a train has passed the distance signal box. A
detent & hinged to the frame P retains the shaft Y in the last described
position by engaging with a ratchet tooth a formed on the periphery of
the wheel N' keyed on the shaft Y, but is released therefrom when the
train has arrived at the station, or when required by the signalman at
the station pulling the wire rope O connected to the lever O³, and which
by acting upon the lever a raises the detent t, and allows the wheel N¹
to rotate by the weight y, so as to bring the shaft into its normal position
again.
น
The train having passed the distance signal box P, and arrived at the
tox A, the pendent arm T is acted upon by the arm or projection E, if
unremoved by the signalman, and the danger signal is accordingly given
8

page_text: to stop. When however the line is clear the signalman changes the signal
from "stop" or "danger" (its normal position) to "proceed," by acting
upon the rope O in the manner herein-before described, the arms or
projections E, E', being retained in that position by the detent 11
engaging with a ratchet tooth 12 formed on the periphery of the
wheels F, G.
The distance signal is simultaneously altered from "danger" to
“proceed" by the cord O acting upon the arm O' in the manner herein-
before described. So soon however as the engine has proceeded a certain
distance past the box A. the wheels of the engine, by acting upon a
sliding bar constructed and arranged in a similar manner to the bar g,
herein-before described, reverses the signal at the station from "proceed"
to " danger," which motion is effected in the following manner :— -To
the sliding bar not shown in my Drawings is connected one end of a
rod 13, the opposite end of which is attached to one arm of a bell-crank
lever 14 hung upon a centre 15 in the frame A, the other end of such
bell-crank bearing against the under side of a projecting stud 16 fitted
to or formed on the detent 11. The sliding motion of the bar by the
action of the wheels of the engine causes the bell-crank 14 to raise the
detent 11, and disengage it from the tooth 12, when the weight K will
cause the shaft B to partially rotate, and raise the arm E into a vertical
position, and lower the arm E¹, thus indicating "danger" at the station.
The sliding bars, after having been acted upon by the flanges of the
wheels, are brought back to their normal position by weights attached to
their connections, or by other suitable means.
Provision is made for enabling the signalman to set the station signal
at "danger" under exceptionable circumstances, such for example as in
the case of accident to any parts of the apparatus.
The auxiliary apparatus for this purpose is arranged and operated in
the following manner:-8 is a rope continued at one end to the station
and connected at the opposite end to a projecting arm & carried on a
spindle 10, by the act of pulling which rope the detent 11 is raised by
an arm q and disengaged from the tooth 12 formed on the periphery of
the wheels F, G. The shaft B will then rock or turn partially round
by the action of the pendent weight K, thus -raising the arm E into
a vertical position and lowering the arm E¹. A weighted pulley is
mounted on the spindle 10, and a wheel and pendent weight y' are also

page_text: provided on the spindle P', on which is mounted the arm before
mentioned for the purpose of maintaining the respective arms on those
spindles in their required position. I also provide in connection with
the arms or projections E, E¹, a projecting arm 17 and contact piece 18,
with the requisite wires 19 under the control of the signalman for the
purpose of indicating to him the relative positions of the signals, so as
to provide additional security against accident from the apparatus
ceasing to work properly from any cause whatever.
.L
Provided un the spinate I", VA Which is mounted the arm
mentioned for the purpose of maintaining the respective arms on those
spindles in their required position. I also provide in connection with
the arms or projections E, E', a projecting arm 17 and contact piece 18,
with the requisite wires 19 under the control of the signalman for the
purpose of indicating to him the relative positions of the signals, so as
to provide additional security against accident from the apparatus
ceasing to work properly from any cause whatever.
The apparatus for enabling the driver of an approaching train to
signal to the pointsman or to a succeeding train is arranged in tho
following manner.
Along the line, about 6 inches above and outside the rails D, I ercct
a wire Z, Figures 3, 6, and 7, which wiro I make in suitable lengths,
onc length or connected line extending from cach station to a con-
venient distance beyond the signal box. In combination with this wire
I employ on each side of the tender a projection hinged to an insulated
bar 2 secured to the axle boxes 3, 3, which hinged projection when in
contact with the wire Z forms a conductor from and to a battery pro-
vided on the tender with which the hinged projection is connected by
a wire 4, so that the engine driver by forming the circuit may transmit
along the wire to the pointsman and signalman, and notify to him the
approach of the train. The wires are supported by earthenware
carriers 5, Figures 6 and 7, suitably grooved, so as to slide upon rods or
bars 6 secured by arms or bars 7 to the web of the rail, and resting upon
sleepers, as shown in the Drawing, or the wires z may be fastened to a
metal plate carried in a similar manner. I also provide on the tender
an electric bell, which is arranged in connection with the conductor or
wirez and battery in such a manner that when one train is following
another in close succession, and the speed of the former is being retarded,
the current will be caused to act upon the electric bell of the succeeding
train and sound the same, so as to warn the driver to reduce the speed
accordingly. I also connect the whole of the points with the electrical
apparatus in the signalman's box, so that when any point is changed a
current will be directed by means of contact pieces similarly constructed
to those at 18 along the wires and sound the clectric bell on the
tender of an approaching train in order to indicate obstruction or
danger.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
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, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,—
First. The application and use of two distinct and independent sound
signals carried upon an engine or tender in combination with signal
actuating devices erected in pairs upon a line of railway, such devices
each consisting of two rocking arms placed at an angle the one to the
other, and each corresponding to one of the sound signals, and being
arranged so as to be controlled or operated both by the signalman and
automatically by a passing train, all substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described, and as illustrated by my Drawings.
Second. The combination with the system of signalling before
mentioned of electric apparatus for transmitting a signal from an
approaching train to the signalman or pointsman, or to a following.
train, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described and
as illustrated by my Drawings.
Third. The combination with the rocking arms before mentioned of
two sets of auxiliary electric apparatus, the one operated automatically
by a passing train, and the other controlled by the signalman, the latter
apparatus being arranged in connection with the points in such a
manner as to signal their change to an approaching train, all sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Thompson Glossop, have
to this my Specification set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth
day of September, One thousand eight hundred and soventy-
five.
JOSEPH THOMPSON GLOSSOP. (L.S.)