IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS POR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Jean Jacques Samuel Wenk and
Alexandre Alphonse Mathieu at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 26th July 1865.
We, JEAN JACQUES SAMUEL WENK and ALEXANDRE ALPHONSE MATHIEU,
of Quai de Valmy, Paris, in the Empire of France, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS POR PREVENTING
ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
In order that the nature of this Invention may be understood, we would
observe that when a train has nearly arrived at a station a signal is given,
which signal consists of a disc placed on the way or line in front of each
station, and by its color indicates to the engine driver if the line is clear, or
if there is any danger. It sometimes happens, however, that through fog or
stormy weather it is impossible for the driver to see the disc so as to ascertain
at what distance the train is from the station, or it may happen that the signal
man forgets to put up the signal at the proper time, and then, seeing his
imprudence, does it after the train has passed, so that if there is any obstruction
on the line a collision takes place, as the driver, not having been signalled,
takes the train through the station at full speed. The driver and signal man
throw upon each other the responsibility of the accident, and it is very difficult
to ascertain on whom to throw the blame.
The object of this Invention is the construction of an apparatus to be placed
on the locomotive to indicate to the driver the exact distance from each station
at a given point fixed by the company, and to control or verify the signal
discs placed on the line or way, and to repeat by a mechanical combination

page_text: all the signals made by the discs, and in such a manner that this repetition
can only be changed by the proper inspector.
The indicator herein-after described is put in movement by a fixed longi-
tudinal bar placed on the line in front of each station at a given point. The
locomotive passing on this bar gives movement to the apparatus, which by
means of a bell calls the attention of the driver, who perceives on a dial the
number of the station before him. A second longitudinal bar, moveable with
the disc, also placed on the way, either at some distance before or in face of
the disc, gives to the verificator a movement which repeats in the apparatus
the position of the disc as the locomotive passes by.
The apparatus consists of a rectangular iron box, in which are two
horizontal shafts turning in supports. On each of these shafts is fixed
a ratchet, and at each side of the ratchet is a double lever having a pawl
or click. At the upper part of the double lever is a horizontal bar or
connecting rod, which after its movement is always brought back at the
extremity of its course by a spring. Under the pawl or click is a jointed
lever, which is constantly pressed against the teeth of the ratchet by a
spring; the opposite extremity of this lover has a hammer for striking on
a bell, properly placed for that purpose. On the horizontal shafts are fixed
two discs with inclined teeth, placed so that the teeth face each other;
between the teeth of these discs and in the opening made by the two
pieces placed parallel on the columns, works a cone jointed at the point,
whilst the opposite part is toothed and catches with a pinion placed on a
vertical shaft carrying a small disc; on the horizontal shaft is fixed a small
bevil wheel, catching or taking with another bevil wheel, on the shaft of which
is placed the pointer or hand marking the units, working in front of the dial.
On the side of this dial there is another similar one marking the tens, also
worked by the shaft and by a pinion taking into a large wheel, then with a
parallel shaft, working another shaft by means of bevil wheels, which transmits
the movement by means of two small wheels to the hand of the tens, to place
it on the same plane, and at the same height as that of the units. The dials.
as well as the opening of the discs are closed, so that the driver or other person
cannot disturb them. A lantern is employed for lighting the apparatus by
night.