IMPROVE. MENTS IN LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES WITH GAS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1867

page_text: Scaled the 12th July 1867, and dated the 29th January 1867.
of Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES WITH GAS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain improved combinations and arrangements
of mechanism and apparatus whereby railway carriages are supplied with gas
for the purposes of illumination in a more perfect and convenient manner than
by the methods previously in use. A main reservoir or gas holder of fixed
capacity for the supply of the train is placed in one of the compartments of
the guard's van. The reservoir may be constructed of cylinders similar to
those ordinarily employed for the distribution of portable compressed gas, such
[Price 6d.]

page_text: cylinders communicating with each other by means of a pipe leading to the
supply cock and the pressure regulators, which are of the description usually
employed for such purposes, and already well known and understood.
As the
gas leaves the regulators it passes through a main supply cock placed within
reach of the chief guard, and thence into the service pipes. by which means
the lighting may be easily regulated at will. or the gas cut off in case of need.
The main supply cock is constructed with two main ways for the supply of
the gas when the train is fully lighted, a small auxiliary way being placed at
right angles to the others in order to enable the gas to be more readily
lowered. A pressure guage communicating with the cylinders shews the
supply of gas at any given moment. The key by which the main cock is
actuated cannot be withdrawn until the latter is completely closed. The main
pipes are of iron, and are placed on the roofs of the carriages or otherwise in
immediate juxtaposition therewith, and are coupled between the carriages by
lengths of flexible tubing either of india-rubber or cloth, or other suitable
material which possesses the property of being water and gas proof. From
the main pipes branch pipes lead off to the various burners: a double
arrangement of cocks and joints at each end of the carriages prevents any
difficulty in coupling or uncoupling any portion of a train, and with the
view of obviating any difficulty in this respect a small expanding reservoir,
supplied by the main pipes. is placed in the carriage farthest from that con-
taining the main reservoir or gas holder. The supplementary reservoir is
formed of sheets or plates of iron with a diaphragm internally of india-rubber
or waterproof cloth one side of such reservoir is moveable, and acts when
loaded as a piston, and produces a pressure somewhat less than that kept up
by the regulators in the pipes. The cocks for the supply of the carriages are
three-way cocks, the two chief ways forming a continuation of the service
pipes from carriage to carriage, and the third and smaller way being placed
at right angles to the other two acts as a discharge cock for the air which
may find its way into the pipes at their junction, and also forms the com-
munication between the service pipes and the auxiliary reservoir placed in
the end carriage. Stops which are placed over hoth the cover of the carriage
supply cock and the washer which surrounds it, and which is in one piece with
the square portion of the key. restrict the turning of the cock to iwo positions.
one for the free passage of the gas from carriage to carriage, and the other
for cutting off the gas from any one carriage. By means of a third cock any
gas or air can be discharged from the next carriage. The action of the last-
mentioned cock may be so contrived as to obtain two different and even more
additional positions in case of need, and for the use of the end carriage, by any

page_text: of the well-known methods. The handles of the cocks may be so placed as
to sliew at a glance and from a distance the exact point to which the cocks
are open.
The following is the best method of uniting the pipes: A metallic collar
is united to the fixed pipe and a similar collar to the moveable tubing (which
latter tubing passes for a short distance into the fixed pipe), a ring of india-
rubber or of any other suitable elastic material being placed between the
collars. The two collars are pressed together by means of a lever, which is
attached at one end to the fixed pipe and furnished with a projection which
presses against one of the collars, and thus compresses the elastic ring and
renders the joint perfectly air-tight. Instead of employing the elastic ring
the same result can be obtained in some cases by abrasion or grinding down
of the surfaces of the collars which are placed in contact; the lever is kept in
position by means of a spring, and the pipes are readily uncoupled by simply
elevating the lever, and thereby releasing the collars from its pressure. The use
and working of this apparatus does not present the slightest difficulty. When
all the flexible tubes are in their proper places and all the carriage supply cocks
open (excepting, of course, the cock which communicates between the main
pipes and the auxiliary reservoir, which must be closed) the mere opening of
the main cock will allow the gas to flow at once into all the burners; the
closing of this cock shuts off the gas, but the supply contained in the small
reservoir keeps up the light for some time. The insertion of a carriage into
a train during its journey occasions no difficulty; if a carriage is to be
so introduced the carriage cocks contiguous to the point of intercalation must
be closed, the moveable neck of the pipe is detached from one of the carriages,
and the carriage inserted and coupled, the line of tubing being connected with
that of the new carriage as before described, when the carriage cocks may be
opened and the burners in the fresh carriage lighted. During the whole of
this operation the lights in the other compartments of the train will continue
to burn, a supply of gas being supplied to one portion of the train from the
main reservoir, and to the other from the auxiliary reservoir. It may be
advisable that the burners of the last carriage of the train should be supplied
with gas from the auxiliary reservoir.
improved and regulated by the use of
placed at every carriage between the
"moderator is composed of a piece of metallic pipe closed at each end by à
plate, the latter being perforated with a small hole. The local resistance
offered by these obstacles increases in proportion to the flow of gas through
the pipes, and thus equalises any disadvantages which may result from the
The light given by the gas may be
moderators" or artificial obstructions
service pipe and the burners. The

page_text: by the said Francois Constant Cambrelin in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 29th July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCOIS
CONSTANT GAMBRELIN, Engineer, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto him, the
said Francois Constant Cambrelin, Her special licence that I, the said Francois
Constant Cambrelin, his executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Francois Constant Cambrelin, 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 LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES WITH GAS, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Francois Constant Cambrelin, executors or administrators. by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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, thai I, the said Francois Constant Cambrelin, 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
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention consists in certain improved combinations and arrange-
ments of mechanism and apparatus whereby railway carriages are supplied with
gas for the purposes of illumination in a more perfect and convenient manner
than by the methods previously in use. A main reservoir or gas holder of fixed

page_text: capacity for the supply of the train is placed in one of the compartments of the
guard's van; the reservoir may be constructed of cylinders similar to those ordi-
narily employed for the distribution of portable compressed gas, such cylinders
communicating with each other by means of a pipe leading to the supply cock
and the pressure regulators, which are of the description usually employed for
such purposes, and already well known and understood.
As the gas leaves
the regulators it passes through a main supply cock placed within reach of
the chief guard, and thence into the service pipes, by which means the lighting
may be easily regulated at will, or the gas cut off in case of need. The main
supply cock is constructed with two main ways for the supply of the gas, when
the train is fully lighted a small auxiliary way being provided in order to
enable the gas to be more readily lowered. The main pipes are preferably of
iron, and are placed on the roofs of the carriages, or otherwise in immediate
juxtaposition therewith, and are coupled between the carriages by lengths of
flexible tubing either of india-rubber or cloth, or other suitable material which
possesses the property of being water and gas proof. From the main pipes
branch pipes lead off to the various burners. A double arrangement of cocks
and joints at each end of the carriages prevents any difficulty in coupling or
uncoupling any portion of a train, and with the view of obviating any difficulty
in this respect a small expanding reservoir supplied by the main pipes is
placed in the carriage furthest from that containing the main reservoir or
gas holder, or in other terms, the tail carriage of the train.
The supple-
mentary reservoir is formed of sheets or plates of iron, with a diaphragm
internally of india-rubber or waterproof cloth. One side of such reservoir is
moveable, and acts when loaded as a piston, and produces a pressure some-
what less than that kept up by the regulators in the pipes. The cocks for
the supply of the carriages are three-way cocks, the two chief ways forming
a continuation of the service pipes from carriage to carriage, and the third and
smaller way being placed at right angles to the other two acts as a discharge
cock for the air which may find its way into the pipes of any carriage placed
between two others in the train. Stops which are placed over both the cover
of the carriage supply cock and the washer which surmounts it, and which is
in one piece with the square portion of the key, restrict the turning of the cock
to two positions; one for the free passage of the gas from carriage to
carriage, and the other for cutting off the gas from any one carriage. By
means of a third cock any gas or air can be discharged from the next carriage
by the small auxiliary way and regulator. The action of the last-mentioned cock
may, moreover, be so contrived as to be capable of taking two different and
even more additional positions in case of need by any of the well-known

page_text: methods. The handles of the cocks may be so placed as to shew at a glance
and from a distance the exact point to which the cocks are open.
The following is the best method of uniting the pipes:A metallic collar
is united to the fixed pipe, and a similar collar to the moveable tubing (which
latter tubing passes for a short distance into the fixed pipe), a ring of india-
rubber or of any other suitable material being placed between the collars.
The two collars are pressed together by means of a lever which is attached
at one end to the fixed pipe, and furnished with a projection which presses
against one of the collars, and thus compresses the elastic ring, and renders
the joint perfectly air-tight. Instead of employing the elastic ring the same
result can be obtained in some cases by abrasion or grinding down of the
surfaces of the collars which are placed in contact. The lever is kept in
position by means of a spring, and the pipes are readily uncoupled by simply
elevating the lever, and thereby releasing the collars from its pressure.
I will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings, and to give
further particulars as to the details of my said Invention.
Figure represents a train lighted with gas. A is the reservoir waggon
of the train of which B, B', B", B, are the intermediate carriages; C, the
tail carriage containing the auxiliary reservoir herein-before mentioned.
Figure 2 shews one of the modes of fitting up the waggon with a reservoir
of a fixed capacity. Cylinders similar to those employed for the distribution
of portable compressed gas furnished with pressure cocks are placed in the
reserved compartment of the guard's van, they communicate with each other
by means of a pipe leading to the supply cock and the pressure regulators, all
these parts being the same as those used with compressed or portable gas as
before mentioned. Figure 3 represents a main safety cock from which the
key cannot be withdrawn until it is completely closed; the two main ways
supply the train when the same is fully lighted; the third small auxiliary way
aids in expelling the air from the pipes when the gas is being lighted.
Figure 4 shews one form of the supplementary reservoir before mentioned.
a is a reservoir of sheet iron or plates of iron; b, the diaphragm of india-
rubber or waterproof cloth; c, loaded plate, which acts as a piston; the
capacity of this supplementary gas holder need rarely exceed an hour's con-
sumption of two or three burners. In certain cases, for instance, when
carriages remain a long time detached from a train, it is advisable to add
to the train a reservoir similar to the one in the general supply waggon
with a suitable arrangement of regulators; this supply would only require
renewing at long intervals. A cock permits of the communication between
the tail reservoir, and the main ways being cut off at pleasure.

page_text: The following is the best mode of uniting the pipes, and is shewn in Figures
6 and 6. A lever A supported by a spring B presses together two collars,
one of which is united to the fixed pipe and the other to the moveable tubing.
A ring of india-rubber or of any other suitable material placed between the
collars renders the joint perfectly air-tight, a result which may also in some
cases be obtained by grinding the surfaces to be placed in contact.
.The action of this apparatus is easily understood. for in coupling the pipes
the lever A must be raised, thus allowing the nozzle of the moveable tube to
be displaced the reverse operation consists simply in replacing the nozzle of
the tube and lowering the lever, which pressed down by the spring. prevents
the inserted part from slipping. It will be seen. therefore, that this part of
my said Invention consists in the use of a reciprocating multiplying lever
which by transmitting when required a very moderate power produces a
pressure capable of resisting a very considerable strain. The form of both the
lever and the spring may he changed as required. and the spring be replaced
by a weight, a ratchet wheel, or any other suitable means of obtaining the
needful pressure, varying in its construction and arrangement to suit the
circumstance of the casc. The junction lever and the handle of the cock
may be so adjusted as to render it impossible to open the former before the
latter has been brought to position, No. 2, Figure 5.
The use of this apparatus does not present the slightest difficulty. When all
tlie carriage cocks. excepting of course the end ones. are in position. No. 1,
Figure 5. the india-rubber tubes placed, and also the fail reservoir containing
the gas accumulated on the preceding journey. by placing this reservoir in
communication with the mainways the air is quickly expelled by the third
way of the main supply cock placed at the head of the train: the latter
should be opened and all the burners lighted up immediately. and the tail
reservoir of the train re-supplied. The communication between this reservoir
and the mainways being intercepted the gas can be instantly extinguished by
closing the main supply cock. which is then placed in the best position to
expel the air from the pipes at the next lighting up. The lights can be
lowered when required by simply placing the key of the main supply cock in
such a position that the gas can only flow into the main pipes through the
openings provided for that purpose, an operation which is facilitated by the
guide marks on the cover. The same result may be obtained with a low-
pressure regulator, through which the gas would be forced by the third way
of a main supply cock, very similar to the one described. The cock between
the tail reservoir and the main ways can be dispensed with, but in that case
the lighting must be commenced at the head of the train, so that on the

page_text: arrival of the train when the main supply cock is shui the lights will continue
to burn for a short time whilst the passengers alight and the carriages are
being searched. Whatever arrangement is adopted, if the number of carriage
be considerable and out of proportion to the capacity of the auxiliary
reservoir, it may be necessary to allow the air to escape; this can be done
with the main channel cocks, or if preferred by means of a special air clearing
apparatus.
The insertion of a carriage into a train lighted up whilst on its journey is
attended with no difficulty. If the carriage B is to be placed between those
marked B and B the carriage cocks contiguous to the point of introduction
must be placed in the second position, the moveable nozzle of the pipe is
detached from one of the carriages (B, for example), leaving it fixed to the
carriage B", the carriages can then be uncoupled. While the fresh coupling
takes place the man stationed on the roof of carriage B fastens on a length
of moveable tubing which is joined to that of the new carriage B', and he
ascertains that the cocks of this are all in position: he then connecis it with
B, all the cocks of which are then turned into position. No. 1. Figure 5; all
the burners of the fresh carriage B₁ can now be lighted up, and the cock of
the carriage B through which the air from the newly added tubes has been
expelled can be placed in position, No. 1. which being done the cock may
again be closed and the train continue its journey. I would have it remarked
that during the whole of this operation of inserting a carriage the lights in
the other compartments of the train have continued to burn, and that the air
contained in the pipes of carriage B driven out by the plan adopted for that
purpose does not affect the lights in the end carriage when communication is
restored with the terminal reservoir.
It may be found useful to keep up in the mainways considerably greater
pressure than is necessary to obtain in a burner a good combustion; a more
simple way of remedying the inconvenience arising from this practice than the
use of cocks is that of placing obstacles in the passage of the gas between the
burners and the mainways; these obstacles produce a resistance in proportion
to the quantity of gas which endeavours to pass, and moderate the emission
and practically regulate the lights throughout the train: Figure 7 shows one
of these moderators, the form and substance of which may be varied as
required.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed. I would observe in con-
clusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details herein-
hefore set forth, as variations may be made therein without departing from

page_text: the principles or main features of my said Invention; but what I consider
novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured
to me by the said herein-before in pari recited Letters Patent are,-
Firstly, the general arrangement and adaptation to railway trains of the
apparatus and combination of parts and mechanism herein described, for the
purposes aforesaid.
Secondly, the use of a single reservoir or gas holder of fixed capacity, but
subject to variable pressure, for the storing of the gas for lighting railway
trains, as herein-before described and set forth.
Thirdly, the employment of an auxiliary reservoir of variable capacity, but
working at a uniform pressure, as herein-before described and set forth.
Fourthly, the construction, arrangements, and mode of working of the cocks
and joints for the carriages, as herein-before described and set forth.
And, fifthly, the coupling joint for the moveable and flexible tubes, herein-
before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francois Constant Cambrelin, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
20 Witnesses,
A. CROOY,
A. HATTON.
FRANCOIS CONSTANT CAMBRELIN. (L.S.)