Improvements in Means or Apparatus that can be Operated by Railway Passengers when Desired to Stop a Train and Attract Attention of Driver and Guards.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1889.
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus that can be Operated by
Railway Passengers when Desired to Stop a Train and Attract
Attention of Driver and Guards.
I, HENRY OAKDEN FISHER, of the Highlands, Llandnough, near Cardiff, in the
County of Glamorgan do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for object improvements in means or apparatus that can be
operated by railway passengers when desired to stop a train and attract attention of
driver and guards, and is applicable to railway trains fitted with the automatic
vacuum brake or with the automatic air brake, or with any brake which can be applied
by opening the train pipe to the atmosphere.
According to this invention a branch from the train pipe is extended into each
compartment, or one branch may serve for two compartments, being placed in or on
the partition between them.
As the latter plan furnishes the more economical arrangement I prefer to employ it
as far as possible.
This branch ends in a valve box, containing two valves, each capable of being
opened by a rod, spindle or handle, there being one rod, spindle or handle in each.
compartment to which my invention is applied. Each valve is or may be so arranged
that the pressure forces it against its seat, and it has a leather or rubber face to prevent
leakage.
A spring or its equivalent is so arranged as to give the valve a constant pressure
against its seat, independently of the air pressure, while a catch, pawl or detent holds
the valve open, after it has been operated by the passenger, for the double purpose of
allowing the air to flow in or out of the pipe, and also of furnishing a clue to the
compartment in which the apparatus has been operated.
A convenient forni of detent is a pivotted arm pressed by a spring or weight against
the rod or spindle by which the valve is operated. When the rod or spindle is drawn
out or pressed in, as the case may be, the arm drops into a groove, or behind a collar
or shoulder, and prevents the return of the rod or spindle. A key hole is provided in
the valve case through which a key can be passed to lift the arm or detent. If found.
desirable the key may be provided with wards or gatings after the manner of an
ordinary or lever lock key.
When a branch pipe serves only one compartment the valve case need contain only
one valve.
It will be evident that apparatus according to this invention may be variously con-
structed without departure from the principle of the invention. For instance the
valve box may be situated below the floor of the coach, and the valve be operated by
a rod, spindle or handle extending into the compartment. Or a single rod, cord or
chain may extend through all the compartments of a coach and thus enable one valve
to serve for all.
Dated this 12th day of January 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus that can be Operated by
Railway Passengers when Desired to Stop a Train and Attract
Attention of Driver and Guards.
I, HENRY OAKDEN FISHER, of the Highlands, Llandnough, near Cardiff, in the
County of Glamorgan, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention has for object improvements in means or apparatus that can be
operated by railway passengers when desired to stop a train and attract attention of
driver and guards and is applicable to railway trains fitted with the automatic vacuum
brake or with the automatic air brake or with any brake which can be applied
by opening the train pipe to the atmosphere.
According to this invention a branch from the train pipe is extended into each
compartment or one branch may serve for two compartments, being placed in or on
the partition between them. As the latter plan furnishes the more economical
arrangement I prefer to employ it as far as possible. This branch ends in a valve
box containing two valves each capable of being opened by a rod, spindle or handle
there being one rod spindle or handle to each compartment to which my inven-
tion is applied. Each valve is or may be so arranged that the air pressure forces it
against its seat and it has a leather or rubber face to prevent leakage. A spring or
its equivalent is so arranged as to give the valve a constant pressure against its seat
independently of the air pressure, while a catch, pawl, or detent holds the valve open
after it has been operated by the passenger, for the double purpose of allowing the
air to flow in or out of the pipe, and also of furnishing a clue to the compartment in
which the apparatus has been operated. A convenient form of detent is a pivotted
arm pressed by a spring or weight against the rod or spindle by which the valve is
operated. When the rod or spindle is drawn out or pressed in, as the case may be,
the arm drops into a groove or behind a collar or shoulder and prevents the return of
the rod or spindle. A key hole is provided in the valve case through which a key
can be passed to lift the arm or detent. If found desirable the key may be provided
with wards or gatings after the manner of an ordinary or lever lock key..
When a branch pipe serves only one compartment the valve case need contain only
one valve.
It will be evident that apparatus according to this invention may be variously con-
structed without departure from the principle of the invention. For instance the
valve box may be situated below the floor of the coach, and the valve be operated by
a rod, spindle or handle extending into the compartment. Or a single rod, cord or
chain may extend through all the compartments of a coach and thus make one valve
to serve for all.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of so much of a railway carriage as is necessary to
illustrate the application thereto of apparatus according to this invention, which is
shown in elevation and is so constructed and arranged as to serve two adjacent
compartments of the coach by one branch pipe.
Fig. 2 shows partly in vertical section and partly in elevation to an enlarged scale
the double valve box with valve operating mechanism, and the upper part of the
branch pipe.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of one side of the. valve box and branch pipe as seen from one
of the compartments of the coach with internal details.dotted.
1 is a branch pipe leading from a train pipe 2 of brake apparatus of the kind
hereinbefore referred to in which the brake can be applied by opening the train pipe to
the atmosphere. 3 is a double valve box secured to the upper end of the branch
pipe 1 which in the present example is as already stated so arranged as to serve two
adjacent compartments of the coach. This valve box is made with a hollow internal

page_text: wall or partition 4 that divides the interior of the box into two compartments 5 and 6
cach closed by a perforated cover 7. S, 8 are holes in opposite sides of the hollow
wall or partition 4 whereby the interior of the branch pipe 1 can be placed in com-
munication with the compartments, 5 and 6 and thence with the atmosphere through
the holes 7 in the covers 7. Each hole S is controlled by a valve 9 provided
with a stem 10 to which is secured a handle 11 accessible from one of the
compartments of the coach as shewn. Each valve is normally pressed upon its
seat by a spring 12 and to prevent leakage it may be faced with suitable material
such as leather or indiarubber.
As will be obvious when the apparatus is to be used with an automatic air
pressure brake this spring 12 must be sufficiently stiff to hold the valve 9 on its seat
when not being operated by a passenger. In each compartment 5 and 6 is a curved
arm 14 pivotted upon a pin 15. Each arm is acted upon by a spring 16 and is
adapted to automatically enter an annular groove 17 in the corresponding valve
stem 10 and hold the valve connected thereto in the open position after the same has
been pulled outward. The valve stem and handle will be prevented from returning
and thus will serve as an indicator showing in which compartment of the coach the
apparatus has been operated to stop the train. A hole 18 in each cover 7 serves as a
keyhole through which a suitable key can be inserted for forcing the arm 14 from
the groove 17 to release the valve and permit it to return to its closed position and the
handle 11 to its inward position after being operated as just described to stop the
train.
Figs. 3 and 3 are sectional elevations at right angles to one another of a key
suitable for this purpose. Within a stepped tubular part 18 is a longitudinally
movable pin 18 to one end of which is jointed a short extension or finger 18. 18 is a
spring that normally maintains the extension 18 in alignment with the pin 18.
18 is a stud screwed into 18" and which projects into a slot in the pin 18b so as to
prevent this pin turning. The inner end of the tubular part 18" and the adjacent
side of the extension 18 are so shaped that when the key is inserted in the
keyhole 18 and the pin 18 is pushed inward the extension 18° will be moved laterally
about its joint and caused to project through a slot in the tubular part.
key be then turned its part 18 will act against a projection 14" on the lower end
of the curved arm 14 and force this arm from the groove 17. 19, 19 are slotted
tubular guides on the covers 7 and each serving as a bearing or support for the key
when being used to release the valve.
If the
Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 2 illustrating a single valve box with valve 9 and
suitable for use, with a branch pipe 1 arranged to serve only one compartment of a
coach.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of part of a railway coach fitted with another arrangement
of my apparatus which is shewn in elevation.
Fig. 6 shews in elevation, to a larger scale, the valve box and valve operating
mechanism, and attached parts, the train pipe being shewn in cross section.
In this arrangement the valve box 3 is placed below the floor of the coach and in
communication with the train pipe 2, and is provided with a single valve similar to
that shewn in Fig. 4. The one valve is made to serve for all the compartments of the
coach. For this purpose each compartment of the coach is provided with a rod 20,
capable of vertical movement, and furnished at its upper end with a finger piece 21 by
which it can be conveniently raised and jointed at its lower end to a short rod 20° that
passes through the slotted end of a lever 22 fixed upon a rock shaft 23 that extends
under all the compartments of the coach. One of the levers 22 is jointed as shewn in
Fig. 6 to the stem 10 of the valve that is within the valve box 3. Each rod 20° is
provided with adjustable lock nuts 20 arranged to come in contact with the under
side of the lever 22, through which the rod passes, and turn this lever upward so as to
open the valve and place the train pipe in communication with the atmosphere and
stop the train when the corresponding rod 20 is raised. The upper end of each
rod 20 is arranged to work in a fixed box 24, provided with a detent 14 that is
adapted, by the automatic action of a spring 16, to enter one or other of a series of

page_text: notches 17ª formed in the rod 20 and hold the rod in the raised position after being
operated by a passenger to open the valve and stop the train. 18 is a key hole in the
cover of the box 24 for the insertion of a key similar to that shewn in Figs. 3, 3, and
hereinbefore described, for disengaging the detent from the rod and permitting the
rod and the valve to assume their normal positions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I do
not claim broadly the use of a branch pipe, a valve box and a valve that can be
operated by a passenger for the purpose of causing brakes to be applied, but what I
do claim is —
1. For stopping a train and attracting attention of driver and guards, the com-
bination with a train pipe, the opening of which to the atmosphere will cause the
application of a brake, and apparatus comprising a branch pipe from the train
pipe, provided with a valve box containing a valve the opening of which will
place the train pipe in communication with the atmosphere, of a connection to tho
valve such as a stem as with handle or a rod adapted to be operated from within a
compartment of the coach to which the apparatus is applied, so that the valve can
be opened by a passenger, and a self-acting device for retaining the valve and the
handle or part whereby the valve has been opened in the position to which they
have been moved to apply the brake for the purposes of keeping on the brake
and of indicating the compartment from which the apparatus has been operated to
stop the train.
2. My improved apparatus as described and shewn in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive
adapted to be operated by passengers to stop a train and attract attention of
driver and guards.
3. The arrangement of my apparatus described and shewn in Figs. 5 and 6 of
the drawings annexed.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.