IMPROVED MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PASSENGERS AND THE PASSENGERS AND GUARDS & GUARDS AND ENGINE DRIVERS OF RAILWAY TRAINS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Holland Kingston, A.B., Trinity College,
Dublin, and of Bandon, in the County of Cork, Ireland, for the Invention
of IMPROVED MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PASSENGERS AND,
ealed the 27th October 1859, and dated the 4th May 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Holland Kingston
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th May 1859.
1, WILLIAM HOLLAND KINGSTON, A.B., Trinity College, Dublin, and of
Bandon, in the County of Cork, Ireland, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE
PASSENGERS AND GUARDS & GUARDS AND ENGINE DRIVERS OF RAILWAY TRAINS,"
to be as follows:-
These improvements consist of one or more pipes or tubes fixed perma..
nently to each carriage, van, engine, or tender, the after part being a hollow
hemisphere, a frustum of a cone, or trumpet-shaped. A shorter pipe or tube,
terminating in a hemisphere covered with leather, india-rubber, or other
elastic or suitable material, or hemisphere of timber, cork, or metal accurately
fitted into the hollow hemisphere, cone, or trumpet-shaped end, slides in or
on the fore part of the above-mentioned fixed pipe or tube through or with a
stuffing box or collar, and is pressed forward by a spring or springs, weight or
weights, and the hemispheres are covered with some lubricating substance.

page_text: The fixed and sliding pipes or tubes being together somewhat longer than the
distance between the fore and after buffers; when the carriages are linked
together, the hemisphere on the sliding pipe or tube enters, and is pressed into
the hollow hemispherical, conical, or trumpet-shaped end of that on the
preceding carriage, & by the action of the spring or springs, weight or weights,
makes a sufficiently air-tight joint to form these pipes or tubes into a con-
tinuous one for conveying a verbal message from the passengers to the guard
& vice versâ, as also from the guard to the engine driver. The pipe or pipes,
tube or tubes fixed to the carriage are provided with a three-way cock for each
compartment of the carriage, & a pipe or tube goes from said cock into the
compartment; the end of the pipe or pipes, tube or tubes on the guard's van
is conveyed into it. A moveable whistle is provided to draw the attention of
the guard to the intended message, which is sent as in the ordinary speaking
pipes or tubes. The object of the three-way cock is to provide a means to
cut off (temporarily) the communication between the guard and engine driver,
& confine it to the space between the carriage from whence the communi-
cation is made and the guard's van. Before making the communication, the
passenger must use a handle to alter the position of the plug of the three-way
cock, thus opening the communication with the guard, and cutting off that
(previously existing) between the guard & engine driver, and this alteration
at the same time raises an index to point out the carriage whence the message
is sent. On the handle being returned to its former position, the communi-
cation between the guard & engine driver is restored, that between the pas-
sengers and guard cut off, and the index removed. The end of the pipe or
pipes, tube or tubes next the engine driver is curved backward or protected
by a shield, as described in Letters Patent, No. 70, A.D. 1856, for my
Inventions, and granted to me and Edward Hallen, but on which the stamp
duty on the third year has not been paid. It forms no part of my claim for
the improvements, described in the former part, for conveying a verbal
message.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Holland Kingston in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th November 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HOLLAND KINGSTON, A.B., Trinity College, Dublin, and of Bandon, in the 3
County of Cork, Ireland, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Holland Kingston, Her special licence that I, the said William
Holland Kingston, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Holland Kingston, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVED MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PASSENGERS AND
GUARD AND ENGINE DRIVERS OF RAILWAY TRAINS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Holland Kingston, my executors or admi-
nistrators, 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 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 William Holland Kingston, 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 ("that is to say "):-
This Invention, forming a means of verbal communication between the
passengers and guard, and vice versâ, and between the guards and engine
drivers, and vice versâ, of railway trains, consists of one or more pipes
or tubes fixed permanently to some convenient or suitable part of each
carriage, van, engine, or tender of whatsoever description used on railways,
one end terminating in a hollow hemisphere, frustum of a cone, trumpet
or bell-straped from. A shorter pipe or tube, terminating in a sphere or
portion of a sphere, covered with leather, india-rubber, or other elastic or
suitable material, gutta percha, a composition of gutta percha and india-rubber,
or in a sphere or portion of a sphere of timber, cork, or metal accurately fitted
to the hollow hemisphere, or adapted to the conical, trumpet, or bell-shaped,
and made of similar materials (through the sphere and hollow hemisphere,
trumpet or bells-straped ends, and not necessarily made of the same materials,
and the latter may be coverred or fitted as the spheres are,) slides in or on
the other end of the above-mentioned fixed pipe or tube through, with, or
without a stuffing-box or collar, and is pressed into the hollow, hemispherical,

page_text: conical, trumpet or bell-shaped end by a spring or springs, weights or weights.
The sphere, hollow hemisphere, trumpet or bell-shaped ends may be covered
with some tubricating substance, and a hole of the exterior dimeter of the
pipe or tube is continued through the sphere or portion of a sphere. The
fixed and sliding pipes or tubes being together somewhat longer than the
distance between the fore and after buffers of cach carriage. When the car-
riages are linked together, the sphere or portion of a sphere of the sliding pipe
or tube enters and is pressed into the hollow, hemispherical, conical, trumpet
or bell-shaped end of the pipe or tube on the priceding or following carriage,
van, engine, or tender, and by the action of the spring or springs, weights or
'weights, makes a sufficiently air-tight joint to form these pipes or tubes into a
continious one for conveying a verbal message from the passengers to the
guard and vice versa, as also from the guard to the engine driver and vice
versa. The pipe or pipes, tube or tubes in the passengers' carriages are fitted
with a three-way cock for each compartment of the carriage, and a pipe or
tube from the cock, and a handle fitted on the plug are carried into each
compartment. The pipe or pipes, tube or tubes of the guard's van are cut
into two at some convenient part between the fore and after ends, and the
ends where divided are brought into it; a moveable whistle is provided to draw
the attention of the guard to the message, which is sent as in the ordinary
speaking tubes or pipes. The end of the pipe or pipes, tube or tubes next
the driver is curved round, bent backwards, or the opening is protected by a
conical or other shaped shield. The object of the three-way cock is to provide
a means to cut off, temporarily, the communication between the guard and
engine driver and vice versa, and confine it to the space between the compart-
ment of the carriage whence the message is sent and the guard's van.
Before making a communication to the guard, the passenger must use the
handle to alter the position of the plug of the three-way cock, thus opening
the means of communication between himself and the guard, and cutting off
that previously existing between the guard and engine driver, and this
alteration at the same time raises an index attached to the plug to point out
the carriage whence the message is sent. It (the index) also points out if
any interruption has been made in the means of communication between the
engine driver and guard, and the latter can, through the pipe or tube, call the
attention of the passengers in the carriage to it, and request it may be
restored. On the handle being returned to its former position, the commu-
nication between the guard and engine driver is restored, that between the
passengers and guard cut off, and the index removed. The guard can test
whether the means of communication are in order by giving the signal to the

page_text: driver to start through the pipe or tube instead of, as is generally the practice
at present, whistling to him from the platform.
The carriages being of various heights and breadths, I prefer placing the
pipe or pipes, tube or tubes, at an uniform height from the rails, and on the
central longitudinal line of the carriage or railway, and when two pipes or
tubes are used at an uniform distance from the central longitudinal lines of
the carriage and railway. With this view, I assume as the datum height
from the rails, that of the highest carriage at present in use, or a few inches
higher, to altow for any addition to the height of the carriages that may be
built in future, and retain the ends of these pipes or tubes at that height,
under the varying heights of the carriages, caused by the varying weights in
them, by means of the self-acting apparatus herein-after described. When
only one pipe or tube is fitted to each carriage, I fix it equidistant from and
parallel to each side, thus placing it over the centre longitudinal line of the
carriage and railway, or the pipe or tube may be fixed at varying heights over
the central longitudinal line, and bent upwards or downwards so as to bring
the ends to an uniform height from the rails. Carriages fitted with but one
pipe or tube, such as I have hitherto described, require care and attention on
the part of the railway servants to place all the hollow, hemispherical, conical,
trumpet, or bell-straped ends in one direction, in order to complete the means
of communicateon. As turntables may not be at all stations, and this may
not be done through negligence, hurry in making up the train, or from other
causes, to render such case attention unnecessary, to avoid delay in making up:
trains, and to ensure the means of communication under all circumstances, [
use the following plan
I make the hollow hemisphere and the sphere or portions of a sphere on the
ends cither of the fixed or sliding pipe or tube or be moveable, as shewn in
Sheet Two, Figure 9, and furnish the ends of the pipe or tube on each carriage
with a moveable hollow hemisphere and sphere or portion of a sphere. These
can be screwedo on the ends of the fixed or sliding pipe or tubes, fastened by a
clamping screw, in a manner similar to that of the bagonet on the mesket, or
by others suitable means. I fix two of these pipes or tubes on each carriage,
van, engine, or tender, each pipe or tube at equal distances from the central
longitudinal lines drawn on the carriage and between the rails. One of these
pipes or tubes has the hollow, bemispherical, conical, trumpet, or bell-straped
end placed towards the guard, and the sliding pipe or tube ending in a sphere
or portion of a sphere in the direction of the engine driver. The other pipe or
tube has the hollow hemispherical, conical, trumpet, or bell-shaped end in the
direction of the engine driver, and the sliding pipe or tube terminating in a

page_text: 'sphere or portion of a sphere towards the guard; by this contrivance two
means of communication are insured irrespective of the attention of the railway
'servants. Turntables or other means for placing the carriages in a particular
direction with reference to the terminal forms of the pipes or tubes are
unnecessary, and delays are avoided. In this and the following plans the
hollow hemispherical, conical, trumpet, or bell-shaped end, and also the end
terminating in a sphere or a portion of a sphere need not be moveable.
I effect the foregoing also with one pipe or tube fixed to each
carriage, van, engines, or tender, by making it (the fixed pipe or tube)
to branch into two pipes or tubes, at equal distances from the centre
longitudinal line, when near the ends of the carriage, van, engine, or
tender, thus-
to one of which branches (at each end) the sliding pipe or tube ending in a
sphere or portion of a sphere is fitted; and the other ends in the hollow hemi-
spherical, conical, trumpet, or bell-shaped form; these, the sliding pipe or tube
ending in a sphere or portion of a sphere, and the hollow, hemispherical,
conical, trumpet, or bell-shaped end being reversed in their relative positions
at the opposite ends of the carriage, van, engine, or tender, as shown above.
It is here to be observed that the after end only of the pipe or pipes, tube or
tubes on the engine or tender, are to be reversed as to their terminal forms,
and that the end of the pipe or pipes, tube or tubes, nearest the engine driver
are in all cases to be curved round, bent backwards, or protected by a conical
or other suitably shaped shield. A moveable plug or cover to stop one of the
curved or bent backwards ends of the pipes or tubes nearest the driver is
provided to prevent the communication being rendered less distinct by being
sparated into the two terminal branches, where one pipe or tube branching into
two is used; it can be placed on either branch by the driver as suits his
convenience.
I have hitherto described the sliding pipe or tube as terminating in a sphere
or portion of a sphere, and the hollow hemispherical conical trumpet or bell-
shape end as that of the terminal form of the fixed pipe or tube, I do not,
however, confine myself to this plan, I use the following also:-I make the
sphere or portion of a sphere to form the end of the fixed pipe or tube, and
the sliding pipe or tube to terminate in the hollow hemisphere frustum of a
cone, or in the trumpet or bell-shaped form. When this plan is adopted, the
hollow hemispherical, conical, trumpet, or bell-shaped end is pressed by the
spring or springs, weight or weights on the sphere or portion of a sphere

page_text: terminating the fixed pipe or tube of the preceding or following carriage. I
also use pipes or tubes sliding on both ends of the fixed pipe or tube of each
carriage, always arrangeing them so that the sphere or portion of a sphere in
which it terminates shall in all cases be at the opposite end of the fixed pipe
or tube of the carriage from the hollow hemispherical, conical, trumpet, or
bell-shaped end, whether both ends slide or only one, or whether two pipes or
tubes, one pipe or tube branching at the ends into two, or one pipe or tube
only are fitted to each carriage. I fit the carriage with one pipe or tube
branching into two as above described with three-way cock for each compart-
ment of the carriage for the passengers to communicate with the guard and
vice versa, and another similar pipe or tube, but without three-way cocks for
the exclusive use of the guard and engine driver, and I fix these at an equal
distance from the central longitudinal line of the carriage and railway. By
this plan the means of communication between the guard and engine driver
is open at all times without the possibility of the passengers interrupting it, as
well as through the pipes or tubes fitted with three-way cocks. Should the
means for verbal communication be limited to that between the guard and
engine driver, the three-way cocks are unnecessary.
Hitherto, I have supposed that only one guard's van is attached to each
train, and that, at the after and most distant from the engine driver, but, as
there are in some trains more than one guard's van, I will explain, how, in
such case, the communication is made, the passengers (say) communicating
with the guard nearest them in the rear of the train. Suppose there are
three guard's vans, one next the engine, one in the middle, and the third at
the after part of the train, and that the communication is to be made from a
carriage between the middle and after van, the passenger communicates with
the ground in the after van, and he, if he considers it necessary, sends his
messuage to the guard in the middle van, who forwards it through the guard
next the engine driver. The communication is kept up in like manner if
there are any larger number of vans. When there are two vans, the guard
in the after one communicates with the guard in front, who then gives the
message to the driver.
I have also considered the guard's van as placed
invariably in the rear of the trains; should it happen that the only van is
attached to the fore part, or that it is desirable to enable the passengers to
communicate with the guard immediately in front of them when more than
one guard's van is attached to the train, it is only requisite to. alter the position.
of the handle and index on the plug of the three-way cocks. I make the pipes
or tubes of metal, timber, gutta percha, or a composition of gutta percha and
india-rubber; or the ends only of metal or timber, and the intermediate parts, or

page_text: portion of the intermediate parts of gutta percha or a composition of gutta percha
ánd india-rubber. The fixed tube is attached to the carriage by suitable rings
or collars which retain it in its place. And the ends, whether only one slides
or both, are fitted into collars, which permit a vertical motion to allow for the
varying heights of the carriages caused by the varying weights in them, and an
horizontal motion to allow for the vibration of the carriages. The connexion
between the fixed part of the pipe or tube, and the ends is formed of elastic
pipe or tube as shown in Sheet 2, Figure at G, 1.
tube, I mean the fixed and sliding pipes or tubes.
for the purposes of this Invention, even when the fixed pipe or tube branches
into two at each end.
By the words pipe or
I consider them as one
Sheet 1, No. 1, shows one speaking pipe or tube fixed on the top of the
carriage, having one end a sliding on the fixed pipe or tube b. is the
sphere or portion of a sphere on which, when the carriages are linked together,
the sliding pipe or tube "a" on the next carriage is pressed by the spring S.
The dotted lines represent the position of the sliding pipe or tube in case the
buffers are forced on to the buffer plank of the carriage. S¹¹ is
the length of the spring when contracted by the linking together the carriages
forming the train; and S<>e when extended to its full length by
disconnecting the carriages. 3, C, is a three-way cock; C, collars with vertical
and horizontal motion (shown in elevation and section at 7 & 8 in Sheet 2,)
and g, i, elastic pipe or tube. C, L, represent the central longitudinal lines in
all cases; and the above letters referring to similar parts in each place, I will
not repeat them in the description of the other plans. The fixed pipe or
tube is prevented moving in a longitudinal direction by projections or flanges
on it at each side of the vertical and horizontal sliding collar, and the other
collars or wings into which it is elsewhere fitted, or by any other suitable
means.
In Plan No. 2, two pipes or tubes similar to No. 1 are fitted to each
carriage, but with their ends reversed as to their terminal forms, to avoid the
use of turntables and delay and delay, &c., in making up trains.
In Plan No. 3, one pipe or tube branching into two at each end of the
carriage is represented for the same purpose as No. 2. No. 4: Here are
two pipes or tubes similar to No. 3, one only, however, being fitted with
three-way cocks, the other without them, for the exclusive use of the guard
and engine driver.
Plans Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are respectively the same as Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4,
except that a sliding pipe or tube is fitted to each end of the fixed one.
Sheet No. 2; Figures 1 and 3 are part elevations of the end of a carriage,

page_text: and 2 and 4, part longitudinal sections of same, showing how the ends of
the pipes or tubes are retained at a datum height by self-acting apparatus.
Figures 1 and 3. The vertical bar A, terminating with a wheel or roller R,
pressing on the rail r, is fitted to the buffer plank by the connecting bar or
link C, C; C is the centre or pin by which it is attached to the buffer plank,'
and C that by which it is connected with R; s is a slot or guide in the bar R,
to allow a vertical motion; d is an horizontal lever jointed to A at e, and to
another horizontal lever d by the link f at e and el, these levers being fitted
to the carriage on their centres g, g. To the lever d a vertical bar h, with a
slot or guide s is jointed at e", and the upper end of this bar is jointed to the
sliding collar C at i in a horizontal slot or groove. The wheel or roller R is
wider than the rails, and if placed at an acute horizontal angle with the rail,
the leading end pointing inwards, it will act as an inclined plane in removing
any obstacle on the rails that may endanger the safty if the trains, throwing
it off the rails outwards by a sliding motion.
Figures 2 and 4 show another way for connecting the levers with the
vertical bars, similar parts being marked with the same letters.
The following is another plan for the same purpose.
I instead of carrying
the bar A down to the rail, and fitting it with a wheel or roller, I take it a
little below the buffer plank, and then joint it to another bar, which is fitted
to the axle of the wheels similarly (or in any other efficient manner) to the
strap on an excentrix.
Figure 5 is part elevation elevation of the end of a carriage, in which wire
or other rope is used to connect the vertical bar R and the sliding collar C,
and maintain the ends of the pipes or tubes at an uniform height. Two
ropes are fixed to the vertical bar R, one a is roye through the puliies or
blocks b, b, b, b, and the end is fastened to the top of the sliding collar; the
other is rove through pullies or blocks d, d, and fastened to the lower end
of the sliding collar C. I effect the same purpose by adding an horizontal
arm to the vertical bar R, extending to a perpendicular let fall from the
sliding collar C, whence the ropes are rove to the top and bottom of the
sliding collar C.
Figure 6 shows the hollow hemisphere, conical, trumpet, or bell-shaped end
so extended and widened as to allow the sphere or portion of a sphere on the
ends of the pipe or tube on the proceding or following carriage to enter, and
thus guide it into its level in the hollow hemisphere or other shaped hollow
end, or the hollow part to press on the sphere or portion of a sphere, and be
brought to the datum height.
Figure 7 is an elevation, and 8 a section, of .a.proposed sliding collar.

page_text: Having particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed," and added
Plans as aids to my said description, it must be particularly and clearly
understood that I do not confine myself to the proportions, forms, or positions
of the different parts as shown in the accompanying Plans, as these may be
varied according to circumstances, so long as they are so constructed as to
carry into effect my said Invention; and that the Plans are not made to any
scale.
It must be particularly and clearly understood that I do not claim all the
separate parts as my Invention; that I do not claim as parts of my said
present Invention "pipes or tubes with conical, trumpet, or bell-shaped ends
unconnected by mechanical joinings or couplings," nor "the curving or
bending round of the end of the pipe or tube next the driver, or covering it
with a conical or other shaped shield," these being parts of a former Invention
of mine, for which Letters Patent, No. 70, A. D. 1856 (now void), were
granted to me and Edward Hallan; but that what I do claim as my present
Invention are the following:-The combination of the different parts so as to
form a means of verbal communication between the passengers and guards,
and vice versâ, and between the guard and engine drivers, and vice versa, or
only between the guard and engine driver, and vice versa, whether the guard's
van is placed in the fore, after, or any other part of the train, or when more
than one guard's van is attached to the train. One or more pipes or tubes
fitted to each carriage, van, engine, or tender, so as to form a means of verbal
communication between the passengers and guard, and vice versa, and between
the guards and engine drivers, and vice versa. The sphere or portion of a
sphere on either the fore or after end of the fixed pipe or tube, or on a shorter
pipe or tube sliding in or on the fore or after end of the fixed pipe or tube,
through, or which, or without stuffing box or collar.
Sliding pipes or tubes terminating as above described, and pressed into or
on the end of the pipe or tube of the preceding or following carriage, van,
engine, or tender, by a spring or springs, weight or weights, so as to form a
sufficiently air-tight joint to form these pipes or tubes into a continuous one
for the conveyance of a verbal message from the passengers to the guard, and
vice versâ, and form the guard to the engine driver, and vice versa.
The adaptation of the sphere or portions of a sphere on either the fore or
after end of the fixed pipe or tube, or on a shorter pipe or tube sliding in or
on the fore or after end of the fixed pipe or tube, through, or with, or without
a stuffing box or collar to the conical, trumpet, or bells-shaped end of the fixed
pipe or tube, or of a shorter pipe or tube sliding in or on the fore or after ends

page_text: of the fixed pipe or tube, through, or with, or without a stuffing box or collar
on the proceding or following carriage, van, engine, or tender, so as to make
these pipes or tubes into a continuous one for the conveyance of a verbal
message from the passengers to the guard, and vice versâ, being an improve-
ment on my former Invention, where "the ends of the tubes or pipes which
ran along from one carriage to another and fitting loosely the one into the
other," were not intended for the conveyance of a verbal message, and were
not always in close connexion, but left a space between each end, greater or
less as the buffers pressed towards receded from each other.
The adaptation of the conical, trumpet, or bell-shaped end to the end of the
shorter pipe or tube sliding in or on the fore or after end of the fixed pipe or
tube through, or with, or without a stuffing box or collar, so as to be pressed
by a spring or springs, weight or weights, on the sphere or portion of a
sphere on the ends of the pipe or tube on the preceding or following carriage,
van, engine, or tender, and thus form them into a continuous pipe or tube for
the conveyance of a verbal message from the passengers to the guard, and
vice versâ, as well as from the guard to the engine driver, and vice versâ,
being also an improvement on my said berein-before mentioned Invention.
The three-way cock, to open and cut off the means of communication
between the different parts of the train, acording to requirement. Duplicate
pipes or tubes on each carriage (as well as a single pipe or tube), fitted with
moveable sphere and hollow hemispher, or conical, trumpet, or bell-shaped and,
or one pipe or tube branching into two where near each end of the carriage,
van, engine, or tender, with their ends in a reversed position, with reference
to their terminal forms, in order to ensure the means of communication
irrespective of the attention of the attendants or use of turntable, and to avoid
delays in making up trains.
Duplicate pipes or tubes branching into two, as above described, one only
being of each description of duplicate, being fitted with three-ways cocks, for
the use of the passengers and guard, vice versa, and guard and engine driver,
and vice versa, the other without three-way cocks for the sole use of the guard
and engine driver.
A spring or springs, weight or weights, to press the ends of the pipes or
tubes into or on each other, so as to make a sufficiently. air-tight joints to
form the pipes or lutees into a continuous one for the conveyance of a verbal
message from the passengers to the guard, and vice versa, as well as from
the guard to the engine driver, and vice versa.
The application and adaptation of a sphere or portions of a sphere on the
end of a fixed or sliding pipe or tube to a hollow hemispherical end of a fixed

page_text: or sliding pipe or tube, and to the conical, trumpet, or bell-shaped end of a
fixed or sliding pipe or tube, so as to allow the train to travel on curves, thus
avoiding the use of elastic joints or hinges near the ends of the pipes or tubes
to accomplish that purpose.
The forming several pipes or tubes into a continuous one for the conveyance
of a verbal message, without union joints or other couplings, by hand, by
means of the modifications of the ball-and-socket joint I have described.
The division of pipes or tubes on, and conveyance of the divided ends into
the guard's van, to render unnecessary the use of a turntable to place the van
in any particular direction with references to the terminal forms of the pipes
or tubes where duplicate pipes or tubes are fitted.
The self-acting means (applicable to any position the pipes or tubes are
fitted to) for bringing to and maintaining the ends of the pipes or tubes at a
datum height from the rails, and the application of the first described place
for that purpose to the removal of obstructions from the rails.
It is also particularly and clearly to be understood that I include all such
variations in the forms, proportions, and relative positions of the parts, as
carry out the object of my said Inventions, and that through I have described
the pipes or tubes as fitted to each carriage, van, engine, or tender, in what
I consider the most advantageous position, I do not confine myself to so
placing them; they may be filled to any other suitable or convenient part of
the carriage, van, engine, or tender.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Holland Kingston, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
year
Present,
JANE SEAGREAVE.
W. H. KINGSTON. (L.S.)