A Signalling Apparatus, applicable to Railway Trains.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1894
Complete Spec fication Left, 21st Aug.. 1895-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1895
A Signalling Apparatus, applicable to Railway Trains.
I, FRANK NICHOLSON, of Oakfield, N.Y., U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide simple means whereby it may be readily
ascertained in which direction a train is moving.
My invention comprises a vertical shaft fitted with a gear wheel at its lower end
which engages a similar wheel upon the axle of a carriage or other like rolling
stock. The gear wheels are kept normally out of engagement by a friction disc
fitted to the shaft and running in contact with another friction-disc which
co-operates with a spring to raise the shaft and keep the gear wheels apart. By
means of a set-screw however, the tendency of the spring may be overcome and
the gear wheels made to engage and rotate the shaft in either direction according
to the direction in which the train is moving. A light-shield is fitted to the top of
the shaft, and a lantern is located within the path of the shield so that its light
may be cut off thereby. A bulls eye frame is located adjacent to the lantern and
has two or more lenses therein; the frame being capable of being moved to display
either of the lenses and be adapted to be engaged by the light-shield and to be
caused to shew one lens when the shield is moving in one direction and a different
lens when the shield is moving in the opposite direction.
Dated this 20th day of November 1894.
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicant's Agent.
A Signalling Apparatus, applicable to Railway Trains.
1, FRANK NICHOLSON, of Oakfield, New York, U.S.A., Inventor 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 :-
My invention relates to an improvement in those signal lights which are provided
with revoluble shields whereby the light is made to flash as the train proceeds, and
the principal feature of the invention lies in certain improved features of construc-
tion and combination of parts, by which the colour of light is automatically reversed
as the car to which it is attached changes its course.
Other points of novelty are present in my invention and lie in various details of
construction and subordinate combinations, through the medium of which the
efficacy of appliance in increased; and all the features will be more fully described
hereinafter and finally embodied in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a portion of a freight train caboose
having my improvements applied and shown with the roof broken away.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the lanterns.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the means for driving the revolving light shields,
the said means being shown detached from the companion parts.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the light shield.
Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken through the lanterns.
Fig. 6 is a perspective of the bull's-eye frame and the means for operating it,
said device being detached from the remaining parts.
Fig. 7 is a view showing the mode of operation which attends the bulls eye
frame.
Fig. 8 is a detail of the lens-frame lever...
The reference numeral 1 indicates the body of the car, which is here shewn as a
freight train caboose, since my invention is best adapted for use on this class of car,
though it may obviously be used in other relations.
2 indicates the car axles, and these are mounted on the usual wheels and attended
by the trucks, as shown, all of which is well understood.
My improvements will be arranged at each end of the car, and since this will be
understood I will not describe them in duplicate. Mounted in the longitudinal
beams 3, so as to be capable of rotary movement therein, is the transverse shaft 4,
which has the belt pulley 5 fixed thereto at a point near its middle while its ends
extend beyord beams 3 and are provided with friction pinions or gear 6. The
pulley 5 is flanged and adapted for the reception of the belt 7, which passes over
its periphery and proceeds to the axle 2, over which it passes, as shewn, and by
which the motion of the axle is transferred to the shaft 4.
Fulcrumed on the pin 8 of the bottom of the car is the hand-lever 9, and this
passes up vertically through the slot 10 in the car bottom, so that it may be easily
reached by the occupants of the car. The lower end of the lever 9 projects down
to a point near the level of the axle 2, and is there connected to the wire or cord 11,
which proceeds toward the middle of the car for a short distance and is connected
to the swinging frame 12.
Frame 12 consists of two parallel and vertical bars pivoted to the transverse
rod 13, and depending downwardly to a point just above the axle, where they are
joined to the roller 14 a cross bar 15 being connected to them above the roller 14
and to which the wire or cord 11 is attached.
The roller 14 is arranged in the path of the belt 7, and when moved outwardly,
with frame 12, will engage said belt and draw it taut, which will cause it to
positively engage pulley and axle 2, and communicate motion from one to
another, the belt being normally slack enough to allow the axle movement
independent of the pulley 5. Thus the mechanism may be operated at will, and
in order to keep the belt at a proper tension, I provide the pawl-and-ratchet
mechanism 16 whereby the lever 9 may be held with the roller 14 engaged with
the belt 7.
Arranged in each corner of the car and just to one side of the friction pinions 6,
are the vertical shafts 17, which are duplicates of each other, and mounted in the
cup shaped bearings 40 supported by yokes 18 and in the horizontal platforms 19.
The bearings 40 and platforms 19 are one for each of the shafts 17, and the
bearings are provided with springs 39, which give them and consequently the
shafts 17, a tendency upwards. This tendency is overcome by the set-screws 41,
of arms 42, and the shafts forced downward to engage the gears 6 and 20. By
raising screws 41, the shafts with which they operate will move up, disengage
gears 6 and 20, and cause the shield 24 to stop operating; fixed to the lower
end of each of the shafts 17, just above the yokes 18, are the friction disks 20
which project out so that their lower peripheries will engage with the periphery
proper of the gears 6, and whereby the movements of the shaft 4 are transmitted
to the shafts 17.
The platforms 19 are located in the upper corners of the car and are supported
by brackets 21, a space being left between them and the car roof which will be
sufficient for the reception of the lantern mechanism. This consists of lanterns 22

page_text: removably yet rigidly secured in sockets 23, which are in turn immovably secured
to the upper surface of the platforms 19, and which may be of any preferred
construction. The upper ends of shafts 17 project above the platforms 19 and are
provided with the light shields 24, which consist of the circular metallic plates 25,
secured at their centers to the shafts and provided at their peripheries with the
shields proper or wings 26. The wings 26 project down to the upper surface of
the platforins 19, and are of a size equal to about one third of the circumference
of the disks or plates 25. These wings are adapted to move in a circular path
about the lanterns 22, and to alternately cover and uncover the light at a
predetermined point.
27 indicates a vertically-extending bull's-eye frame, which is curved in the arc
of a circle and adapted to lic just within the wing 26. This frame is rigidly
secured to the arm 28, which extends inwardly to the spindle 29 to which it is
pivotally connected. The spindle 29 is rigidly connected to the platform 19, and
at a point about midway the radius of the circle described by the plates 25, so that
the frame 27 will swing in an arc of a circle having a radius, and consequent
circumference of one half that of plate 25 and this for a reason that will herein-
after appear. The movements of frame 27 are limited by the arms 40 of the
sockets 23.
Pivotally connected to the spindle 29, and projecting outwardly therefrom, is an
arın 30, which extends through a horizontally elongated slot 31 in the frame 27,
and projects a distance beyond the same which will make it possible for the wings 26
to cugage with its ends as the wings travel in their characteristic line of move-
ment. Revolubly mounted in the outer ends of the arms 30 are the friction-
rollers 32, which are provided for engagement with the wings 26, whereby the
wear upon the wings, which would otherwise result is avoided.
Connected to each side of arm 30, and extending outwardly and inwardly there-
from, are the springs 33, which are two in number and which are employed to give
the arm a normal tendency in a line parallel with the longitudinal disposition of
the car.
The slot 31 is of such a length that it will permit the arm 30 a short
independent movement therein, and when the arm excee is the limits of the slot 31
it will bend against its ends and cause the frame 27 to swing with it. Thus as the
arm 30 is
engaged by the wing 26, when swinging under the influence of the car's
movements, it will be swung, say to the left, and, after traversing the limit of slot 31,
will positively engage the frame 27, and cause it to move with the arm, until the
arm, swinging in a circle smaller than that which attends the wing 26, passes out
the domain of the wing and returns under the influence of its spring 33.
Located in the frame 27 are the bulls eyes, or lenses 34, which are preferably
two in number, and which are formed of differently-colored glass. These lenses
are so arranged on the frame 27 that they will be in turn in longitudinal alignment
with their respective lanterns 22, when the frame 27 has been moved by the arm 30
and wing 26. Thus supposing it is desired to display a red light from the rear end
of the train and that the end of the car here shewn is the rear end, the eye in the
right hand end of the frame will be provided with a red lens, so that the wing 26,
on its attached disk, revolves from right to left it will, at each revolution engage
arm 30 and keep frame 27 in the proper position.
When the car moves in an
opposite direction the movement of wing 26 will be changed, so as to engage
arm 30 and throw frame. 27 in a position which will put the left hand light in
showing position, and this may be green, or any other color, which the system of
railroad signalling employed may call for.
The arrangement and color of the signal, is, of course, immaterial to this inven
tion, since they may be varied, and will, in practice, be constantly varied in suit
the conditions under which it is used. Formed in the rear end of the car, and at
each side thereof, are the openings 35, which are one for each lantern, and arranged
in true longitudinal alignment therewith, so that the light, when exposed by the
revolutions of wing 26, will shine therethrough and out the rear end of the train.
The sides of the car, just opposite the lanterns, are also formed with openings 36

page_text: therein, and these are covered with the semicircular shields through which
the light of the lanterns 22 may pass, subject, of course, to wing 26.
In operation the lanterns are lighted, and the parts adjusted, as explained, and
the frame 27 equipped with properly-covered lenses. As the car starts the lever 9
is moved to cause the belt 7 to positively engage the devices over which it travels.
This will set shafts 17 to revolving, and they will be followed by a corresponding
revolution of the light shields 24, and a consequent and alternate covering and
uncovering of the lights through the lenses of frame 27. As the shields 24
revolve, their wings 26 will engage the respective arms 30, and cause the frame 27
to be adjusted so as to put the proper lens in longitudinal alignment with the
lanterns.
It will be understood that the lenses of frame 27 are so arranged that the color
of the signal which it is desired to throw behind the train will be that of the lens
which is so located in the frame 27 that it will be put in longitudinal alignment
with the lantern according to the way in which the forward movement of the car
causes the frame 24 to rotate. Hence, supposing red to be the signal in question,
the red lens will be put in alignment with the lantern as the car moves in the
different direction of the arrow a of Fig. 1 and, when the car moves in the direc-
tion of the arrow b, this will be reversed and, say the green, light will be displayed
in its stead. As the shield 24 revolves it alternately covers and uncovers the
lens of frame 27 which is aligned with the lantern, and the wings 26 of such
shield are disposed oppositely, so that one of the lenses will be always exposed.
By means of the shields 37, the light of the lantern will be allowed to shine
laterally, and owing to its semicircular shape the train hands forward can see
whether the caboose, and consequently the train, is in place. The lenses of
frane 27 are arranged in the grooves 38, and renovably so that they can be
changed when the requirements of different systems of signaling necessitate.
It will be understood that the two lights with which the car is equipped shine
alternately, and that the shield 26 of one light covers the same while the corre-
sponding shield of the remaining light is arranged forward thereof, so as to permit
the same to shine rearwardly. The shining of the light occurs whenever the
shields are in position to permit it. It will be understood that the function of the
bull's eye frame is not to hide in any way the shining of the lights, but to change
the color thereof by changing the location of its lenses. Thus, as the shield 26
revolves, when the car is moving forwardly the bull's eye frame will be held in
one position and not reversed until the direction in which the car is moving is
changed; it will then be reversed to change the color of the light.
By regulating the gearing which operates shields 24, the exact number of
revolutions which will be given it by the varying speed of the trains can be
ascertained. Thus by counting the number of flashes the hands of a rearwardly
located train can tell the speed at which the train ahead is moving. In order that
the train hands ahead of the caboose can tell whether it is in place by the light
through the shield 37, it may be necessary to move the lanterns and their
attending parts outwardly and partially into the shields, but since such arrange-
ment is apparent, it is not thought necessary to show it in the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
(1.) A flash signal for railway cars, and comprising the combination of a vertical
revoluble shaft, an outwardly and downwardly extending shield connected thereto
and revolving therewith, a lantern arranged within the path of the shield, a bull's
eye frame baving two or more lenses therein and located within the path of the
shield and capable of moving in a limited circular path, and an arm adapted to
be engaged by the shield and pivoted to swing in a circle smaller than that of
the shield, and having a connection with the bull's-eye frame, whereby the 'said
frame, upon engagement with the shield is made to move so as to place one of its

page_text: lenses in position to show, and, when engaged by the shield when moving in
an opposite direction to place a second lense in position to show, substantially
as described.
(2.) A flash signal for railway cars, and consisting of a shaft connected with the
car axle and adapted to revolve in opposite directions according to the direction in
which the car is moving, a screen on the shaft and revolving therewith a lantern
located adjacent to the shaft, and a bull's-eye frame having two or more lenses
therein and capable of being moved to display either of said lenses, the said
movements being effected by engagement with the screen of the shaft, whereby
the bulls-eye frame is moved to display one lens when the screen is moving in one
direction and to display a different lens when the screen is moving in a second
direction, substantially as described.
(3.) A flash signal for railway cars, and consisting of a shaft connected to the
car-axle and adapted to revolve in opposite directions according to the direction in
which the car is moving, a light shield connected to and revolving with the shaft,
a lantern located within the path of the shield so that its light may be cut off
thereby, and a bull's eye frame located adjacent to the lantern and having two or
more lenses therein the frame being capable of being moved to display either of
the lenses, and adapted to be engaged by the light shield and to be caused to show
one lens when the shield is moving in one direction and a different lens when the
shield is moving in a second direction substantially as described.
(4.) A signal light for railway cars, and comprising the combination of a
continuously revolving friction disk a revoluble and vertically removable shaft,
a friction disk fixed to the shaft above the first disk and engaging therewith, a
spring co-operating with the shaft and giving it a tendency upward a set screw
whereby the tendency of the spring is overcome and the gears made to engage,
a lantern, and a shield on the shaft operating to move around the lantern, the
shaft being capable, upon the removal of the set screw, of raising so as to disengage
the friction disks, whereby the movements of the shield are stopped substantially
as described.
Doted this 1st day of A 1905
W. H. MUNNS.