Improvements in Railway Signalling.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Signalling.
I, JOHN SWINBURNE, of Woodlands, Blaina, Monmouth, Colliery Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in railway signalling and my invention
consists in the improved means substantially as hereinafter described whereby
the guard of a train may more readily communicate with the driver.
In carrying my invention into practice I provide the guard's van with a suit-
able air accumulator or reservoir into which air is forced by a suitable pump
Said accumulator
which is driven by an excentric on one of the axles of the van.
is provided with two whistles or equivalents one to indicate that all is right and
the other that there is danger and that the driver should stop the train, and
cither of said whistles may be sounded by the guard by merely pulling one of
two levers.
In addition to warning the driver as described my improved means of sig-
nalling will also warn the driver of a train approaching from the rear.
Dated this 20th day of September 1898.
J. SWINBURNE.
By his Agents, Horn, Son & Co.,
151, Strand (next to Somerset House), London.
Improvements in a way
I, JOHN SWINBURNE, of Woodlands, Blaina, Monmouthshire, Colliery 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 follow-
ing statement:-
This invention has reference to improvements in railway signalling and my
invention consists essentially in employing one of the axles or other like moving
part say of the guard's van of a train for the purpose of compressing air in a
reservoir which compressed air is then used as, and when desired by the guard,
to sound one or more whistles for the purpose of signalling to the engine driver.
In the accompanying drawing a sectional view of part of a van is shown illus-
trating one method of carrying my invention into effect, although I do not
confine myself thereto, as any suitably shaped reservoir may be used, also the
pump or other means employed for compressing the air in the reservoir may be

page_text: any which may be suitable for the purpose and the arrangement of the whistles
and other parts may be found in practice most suitable.
Describing the apparatus shown, A represents the van carried on wheels B
having axles C. One of said axles is provided with an eccentric or equivalent D
by means of which the rod E is reciprocated when the van is in motion said
rod being provided with eccentric straps of any usual construction. The free
end of the rod E is formed with a slot or otherwise adapted to engage with a
pin on the lower end of a lever G, said lever being pivotally supported at H
and having an upward extension J which engages with a pump rod K of a suit-
ably constructed air pump L the arrangement being such that normally while
the van is in motion the pump will be worked and air will be pumped into a
reservoir or reservoirs M.
Said reservoir or series of reservoirs--M may be provided with a pressure
gauge and safety valve and is connected by means of a pipe N to whistles O
one of which whistles when sounded denotes all right" and the other denotes
stop" and either of said whistles may be sounded by the guard or other
authorized person by pulling either of the handles P.
<<
In order to stop the pump after the air in the reservoirs is at a sufficient
pressure the rod E may be raised out of engagement with the pin by simply
pulling a lever Q which is formed or provided with a crank R which latter is
connected with the rod E by means of a tie or equivalent S and in order to
ensure that the slotted end of the rod E engages with the pin F when the
van is in motion and no matter at what position the eccentric may be at the
time, said rod is formed or provided with two extensions e which will engage
with the pin F and cause the slotted end of the rod E to drop on to said pin
when the engagement is made while the van is in motion.
As already stated I have only described one method or manner of carrying
my invention into effect instead of the apparatus as described I may provide
the axle with a worm wheel and transfer the motion to the pump by any suitable
mechanism or I may employ a chain or sprocket wheel or pulley for the
purpose. Further, if desired, the whistles may be so arranged as to be capable
of being sounded by any of the passengers, the necessary connections being
made in any well known manner. I wish it to be understood that I do confine
myself to any particular arrangement of the parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
The improvements in railway signalling consisting in employing an axle or
other moving part of a van carriage or other vehicle to compress air in a reservoir
or reservoirs said compressed air being then used as required to sound a whistle
or whistles.
8 20th day of June 1899.
J. SWINBURNE,
By his Agents, Horn, Son & Co.,
151, Strand (next to Somerset House), London.