Improvements connected with Apparatus for Railway Train Signalling.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 25th July, 1893-Accepted, 23rd Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Apparatus for Railway Train
Signalling.
We, RICHARD ROBERT HARPER, Telegraph Engineer, and JAMES COOTE
GARNHAM, Metal Merchant, both of 10, Laurence Pountney Lane, City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object, improvements in electric belts and bell keys
used in signalling between passengers and the guards or other persons in charge
of railway trains.
The first portion of our invention relates to a detail improvement in the bell
instrument, whereby instead of using an ordinary electro magnet of the usual
two coils, we make use of three or more coils of wire (preferably four coils) to
form the electro magnet for ringing the bells in the guards vans, or upon the
engine, by this arrangement we obtain an increased magnetic force with an
increased resistance. The four coils of wire of the electro magnet (when four
are used) are mounted upon an iron back plate, the wires of the coils being
joined up in series forming an electro magnet with alternate poles at their front
ends to attract a flat ring or other armature.
The second part of our invention relates to improvements in the pull handle
or lever for the use of the passengers, which when pulled out alters its position
and becomes a visual signal in the compartment of the carriage where the pas-
senger has used it, the pull being mechanically locked in its altered position
simultaneously making electrical contact and signals. The third part
relates to a special key or key end, SO that when the pull 18
locked it can only be unlocked by the improved key. For the
purpose of our invention, we provide a metal plate with a boss on
the front and a hole through the centre thereof, the back of the plate having
two ribs or projections in a line with each other across the plate but clear of the
before mentioned centre hole, on the outside of each of these projections we fix
by screws or other appliances the short end of a shaped spring, the long ends
being free and their edges over the centre hole on the inside of the plate;
through the centre hole we place a metal stem or piston with the back portion
turned smaller than the front forming a step, this divides the J shaped springs
forcing them apart with the step against their edges locked.
Through the front of the plate and between the springs we make a slotted
opening and by placing a T shaped key or T shaped end of a key in this opening
and turning the key to a right angle, the springs are opened, the stem or piston
drawn back by a spiral or other suitable spring to the unlocked or normal position.
By making an elbow or other hinge joint near the front end of the stem or
piston the handle or pull out piece will fall down when the stem is drawn out of
the boss or sleeve in the front plate showing the pull thus acted upon.
Upon the before mentioned projections on the back of the plate, we fix a cover

page_text: plate with a hole through the centre in a line with the front hole for the stem
or piston to pass through to keep it centrally, and on this plate we mount an
electrically insulated piece having a metal stud or contact piece which is out
of contact between the J springs when the stem or piston is in the normal position
or unlocked.
The action of the key is as follows: upon pulling the stem forward, the flat
portion of the springs close upon the turned down portion of the stem also upon
the contact stud, the edges of the J springs being locked against the shoulder
or large part of the stem which prevents the stem or piston from being pushed
inwards remaining in electrical contact locked until the T key is inserted and
turned to separate the J springs and the stem pushed or drawn back to the un-
locked position while upon drawing the stem out as described and releasing the
hand, the handle, or pull piece falls down, the joint being then out of the sleeve.
In some cases, it may be found more convenient to push the knob or handle
inwards to make the electrical contact, this may be readily done by reversing
the parts end for end, or the pull may be made to break electrical contact instead
of making it as described.
The pull as described when mounted in a wood base together with the bell
instrument, we prefer to connect up electrically as described in Patent No. 2434
of 1875 (Old Law).
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Robert Harper and James Coote Garnham.
Improvements connected with Apparatus for Railway Train
Signalling.
We, RICHARD ROBERT HARPER, Telegraph Engineer, and JAMES COOTE
GARNHAM, Metal Merchant, both of 10, Laurence Pountney Lane, City of
London, 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 its object, improvements in electric bells and bell keys
used in signalling between passengers and the guards or other persons in charge
of railway trains.
The first portion of our invention relates to a detail improvement in the bell
instrument, whereby instead of using an ordinary electro magnet of the usual
two coils, we make use of three or more coils of wire (preferably four coils) to
form the electro magnet for ringing the bells in the guards vans, or upon the
engine, by this arrangement we obtain an increased magnetic force with an
increased resistance. The four coils of wire of the electro magnet (when four
are used) are mounted upon an iron back plate, the wires of the coils being
joined up in series forming an electro magnet with alternate poles at their front
ends to attract a flat ring or other armature.
This first part of our invention will be clearly understood from Sheet 1 of the
annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the positions we

page_text: prefer the parts to occupy in the casing, the front cover of this being in section
for the purpose.
Figure 2 front elevation with cover removed.
Figure 3 elevation of apparatus the reverse to that shown at Figure 1.
A, base. B, C, D, E, four coils (electro magnets) arranged in proximity
affixed to a plate F at one end, and with their cores G, H, I, J, projecting from
the other, against the whole of which the armature K is suspended from the
plate L and carrying the striker M for sounding the gong or bell N when the
electric current is closed, such as when the exposed push button P is pushed
in, this being located on the front cover plate Q, as seen at Figure 1. The push
button has a spring R to return it to its normal position but when
the button is pushed in, the spring R being connected to the casing which is
in circuit and by bearing in contact with a second or dormant spring S closes
the circuit with the electro magnets B, C, D, E. These electro magnets by
their combination and being joined up in series with alternate poles at their
front ends offer great magnetic force and are very effective in action, The
electro magnets C, D, E, F, are in circuit through short cable T and contact
plates U, V, to the zinc pole by the wire W, the line wire X being connected
by the contact plate Y with the base of the insulated dormant spring S.
The front cover plate is provided with a number of holes near and at its lower
part for the sound waves to escape.
One of the apparatus represented, is placed in the guard's or attendant's coach,
and another similar one on the engine to enable persons in charge to put them-
selves in electrical communication with each other according to a desired code
while the train is travelling.
The essential feature of novelty in this part of our invention, is, we employ
more than the usual number of electro magnets, joined up in series and forming
a single electro magnet with alternate poles at their front ends whereby an
increased magnetic force is obtained with an increased resistance, said electro
magnets, as aforesaid, being employed in combination with the appliances repre-
sented on the drawings (Sheet 1) in connection with railway train signalling
in the manner set forth.
The second part of our invention, relates to improvements in the pull handle
or lever for the use of the passengers, which when pulled out alters its position
and becomes a visual signal in the compartment of the carriage where the pas-
senger has used it, the pull being mechanically locked in its altered position
simultaneously making electrical contact and signals.
The third part relates to a special key or key end, so that when the pull is
locked, it can only be unlocked by the improved key.
For the purpose of our invention, we provide a metal plate with a boss on
the front and a hole through the centre thereof, the back of the plate having
two ribs or projections in a line with each other across the plate but clear of the
before mentioned centre hole, on the outside of each of these projections we fix
by screws or other appliances the short end of a J shaped spring, the long ends
being free and their edges over the centre hole on the inside of the plate;
through the centre hole we place a metal stem or piston with the back portion
turned smaller than the front forming a step, this divides the J shaped springs
forcing them apart with the step against their edges locked.
Through the front of the plate and between the J springs we make a slotted
opening, and by placing a T shaped key, or T shaped end of a key in this opening,
and turning the key to a right angle, the springs are opened, the stem or piston
drawn back by a spiral or other suitable spring to the unlocked or normal position.
By making an elbow or other hinge joint near the front end of the stem or
piston, the handle or pull out piece will fall down when the stem is drawn out of
the boss or sleeve in the front plate showing the pull thus acted upon.
Upon the before mentioned projections on the back of the plate, we fix a cover
plate with a hole through the centre in a line with the front hole for the stem

page_text: or piston to pass through to keep it centrally, and on this plate we mount an
electrically insulated piece having a metal stud or contact piece which is out
of contact between the J springs when the stem or piston is in the normal position,
or unlocked.
The action of the key is as follows: upon pulling the stem forward, the flat
portion of the J springs close upon the turned down portion of the stem also upon
the contact stud, the edges of the J springs being locked against the shoulder
or large part of the stem which prevents the stem or piston from being pushed
inwards remaining in electrical contact locked until the T key is inserted and
turned to separate the springs and the stem pushed or drawn back to the un-
locked position while upon drawing the stem out as described and releasing the
hand, the handle or pull piece falls down, the joint being then out of the sleeve.
In some cases, it may be found more convenient to push the knob or handle
inwards to make the electrical contact, this may be readily done by reversing
the parts end for end, or the pull may be made to break electrical contact instead
of making it, as described.
The pull as described when mounted in a wood base together with the bell
instrument, we prefer to connect up electrically as described in Patent No. 2434
of 1875 (Old Law).
The second part of our invention is shown on Sheet 2 of the drawings.
Figure 4 face view of our improved pull for passenger use in a train in which
our foregoing gong or bell system is employed.
"
Figure 5, Sheet 2, is a back elevation showing the pull appliances within the
bulb and with the bow or J shaped spring plates b, b, apart in their normal
positions, the "pull" e being drawn back by a spiral spring encircling the
rode of the "pull" c, said bow springs b, b', (see Figure 4) being out of touch
with the contact plate g by reason of the plates b, b, bearing against a greater
diameter of the rod e of the "pull" and clear of the keyhole cheeks h, h.
66
Figure. 6, Sheet 2, shows the position of the bow spring plates b, b', when the
'pull" c has been pulled out, such as when a passenger desires assistance, in
which case the bow spring plates b, b, come to bear against the contact plate g,
their ends resting against the keyhole cheeks h, h. The contact plate g ter-
minates in a segmental piece i of a springy character with its lower end free
to bear against one of the conducting wires intermediate of and connected with
the train cable. The bow spring, say b, being fastened to the front plate j of
the pull" makes electrical connection by the screw and strip / with the
segmental plate, the free end of which is in contact with the other wire
of the train cable and thus completes circuit with the sounding apparatus.
This will be understood by the following explanation: the case A being of
metal permanently fixed to the engine framing is therefore always in connection
with the earth or return wire of circuit.
S is an insulated spring, and when P is pressed upon, R joins and makes
contact with S for the purpose of ringing to guards.
In like manner each or any of the guards may communicate with the driver,
the passenger's key putting line to return wire when used at any part of the
train.
Figure 7 is a section of the "pull" mechanism and having a double jointed
or link connection m between the "pull" c and its rod d; the free end of both
segments bear against the conducting wire support p, which support passes
through the partition of the compartment of the carriage in the well known
manner. In this view Figure 7 the appliances are in position for ordinary
travelling, the bow springs 6 61 being apart by resting against the larger diameter
of the pull rod e, but when the pull" c is pulled out by a passenger, as at
Figure 8, the bow springs by their springyness close in towards the smaller
diameter of the pull rod e and come into contact with the intermediate plate g
and completes circuit, as will be understood from the foregoing, and will continue
to ring the signals until an attendant of the train discovers by the dropped
56

page_text: position of the "pull" c the compartment from which the signal proceeded.
Figure 9 shows a side elevation of a bulb a on which a ring shape of "pull" c
with a single joint n is represented, so that it may drop, as shown in dotted
lines, and be readily visible to an attendant.
The pulling out of the pulls shown at Figures 4, 7, 8, and 9 causes a continuous
ringing of the bells in the end or other carriages and the engine of a train, and
the "pull" can only be re-adjusted to stop the ringing by the use of a cross
barred key g, the nose of which is indicated at Figure 10, and this after insertion
into the keyhole of the front plate j must pass the cheeks h, h, before it can be
turned to a right angled position, as seen at Figure 6, to separate the bow spring
plates b, b, and allow of the spiral spring d drawing in the rod e, Figure 8
which action will replace the " pull" in its normal state, as at Figure 7.
The cross barred key y may be part of the ordinary door key of a railway
attendant, but preferably it is an extra one located with the sound signalling
apparatus for an attendant to detach and take with him to reset the passenger
pull appliances.
Figure 11, (Sheet 3) of the drawings is an explanatory diagram of the circuits
hereinbefore referred to, the various connections and contact appliances being
marked with the letters of reference corresponding with those mentioned in the
foregoing description, and by means of which the path of the current may be
followed.
It will be understood that by this invention, not only can the attendants of
a train communicate with each other electrically, but an alarm can be given
by a passenger to both sound signals of the train, or to as many sound signals
that the train may be provided, such as through a train which has to slip
carriages at intermediate stations and junctions, it being only necessary in making
up a fresh train to couple up the electric connection of the carriages, say, with
the new engine, to make the electric connection complete, as in the first instance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In apparatus for electrically sounding in railway trains, the combination of
four electro magnetic coils B, C, D, E, assembled in the manner represented on
the drawings Sheet 1, said coils being joined up in series as set forth and form-
ing an electro magnet with alternate poles at their front ends, as described.
«
2. In apparatus for ringing sounds in railway trains, the employment of
J shaped springs b, b, in pairs, one on either side of a key aperture and having
between them a contact piece g, against which both springs b, b', bear when the
pull" is pulled out, said pull" being jointed and having a drop action
as the means for locking and localising and visibly exposing the compartment
of a carriage in which the same has been pulled, as set forth with reference to
Sheet 2 of the drawings.
The 23rd day of July 1898.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Robert Harper, and
James Coote Garnham.