A SELF-ACTING ALARUM, WHICH CAN BE FIXED ON TENDERS, GUARD'S COMPARTMENTS, OR OTHER PARTS OF RAILWAY TRAINS, FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS
Year: 1861

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Funnell at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th September
1861.
I, EDWARD FUNNELL, of 54, East Street, Brighton, in the County of
Sussex, Watch and Clock Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "A SELF-ACTING ALARUM, WHICH CAN BE FIXED ON TENDERS,
GUARD'S COMPARTMENTS, OR OTHER PARTS OF RAILWAY TRAINS, FOR PREVENTING
COLLISIONS," to be as follows:-
First, in the application of a self-acting alarum to tenders & guard's com-
partments, or other parts of the train.
Secondly, in the application of a separate movement for the point of
contact with the alarum for the use of station masters and other persons
employed.
Thirdly, in communicating self-acting contact with the alarum at over half
a mile distances.
Fourthly, in the application of levers connected with bevel wheels and
cranks at fixed stages for the locking and unlocking points of contact.
Fifthly, in the mode in which the sliding bar is made to move the levers
horizontally, to convey their movements to distant stages, and act simul-
taneously.
Sixthly, in producing compensation for the expansion and contraction of the
length of conductors arising from changes of temperature, thereby insuring
safe locking and unlocking of the cranks at combined stages.
The manner in which I carry my Invention into effect is particularly shewn
in the Drawings hereunto annexed, as explained by the description thereof

page_text: herein contained, reference being had to the figures and letters marked on the
Drawings in correspondence with the figures and letters inserted in the
description.
Locking stage, No. 2.-(A), the lever passed through the under side of
left-hand rail, to which is fixed bevel wheel (B) and its axle (C), per-
pendicular bevel wheel (D) with its axle fixed to crank (E). Lever (A) when
moved forward by the sliding bar (F), bevel wheels (B and D) moving
simultaneously, rotates crank (E) forward at (No. 1) perpendicular; (G), the
conductor attached at (No. 2), and is prolonged to the three-grooved pulley
(H) passed under the innermost groove and is attached at (No. 3), winds the
weight (W), which is also attached to the middle groove (No. 4). (J)
is another conductor attached to the outer groove at (No. 5), and passed
over the top, and is continued to the double-grooved locking crank (K), and
attached at (No. 6, on which axle is fixed (L) the point of contact with the
alarum, as also bevel wheel (M); (N), the signal, on which axis is fixed
bevel wheel (O), moving simultaneously with bevel wheel (M); (P) is a
weight passed over pulley (Q), and attached to crank (K) at (No. 7), and
unwinds conductor (J) at (No. 5), rotating crank (K), with its circular locking
plane backwards, and is retained at (R) by (S) the locker and the signal
(N) at right angles.
Unlocking stage, No. 3.-(A), the lever passed through horizontally the
under side of left-hand rail, to which is fixed bevel wheel (B) and axle (C);
bevel wheel (D), the axle of which is fixed to crank (E); lever (A) when
moved forward by the sliding bar (F), bevel wheels (B and D) moving
simultaneously, rotates crank (E) forward at (No. 1) perpendicular; (G),
the conductor attached at (No. 2), and is prolonged to the three grooved
pulley (H) passed under the innermost groove, and attached at (No. 3),
winding the weight (W) which is attached to the middle groove at (No. 4);
(J), another conductor of the same length, is attached to the outer groove
at (No. 5) and passed over the top, and is continued to crank (T) and
attached at (No. 8); (U) is a weight passing over pulley (V) and attached to
crank (T) at (No. 9) on the axle of which the locker (S) turns freely;
(U), the weight, unwinds conductor (J) at (No. 5), rotating crank (T)
backwards, which raises the locker (S) at (Z), whereby crank (K) is dis-
engaged, and returns to its former position, point (L), horizontally, signal
(N) parallel, and levers (A and A) obliquely, simultaneously, by the gravity
of the weights (W and W) which also descends, when conductors (J and G)
expands and ascends, when (J and G) contracts by the changes of tem-
perature. Thus it will be seen that should a second train with its alarum

page_text: pass over (L) the point of contact before a former train has passed stage
(No. 3), that point (L) will transmit through the alarum its dangerous
proximity to the former.
Fig. 1 represents the sliding bar suspended obliquely across the under side
of carriage or tender, and the lever banking at the angle of 45 degs. across the
line of rails. (A), the front of the bar, commences turning the lever and
continues till the full length of bars has passed, leaving the lever at (B)
parallel with the front rail; (C and D) are centres on which the bar turns to
relieve it over the points of lever on a backward motion. Fig. 1 (A) repre-
sents the side view of sliding bar to keep it close to its bearings (F, F).
Figure 2 represents the alarum lever prolonged from front to back of carriage
or tender. (A), the axis, and is raised at the point of contact (L), pressing
upward with it the rod (C), to which is attached a cord (D), the other end of
which is attached to a two-grooved pulley at (E), which revolves on the abour of
the alarum wheel (F),and winds the weight (G) which is attached to the groove.
As soon as the lever has passed over (L), the lever with its rod falls with its
own gravity to its former place of rest; weight (G) being released, and in its
descent rotates the alarum wheel (F) and communicates its force to the
palletts on the arbour of the hammer (H), which strike the bell until the
weight (G) is at rest. Figure 3 represents a separate movement, whereby
the point of contact can be raised at stations when required. (A), the wheel
rotated forward by the hand with the handles (B, C, D, &c.), to which is
fixed ratchet wheel (E) and a grooved pulley (F); (G), the retainer ;
(H), the conductor, of any required length, attached to pulley (F), the
extreme end of which is attached to a double-grooved crank (K), on the axle
of which is fixed bevel wheel (M), and point (L) passed through the left-hand
rail; (N), the signal, on the axis of which is fixed bevel wheel (0); (M and
O) moving simultaneously, the signal at right angles and point (L) perpen-
dicular; (P) is weight attached at (No. 2); on (lever S) being raised,
weight (P) with its own gravity turns signal (N) parallel, and point (L)
horizontally.