Improvements in Railway Signals.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Apr., 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Signals.
I GEORGE BROCKELBANK of Belmont" 21 Thicket Road Anerley Surrey
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My Invention for Improvements in Railway Signals consists in a long board or plate
at the side of the engine. This board or plate is placed at a suitable angle from
the side, the whole length of the engine or more, the front of it being closer to
the engine than the back or tender end. On the line I fix a frame on which [
place a lever acting on a pivot. On this lever is a wheel or roller which comes in
contact with the said board or plate and is forced away from the engine by the
board or plate as the engine progresses, gradually, without any blow though the
trains speed may be sixty miles an hour. To the lever's end I attach a wire or
rod connected with the distant signal in the shape of a whistle, horn or loud
sounding instrument so that when an engine passes the lever, the whistle or other
loud sounding instrument informs the train behind that the line is clear. Close
to the said whistle or other instrument I place another frame and lever which
shuts off the whistle as the engine passes. To blow those whistles or other instru-
ments a small engine will fill a suitable receiver with compressed air conducted
through a pipe placed underground. A second whistle or other instrument will be
necessary to stop the train when the line is not clear about 250 yards before the
engine reaches the whistle aforesaid. Thus every train automatically signals the
following train, on the block system, doing away with signal boxes, signalmen,
signal posts, fog signals explosives semaphores lights &c. &c., effecting an enormous
saving in railway expences, and providing unerring intelligence to engine drivers.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1889.
GEO. BROCKELBANK.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Signals.
I GEORGE BROCKELBANK of "Belmont" 21 Thicket Road Anerley Surrey
Gentleman 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 consists in a system by which the engine signals the following train
or trains or its own approach to a station, dispensing with signal boxes, men
semaphores &c. which I now proceed to explain fully by drawings. Figure 1 is a
surface view thereof A A A A is a pipe the length of the line supplied with com-
pressed air by stationary engine to sound whistles B1 & B2 acted upon by
levers D1 & D 2 connected by the usual wire cord to the pullies L L in Figure 2.
D1 & D 2 when acted upon open the whistles. E 1 & E 2 closes them. Locomotive F
has by its long board G G at an angle on the side of engine just forced round lever D1
and turned on whistle B1. Lever E 1 is about to be forced round as engine proceeds
and by the connecting line or cord H H shuts off the whistle previously opened a
mile or so away, by engine F. As the locomotive passes whistle B 2 it is opened as
described in the case of whistle B 1 with D 2 lever. Lever E 2 then passed acts upon
connecting cord C. C. C. shuts off whistle B1 and brings back lever D1 to original
position to be again acted upon by next engine. On top and in centre of pully to
whistle L L Figure 2 a signal post can be placed that will rotate just a fourth of its
circumference with arm extended J and red light K both of which will not be seen
when the whistle is not sounding.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed 1. declare what 1 claim is
1stly. The long board on the side of the engine to meet the speed of the fastest
train for signalling & other purpose.
2ndly. The levers D1 & E1 fixed in the ground on which the board acts.
3rdly. The mode of supplying compressed air for whistles.
4thly. The use of compressed air for railway signalling purposes. In this final &
complete specification I indicate the danger by the whistle sounding not by its
silence.
GEO. BROCKELBANK.