Improved Means for Stopping Railway Engines and Trains Independently of their Drivers.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
Improved Means for Stopping Railway Engines and Trains
Independently of their Drivers.
We, WILLIAM HENRY YATES, Foreman, and JonN HAIGH, Clerk, both of
42, Rylance Street, Ardwick, Manchester, do hereby declare the nature of our said
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to apparatus for stopping railway engines & trains
independently of their drivers and has for its object to provide simple and
efficient apparatus whereby a train cannot accidentally pass a danger signal
without the train being brought to a standstill.
In carrying out our invention we employ in the permanent way a sliding block
tapered or rounded upon its upper face and adapted to slide to-and-fro between
the line of rails under the pull of a cord or wire connected with the ordinary
sema-phore signalling wire, and under the return action of a spring or weight.
When the ordinary sema-phore is lowered to the danger position (or such other
position at which the driver will require to stop the train) the said block is caused
to move across the permanent way (say upon a sleeper or like support), and
thereby be brought into line with the depending arm or lever of the vacuum
brake valve upon the engine, set in such relation to the valve, that the impact or
obstruction offered by the block serves to open the valve and cause the vacuum
brake to be immediately applied to the engine, which is thereby arrested before
any danger can arise.
The arrangement of such valve lever and the form, mounting and operation of
the brake may vary in details to suit requirements.
Improved Means for Stopping Railway Engines and Trains
Independently of their Drivers.
We, WILLIAM HENRY YATES, Foreman, and JOHN HAIGH, Clerk, both of
42, Rylance Street, Ardwick, Manchester, 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:-
-
Our invention relates to means for stopping railway engines and trains in-

page_text: dependently of their drivers so that if a train should accidentally pass a danger
signal it is brought to a standstill immediately it has passed such signal.
In carrying out our invention we employ in (or about) the permanent way a
sliding block, tapered or rounded upon its upper face, and, under the pull of a wire
connected with the ordinary semaphore signalling wire and the return action of a
spring or weight, adapted to slide to and fro. When the ordinary semaphore is at
danger position the said block is in line with a depending arm, connected to a
vacuum brake valve upon the engine and set in such relation to the valve that the
impact or obstruction offered by the block serves to open the valve, and cause
the vacuum brake to. be immediately applied to the engine, which is thereby
arrested before any danger can arise.
In order that our said invention may be clearly understood we have appended
hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a rear elevation of the cabin
portion of a locomotive with our invention applied thereto.
Fig. 3 is a diagramatic plan of a length of rails to assist in the explanation of
our invention.
In accordance with one application of our invention, we connect to the pipe (A)
identified with vacuum brake, a small branch pipe (B), which in turn is connected
to a valve (C), common to vacuum brakes. To the operating part of such valve
we apply the lever arm (D), and by a link (E), connect such arm to the bell-crank
lever (F). This last named lever we mount upon a fulcrum (G), and to its shorter
arm we connect the link (H), which in turn passes through an opening in the
underframe of the engine, and at a point below such frame is coupled to the upper
extremity of the striking lever (I). This latter, as illustrated, is mounted upon
a cross-shaft or axis (J) carried by a strong bifurcated bracket (K) secured to the
engine frame. Such shaft (J) passes to the other side of the engine where it
also carries a further striking lever (L), and where it is further supported by a
bracket (K).
Alongside the line of rails we arrange a striking block (M), which is capable
under suitable impulses of moving to and fro, and into and out of the path
traversed by the striking lever (I) on the engine. Such impulses are obtained,
by preference, from the wire or chain (O) which operates the ordinary semaphore
signal, as shewn in Fig. 3, a short extension or bye-wire (N) being connected to
the block at one end, and to the semaphore wire (0) at the other, with a com-
pensating spring or weight for returning the block to its normal position. The
upper face of the said block (M) is formed to slope downwards to its respective
edges as illustrated, or present a double incline. When it is desired to bring
our invention into action the bye-wire (N) is coupled to semaphore wire (0),
thus causing the block (M) each time the semaphore signal is lowered, or there is
no danger, to be drawn out of the path of the striking lever (I) whilst when the
said signal is raised and it is intended that the driver should stop the engine, the
said block is brought into the path of the striking lever (I), consequently as the
train moves forward, and the striking lever meets the block (M), the impact is
such as to cause the lever (I) to rotate upon its axis and thereby pull down the
link (H), rotate the bell-crank lever (F) upon its fulcrum, operate the vacuum
brake valve (C) through link (E), and thus apply the brake and bring the engine
to a standstill.
By means of a catch or trigger (P) and notched quadrant (Q) we ensure of the
continuous application of the brake until released by hand, by which movement
the apparatus is simultaneously reset ready for the next signal.
It will be observed that the striking lever (L) on the right hand side of the
engine (see Fig. 2) operates when the engine is reversed or running backward.
Although preferring a separate vacuum valve attachment we may apply our
invention directly to the ordinary and existing valves, and vary the levers to suit
the other fittings of the engine; and similarly we may substitute other forms of
striking blocks or abutments, such as a rail having a very gradual incline and

page_text: raised and lowered by the semaphore signal wire, or any arrangement suitable
for acting on the striking lever (I) in a gradual manner consistent with the speed
of the engine. Although chiefly for use in foggy weather our invention may be
adapted for constant use, and whilst we more particularly describe our invention
as applied to vacuum brakes, we may apply it to steam and other types of brakes
controlled by a valve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. Stopping railway engines or trains by applying the brake or brakes,
independently of their drivers substantially as herein set forth.
2. In means for stopping railway engines and trains independently of their
drivers a striking lever or pendant device upon the engine, a striking block or
incline, in or about the permanent way adapted to be moved into and out of
the path of the said striking lever or device in sympathy with the movements of the
Semaphore signal, and by contact cause the lever to operate the brake controlling
mechanism on the engine or train substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 13th day of September 1899.
WILLIAM HENRY YATES,
JOHN HAIGH.
By John G. Wilson & Co., Fels. I.P.A.
Patent Agents to the Applicants.
WILLIAM HENRY YATES,
JOHN HAIGH.
By John G. Wilson & Co., Fels. I.P.A.
"Patent Agents to the Applicants.