IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION IN RAILWAY TRAINS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Tyer, of No. 4, Old Street, Finsbury, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND
APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION IN RAILWAY
TRAINS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Tyer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th February 1876.
EDWARD TYER, of No. 4, Old Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING ELECTRICAL
COMMUNICATIONS IN RAILWAY TRAINS."
My Invention relates to means and apparatus for effecting electrical communica-
tion in railway trains, more particularly to the construction and arrangement of
pulls in the several carriages or compartments whereby passengers can make or
break contact in an electrical conductor extending throughout the train, and to the
couplings whereby the said conductor is rendered continuous from carriage to car-
riage.
I fix at the end of each carriage, preferably near the ceiling, a piece of metal
tube which is in electrical connection with a conductor extending throughout the
train, and I provide a wire cord having at its end a brush of inetallic wires, which
when it is inserted in the said tube effects contact by the wires of its brush, and so
completes an electrical circuit through the wire cord. The said wire cord is led
through portions of non-conducting tube with parts of the cord exposed in the
several compartments of the carriage, so that passengers can pull the cord down-
wards into a loop, guide pullies being provided over which the cord is drawn. When
the cord is so pulled the brush is withdrawn from the metallic part of the tube, and
the electrical circuit is thereby interrupted, causing an audible or visible signal of
any known kind to be given in a guard's van or on the locomotive. Moreover the
loop of the cord as it remains hanging in the compartment where it was pulled
serves as a tell-tale to inform the guard or official of the particular compartment
whence the signal was given.
In order to restore the cord to its normal condition a piece of non-conducting
cord, attached to its brush end, is led through the conducting tube to the exterior
of the carriage, where the guard or official can pull it, thereby straightening the

page_text: When the signal is to be
wire cord and bringing the brush back into contact.
caused by making instead of breaking contact a like arrangement of brush, lying
usually in a non-conducting part of the tube, is pulled into a conducting portion
thereof.
Also, instead of making the contact portion a complete metallic tube it may be
made with portions of its opposite sides metallic, and separated from each other by
non-conducting material. Each of these side portions being permanently con-
nected to a conducting wire the circuit is completed, when a wire brush is drawn in
between them, and is broken when it is drawn out from between them, the wire
brush being in this case attached to a non-conducting cord.
Instead of making the brush upon the wire or other cord, with its wires project-
ing outwards so as to rub on the interior of a metallic tube, the brush may be
formed on the interior of such tube, with its wires projecting inwards, the cord
having attached to it in that case a piece of metal rod which can be pulled in
between the wires of the tube brush for making contact, and can be pulled out from
between them for breaking contact.
In coupling up the conductors from carriage to carriage I employ wire brushes in
either of the ways described above, with the following arrangements:-I fix on the
end of each carriage short pieces of metal tube, which constitute terminals of a
line wire in the carriage, and I provide pieces of wire cord of sufficient length to
extend in a slack condition from the one carriage to the next, and having at each
end a wire brush.
In making up a train the attendant has only to insert a brush end of the cord
into each of the tubular terminals, where it is retained by the spring pressure of the
brush wires, these wires making the necessary contact to complete the electrical
communication from the one carriage to the other. The tubular terminals may
have internal brushes, the wire cord having simply a piece of rod at each end which
can be thrust into each terminal tube. I prefer to make these pieces of rod with a
bulb or swell at their extreme ends so that after they have been thrust in among
the wires of the tube brushes they are held there unless sufficient force be applied
to pull them out.
According to another arrangement the connecting wire cord may be made with a
short piece of tube or thimble at each end which can be thrust on a wire brush
terminal fixed on the end of each carriage, or the said thimble may have an internal
wire brush which can be thrust on a metal pin terminal fixed on the carriage. Wire
brushes, for making electrical communication as above described, have the advantage
of presenting a great number of points of contact, and the rubbing of the brush
wires on the metal with which they are brought in contact has the effect of keeping
the contact points and surfaces clear.
According to another form of electrical coupling from carriage to carriage in which
there are no separate parts that might be lost, and which requires no special care in
connecting when a train is made up, I mount on the end of each carriage a lever
ar, at the end of which there is a metallic brush or a comb or plate with a number
of pins projecting all over its surface. When the carriages are separate these lever
arms stand nearly upright, leaning a little forward from the carriage ends, but in
coupling the carriages they meet each other so that the two combs are brought in
contact face to face, the pins of the one entering the interstices between those of
the other. There are thus established a number of points of contact, and each of
the levers being permanently connected to the conducting wire of its carriage, the
two wires are thus brought into connection with each other.
The jointing of the levers to the carriages, and the freedom of the comb teeth
among each other, give sufficient play of the parts to allow for the oscillation of the
carriages while they are in motion. When this arrangement is adopted a cord ex-
tending through the carriage on being pulled at any part by a passenger by with-
drawing the lever arms from contact breaks the electrical circuit. I also employ
magnets for electrical coupling from carriage to carriage in the following manner.
On the end of each carriage I fix a permanent magnet, which may be of horse-

page_text: shoe form, and which is permanently connected to the conducting wire extending
through the carriage. I provide pieces of wire cord having at each end a piece of
iron to act as an armature, and when two carriages are coupled up I apply the
armatures of the connecting wire cord one to each magnet, the attraction of which
holds them in contact, and thereby completes the electrical communication from
carriage to carriage. When the carriages are forcibly separated one or other of the
armatures becomes detached from the magnet.
I also employ magnets and armatures in a modified form for the purpose of
making electrical communication from one carriage to another, or when any carriage
is detached for completing the circuit at the end thereof, and of the carriage which
then forms the last of the train. For this purpose I place on the end of each
carriage a magnet capable of sliding a little vertically, and near its poles I fix an
armature, and I connect the magnet to one portion of the electrical circuit, and the
armature to another portion thereof.
When the magnet is in contact with the armature the electrical circuit is com-
pleted. But when another carriage is coupled on I insert between the magnet and
the armature a wedge-shaped piece of non-conducting material, such as wood
or vulcanite, on the face of which is a piece of iron connected by a wire cord to the
conducting wire of the next carriage.
The wedge piece separating the armature from the magnet breaks the electrical
communication through the latter but makes a communication from the magnet on
the one carriage to the conducting wire on the next, the wedge piece being kept in
position by the attraction of the magnet on the piece of iron facing it.
The arrangement last described is especially adapted for working on the system
usually known as the equilibrium circuit.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
tho said Edward Tyer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th August 1876.
EDWARD TYER, of No. 4, Old Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING ELECTRICAL
COMMUNICATION IN RAILWAY TRAINS."
My Invention relates to means and apparatus for effecting electrical communica-
tion in railway trains, more particularly to the construction and arrangement of
pulls in the several carriages or compartments whereby passengers can make or
break contact in an electrical conductor extending throughout the train and to the
couplings, whereby the said conductor is rendered continuous from carriage to
carriage.
I fix at the end of each carriage, preferably near the ceiling, a piece of metal tube
which is in electrical connection with a conductor extending throughout the train,
and I provide a wire cord having at its end a brush of metallic wires which when it
is inserted in the said tube effects contact by the wires of its brush and so completes
an electric circuit through the wire cord. The said wire cord is led through
portions of non-conducting tube with parts of the cord exposed in the several com-
partments of the carriage, so that passengers can pull the cord downwards into a
loop, guide pullies being provided over which the cord is drawn. When the cord is
so pulled the brush is withdrawn from the metallic part of the tube and the
electrical circuit is thereby interrupted, causing an audible or visible signal of any
known kind to be given in a guard's van or on the locomotive.
Moreover the loop
of the cord as it remains hanging in the compartment where it was pulled serves as
a tell-tale to inform the guard or official of the particular compartment whence the
signal was given.
In order to restore the cord to its normal condition a piece of non-conducting
cord attached to its brush end is led through the conducting tube to the exterior of
:

page_text: the carriage where the guard or official can pull it, thereby straightening the wire
cord and bringing the brush back into contact. When the signal is to be caused
by making instead of breaking contact a like arrangement of brush lying usually in
a non-conducting part of the tube is pulled into a conducting portion thereof.
Also instead of making the contact portion a complete metallic tube it may be
made with portions of its opposite sides metallic and separated from each other by-
non-conducting material. Each of these side portions being permanently connected
to a conducting wire the circuit is completed when a wire brush is drawn in between
them, and is broken when it is drawn out from between them, the wire brush being
in this case attached to a non-conducting cord.
Instead of making the brush upon the wire or other cord with its wires projecting
outwards so as to rub on the interior of a metallic tube the brush may be formed on
the interior of such tube with its wires projecting inwards, the cord having attached
to it in that case a piece of metal rod which can be pulled in between the wires of
the tube brush for making contact, and can be pulled out from between them for
breaking contact.
In coupling up the conductors from carriage to carriage I employ wire brushes in
either of the ways described above with the following arrangements: -I fix on the
end of each carriage short pieces of metal tube which constitute terminals of a line
wire in the carriage, and I provide pieces of wire cord of sufficient length to extend
in a slack condition from the one carriage to the next, and having at each end a
wire brush.
In making up a train the attendant has only to insert a brush end of the cord
into each of the tubular terminals where it is retained by the spring pressure of
the brush wires, these wires making the necessary contact to complete the electrical
communication from the one carriage to the other. The tubular terminals may have
internal brushes, the wire cord having simply a piece of rod at each end which can
be thrust into each terminal tube. I prefer to make these pieces of rod with a
bulb or swell at their extreme ends so that after they have been thrust in among
the wires of the tube brushes they are held there unless sufficient force be applied
to pull them out. Wire brushes for making electrical communication as above
described have the advantage of presenting a great number of points of contact, and
the rubbing of the brush wires on the metal with which they are brought in
contact has the effect of keeping the contact points and surfaces clean.
According to another form of electrical coupling from carriage to carriage in
which there are no separate parts that might be lost, and which requires no special
care in connecting when a train is made up, I mount on the end of each carriage a
lever arm, at the end of which there is a metallic brush, or a comb, or plate with
a number of pins projecting all over its surface. When the carriages are separate
these lever arms stand nearly upright, leaning a little forward from the carriage
ends, but in coupling the carriages they meet each other, so that the two combs are
brought in contact face to face, the pins of the one entering the interstices between
those of the other. There are thus established a number of points of contact, and
each of the levers being permanently connected to the conducting wire of its
carriage the two wires are thus brought into connection with each other.
The jointing of the levers to the carriages and the freedom of the comb teeth
among each other give sufficient play of the parts to allow for the oscillation of the
carriages while they are in motion. When this arrangement is adopted a cord
extending through the carriage on being pulled at any part by a passenger, by
withdrawing the lever arms from contact breaks the electrical circuit. I also
employ magnets for electrical coupling from carriage to carriage in the following
manner: On the end of each carriage I fix a permanent magnet which may be of
horse-shoe form and which is perinanently connected to the conducting wire
extending through the carriage. I provide pieces of iron to act as an armature,
and when two carriages are coupled up I apply the armatures of the connecting
wire cord one to each magnet, the attraction of which holds them in contact and
thereby completes the electrical communication from carriage to carriage. When

page_text: the carriages are forcibly separated one or other of the armatures becomes de-
tached from the magnet.
I also employ magnets and armatures in a modified form for the purpose of
making electrical communication from one carriage to another; or, when any
carriage is detached, for completing the circuit at the end thereof and of the carriago
which then forins the last of the train. For this purpose I place on the end of
each carriage a magnet capable of sliding a little vertically, and near its poles I
fix an armature and I connect the magnet to one portion of the electrical circuit
and the armature to another portion thereof.
When the magnet is in contact with the armature the electric circuit is com-
pleted. But when another carriage is coupled on, I insert between the magnet and
the armature a wedge shaped piece of non-conducting material, such as wood or
vulcanite, on the face of which is a piece of iron connected by a wire cord to the
conducting wire of the next carriage.
The wedge piece separating the armature from the magnet breaks the electrical
cominunication through the latter, but makes a communication from the magnet on
the one carriage to the conducting wire on the next, the wedge piece being kept in
position by the attraction of the magnet on the piece of iron facing it.
The arrangement last described is especially adapted for working on the system
usually known as the equilibrium circuit
Fig. 1 represents part of a railway train with the side supposed to be removed
from one compartment in order to shew the method of giving a signal by acting
on electrical conductors arranged according to my Invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section to a enlarged scale of one form of the contact
apparatus arranged near the ceiling A of the carriage. It consists of a tube B of
glass, porcelain, vulcanite or other non-conducting material within which near one
end is fixed a tube C of metal or conducting material. A metallic brush D attached
to a wire cord E lies in this conducting tube which is by means of a wire e in
electrical communication with a signalling apparatus of any known construction so
arranged that it is inoperative as long as the electric circuit is completed which it
is while the brush D lies in the metal tube C. At the mouth of the tube B is a
guide pulley e over which the wire cord E passes. When a passenger desires to
signal, he pulls down the exposed part of the wire cord E into a loop as 'shewn at
Fig. 1, thereby withdrawing the brush D from the metallic part of the tube to some
such position as that indicated by the dotted lines D¹ in Fig. 2, and so breaking
contact and causing the signal to operate. The guard or other official ascertains by
the position of the brush D the compartment whence the signal has been given and
by means of a non-conducting cord F hanging outside the carriage he can pull the
brush back to the contact position. In cases where the signalling apparatus is of
a kind that operates on making contact or completing the electric circuit, the tube
and brush are arranged as shewn in Fig. 3, the brush lying usually in the non-
conducting tube B, and being by the pull of the cord E drawn into the conducting
portion C so as to make contact and give a signal.
In the apparatus shewn in Figs. 2 and 3 the conducting portion C, instead of being
a tube may be a pair of metal strips or plates, one on each side, insulated from each
other and each connected by a wire to the signalling circuit.
When the brush D
lies between them, its wires bearing against both, the circuit is completed, but when
the brush is withdrawn from between them the circuit is broken.
Fig. 4 shews one arrangement for completing electric communication from one
carriage of a train to the next. At the end of each carriage there is a metal socket H
with a conducting wire h. A length of wire cord I having at each end a metal
brush K, when a train is made up is placed between the carriages with its brushes K
thrust into the sockets H. The cord I is made sufficiently long to hang slack
between the carriages, as shewn in Fig. 1, so as to allow for their oscillation

page_text: longitudinally as well as vertically and transversely. Should the train separate by
accident or when it is taken apart, one or other of the brushes K is pulled out of
its socket, the frictional hold of the brush in the socket being nevertheless sufficient
to keep it in place unless when it is forcibly withdrawn.
Instead of forming the brushes on the exterior of the ends of the cord I, they
may be formed in the interior of the sockets H, as shewn in Fig. 5, and in that case
the cord I is provided at its ends with metal plugs L which are preferably made
with a slight swell at their points, so that when they are thrust into the sockets
they have the better hold. In making up a train the electric communication when
it is of the kind shewn in Figs. 4 and 5, has to be made by hand.
Fig. 6 shews an arrangement which is automatic, that is to say, when two
carriages are coupled together the electric communication is effected between them
without any manual operation. This apparatus consists of a lever arm M mounted
on the end of each carriage, and having jointed to its upper end a comb or plate m
with a number of projecting teeth. When the two carriages are brought together
the teeth of the two combs interlace with one another, making contact, whilst the
joints by which the arms M are mounted on the carriages, and by which the
combs m are jointed to the arms M allow free play of the carriages relatively to one
another without breaking contact. The arms M may be provided at their lower
ends with stops or set screws, as shewn in Fig. 6, to prevent them from falling too
far off the carriages when the latter are separated. This apparatus may be used
for signalling by breaking contact, as shewn in Fig. 1, the comb m of each arm
being attached to a cord N led along the ceiling of each carriage, so that on its
being pulled in the same manner as the cord E described with reference to Figs. 2
and 3, the two combs are separated and contact is thereby broken.
Fig. 7 shews an arrangement for completing circuit from carriage to carriage by
magnets and their armatures; 0, 0, are magnets one on the end of each carriage;
and P is a length of wire cord with an armature p at each end. When the two
carriages are coupled the workman has merely to apply the two armatures to their
respective magnets, whereby the circuit is completed. The attraction of the
magnets suffices to hold the armatures in position notwithstanding oscillation of the
carriages, but when by accident or intentionally the carriages are separated one or
other of the armatures is withdrawn from its magnet without fracture of the
connecting cord P.
Fig. 8 shews a modification of this apparatus so arranged that when part of a
train is detached from the rest the electrical circuit is made good automatically at
the end of the last carriage left. For this purpose there is fixed on the end of each
carriage a small casing containing a magnet Q, as shewn in Fig. 9, which is a front
view of the casing with its front removed to shew the magnet within; R is an
armature within the casing, and either it or the magnet Q is fitted, so that either
can move a little towards or from the other. The magnet Q and the armature R
are both connected to the electric circuit respectively by wires q, r, so that when
they are in contact the circuit is completed. A wire cord S has at each end a flat
iron plug T, on one side of which is a piece t of vulcanite or other non-conducting
material. The front edge of the plug is made wedge shaped, so that it can be
thrust in between the magnet Q and its armature R, separating them, and thereby
breaking contact from magnet to armature, but continuing the circuit from one
carriage to the next. When the plug T is withdrawn the armature and magnet
again come in contact and complete the train circuit.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,-
First. The use for making or breaking contact in an electrical circuit for
signalling purposes on a railway train of a wire brush, substantially as herein
described.
Second. The use for connecting electric conductors from one carriage of a railway
train to the next of lever arms with metallic comb plates jointed thereto, sub-
stantially as berein described

page_text: Third. The use for connecting electric conductors from one carriage of a railway
train to the next of magnets, to which are applied armatures connected by a con-
ducting cord, substantially as herein described.
Fourth. Providing the magnets referred to in the preceding claim with armatures
that complete the circuit when a train is separated, and providing the connecting
armatures with insulating material on one side, substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Tyer, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
EDW. TYER. (LS.)