AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE SEVERAL PARTS OF RAILWAY TRAINS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Stephens Copeman, of Upper King
Street, in the City of Norwich, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN
THE SEVERAL PARTS OF RAILWAY TRAINS."
Sealed the 2nd November 1869, and dated the 8th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Stephens
Copeman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 8th May 1869.
I, EDWARD STEPHENS COPEMAN, of Upper King Street, in the City
of Norwich, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING
BETWEEN THE SEVERAL PARTS OF RAILWAY TRAINS," to be as follows
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the mode of, and
in the arrangement of mechanism for communicating between the pas-
senger carriages of railway trains and the drivers and guards. In the
roof of each of the compartments of the carriages to which it is desired

page_text: to apply the apparatus an aperture or opening is made for the admission
thereof. The apparatus consists of a box, the base or bottom of which
fits into or covers the before-mentioned opening, any suitable con-
trivances being employed for keeping it in a firm position. Each side
of the box is constructed with vertical slots, through which the arms
used for signalling, as herein-after mentioned, are capable of passing.
One of such arms is placed at each side of the box, the upper ends of
the arms being respectively attached to the upper part of the side of the
box by a pivot. To the outer edge of the upper end of each of the arms
is attached a spiral or other suitable spring, which passes diagonally
to the other side of the box, to which it is secured, and to each of the arms
is also attached a cord or chain, which passes over a wheel or pulley and
communicates with an alarum of any suitable kind. At the bottom of the
box horizontal springs are placed, the same being respectively attached
by one end to the bottom of the box, whilst the other ends are respec-
tively curved upwards, and the extremities turned at right angles so
as to clip or hold the lower ends of the signal arms when the latter are
pressed downwards in the slotted sides of the box. Each of the springs
has attached thereto a cord or chain, which passes through the bottom
of the box into the carriage, the lower ends being provided with knobs
or handles. The apparatus is adjusted and actuated as follows:-The
signal arms are placed in the slots in the sides of the box, thereby
placing the diagonal springs in a state of tension, and the lower ends
being retained in position by the extremities of the springs at the bottom
of the box. In order to actuate the mechanism the handles in the
interior of the carriage are pulled, thereby drawing the springs down-
wards and releasing the signal arms, which are drawn upwards into a
horizontal position extending from the box by the reaction of the
diagonal springs, whilst the before-mentioned cords or chains being
operated upon by the motion of the arms set the alarum arrangement
which is placed on the end of the carriage in action. The signal arms
may be painted of any colour or colours as may be desired, and the
-driver and guard may be signalled to respectively by setting one or both
arms in action as may be arranged. The signals will be readily visible
from one end of the train to the other, whilst additional attention is
drawn by the sounding of the alarums. The signals having been set in
operation cannot be again used by the passengers until the apparatus
has been re-adjusted, for which purpose a platform should be provided

page_text: on the top of each carriage, along which the guard or attendant can pass
for the purpose of speaking to the person who has signalled, which can
be readily done through the aperture in the top of the carriage, and of
adjusting or removing the apparatus..
An important advantage connected with this Invention is that the
signal apparatus is complete in each carriage, and therefore is not in any
way deranged or interfered with by the removal or addition of carriages
from or to the train.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of tlic Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Stephens Copeman in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 8th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
STEPHENS COPEMAN, of Upper King Street, in the City of Norwich,.
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,. give and.
grant unto me, the said Edward Stephens Copeman, Her special licence.
that I, the said Edward Stephens Copeman, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Stephens Copemau,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE SEVERAL PARTS OF RAILWAY
TRAINS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward
Stephens Copeman, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Edward Stephens Copeman, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
My said Invention consists in certain improvements in the mode of
and in the arrangement of mechanism for communicating between
the passenger carriages of railway trains and the drivers and guards
thereof. In the roof of each of the compartments of the carriages
to which it is desired to apply the apparatus two holes or apertures are
made. The apparatus consists of a box, the base or bottom of which fits
on or covers the before-mentioned holes or apertures, any suitable
contrivances being employed for keeping it in a firm position. Each
side of the box is constructed with vertical slots, through which the
arms used for signalling, as herein-after mentioned, are capable of
passing. One of such arms is placed at each side of the box, the upper
ends of the arms being respectively attached to the upper part of
the side of the box by a pivot or hinge upon which it is free to work.
To the inner edge of the upper part of each of the arms is attached
a spiral or other spring which passes diagonally to the lower part of
the other side of the box to which it is secured, and to each of the
arms (when a bell is used as an alarum) is also attached a cord or
chain which passes over a wheel or pulley and communicates with
the alarum. When detonating or explosive signals are employed they
should be placed under the projection of the roof and be struck by
knobs or hammers attached to the arms. At the bottom of the box
a horizontal spring is placed, the same being attached at the centre
to the bottom of the box whilst the ends are respectively curved upwards,
and the extremities turned at right angles so as to clip or hold the
lower ends of the signal arms when the latter are pressed downwards
through the slotted sides of the box. Near each of the extremities of
the horizontal spring are attached cords or chains which pass through
the bottom of the box into the carriage, the lower ends being provided
with rings or handles for the purpose of pulling the same, and which
may be concealed by covering the holes with paper bills with directions
thereon. To the outer extremities of the horizontal springs may be
fixed projecting pins to which may be fastened a wire or cord by
means of which communication can be made with any carriage or

page_text: carriages. The apparatus is adjusted and actuated as follows:-The
signal arms are placed in the slots in the sides of the box, thereby
bringing the diagonal springs into a state of tension, and the lower
ends of the arms being retained in position within the box by the
extremities of the horizontal springs. In order to actuate the mechanism
the paper bills before mentioned are torn and the handles or rings
or one of them in the interior of the carriage are or is pulled, thereby
drawing the end or ends of the horizontal springs downwards, and
releasing the signals which are drawn upwards through the slots
into a horizontal or projecting position extending from the box by
the reaction of the diagonal springs beyond the pivot or hinge, whilst
the before-mentioned cords or chains being operated upon by the
motion of the arms set the alarum arrangement, which as before-
mentioned may be of any suitable nature, and which I do not
specifically claim in action. The alarum arrangement may be placed
at any convenient or desired part or parts of the train. The signal
arms may be painted of any colour or colours as may be desired (white
being preferred), and may be combined with lamps provided with
coloured glasses, and the driver and guards may be thus signalled to
respectively by setting, one or both arms in action as may be arranged.
The signals are readily visible from one end of the train to the other,
whilst additional attention is drawn by the action of the detonating
or other signals. The signals having been set in operation and the
arms released the apparatus cannot be again used by the passengers
until the apparatus has been readjusted. For this purpose a platform
may if desired be provided on the top of each carriage, along which
the guard or attendant can pass for the purpose of speaking to the
person who has signalled, and of adjusting or removing the apparatus.
An important advantage connected with my said Invention is that
the signal apparatus may be complete in each carriage, and therefore
cannot in any way be deranged or interfered with by the removal or
addition of carriages from or to the train, whilst the signals distinctly
shew in what part of the train the alarm has been given.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original,
and therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by

page_text: the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination
and arrangement of apparatus and mechanism substantially as and for
the purposes herein-before described and set forth, or any mere modifi-
cations thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Stephens. Copeman, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
EDW. S. COPEMAN. (L.S.)