IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREFOR."
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Bertram Brewer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd February 1882.
"
FREDERICK BERTRAM BREWER of Great St. Helen's in the City of London.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED
THEREFOR."
"
The object of this Invention is to improve upon the system at present in use of
signalling on railways whereby the accidents which so often occur on railways may
be avoided.
In carrying out my Invention the semaphore arms are raised by the train as it
passes the signal posts, by means of inclined planes, triggers or other apparatus
placed by the side of the rail and connected with the semaphore arm in any con-
venient manner. Each signal post is provided with a locking arrangement by
which the semaphore arm when raised will be retained in that position.
I propose to employ a distance signal a home signal and a starting signal as now
in use but the distance and home signals will be entirely automatic in their
working. The distance semaphore will be raised by the train as it passes and will
remain in the raised position until the train has passed the home semaphore which
it will also raise in passing. At the same time it will release the distance signal
locking mechanism which is connected with the actuating mechanism of the home
signal by wires or rods as may be preferred and allow the distance semaphore to
drop. The locking mechanism of the home signal will be released in like manner
from the starting signal which will be lowered from the signal box; and compen-
sating apparatus will be provided to allow for the contraction and expansion of
wires or ruds.
In some situations I may find it desirable to have two distance signals, neither
of which will be released until the train passes the home and starting signals and
then both will fall automatically.-Or I may have a number of these signal posts
placed at stated distances along the line, the lucking mechanism of one being
released by the working of the next, or the next but one, as may be desired.
In connection with each semaphore I arrange a moveable catch or catches placed
preferably by the side of the line. These catches will be raised by the raising of
be semaphore arm and are intended to trip the tail of a hammer on the engine to
Duinn 21

page_text: strike a gong. In addition to the moveable catches I employ for the same purpose
a fixed catch placed a suitable distance in advance of the signal post. The gong is
intended to be used more particularly in case of foggy weather and therefore it is
made detachable from the engine but it may also be used at night and would
prevent accidents arising through the color blindness of the driver of the train.
As the train passes the fixed stop the gong, will be struck and this will warn the
driver he is approaching a signal. If the semaphore is at danger the gong will be
struck a second time and the driver will then know that he must pull up. If the
gong is not struck a third time after a limited period the driver may assume that
the arm has been lowered and he may go on cautiously.
It will be evident that this arrangement of fog signal is equally applicable to the
system of signalling at present in use. By the use of my improved system of
signalling on railways an effectual block is obtained as the pulling off of the
distance signal by the signalman while a train is on the line between the distance
and home signals will be impossible.