A NEW AND IMPROVED. MODE OF COMMUNICATING OR SIGNALING BETWEEN THE GUARDS AND ENGINE DRIVERS ON A RAILWAY TRAIN, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, of
Amwell, in the County of Hertford, Esquire, for the Invention of
"A NEW AND IMPROVED. MODE OF COMMUNICATING OR SIGNALING
BETWEEN THE GUARDS AND ENGINE DRIVERS ON A RAILWAY TRAIN,
ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 5th November 1858, and dated the 7th May 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Richard
Norris Palmer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 7th May 1858.
I, CHRISTOPHER RICHARD NORRIS PALMER, of Amwell, in the County
of Hertford, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "A NEW AND IMPROVED MODE OF COMMUNICATING OR SIGNALING
BETWEEN THE GUARDS AND ENGINE DRIVERS ON A RAILWAY TRAIN. (ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES)" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in a new mode of transmitting communica-
tions, by signs, sounds, or silent signals, with a velocity almost instan-
taneous, from the guards to the engine drivers, and from the engine

page_text: -
driver to the guards, and whereby either can make several different.
signals to the other, in addition to the bell signal hitherto in use.
To effect this, I erect a frame or stand in the guard's box (or any
other carriage), in which frame I place a small cylinder, removeable at
will, made of thick glass or metal, and containing a piston and piston
rod, working perpendicularly, and air-tight, through a stuffing box. A
handle attached enables the guard to depress or raise the piston rod at
will. At the lower part of cylinder, and below the piston, an air-tight
and water-tight tube or piping of small-diameter is inserted. This pipe
may be wholly or partially of gutta-percha and india-rubber, or partly
of any suitable metallic substance, the length of the pipe varying
according to the extent of the train, or the distance of the driver and
guards from each other.
I also fix on the locomotive engine, or within the driver's reach, a
frame and cylinder, with piston and piston rod working perpendi-
cularly, somewhat similar to that erected in the guard's box. A bell, also
detonating balls, rockets, and other signal apparatus, are attached or
connected therewith.
At the lower part of this cylinder, and beneath the piston, the other
extreme end of the piping is inserted; thus connecting the two cylin-
ders. I then introduce water, oil, or other liquid or elastic fluid, until
the pipe is completely filled, and the liquid or elastic fluid rises in the
guard's and driver's cylinders, and until each piston is raised about half-
way up the cylinders. The liquid, or fluid, and pistons will remain in
this position, the liquid pressing upwards against the bottom of the
pistons.
The guard wishing to signal the driver suddenly strikes or presses
down the piston rod in his own cylinder; and by this pressure he will
displace and force the liquid or fluid in his cylinder into and thro'
the pipe at the foot of it. The stroke or pressure thus applied by the
guard acts instantaneously on the piston and rod in the driver's cylinder,
and causes it to rise to any height required.
By regulating the comparative size, strength, and diameter of the
-two cylinders, and the comparative superficial area of the pistons, and
length of the rods. I enable the guard to force up the driver's piston

page_text: & rod instantaneously, with any amount of power or velocity, or at
any distance required. My Invention enables the guards to give
several instantaneous signals to the driver, by ringing a bell on the
engine, or discharging a detonating ball or rocket, or or other danger
signal. By similar apparatus erected in the guards box I enable the
driver to give the same or other instantaneous signals to the guards.
In working this my telegraph I use water, or oils, or other liquids.
or atmospheric air, or other elastic fluid, either separately or in combi-
nation with each other. Where the liquid chaiu or medium of com-
munication would be inconvenient or inefficient I substitute and use
atmospheric air alone, or nearly so; and to produce the signals required
I provide the guards and drivers with a condensing apparatus and air
vessel, with a valve or valves, and by opening and closing which the
guards or drivers allow a regulated and sufficient quantity of air, or
condensed air, or other elastic fluid to rush into the pipe from the
cylinder or air vessel, and enter the opposite cylinder below the piston
which then rises instantaneously. The condensed air then suddenly
escapes thro' a valve in this (the opposite) cylinder, after performing
its office, aud the piston & rod therein fall into the same position as
before the signal thus given.
The guard's cylinder or condensing apparatus is small and portable.
and can be conveniently removed and carried about by him in hand or
pocket, and effectually discharged from any carriage wherein he may be
seated, and without any frame whatever.
The pipe or pipes used are equally portable, and can be lengthened
or coiled, or attached, or detached with ease & expedition.
The cylinders can be placed in or removed from the frame or stands
with equal facility, whether attached or detached to the piping.
I enable the guards. to convey silent signals to the driver by providing
the latter with a set of perpendicular glass tubes, connected by pipes
with a similar apparatus in the guard's box; and the guard, by stroke or
pressure at his end of the pipes, raises a liquid of any color in the
driver's glass tubes according to the signal required to be given. I
adopt the colors used on railways.
I use stop-cocks to keep the pipe or pipes or cylinders filled with

page_text: liquid or elastic fluid; aud where the gutta-percha or other piping
requires pliability or portability I join and connect one portion with
another by flexible tube joints or piping, made of india-rubber tubing
or other pliable material
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer in the
Great Seal Patent Office, on the 5th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
CHRISTOPHER RICHARD NORRIS PALMER, of Southampton, in the County
of Hants, Esquire, (late of Amwell, Horts,) send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer,
Her special licence that I, the said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, 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 "A NEW AND IMPROVED MODE OF
COMMUNICATING OR SIGNALIZING BETWEEN THE GUARDS AND DRIVERS ON A
RAILWAY TRAIN, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Christopher Richard Norris
Palmer, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Christopher Richard Norris
Palmer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
My Invention consists, in the first place, in a new means or mode of
signalizing or communicating between the guards and drivers on rail-
way trains, by adopting a new mode of obtaining, conducting, and
applying at a distance the motive power of air or condensed air for
that purpose, or liquids or clastic fluids, by means of one or other of the
apparatus after described.
I work my apparatus and obtain motive power for signalizing
purposes, either with liquids, atmospheric air, gasses, or elastic fluids,
condensed or non-condensed, using liquids or fluids according to circum-
stances, & the nature and species of signals required. My apparatus,
generally, will work with either liquids or fluids, stop taps being added.
My apparatus for signalizing between guards and drivers is as
follows:-In the rear guard's box, or in any carriage where he may be
sented, whether inside or outside, I place a metallic cylinder or vessel
(which I call the signalizer cylinder) containing a piston and rod
working perpendicularly and air-tight, with or without a lever or handle
attached. Elastic vessels might be used also. The size of this cylinder
is regulated by convenience or the power required. My experimental
cylinder is 15 inches high by 3 inches diameter, and, connected with my
experimental conductor chain of quarter inch diameter and six hundred
feet in length, enables me to signal the length of thirty railway
carriages by one stroke, & about sixty carriages by a double stroke, of
the piston, or intermediate distances. This same apparatus riscs and
falls a piston & rod at the same or greater distance (six hundred feet),
loaded with half a hundred weight & upwards placed on the top of the
distant piston rod.
At the lower part of the signalizer cylinder, below the piston, I insert
an air and liquid tight tube or conductor chain of a quarter inch or small
diameter. This chain is made of metal, gutta-percha, india-rubber,
or partly of each. If required to be in one length, and to recl and
unreel in the guard's box, I use a small india-r. tube, protected
inside or out for a fine circular and elastic spring. In general my
conductor should be in separate lengths, to link and unlink instanter

page_text: between each carriage; the metal or gutta-percha tube will be per-
manently fixed under or along the bodies of the carriages. Between
them the conductor is of stout vulcanized india-rubber tubing of similar
inner diameter, & coated with an elastic steel or wire spring, painted
with oil colors; this hangs in a slight curve, and links & unlinks in
one second, near the coupling irons, either by a common single gas
union joint, which is quite sufficient for signalizing purposes, or by the
double steam-tight joint invented by nie. Each half joint being
accurately made fits and links with any other half joints of a thousand
railway carriages.
On the engine or tender, or close to the engine driver (or in the leading
guard's box), I place or swing from the roof, or otherwise, another but
smaller cylinder, called the signalia cylinder, with piston & rod work-
ing perpendicularly therein. My experimental cylinders for trains of
600 to 1,000 fect are 3 inch diameter by 6 inches high. I then
connect the guard's signalizer with the driver's signalia cylinder by in-
serting the opposite end of the conductor into the lower part beneath the
piston; sometimes I insert an clastic or air and liquid tight bag under
the piston foot. A bell or alarum (so constructed that they will signal,
and the hammer or trigger re-set immediately after being forcibly struck,
directly or indirectly, by the upward motion of the rising piston rod)
are placed in a box above or near the cylinder. Detonators, powerful
percussion or fulminating caps, fixed on a revolving & self-acting
cylinder, with other signalia for use, are provided & connected.
charge my caps with fulminating powder easily exploded by a very slight
blow from the hammer, worked by the rising piston in connection with
ordinary springs and contrivances; the detonator cyl revolves one step
after each stroke, and presents a fresh detonator to the hammer; the
trigger also re-sets as the piston rod falls. I place this small cylinder
and signalia in a metallic box, from which sound may be heard, and
behind it place a concave weather board or sound reflector where
most convenient. The side or sides of the box will be transparent, to
observe signals indicated by the motion of the piston rod. The guards
signal boxes will be hung in their carriages like gas lamps or ship
lights.
1

page_text: Now, the guard at the extreme rear of the train, whether consisting
of 5 or 50 carriages being inmaterial, signals the engine driver and all
other guards by depressing the piston rod in his own cylinder, (or for
short trains he may strike light signalia by blowing violently into the
conductor), and thereby forces the atmospheric contents of his cylinder
into the conductor tube at the foot, and thus causes the piston rod in
the driver's signalia cylinder opposite to rise with extreme velocity, and
working and discharging any species of signalin to which I attach it.
The pistons and cylinders will work and rise and fall like steam
machinery, and with incessant and never failing action.
The guard having struck a signal on the engine re-draws his rod to the
top of his signalizer cylinder, a valve or air hole thereby opens, & the
cylinder aud the conductor tube from one end to the other become again
and again charged instanter with atmospheric air, and a thousand con-
secutive signals are transmitted by one conductor only to or fro' all
parts of a train.
All the pistons & rods in the signalia cylinders fall instanter by
their own weight after signal struck, assisted also by the suction action
of the guard's piston being forcibly and quickly raised after signal as
described; also, by the contraction of the expanded elastic bag under
the piston (if any). Sometimes I add an escape valve.
The motions of the signalia piston rod being under the guard's control,
I thereby indicate signals to the driver thus:-The rear guard strikes
the driver's bell, detonator, or works the steam whistle, as a signal "to
start;"
a similar signal after train in motion I use as a "caution"
or "look-out" signal. Two strokes or detonators will indicate "danger,"
"all brakes on." While danger apprehended, the guard keeps the
driver's piston rod fixed at full stroke. Causing it to drop or other
movement indicates "release brakes," "go on," &c.
One signalizer cylinder works any number of conductors, ordinary
gas taps being used. I enable middle guards or passengers to signal
to the head, or signal to the rear of a train, however violent the
motion, by inserting branch conductors into the chief chain, and
providing requisite cylinders & signalia boxes. I open an additional
whistle valve on the engine, and enable all the guards to work it by
means of a more powerful signalia cylinder placed on the engine;

page_text: the whistle valve is opened & shut by my rising and falling piston
connected with it. By similar apparatus the guards can signal by
shutting off the steam or reversing the engine, ordinary contrivances
being added & a larger cylinder used. When the guards require
greater than ordinary signal power they obtain and apply it by one or
more additional strokes of their piston rod, emptying their cylinder into
the conductor (by a valve or otherwise) at each stroke, or more readily
by injecting condensed air into the conductor. By similar apparatus,
and enlarging the diameter of the opposite cylinder, and fixing a
cylinder on all or several of the carriages, and connecting the rising
piston rods therein with ordinary brakes or wheel pressers, the driver
or guards may stop, or partially stop, all the wheels of the train to which
a brake & cylinder is fixed and connected by my conductor. This
may be used as a signal to stop in cases of emergency, and to avoid
otherwise certain collision. By opening a valve they would release the
brakes instanter, without actually stopping or backing the train, or
using any lever power whatever. By inserting a whistle piece into the
driver's end of the conductor I enable all the guards, by regulating
their piston stroke, to give him (the driver) all the different whistle
signals delivered on the engine, and close to him, which drivers now give
to guards by working the steam whistle; a sound reflector may be added.
I also work this signal by condensed nir.
To give all the railway color" signals I provide guards and drivers
with flags of the colors required; also a powerful lanthorn with similar
color glasses for night signal. The guard now depresses his piston
rod, and gives instanter the look-out signal on the engine (either by
whistle, steam whistle, bell, or detonator), and at same moment the
guard hoists the lamp or flag to driver's view. Silent color signals
might also be shown on the engine if additional conductors were used.
The pressure of air or colored liquid at one end would of course raise a
colored liquid or color piston rod in transparent cylinders at the other
extremity of the conductor. By ordinary contrivance a bell or detonator
would be struck at same moment.
Double signals are obtained by adding a valve and whistle piece to
the bell or detonator cylinders.
All the above signals may he worked by air or condensed air; in

page_text: the latter case I provide guards & drivers with strong portable high-
pressure cylinders of any shape, instead of cylinders worked by piston
& rod, the principle of action and signal result being the same.
Guards, by injecting condensed air into my conductors, cause all the
pistons in the signalia cylinders to risc with great power and velocity,
and strike signals on the engine, or all parts of a train where cylinders
& signalia are placed. I thus rise and full piston rods in cylinders
(or bags) at great distances for signalizing on railways.
The signalia pistons will, by adding a wheel, chain, & dial, &c.,
work an indicator land to any point, shewing the signal to be indicated
or telegraphed; a detonator or bell being struck at same moment to call
attention. This may do for stationary signals better than on trains in
violent motion.
The conductor joints may be ordinary union gas joints, fastening by
a catch or spring, instead of the present mode; but as human life will
frequently depend upon the transit or non-transit of the danger signal,
I invent a special joint for the purpose of rendering the escape of signal
power literally impossible.
My double steam-tight joint, by which the chain is linked and un-
linked between carriages instanter, is constructed like a double fishing-
rod joint, one inside the other. The male half contains an inner tube
brought up in the centre thro' the whole length of this half joint;
a front end view, shewing the inside tube or space of quarter inch
diameter; also a larger circular space around it. The other half is pre-
cisely similar, except that the circles or spaces are a size larger, so that
the other half may fit exactly therewith. Inside this joint, at both
ends, I place india-rubber or clastic washers, so that the two inner ends
of the joint (or tubes) meet, when the joint is closed with india-rubber
pressure. The inside joint or cap is ground together steam-tight; also
the outer joint; the cap being perfect, and independent of the bayonet
catch or spring fastening which unites the joints. I make these joints
of any size required, (say, for signalizing purposes, one to three inches
long, and about one inch diameter,) cither of gun metal or brass, or
cast in and made of gutta-percha. Any one half unites steam-tight
with any other half;-for signalizing, I find one gentle india-rubber
pressure is more, than sufficient, and without assistance or occasion for

page_text: the joint to be air-tight by metallic surface. The chief novelty of my
joint consists in being double or treble steam-tight, and at least six
signal tights.
My principle and apparatus is also applicable for signalizing to and
fro railway stations, tunnels, junctions, curves, and all points of danger.
I enable every train to notify its locality and approach towards these
danger points.. I lay down along the rail a metallic or gutta-percha
tube of similar diameter, with an elastic and air and liquid tight bag at
each end, in small cylinders or not. I fill the conductor & bags with
any mixture of non-freezable or coagulable liquids, not water alone,
or with air, gas, or elastic fluids, condensed to any density required.
separate or in combination. At the station or signal point the bag is
placed in a little cylinder, with piston and rod attached to or acting
upon powerful signalia of any description.
Now by any ordinary mechanical appliances the wheels of the ap-
proaching train are brought to hear by gradual or sudden pressure upon
the near cylinder or bag; the contents, whether liquid or fluid, are
forced into the conductor; the opposite bag swells instanter, and raises
the piston and rod in the cylinder; the motive power I thus obtain I
apply to discharge any signalia required at the station or elsewhere, and
for general points of danger.
By a very similar apparatus the station master and every other railway
official may place and remove fog signals across the rail at distant
points, and in a few seconds, or by other apparatus above described.
The present system of using one steam whistle only for signaling
the guards, and for off-train signals, is exceedingly bad, and too
indefinite where the slightest mistake on the part of the driver or
guard may be attended with fatal results to the passengers. The
signal is also bad, being given at a great distance instead in the guard's
box.
I claim as an improvement to open a separate steam whistle, by which
the drivers should use for signaling the guards only; not use it for off-
train signals; and to enable the guards to distinguish their own signals
from other steam whistle. I alter and increase the tone by placing
a concave or trumpet-shaped sound reflector to windward, that is,
throwing-the-signal sound towards the rear of the train.

page_text: I believe my Invention and the several species of apparatus and
signalia to carry my principle into effect to be completely and entirely
new; and that the acoustic properties of atmospheric air (and not the
motive or conductor power) have hitherto been alone known, or used
for signalizing or obtaining signals or communications at distant points
Nor to my knowledge has any apparatus hitherto been constructed
similar to mine, by which, with small cylinders and pistons and a
quarter inch conductor (elastic or metallic), the motive power of air
enables me to raise and fall one hundred weight and upwards at a
thousand feet distance, whether for signalizing or any other purpose
whatever. However, I adopt the usual course, and now state what in
particular I consider to be the chief basis or novelties on which I."
ground this Patent.
CLAIMS.
The adopting
I can
1. Having ascertained by practical experiments' that by working
atmospheric air as a motive power or conductor of manual power
rise and fall a piston and rod in a cylinder at the distance of a quarter
of a mile with almost unlimited power and great velocity, I adapt this
principle and apply this extraordinary property of air, and its motive
power to the purpose of signalizing between guards and drivers on
railway trains, and to other signalizing purposes.
2. claim the Invention of a new means of communicating
between guards and drivers on a train in violent motion and extreme
velocity by obtaining, conducting to the engine, and there applying the
properties of atmospheric air expanding in a cylinder as a motive
power for working signalia, as before described. Also, in cylinders at
intermediate points.
.
3. Also a new mode of obtaining motive power for signalizing ou
trains and railways by using condensed air, discharged into the same
or a similar signal conductor, and, by expanding in distant cylinders,
raising and falling pistons and rods therein, with power and velocity as
described.
This
The
4.-claim the application of my principle and apparatus, using
air, gas, or elastic fluids, condensed or non-condensed, as before
described, as applicable to other purposes; viz., for signalizing in the

page_text: navy, on board ships, in mines, public and private buildings of all
descriptions, as well as at railway stations, tunnels, junctions, and other
points of danger.
^
the
5. I claim to work my apparatus as above described by using
either liquids or elastic fluids (water, except in combination with
alchohol or other liquid) excepted. A new apparatus to be used for
railway signaling where liquids are employed.
The invention
6. I-claim the Invention of a new apparatus as specified and-con-
the said
structed-by-me for the purpose of carrying my principle into practical
effect; and --claim to have invented an entirely new apparatus
which effects with ease and certainty a public and beneficial purpose
hitherto deemed impossible.
7. A double steamin-tight union for the purpose described and
general purposes; a common union gas joint being amply sufficient,
use this double joint only where railway co* require it.
A jointed signal line, linking and unlinking instanter, between
railway carriages; also capable of transmitting signals to and fro', if
in one length, without joints, and reeled and unrecled in the rear
guard's box; also acting without motion, and whether in a state of
tension or not, and in any position or curve, not affected by motion,
or at the moment of collision, or by derangement of any carriage,
unless the coupling irons break, and the conductor be forcibly broken
also.
8. A new system of direct and positive signalizing on a train, and
new species of signalia as described; including instanter signals
throughout the train to "start," "caution," "look-out," "danger, all
breaks on," "release breaks," "go on," &c.
Also, a new mode of enabling every guard to deliver an instanter
"look-out" to the driver on the engine, and at same moment shewing
the driver any colored flag by day, and any colored lamp signal by
night.
9. A new mode and apparatus, as specified, by which signal motive
may be conducted, and bells, detonators, or other signals given with
extreme velocity, either on a train, or at any place or distance to
which gas is now conducted and used for the purpose of giving light;

page_text: my ariel conductors being of similar diameter (or smaller) taking the
same direct course, and the signalia cylinders acting in any position
(upright) in which they may be placed; gas-tight conductors and joints
being signal-tight also.
10. A new species of revolving detonating signals for use on trains
and railways, and worked by aerial or clastic fluid power by one or other
of the apparatus before described. >
Ju witness whercof, 1, the said Christopher Richard Norris
Palmer, bave hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of
November, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
CHRIS. R. N. PALMER. (L.s.)