Improvements in Means or Apparatus adapted to be Operated by Railway Passengers for Attracting the Attention of the Driver and Guards.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1897-Acceoted, 1st May, 1397
Date of Application, GULIT
1090
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1397
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus adapted to be Operated by
Railway Passengers for Attracting the Attention of the Driver
and Guards.
:
I, ALEXANDER SPENCER. of 77 Cannon Street, in the City of London.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention in order that a railway passenger in a train may
operate an audible signalling device such for example as a steam whistle on the
locomotive and so indicate to the driver and guards the necessity of stopping
the train, there is provided in connection with the audible sigualling device
apparatus comprising a motor cylinder fitted with a piston or its equivalent
(hereinafter called a piston) that is connected through suitable means with the
signalling device, a spring or its equivalent (hereinafter called a spring) adapted
to move the piston in one direction, a train pipe that is connected to one end of
the cylinder extends throughout the train and is provided in each compartment of
the latter with means such as a valve whereby the interior of the pipe can be
readily placed in connection with the atmosphere by a passenger, and an exhaust
ejector for producing a partial vacuum in the train pipe and attached end of the
cylinder, the arrangement being such that when the ejector is in action and a
partial vacuum obtains in the train pipe and corresponding end of the cylinder the
piston will be held in its inoperative position against or by the action of the
spring, and upon opening the train pipe at any point to the external atmosphere,
the partial vacuum in the pipe and cylinder will be destroyed and the piston
caused to move either by the action of the spring or by the pressure of
the external atmosphere, and set the audible signalling device in operation.
Apparatus to operate in the manner described can be constructed in various
forms.
In one arrangement, the piston is connected or adapted to be connected by its
rod, and it may be intermediate mechanism, with a lever arm connected to the
plug of a cock for turning on steam to a steam whistle on the locomotive.
The piston is provided with rolling rings of india rubber to form a fluid tight
joint with the interior of the cylinder in which it works, and is made hollow,
being closed at its upper end and open at its lower end. The cylinder is in free
communication with the external atmosphere at one end aud with the train pipe
at the other, the said train pipe being in communication with an exhaust ejector
(that of the vacuum brake being suitable for the purpose) through a branch pipe
that may advantageously be of less bore than the train pipe. Between the
closed end of the piston and the closed end of the cylinder is a coiled spring
that tends to move the piston in a direction to open the steam cock and sound
the whistle. With this arrangement, whilst a partial vacuum obtains in the
train pipe and attached end of the cylinder, the piston will be held at the bottom
of its stroke, it may be upon a packing ring, against the action of the spring, by
the pressure of the external atmosphere, and the steam cock will be held closed,
but upon placing the train pipe in connection with the atmosphere, the pressure

page_text: thereof on the two sides of the piston will balance one another and the spring will
re-net and move the piston in a direction to open the steam cock and sound the
whistle.
In a modified arrangement, the spring is placed between the top of the piston
and the top of the cylinder which is normally closed, and the piston has a hole
through it controlled by a non-return air valve opening downward or towards the
train pipe, the arrangement being such that when a partial vacuum obtains in the
train pipe the valve will open and permit a partial vacuum to be set up at each
side of the piston so that the piston and attached parts will be held in their
inoperative positions by the spring, but upon opening the train pipe to the external
atmosphere the air valve will close and the piston will be moved, so as to operate
the steam cock of the whistle, by the unbalanced pressure of the atmosphere upon
. the lower side, of the piston. The upper end of the cylinder may be provided
with a valve to admit air thereto and so permit the spring to move the piston and
,attached parts back into their inoperative positions and shut off steam from the
whistle. Or the return movement of the piston and attached parts may be allowed
to take place automatically by arranging the piston rod to work through a stuffing
box that will allow air to leak slowly through it. The air valve on the piston
may be a rubber valve in the form of a ring controlling an opening through
the piston rod. In this modification a suitable arrangement is provided for
packing the piston rod so as to maintain the vacuum in the upper portion of the
cylinder..
To prevent the whistle being operated during the uncoupling of the train pipe
the connection between the whistle and the piston may be such that it can be
readily broken and re-made. In one arrangement for this purpose the piston rod
is connected to the approximately horizontal arm of a bell crank lever the down-
wardly extending arm of which is bifurcated at its lower end and through it passes
. a bar the horizontal movement of which, operates and takes off the whistle either
directly or by intermediate mechanism. The bar is at its under side formed with
a notch or recess adapted to engage with a pin passing through the bifurcated end
of the downwardly extending arm of the bell crank lever. The arrangement is
such that when a part of the train pipe is to be uncoupled the horizontal bar is
slightly lifted. by hand so that the pin will no longer, engage with the notched part
cf the bar the result being that the movement of the piston will be then
inoperative on the horizontal bar against which the pin will then slide idly but
when coupling has been again effected and, the piston descends to its running
position the pin will automatically move along the bar and engage with the
. notch. therein. ...
Any known or suitable means niay be provided in the compartments of the train
for placing the train pipe in connection with the external atmosphere and for
indicating the particular compartment of the carriage from which the apparatus
was operated. The train pipe may be made in lengths arranged one at each side
of and below the cornice or roof of the carriage and on the outer side thereof the
two lengths of pipe on each carriage being connected together at the ends and
. coupled to the connected ends of the pipes on adjacent carriages by suitable
coupling devices.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus adapted to be Operated by
Railway Passengers for Attracting the Attention of the Driver
and Guards.
I, ALEXANDER SPENCER of 77 Cannon Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, 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 :-
.
According to this invention in order that a railway passenger in a train may
operate an audible signalling device such for example as a steam whistle on the
locomotive and so indicate to the driver and guards the necessity of stopping the
train, there is provided in connection with the audible signalling device apparatus
comprising a motor cylinder fitted with a piston or its equivalent (hereinafter
called a piston) that is connected through suitable means with the signalling device,
there being a spring or its equivalent hereinafter called a spring) adapted to move
the piston in one direction; a train pipe that is connected to one end of the
cylinder and extends throughout the train and is provided in each compartment of
the latter with means such as a valve whereby the interior of the pipe can be
readily placed in connection with the atmosphere by a passenger, and an exhaust
ejector for producing a partial vacuum in the train pipe and attached end of the
cylinder, the arrangement being such that when the ejector is in action and a
partial vacuum obtains in the train pipe and corresponding end of the cylinder the
piston will be held in its inoperative position against or by the action of the spring,
and upon opening the train. pipe at any point to the external atmosphere, the
partial vacuum in the pipe and cylinder will be destroyed and the piston caused to
move either by the action of the spring or by the pressure of the external
atmosphere, and set the audible signalling device in operation. Apparatus to
operate in the manner described can be constructed in various forms.
Referring to the accompanying illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 shows in side elevation part of a train, to illustrate in outline the
application of my invention, A being the motor cylinder, B means for operating
the signalling device C from the motor piston (not shewn), D the train pipe, E the
exhaust ejector. Under such a general arrangement, either of the hereinafter
declared contrivances may be employed for their respective purposes.
Fig. 2 shows in central vertical section a motor cylinder with piston and other
parts, and Fig. 3 shows a corresponding plan.
.
In this arrangement, 1 is the motor cylinder, 2 its piston 3 its rod adapted to be
connected either directly as in Fig. 1 or by any suitable intermediate mechanism
(for example, as in Figs. 5 and 6) with a lever arin 4 connected to the plug of a.
cock for turning on steam to a steam whistle (C Fig. 1) ou the locomotive. The
piston 2 is provided with a rolling ring 5 of india rubber to form a fluid tight joint
with the interior of the cylinder in which it works, and is made bollow, being
closed at its upper end and open at its lower end. The cylinder 1 is in free
communication with the external atmosphere at one end (in this case through the
annular space 6 between the piston rod 3 and the guide 7) and with the train pipe D
at the other end, the said train pipe being in communication with an exhaust
ejector (which may, as indicated at E in Fig. 1, be that of the vacuum brake)
through a branch pipe 8. Between the closed end of the piston 2 and the closed
end of the cylinder 1 is a coiled spring 9 that tends to move the piston 2 in a
direction (see the arrow, Fig. 2) to open the steam cock and sound the whistle.
With this arrangement, whilst a par.ial vacuum obtains in the train pipe D and
attached end of the cylinder 1, the piston 2 will be held at the bottom of its stroke,

page_text: (that is, in the example, upon a packing ring 10) against the action of the spring 9,
by the pressure of the external atmosphere, and the steam cock of the whistle will
be held closed, but upon placing the train pipe D in connection with the atmosphere,
the pressure of the air on the two opposite sides of the piston 2 will balance one
another and the spring 9 will react and move the piston 2 in a direction to open
the steam cock and sound the whistle.
Fig. 4 shows in central vertical section a modified arrangement, in which the
spring 9 is placed between the top of the piston 2 and the top of the cylinder 1
which is normally closed, and-the piston 2 has a hole 11 in it with branches 11"
and with other branches 11b which latter are controlled by a non-return air valve 12.
This air valve is shewn as a rubber valve in the form of a ring but the hole 11
might extend right down and be provided at its lower open end or orifice with a
valve of any suitable kind adapted to open downward. The arrangement is such
that when a partial vacuum obtains in the train pipe D the valve 12 will open and
permit a partial vacuum to be set up at each side of (that is to say, both above and
below) the piston 2, so that the piston and attached parts will be held in their
inoperative positions by the spring 9, but upon opening the train pipe D to the
external atmosphere, the air valve 12 will close, and the piston 2 will be moved,
(in the direction of the arrow) so as to operate the steam cock of the whistle, by
the unbalanced pressure of the atmosphere upon the lower side of the piston 2.
The branch pipe 8 is made of small diameter, say of an inch or thereabout so
that the opening of the pipe D to the external atmosphere for sounding an alarm
will not materially affect the vacuum produced by the same small exhaust ejector E
in the train pipe for controlling the brake apparatus on the train; and consequently
will not cause such brake apparatus to be applied. The pipe D may be about
or of an inch in diameter. To prevent any liability of the signalling device
being sounded when the brakes are applied, a suitable valve such as a ball or flap
valve 8 may be arranged in the pipe 8 so as to automatically close the communi-
cation between the exhaust injector and the train pipe D when the vacuum in the
separate brake train pipe is destroyed. The upper end of the cylinder 1 may be
provided with a valve to admit air thereto and so permit the spring 9 to move the
piston 2 and attached parts back into their inoperative positions and shut off steam
from the whistle. For this purpose there is shewn a small spring valve 13 which
normally closes a fine hole 14 formed through the top of the cylinder. A suitable
arrangement is provided for packing the piston rod so as to maintain the vacuum
in the upper portion of the cylinder. In the example illustrated such arrangement
is as follows-15 is a stuffing box having through its walls holes 16. 17 is a gun
metal ring baving through it radial holes 18. The inner circumference of this ring
is of a grooved or channelled form. 19 is an india rubber ring, between which and
the gun metal ring 17 there is an annular air space due to the formation of the
inner circumference of the ring 17, so that air can act to press the india rubber
ring against the piston rod. 21 is a gland. Alternatively the return movement
of the piston 2 and attached parts may be allowed to take place automatically by
arranging the piston rod 3 to work through a stuffing box such as will allow air to
leak slowly through it.
To prevent the whistle being operated during the uncoupling of the train pipe
the connection between the whistle and the piston may be such that it can be
readily broken and remade.
One arrangement for this purpose is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The piston
rod 3 is connected to the approximately horizontal arm 22 of a bell crank lever
the downwardly extending arm 23 of which is bifurcated at its lower end (see
Fig. 6) and through it passes a bar 4 the horizontal movement of which operates
and takes off the whistle either directly or by intermediate mechanism (not shewn).
The bar 4 is at its under side formed with a notch or recess 4* adapted to engage
with a pin 24 passing through the bifurcated end of the downwardly extending
arm 23 of the bell crank lever. The arrangement is such that when a part of the
train pipe D is to be uncoupled the horizontal bar 4 is slightly lifted by hand so

page_text: that the pin 24 will no longer engage with the notched part 4 of the bar 4 the
result being that the movement of the piston 2 will be then inoperative on- the
horizontal bar 4 against which the pin 24 will then slide idly, but when coupling-
has been again effected and the piston 2 descends to its running position the pin 24
will automatically move along the bar 4 and engage with the notch 4 therein.
Any known or suitable means may be provided in the compartments of the
train for placing the train pipe in connection with the external atmosphere and for
indicating the particular compartment of the carriage from which the apparatus
was operated:
"
One arrangement for the purpose is illustrated by Figs. 7.8 and 9. D is the
train pipe D a branch thereof, 25 a sliding plug valve, 26 its casing, 27 rolling-
packing ring, 28 a spring catch or pawl, carried by the plug, 29 a ratchet fixed in
the casing 26 so that when the plug is drawn outward it will be so retained by the
catch or pawl engaging with the ratchet-which can be disengaged by means of a
key (Fig. 9) adapted to be passed into the hole 30. 31, 31, are holes through th
casing. The inner end of the plug is hollow, and 32, 32, are holes through the
wall of its said hollow part; when the plug is drawn out so as to bring these hole
opposite to the holes 31 in the casing the train pipe is thereby placed in communi-
cation with the atmosphere thereby destroying the vacuum. The train pipe may
be made in lengths arranged one at each side of and below the cornice or roof of
the carriage and on the outer side thereof the two lengths of pipe on each carriage,
being connected together at the ends and coupled to the connected ends of the
pipes on adjacent carriages by suitable coupling devices, as indicated by the
drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. Means or apparatus substantially as described adapted to be operated by
railway passengers for attracting attention of driver and guards in which an
audible signalling device is controlled through the medium of a partial vacuum in.
a train pipe by means of an apparatus which is interposed between the train pipe
and the audible signalling device and comprises a motor cylinder a piston therein
and an interposed spring the arrangement being such that when the partial vacuum.
in the train pipe is destroyed by any person placing the interior of the train pipe
in communication with the atmosphere external thereto the piston in the motor-
cylinder will be caused to move and through suitable connecting means will cause
an audible signal to be given.
2. In combination with a train pipe means for maintaining a partial vacuum.
therein means whereby such partial vacuum may be destroyed, and a device for.
giving audible signals, apparatus such as shewn in and described with reference to.
Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings for the purpose mentioned.
3. In combination with a train pipe means for maintaining a partial vacuum
therein means whereby such partial vacuum may be destroyed, and a device for
giving audible signals, apparatus such as shewn in and described with reference to..
Fig. 4 of the drawings for the purpose mentioned.
4. In combination with a train pipe means for maintaining a partial vacuum
therein means whereby such partial vacuum may be destroyed, and a device for
giving audible signals, apparatus such as shewn in and described with reference to
Figs. and 6.of the drawings (whether the arrangement within the motor cylinder 1.
be according to Figs. 2,and 3. or according to Fig. 4) for the purpose mentioned.
Dated this 25th day of March 1897,
For the Applicant,
W: LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent..