IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MECHANISM AND MACHINERY FOR RAILWAY SIGNALS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton
Buildings, London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MECHANISM
AND MACHINERY FOR RAILWAY SIGNALS." A communication from abroad
by Gustav Herman Roth, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
(Void by reason of the Patentee having neglected to file a Specification in
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th May 1881.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MECHANISM AND MACHINERY FOR RAILWAY
SIGNALS." [A communication from abroad by Gustav Herman Roth, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to railway signals, and consists, first, in providing at
certain intervals along the line, preferably at the usual passenger stations, indicating
apparatus, which consists of an arbor having a continuous, uniform, rotary move-
ment imparted by a clock or time-train, a pointer frictionally held on and moved
forward with the said arbor, and a second pointer engaged and positively moved
forward by the first, combined with mechanism actuated by a passing train to set
the first pointer back to a "o" (zero) point, the second then being held stationary,
and a locking device actuated by the first pointer when set back to lock the said
setting-back mechanism for a definite interval of time thereafter, during which
interval the second pointer is held stationary to indicate the time elapsed since the
last train passed, and no succeeding train can actuate the said setting-back
mechanism to again set the first mentioned pointer back to the "o" point.
Also in the combination with a pointer moved forward by a time train and set
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page_text: back to the point o by mechanism actuated by a passing train, of a second pointer
and suitable connections between it and the first to cause it to be positively
moved forward in unison with the first, but to remain stationary when the first
pointer is moved back by a passing train to thereby afford the train hands
opportunity to see how far the pointer had advanced, and consequently what time
has elapsed since the said pointer was set back by the last train when it passed.
Also in the combination with two pointers moved forward in unison by a time-
train, of mechanism to engage and hold one stationary while the other is moved
back to a point o, and then after a certain interval of time to cause the hand thus
held stationary to be released and rejoin the pointers so set back, and thereafter
proceed in unison with it as before.
Also in the combination of two pointers moved forward by a time train, one set
back by mechanism controlled by the passing train, and the other thereafter held
stationary for a certain interval of time with a locking device for the said setting-
back mechanism controlled by the pointer and time-train to lock the said setting-
back mechanism during the interval of time after a train has passed in which the
second mentioned pointer is held stationary, and during which no following train
can operate the mechanism to set back the first mentioned pointer.
The Invention also consists in providing at suitable intervals along the road
signal apparatus adapted to show different signals successively, the said signals
being automatically set in position to indicate danger by suitable mechanism when
a train passes, and then when the train passes the next signal apparatus the one in
question is moved forward to show another signal, the different apparatuses being
so connected in series that as each one is set to danger by the train passing it sets
the one before to show a new signal, which may be called number one, and this
in turn sets the preceeding one already showing signal number one to show number
two and its predecessor to show number three, and so on, for as many as may
be desired in a series.
The Invention also consists in the combination with a signal apparatus adapted
to show a series of different signals in succession, of a mechanical motor actuated
by a weight or spring, and wound up by mechanism actuated by the passing train,
and a detent controlled by an electro motor until released by an electric current
from the next signal apparatus, when it allows the motor to move the signal
apparatus and bring the following signal of the series into view.
Also in the combination with a clutch box moved in one direction by a mechanical-
motor, of a signal disc provided with a series of different signals on a shaft
provided with a second clutch-box, and with a weight or spring to move it in an
opposite direction to that in which the first clutch-box is turned by the mechanical
motor.
.
Also in the combination with a clutch to be engaged and rotated by a mechanical
motor, of a shipper adapted to be actuated by a passing train to disconnect the
said clutch and allow the disc to be rotated back with the shaft, and mechanism
to remove the shipper and allow the clutch to reengage when the signal-disc has
reached its extreme backward position in which it indicates danger.
Also in a hand operated signal to be used in conjunction with the automatic
block signals, the said signals being pivotted concentrically, and a cord and pulley
used to partially rotate the said signal to bring a red or danger signal into view in
front of the automatic signal and a pawl to hold in this position, the said pawl
being provided with a cord to trip it and release the said hand signal and allow it
to be turned back by a spring or weight to again permit the automatic signal to f
sbow.
The Invention also consists in placing at suitable intervals automatic circuit
breaking surfaces set in motion by mechanism actuated by a weight or spring
wound up by a passing train, a different number of breaks in the circuit being
caused by the circuit breaking surfaces of the different instruments and the said 5
different numbers, preferably arranged in regular order, that is, the first station

page_text: causing a single break, the second a double, the fourteenth a single break following
by a slight pause, and then four breaks, and so on.
Thus when the train passes cach circuit-breaker it winds the mechanisn, which
in running down breaks the circuit the appropriate number of times indicating the
number of the station, and these breaks may, either with or without the inter-
position of relays, record on any desired signalling instrument either visual or audible
signals at any desired station on the road to thus make known the position and
progress of the train.