AN IMPROVED ELECTRIC RAILWAY CARRIAGE SIGNAL
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest Bazin, of Angers, in the Department of
Maine et Loire, in the Empire of France, Engineer, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED ELECTRIC RAILWAY CARRIAGE SIGNAL,"
Sealed the 16th January 1863, and dated the 21st July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest Bazin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st
July 1862.
1, ERNEST BAZIN, of Angers, in the Department of Maine et Loire, in the
Empire of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED ELECTRIC RAILWAY CARRIAGE SIGNAL," to be as follows:-
My Invention is based not only on the use of electricity and the combina-
tion of apparatus shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed for communicating
from different parts of a railway train, but also and more especially in the
application of electricity to this end, by zinking or galvanizing the coupling
chains.
Sheet 1 of the Drawings represents two railway carriages and one railway
truck; and Sheet 2, parts of apparatus by which my Invention is carried into
effect. One electric or galvanic pile to each train will suffice, and the fluid
from its two poles will travel throughout the length of the train by the wires

page_text: fitted on each carriage, the wires being put in communication by hooking on
the coupling chains.
In Figures 4, 5, and 6 (Sheet 2) is shewn the apparatus for use in a
passenger carriage. a, rod, which passes along the entire roof of the carriage;
, pin, passing through the rod a, and serving to establish the communication of
the currents; c, spring plate belonging to the negative current of the pile; d,
spring plate belonging to the positive current. The safety cord is shewn at
Figures 7, 8, 9, (Sheet 2); e, tassel within the reach of the passenger; f, rod or
stem of the tassel attached at g to another rod h; g, bolt or screw uniting the
two rods and h; h, rod fixed at i to the lever rod a; j, spring catch of one
piece with the rod h; k, catch, pushed by the spring 1, jointed at m, and the
heel of a of which enters the notch p and q, accordingly as the cord is in its
normal position as at Figure 7, or pulled as at Figure 9 (Sheet 2). The disc
which indicates the carriage from which the communication is given is shewn
Figures 1 and 3 (Sheet 1); a, disc, furnished with its counterweight in a
vertical position, indicating 6" disc in a horizontal position and not indicating.
Figures 10 and 11 (Sheet 2) shew my improved apparatus applied to a truck
or van of a goods' train, for indicating breakage of coupling bar r, forked lever
jointed at o, and seated on one of the coupling chains; s, catch of the lever r
holding the spring t; u, spring plate belonging to the negative current of the
pile; v, spring plate belonging to the positive current. If any traveller in
carriage (Figure 1, Sheet 1) desires to communicate with the guard, he pulls
(say) the cord No. 3, the rod a is set in motion, the pin b (Figures 4, 5, 6)
(Sheet 2) touches the spring plates c and d, and the electric current instantly
sets in motion the hammer of a sounding plate or bell placed near the guard
or driver, or near either or both. When the traveller has pulled the cord it
assumes the position shewn at Figure 9, and he cannot restore it to its original
position as at Figure 7. This is done by the guard or driver pulling the cord x,
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) and Figure 2 (Sheet 2). In each break van will be
placed a button to permit the breaksman to communicate with the engine
driver. In case of rupture or breakage of one of the coupling bars Y, the
coupling or safety chain z, on which is seated the forked piece r, taking a hori-
zontal position, forcibly lifts the fork, which, in moving permits the spring t to
come against the contact plates u and v, and thus sound the alarm. Figure 2
(Sheet 2), sufficiently indicates that the conducting wires join the plates u
and v

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Ernest Bazin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ERNEST
BAZIN, of Angers, in the Department of Maine et Loire, in the Empire of
France, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Ernest Bazin, Her special licence that I, the said Ernest
Bazin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Ernest Bazin, 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, au
Invention for "AN IMPROVED ELECTRIC RAILWAY CARRIAGE SIGNAL," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Ernest Bazin, 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 Oflice within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Ernest Bazin, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawing hereunto annexed,
and forming part of this my Specification, and to the figures and letters
of reference placed thereon:-
The object of my Invention is to strike an alarm bell or sounding plate
placed near the engine driver, whether the signal be given by a traveller, by
one of the guards of the train, or whether it be caused by the rupture
of the tie or coupling bars of a carriage or truck. The communication of the
electricity is extremely simple, interferes in no way with existing arrangements,
and gives no increase of labour to the officials in forming a train or in sepa-
rating the carriages, the conductibility or connection of the communication

page_text: being formed by the coupling chains. To obtain this result I galvanize or
coat the coupling chains with zinc, taking great care that the galvanization or
zinking be kept quite perfect, so that the point of contact of each link permits
the communication of the electricity; and it is this principle of communication
of electricity by the galvanized or zinked coupling chains which constitutes my
Invention. My conducting wires are placed above the passenger carriages
and beneath the goods' trucks, and are soldered to the screw bolts or rings of
the coupling chains. These same wires are fastened at each end of the car-
riage (as shewn in the Drawing) to stops or points of contact, which will be
put in communication by the coupling chains (aided by an arrangement of
forked levers), in case of breakage of the tie or coupling bar, and an alarm
will be sounded on the engine. This method of signalizing the rupture of a
tie bar is very important, especially in its application to goods' trains, to
inform the engine driver of the separation of the train. A bell-pull and catch
permits the traveller to communicate with the engine driver, and offers this
advantage, that when once pulled, the traveller himself cannot restore it to its
original position, thus controlling its use.
Lastly, to complete my electric system, I fit on one end of the carriage a
small disc, which, invisible when all is right, assumes a vertical position when
the electric apparatus is set at work. This disc should indicate the carriage
by carrying a number, and be painted red, or other distinguishable color.
-In the Drawing, Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent two passenger carriages (one
shewn in longitudinal section), and one truck. One pile will suffice for each
train, and may be placed, if desirable, in the box behind the tender. The fluid
from the two poles of this pile will travel throughout the entire length of the
train by means of the wires fitted to each carriage, these wires being put into
communication by hooking on the coupling chains, as above described. The
current of the positive pile is indicated on the Drawing by the red line, and
the negative current by the blue one. Figures 4, 5, and 6 shew the arrange-
ment of stops or points of contact for the passenger carriages. a, rod, placed
the entire length of the top (or, if deemed more desirable, the bottom) of each
carriage; b, pin passing through the rod a and serving to establish the com-
munication of the currents; c, spring plate belonging to the negative current
of the pile; d, spring plate of the positive current of the pile. Figures 7, 8,
and 9, shew the bell-pull and catch; e, tassel of the cord or bell-pull placed
within reach of the traveller; f, rod or stem of the tassel attached at g to
another rod h; g, bolt or screw uniting the rods f and h; h, rod fixed at i
to the lever of the rod a; J, catch of one piece with the rod h; k, catch
pushed by a spring 1, jointed at m, and the heel of which, n, enters into the

page_text: notches P and q, accordingly as the bell-pull is in its normal position, as at
Figure 7, or pulled, as at Figure 9. a, Figure 1, indicates the disc with its
counterweight occupying a vertical position, the apparatus working; and bu,
Figure 8, indicates the disc occupying a horizontal position, and in repose.
Figures 10 and 11 shew the arrangement for signalizing the breakage or rup-
ture of a coupling bar; r, forked lever jointed at o and seated on one of the
coupling chains; s, catch of the lever holding the spring 1; u, spring plate
belonging to the negative current of the pile; v, spring plate of positive
current.
g
I will now describe the action of signalizing or communicating from the
passenger carriages. Supposing a traveller in the first carriage, Figure 1,
requires the presence of the guard, if he pulls the cord No. 3, for example, the
rod a (mounted on its supports and provided with levers) is set in motion, then
the pin (Figures 4, 5, and 6) touches the spring plates c and d, and the
junction of the current instantly sets in motion the hammer of an alarm bell or
plate near the guard, the engine driver, or both, should the company deem
it necessary (in this case with three wires), as already stated. When one of
the cords has been pulled by the traveller, it will be impossible for him to
restore it to its normal position as at Figure 7, the catch j being then above
the catch; whereas, after being pulled, it assumes the position shewn,
Figure 9, the catch J having placed itself beneath the catch k, and the heel n
having passed from the notch P to the notch g of the rod f,.which is thus
immoveable. The guard of the train replaces everything in its primitive
position, as at Figure 7 (including the indicating disc), by pulling in his turn
a cord (Figures 1 and 2), quite similar to the other, but with a reverse action.
Each carriage will have one of these cords at one end, as shewn, Figure 2.
The action of signalizing breakage of the coupling bar is as follows:-In case
of rupture of one of the coupling or draw bars y, the coupling or safety chain
on which rests the fork r taking a horizontal position, forcibly lifts the forked
lever, which in its backward movement permits the spring t to come and press
upon the stops or points of contact u and v, which causes the alarm bell to
sound. Figure 2 sufficiently indicates that the conducting wires join the stop
plates u and v, and Figure 3 shews that this arrangement is placed at each end
of the carriages, so that they may be coupled by either end.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the means by
which I carry it into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein given and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawing, as such may evidently be modified without departure from
the principle of my Invention, which I declare to be, and I claim the use of,

page_text: galvanized or zinked coupling chains as a means of establishing electric com-
munication between different parts of a railway train, together with the arrange-
ment of forked levers for signalizing the rupture of a traction or coupling
bar, essentially as herein described and shewn in the annexed Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest Bazin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.