IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAIN SIGNALLING APPARATUS to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I JAMES ENRIGHT of 202 Holland Road Kensington in the County of Middlesex
Electrician do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRAIN SIGNALLING APPARATUS to be as follows:-
".
This invention relates to improvements in train signalling apparatus,
The objects are by means of one insulated line wire.
(1) To enable signalman to signal to the train (driver or guard) and conversely.
(2) To enable the train to report itself to signalman as it proceeds along between
two Stations.
(3) To record its speed at every part of its journey and its arrival and departure
from Stations, in fact a complete history of each train that passes.
(4) To record whatever signals that may pass between train and signalman.
Contact posts are arranged along the line of railway; they are of two sorts
established between the line
When a train passes a post of one sort a connection
wire and the earth the circuit passing through instruments on the train-When a
train passes a post of the other sort connection is also established between the line
wire and the earth but not through instruments on the train.
Posts of the two sorts are arranged by preference alternately along the line of
railway at convenient distances.
The instruments at the station are a recording instrument having a drum driven
by a clock covered with paper and provided with a marker. Also a step by step
indicating instrument both as described in the Specification of my former Patent
No 4163 in the year 1883 There is also a battery, a reversing key and speaking
instruments which can be switched in and out of circuit-On the train there is
also a battery and speaking instrument.
The battery on the train is normally opposed to that at the station consequently
there is no action under such circumstances when the train passes one of the posts
at which the circuit is closed through the instruments of the train.
When however the train passes a post which closes the circuit directly and not
through the instruments on the train the instruments at the station which serve to
shew the progress of the train are operated by the battery at the station.
When the signal man desires to attract the attention of the Engine driver he
reverses his battery.
4

page_text: Then when next the circuit is completed through the instruments on the Train
an indication is given and if the train be then stopped at the post a conversation
can be maintained between the signalman and engine driver, the signal man placing
his speaking instruments in circuit for the purpose.
The battery on the train need not exactly balance that at the station so long as
the difference is insufficient to operate the instruments on the train. It may thus
be arranged that the recorder and train indicator shall be operated as the train
passes each of the contact posts whichever the series to which this post may
belong.
By bringing the end of the insulated wire (near the station the train departs
from) into the signal box the signal man in rear of the train may signal to it in the
same way as described. Thus two trains may be permitted to go on the same
section. The signal man in front of the trains may signal direct to the nearer train
and by communicating through the ordinary telegraph wire now down between
signal boxes may direct the signalman in rear of the trains to stop the second
train.
The step by step instrument may then be switched out.
The marks made on the recorder by the two trains may be distinguished by the
length of stroke. The train nearer gives the longer stroke owing to there being a
less resistance in circuit.

page_text: I, JAMES ENRIGHT of 202 Holland Road Kensington in the County of Middlesex,
"IMPROVEMENTS
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"
IN TRAIN SIGNALLING APPARATUS and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in train signalling apparatus.
The objects are by means of one insulated line wire-
(1) To enable signalman to signal to the train (driver or guard) and conversely.
(2) To enable the train to report itself to signalman as it proceeds along between
two stations.
(3.) To record its speed at every part of its journey and its arrival and departure
from stations, in fact a complete history of each train that passes.
(4). To record whatever signals that may pass between train and signalman.
Contact posts are arranged along the line of railway; they are of two sorts.
When a train passes a post of one sort a connection is established between the
line wire and the earth the circuit passing through instruments on the train.
When a train passes a post of the other sort connection is also established between
the line wire and the earth but not through instruments on the train.
Posts of the two sorts are arranged by preference alternately along the line of
railway at convenient distances.
The instruments at the station are a recording instrument having a drum driven
by a clock covered with paper and provided with a marker. Also a step by step
indicating instrument both as described in the specification of my former Patent
No 4163 in the year 1883. There is also a battery, a reversing key and speaking
instruments which can be switched in and out of circuit. On the train there is
also a battery and speaking instrument.
The battery on the train is normally opposed to that at the station consequently
there is no action under such circumstances when the train passes one of the posts
at which the circuit is closed through the instruments of the train.
When however the train passes a post which closes the circuit directly and not
through the instruments on the train the instruments at the station which serve to
show the progress of the train are operated by the battery at the station.
When the signalman desires to attract the attention of the engine driver he
reverses his battery.
Then when next the circuit is completed through the instruments on the train
an indication is given and if the train be then stopped at the post (or else-where
if a temporary connection be made between the instruments on the train and the
line wire) a conversation can be maintained between the signal man and engine
driver the signal man placing his speaking instruments in circuit for the purpose.
The battery on the train need not exactly balance that at the station so long as
the difference is insufficient to operate the instruments on the train. It may thus
be arranged that the recorder and train indicator shall be operated as the train
passes each of the contact posts whichever the series to which this post may belong.
The indicator on the train may be a galvanometer and then the small deflection
given by the difference of the batteries will indicate all is right, and a powerful
deflection in the opposite direction given by the combined batteries will indicate
danger.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe more in detail the apparatus as I prefer
to arrange it and the way in which this apparatus is intended to operate..

page_text: :
:
station; it is represented by the annexed drawing.
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section.
Figure 2 is a plan.
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section.
A is the drum covered on its periphery with paper on which the marks of the
pens are to be received.
B is a clock driving this drum and causing it to rotate say once in an hour or
other convenient interval.
C is a guide rail parallel to the axis of the drum.
.
D is a carriage capable of moving along this guide rail.
The carriage is supported upon three wheels D¹ D2 and D³. Two of these run
upon the top of the guide rail and the third bears against the side thereof.
E, E are the pens they are of the sort commonly employed in ruling paper, and
are constantly supplied with ink. Their points always remain in contact with the
paper and the lines which they produce are therefore continuous.
The pens E E are mounted upon levers F F which can turn upon centres F1 F¹.
The levers have armatures at their lower ends which face the poles of the electro
magnets G. G. each of these magnets is connected with a battery and line wire;
the connections are made by flexible wire cords so that the movements of the
carriage may not be impeded.
One electro magnet G with its pen E may if desired serve for the up line whilst
the other magnet and pen serve for the down line and obviously, if desired, the
carriage may serve to support four or other number of pens each independently
operated by an electro magnet.
One of the pens may be devoted to naming the trains by a signal forward from
the next station. The name can be given by a letter (Morse alphabet). The
armature operating this pen is joined up in a separate circuit and is not connected
at all with the contact posts.
H is the cam upon the axis of the drum, and
I is a lever armed at its end with a small roller bearing upon the surface of the
cam and transmitting the movement it receives to another lever K having its
fulcrum at K¹ and jointed to the rack L at L'.
By this arrangement the rack L receives a slow movement from left to right
during the rotation of the drum and at the end of each rotation the rack L returns
to the left under the influence of a spring which is not seen in the drawing. The
roller on the lever I at this time passes over the shoulder of the cam and the pawl M
on the carriage drives the carriage with pen armature forward.
In place of the rack and pawl a screw rotated by the clockwork may be employed
to propel the carriage D.
Also at the signal station (when I desire that the installation shall be complete)
I provide a step by step instrument, a speaking instrument and a battery. These
and one of the magnets of the recorder are all connected in series between the
line wire and earth. I also provide keys by which the following operations can be
performed. 1. The battery connections reversed. 2. The step by step instrument
put out of circuit. 3. The speaking instrument put out of circuit.
In ordinary working the step by step instrument will remain in circuit and the
speaking instrument will remain out of circuit; this condition however will be
reversed when a conversation with the train has to be carried on. The step by step
'instrument may be of any well known construction and it is so adapted to the
arrangement of the contact posts along the portion of the line of railway which it
serves that a train passing along this portion of the line may cause the index of
'the instrument to pass completely around the dial, the index starting from zero as
.the train enters on the section of the line and arriving at zero again as it leaves-
so that the instrument is left ready for the next train. The speaking instrument
may be any instrument in common use for this purpose and which can be
conveniently manipulated by the operators.

page_text: Along the line of railway a line wire is provided for use in conjunction with the
instruments already mentioned; it may be carried in the usual way on posts by
insulators of pottery ware. Also on the line of railway I provide alongside of and
between the rails two rows of posts one on either side of the line. The posts in
each row may be at a distance apart of say a tenth of a mile and the posts in one
row may fall intermediate of those in the other row. Each post is provided with
a metallic head preferably globular and of cast iron: which is insulated in any
Convenient manner.
This may conveniently be done by providing a stem upon the head and I set
this stem into a socket with an insulating cement; this insulation will usually be
found sufficient. It is necessary that the insulator whatever form be given to it
should be of suitable strength.
The heads of all these posts I connect with the insulated line wire passing into
the station and connected with one of the electro magnets on the carriage of the
instrument already described.
It is often convenient that in one of these rows of posts namely in that which.
serves for the continuous record of the progress of the train, additional distinguishing
posts should be placed in special localities in order that the passage of the train
past a distinguishing post may be positively recorded on the drum by an additional
mark in close proximity to one of the marks of the ordinary series.
I will now describe the apparatus upon the train. Upon the train I provide two
contact makers one for each row of posts to make electrical contact with the heads
on these posts as each post is passed.
The contact maker which I prefer consists of a metal bar say about twelve feet
long and curved upwards at the ends. The bar is suspended in a horizontal
position by short leather straps or it may be by metallic links attached underneath
one of the carriages of the train, it may be the guards van. The parts are so:
arranged that when the train is passing a contact post the forward end of the bar
will just go clear over the top of the post but from the shape of the bar its under
side will come in contact with the head of the post at a short distance from the.
forward end. The bar will then ride over the head of the post, rub thereon and
form a good electrical connection until the binder end of the bar passes clear of
the post.
One of these contact makers is connected to earth through the wheels of the,
carriage and the railway line.
The other bar is also connected to earth but through a galvanic battery carried
upon the train and a telegraphic call instrument which may be of any convenient
sort either an alarm bell or an instrument giving a visible indication.
Also I provide on the train connected in series with the battery and call or
indicating instrument a speaking instrument adapted to be used together with the
speaking instrument at the station. This instrument except when required for use
is kept out of circuit by an appropriate key; it is only employed when the train is.
at rest opposite one of the posts in the row reserved for communicating from the
station to the train or elsewhere if a temporary connection be made with the line
wire which is easily done.
The call instrument on the train I prefer to be a galvanometer needle which
when strongly deflected by the danger signal is caught by a retaining catch and
held until released by the attendant, whilst so held it completes the circuit of the
train through a trembling bell which continues to ring. This closure of the train
circuit may be used to blow steam whistle.
The apparatus operates in the following manner.
Each time as the train travels along the line that the contact maker with the
direct earth connection comes against one of the contact posts in its path the
circuit of the battery in the station where the recording instrument is placed is
closed with the result that one of the electro magnets in the recording instrument
attracts its armature and moves the corresponding pen so that a mark is made on
the line which the pen draws continuously on the paper with which the drum is

page_text: clothed. This mark will indicate to the signalman at the station that a train has
entered upon that section of the line over which he has control and with which his
recording instrument is connected.
As the train passes each post a mark is similarly made and the signalman is
thus able to trace the progress of the train along the line. The mark made by the
pen is long or short according to current strength, and so the length tells where
the train is, the resistance in circuit varying with the distance from the station
and the momentum imparted to the pen also varying in accordance therewith.
Simultaneously with each movement of the pen a movement of the index of the
step by step instrument will also take place so that by looking at this instrument
the signalman can at any moment see where the train is upon the line. Meanwhile
the second contact maker carried by the train although making electrical contacts
with the posts in the row along which it works does not produce any effect at the
recording instrument for the battery upon the train is of equal power to the
battery at the station and it is arranged in opposition to it, except the difference of
the batteries is made great enough to operate it.
When the signalman bas occasion to signal to the train he can if he so please put
the step by step instrument out of circuit so that it may not be affected by the
signals sent or the reversing key may be caused automatically to produce this
effect so that the indications of the step by step instrument may not be deranged.
The signals transmitted to the train however will affect the marking pen and a
record of the fact of a signal having been sent with its time and the simultaneous
position of the train on the line will thus be kept. The times of starting and
stopping of the train and their speed whilst running will also be deducible by
examination of the record preserved by the recorder. Also when a conversation is
held between the signalman and a train drawn up along side one of the posts or
elsewhere this with the time which it occupied will also be recorded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
(1.) The combination of train signalling apparatus herein described.
(2.) In a system of train signalling apparatus consisting of contact posts and a
line wire along the railway; circuit closers and indicator on the train and a battery.
and recording instrument at the signal station the use of a key at the station which
by reversing or altering the connections of the station battery influences both the
indicator on the train and the recorder substantially as described.
(3.) In a system of train signalling apparatus consisting of contact posts and a
line wire along the railway; the use of a recording instrument having a pen or
marker operated by an electro magnet and caused by the said magnet (when excited)
to trace on the paper or receiving surface a line the length of which is dependent on
the strength of the current which again is dependent on and indicates the distance
of the train from the station substantially as described.
(4.) In a system of train signalling apparatus the use of contact posts and a
line wire along the line of railway; circuit closers, battery and indicator on the
train and another battery and reversing key at the station the whole so arranged
that signals may be sent from the station to the train when the same is at a contact
post by setting the station battery to act in unison with the battery on the train
substantially as described.