Improvements in Electric Semaphores for Railways.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Semaphores for Railways.
We, FREDERICK STITZEL, Electrician, CHARLES WEINEDEL, Electrician, ADOLPH
REUTLINGER, Banker MOSES J. SOHWARTZ, Merchant, JOHN H. EGELHOFF, Capitalist
and JACOB KREIGER Senior Banker, all of the City of Louisville in the County of
Jefferson and State of Kentucky, United States of America, 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improvement in Electric Semaphore Apparatus for
signalling railroad irains, and more particularly to such as are used in connection
with the "block" system.
It is the object of our present invention to produce a semaphore which shall be sure
and effective in operation.
A further object is to so construct the apparatus that but little battery power will
be required to operate it.
A further object is to so construct a semaphore apparatus that when set, the rattling
of the parts caused by the jar of a passing train will not operate to release the
mechanism.
A further object is to construct a semaphore device in which some of the parts
make contact with other parts with more or less pressure, so that when it is desirod
to release said parts, one of them will be positively pushed from the other.
A further object is to produce a signalling device actuated and controlled by the
combined force of weights and electricity and which shall be compact in construction
and sensitive in operation.
With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of
construction and peculiar combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter set
forth and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a view of the device with a portion of the front plate removed to show
the operating mechanism, said mechanism being in a position to hold the signalling
devices at safety.
Figure 2 is a similar view with the parts in position to indicate "danger."
Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the visual signal blade.
Figure 4 is a view of the device with a portion of the framework and parts of the
operating mechanism removed.
Figure 5 is a view showing the arrangement of circuits.
Figure 6 is a detached view of the magnet, armature and attached parts.
Figures 7 and 8 are views of certain details.
A represents the head or frame for containing the operating mechanism, and is
supported at a suitable height on a hollow post or upright B, both of said parts being
preferably made of metal."
Secured to the rear face of the head A is a diagonally disposed yoke C having a
central screw-threaded boss at its center for the reception of a similarly threaded
screw 6, the inner end of which is made hollow to produce a bearing for one end of
a shaft D. The shaft D passes through the rear wall of the head A and is journalled
at its rear end in a perforation a, in a bracket or hanger E, secured to a projection on
the inner face of the roar wall of the head A. Secured upon the shaft D (which is
preferably made square throughout the greater portion of its length) at a point
between the diagonal arm of the yoke and the rear wall of the head A, is a signal
blade F, which, when made to assume a vertical position, is designed to indicate
safety" and when in a horizontal position, to denote "danger." One end of the
blade will preferably be provided with a weight T, to cooperate with the other devices
hereinafter described to bring the blade to danger. To prevent the signal blade from
"

page_text: coming into contact with the iron yoke and becoming marred thereby, a block of
rubber b' will be secured .to. the upper short arm of the yoke and adapted to receive
the edge of the blank as it comes from one position to the other.
The front and rear faces of the head are provided with openings c, in which are
placed plates of white glass. A shaft is journaled between the front and rear
walls of the head A, centrally over the openings c, and provided with depending
arms, which terminate at their lower ends in circular holders adapted to receive
colored glass or other colored transparent material. A lamp is placed in the head A
between the openings c and between holders c³. When the holders, containing the
colored material, swing back from the openings c, by means of mechanism hereinafter
described, a white light will be displayed to indicato safety, but when said colored
material is in front of or in line with the openings, a colored (usually red) light will
be displaced to indicate "danger."
The front wall of the head A is provided with a perforation in line with the
perforation of bracket E, for the reception of a screw d, said screw being male
hollow throughout a portion of its length to form a bearing for one end of a shaft F.
The opposite end of the shaft F1, is made hollow for a short distance and of a size,
externally, to pass through the perforation a of hanger E, the hollow portion being
intended to receive the inner end of the shaft D. By thus journalling the shafts D-F
in the bracket E, one within the other, much space will be saved and the number of
parts reduced.
Fixed on the shaft F, is a collar G having a ratchet wheel G¹, secured to or made
integral with its inner extremity, and a sprocket wheel G2 at or near its opposite ond
for the reception of a sprocket chain and weight as explained further on in this
description.
Loosely mounted on the shaft F¹, immediately in rear of the ratchet G₁ and of
considerably larger size than the same, is a toothed wheel H, having four teeth or
projections e, projecting from its periphery at equidistant points. On the rear face of
the wheel H slightly removed from the periphery thereof, and in line or approximately
in line with the projections e, is a series of lugs e equal in number with said
projections e and having one face inclined. The opposite face of said wheel has
pivoted to it, a dog, f, adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel G', and cause
said wheels to rotate together, when the shaft F' is turned in one direction and to ride
over said teeth and prevent rotation of the wheel when the shaft is turned in the
reverse direction, said dog being held in engagement with the ratchet wheel by
means of a spring 1, secured at one end to the face of the wheel and bearing at its
other end upon said dog.
Fixed upon the shaft D is a double arm I, having a quadrant I fixed thereon at one
end, said quadrant preferably having one face grooved for the reception of a rope or
chain I, secured thereto at its upper end,-a weight Is being suspended at the free
end of the rope or chain I. This weight will preferably be made in two parts, 1, 2,
the part 1 being adapted to rest upon the bottom of the head A and part 2 upon a
suitable support 3. A rod 5 passes freely through a perforation in the upper weight,
and secured to the lower weight in any preferred manner. With such construction,
when the shaft D first begins to turn to display the safety signal, the weight 1 will be
taken up and when the shaft has nearly completed its turn the weight 2 will be taken
up. By this means the momentum of the main weight which operates the apparatus
as presently explained, will be broken and small battery power will be required to
hold the parts which control the signal.
The opposite end of the arm I from quadrant 1', is broadened and has pivoted to
its side face at one end of the broadened portion, a pivoted latch I, which lies parallel
with the face of arm I and extends to the opposite end of the broadened portion
thereof, where it is provided with a hook I, adapted to engage the lugs e', of wheel H.
Thus when the wheel H is rotated, its engagement with the double arm I will cause
said arm and its shaft to which it is made fast, to turn, and change the position of
the signal blade F.
A lug g³ is made to project from the double arm I at a point near the broadened

page_text: end thereof, and adapted to engage a stop 93, projecting from the wall of the head A,
whereby the rotation of the double arm in one direction is limited for a purpose which
will appear further on in this description.
In order that the depending arms c³ carrying the colored material, may move in
unison with the signal blade, they are connected by a rod g, with the quadrant I³,
of arm I, said arm being secured at one end to a pin projecting from the rear face
of the arm I near the upper portion of the quadrant in any preferred manner, and at
the other end to a short arm g', projecting from one of the arms c².
Passing transversely through the pivoted latch 18 and projecting from the rear
side thereof, is a pin I, which forms the journal for a small roller I, for the accom-
modation of which a recess 1' is cut in the lower end of the double arm I. A semi-
circular plate I is pivoted at its upper extremity in an enlargement formed in the
upper part of the head A and extends downwardly parallel with the are of a circle
described by the broadened end of the double arm I.
This curved plate serves as a track upon which the roller runs and thus prevents
the improper disengagement of the latch 1 from the lugs e' of wheel H.
Secured to the interior wall of the head below the wheel H is a bracket J,-
between the arin J¹ of which and the wall of the head, a fixed shaft K is located.
Located near its inner end, upon the shaft K, is a lever L, which comprises a rear
broadened portion j, two side arms and a forwardly projecting arm j*. Perforations
are made at or near the center of the broadened portion of the lever for the accom-
modation of the shaft K. A recess or opening is made in the portion of the
lever L, at one side of the longitudinal axis of said lever, and in line with the
peripheral projections of the wheel H. Journalled in this recess or opening k in rear
and preferably above the fulcrum of lever L, is a small roller k³, with which the
peripheral projections e, of wheel H are adapted to engage, and vibrate the lever in
one direction.
The
Secured in the broadoned portion j of lever L in rear of the shaft K, and slightly
above the same, is a short shaft, 1, upon which is loosely mounted a link .
opposite end of link is connected with the lower extremity of the curved plate Iº.
The outer extremity of lever L is preferably provided with a small upwardly
projecting toe g so that a sure bearing for said lever against the pivoted catch
presently described, may be had.
Magnets M are placed, preferably, on a stand M' having uprights M' at each end,
projecting somewhat above the tops of the cores of the magnets, where they are
perforated for the reception of screws or pins, which serve as bearings for a shaft M².
This shaft is provided with a flat under face immediately over the magnet poles, for
the reception of a soft iron armature, M³, the longitudinal edge of which projects
beyond the shaft, and by means of which the shaft is given. an oscillatory movement
in one direction, through the medium of the magnets M. When the magnets are
demagnetized the armature is of course released and the shaft is caused to oscillate in
the opposite direction by means of an adjustable weight M*, on an arm M³, projecting
from the shaft M in the opposite direction from the armature M³. The weighted
arm Ms is limited in its downward movements by an arm g projecting from one of
the uprights M'. The two standards M' may be connected by a bar or yoke M®, for
maintaining them in a rigid position.
Near one end the shaft M is provided with a notch N directly in the path of the
free end of the arm of lever L.
Secured to the shaft M³ in rear of the notch or recess N is a slightly curved
depending arm N-which is bent near its upper end and at the base of the notch or
recess N to produce a shoulder N2, upon which the free end of arm of lever L rests,
when the parts are in their normal positions and the magnet M is energized to attract
its armature M³.
Secured to the shaft M at opposite sides of the recess N, are two uprights O.
Pivoted between these uprights O, by two corners, is a block or detent P having a
flange n depending from one edge thereof, adapted to engage the shaft M³ and thus
limit the vibration of the detent in one direction.

page_text: A short arm P¹ projects upwardly from the top face of detent P and passes through
a recess in the end of the bent arm Q. The arm Q₁ is preferably inade in the shape
of an inverted L-the long arm Q2 being secured to one of the uprights M', while
the shorter arm Q, projects over the detent P.
The free end of arm of lever L is adapted to engage the under surface of the
block or detent P when the parts are in the "danger "positions and the magnet is
demagnetized to release its armature. By this construction a broad bearing for the
lever is afforded by the detent P, whereby said lever is prevented from upward vibra-
tion at an improper time.
A train passing over the track will jar the signalling apparatus in proximity thereto,
and cause the operative parts of the mechanism to rattle, and thus increase the liability
of an improper release of the parts,-the result, of course, being to display a false
signal. Hence the importance of a broad, firm bearing for the lever which controls
the operation of the device.
Secured to the base of the hollow post B, is a bracket R having journalled therein,
a grooved pulley R. A drive chain passes about this pulley and is secured at one
end to the lower end of a weight S. The other end is then carried up into the head A
and passed over the sprocket wheel G2, and the free end of the chain is next fastened
to the upper end of the weight, thus making, in effect, an endless drive chain with an
interposed weight.
The post B being of considerable height the weight will serve for some time without
rewinding, as said weight moves but a short distance at each operation of the
apparatus. When it is necessary to wind up the weight it is simply necessary to pull
upon the drive chain from the base of the post, instead of having to climb the post to
wind up the mechanism as is usually the case.
In lieu of the arrangement of sprocket gear for driving the apparatus above
described, a drum may be provided on the shaft D and a weighted chain or rope
attached thereto.
It will be seen from the construction of the apparatus that when the armature M³
is released and the parts are in the positions which they assume when the signals are
at "danger," the free end of the arm of lever L, bears against the detent P with
considerable force, in fact with a force equal to the weight S. When the armature
is attracted and the shaft rotated to release the lever, L, there will be considerable
frictional resistance between the arm and detent P, thus rendering the release of
the lever uncertain,-especially if the battery which energizes the magnets M³ is not
at its maximum strength.
This uncertainty of operation is obviated by our present invention, as will be
apparent from the following:
When the magnets are rendered dormant and shaft M³ is permitted to oscillate, the
arın P will strike arm Q and cause detent P to swing so that a portion of its under
face will obstruct the path of arm of lever L, through the recess N, of shaft M².
Said arm will therefore engage said detent and be retained thereby. Now when
the magnets are energized and their armature attracted to oscillate the shaft M³, the
upwardly projecting arm P₁ of detent P will strike one wall of the recess in arm Q₁
when the armature is near the end of its movement, consequently when the magnets
will exert their maximum strength. The detent will be caused to turn on its pivot
and be thrown completely out of line with the recess of shaft M² and permit the
lever L to rise. In effect the detent L is pushed off the arm 7 of lever I after the
armature has started to move and gained momentus, instead of simply being moved
out of the path of said arm, when the armature is furthest from the magnet, and they
in consequence exerting their minimum strength.
The respective ends of the helices of the magnets M are connected with the
respective rails of the railroad track, at one end of the block of railroad. The
other ends of the tracks of said block are connected with the respective poles of
the battery, thus the magnets M are normally energized and hold the signal at
"safety," as will be seen from the following description of the operation of the
apparatus.

page_text: It is evident that the arrangement of circuits herein described may be modified in
various ways, so long as the magnets are energized when, the signal is at “safety"
and demagnetized when the signal is at "danger."
When the parts are in the positions to indicate safety as shown in figure 1,
a train entering the block will short circuit the battery by means of its wheels
and axles, and thus cause the magnets to become dormant and release their
armature.
The armature M being thus released the shoulder N' of arm N¹ is moved out of
the path of the arm of lever L, and said lever allowed to fall by gravity, the
peripheral projection of wheel H being held out of engagement with the roller of
lever I, by the engagement of the lug 9 of arm I with the stop g³. As lever L
moves downwardly the semicircular plate 1 is caused to turn on its pivot, through
the medium of the link ", and move away from the pivoted latch. The free ond of
the latch will then become disengaged from lug e of wheel H. The double arm 1
will now be free to make a partial revolution, being impelled by the weight 1. After
the arın I shall have been released a peripheral projection e of wheel Ĥ will engage
the roller of lever Land vibrate the free end of said lever and cause it to engage the
detent P, against which it will bear with a pressure equal to the main weight S, as
above explained. The movements of the parts just described, with the exception of
the backward movement of the double arm I are caused by means of the force exerted
upon the wheel H by the weight S.
"
"
As the double arm makes its backward movement as above described, it carries
with it the signal blade F, from a vertical or safety" to a horizontal or dunger
position, and also forces the holders in alignment with the openings c, in the
head A.
It will be seen from the above that all the weights, including the one on the signal
blade, co-operate to bring the signal to "danger" and that said weights are permitted
to act the instant the battery becomes short-circuited and the magnet thereby
demagnetized.
Now when a train passes off the tracks of a block the magnets are again energized,
the armature attracted and the shaft M² rotated to free the arm of lever L, which
will be positively shoved from its bearing on detent P, as above explained. The force
of the main weight upon the wheel H will now cause one of the projections e on the
wheel H to engage the roller in the lever L, and tilt said lever sufficiently to permit
the passage of said projection. The lever L then drops to its normal position by
gravity and the wheel continues to rotate. As whenl H rotates one of lugs e¹ on its
rear face comes in contact with the pivoted latch 18 and thus carries the broadened
end of the double arm with it until lug engages stop 93, which forms a positive
stop for the double arm. During this movement of the double arm, which is fixed on
the same shaft with the signal blade, the signal blade will be carried to a vertical
position, denoting safety.'
“
At the same time the holders c³ will be withdrawn from the openings in the head,
and the apparatus will be set to indicate "safety" or track clear."
It will be noticed that, the wheel H always moves in the same direction, being
retained from movement in the reverse direction by the engagement of the dog 6
with the projections of the periphery of the disk of wheel H. The dog may be pivoted
in the top of the head and in proximity to the wheel.
It will also be seen that all the parts of the operating mechanism will be protected
by the head A and hollow post B, and not liable to become rusty from exposure to
the weather.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.
1. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a signalling device mounted
therein, mechanism for turning the same in reverse directions, a lever, a pivoted
detent to maintain the lever from vibration in one direction and an arm carried by

page_text: an oscillatory shaft, for preventing said lever from vibration in the opposite direction,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a signalling device mounted
therein, mechanism for turning the same in reverse directions, a lever, a pivoted
detent, and devices engaged by said detent, whereby the detent is moved into and out
of the path of said lever, substantially as set forth.
3. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a signalling device therein,
mechanism for turning the signal in opposite directions, a pivoted lever, an oscillatory
shaft, a pivoted detent carried by the shaft, and devices for moving said detent into
and out of the path of the lever, substantially as set forth.
4. In a railroad signal, the combination with a head, of a signalling device mounted
therein, mechanism for turning the signal in opposite directions, a pivoted lever, an
oscillatory shaft, an armature carried thereby, an electro-magnet, a pivoted detent
carried by the shatt and devices for moving said detent into and out of the path of
the lever, substantially as set forth.
5. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a signalling device mounted
therein, mechanism for moving the same in reverse directions, a pivoted lever, an
oscillatory shaft, an armature carried thereby, an electro-magnet, a pivoted detent
carried by the shaft, to prevent the lever from vibration in one direction, and an arm
carried by said shaft for maintaining the lever from vibration in the reverse direction,
substantially as set forth.
6. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a signalling device mounted
therein, mechanism for turning the same in reverse directions, a pivoted lever, an
oscillatory shaft having a recess in the path of the free end of said lever, a pivoted
detent carried by the shaft, devices for moving said device into and out of line with
said recess and an electro-magnet for controlling the operation of the oscillatory shaft,
substantially as set forth.
7. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a signalling device mounted
therein, mechanism for turning the same in reverse directions, a pivoted lever, an
oscillatory shaft having a recess in the path of the free end of said lever, a pivoted
detent carried by the shaft, devices for moving the detent into and out of line with
said recess, an arm secured to the shaft having a shoulder in line with the
recess, and an electro-magnet for controlling the operation of the shaft, substantially
as set forth.
8. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a signalling device contained
therein, mechanism for turning the same in reverse directions, a pivoted lever, a
pivoted detent in the path of said lever, an arm on said detent, and a recessed arm
with which the arm on the detent engages, substantially as set forth.
9. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a signalling device mounted
therein, mechanism for turning said signal device in reverse directions, a pivoted
lever, an oscillatory shaft carrying an arinature, a magnet, a detent pivoted on said
shaft, an arm on said detent, an arm secured to an upright and baving a recessed end,
in which the arm on the detent is adapted to oscillate, substantially as set forth.
10. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a signalling device mounted
therein, mechanism for turning said signal in reverse directions, a pivoted lever,
an oscillatory shaft carrying an armature, a magnet, a detent pivoted on said shaft, an
arm on said detent, an arm secured to an upright and having a recessed end, in which
the arm on the detent is adapted to oscillate and a flange on the detent adapted to
strike against the shaft to limit the movement of said detent, substantially as set
forth.
11. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of a signalling device mounted
therein, mechanism for turning said signal device in reverso directions, a pivoted
lever, a roller in rear of the pivot to be engaged by the operating mechanism, an
oscillatory shaft, a detent carried thereby and a magnet for controlling the operation
of the oscillatory shaft, substantially as set forth.
12. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of two shafts mounted therein, a
visual signal blade and a weighted arm secured to one of said shafts, a pivoted latch

page_text: carried by said weighted arm, a weighted sprocket chain passing over the other shaft
to drive it, a wheel on the latter shaft having projections to engage the pivoted latch,
a pivoted curved plate adapted to bear against said latch, a pivoted lever, a link
connecting the lever and curved plate and a pivoted detent with which the lever
engages, substantially as set forth.
13. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of two shafts mounted therein, a
visual signal blado and a weighted arm secured to one of said shafts, a lng on said
arm, a stop on the head with which said lug is adapted to engage, a pivoted latch
carried by said weighted arm, a weighted sprocket chain passing over the other shaft
to drive it, a wheel also on the latter shaft having projections to engage the pivoted
latch, and devices for releasing said arm from said wheel, substantially as set forth.
14. In a semaphore, the combination with a head, of two shafts mounted therein,
a visual signal blade and a weighted arm secured to one of said shafts, a lug on said
arm, a stop on the head with which said lug engages, a pivoted latch carried by said
weighted arm, a weighted sprocket chain passing over the other shaft to drive it, a
wheel also on the latter shaft having projections to engage the pivoted lateli, a pivoted
plate adapted to bear against said latch, a pivoted lever, a link connecting said lever
and pivoted plate, and a pivoted detent with which said lever engages, substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 14th day of December 1009.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.