IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING TO RAILWAY TRAINS WHILE IN MOTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Newsome, of Jun. U. S. Club, Major in H. M.
Royal Engineers, & now at Newcastle-on-Tyne, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING TO RAILWAY
TRAINS WHILE IN MOTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS."
Sealed the 7th July 1876, and dated the 1st February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Newsome at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1876.
WILLIAM NEWSOME, of Jun. U. S. Club, Major in H. M. Royal Engineers, and
now at Newcastle-on-Tyne. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR SIGNALLING TO RAILWAY TRAINS WHILE IN MOTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF
ACCIDENTS."
For the purpose of my Invention I place along the line a number of posts, which
I designate "danger posts," and in the most convenient or conspicuous parts thereof
(preferring the wide space between the two lines), in order that a signal shall be seen
in spite of snow or fog, and in ample time to avoid possibility of danger. These
danger posts carry arms and lamps, and are in wire communication with a station
or stations. The arms are so constructed as to let down into the posts, and remain
close and invisible therein until brought into action by an electro-magnet inside the
post, pulling aside a catch on an armature or bar of plate of iron, which then releases
a spring or falling weight, and causes the arms to expand or rise up and to show
themselves, and at the same time to cause a lens to be placed over the bull's eye in
the lamp or lantern, and to exhibit a red or green light, such light being before
covered by a disc. The armature, or bar, or plate when in its normal position rests
on a seat or supports in the post. An electric wire (or wires) connected to the
magnet passes down the post and along the line to a station or stations, where it is
connected with ivory discs in the electric telegraph office. These posts and discs
bear corresponding numbers, so that if an operator at either station presses on disc
No. 63 it communicates with danger post No. 63, and thus, completing the galvanic
circuit causes the magnet to pull aside the catch, and the arms rise up or expand
by the action of the spring or falling weight, and at the same time shows a light in
the lamp (if at night or in case of fog), thereby preventing all traffic passing that
point.
The arms of these danger posts after having been expanded or raised up would
[ Dries 621

page_text: have to be closed by hand by resetting the weight or spring in manner similar to
the closing and reweighting the signals at present in use.
These posts should differ in dimensions and colour from the ordinary signal posts,
and should be only used in event of danger; they should not be so high as to be
obscured by an ordinary railway arch or bridge, but sufficiently lofty that the arms
should clear the top of any train.
The lamps may be lighted by hand or by other means, as, for instance, by
chemical ignition.
Rockets or port fires in connection with these posts might be fired by means of
the galvanic apparatus.
Should a single line of rails be found to answer the purpose of one wire, then the
galvanic circuit may be completed by the use of the ordinary telegraph wires; but
if not then a separate wire should be laid communicating with each terminal
station.
It will be evident that according to my Invention trains in motion could be
stopped or directed to shunt according to the signal transmitted, thus preventing
accidents.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Newsome in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th July
1876.
WILLIAM NEWSOME, of Jun". U. S. Club, Major in H. M. Royal Engineers, and
now at Newcastle-on-Tyne. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR SIGNALLING TO RAILWAY TRAINS WHILE IN MOTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF
ACCIDENTS."
For the purpose of my Invention I place along the line a number of posts, which
I designate "danger posts," and in the most convenient or conspicuous parts thereof
(preferring the wide space between the two lines), in order that a signal shall be seen
in spite of snow or fog, and in ample time to avoid possibility of danger. These
danger posts carry arms and lamps, and are in wire communication with a station
or stations. The arms are so constructed as to let down into the posts, and remain
close and invisible therein until brought into action by an electro-magnet inside the
post, pulling aside a catch on an armature or bar or plate of iron, which then releases
a spring or falling weight, and causes the arms to expand or rise up and to show
themselves, and at the-same time to cause a lens to be placed over the bull's eye in
the lamp or lantern, and to exhibit a red or green light, such light being before
covered by a disc. The arinature, bar, or plate when in its normal position rests
on a seat or supports in the post. An electric wire or wires connected to the
magnet passes down the post and along the line to a station or stations, where it is
connected with ivory discs in the electric telegraph office. These posts and discs
bear corresponding numbers, so that if an operator at either station presses on disc
No. 63 it communicates with danger post No. 63, and thus completing the galvanic
circuit cause the magnet to pull the catch and the arms to rise up or expand by
the action of the spring or falling weight, and at the same time to show a light in
the lamp (if at night or in case of fog), thereby preventing all traffic passing that
point.
The arms of these danger posts after having been expanded or raised up would
have to be closed by hand by resetting the weight or spring in manner similar to
the closing and reweighting the signals at present in use.
These posts should differ in dimensions and colour from the ordinary signal posts,
and should be only used in event of danger; they should not be so high as to be
obscured by an ordinary railway arch or bridge, but sufficiently lofty that the arms
should clear the top of any train.

page_text: chemical ignition.
Rockets or port fires in connection with these posts might be fired by means of
the galvanic apparatus.
Should a single line of rails be found to answer the purpose of one wire then
the galvanic circuit may be completed by the use of the ordinary telegraph wires;
but if not then a separate wire should be laid communicating with each terminal
station.
It will be evident that according to my Invention trains in motion could be
stopped or directed to shunt according to the signal transmitted, thus preventing
accidents.
The annexed Drawings fully explain the method of and apparatus for carrying.
this Invention into effect.
Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of one of the danger posts, one side
of such post being removed in order that the working parts thereof may be seen
clearly; Figure 2 is a side sectional elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a horizontal
section taken on the line a, 3, of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan of a portion of a line
of railway shewing my improved method.
A is a danger post carrying arms a, a, and a double flame lamp b, and is in wire
communication with stations. The arms are connected together by jointed rods e in
connection with a crank B by means of a connecting bar d. The crank B turns on
an axis ex, which passes outside the post A, and it is mounted in supports C fixed
to the post. On each side of this axis is a boss or nave D, to which are secured
three arms, spokes, or rods E, F, G. Two of these arms carry lenses e, f, of different
colours, as, for instance, green and red, and the third one carries a plain metal disc g
to hide the bull's eye of the lamp or lantern until it is brought into use, when this
arm carrying the disc falls, and the light then becomes visible.
H is a central vertical connecting rod furnished with stops x, y, z, of which x and
are on the inner side, and y is situated between these two on the outer side. The
"inner side" I call the side next or nearest the magnet. There is also a fourth
stop w of larger dimensions than the three above mentioned. The lowest stop x is
on the inner side, and when in its normal condition rests on the inner cross bar of
the keeper K. This rod H is attached to the rod c. In the keeper K is a slot or
opening to permit the passage of the central rod and stops. The keeper slides
through a guide ¹, and it is held in place by a spring k².
The arms a are brought into action by the weighted lever Q being released when
the electric current passes. This lever is shewn as "set" in Figure 2, and it is
prevented from descending and pulling the vertical rod H attached to the arms by
the keeper K preventing stop x passing through the slot or opening.
When contact is made by pressing on any of the ivory knobs or discs m placed at
the stations Z, Z¹, the current converts the soft iron horse-shoe into a powerful
magnet L, which pulls the armature and keeper K attached thereto close home to
the end of the magnet, and the inner cross bar is then drawn from under the lowest
step, and the rod H and stop x pass through the slot or opening k; but while
contact is maintained by pressing on the ivory disc m, the outer cross bar of the
keeper is brought directly under stop y, and the rod H is here checked until the
finger is removed from the disc or knob m, and the current broken when the spiral
spring placed around the neck of the keeper, which was compressed during the
attraction of the magnet, becomes free to act, and forces the keeper back to its first
position; this allows stop y to pass the slot or opening %, which carries the rod H
so much lower; the inner side of keeper slot is now brought under stop z, placed
on the inner side of the vertical bar, and by these means the rod is brought to .a
stand, and the arms are expanded and exhibit the "caution" signal. But if further
action be desired and second contact be made, it allows the stop z to pass through
the slot, as it did stop x formerly, and the rod then descends to its full limit until
the large stop w falls on the guide bar h, beyond which it cannot pass, and on

page_text: arriving at the end of such travel causes the arms to rise up or expand to the hori-
zontal direction, and to exhibit the "danger" signal.
Figure 5.shows the arms in their down or closed position, and the magnet and
armature out of contact; Figure 6 shows the arms raised to an angle of 45°, and
indicating "caution" Figure 7 shows the arms at right angles to the post, indi-
cating "danger;" here the magnet and armature are out of contact again.
In all these Figures the lever Q is shewn in the position it would assume at any
position of the arms.
1, 1*, are electric wires which are in connection with a galvanic battery placed at
a station, the other ends of which are in connection with the ivory discs or knobs m
before mentioned. These knobs or discs bear numbers corresponding with the
danger posts, so that supposing knob 63 to be pressed and thus acted upon, the
electric circuit would be completed, and the magnet receiving the current through
the wires would, as before described, attract the armature, and at the same time cause
the arms to rise up and exhibit themselves, and would also, by means of the con-
necting rod and crank B, force the metal disc g to fall, and to bring one of the
lenses e or fover the bull's eye in the lantern, and at night, or in case of fog or
snow to exhibit a red or green light, according to the signal to be given to
approaching trains, and thereby preventing all traffic passing that point.
p is a wire attached to the armature, by which it (the armature) can be pulled by
hand as well as by the electric current, and thus producing the same effect on the
lever and arms.
In case an accident should occur between any two of these danger posts the
guard, driver, stoker, or other official in charge of the train would have to descend
and to run along the line to the nearest danger post, and by releasing the weighted
lever cause the arms to rise up and prevent all trains passing that point.
By a third and fourth wire placed in communication with the battery and the
large stop wand the guide , intelligence of any danger may be communicated to
the station from any post, and sound a gong or other phonetic signal.
The arms of the danger posts after having been expanded or risen would have to
be closed by hand by resetting the weighted lever Q in manner similar to the closing
and reweighting the signals at present in use. Or instead of using a weighted lever
a spring may be employed. As it is never proposed to use these posts except in
case of anticipated accident this would not be a serious labour.
These danger posts should differ in dimensions and colour from the ordinary
signal posts, and should be only used for purposes of danger; they should not be so
high as to be obscured by any ordinary railway arch or bridge, but sufficiently lofty
that the arms may clear the top of any train.
The lamp brests on supports b¹ in the post, and it is lighted by hand; but other
means may be employed for lighting the same, as for instance by chemical ignition.
Rockets or port fires in connection with these danger posts may be so arranged
as to be fired by the electric apparatus.
In case a single line of rails be found to answer the purpose of one wire, then the
galvanic circuit may be completed by using the ordinary telegraph wires, shewn in
dash lines; but if not, then a separate wire would have to be laid communicating
with each post from each station, as shewn in dot and dash lines.
It will be evident that according to my Invention trains in motion could be
stopped or directed to shunt according to the signal transmitted, thereby preventing
accidents.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be carried into practical effect, I declare that I claim,-
First. The method herein-before described of signalling or communicating intelli-.
gence to railway trains while in motion for the prevention of accidents, in which a
number of posts, designated "danger posts," are placed along the line and in electric.
communication with stations, whereby according to the signal given trains in
motion can be stopped or directed to shunt as required.

page_text: Second. The construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings for purposes of
signalling in case of danger, in which an electro-magnet inside the posts, pulling
aside a keeper on an armature, bar, or plate, releases a spring or falling weight, and
by causing a central bar to fall arms to rise up to the required extent, and also to
exhibit a light, thus intimating danger from a distance.
Third. Firing by means of the electric apparatus rockets or port fires in commu-
nication with the danger posts for the purposes of signalling danger, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Newsome, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
ERNEST DE PASS,
Patent Office,
68, Fleet Street,
London.
W. NEWSOME, MAJ., R.E. (L.S.)