Improvements in Railway Signals.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Signals.
We, JAMES COLEMAN, of 98, Lee Street, Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
Miner, GEORGE CLARKE, of 17, Station Street, Mansfield-Woodhouse, Machinist,
JAMES COLEMAN, Jr., of Kirkby-Folly, Miner, both in the County of Nottingham,
HAROLD THOMAS COLEMAN, of 81, Chelmsford Street, Professor of Music,
ROBERT COLEMAN, of 67, Broadway Street, Miner, JOHN ISRAEL COLEMAN,
Moulder, and WILLIAM COLEMAN, Skip-maker, both of 98, Lee Street, the four
latter of Oldham, in the County aforesaid, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in railway signals and has for its object
to provide simple and effective means whereby the "detonators" generally employed
in foggy weather are dispensed with and which means also serve in lieu of ordinary
signals.
To this end our invention consists, mainly in the use of one or more contact
plates or surfaces arranged to swivel in brackets and rendered axially adjustable by
means of suitable rods and levers in combination with a trail lever suspended on
the locomotive operating a signal bell thereon.
And in order that our invention may be more fully understood we have caused to
be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, Fig. 2 a plan, and Fig. 3 an end view of a permanent way
and locomotive provided with our improved means for signalling.
A are the sleepers, B the rails, C the locomotive.
In carrying out our invention we employ one or more swivel contact plates or
surfaces, preferably three, a, a', a², see Fig. 1, along one side of the rails B a suitable
distance apart thereof, which when set inclined, signal to the driver as may be
required, viz. a alright, a' caution, a³ danger.
The swivel contact plates or surfaces a, a, a, are fixed or formed respectively
with pivots or a shaft b, 61, 6, mounted in brackets c, c', c³, suitably positioned, the
shaft b or contact plates or surfaces a, a¹, a', themselves being furnished or formed
with levers d, d', d. The latter are connected respectively by means of rods e, el, e³,
of any convenient section and suitably guided in brackets f, ff, to the main or
hand levers g, g', g³, mounted on a bracket h under the influence of a spring i,
which main or hand levers g, g', g, may be employed on the permanent way itself
or in the signal box.
To the side of the locomotive C a bell k is fixed, having a hammer 1, one end of
which bears against the upper end of a trail lever m arranged to oscillate and lift
the hammer 1.
When the line is clear, the swivel contact plates or surfaces a¹, a', a' are in a
horizontal position, as shown in full lines, by a & a and the lower end of the trail
lever m clear thereof. When one of the swivel contact plates or surfaces a, a¹, a³,
for instance plate or surface a is set inclined by operating the main or hand
lever and on the locomotive C passing in the direction of the arrow, the trail
lever m comes into contact with and rides over a which causes the trail lever m
to oscillate and raise the bell hammer l. On the trail lever m leaving the
swivel contact plate or surface a the hammer strikes the bell k and thus gives
the required signal, after which the trail lever m takes up its normal position, as
shown in Fig. 1 iu dotted lines.
The calling in of the locomotive or train is effected by employing a bell near
the danger signal. or by the ordinary bell now in use in the station, or a larger one,

page_text: It will be obvious that a bell k may be employed on either side of the
locomotive C and the trail lever m arranged to be brought from one side to the
other and that the swivel contact plates or surfaces may be operated in a reverse
manner and in case of double lines all from one side.
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-
-
"In railway signals."
1st. The general construction and combination of parts constituting our improve-
ments operating substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2nd. The use of swivel contact plates or surfaces a, a', a', rendered adjustable by
suitable means, in combination with a trail lever m attached to the locomotive C
operating a bell k, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 10th day of August 1809
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicants.