Improvements in Blook Signalling for Railways.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1900-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1900
PROTONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Blook Signalling for Railways.
I, GEORGE HENRY JELFS, of No. 35, Fairlawn Avenue, Chiswick, in the County
of London, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
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My invention relates to means of signalling from station to station on a
railway in such a manner as to control the main semaphore signals and also
the miniature semaphore or needle indicators on the cabin instruments, utilising
for this purpose apparatus of known kinds suitably modified.
On the axis of each of the miniature semaphores in the cabin instruments I
fix arms which according as the semaphore is up indicating that the section is
not clear or down indicating that it is clear, make one or other of two contacts.
Also on the sigual post which has its bars for moving the semaphore connected
and disconnected as described in the Specification No. 14789 of 1899, besides
the main electromagnet which effects the locking and unlocking of these bars,
I provide a subsidiary electromagnet. I also provide in the rear block instru-
ment, a contact which is made when the armature of the magnet in that instru-
ment is attracted, this contact completing the circuit of the subsidiary electro-
magnet on the signal post.
:-
The apparatus thus modified operates as follows:-
Assuming that a train is proceeding along a section A to B, then B calls to
the next onward station C for "line clear." C replies causing the miniature
semaphore of one of B's block instruments to shew line clear, this movement
making a contact closing the circuit of the main electromagnet on the signal
post as described in the Specification No. 14789 of 1899, so that B can lower
the main signal. In the act of lowering the signal a projection on the signal
bar moves a contact lever which makes a contact and is held in that position by
a catch. As the train departs from B towards C, B gives the departure signal
to C who replies cansing B's miniature semaphore to rise to danger and make
another contact closing the circuit of B's rear block electromagnet through the
contact lever of the subsidiary magnet on the post. The armature of the rear
block magnet being attracted releases in the usual way the commutator of the
rear block and at the same time makes a contact closing the circuit of the
subsidiary electromagnet on the signal post, and the armature of this magnet
being attracted releases the catch above mentioned breaking the contact made
by the contact lever, on the signal post.
During the passage of the train to C no signal can be given for allowing
another train to enter the section. In some cases a train does not go on
heyond B, in which case another train may be permitted to depart from A to B.
In order to provide for this I arrange an instrument whereby B can make n
contact which releases his rear block, but in making this contact he is retarded
by having to overcome pressure in a evlinder having a piston to which the con-
tact making handle is connected. With this instrument the operation for
passing a second train into the A to B section is as follows:—

page_text: B finding the first train is not going beyond his station calls C to release his
rear block so that he may allow a second train to come from A. To this C
replies by holding down his bell plunger for several seconds, during which time I}
operates his retarded contact.
The somewhat prolonged time occupied by C in holding down his plunger
and by B in making his releasing contact provides against possible negligence
of B who, if he could suddenly release his block might do so without due con-
sideration.
Tlated this 14th low of Vovember 1800
Improvements in Elock Signalling for Railways.
I, GEORGE HENRY JELFS, of No. 35, Fairlawn Avenue, Chiswick, in the County
of London, Electrical Engineer, 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:—
My invention relates to means of signalling from station to station on a
railway in such a manner as to control the main semaphore signals and also
the miniature semaphore or needle indicators on the cabin instruments, utilising
for this purpose apparatus of known kinds suitably modified, as I shall describe
referring to the accompanying drawings which shew diagrammetrically the right
and left block signalling instruments at a station, the main signal there, means
of retarding the signalling of "line clear" and the electrical connections of these
parts.
On the axis of each of the miniature semaphores in the cabin instruments I
fix arms which according as the semaphore is up indicating that the section
is not clear or down indicating that it is clear, make contact with the one or the
other of two springs e or d. Also on the signal post which has its bars ef for
moring the semaphore connected and disconnected as described in the Specifica-
tion No. 14789 of 1899, besides the main electromagnet which effects the
locking and unlocking of these bars, I provide a subsidiary electromaguet. h.
The bar e on which is carried the electromagnet y cannot raise the bar f for lower-
ing the semaphore unless the cross bar i is prevented from sliding transversely
out of the notch of f. This happens when the magnet g is energised attracting
its armature and thereby turning the semicylinder into such a position in
the notch of that i cannot he pushed to the left, in which case, when the bar e
is raised by the signal pull, the bar f is raised with it lowering the semaphore
arm to indicate safety. I also provide in the rear block instrument, a contact ?
which is made when the armature of the magnet m in that instrument is attracted
this contact completing the circuit of the subsidiary electromagnet h on the
signal post.
The apparatus thus modified operates as follows:-
Assuming that the station containing the apparatus shewn is called B, having
on the left a station A and on the right a station C, with sections of line A to B
and B to C to be controlled, then, when a train is proceeding along the section A
to B. B calls to C for the signal "line clear." C replies causing the miniature
semaphore of B's right hand block instrument to shew line clear, this move-
ment making contact with closing the circuit of the electromagnet 7 on the
signal post raising the armature j partly turning & and so stopping i, so that B

page_text: can by raising e lower the main signal. In the act of raising e to lower the
signal, a projection on the signal bar, moves a contact lever which makes a
contact and is held in that position by a catch arm q which drops behind the
top of p. As the train departs from B towards C, B gives the departure signal
to C who replies causing B's miniature semaphore a in the right hand instru-
ment to rise to danger and make contact with a closing the circuit of B's left
band block electromagnet m through the contact lever of the subsidiary mag-
net . The armature of the magnet m being attracted releases in the usual
way the commutator of the left hand block and at the same time makes the
contact at closing the circuit of the subsidiary electromaguet h on the signal
post, and the armature of this magnet being attracted raises the catch g allow-
ing p to be moved to the right by a spring breaking the contact which p had
made.
During the passage of the train to C no signal can be given for allowing
another train to enter the section. In some cases a train does not go on be-
yond B, in which case another train may be permitted to depart from A to B.
In order to provide for this I arrange an instrument whereby B can make a
contact which releases his left hand block commutator r but in making this
contact he is retarded by having to exert considerable force, and thus as the
action occupies some time, the signalman cannot hurriedly or carelessly give
permission for a train to proceed to B.
The instrument for this purpose consists of an electromagnets having a
stem which can be raised by depressing a levert, but a crosshead on the stem
is attached to pistons working in cylinders with small passages for air, or to
strong springs in , so that it takes considerable force and some time to raise
the magnets.
When is excited it raises with it its armature in the path of which is a
contact at .. But if while rising be cut out of circuit, the armature will
drop on its way. With this instrument the operation for passing a second
train into the A to B section is as follows:-
B finding the first train is not going beyond his station calls C to release
his left band block so that he may allow a second train to come from A to B.
To this C replies not by a short action but by holding down his bell plunger
for several seconds, during which time B operates his retarded contact by slowly
raising the electromagnet with its armature w. As the armature rises it
makes the contact at which closes the circuit of the magnet m and releases
the commutator plunger in the usual way so that B can communicate with A
for the passage of a train to B. If it should happen that C does not hold down
his signalling plunger long enough for B to fully raise the magnet s, then the
armature drops and no contact is made at ..
The somewhat prolonged time occupied by C in holding down his plunger
and by B in making his releasing contact provides against possible negligence
of B who, if he could suddenly release his block might do so without due con-
sideration.
Although I have described the action of the contacts c d relatively to the
right hand main signal and the left hand signalling plunger, and the retarding
release instrument relatively to the distant station on the right and the sig-
nalling plunger of the left hand instrument, it is to be understood that the
several instruments and connections are repeated at any intermediate station
such as B for the opposite hands respectively.
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:
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1. In combination with the miniature semaphore indicators at a block rail-
way station, contacts operated by the movement of these semaphores, and con-
ducting connections to the electromagnet on the signal post, whereby when it

page_text: is energised, the bars of the divided pull of the main semaphore are locked
together substantially as described.
2. In combination with the electromagnet and pull locking gear on the right
signal post a second electromagnet and conducting connectious to the releasing
electromagnet of the left block instrument and conversely substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
3. In combination with the ordinary signalling communication from a distant
station, on the one hand, a retarding instrument for release of the signalling
plunger on the other hand, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 26th day of July 1900.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.