AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Gibson, of Hull, Yorkshire, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 28th April 1857, and dated the 22nd December 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Gibson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd December 1856.
I, ROBERT GIBSON, of Hull, Yorkshire, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED SELF ACTING APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING
ON RAILWAYS,' to be as follows:-
The necessity for some more effective system or mode of signalling on rail-
ways has lately been made manifest by the recent unfortunate casualties which
have occurred on several of the principal lines; and these instances of failure
seem to shew that to render signals more reliable, they must be made self-
acting or otherwise as much as possible independent of signalmen and of
pointsmen, for the most perfect arrangement of counter or return signalling,
when dependent on the attention of railway porters or other similar servants,
may fail at a critical moment, with fearful results to life and properly.
Now, my Invention consists of an apparatus which is actuated or set in
motion by the passage of the locomotive engine along the rail, and is therefore
independent of the signalmen or pointsmen, and this apparatus reacis upon
another similar arrangement placed at any required distance from the first,
Price 8d.]

page_text: causing that also to give a signal. And these arrangements may be repeated
at any suitable intervals, so that the engine as it progresses shall give warning
of its approach to distant stations or telegraph to the stations it has left behind.
The apparatus consists of a mechanical arrangement by which the ordinary
signals, semaphore arms. or signal lamps are put in motion by means of a
lever actuated by one of the wheels of a locomotive passing over it. This
action of the lever sets the signals in a position indicating that a train has
recently passed: the depressing of the lever also actuates the signals of another
apparatus placed in advance of the first. showing that the train has passed the
first signal apparatus and is approaching the second. The signals remain in
the position they are placed by the first apparatus until the wheel of the loco-
motive depresses the lever of the second apparatus: this action replaces the
signals in their original position to show that the train is clear of both signals.
In addition to the foregoing. the apparatus may be furnished with a galvanic
or electro-magnetic apparatus, by which an audible or visible telegraphic
signal may be made to the person in charge of the telegraph at the station
either in advance or in the rear of the train. The mechanical part of the
apparatus is fitted within a case or box placed below the line of rails; it con-
sists of a lever attached to a cranked lever in connexion with a moveable
transverse shaft. on which is fitted a wheel or pulley, to this is secured a chain
or wire rope, the other end of which is linked to a crank on the signal post or
semaphore. Another chain or rope is fastened to the pulley, which is attached
at the other end to a crank on the transverse shaft of the second apparatus, in
order that the power applied to the lever of the first apparatus may likewise
set the signals of the second. The actuating lever, which is curved upon its
upper surface and slightly projects above one of the rails, is placed in juxta-
position and so near to the rail that the wheel of a locomotive passing over
must depress it below the rail. This action on the lever causes the pulley on
the transverse shaft to rotate partially, and this motion sets the signals of both
apparatus. To prevent the signals being altered by the wheels of the train
as they successively pass over the lever, a spring or catch acts upon a counter-
poise weight attached to the signal post, and prevents the alteration of its
position until the main pulley is drawn in the opposite direction, the readjust-
ment of the signals being assisted by the action of counterbalance weights;
in place of counterpoise weights, steel springs or elastic bands may be used.
To cause the apparatus to communicate, an electric telegraphic signal, a
galvanic battery. or electro-magnetic machine is placed within the box or
case of the apparatus in such a position that when the transverse shaft before
alluded to is caused to rotate partially by the depression of the actuating

page_text: lever, it will bring a small crank or lever fitted thereon in metallic connexion
with the battery or electro-magnetic instrument, by which means an audible
or visible signal is conveyed through the telegraphic instrument at the station
in advance of the train to signal its approach, or to the station in the rear to
donato its safe donarture.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Gibson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd June 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
GIBSON, of Hull, Yorkshire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert Gibson, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
Gibson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1,
the said Robert Gibson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED SELF-ACTING APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS." upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Gibson, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Gibson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The necessity for a more effective system or mode of signalling on railways
has been made manifest by several recent infortunate casualties which have
occurred on the principal lines. These instances of defective signalling show
that to render signals more reliable they must be made self-acting and simple,

page_text: and as much as possible independent of signalmen and of pointsmen, for an
arrangement of counter or return signalling, when dependent on the attention
of porters or similar servants, often fails at a critical moment, with fearful
results to life and property. Now, my Invention consists of self-acting appa-
ratus which is actuated or set in motion by the passage of the locomotive
engine along the rail, and is therefore independent of signalmen or pointsmen,
and this apparatus reacts upon similar apparatus placed at any required
distances from each other, causing those also to give audible or visible signals.
As these signal apparatus may be placed at any suitable intervals, the locomo-
live as it progresses may be made to give warning of its approach to any
stations or gate-houses, or to telegraph to the stations or gate-houses it has
left behind. The apparatus consists of a mechanical arrangement by which
the ordinary signals, semaphore arms, or signal lamps are put in motion by
means of a lever actuated by one of the wheels of a locomotive passing over
it. This action of the lever sets the signal in a position indicating that a train
has recently passed, the depressing of the lever also actuates the signal of
another apparatus placed in advance of the first, which replaces the signal
influenced by the first apparatus in its original position, showing that the
locomotive has passed the second signal and is approaching the third, which,
when reached, will replace the second, and so on. In addition to the foregoing,
the apparatus may be furnished with a galvanic or electro-magnetic apparatus,
by which an audible or visible telegraphic signal may be made to the person
in charge of the telegraphic instrument at the station or gate-house, either in
in advance or in the rear of the train. The mechanical part of the apparatus
is fitted within a case or box placed below the line of rails; it consists of a
lever attached to a cranked lever in connection with a moveable transversc
shaft, on which is fitted a wheel or pulley, to this is secured a chain, wire, or
rope, the other end of which is linked to a crank on the signal post or sema-
phore. Another chain, wire, or rope is fastened to the pulley, which is attached
at the other end to a crank on the transverse shaft of the second apparatus,
in order that the power applied to the lever of the first apparatus may likewise
set the signals of the second. The actuating lever, which is inclined upon its
upper surface, and slightly projects above one of the rails, is placed in juxta-
position with and so near to the rail that the wheel of a locomotive passing
over must depress it below the rail. This action on the lever causes the
pulley on the transverse shaft to rotate partially, and this motion sets the
signals of the apparatus. To prevent the signals being altered by the wheels
of the train as they successively pass over the lever, a spring or catch acts
upon a counterpoise weight attached to the signal post, and prevents the

page_text: alteration of its position until the main pulley is drawn in the opposite direc-
tion, the readjustment of the signals being assisted by the action of counter-
balance weights. In place of counterpoise weights, steel springs or clastic
bands may be used. To cause the apparatus to communicate an electro-
telegraphic signal, a galvanic battery. or electro-magnetic apparatus is placed
in such a position that when the transverse shaft before alluded to is caused
to rotate partially by the depression of the actuating lever, it will bring a
small crank or lever fitted thereon in metallic connection with the battery or
electro-magnetic instrument, by which means an audible or visible signal is
conveyed through the telegraphic instrument at the station or gate-house in
advance of the train to signal its approach, or to the station or gate-house in
the rear to denote its safe departure.
. But in order that my said Invention may be clearly understood, I will
proceed to describe the same in detail, referring to the illustrative Figures on
the Drawings hereunto appended, and forming a part of this Specification of
my Invention, which said Figures represent one of the modifications under
which my said Invention may be judiciously carried into effect.
Figure 1, Sheet A of the accompanying Drawings, is an elevation of one
arrangement of my improved self-acting signalling apparatus; Fig. 2, Sheet B,
is another elevation taken on the opposite side, corresponding to Fig. 1;
Fig. 3, Sheet C, is a view of the break; Fig. 4 is a view of the pendulum
apparatus for suspending the wire. In all the Figures corresponding parts
are marked with the similar letters of reference throughout. To a suitable
base or bed plate A, the standards and stationary parts of the apparatus are
fixed; the metal standards are secured to the bed plate A by bolts, or they
may be cast in one piece with the base or bed plate. The vertical standard B
carries, on a short transverse axle D, a bell-crank lever E, the upper surface
of which is inclined, as shewn in the illustrative Figures; the lower part of the
lever is carried down towards the base plate, and connected by a pin or suitable
connection with another bell-crank lever F. This lever is keyed or otherwise
attached to the horizontal shaft or axle G, which is supported by the vertical
standards C. On the axle or shaft G is fitted a grooved pulley or wheel H,
which being fast on the axle rotates with it; to the same axle or shaft is also
fixed the counterbalance weight I. To the pulley or wheel H a piece of
chain, or wire rope, or other strong but flexible material is secured; this chain
or rope. H passes partly round the periphery of the wheel or pulley, and the
other end is attached to a crank arm K fitted on the signal post L. Imme-
diately below the arm M is a horizontal wheel or pulley O, attached by a collar
to the signal post L, the periphery of this pulley is grooved similar to the

page_text: pulley H. To, the pulley O a chain or wire rope P is attached, passing partly
round it, and is carried over a corresponding pulley Q, fixed vertically to the
pillar or standard N. To the other end of the chain or rope P, a counter-
balance weight R is attached. A notch or recess is cut in the face of the
pulley O, in which the lever S falls when the pulley is rotated.
The lever S
is bolted at the lower end to the base A. the upper end passes through a slot
in the arm M, and terminates in a handle. by which it may be disengaged
from the notch in the pulley O, when required. The retaining lever S is also
made to release the pulley O, by means of a chain or wire rope T. which is
passed through a hole in the lever and fastened on the opposite side. or is
otherwise secured thereto. This self-acting signalling apparatus may be used.
in conjunction with a galvanic battery or an electro-magnetic arrangement, for
communicating telegraphic signals to stations or gate-houses, either in advance
or in the rear of the moving train. But as make no claim to the use of
any electric or galvanic arrangement for telegraphing on railways, it is un-
necessary to enter into any description of the manner in which my self-acting
apparatus may be attached to and may be actuated by the above instruments
or apparatus, for it will be obvious that the wires may be caused to actuate my
improved apparatus when set in motion by galvanic or magnetic action. The
whole of the foregoing mechanical arrangement for actuating the signals is
fitted within a metal box or case, and placed in the earth below the line of
rails to which they are to be applied. The upper part of the signal post is
fitted with an ordinary day signal, consisting of a rectangular board with a red
disc or other device painted thereon, or the self-acting apparatus may be used
for actuating the semaphore arms which are employed on several lines of
railways for giving day signals.
My improvements are also equally applicable for night signals, in which
case the light of a suitable signal lamp may be shewn or caused to dis-
appear, as required. The apparatus is fixed in juxta-position with the line
of rails, the upper curved surface of the lever E being so adjusted as to
project a short distance above the surface of the rails; this lever is placed
sufficiently close to the rail that the wheel of a locomotive or other carriage
will depress it as it passes along the line. The apparatus is connected, by
means of the wire T, with another similar arrangement placed at a distance
in advance where the signal is required, and it may also be connected with
another similar apparatus in the rear. When the forewheel of the loco-
motive or other carriage passes over the lever E of the apparatus it is
depressed. and this causes the bell-crank lever F to be drawn backward, which
being fixed to the axle or shaft G, causes it to rotate partially on its axis.

page_text: The effect of this is to cause the pulley H to wind the chain or rope H round it,
carrying with it the crank arm K. which being fixed at the signal post L, is
consequently made to rotate on its axis. The amount of rotation of the
pulley H is so arranged that the signal post is caused to make a quarter of a
revolution, so as to bring the signal from a position parallel to the line of rails.
to one at right angles thereto. or. in other words. to bring the signal from a
position in which its edge is presented to the engine driver's view in passing
over the line to one in which the face of the signal is fully exposed to view.
This partial revolution of the signal post carries with it the pulley O. fixed
thereto, the notch or recess in which is so arranged that when the signal is
exposed. or at right angles to the line. it is opposite to the spring lever S, which
catches in it, and retains the signal in that position until acted upon by the
next apparatus. The rotation of the signal post L causes the crank arm Z
also to rotate with it, drawing the rocking lever Y towards it, by which the
stud X is depressed until it touches the plate V beneath it. This action com-
pletes the circuit between the poles of the battery or magnet. thus giving a
telegraphic or audible signal to the station or gate-house in advance of or in
the rear of the moving train. or to both. if required. When the locomotive
reaches the apparatus in advance of and connected by the wire T with the one
it has passed, the rotation of the pulley H. caused by the depression of the
lever E. will by means of the wire draw the lever S of the first apparatus out
of the notch of the pulley O and the signal post L and R. Both of these
weights are lifted when the lever is depressed, and they are kept in that
position by the retaining action of the spring lever S on the pulley O. but the
instant the lever S is disengaged, the weights fall, carrying the signal post
round a quarter of a revolution, and by the rotation of the axle G raising the
lever E above the line, as before. If semaphore arms are preferred to the
rectangular signals herein-before described, they are actuated by rods carried
up the sides of the signal post. and by means of bell-crank levers. or a screw
thread or worm working in a cog wheel keyed to the signal post, and caused
to raise the semaphore arms by the rotation of the signal post on its axis by
means before described. It will be obvious also that a lamp may be fixed
in front of the signal post. so as to throw its light up the line when the
lever E is depressed, and presenting its dark side to the line when the signal
apparatus is not in use. When a train has passed the first signalling appa-
ratus. the signal of that apparatus will remain with its front to the line until
the lever of the second apparatus is depressed. The second apparatus may
be one, two, or more miles in advance of the first. and this arrangement of the
signals will clearly indicate to the engine driver of a following train whether

page_text: he is within that distance of the train in advance of him, and by which he can
regulate his speed accordingly. And as two, three, or more of these self-acting
signalling apparatus may be connected together, collisions of trains following
each other can only occur by gross and wilful neglect of the signals specially
intended to prevent these accidents. The kind of chain. wire rope, or wire
I use must depend to a great extent on the distances between the apparatus.
varying with the strain it is required to bear, and this must be determined by
the length. I prefer wire rope. as being the most suitable for the purpose in
long distances, but do not confine myself to its use.
Figure 6, Sheet C, shews a mode of suspending the wire or rope in a manner
which admits of free action and prevents friction. A is a standard or stake
forced into the ground; B is a pendulum carrying the wire C: D. axis of pen-
dulum; E. holes for receiving the wire; F, a roller. The Drawing sufficiently
explains my mode of suspending the wire, and renders any further description
thereof unnecessary. In order to maintain the rope or wire used for making the
connection between the signal posts in a proper state of tension. I attach to the
rope or wire at suitable intervals counterpoise weights. separate and inde-
pendent of those already described in reference to the self-acting apparatus.
These weights are to keep the wire or rope at a proper degree of tension, and
as they counterpoise each other, any little deviation in one portion of the wire.
or rope is compensated in another. But it is necessary to make provision for
the expansion and contraction of metallic rope or wire, especially when used for
long distances, and my Invention comprises an arrangement of apparatus for
obviating the ill effects of expansion and contraction on the wire or metallic
rope.
Figure 5 shews the apparatus in elevation. A. A, is the bed plate: B, the
pulley over which the wire T passes: T, wire rope or other flexible material
connected with the signals; D, counterpoise weight; E. standard carrying
the pulley B; T, wire or other flexible material joined to wire T; F, counter-
poise weight to keep the wire T in tension; G, standard; II, pulley, cor-
responding to the pulley in the other other Figures; I, lever; i, axis of lever;
K, stop; L. elastic spring, which on the revolution of pulley H causes the
lever to tighten the wire T in the groove of the pulley. It will be scen
that the action of this part of the apparatus is similar to that of a break; the
clastic spring causing the lever to clutch and retain the wire in the groove of
the pulley, so that however slack the wire may be between the signal apparatus.
on the signal being set or actuated by the passage of the engine as aforesaid,
this apparatus will bring the wire to a proper state of tension and enable it

page_text: to actuate the signals. And this arrangement will be useful for hand signals
where my apparatus is not used, and will allow of the use of much longer lines
of hand signals than at present.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and how the same
is to be performed. I wish it to be understood that I make no claim to the
use of the inclined lever or bent arm for depressing the lever, and that I make
no claim to the signals or to any galvanic or magnetic apparatus in conjunction
with my Invention, and that I do not claim the parts separately; but what I
claim and desire to secure by these Letters Patent is,--
The combination of mechanism forming the self-acting signal apparatus
herein-before described and shewn by the Drawings in Sheets A and B.
Secondly, I claim the mode of maintaining the wire, or other rope used in a
proper state of tension by the use of counterpoise weights.
Thirdly, I claim the apparatus described and shewn by the Drawing Figure 5
in Sheet C, for clutching and holding the wire, or any mere modification thereof,
and whether used for hand signals or with my apparatus.
Fourthly, I claim the use of the pendulum apparatus described and shewn
by Figure 6. Sheet C, for suspending the wire or rope.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Robert Gibson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
CHARLES BARLOW,
Patent Agent,
89, Chancery Lane, London.
ROBERT GIBSON. (L.S.)