IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED ON RAILWAYS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTINGUISHING OR PARTLY EXTINGUISHING LIGHT IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES WHILE THE TRAIN IS IN MOTION, OR FOR INDICATING THE NAMES OF STATIONS IN CARRIAGES, ALSO FOR SIGNALLING PURPOSES.”
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Brockelbank, of 37, Thornsett Foad, Anerley,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED ON RAILWAYS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTINGUISHING OR PARTLY EXTINGUISHING LIGHT IN
RAILWAY CARRIAGES WHILE THE TRAIN IS IN MOTION, OR FOR INDICATING
THE NAMES OF STATIONS IN CARRIAGES, ALSO FOR SIGNALLING PURPOSES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Brockelbank at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th August 1879.
<
GEORGE BROCKELBANK, of 37, Thornsett Road, Anerley. IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS TO BE USED ON RAILWAYS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTINGUISHING OR
PARTLY EXTINGUISHING LIGHT IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WHILE THE TRAIN IS IN
MOTION, OR FOR INDICATING THE NAMES OF STATIONS IN CARRIAGES, ALSO FOR
SIGNALLING PURPOSES."
The object of this Invention is to economise oil, petrolium, gas, and other
illuminating materials used in railway carriages, and to indicate the names of
stations and signalling trains, and consists of a frame fixed to a carriage, in which
frame a vertical axle resting on shoulders revolves partially. At the top of this
axle are arms running right and left; at the bottom of it is a crank-arm or ains
at right angles with the arms at top. At the end of these crankarms are bosses
in which another vertical axle revolves, partially supported by a solid movable ring,
through both of which or otherwise a cottarpin passes and keeps the axle from
dropping. At the bottom of this axle is a wheel horizontally placed. For the
purpose of setting in motion the crank-arm or arms a long board or boards are
fixed on the permanent way at a desired angle, so that as the carriage proceeds the
wheel comes in contact with them and forces the wheel and crank-arm or arms on
one side, and consequently the arms at the top of the vertical axle last named are
moved simultaneously. To one or both of these arms a cord, chain, or other
connection can be attached, and can be fastened to a gas tap, rod, or other means for
extinguishing or partly extinguishing any kind of light, or to any arrangement to
indicate the names of stations in the carriages.

page_text: Should the construction of engines or carriages be such as to require the boards
on the permanent way to be placed outside the rails, two wheels may then be
required, and other modifications of the frame or a movable rod or rods may be
used instead of the vertical axles.
For signalling purposes I fix the board or boards on the side of the engine of a
suitable length deviating from a parallel line with the engine's side. I then fix by
the side of the line opposite the signal post a frame in which I place a crank with
an arm, similar to that under a carriage, with a wheel at its end. This crank is
connected by a rod or other means to the signal, so that as the engine proceeds the
crankarm and wheel are acted upon by the fixed board on the engine and forced
over on one side and immediately raises the signal to danger. The engine proceeds
until it comes to the next signal post with which is connected a like apparatus.
From this a connecting rod or line runs to the first named signal post, so that as
soon as it raises the signal at the second post it lowers the signal of the first post to
safety: Another way of carrying out my Invention:-I propose to place a long
movable lever arm or an axle on the side of the line opposite each signal post,
moving horizontally or otherwise on wheels. On the side of the engine 'I then fix
the wheel so that as the engine proceeds it comes in contact with the long lever
arm which is forced over. The lever arm being connected with signal by a rod or
other means the semaphore is raised to danger. As in the first named plan the
first signal semaphore is lowered as the second one is raised, and so on till the end
of the journey.
I propose making my apparatus strike a bell three or four hundred yards before
approaching the signal, in the event of the danger signal being up, the alarum being
not struck when the train ahead has passed a signal beyond and consequently lowers
the semaphore.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Brockelbank in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
February 1880.
"IMPROVEMENTS
GEORGE BROCKELBANK, of Number 37, Thornsett Road, Anerley.
IN APPARATUS TO BE USED ON RAILWAYS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTINGUISHING OR
PARTLY EXTINGUISHING LIGHT IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES WHILE. THE TRAIN IS IN
MOTION, OR FOR INDICATING THE NAMES OF STATIONS IN CARRIAGES, ALSO FOR
SIGNALLING PURPOSES."
The Invention is for "Improvements in Apparatus to be used on Railways for
the Purpose of Extinguishing or Partly Extinguishing Light in Railway Carriages
while the Train is in Motion, or for Indicating the Names of Stations in Carriages,
also for Signalling Purposes," and has for its object to economize oil, petroleum, gas,
or other illuminating materials used in railway-carriages, and to indicate the names
of stations, and to signal trains.
The means by which my said Invention is carried into effect, and for the better
explanation of which I refer to the Drawings hereunto annexed, are as follows:-
First. As to the extinguishing or partly extinguishing of light, as herein before
referred to. A frame of wood or iron, as shown by Figure 1, Sheet 1, is fixed to a
carriage. In this frame is a vertical axle, A shown in Figures 1 and 2 in Sheet 1,
resting on shoulders B, B, shown in said Figures, and partially revolving. At the
top of this axle are arms C, C, running right and left, and at right angles to which
at the bottom of the axle are crank-arms as shown by D, D, in Figure 2. At one
end of each of the arms C, C, is a hole through which a cord or chain is passed, and
in the centre of the said arms is a ring K to which a cord or other connection is
fastened, so as to pass over pulley D, Figures 1 & 2, thereby enabling the vertical
axle A with the wheel I to be raised to the required height. At the end of the
crank-arms D, D, are bosses E, E, in Figures 1 & 2, in which another vertical
axle F freely revolves, and which is supported by a solid moveable ring G. Through
the last mentioned axle F and the ring G, or otherwise, a cottar-pin passes and keeps
the axle from dropping. At the bottom of the axle F is a wheel fixed horizontally
to it, I in Figures 1 & 2, as herein before stated. The crank-arms D, D, are set in
motion by contact with a long board or boards placed at a desired angle on the
permanent way so that as the carriage proceeds the wheel and crank-arms are
forced on one side, and thereby the arms C, C, at the top of the vertical axle A are
moved simultaneously. To one or both these arms a cord or chain preferably
(but other connection may be employed) is attached, and is fastened to a gas-tap,
rod, or other means for extinguishing or partly extinguishing any kind of light
which may be in use. To provide for a continuous full light the partially
extinguishing board, being on hinges, is laid down at dusk, and consequently does
not act upon the wheel, and so allows the light to remain. As on many railways
traverses are used which would interfere with the wheel under the carriage, I make
the frame in such a form as to allow the vertical axle A to be raised by hand, as
hereinbefore described, and shown in Figures 1 & 2, Sheet 1. A similar board or
boards at a reversed angle upon the opposite side of the wheel are placed at con-
venient distances to push back the wheel into its original position. Should the
construction of engines and carriages be such as to require the boards on the
permanent way to be placed outside the rails two wheels may then be required,
as shown in Figure 3, Sheet 1, and other modifications of the frame to suit the
circumstances, or a moveable rod or rods may be used instead of the vertical axle.
The Drawing, Figure 3, Sheet 1, delineates the manner in which my Invention is
carried out when two wheels are applied, for gas only, one ȧrm only being required
to cut off the supply.
The Drawings, Figures 3 & 4, Sheet 2, delineate the apparatus and means by
which my said Invention is carried out when oil, petroleum, or other kindred
illuminating material is employed. A is a lamp in the roof of a railway-carriage;

page_text: -
B is a partial extinguisher on pendulum-rod C which is suspended on bearings D
from the top of the smoke-chimney. E, E, E, is a connecting-rod with a groove
therein for pendulum-top to work in, and bent to suit shape of the lamp-lid.
This rod projects over the roof of the carriage and terminates in an L-shaped catch
F which is acted upon in the following manner, viz. :-G is an eccentric which raises
a weighted whee! H having attached to it an L-shaped lever placed inside the catch
F, so that when the eccentric G is put in motion by the wheels under the carriage
being forced over, it raises the wheel H thereby forcing the lever K outwards, and
carrying with it the rod E, E, E, thereby removing the extinguisher from the wick.
The reverse operation partially extinguishes the light. Another method by which
this operation can be effected is as follows, viz. :-The rod E, E, E, may terminate in
a square hook with a roller upon it, which grasps a bar F having a longitudinal
action, and which running almost the entire length of the carriage is connected with
the wheel J, as shown in Figures 1 & 2, Sheets 1 & 2. This bar is reduced in breadth at
intervals opposite to the respective lamps, so that when the wheel at the bottom of
the carriage, as is hereinbefore described, is forced over, the bar F is shifted and the
broad parts thereof are brought into contact with the connecting-rod E, E, E, which
forces the extinguisher from the wick. When the bar F is re-adjusted by the
process herein before described, a spring on the lamp forces back the connecting-rod
E, E, E, and replaces the extinguisher so as to partly extinguish the lamp.
As to the application of my said Invention to signalling purposes; I fix a board
or boards of suitable length on the side of the engine, as shown in Figure 1, Sheet 3,
said board or boards not being parallel to the engine's side, but inclining outward
at an angle. I then fix by the side of the permanent way opposite the signal-post;
a. post D, Figure 3, Sheet 3, on which I place an L-shaped crank-arm pivoting
on the fulcrum E having a wheel or disc H horizontally fixed at one end, similar to
that under the carriage, as hereinbefore described. At the other end of the crank-
arm is a hole for the purpose of attachment. Above the L-shaped crank-arm I fix
another straight double arm B, B, having its pivot on the same fulcrum E with a
wheel on disc W at one end, and a hole at the other, as hereinbefore described, the
wheel being at the end of the respective crank-arms. As the engine proceeds the
crank-arms C, C, & B, B, and wheels H and W are acted upon by the fixed
board on the engine and forced over on one side, whereby the past signal post is
_moved by the following process, viz.:-The lever C, C, being forced over carries with
it the chain or connecting-rod J, J, in Figure 2, which draws the inclined plane
K, K, under the wheel M which is thereby raised along with the end of the
lever Pupon which it is mounted, and consequently releases the ratchet N and
lowers the signal froin danger to safety. At the other end of the inclined plane is
a weight which pulls the apparatus into position after the train has passed. Also
the lever B, B, being acted upon similarly by the ratchet-rod N in Figure 3, Sheet 3,
connected by a chain or rod to the semaphore pulls the semaphore-to danger. A
like result can be effected by the application of my Invention, as shown by Figure 4,
Sheet 3. A long moveable lever-arm A on an axle B may be placed on the side of
the permanent way opposite each signal post, and moving horizontally or otherwise
upon wheels C, C. On the side of the engine a wheel D may be fixed in such a
position that as the engine proceeds it comes in contact with the said lever-arm and
forces it over. The lever-arm being connected with the signal by a rod or other means,
the semaphore is lowered as the second one is raised, and the converse result is
caused alternately to the end of the journey. I further propose to make my
apparatus strike a gong D, Figure 1, Sheet 4, three or four hundred yards before.
reaching the signal in the event of the danger signal being up, the alarum being
not struck when the train ahead has passed a signal beyond, and consequently
lowered the semaphore. A is a disc; B, B, is a straight double-arm having its
pivot on fulcrum K with a wheel on disc A at one end, and a hole at the other,
acting in the manner herein before described. C is a clapper attached to the arm
B, B, at the bottom of which clapper is a strong spring L. D is gong running in

page_text: a groove M and acted upon by a connecting-rod G, G, running over pulley H, and
kept in its place by a weight E at such a distance from the clapper as to prevent
the gong being struck. Whenever the danger signal is raised the gong is pulled
forward by the connecting-rod or line G, G, acting round a pulley H to a position
so as to be struck by the clapper, and the gong is restored to its place by the action
of the balance weight E so soon as the signal is lowered to safety. If found more
convenient the gong can be fixed upon the engine and acted upon by a wheel
similar to that used for extinguishing or partly extinguishing the light, as herein-
before described, (the board being moveable on the permanent way), and at the
same time the whistle will be turned on if required. For the purpose of applying
my Invention to indicate the names of stations the apparatus can be connected
with a disc by means of a rod or chain. The gong is specially applicable to fog-
signalling.
I claim the automatic arrangement hereinbefore described, for extinguishing
light in railway carriages while the train is in motion, also for indicating the names
of stations in carriages, also for signalling purposes.
I also claim the use of the long deviation boards, and the inclined plane as the
same are respectively described in the foregoing Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Brockelbank, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Signed and sealed in
.
presence of
P. O'HALLORAN,
Patent Agent,
28, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.
GEO. BROCKELBANK. (L.S.)