Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Nov., 1888
I JOHN HENRY ROSE of 45 Adelaide Road, Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush,
Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to
be as follows:-
:―
This invention relates to arrangement of appliances to be used in connection with
semaphore or corresponding signal of railways, and constitutes a positive lock system
between any two stations, and also for allowing intermediate signals which are
required to be worked by consent of the signalman at the station, either in advance or
at the rear of such semaphore or point.
The invention is applicable for single line of rails, for double lines and also for
junctions, and is employed in connection with electrical appliances which when worked
from one point allows the signalman of the advance or rear stations to operate, readjust
the appliances in connection with the semaphore at the advance or rear station
according to the construction or arrangement.
In connection with or adjacent to one of the rails over which the train has to pass
I
employ a treadle, for the flange of the wheel to press upon, said treadle being on a
shaft carrying a lever in connection with the semaphore, which the train itself puts to
danger in passing; the shaft of this treadle has an eccentric around which is a clip
band having two ends, one longer than the other and at a slight distance apart adjust-
able by screws and springs so that the strap forms a bite on the eccentric when moving
in one direction, and a slip, when moving in the other direction, electrical contact
pieces being in connection to indicate to the signalman at the station that the train
has operated said semaphore and "line clear" will be given on the instrument in the
signal box.
The longer end of the strap is connected by a rod to the pull over lever in the signal-
man's box or at some other desired part of the line and although he can operate his

page_text: lever to move the strap round the eccentric he cannot interfere with the semaphore at
danger because the rod by which the semaphore is carried is disconnected from the
pull lever and remains at danger until the signalman at the advance signal box com-
pletes the electric circuit through other wires to magnetic coils, which, by attracting
an armature allows a hook on its end to escape from contact with a balances
lever one end of which is of curved shape and forms a stop, against which a
lever in connection with the pull down rod can be actuated, this being a duplicate
rod in proximity to the semaphore rod which has a bolt or pin working in a long
hole and projecting within range of a tumbling hook or claw, the normal position
of which is away from the bolt, but so soon as the balance lever occupies a working
position, the tumbling hook strikes against a cam plate to throw the hook within
range of the bolt to form the connection between the pull down rod and the
semaphore rod so that the two move together.
The semaphore arm has near its lower end a ✓ or equivalent shaped lever,
which, while the signal is at danger keeps a spring from contact with the balance
lever, but when the, semaphore arm is acted upon to be put at danger, the
☐ shaped lever travelling down with the semaphore arm, is released from a spring
which then presses on the balance lever f and forces it downwards to bring its
opposite or loop end into lock with the hook end of the armature in which position
it remains so that any attempt on the part of the signalman to pull the semaphore
off or move it from danger, no motion can be communicated to it, i.e. the sema-
phore, unless the apparatus is put into working condition by another signalman
who is in the advance or in the rear box or station.
The semaphore rod is in connection with an air or other regulator so that even
when the semaphore has to be lowered it cannot be put suddenly to danger but
will fall gradually and in proportion to the escape of air or fluid.
The semaphore blade is balanced to fall to danger by a weight and carries an electric
contact piece which makes circuit between a line wire and earth when the tumbling
hook is raised up sufficiently high to come in contact with an exposed plate.
The upper part of the semaphore has a contact piece which when the bar goes up
comes into contact with another contact piece which will give "line clear" on instru-
ment in signal box and clear the line on the section in the rear.
In connection with an indicator apparatus in the signalman's box I use a push
down key or plunger which in returning to its normal position, transmits an electrical
signal to the next station to the effect that the line is clear if desired.
This push down key is pivotted on an arm and provided with a spring to return it
to its normal position. The inner end of this push down key is bent, so that when
returned by its spring, it presses upon a contact piece.
The tail end of the arm before spoken of carries the contact piece and also a plunger
working within a cylinder supplied with air or fluid when that end of the arm is
raised to bring a point up to the contact piece and be held in contact for a short time
during the escape of air or fluid from the pump the minute passage in which regulates
the length of time in which the circuit is kept complete and the indicator signal at
the advance or rear station kept exposed.
The eccentric wheel and strap before referred to with a pull or push over lever
may be used in connection with points for operating them.
My invention in practice is as follows supposing A. B. ( represent three stations in
the same line, each provided with a treadle in connection with the danger semaphore,
before a train can leave station C the signal must be readjusted by the signalman at
the station in advance (station B) but before the signalman at the station B can
readjust the signal at station C, the previous train on the section between B and C
must have passed over the treadle a few yards in advance of the starting signal at
station B. In passing over that treadle the train will put the signal to danger and
clear the section between B and C, and enable the signalman at B to readjust the
starting signal at C when required thus rendering it impossible for the two trains to
be on the same section at the same time..

page_text: For single lines the system may be used for one signal only and if the signal has
been readjusted at one end of the section for the signal to be taken off, it renders it
impossible to readjust the signal at the other end of the section whichever way it
may be, so that not only cannot one train follow another but two trains cannot
meet.
1
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said J. H. Rose.
I JOHN HENRY ROSE of 45 Adelaide Road, Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush,
Middlesex, Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described in and
by the following statement :-
This invention relates to arrangement of appliances to be used in connection with
Semaphore or corresponding signal of railways and constitutes a positive block system
between any two stations and also for allowing intermediate signals which are required
to be worked by consent of the signalman at the station either in advance or at the
rear of such semaphore or point.
The invention is applicable for single line of rails, for double lines, and also for
junctions and is employed in connection with electrical appliances which when worked
from one point allows the signalman of the advance or rear stations to operate,
readjust the appliance in connection with the semaphore at the advance or rear
station according to the construction or arrangement.
My invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawings.
In connection with or adjacent to one of the rails over which the train has to
pass I employ a treadle or camber A see end view Figure 1 and plan Figure 2,
for the flange of the wheel to press upon, said treadle or camber A being on a
shaft B carrying a lever C in connection by a rod or chain C with the semaphore
which the train itself puts to danger in passing. The shaft of this camber A has
an eccentric D around which is a clip band E having two ends F. G. one longer
than the other and at a slight distance apart adjustable by screws and springs H
so that the strap E forms a bite on the eccentric D when moving in one direction
and a slip when moving in the other direction, electrical contact pieces being in

page_text: connection to indicate to the signalman at the station that the train has operated
said semaphore and "Line Clear" will be given in instrument in the signal box.
The longer end F of the strap E is connected by a rod I to the pull over
lever in the Signalman's box or at some other desired part of the line and
although he can operate his lever to move the strap round the eccentric he cannot
interfere with the semaphore at danger because the rod J by which the semaphore K
is disconnected from the pull lever and remains at danger until the signalman at
the advance signal box completes electric circuit through other wires to magnetic
coils L see Figure 3, which coils by attracting an armature M allows a hook on
its end to escape from contact with one end of a balance lever N, the opposite
end of which is of curved shape and forms a stop against which a lever P in
proximity to the pull down rod Q can be actuated, this being a duplicate rod in
front of the semaphore rod J which has a bolt or pin R working in a long hole
and projecting within range of a tumbling hook or claw S, the normal position
of which is away from the bolt R but so soon as the balance lever N occupies
a working position, as in dotted lines Figure 3, into which it is taken by the
superior weight of its outer end the tumbling hook S in its downward motion
strikes against a cam edge of the lever P to throw the hook S within range of
the bolt R to form the connection between the pull down rod Q and the semaphore
rod J so that the two move together.
The pull down rod Q has near its lower end a L or equivalent shaped lever T
which while the signal is at danger keeps a spring U from contact with the
balance lever N but when the semaphore arm is acted upon to be pulled down
the shaped lever travelling down with the pull down rod Q is released from
the spring U which then presses on the balance lever and forces it downwards
to bring its opposite or loop end into lock with the hook end of the armature M
in which position it remains and after the signal as again been put to danger,
any attempt on the part of the signalman to pull the semaphore off or move it
from danger, no motion can be communicated to it, i.e. the semaphore, unless the
apparatus as been readjusted by another signalman who is in the advance box
or station.
The pull down rod Q is in connection with an air or
even when the semaphore has to be lowered, it will move
proportion to the escape of air or fluid.
other regulator so that
gradually to danger in
The semaphore blade is balanced to move to danger by a weight and carries an
electric contact piece a which makes circuit between a line wire b and earth when
the tumbling hook S is raised up sufficiently high to come in contact with an exposed
plate c.
"
on
The upper part of the bar Q has a contact piece d which when the bar goes up
comes into contact with another contact piece e which will give "Line Clear
instrument in signal box and clear the line on the section in the rear.
In connection with an indicator apparatus in the signalman's box Figures 4
and 5 I use a push down key or plunger V Figures 5, 6 and 7 which in returning
to its normal position transmits an electrical signal to the next station to the
effect that the line is clear if desired.
This push down key V is pivotted on an arm W and is provided with a spring V₁
to return it to its normal position. The inner end of this push down key is bent
so that when returned by its spring it presses upon a contact piece X.
The tail end of the arm W before spoken of carries the contact piece and also
a plunger Y working within a cylinder supplied with air or fluid when that end
of the arm is raised to bring a point up to the contact piece and be held in
contact for a short time during the escape of air or fluid from the pump, the
minute passage in which regulates the length of time in which the circuit is kept
complete and the indicator signal at the advance or rear station kept exposed.
When the key V and arm W are depressed the inner end of the arm W is
raised and through a bent rod f a bar g is raised to lift a lip clear of a stop
piece ; this bar g has also a bent rod which when lifted allows the line clear

page_text: disc or indicator on ; to move away from an opening Figure 4 at the same time
the spring strip lifts and puts itself in contact with the piece m to enable the
rear signal to be adjusted.
When the signal K at station B is readjusted by the man in advance the
lever N comes into contact with the spring y and closes circuit with the readjust-
ment appliance seen on the left side of Figure 4. This leaves the signal in a
position for being pulled off and when the man does this the arm K in dropping
breaks contact at a and joins contact at a¹ the current flowing through to the
coils for operating the indicator on the right hand side of Figure 4 showing that
the signal is "off.”
Should the finger of the operator remain upon the key the spring strip / being
free from the arm W keeps itself in contact with the piece m but no current will flow.
through because the contact pieces at X are separated and when the operators finger
is removed from the key the inner end of the arm W drops at a speed proportionate
to the escape of air or fluid from the pump, contact being then complete between the
spring a, X, and through l, m, to the electrical coil L in the station at rear and
when the inner end of the arm W has descended to its fullest distance the circuit last
described is broken.
l
When the key V has returned to its normal position the arm W has pressed the
spring strip downwards and forms a gap between itself and the piece m and as the
bar g is still resting upon the stop piece ha spring u acting on an armature s causes
an insulated spring or lover to pop in and form a block between 1 and m until the
train has passed out of the section the depression of the treadle in advance of the
signal by the passing of the train operates by the rod n the electrical appliances p, q,
Figure 1 to close circuit with magnets which by attracting the armature s draws
the bar g along until its lip drops over the stop piece to lock it, the drop of the
bar g causes i to fall upon the rod and the disc to indicate "Line Clear" in the
apparatus Figure 4. Simultaneously with this, by the attraction of the armature s
the insulated spring or lever t is removed from between 1 and m to enable another
current to be sent to the station in the rear, for operating by means of the magnets L
to produce a readjustment of the balance lever N to the position shown in dotted lines
Figure 3 this motion of the lever N making contact with y and through the con- .
ducting wires makes contact with the coils Figure 5, which coils draw down the
armature and the blade exposing the words "Starting Signal readjusted."
"
On the signalman pulling the semaphore down, the contact d will pass the
contacte and will not clear the line until the train has passed over the advanced
camber which through the contact pieces p, q and d, e being joined completes
circuit through coils r.
If from any cause it is desired that the signal be adjusted without a train
being on a section I provide a lock Z the key, of which under the care of an
inspector would enable the lock bolt to be withdrawn and contact piece v, w, to
come together which would then by the current passing into the magnets r attract
the armatures and remove the spring on levert from between m and 1; the rear
signal could then be adjusted by the man in the advance signal box.
If the signal be at danger and the signalman should try to pull the signal off
the cam piece P rides away from the hook S so that it has no influence upon the
rod J but so soon as the signalman in advance readjusts the signal in the rear
the lever N by taking the position shown in dotted lines Figure 3 prevents the
cam piece P being pushed away by the descent of the hook or claw S so that
claw S is thrown over by P which alone allows the signal to be lowered.
After the roller on the claw S has passed a short distance down the face P it enters
a hollow and so takes off the nip of P upon N, N being then free to drop under the
pressure of the spring U to assume its normal position indicated in full lines.
The eccentric wheel and strap before referred to with a pull over lever may be used
in connection with points for operating them or for a compensator.
If the eccentric wheel D and strap E be used in connection with points, the
chain C or it may be a rod is attached to the points rod and when the lever C is

page_text: pulled over by appliance F, I, the point becomes set in contact with the rail and if
their be any slack in the chain or rod C¹ the first pull F, I, takes it up, a further pull
of said appliance putting the points in contact and if the signalmans pull lever is not
close home, a continued pull to effect this causes the strap to slide round on the
eccentric, the grip on the eccentric being such that the lever C cannot escape or
go back.
This method of taking up the slack by the overflow of E is equivalent to a
compensator.
My invention in practice is as follows, see diagram Figure 7 supposing A, B, C,
represent three stations on the same line each provided with a treadle or camber in
connection with the danger semaphore. Before a train can leave station C the signal
must be readjusted by the signalman at the station in advance (station B) but before
the signalman at the station B can readjust the signal at station C, the previous train
on the section between B and C must have passed over the treadle a few yards in
advance of the starting signal at station B. In passing over that treadle the train will
put the signal to danger and clear the section between B and C and enable the
signalman at B to readjust the starting signal at C when required, thus rendering it
impossible for two trains to be on the same section at the same time.
For single lines the system may be used for adjusting one signal only and if the
signal has been readjusted at one end of the section for the signal to be taken off, it
renders it impossible to readjust the signal at the other end of the section whichever
way it may be, so that not only cannot one train follow another but two trains cannot
meet.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In connection with Railway signalling apparatus, fitting in connection with a
camber operated by a passing train an eccentric surrounded by a strap giving a bite
in one direction and a slip in the other direction said bite being effected by a pull
over lever when the signal is set to "line clear" and a free slip when the camber is {
operated to put the signal to danger substantially as described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
2. The construction or arrangement and method of operation of the key and its
appurtenances shown at Figure 6 as and for the purpose described.
3. The combination of appliances shown at Figure 3 of the annexed drawings and
their method of action as and for the purposes described.
4. In connection with starting signal or signals, the two bars J, Q, having an
independent motion but capable of being connected for combined motion by a tumbling
claw S or its equivalent as set forth.
The 18th day of
1000