IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY TRAINS. WITH GAB
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Jefferson Thompson, of Greenwood Park,
Newry, in the County of Down, Ireland, Mechanical Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY TRAINS.
WITH GAB."
Sealed the 1st June 1858, and dated the 1st December 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Jefferson
Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 1st December 1857.
I, THOMAS JEFFERSON THOMPSON, of Greenwood Park, Newry, in the County
of Down, Ireland, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY TRAINS
WITH GAS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in lighting railway trains by means of compressed
gas in apparatus of the following construction:-First. a self-regulating
apparatus for reducing the pressure of the gas before entering the pipes of
carriages; secondly, a coupling apparatus for conveying the gas from one
carriage to another; thirdly, mechanical arrangements for keeping the lights
in carriages supplied with gas when they are detached from a train; fourthly,
a mode of filling the train gasholders at different railway stations.
The gasholder or vessel to contain the compressed gas may be either of
wrought or cast iron, and of suitable form for being combined with the
luggage van or other carriage, as circumstances may admit of. The following

page_text: is the principle of construction of the apparatus which I propose to employ for
effecting the objects of my said Invention; and, first, as regards the self-
regulating apparatus above mentioned, it consists of a diaphragm valve or
valve formed of flexible material, such as vulcanized india-rubber.
A rod
or spindle passes through the centre of this said valve, and works in suitable
guides at top and bottom thereof. The lower end of the aforesaid rod is
attached to a cock in connection with the compressed gasholder; thus, when
the gas from the high-pressure gasholder enters the box of the regula-
ting apparatus quicker than it is consumed by, the lights in the train, the
pressure becomes increased, and consequently raises the aforesaid flexible
valve and shuts off the cock communicating between the compressed gasholder
and the regulating apparatus, said cock remaining shut until the pressure in the
regulating apparatus is reduced, when the aforesaid flexible valve falls, thereby
opening the cock, and again allowing the compressed gas to enter the
regulating apparatus. Should anything occur to prevent the valve apparatus
in the regulating box working properly, by which the gas in the regulating
box and pipes would gain the same pressure as the gas in the compressed gas-
holder, which said pressure would destroy the equilibrium of the lights or
burst the flexible pipes; to guard against this, a valve is placed at the top of
the aforesaid regulating box, which rises at a pressure a little above the
required working pressure of the gas in the said box. The aforesaid valve is
connected by a rol to another valve in the regulating box, the second or last-
mentioned valve being placed at the entrance of the pipe loading from the
aforesaid box to the carriages. The rising of the valve situate at the top of
the regulating box (by the extra pressure) shuts the valve which is at the
entrance of the aforesaid pipe, and thus prevents the extra pressure extending
through the pipes leading to the carriages. Above that valve which is situate
at the top of the regulating box, I propose to place a railway whistle, to give
notice to the guard or attendant of the train of the escape of gas. The afore-
said regulating valve box may be placed in the guard's van, or in any other
carriage with which the gasholder is in combination. An important feature
in this Invention consists of an arrangement for keeping the liglits in the
several carriages supplied with gas when said 'carriages are temporarily
detached from a train. This I propose to effect by the following means:-
Under any of the seats, or in any other convenient and suitable position in or
about a carriage, I place a flexible bag, which may be coupled to the main
carriage pipe by a small union joint. This bag is intended to be so arranged as
to collapse at a pressure of from one to two inches of water when a carriage is
attached to a train, and when so attached, the pressure in the pipes will be equal

page_text: to or above three inches of water, consequently inflating the bag; but when a
carriage is detached from a train, the above-mentioned pressure being removed,
the bag will gradually collapse, thus supplying the burners in the different
compartments of the carriage until it is again coupled to a train.
The filling of train gasholders at railway stations may be effected by having
stationary gasholders of any convenient form filled with gas by means of
pumps. In these holders the gas is to be compressed to a greater pressure
than that used in the train gasholders, thereby always supplying the train
gasholders with gas up to their working pressure. When the railway gas-
holder is full to its working pressure, any extra pressure opens a valve and
gives notice, by means of a whistle attached to the valve, to shut off the gas..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Jefferson Thompson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st June 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
JEFFERSON THOMPSON, of Greenwood Park, Newry, in the County of Down,
Ireland, Mechanical Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Jefferson Thompson, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Jefferson Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others.
as I, the said Thomas Jefferson Thompson, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIGHTING RAILWAY TRAINS WITH GAS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Jefferson Thompson, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Jefferson Thompson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :--
This Invention consists in the use of compressed gas for lighting railway
trains the apparatus employed consisting, first, of a self-regulating apparatus
for reducing the pressure of the gas from a high pressure to a standard low
pressure before entering the pipes of the carriages; secondly, a coupling
apparatus for conveying the gas from one carriage to another; thirdly,
mechanical arrangements for keeping the lights in carriages supplied with
gas when they are detached from a train; fourthly, a mode of filling the train
gas holders at different railway stations.
The gasholder or vessel to contain the compressed gas may be either of
wrought or cast iron or copper, and of suitable form for being combined with
the luggage van or other carriage, or to each carriage, as circumstances may
admit of. The following is the principle of construction of the apparatus
which I propose to employ for effecting the objects of my said Invention; and
first, as regards the self-regulating apparatus above mentioned, it consists of a
diaphragm valve or valve formed of flexible material, such as vulcanized
india-rubber. A rod or spindle passes through the centre of this said valve,
and works in suitable guides at top and bottom thereof. The lower end of
the aforesaid rod is attached to a cock or equilibrium valve in connection with
the compressed gasholder; thus, when the gas from the high-pressure gas-
holder enters the box of the regulating apparatus quicker than it is consumed
by the lights in the train, the pressure becomes increased, and consequently
raises the aforesaid flexiblo valve, and shuts off the cock or valve communica
ting between the compressed gasholder and the regulating apparatus, said
cock or valve remaining shut until the pressure in the regulating apparatus is
reduced, when the aforesaid flexible valve falls, thereby opening the cock or
valve, and again allowing the compressed gas to enter the regulating apparatus.
Should anything occur to prevent the valve apparatus in the regulating box
working properly, by which the gas in the regulating box and pipes would
gain the same pressure as the gas in the compressed gasholder, which said
pressure would destroy the equilibrium of the lights or burst the flexible pipes;
to guard against this, a valve is placed at the top of the aforesaid regulating
box, which rises at a pressure a little above the required working pressure of
the gas in the said box. The aforesaid valve is connected by a rod to another
valve in the regulating box, the second or last-mentioned valve being placed
at the entrance of the pipe leading from the aforesaid box to the carriages

page_text: The rising of the valve situate at the top of the regulating box (by the extra
pressure) shuts the valve which is at the entrance of the aforesaid pipe, and
thus prevents the extra pressure extending through the pipes leading to the
carriages. Above that valve which is situate at the top of the regulating
box, I propose to place a whistle, to give notice to the guard or attendant of
the train of the escape of gas. The aforesaid regulating valve box may be
placed in the guard's van, or in any other carriage with which the gasholder
is in combination.
Another feature in this Invention consists of an arrangement for keeping
the lights in the several carriages supplied with gas when said carriages are
temporarily detached from a train. This I propose to effect by the following
means: Under any of the seats, or in any other convenient and suitable
position in or about a carriage, I place a flexible bag, which holds sufficient gas
to supply the lights for 10 or 15 minutes while the carriages are detached from
the high-pressure holder. This bag is intended to be so arranged as to
collapse at a pressure of from one to two inches of water when a carriage is
attached to a train, and when so attached, the pressure in the pipes will be
equal to or above three inches of water, consequently inflating the bag; but
when a carriage is detached from a train, the above-mentioned pressure being
removed, the bag will gradually collapse, thus supplying the burners in the
different compartments of the carriage until it is again coupled to a train.
The filling of train gasholders at railway stations may be effected by having
stationary gasholders of any convenient form filled with gas by means of
pumps. In these holders the gas is to be compressed to a greater pressure
than that used in the train gasholders, thereby always supplying the train gas-
holders with gns up to their working pressure. When the railway gasholder
is full to its working pressure, any extra pressure opens a valve and gives
notice, by means of a whistle attached to the valve, to shut off the gas.
In order to explain this Invention as completely as possible, I now proceed
to describe the means by which it may be carried into practical effect, refer-
ence being had to the illustrative Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
numeral figures and letters of reference marked thereon respectively as
follows

page_text: At Figure 1, A, A, is a piece of flexible material forming the sides of a valve of
which Bis the body; C, a spindle passing through the centre of said valve; from
the bottom of this spindle motion is imparted to the lever D, which works the
valve or cock D', for letting the high-pressure gas into the box X. Froin the
gasholder E is a lid which covers the cylinder E, c, in which the valve A
works, for the purpose of enclosing the air between the valve and the cover, so
that the air being thus confined prevents any jumping of the valve arising
from the motion of the carriage. There is a small hole formed in the said lid
which only admits the air in sufficient quantity to permit the valve to have a
slow and uniform motion. F is a helical spring, to which the body of the
valve B is attached by means of a gut or silk cord G, for the purpose of
gaining the required working pressure of the gas, said spring being made
either stronger or weaker accordingly; H, H, are brass guides through which
the spindle C works; I, a valvo which opens at a pressure rather greater than
that of the required working pressure, allowing the gas to pass through the
ball cock K, containing a whistle, upon which the gas operates when the
pressure thereof increases to a dangerous extent, arising from the improper
working of the cock or valve D'. There is a valve connected with the afore-
said whistle which opens and allows the extra pressure of gas to escape. Lis
an outlet valve for establishing and cutting off the communication between the
above described regulating apparatus and the pipes leading to the carriages of
a train. This valve is closed when the pressure raises the valve I; said valve
being connected by a spring i and stirrup iron M, which allows the valve I to
rise any required distance after the valve L is shut. As the extra pressure of
the gas in the regulating apparatus becomes thus reduced, the valves A, I, L,
descend, and again establish a communication between the gasholder and the
pipes leading to the carriages.
1 now proceed to describe the construction of the coupling apparatus
exhibited at Figures 3 and 4 of Sheet 2, and before referred to, which I
employ for connecting the elastic coupling pipes I, between the several
carriages of a railway train, as follows:-A' is a casting formed with wings
B', B', for the purpose of enclosing the coupling apparatus C', D', E', F,
thus ensuring the shutting off of the gas each time the elastic coupling pipe 1
is connected to or disconnected from such said apparatus, as hereafter fully
described; said apparatus being fixed by the casting A to each railway
carriage. The piece Cis an elbow pipe (gun metal by preference), one end
of which is screwed to the casting A', as exhibited, and the other end of said
pipe is turned taper, and ground into a corresponding shaped hole formed in
the easting D', which I call the "ent off pipe;" E, F, are ordinary coupling

page_text: pieces; a, b, are openings formed in the pieces C' and D'; H', I', are springs
fixed to the casting A¹; the clip spring H' is employed for keeping the coupling
His
apparatus steady under ordinary circumstances, and the spring I' is for keeping
the pieces D' in the position denoted by dotted lines, when any unusual strain
comes upon the coupling pipe I, so as to overcome the resistance offered by
the clip spring H', or when the pipe I is being either coupled or uncoupled by
hand.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention of
Improvements in Lighting Railway Trains with Gas," together with the
best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect,
I hereby declare my Invention to consist in, and I claim,-
First, the use of compressed gas for lighting railway trains, i. e., at any
pressure above ten pounds on the square inch above the atmosphere.
Secondly, the self-regulating apparatus, above particularly described, set
forth, and represented by the illustrative Drawings hereunto annexed, for the
purpose of reducing the pressure of the gas from a high pressure to a standard
low pressure before entering the pipes of the carriages.
Thirdly, the means above described for keeping the lights in the several
carriages supplied with gas when said carriages are temporarily detached from
a train.
Fourthly, the coupling apparatus above particularly described, and repre-
sented at Figures 3 and 4 of Sheet 2 of the illustrative Drawings hereunto
annexed.
Fifthly and lastly, the mode set forth and described of filling the train gas-
holders at different stations, as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Jefferson Thompson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
0 Witness,
THOMAS JEFFERSON THOMPSON. (L.s.)
JAMES LANGTON,
Park View, Newry.