IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALLING AT RAILWAY STATIONS AND CROSSINGS
Year: 1884

page_text: We, WILLIAM Fox, of Cardigan Road, Leeds, woollen manufacturer, and
ABRAHAM GLEDHILL, of Bradford Road, Batley, clothier, both in the County of
York do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SIGNALLING AT RAILWAY STATIONS AND CROSSINGS," to be as follows:-
The object of our Invention is to prevent accidents, such as have often occurred,
of persons being run over at crossings, and also to signal the approach of trains at
railway stations.
'
At the crossings we fix a bell or gong, this is caused to sound the approach of a
train, when such train is sufficiently far off to warn people passing over the
crossing of its approach, giving them time to get clear from the way.
For this purpose we provide apparatus by which the passing of trains causes a
bell to ring or gong to sound at the crossing or station or other desired place.
Our arrangement for producing the above effect is as follows:-We attach to the
side of the rail a depression plate or lever, under which is applied a spring which
causes such plate or lever to project slightly above the rail. As each wheel on one
side of the engine or train of carriages passes over the plate or hinged lever it
depresses it suddenly, and in order to convey such movement to the bell or gong
we employ in connection therewith an arrangement of levers and rods. The above
apparatus is placed at a distance from the crossing or station; in order to sound
the approach of the train thereto we transmit the motion from the above apparatus
to the bell or gong by means of rods, chains or wires.
It will be readily understood that the bell or gong will be caused to sound
continuously, so long as the plate or lever is automatically depressed by the
passing of each wheel over it. In order to place the depression plate or lever in its
proper position we cut out or provide a recess in the top flange or rim (and when
necessary in the bottom flange or rim also) to receive it, and the loss in strength of
the rail if necessary may be made up by side plates bolted to such rail.
Dated this coventh day of April 1881
.

page_text: We WILLIAM Fox of Cardigan Road Leeds woollen manufacturer, and
ABRAHAM GLEDHILL of Bradford Road Batley clothier both in the county of
York do hereby declare. the nature of said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
SIGNALLING AT RAILWAY STATIONS AND CROSSINGS and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement reference being also had to the accompanying drawings and to
the letters and marks thereon:-
The object of our Invention is to prevent accidents such as have often occurred
of persons being run over at crossings and also to signal the approach of trains at
railway stations.
At the crossings we fix a bell or gong, this is caused to sound the approach of a
train when such train is sufficiently far off to warn people passing over the crossing
of its approach giving them time to get clear from the way.
For this purpose we provide apparatus by which the passing of trains causes a
bell to ring or gong to sound at the crossing or station or other desired place.
Our arrangement for producing the above effect is as follows:-We attach to
the side of the rail or depression plate or lever under which is applied a spring
which causes such plate or lever to project slightly above the rail. As each wheel
on one side of the engine or train of carriages passes over the plate or hinged lever
.it depresses it suddenly and in order to convey such movement to the bell or gong
we employ in connection therewith an arrangement of levers and rods. The above
apparatus is placed at a distance from the crossing or station in order to sound the
approach of the train thereto we transmit the motion from the above apparatus to
the bell or gong by means of rods chains or wires.
It will be readily understood that the bell or gong will be caused to sound
continuously, so long as the plate or lever is automatically depressed by the
passing of each wheel over it. In order to place the depression plate or lever in
its proper position we cut out or provide a recess in the top flange or rim (and
when necessary in the bottom flange or rim also) to receive it, and the loss in
strength of the rail if necessary may be made up by side plates bolted to such rail.
And in order that our Invention may be more completely understood reference
is given to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig 1 is a side elevation Fig 2 an end elevation Fig 3 a plan looking at the top
Fig 4 a longitudinal section shewing our arrangement of apparatus for signalling at
railway stations and crossings and the mode of applying the same.
We employ a depression plate or lever a hinged at band enclosed in a box c
whereby it is secured to the rail d. Under the depression plate or lever a is
applied the spring e such spring being secured to the box c and retains the plate or
lever a in the position shewn except when the flanges of the wheels of the
carriages or engine come in contact with the projecting piece f causing thereby a
depression of the lever a and thus giving the required movement to its outer end g.
To its outer end g is attached a coupling rod to which is fastened the wire i
whereby the required motion is transmitted when the depression takes place in the
manner above described to the hammers or levers which alternately come in
contact with the bell or gong causing it to sound. The springs m and n which

page_text: are attached in any convenient places give the wire i the required degree of tension
and elasticity allowing it at the same time for the contraction and expansion which
takes place in the wire at different temperatures.
It will be readily seen that by depressing the lever or depression plate a the
wire i as shewn is pulled into the position slewn in dotted lines in Fig 1. drawing
thereby one hammer or lover away from the bell and bringing the other into
contact with it causing it to sound. After each wheel passes over the lever or
plate a the wire rises to its original position bringing the other lever or hammer in
contact with the bell causing it again to sound.
The standards o are used as supports for the wire i so as to produce the horizontal
movement thereof required for sounding the bell or gong.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed wo declare that
The arrangement and application of the depression plate or lever a and coupling
rod h and wire or chain i operated substantially as herein described for
causing a bell or gong to sound for signalling at railway stations and
crossings substantially as herein set forth and shewn in the accompanying.
drawings.