A New or Improved System of Signalling on Railways, and Apparatus used therein.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved System of Signalling on Railways, and Apparatus
used therein.
We, CHARLES ROBERT HULLAH, of Crown Lane, Horwick, Bolton, Electrician,
JOHN EDWIN CALVERT LORD, of Borough Road, Weaste, Salford, Contractor, and
HENRY ALLAN, of 38, Penn Street, Horwich, Bolton, Electrical. Instrument Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
16
66
The object of our invention is to provide means whereby a signal may be
indicated on the engine of a train without the driver having, of necessity, to
observe the usual sema-phore signal, or, in foggy weather, without requiring
anyone to place detonators by hand on the railway lines, either at the "home,"
distant," or starting" signals, and therefore safe-guarding against errors in
signalling, and avoiding the danger and risk of life to signal-men. Moreover, by
our invention the signal man in the signal-box is able to identify the point or
signal at which the train is at a standstill, and will be furnished with visible
and audible signals according as the engine is at the "home,"
distant" or
starting" signals, and, with the engine at one or other of such signals, will be
able to see at a glance and observe by the sound of a bell whether he has signalled
line clear," or 66
line blocked." Similarly, the driver of the engine will be able
to distinguish between the several signals, and act according to their meaning
without leaving his engine.
66
$
66
Our invention is chiefly designed for use at night time or in foggy weather, but
it may be used at any time and in all weathers, and may be worked by the ordinary
system of levers for operating the sema-phore signals, or by a special, or separate
system.
And in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect, we have hereunto annexed three sheets of drawings and will
now proceed to describe the same with the various figures and letters of referense.
marked thereon.
On Sheet One,
Fig. 1 illustrates a diagramatic view of our improved signalling apparatus,
and the several connections, between the cabin and permanent way. Fig. 2
illustrates the apparatus employed on the engine.
On Sheet Two,
Fig. 3 illustrates a modification, and Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate an important
detail in plan and elevation, on an enlarged scale.

page_text: Un Sheet Three,
Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a further detail on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 9 illus
tates in diagram a set of bell circuits in the signal box.
Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate certain other details in the cabin.
In accordance with our invention, we employ three bars or rails (1), (2), (3),
each some 20 to 30 feet long and 3 or 4 inches wide, and one of which we place
in the permanent way at, or near, the "distant," "home" and "starting" signals
respectively.
These rails or bars are (by preference) arranged centrally between the railway
lines to suit for shunting purposes, and each is secured to the sleepers (4) by
suitable insulated clamping devices, consisting (by preference) of earthenware
bearers (5) secured to sleepers by the screws (5¹) and screws (511) secured to the
rails (1), (2) and (). Rail (2) is (by preference) slightly higher than rail (1),
and rail (3) slightly higher than rail (2). Each rail or bar is inclined for about
10 feet of its length from each end as illustrated, and the remaining portion is
straight and lies parallel with the ground level.
When in their normal position (line blocked) the usual signal-operating
levers (6), (7) and (8), or their equivalent, lie between contacts (9), (10) and (11)
respectively, and when pulled over (line clear) they lie between contacts (12), (13)
and (14) respectively. Each pair of contacts forms part of an electric circuit, and
each circuit also embraces the railway lines (15), one of the insulated rails (1), (2)
or (3), and a set of solenoids (14*) (see Figs. 10 and 11) mounted in close proximity
to the axles (14) of pointers (16), (17) or (18) of dials (19), (20) or (21).
The circuits of which the contacts (9), (10) and (11) form part are supplied with
electricity from batteries (22), and the circuits of which the contacts (12), (13)
and (14) from part are supplied with electricity by batteries (23) and owing to a
terminal connection of one circuit being with, say the copper element, and a
terminal connection of the other circuit being with, say the zinc, the current, with
the levers (6), (7), (8) between the contacts (9), (10), (11), flows in the direction
of arrows (), and with the lever between the contacts (12), (13) (14) flows in the
direction of dotted arrows (¹).
The effect of completing the circuits of which the contacts (12), (13) and (14)
form part is to energise the solenoids (14) in a manner which causes them to
rotate the axes of pointers (16), (17), (18) (as hereinafter more fully described) and
deflect the upper ends of the pointers towards the word " green" of each dial,
and bring the lower extremities of said pointers against the contacts (29). (80)
and (31), and thereby serve to complete an electrical bell-circuit, of which the axes
of the pointers from one part and the contacts (29), (30), (31) form another part
and which said circuit when completed causes the hammer (32) to strike bell (33).
The effect of breaking the circuits just described, and completing the circuits
of which the contacts (9), (10) and (11) form part, is to again energise the said
solenoids (14), but, due to the change of current, in a manner (as hereinafter more
fully described) which serves to deflect the pointers (16), (17), (18) towards the
word "red" and thereby cause the lower ends of such pointers to come against
contacts (24), (25) and (26), and effect the completion of another bell circuit, which
causes hammer (27) to strike bell (28).
Upon either of the circuits of contacts (12), (13), (14) being broken the
hammer (32) falls against bell (35), and upon either of the circuits of con-
tacts (9), (10) (11) being broken the hammer (27) falls against bell (34), and such
bells having distinct tones, serve to give an audible signal to the signal man of the
position of the sema-phore signal, or the changing of the signal from the position
of "line clear" to "line blocked," and by the use of a separate dial, lever, rail
and set of contacts for each signal ("distant," "home," or
man can ascertain at which signal a train is standing. The completion of all
starting") the signal-
the said circuits (lever and bell) is not effected until the engine passes over
rails (1), (2) and (3), the circuits of contacts (9), or (12), being completed when
the engine passes over rail (1), the circuits of contacts (10), or (13), being com-

page_text: pleted when the engine passes over rail (2), and the circuits of contacts (11), or (14),
being completed when the engine passes over rail (3).
In Fig. 9 (Sheet 3) we shew the bell circuits of dial (19) which are identically
the same for each other dial, and each dial may have independent circuits, but for
compactness the same battery, magnets and bells serve for all three dials.
Upon the engine of the train we arrange a box or frame (36) forming a guide or.
holder for the rod (37), which at its lower extremity carries a runner (8), and
when in its normal position holds the runner slightly below the level parts of the
bars (1), (2) and (3). Upon the length of the rod (37) and near the top end is an
ebonite sleeve (39), and an ebonite strip (40), and pressing upon either side are
two spring arms or blades carrying contacts (41) and (42). Also upon the said
rod is an arm or finger piece (43) connected at its free extremity to a cord, chain,
or wire (44), which passes over a series of carrier pulleys (45), and in turn is
connected to pointer (46) of the graduated indicator (47).
Alongside this indicator, or at any suitable position in the cabin of the engine,
is the small sema-phore (48) mounted upon the axle (49) which is under the
control of a "polarised" magnet (50). Over said magnet is a contact (51) belonging
to a local bell circuit, to which circuit the axle (49) also belongs. The details of
the "polarised" magnet are shewn more clearly in Figs. 7 and 8. The magnet (50)
which is fulcrumed on axle (49) is permanently magnetised, and lies between the
two mild steel wings (A), which are respectively connected to the cores of electro-
magnets (B), and (B¹), and which, according to the flow of current passing through
the magnet wirings, cause, or permit, the magnet (50) to remain in the position
shewn in full lines in Fig. 7 for "line blocked," or move on its axis to the position
shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 7 for "line clear."
The axle (49) of magnet (50), and the contact (51), are adapted to form part
of the local bell circuit by wires (C) and (D). The electro-magnet (B) is connected
by wire (E) to the contact (42), and the electro-magnet (B¹) is connected by wire (F)
to the contact or terminal (g) on the engine frame.
When an engine fitted with the aforesaid apparatus passes over the ordinary
line of rails (15), and passes successively over rails (1), (2) and (3), the rod (37) by
contact of runner (38) with each of such rails is caused to rise in the holder (36)
to an extent, which, by reason of the slight increase of height in each successive
rail as aforesaid, will cause the pointer (46) to rise to the word "distant" for
rail (1), to the word "home" for rail (2), and to the word "starting" for rail (3),
and thus indicate to the driver of the train the several signals as he passes them.
A further effect of rod (37) rising in its holder is, that as the metal part of such
rod passes up between the contacts (41) and (42) and before the ebonite strip (40)
reaches contact (41) the circuit of the bell (52) through wires (E) and (E¹) is
momentarily completed by contact (41) thus causing said bell to ring, and give
an indication to the driver of the engine that he is passing on to one of the
rails (1) (2), (3).
99
Assuming the line to be clear and the levers (6), (7), (8) to lie between their
respective contacts (12), (13), (14) the effect of the engine passing successively over
rails (1), (2), (3), and rod (37) rising in its holder is also to successively complete
the circuits of which the contacts, levers and rails form part, and which respectively
deflect the pointers (16) (17) (18) to the word " green on each cabin dial (which
in turn complete the circuits which ring bell (33))--and energise the
magnets (B) (B¹). (which in turn cause polarised magnet (50) to move to the
position shewn in dotted lines), -the entire circuit extending, in case of rail (1),
from batteries (23), through wire (a), contacts (12) and lever (6) between them,
through wire (b), solenoids (143), wire (c), rail (1), runner (38), rod (37), con-
tact (42), wire (E), magnets (B), (B¹). wire (F) to engine frame, through engine
frame and wheels to lines (15), and finally by earth return (e) to batteries (23).
The circuit is precisely the same for contacts (13) and rail (2) and contacts (14)
and rail (3).

page_text: If the line is "blocked" and the levers (6), (7) (8) lie between their respective
contacts (9), (10) (11), the successive contacts of runner (38) with rails (1), (2), (3),
and the raising of rod (37), serve to bring the battery (22) into play, and cause
the current to travel in an opposite direction through the circuits aforesaid as
indicated by arrows (¹), via rails (15), instead of wire (a), and back via wire (f)
and thereby deflect the pointers (16), (17) (18) to the word "red," which in turn
complete the circuits which cause hammer (27) to strike bell (28), and energise
magnets (B), (B), which in turn allow polarised magnet (50) by its own magnetisa-
tion to remain in or move to the position shewn in full lines in Fig. 7.
In thus completing the said circuits, and the energising of the magnets (B), (B)
serving to influence polarised magnet (50), the small sema-phore (48) will be
raised and lowered in exact sympathy with the cabin signals.
With the axle of the magnet (50), and the contact (51) electrically connected with
the bell (52), and the end of magnet (50) being provided (by preference) with a
small silver contact (50%), the movements of the magnet as aforesaid
between wings (A) under the impulses of magnets (B), (B), cause the said
silver tip to momentarily touch the contact (51) and thus complete the circuit of
bell (52), which comprises wires (C¹) and (D) as aforesaid, and thus indicate to the
driver (in passing over or standing on one of the rails (1) (2) (3)) when the signal is
lowered for "line clear," or raised for "line blocked." The ringing of bell (52) by
contact (41) indicates when the runner (38) strikes and leaves rails (1), (2), (3).
The changing of lever (16), with the engine on rail (1), from contacts (12) to
contacts (9), or vice versa, breakes one circuit and completes another, and simul-
taneously causes pointer (16) to break the circuit of bell (33) and complete the
circuit of bell (28), or vice versa, and as the circuit of bell (33) is broken the
hammer (32) strikes bell (35), and as the circuit of bell (28) is completed
the hammer (27) strikes bell (28), or as the circuit of bell (33) is complete hammer (32)
strikes bell (33), and as the circuit of bell (28) is broken hammer (27) strikes
bell (34), and such bells being of different tones the signal-man is furnished with
a variety of audible signals which serve to indicate the various changes on
dials (19), (20), (21).
The changing of lever (7) from contacts (13) to (10) with the engine on rail (2),
or the changing of lever (8) from contacts (14) to (11) with the engine on
rail (3), has the same effect upon pointers (17) and (18) respectively for each
signal. As the engine moves off either of the rails (1), (2) (3) and the circuits are
broken, the pointers (16), (17) (18) resume their normal (vertical) positions, & in
so doing again cause bell (33) or (28) to be sounded, and furnish a further indication
of the trains movements.
The arrangement of solenoids (14) and the connections of the axles of
pointers (16), (17), (18), is more clearly shewn in Figs. 10 and 11, comprising
solenoids (14) on either side of the pointer axle (14) and a set of wings or
arms (14***) which are permanently magnetised and insulated from the axle and
from each other, and which, according to the current passing through the solenoids
(according to the "Spagnolette" principle) are caused to deflect the pointer to
right or left, and with said axles connected by wire (h) to battery (i), and con-
tacts (29), (30), (31) or (24), (25), (26), also connected to said battery by wires (j),
or (k), the circuits of the bells (33) and (28) are completed or broken.
With the signal against him, the driver of a train having observed the signal
given by rail (1) will, according to custom, slow down his engine until he reaches
the bar (2), when, if the same conditions prevail, he will stop the engine or move
on slowly until he reaches rail (3), and remain on one of such rails until by the
movement of lever (7), or (8), from contacts (10), or (11), to contacts (13), or (14).
and by the falling of sema-phore (48) and ringing of bell (52) he receives the
signal "line clear."
The action or mode of signalling is the same with any one of the rails, and thus the
driver of the engine is thoroughly in touch with the signals he is expected to obey,

page_text: and the signalman by observing the dials (19), (20) and (21) knows the condition
of the line and the signal at which the engine is standing.
Upon the rod (37) lowering under the downward thrust of spring (54), and as the
runner (38) leaves each rail, the contact (41) again momentarily rings the bell (52),
and so again indicates to the driver his position, and furnishes a check on his
movements.
The rod (37) is insulated by washers (55) and (56), and is prevented turning by
a slot or keyway (57) and groove or notch on the washer (55).
In lieu of sema-phore (48) we may provide an arrangement of screens as shewn
in Fig. 3, with one screen (58) under the control of a "polarised" magnet similar
to that shewn in Figs. 7 and 8 and so arranged that when the line is clear such
screen (58) will cover the screen (59) and being made of colored material give a
visible indication to the driver by transmitted light, or, when line blocked, uncover
such screen.
The rails (1), (2) and (3) being of considerable length as aforesaid, the contact
of the runner, and durations of the respective signals are prolonged to an extent
which makes it impossible, or almost impossible, for the driver or signalman not
to observe the signals, and for a train not to be pulled up on one of such rails after
first observing the signals.
The several wires or cords may be encased in tubes or pipes protected with
suitable insulation, and all the working parts may be protected from dust or
moisture by suitable casings.
The contacts between the moving parts being frictional, the circuits are always
maintained and cannot be interfered with, thus ensuring of the devices being
reliable and in working order at all times.
The rails (1), (2), (3) may all be mounted at the same level and the indicator (47)
be dispensed with, but we prefer its use.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
:-
1: A system of electric railway signalling in which the movements of the levers
for raising and lowering the sema-phore signals, simultaneously serve to partially
complete one or other of two circuits, and the passing of a train over a rail in the
permanent way and a depending runner on the engine in contact with such rail,
serve to fully complete such circuit, which in turn serves to deflect the pointer of a
dial in the signal-box and ring a bell, also operate a miniature sema-phore (or
screen) and ring another bell on the engine, as herein set forth and illustrated on
the accompanying drawings.
2: In a system of railway signalling, the use of rails or bars centrally disposed
within the permanent way, in combination with levers for operating the usual
sema-phore signals two sets of contacts for each lever, a dial and pointer for each
lever (capable of operating under the reverse currents of a set of batteries), and two
bell circuits, as set forth.
3: In a system of railway signalling, the use of a sliding depending rod on the
engine with anti-friction runner at its lower extremity, an insulator sleeve and strip
at its upper extremity, contacts on each side in circuit respectively with a bell and
a set of electro-magnets, a polarised magnet mounted on axle carrying miniature
sema-phore, a contact over said polarised magnet, and axle of said magnet and said
contact in circuit with local bell battery, as set forth.
4: The combination of said sliding and depending rod and runner with rails or
bars arranged at different levels in the permanent way, and a finger or extension at
the upper end of such rod, connected to a cord or wire travelling over a set of
pulleys and connected to a pointer capable of traversing an indicator or graduated
index, as set forth.

page_text: 5: The several combinations and arrangements of parts, constituting the
apparatus and arrangements of circuits, electrical connections and contacts used
in our improved system of signalling, as set forth.
Dated this 99th day of October 1897
CHARLES ROBERT HULLAH,
JOHN EDWIN CALVERT LORD,
HENRY ALLAN,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
55, Market Street, Manchester, Agents.