Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1888
I WILLIAM BIRLEY of 38 Station Road, Chapeltown near Sheffield in the County of
York Commission Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus or mechanism for signalling the
drivers of trains by automatically operating the whistle, or other signalling means
upon the Engine or Tender, at any given position on the line, within a convenient
distance from a station or signal box.
In carrying out my invention as applied to open the whistle of a passing Locomotive
(for example) I fix a strong support in close proximity to the line of rails and
preferably near a signal post, in order that the two signals may be given simultaneously
and by means of one wire or other line of communication.
The said support carries a slide rod which is connected to the signal line by any
suitable arrangement of levers or cranks by means of which the slide rod may be
projected towards the rails or withdrawn therefrom as desired; thus when the arm of
the signal is dropped, the same movement will withdraw the slide-bar before mentioned,
and when the arm of the signal is raised, and therefore against a coming train, the
slide-bar is caused to project towards the rails.
Upon the side of the Locomotive, and in any suitable position, I fix a vertical or
suspended lever, having its lower end arranged so that it will come in contact with the
before mentioned slide-bar when it is projected towards the rails.
The lever by which it is secured to the Locomotive (preferably near the front end)
and a connecting rod attached to its top end, extends back and passes through a
suitable support, terminating in a short series of ratchet teeth and a bandle, con-
veniently placed for the driver to operate; a lever or equivalent mechanism connects
this horizontal connecting rod with the whistle. One or more springs are applied to
bring the before described mechanism to its normal position when desired.
It will thus be seen that when the signal-man raises the arm of the signal, he also
causes the slide-bar before mentioned to project, and when the Locomotive is passing,

page_text: the vertical lever will be pushed back by coming in contact with the said slide-bar,
and will consequently by the reverse motion of its upper end, draw forward the
horizontal lever and open the steam tap to the whistle.
The ratchet teeth prevent its return, and thus the whistle continues to sound until
the driver by means of the handle lifts them out of gear, when the action of the spring
or springs at once returns the mechanism to its normal or original position, and shuts
off the whistle.
If the signal is on the opposite side of the double line of rails, the slide-bar can be
carried underneath the rails, and the end be turned back so as to work in the strong
support before mentioned.
I prefer to make the lower end of the vertical lever curved, so as to reduce the effect
when its strikes against the slide bar.
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Railway Signalling.
1, WILLIAM BIRLEY of 38 Station Road, Chapeltown near Sheffield in the County of
York, Commission Agent, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in Apparatus or Mechanism for signalling
the drivers of Trains, by automatically operating the whistle, or other Signal fixed
upon the Engine or Tender, at any desired position on the line within a convenient
distance from a Station or Signal box.
My invention is illustrated in the annexed sheet of Drawings in which similar
letters of reference indicate similar parts in any of the different figures.
Fig. 1, is an elevation of a Locomotive Engine fitted with apparatus for signalling.
Fig. 2, represents a signal post (left hand) with signalling mechanism.
Fig. 3, represents a right hand signal post with its signalling mechanism.
In carrying out my invention as applied for the purpose of operating the whistle of
a Locomotive when it passes the signal-post or other position where the communication
is to be made, I fix a strong support A in close proximity to the line of rails, and
preferably near to the signal post B in order that the two signals may be given
simultaneously, and by means of one wire, chain, or other line of communication C.
The said support A, carries a slide-rod D which is connected to the signal line C,
by any suitable arrangement of levers or cranks such as that illustrated and marked E,
by means of which the said slide-rod may be projected towards the rails or withdrawn
therefrom as desired; thus when the arm F, of the signal is dropped, the same action
will withdraw the slide-bar D, from the rails, and when the arm of the signal is raised,
and therefore is against a coming Train, the said slide-bar, is caused to project towards
the rails.
Upon the side of the Locomotive as shown in Fig. 1, and in any suitable and
convenient position, I fix a vertical rocking lever or rod G, having its lower end so
arranged and constructed, that it will come in contact with or strike against the before
mentioned slide-bar D, in passing, when the said slide-bar is made to project
towards the rails. The extreme end of this vertical may be jointed in such a manner
that it will be rigid in one direction, but will give way when the Locomotive is running
in the opposite direction.
The vertical rocking-lever works upon a joint pin H, and to the top arm above the
joint pin I attach a horizontal rod I, extending back and terminating in a short rack
and handle L conveniently placed for the Engine driver to operate.
A short connecting rod K, or any other equivalent device suitable for the purpose
transmits the movement of the horizontal rod I, to open the whistle P, or to operate
any other means of signalling or notifying the driver that the signal is against him.

page_text: I prefer that when the connection is with the whistle as shown in Fig. 1, the
mechanism is so arranged that the whistle shall continue to sound until the Engine
driver replaces the mechanism in its normal position.
One or more springs M, are used to cushion the effect of the blow when the end of
the vertical lever G, strikes the slide-bar D, and will also aid the driver in returning
the mechanism to its first position.
Thus when the arm of the signal is raised, the slide-bar is caused to project in the
path of the vertical lever attached to the Engine, which striking against the slide bar,
is pushed back, the reverse movement of its upper arm draws forward the horizontal
bar and opens the whistle. The teeth of the rack drop into gear with a suitable
catch, and prevent the return of the horizontal rod, and consequent closing of the
whistle until released by the Driver.
In Fig. 3 I have shown how the signal can be given from the opposite side of the
rails, the slide-bar D is carried underneath the rails, and the end turned back as shown
at N, so as to work in the support A as before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The improvements in Apparatus or mechanism for signalling the drivers of Trains,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
2. In an arrangement of mechanism for signalling the driver of a passing Train
or Locomotive, a slide-bar, capable of being moved towards or from the rails by the
Signal man, so as to act upon a vertical lever or rocking bar fixed to the Engine, and
connected in any suitable manner with the whistle or other signal, substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated the 11th day of October 1888
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Agent for the Applicant.