IMPROVE- MENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALLING APPARATUS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti, of Maida Hill, in the
County of Middlesex, Telegraph Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALLING APPARATUS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th May 1880.
CHARLES ERNESTO SPAGNOLETTI, of Maida Hill, in the County of Middlesex,
Telegraph Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALLING APPARATUS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in controlling and working trains
on railways by locking signals, and interlocking them with the block telegraph
system by electrical and mechanical means, the trains in their course assisting in
the completion of the system.
For this purpose I use mainly the following arrangements :-
I attach to the signal frame a small wheel with two slots in it, so arranged that
the knuckle lock of the signal lever into which a pin is inserted can be either kept
locked or be released at the pleasure of the signalman at the station in advance.
Electromagnets are employed and so arranged as to act upon a small lever bar, one
end of which drops into one of the slots of the wheel, and when in this position the
lever cannot be moved to lower the signal; when the bar is out of the slot, which is
affected by an electric current, the lever can be moved, the signal lowered and
again be restored to its position of danger only, and is then again locked.
The lever bar which locks and unlocks the wheel acts by gravity or a spring,
and when acted upon by the current is held by a catch which is released by the
movement of the lever.
But by an arrangement of an electro magnet placed in circuit with the line
wire with a polarized or soft iron armature, when the current is sent to release
the signal the line wire is broken down, and no second current can be sent to
allow a following train to proceed until the previous one has arrived and reset
the apparatus to complete the line wire. This apparatus can be worked either
mechanically or electrically by the train. If by the latter mode I use a releasing
relay with two sets of electro magnets, one to draw an armature which is caught
with a catch, and the other to release the catch holding the armature. If one line

page_text: wire only is used I use a polarized relay. The locking arrangement of the lever may
also be made with two horizontal helical springs attached to a sliding bar, and so
arranged that when the current is sent to release the signal lever, the spring being
released by an electro magnet, the sliding bar is acted upon by the spring and
unlocks the lever, by the movement of which this spring is reset, and on putting
the lever into its normal position the second spring locks it, and it can only be
released by the signalman at the station in advance. The same apparatus acted on
by the train is used with this arrangement.
The signals themselves can also be worked electrically by attachments to the
spindle acted on by two or more electro magnets, so arranged that when the station
in advance sends a current the signal-arm is electrically lowered, and when the
train leaves the signalman by an electrical current puts the signal to "danger," or
this may be done mechanically; I also employ this means of locking the lever.
The apparatus worked by the train is used with this mode of locking and releasing
the signal, and the releasing relay may be applied to other purposes. The
apparatus acted upon by the train can be placed in any position on the line
considered most suitable to the traffic requirements, either above or under ground;
if the latter I tie up the apparatus in an india-rubber bag or water proof case, and
same may be arranged to be reset by the inspector or superintendent. If from any
cause it should be required, arrangements are also made that it shall only be reset
by the last vehicle on the train. There are no movable locks by which the
apparatus can in any way be tampered with. In interlocking this apparatus with
the block telegraph instruments, I arrange the electrical-connections so that the
necessary currents for locking and unlocking the signal lever at the station in the
rear can be sent from the keys or plungers of the telegraph instruments. To
complete this system I use a "train describer," so that the signalman or person
working the signals may know the character of the approaching train, whether fast
or slow, goods or passengers, etc. This instrument has a dial divided into certain
divisions according to number required; a pointer travels round the dial and can be
stopped at or worked to any division required, showing the approaching train.
Under each division a figure is placed to show the number of times plunger or
handle has to be worked to bring the pointer to the required division. The pointer
is acted on and moved by a clock escapement movement worked by electro magnets,
so that when a current of electricity is sent the pointer advances a division.
A friction roller is used to steady movement of pointer. The current may be
sent by depression of keys, plungers, or turning wheel, etc.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th November 1880.
CHARLES ERNESTO SPAGNOLETTI, of Maida Hill, in the County of Middlesex,
Telegraph Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALLING APPARATUS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in controlling and working trains
on railways by locking signals and interlocking them with the block telegraph
system by electrical and mechanical means, and the trains in their course can be
made to complete the system.
"
For this purpose I use the following arrangements:-I attach to the signal
frame a small wheel with two slots in it, or a catch lock working in the lever lock,
which catch can be duplicated to lock the lever also. Attached to this is a balance
weight, and on the lever frame is a spring and stop piece acted on by movement of
the lever for relocking it. A coloured disc indicator is attached to the frame to
show when the lock is " on or "off," and also a handle for unlocking the signal
lock if required. By these arrangements the knuckle lock of the signal lever, or
the lever itself, can be either kept locked or be released at the pleasure of the
signalman at the station in advance. Electro magnets are employed, and so
arranged as to act upon a small lever bar, and in the wheel system one end of this
drops into one of the slots of the wheel, and when in this position the lever cannot
be moved to lower the signal. When the bar is out of the slot (which is affected by
an electric current), the lever can be moved, the signal lowered, and again be
restored to its position of "danger only," and is then again locked. The lever bar
which locks and unlocks the wheel acts by a catch or a spring, and when acted
upon by the current is held by a catch which is released by the movement of the
lever. I also insert an electro magnet placed in circuit with the line wire with a
polarized or soft iron armature as required, and when the current is sent to release
the signal the line wire is broken down, and no second current can be sent to allow
a following train to proceed until the previous one has arrived and reset the
apparatus to complete the line wire, or until the lever allowing the train to enter
the next section has been lowered and put to "danger" again. This apparatus can
be worked either mechanically or electrically by the train or lever. If electrically
I use a releasing relay with two sets of electro magnets, one to draw an armature
which is caught with a catch and the other to release the catch holding the
armature. If one line wire only is used I use a polarized relay. A small lever is
attached to the relay for unlocking the signal by hand if required, and also a
coloured disc indicator showing when it is locked and unlocked. This is used both
for the electric lock and signal. The locking arrangement of the lever may also be
made with two horizontal helical springs attached to a sliding bar, and so arranged
that when the current is sent to release the signal lever, the spring being released
by an electro-magnet, the sliding bar is acted upon by the spring and unlocks the
lever, by the movement of which this spring is reset, and on putting the lever into
its normal position the second spring locks it, and it can only be released by the
signalman at the station in advance. The same apparatus acted on by the train
is used with this arrangement. The signals themselves can also be worked
electrically by attachments to the spindle acted on by two or more electro-magnets
so arranged that when, the station in advance sends a current the signal arm is
electrically lowered, and when the train leaves the signalman by an electrical
current puts the signal to "danger," or this may be done mechanically. I also
employ this means of locking the lever. Signal indicators are used in conjunction
with the signal. The apparatus worked by the train is used with this mode of
locking and releasing the signal, and the releasing relay may be applied to other
purposes. The apparatus acted upon by the train can be placed in any position
on the line considered most suitable to the traffic requirements, either above or
underground; if the latter I tie up the apparatus in an india-rubber bag or water-

page_text: lever P, through fulcrum Q to the earth or line, as required, and also through the
line wire to coils F, Fig. 1, to the earth. By the current armature O is drawn up
and locked by P (Fig. 2), and armature E is pulled up and locked by spring J,
Fig. 1. The lock D is by this means pulled out of lever lock C, and duplicate
lock G is also released. The lever B can now be pulled over, and in the act of
doing so stud K lifts spring I, when balance weight H again locks the lever by locks
or catches D and G; the indicator L showing the action for guidance of signalman.
On the arrival of the train at the station in advance, metal plate i presses on
friction roller a, depressing spring d, and acting on lever f actuating to make
contact between g and g¹. Block e supports roller a and forked rod c, by which
means electric-current from battery 2 to coils T acting on lever P releases
armature O to reconnect the line wires; E¹, rod, so that armature e can be acted
upon by hand. This and lever S (Fig. 2) are kept under lock and key. When the
inetal bars and brush (Fig. 4) is used, the brush joining the metals sends a current
to coils T, and thus the lever P is similarly acted upon. Fig. 5 shows polarized
relay. is a coil; m, m', magnets; n, springs; o, contact screws; p, terminals. When
a plunger connected to it is pushed in the electro magnet acts on magnet m or m¹
according to currents sent. Contact is then made between the contact screws, and a
local current is set up in magnets q and q', which again connect local battery onto
magnets t which work in spindle w, raising or lowering the signal arm v.
The two
discs on the arm are colored glasses for night signals. Fig. 6 is the electrical signal.
When a current from plunger is sent through coil contact is made between
contact screws o, o, and o¹, o¹, which actuates magnets q and q'; these attract
armatures and, as required, making contact between 8 and 7 for putting
currents onto magnets t for working signal arm.
Fig. 7 shows train describer. 1 is electro magnet acting on armature 2 which
actuates escapement 3 working into wheel 4 on the spindle of which is roller 5 ;
6, friction roller working against roller 5 to keep same steady; 7 is pressure spring,
and 8 is automatic adjuster. The spindle of escapement wheel 4 carries pointer 10
on front dial (Fig. 8). When plunger 9 is pressed in, it actuates magnet 1 which
attracts armature 2 working escapement wheel which drives wheel 4, and thus
moves pointer 10 indicating which train is approaching. This is reset on the
arrival of the train by signalman at other end, and can be connected to releasing
relay so that it cannot be reset till the train arrives.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put in practice, I
hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "Improvements in Railway Signalling
Apparatus," substantially as herein before set forth and described, wherein the
particular and important points or features are,-
(1.) The arrangement on the lever frame for locking and releasing the lever.
(2.) The releasing relay for breaking contact in the line wire with the same
current that unlocks the signal, and also for re-making connection in the line wire.
(3.) The arrangements by which the train resets the releasing relay and restores
the connection in the line wire.
(4.) The arrangement on slip coaches for the resetting of the apparatus.
(5.) The arrangements for working the signal-arms by electricity and the "train
describer," all substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
C. E. SPAGNOLETTI. (L.S.)