Improvements in Means for Announcing the Names of Stations and Streets, and for Advertising in Railway Carriages and Tramway Cars.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 11th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Announcing the Names of Stations
and Streets, and for Advertising in Railway Carriages and
Tramway Cars.
I, GEORGE WASHINGTON ROBERTSON, of 90 Queen Street, Cheapside, in the
City of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention has for its object improvements in means for announcing the names
of stations and streets, and for advertising in railway carriages and tramway
cars.
For this purpose I mount in bearings underneath the body of the carriage, a shaft,
which is the prime mover, fitted with a lever normally held in a central position,
but which can be moved to the one side or the other by fixed cams or inclines on
the permanent way.
The above mentioned lever is so constructed as to be able to give way on any
undne shock or pressure being put thereon.
This said shaft has also on it a lever, which is connected by a rod or link with
another lever on the end of a shaft passing along the top of the carriage. On this
upper shaft are fixed as many levers as there are indicators in the carriage, one of
which may be placed in each compartment thereof. These levers each act in
combination with a slide suitably guided and carrying two pawls arranged to drive
a toothed wheel in either direction, according to the direction of partial rotation
given to the driving shafts by the fixed cams or inclines. The toothed wheel above
referred to is fixed on the end of one of a pair of parallel shafts mounted within the
indicator, and such shafts are formed or provided at their ends with wheels or
spaces to act as chain wheels, around which chains are passed; one of such shafts
Each link of these
is preferably acted upon. by a spring to keep the chains tant.
chains is preferably cast with a projecting grooved arm; into the grooves of each
pair of opposite arms, a card or tablet is placed, which may have on one side the
name of a station, and on the other any desired advertisement; a suitable moveable
spring clip is attached to each arm to enable the cards or tablets to be readily
inserted and removed as may be required, and to secure the same in position. Other
means of holding the tablets may however be employed.
To ensure correct adjustment of the cards or tablets at each movement, I fix to
one of the indicator shafts, a notched wheel, and I arrange a spring dog to act in
connection with such wheel, so that as the latter is rotated, the spring dog, by falling
into such notches, will ensure the correct adjustment of the wheel, and will retain it
in such position until the next movement is given. This same notched wheel is also
arranged to give motion to a hammer, so as to strike a bell at each movement.
The arms carrying the tablets are so arranged within the indicator case, that two
of them can simultaneously be seen through the glass front at such an angle to each
other as to show the back of one tablet or card and the front of another; by this
means the name of a station or street may be announced by one of such cards or
tablets and an advertisement by the other.
The toothed wheel is situated midway between the pawls or drivers and free
thereof when at rest; I am thus enabled to turn the shafts of the indicator freely in
either direction by hand for renewal or alteration of the cards or tablets or for other
purposes.
Dated this 17th day of July 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
T
Improvements in Means for Announcing the Names of -Stations
Ler and Streets, and for Advertising in Railway Carriages and
Tramway Cars.
.
•
I; GEORGE WASHINGTON ROBERTSON; of 90 Queen Street, Cheapside, in the
City of London, Engineer, 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:-
The invention has for its object improvements in means for announcing the.
names of stations and streets, and for advertising in railway carriages and tramway
cars.
For this purpose I mount in bearings underneath the body of the carriage, a
shaft, which is the prime mover, fitted with a lever normally held in a central
position but which can be moved to the one side or the other thereof by fixed cams
or inclines on the permanent way. The above mentioned lever is so constructed as
to be able to give way on any undue shock or pressure being put thereon. This
said shaft has also on it a lever, which is connected by a rod or link with another
lever on the end of a shaft passing along the top of the carriage.
On this upper shaft are fixed as many levers as there are indicators in the carriage,.
one of which may be placed in each compartment thereof. These levers each act
in combination with a slide suitably guided and carrying two pawls arranged to
drive a toothed wheel in either direction according to the direction of partial
rotation given to the driving shafts by the fixed cams or inclines.
;
The toothed wheel above referred to is fixed on the end of one of a pair of
parallel shafts mounted within the indicator, and such shafts are formed or provided
at their ends with wheels or spaces to act as chain wheels, around which chains are
passed one of such shafts is preferably acted upon by a spring to keep the chains
taut. Each link of these chains is preferably cast with a projecting grooved arm:
into the grooves of each pair of opposite armis, a card or tablet is placed which may
have on each side the name of a station and any desired advertisement; a suitable
moveable spring clip is attached to each arm to enable the cards or tablets to be
readily inserted and removed as may be required and to secure the same in position.
Other means of holding the tablets may however be employed.
To ensure correct adjustment of the cards or tablets at each movement, I fix to
one of the indicator shafts, a notched wheel, and I arrange a spring dog to act in
connection with such wheel so that as the latter is rotated, the spring dog, by falling
into such notches, will ensure the correct adjustment of the wheel and will retain it
in such position until the next movement is given. This same notched wheel is
also arranged to give motion to a hammer so as to strike a bell at each movement.
The arms carrying the tablets are so arranged within the indicator case that two
of them can simultaneously be seen through the glass front at such an angle to each
other as to show the back of one tablet and the front of another; by this means the
name of a station or street may be announced by one of such cards or tablets and an
advertisement by the other, or each tablet may have both a station name and one or
more advertisements thereon.
The toothed wheel is situated midway between the pawls or drivers and free
thereof when 'at rest;. Iam thus enabled to turn the shafts of the indicator freely in
either direction by hand for renewal or alteration of the cards or tablets or for other
purposes.
And in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, 'I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully to
describe the same.

page_text: THE DRAWINGS.
DESCRIPTION OF
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one compartment of a railway carriage, and
is a vertical cross
igure 2 is an end view of parts of the carriage, showing my invention applied
ereto. Figures 3 and 4 are opposite end views, Figure
ction, and Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of the indicator containing
e advertising tablets. Figure 7 is a section drawn on the line 1. 1. of Figure 6.
igures 8 and 9 are respectively a side elevation and a front elevation of one form
the operating lever. Figures 10 and 11 are respectively a front elevation and a
de elevation of a modified form of operating lever. Figures 12 and 13 are
espectively a side view and a cross section of one of the advertising tablets;
Figures 14 and 15 are respectively a side view and an edge view of a spring clip
or securing the tablets in position. Figures 16 and 17 are respectively a plan and
cross section of the operating cam fixed on the permanent way. Figures 18 and 19
re side and front views of one of the chain links and its connected grooved arm,
and Figure 20 is a diagram showing how an indicator having a larger number of
tablets than in the arrangement shown in the previous figures can be arranged.
In all the figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
For the purpose of my invention, I mount in bearings underneath the body a of
the carriage or car, a shaft c, which is fitted with a lever e normally held in a
central position but which can be moved to the one side or the other by fixed cams
or inclines d on the permanent way between the metals.
The lever e', according to the arrangement shown at Figures 8 and 9, is fitted with
a ball or knob at the lower end of a rod c³, which is pressed downwards by a
spring e, but which in the event of the ball or knob c² coming into contact with the
ground or permanent way, will be forced upwards within its bearings so as to pass
over the same, after which it will be returned to its normal position by the spring c.
The lever c is held in its normal or central position by means of a spring c² on each
side thereof, but according to the arrangement represented at Figures 10 and 11, a
single central spring c is employed, which is enclosed within and presses downwards,
a sliding box c, the lower flat end of which presses strongly on the upper flat end
of the lever c¹ and tends to keep the latter in its normal position, at the same time
permitting of motion thereof in any direction.
9
C
The shaft c has also fixed thereon a lever c, which is connected by a rod or
link with a lever el fixed on the end of a shaft e passing along the top of the
5 carriage and mounted in bearings fixed thereon. On this upper shaft e are fixed
as many leverse as there are indicators in the carriage, one of which may be
placed so as to be seen in each compartment thereof. These levers e each act in
combination with a slide f, suitably guided in a frame attached to the indicator
frame and carrying two pawls g arranged to drive a toothed wheel h in either
0 direction, according to the direction of partial rotation given to the driving
The indicator frame g is fixed in or to
shafts c, e, by the fixed cams or inclines d.
the roof of the carriage or car, so that the lower part enters the carriage sufficiently
to permit of the indicating tablet being seen by the occupants and such frame is
fixed to the roof of the carriage or car by means of flanges as shown at Figure 1.
The toothed wheel is fixed on one end of one of a pair of parallel shafts i, i
mounted within the indicator g, and such shafts are formed or provided near their
ends with notched wheels having notched flats intermediate of the main notches
to act as chain wheels, around which chains j are passed; the shaft is preferably
Each link of these chains ji
acted upon by springs to keep the chains taut.
50 formed with a projection j formed with a single tooth to act in conjunction with the
notched flats on the wheels i, and it is also formed with a projecting groove
a card or tablet ki
arm into the grooves of each pair of opposite arms ³,
placed, which may have on each side the name of a station and any desire
advertisement; a spring clip, shown separately at Figures 14 and 15 is mounte
55 on a stud or pin carried by each arm and it is formed with projections to cli
45

page_text: over the edge of the grooved arm to enable the cards or tablets k to be readily
inserted and removed as may be required and to secure the same in position. Other
means of holding the tablets may however be employed.
I prefer to provide the tablets with a blank space to receive a spring
supplemental tablet k² made to clip the tablet & between the two sides thereof, and
such supplemental tablet is provided with studs or depressions to clip into
eyelets formed in the tablet k, so as to enable the tablet to be readily applied to
and removed from the tablet k. The tablet has any required advertisement on
both sides thereof and the tablet has the names of two consecutive stations one
on one side and the other on the other side thereof. It will be evident that
adjacent faces of any two tablets must be furnished with the name of the same
. station.
To ensure correct adjustment of the cards or tablets at each movement, I fix to
the indicator shaft, a notched wheel, and I arrange a spring dog 1 to act in
connection with such wheel, so that as the latter is rotated, the spring dog, by
falling into the notches of the wheel, will ensure the correct adjustment of such
wheel and will retain it in correct position until the next movement is given.
The toothed wheel is also arranged to give motion to a spring hammer m to
cause it to strike a bell n at each movement of the indicator, but if desired the
wheel might be used for such purpose.
The toothed wheel is situated midway between the pawls or drivers ² and free
thereof when the latter are at rest; I am thus enabled to turn the shafts i, i*, of the
indicator freely in either direction by hand for renewal or alteration of the cards or
tablets or for other purposes, in addition to which such arrangement of the pawls
and ratchet wheel permit of the operating lever being deflected somewhat from its
normal central position from oscillation of the carriage or from other causes without
causing the ratchet wheel to be advanced a tooth.
The grooved arms j2 carrying the tablets, are so arranged within the indicator
case that two of the tablets can simultaneously be seen through the glass front g³
at such an angle to each other as to show the back of one tablet or card and the
front of another, that is to say, the two adjacent sides of such tablets, so that the
matter contained thereon can be readily seen. That part of the indicator which is
within the carriage is also provided with glass at one end and with a reflector at
the other end to assist in illuminating the interior thereof, or it may be provided
with translucent glass at each end.
By causing the lever to be moved by the cam or inclined to either side of its
normal or central position, and by arranging the pawls to act on opposite sides of
the toothed wheel, the correct announcement of the name of a station is always
secured, as, however many times the carriage may pass a given cam or incline
backwards and forwards, the indicator will be similarly operated as it will be
moved either backward or forward according to the direction of motion of the
carriage.
Figure 20 represents one side of an indicator frame capable of accommodating a
larger number of tablets than that shown in the previous figures in this case the
sides of the indicator are formed with grooves y, within which the ends of elongated
studs forming the joints of the chains travel, and thereby guide the chains to travel
correctly within the indicator. The indicator in this case has the portion exterior
of the carriage formed to lie along the top thereof, as it is too long to be allowed to
stand in a vertical position.
The fixed cams or inclines d and the operating levers and shaft c, as herein-
before described, are so constructed and arranged as to cause the levers e to be
moved in a direction transverse of the carriage; this arrangement is suitable for
railway carriages, but in applying my invention to tramway cars, the cams & shown
in the drawings cannot be employed; in lieu thereof I form a double incline on the
roadway between the metals and I graduate such incline in every direction so as
to avoid any prejudicial interference with ordinary traffic. I also arrange the
lever c¹, lever c, and forked end of the lever e¹ at right angles to that of the
axis
G

page_text: position shown in the drawings so as to enable the lever to be moved in the direction
of the length of the tramway car by the incline on the roadway.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A station or street annunciator and advertising apparatus for railway carriages
or tramway cars, consisting of a case g entering and fixed in or to the roof of the
carriage, a glass front g³ and glass end or ends g, to such case, endless chains j
passing around chain wheels fixed on shafts i, *, grooved arms on such
endless chains, cards or tablets & fitting such grooved arms, tablet retaining spring
clips, toothed wheel fixed on the axis, pawls for operating such toothed
wheel in either direction, a slide f for carrying such pawls, and a lever e², shaft e,
lever e, connecting rod, lever c, shaft c, lever c', and fixed cam or incline d, for
giving motion to the slide, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In station or street annunciators and advertising apparatus for railway carriages
or tramway cars, a case y formed with glass front g³ and fixed in or to the roof of
the carriage or car, endless chains passing around chain wheels in such case,
advertising and station or street annunciating tablets k, k², carried by such chains,
and apparatus operated by fixed cams or inclines d for giving motion to such endless
chains in either direction, substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
3. In station or street annunciating and advertising apparatus of the character
above referred to, a fixed operating cam or incline at different points of the
permanent way, and an operating lever el capable of movement in either direction
and acted upon by springs to keep it in its normal central position and yet permit
of motion thereof on its touching the ground or meeting with any obstruction.
4. In station or street annunciating and advertising apparatus of the character
above referred to, a toothed wheel on one of the axes carrying the endless
chains and pawls g2 normally placed at equal distances from such wheel and
carried by a slide capable of being moved in either direction according to the
direction of motion of the carriage or car, substantially as herein shown and
described.
5. A station or street annunciator for railway carriages or tramway cars, the
body of which is fixed in or to the roof of the carriage or car, and whose glass front,
glass end or ends, and chain of indicating and advertising tablets, are so arranged
and operated as to present or hold two adjacent tablets successively at such an
angle as to enable the occupants of a carriage, car, or compartment, readily to sec
the adjacent sides of two of the tablets, substantially as herein shown and described.
6. In station or strect annunciators for railway carriages or tramway cars, a
toothed wheel on the axis of one of the chain wheels, operating the chain of tablets,
and a slide carrying two spring pawls arranged to act on opposite sides of the
toothed wheel to enable the latter to be rotated in either direction according to the
direction of motion of the carriage or car, also arranging the said spring pawls at
such a distance normally from the toothed wheel that the latter, and consequently
the shafts of the indicator chain wheels, can be freely rotated in either direction for
renewal, alteration, or adjustment, of the cards or tablets without moving or
interfering with the operating mechanism, whilst the operating lever is also capable
of some amount of oscillation without giving motion to the ratchet wheel,
substantially as herein shown and described.
121 +
2
1100z
GEO. W. ROBERTSON.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.