Improvements in or relating to Electrical Signalling Apparatus for Preventing Collisions between Trains.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1896
CUMI DIE DI DUIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Electrical Signalling Apparatus for
Preventing Collisions between Trains.
I, ALEJANDRO BASANTA Y BAQUÉ of Piamonte 21, Madrid, in the Kingdom
of Spain 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 :-
This invention relates to a new system or electrical apparatus for enabling
collisions between trains to be prevented the said system being known as the
"Basanta" system.
The object of this invention is to ensure that when a train is running, the fact of
its being in motion or of its starting shall be signalled to another train which may
happen to be travelling or standing on any part of the same track between two
given stations, and so on throughout the system. The apparatus enables the guard
of one train, after he is apprised of his false position, to communicate with the
guard of the other train and indicate to him where he is, his situation and to
mutually arrange as to the course to be followed in order to prevent an accident.
In the accompanying drawing I have diagrammatically represented two sets of
apparatus arranged according to my invention.
From each station a preferably galvanized iron bar or plate or other metallic
conductor A of suitable dimensions extends along the track either outside of the
rails B as indicated, or within or between them, as may be more convenient. This
conductor which extends throughout the whole distance between one station and
the next may be supported on wooden or other uprights A¹ and is insulated
from earth by any convenient means. At each station there is a gap or break in
the conductor A to prevent a train at one side of a station communicating with
another train at the other side of the station. The conductor A is at any desired
height above the sleepers C according to the height, or distance from the ground,
at which the foot boards of the carriage are situated.
At the level crossings, the conductor A may be carried underground and be
covered over with a protective case or lid.
Each guard's van or locomotive may be provided with a dynamo D of say from
eight to ten volts electro-motive force, driven from one of the wheel axles, a
microphone E telephones F F1 an electric gong or bell G, a battery H, and a contact
device J the last named of which is preferably secured to the underside of the
foot-board K and may comprise a copper roller J and two metal springs J¹ the
latter of which tend to press the roller J into contact with the conductor A when
the train is travelling.
The dynamo D may be mounted directly on one of the wheel axles or as
shown in the drawing it may be driven from said axle by a band D' which may
be transferred from a loose to a fast pulley or vice versa according to whether
the dynamo is to be operated or not. In addition to providing the dynamo with
the fast and loose pulleys D2 I prefer to mount it on rails or guides D3 along
which it may be moved in order to take the strain off the band D' when the
dynamo is not working, or to otherwise adjust the tension on the band.
The microphone E, telephones F F and gong or bell G may conveniently all be
mounted in or on the same frame I, which may be located at any suitable part of
the guards van or locomotive.

page_text: The various devices on the guard's van or locomotive are electrically connected
together in the following manner :-
From the contact J a conductor L extends through the frame I to the terminal D 4
of the dynamo D whose other terminal D5 is connected by a conductor M with
one terminal of the electro-magnetic coils G' of the bell G. The second terminal
of the coils G¹ is connected by a conductor G 2 with a stud or contact G 3 against
which bears the hook-lever N which, itself, constitutes a conductor and through
the conductor O is in electrical communication with the metallic frame of the
vehicle and therefore through the wheels P and rails B in contact with earth; all
the parts are so insulated that electrical connection with earth can only be made
through the conductor O.
One terminal of the battery H is connected by a conductor H' to one terminal
of the primary coil E' of the microphone E the other terminal of the coil E¹ being
connected by the conductor H 2 with a contact H 3. The second terminal of the
battery H is connected by a conductor H 4 to a contact H 5.
One terminal of the secondary coil E2 of the microphone E is connected by a
conductor E3 with a contact E 4 and the other terminal thereof is connected by
'conductors F2 and F3 with the telephones F F and through them and the
conductor F4 with the beforementioned conductor L.
The lever N is under the control of a spring N' which tends always to move it
out of contact with G3 and into contact with E4 H3 and H5; normally the
telephone is suspended on the booked end of the lever N and holds said lever in
contact with G3 and out of contact with E4 H3 and H 5.
The operation of the before described apparatus is as follows:-
Supposing two trains to be stationary with their contact devices J both in
contact with the same section of conductor A. As soon as say one of these trains
herein for convenience called the first train starts on its journey, the current
generated by the operation of the dynamo D thereon, passes from say the
terminal D 5 through the conductor M and bell coils G₁ thence through the
conductor G 2 contact G 3 lever N (the telephone F being then on the hook
lever N) the lever N, conductor O, wheels P and rails B to earth, the second train
receiving the current from earth in the reverse manner of that last described, and
passing through the dynamo of that train and thence by way of the conductor L to
the contact device J of said second train. The current thence passes through
the road-side conductor A back to the contact device J of the first train where
it passes to the dynamo thereof by way of the conductor L. As the circuit
thus established includes the bells G of both the trains, both of said bells will be
sounded and this will indicate to the guard or engine-driver of each train, that
another train is on the same section of the track and that his train must be stopped,
this result being the same whether one or both of the trains be travelling. The
guards or engine drivers then place the telephones F F to their ears and in
removing F from the levers N for this purpose, said levers by the spring. N
thereof, are moved out of contact with the respective studs G³, so that the dynamo
circuit is broken, and into circuit with the studs E H3 H, so that in all, three other
circuits are completed, viz. ;-one on each guard's van or locomotive including the
local battery H, conductor H', primary coil E'; conductor H2, contact H³, lever 'N,
contact Hand conductor H, and the other, the telephone circuit, including the
road-side conductor A and rails B and the following devices of each van or
locomotive vis. ;-the contact device J, conductors L and F, telephone F1,
conductor F, telephone F, conductor F, secondary coil E, conductor E³, contact E*
lever N, conductor O and wheels P, the earth serving to complete this circuit.
It will thus be seen that the guards or engine drivers are free to communicate
with each other and can arrange as to the best manner of manipulating the trains
so as to avoid collision or obstruction.
When the telephones Fare replaced on the levers N, the local battery circuit
and the telephone circuit are broken and the dynamo circuit re-established.
"To enable the dynamos to be used for giving communication between two trains

page_text: stationary on the same section of the track may provide each with a crank-
handle or equivalent to enable it to be rotated by hand.
The bells G are rung only when two trains are upon the same section of the
track and one or both of the dynamos are operated.
Instead of completing the dynamo and telephone circuits through earth I may
employ a second road-side conductor and on each guard's van or locomotive a second
brush or equivalent for making contact therewith.
I may also carry the road-side conductors on posts at about the level of the
van-roof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is;-
A new system or electrical process to avoid collisions and contacts of trains
known as the Basanta system the operation of which is charactered or distinguished
by the following essential features;-
1st. By the installation of a conductor totally insulated from or between the
stations without any earth discharge portion at its ends.
2nd. By the issue of an electric current produced by the trains just when they
start by one of the axles of their wheels operating a dynamo.
3rd. By the arrangement of micro-telephonic apparatus and contacts therefor
in combination with a main circuit in which are included the signalling apparatus
of any trains upon the same section of the track so that when the circuit is closed
by these trains they may simultaneously receive signals indicating that their
telephonic apparatus can be placed in communication with each other.
The whole substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 30th day of January 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.