Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Actuating Railway Signals.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Actuating Railway
Signals.
We, THOMAS MARSDEN and ISAAC THOMPSON of Holme Mill, Nelson, in the
County of Lancaster, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
A lever, jointed to the rails or to one of the sleepers of such rails, is inclined
upwards, so that when an engine, train or carriage passes over one end of the said
lever, the other end will raise a catch to cause the release of a chain, wire, or other
connection fixed to a balance lever attached to the semaphore, and cause the signal
to be raised automatically and retained so long as the jointed lever is depressed by
the engine, train, or carriage.
The signalman has within his cabin a lever, to which the signal wire is attached,
and by pulling the lever he lowers the signal, and draws forward the signal wire,
until the catch is in position to secure the wire with the signal depressed. The
signalman has, therefore, no control whatever in applying the signal, which is
effected automatically when the jointed lever is depressed by the engine or train.
This arrangement of the retaining catch acted upon by a passing engine or train
is also particularly applicable for retaining the connecting wires or parts connected
therewith as described in the Specification of the said Thomas Marsden No. 3150,
dated 18th February 1892.
Dated this 10th day of December 1892
THOS. RICHMOND,
A gent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Actuating Railway
Signals.
We, THOMAS MARSDEN and ISAAC THOMPSON of Holme Mills, Nelson, in the
County of Lancaster, Manufacturers, 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 :-
A lever jointed to the rails or to one of the sleepers of such rails, is inclined
upwards, so that when an engine, train or carriage passes over one end of the said
lever, the other end will raise a catch to cause the release of a chain, wire or other
connection fixed to a balance lever attached to the semaphore, and cause the signal
to be raised automatically, and retained so long as the jointed lever is depressed by
the engine train or carriage.
The signalman has within his cabin a lever, to which the signal wire is attached,
and by pulling the lever he lowers the signal, and draws forward the signal wire,
until the catch is in position to secure the wire with the signal depressed. The
signalman has, therefore, no control whatever in applying the signal, which is
effected automatically when the jointed lever is depressed by the engine or train.
This arrangement of the retaining catch acted upon by a passing engine or train
is also particularly applicable for retaining the connecting wires or parts connected
therewith as described in the Specification of the said Thomas Marsden No. 3,150
dated 18th February 1892.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan of our arrangement for automatically
.

page_text: A is the said lever jointed or otherwise secured to the rail B (or if desired to a
sleeper) by means of a stud C, and weighted or otherwise depressed at one end so
as to fall into a sneck or notch formed at D in the catch-rod or slide bar E, whilst
the other end of the lever A assumes an inclined position. The catch rod E is
connected to bell crank lever F, to which is also attached a wire, chain or cord G,
which holds in suspension a balance or weighted lever in connection with the
* semaphore.
When an engine, train or carriage passes over the inclined lever A, the said lever
is thereby depressed and releases catch rod or slide bar E, thus allowing the balance
or weighted lever or the like in connection with the semaphore to fall, and causing
the signal to be raised and retained so long as the jointed lever is depressed by the
engine, train or carriage.
The signalman, when the line is clear, operates a lever which is free to move in.
either direction without the usual slide block and catch and to which the signal
wire is attached, thereby lowering the signal, at the same time drawing forward the
wire, chain or cord G, until the catch rod, or slide bar E is in position to be
retained by the weighted end of the inclined lever A. The signals are therefore
effected automatically without any control on the part of the signalman, when the
inclined lever A is depressed by the engine, train or carriage.
Fig. 3 is a plan of this arrangement of automatically actuating railway signals
for retaining the connecting wires or parts connected therewith, in conjunction with
arrangement of apparatus as described in the Specification of the said Thomas
Marsden No. 3,150 dated 18th February 1892.
A is the inclined lever; E the catch rod or slide bar jointed to the inclined
plane or lever H, instead of being connected to the wire, cord or chain com-
municating with the semaphore as previously described. The drawing illustrates
the inclined lever A as having been acted upon by a passing train, thus relieving the
catch rod or slide bar E. Immediately on the release of the sliding catch rod E,
the weight attached to the wire L passing over pulley M falls, and turns the
crank shaft round to dead centre as shewn, so as to bring the inclined plane H in
position to act upon anti-friction bowl, levers and link mechanisin on the engine of
the next passing train thereby shutting off the steam in the manner fully described
in recited Specification of the said Thomas Marsden. The wire L is attached to
one arm of bell crank lever N, to the other arm of which is secured wire, chain or
cord G connected to a signal lever in the signalman's cabin.
When the line is clear, the signal-lever is operated by the signalman, until
catch rod or slide bar E is in position to be retained by the falling or weighted
inclined lever A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The machinery or apparatus for actuating railway signals, substantially as
described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
2. Lever A, catch rod or slide bar E and mechanism for automatically raising
and retaining railway signals, substantially as described and illustrated for the
purpose set forth.
3. The arrangement represented in Fig. 3 for automatically bringing into position
the inclined plane or lever H, and stopping the engine, substantially as described
and illustrated in Fig. 3.
Dated this 8th day of September 1893.
F. RICHMOND,
79, St. James Street, Burnley, Agent for the Applicants.