IMPROVEMENTS IN ALARM SIGNALS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Norris, of Sunningdale, Staines, in the County
of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ALARM SIGNALS FOR
RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Norris at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st September 1881.
JOSEPH NORRIS, of Sunningdalo, Staines, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ALARM SIGNALS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
This Invention has reference to an arrangement for signalling by sound from
any of the passenger compartments of a train to any given point or points in such
train, at the same time indicating on the outside of the carriage the particular
compartment from which the signal has proceeded.
For this purpose I provide within a casing, which is fixed to the ceiling of each
passenger compartment, a series of catches or levers and springs oscillating on pin
joints, which on a cord or chain (which passes through the various apparatus and
through every carriage from the engine at one end, and to the guard's van at the
other) being pulled, effect the impulsion in the particular compartment in which
the said cord is pulled of two sliding rods, one to the right and the other to the
left hand side of the carriage, the outer end of each rod passing through the right
and left hand side of the carriage respectively, upon which the said rods become
developed, or a fan or other readily seen signal drops out therefrom, and remains
open to observation along the whole length and on each side of the train until it is
returned to its normal position.
Simultaneously with the liberation and passage of the two sliding rods the cord
or chain acts upon and causes a bell or gong or other suitable alarm apparatus to
sound, such alarm apparatus being placed preferably on the engine at one end of
the train, and in the guard's van at the other end, so that on an alarm being
sounded both the engine driver and guard may look along the train, and at once
perceive by means of the visible signal hereinbefore described the particular
compartment from which the alarm has proceeded.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Norris in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st March
1882.
JOSEPH NORRIS, of Sunningdale, Staines, in the County of Middlesex, Builder.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ALARM SIGNALS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
This Invention has reference to an arrangement of apparatus and method of
signalling by sound from any passenger compartment of a train to any given point
or points in such train, at the same time indicating on the outside of the carriage
the particular compartment from which the signal has proceeded.
I will now proceed to describe the Invention with reference to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings. Fig. 1 represents in section a portion of the roof (broken off
to save space) of a railway carriage to which my apparatus is applied, and which
is shewn with the front plate thereof removed, the apparatus being in its normal
or closed position; Fig. 2 represents the fan or signal as it would appear in the
open position; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the gong apparatus, which may be fitted
in the guard's van, but which may also be fitted to the engine instead of or in
addition to the guard's van; Fig. 4 is a plan of the same.
1 is a casing, which is fixed to the roof of the passenger compartment or com-
partments from which it is desired to signal; 2 are catches or levers oscillating on
pin joints 3, and provided with hooks 4, the displacement of which, together with
bracket 6, is effected by a cord or pull 3*, which passes through each apparatus
by the hole 5 of the bracket 6 and larger hole 5* in the casing to the engine a
one end of the train, or to the guard's van at the other end. Upon the displace-
ment of the hooks 4 the two sliding rods 7 are acted upon by the spring catches
or levers 8, and impelled laterally the one to the right and the other to the left
hand side of the particular compartment or carriage from which it is desired to
signal, the outer end of each sliding rod passing freely through an aperture made
for the purpose in the side of the carriage, upon which a fan or other readily seen
signal 9 drops out therefrom and remains open to observation along the whole
length, and on each side of the train, until it is returned by hand to its normal
position.
Simultaneously with the liberation and passage of the two sliding rods the cord
or pull acts upon and causes a bell or gong 10 or other suitable apparatus (say,
the steam whistle of the engine) to sound. The bell or gong may be placed in
the guard's van or on the engine, or both, so that on an alarm being sounded the
guard or the engine driver, or both, may look along the train, and at once perceive
by the visible signal hereinbefore described the particular compartment of the train
from which the alarm has proceeded.
For the purpose of operating the bell or gong (or bells or gongs) the end of the
cord or pull, which also simultaneously operates the visible signal, is connected at a
to the striking bar of the bell or gong. The bell or gong is mounted on a
carriage 11 provided with wheels 12 for running on rails 13 fixed near the roof of
the guard's van, to which it may be attached by the projecting parts 14. In order
to keep the cord or pull taut I attach by means of a cord 15 and pulley 16 a
weight 17 to the gong or bell carriage, the weight being placed at the end of the
apparatus farthest from the centre of the train. Only one weight is used, which
may be changed from one end of the gong apparatus to the other as occasion may
require.

page_text: Having now described my Invention, and the method of carrying it into effect,
I would have it understood that what I claim is,—
1. The method of and apparatus for signalling alarm by visible signal from
railway trains, substantially as described with reference to Figa. 1 and 2 of the
Drawings.
2. The apparatus for signalling alarm by sound signal from railway trains,
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the Drawings.
3. The combination of apparatus for signalling alarm simultaneously by a visible
signal and by a sound signal, substantially as herein before described and illus-
trated in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Norris, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty first day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
SARRIA