Improved Station-indicator for Railways.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1896-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Station-indicator for Railways.
I, ANDREAS PALFY, of No. 11 Marie-Valerie Gasse, Budapesth, in the
Kingdom of Hungary, Railway-officer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
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 an improved station-indicator for railways of any kind,
such indicator being operated by an electric current and showing the names of the
different stations of a line in regular succession or in a predetermined order and
being also provided with a clock-signal operated when a change of the name of the
station is effected.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the indicator opened to show the inner con-
struction and arrangement, part of the cover and disc with the names of the stations
being broken away;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the indicator;
Fig. 3 is a part of the front view of the indicator ;
Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line - of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a cross section of the barrel of the indicator;
Figs. 6 and 7 are details of the indicator in plan and side view respectively.
The station indicator consists of a disc c pivoted on a spindle in a shallow
casing e and provided in the centre with a barrel or spring-box b (Fig. 1 and 4)
and formed at its periphery as a ratchet wheel a. The disc c is turned in the
direction of the arrow (Fig. 1) by the tension of the spring d of the barrel b, a
pawl g pivoted to the casing and engaging the ratchet teeth a preventing the free
rotation of the disc c. The pawl g is in connection with a double-armed lever h,
the one end of which forms the armature of an electro-magnet i, the other end of
such lever being passed between adjusting screws j and secured to a spring k so
as to limit the stroke of the lever h with armature and pawl g.
If by passing an electric current through the electro-maguet i for temporarily
exciting same, the lever is attracted and released again when the circuit is
broken.
The disc is rotated each time the electro-magnet is operated to the extent of
one tooth, each movement of the disc corresponding to one station. For this
purpose a circular ring plate m is secured to the disc c by means of pins l, such
plate m receiving the names of the stations in the proper order and in radial
direction. The names of the different stations are rendered visible in a slot or
recess n of the cover of the casing e (Fig. 3 & 4). The disc c can only make one
revolution each time, a lateral stop o coming in contact with a stop pin p of the
casing and thus preventing further rotation of the disc.
For further operation the disc is returned by hand to its initial position for
which purpose the one point g' of the pawl g is jointed to the body of the pawl
and controlled by a spring g' in such manner that the said point g¹ can be moved
outwards but not deflected to the inner side.
The disc c having made a complete or full revolution has exposed the names of
all stations on the plate m in the slot n, such plate m bearing on its back side the
same names of all stations but in the reverse order, so that the device can be used
for indicating the stations when the train returns on the same line.
In the latter case it is only necessary to put the disc m on the pins with the
back side to the front.

page_text: As already stated, the operation of the indicator is effected by an electro-
magnet i, such magnet being in connection with a line by means of a conductor r
and the posts g, with which line any number of a similar apparatus can be con-
nected. In case this line is closed from any point, the electro-magnet i attra :ts
the lever and the pawl g operates the disc c. The liner is provided with a branch
lines, an electric bell t being in connection therewith, which bell strikes each time
the apparatus is operated. A cut out u arranged in this branch lines enables
this electric bell to be put out of operation, the cut out or switch then being in
the centre position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, whereas it is in connection
with the contact v, if the electric bell t is to be operated.
In case the electric bell is to ring only at some special stations, the following
arrangement is provided. A metallic ring is secured to the disc c, such ring
being provided with radial slides or bars a', normally not extending from the
ring w outwards. A contact connected with the line s by means of the con-
ductor is on the ring w, whereas a contact d¹ connected with the second
contact u of the cut out u is arranged just below the recess or slot n in such
manner, that it is not in contact with the ring to but comes in electric contact with
same, as soon as a slide a extended or drawn out from the ring w is brought
against this contact d' by the rotation of the disc c.
Since such slide a' is provided for every station after the connection of the cut
out u with the contact u¹ the bell is struck only at that station, the slide a' of
which is drawn out from the ring w.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Improved station-indicator for railways indicating the stations in both
directions in succession or in a special predetermined order consisting of a revoluble
disc (c) provided with ratchet teeth at the periphery and being operated by a
spiral spring (d) and of a plate (m) with the names of all stations connected to
the disc () by pins (1) the operation of such disc (c) being controlled by a pawl (g)
operated by an electro magnet (i) and provided with a jointed point (') for
enabling the disc (c) being wound up again by rotation in the reverse direction,
substantially as described and shown.
2. Improved station-indicator as described in Claim 1 in which the names of
the stations are provided in a reverse order on both sides of the plate (m) for
enabling such plate being used for the return by simply being reversed, the disc (c)
being rotated in the same direction, substantially as described and shown.
3. Improved station-indicator as described in Claim 1 in combination with an
arrangement for operating an electric bell consisting of a ring (1) secured to the
disc (c) and provided with slides (a¹) corresponding to the number of stations,
such slides on extending same from the ring (m) according to the station or stations
to be indicated cause the operation of the bell by the aid of contacts (6') and (d'),
substantially as described and shown.
4. Improved station-indicator as described in Claim 1 in combination with a
cut out (u) enabling the electric bell to be put in direct connection with the line
of the electro-magnet (2) in case such bell is to be operated at each station or to
be entirely cut out, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 11th day of July 1896
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.