IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF RAILWAY TRAINS, ALSO APPLICABLE AS A BURGLAR DETECTOR OR ALARM
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Henry Walsh, of Kingsbridge Terrace,
Dublin, Ireland, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
SIGNALLING BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF RAILWAY TRAINS, ALSO
APPLICABLE AS A BURGLAR DETECTOR OR ALARM.”
Sealed the 25th August 1871, and dated the 2nd March 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Henry Walsh
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd March 1871.
I, THOMAS HENRY WALSH, of Kingsbridge Terrace, Dublin, Ireland,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF RAILWAY Trains,
ALSO APPLICABLE AS A BURGLAR DETECTOR OR ALARM," to be as follows:-
-
My Invention relates to improved apparatus to be applied in a railway
train in combination with an “alarm" for conveying a signal from a

page_text: •
passenger to the guard and driver, or from the one to the other of the
latter, and also for automatically signalling both guard and driver should
any carriages be accidentally detached from the train. The apparatus
may also be applied in houses and buildings as a burglar detector to
give an alarm on the opening of any window or door to which it may
be applied.
The apparatus consists of a vessel open at top containing liquid in
which is partially immersed another and similar vessel inverted, that is
to say, closed at top and open at bottom. The open bottom or mouth
of this immersed vessel or "bell" is at all times kept below the level of
the liquid. The immersed vessel is made air-tight so as to be supported
or buoyed on the liquid, in which it is free to be immersed, more or less,
according to the quantity of air contained. A vertical rod passing
through guides is connected to the upper part of the closed vessel,
and serves to guide it in its upward and downward movements, and
also to actuate a suitable "alarum" when the immersed vessel or bell
descends, as hereafter described. Air is admitted into or allowed to
escape from the "bell" vessel through a pipe which rises through the
bottom of the outer or fixed vessel, and opens into the bell above
the level of the liquid. This air pipe communicates outside the liquid
container with two other pipes, by one of which air is admitted to the
bell vessel, whilst the other leads to the point from which the signal or
aların is to be given, and allows the air contained in said bell vessel
to escape therefrom to sound the “alarm” or signal by the descent of
the "bell" vessel which sinks by its own gravity and actuates the
alarm through the medium of the vertical rod, as above mentioned.
Both the admission and escape pipes are provided with suitable
stop-cocks near their junction by which the apparatus may be set and
controlled.
In applying my Invention to a train of passenger carriages I prefer to
employ the apparatus above described in duplicate, one in the guard's
van at the rear of tho train, and the other on the engine or tender near
the driver's foot plate. I connect the escape pipes of the two apparatus
by a tube running along the passenger carriages, and connected at the
ends of the carriages by a length of flexible tubing with a suitable
coupling joint so as to form a continuous length of air-tight tubing
extending throughout the train. Taps or valves are provided on branch

page_text: pipes leading from the tubes to the different compartments of the
carriages so as to be readily accessible by the passengers, who by
opening any one of the taps or valves allows the air to escape from
the bell vessels of both apparatus, which thereupon descend and sound
their respective alarms. The opening of the valve is effected by means
of a pull handle placed within the compartment, which is connected to
a lever by which the valve is operated, a spring being employed to keep
the valve closed. The opening of the tap or valve by the passengers
is made to actuate an indicator to show the compartment from which
the signal has been made. This indicator consists of a disc or arm
placed outside the carriage and mounted on a pivot. It is operated by
a spring by which when released, as hereafter explained, it is caused
to project outwards at right angles to the carriage. The indicator in its
normal position is held back close alongside the carriage by the pull
handle, and when this is drawn out by the passenger to sound the alarm
the indicator is released and caused to stand out from the carriage, as
before mentioned, in which position it is locked by a sliding bolt, and
cannot be returned except by the guard, by the aid of a special key
provided for the purpose. By the use of a three-way cock applied to
the escape pipe near cach apparatus the alarm may be given by the
guard to the driver, or, vice versa, without sounding his own. The
alarm may consist of a bell the hammer of which is caused to fall by
the descent of the apparatus, or the latter may release the detent of
ordinary clockwork or other bell-striking mechanism to sound a repeated

page_text: The apparatus is reset by first closing the stop-cock of the escape pipe
and opening that of the admission pipe, when by raising the bell vessel
it refills itself with air, and the admission pipe being closed and the
osenue cock reopened the amnaratus is acain ready for action.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Henry Walsh in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd September 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HENRY WALSH, of Kingsbridge Terrace, Dublin, Ireland, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victorin, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Henry Walsh, Her special licence
that I, tho said Thomas Henry Walsh, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Honry Walsh, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any timo agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR SIGNALLING DETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF RAILWAY TRAINS, ALSO APPLI-
CABLE AS A BURGLAR DETECTOR OR ALARи," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Henry Walsh, my executors or adıni-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Henry Walsh, 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, referenco being had to the two Sheets of

page_text: Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thercon (that is to say) :-
:-
My Invention relates to improved apparatus to be applied in a railway
train in combination with an "alarm" for conveying a signal from a pas-
senger to the guard and driver, or from the one to the other of the latter,
and also for automatically signalling both guard and driver should any
carriages be accidentally detached from the train. The apparatus may
also be employed in houses and buildings as a burglar detector to give an
alarm on the opening of any window or door to which it may be applied.
The apparatus consists of a vessel open at top containing liquid in
which is partially immersed another and similar vessel inverted, that
is to say, closed at top and open at bottom. The open bottom or mouth
of this immersed vessel or "bell" is at all times kept below the level
of the liquid. The immersed vessel is made air-tight so as to be sup-
ported or buoyed on the liquid in which it is free to be immersed, more
or less, according to the quantity of air contained. A vertical rod
passing through guides is connected to the upper part of the closed
vessel and serves to guide it in its upward and downward movement
and also to actuate a suitable "alarum" when the immersed vessel or
bell descends, as hereafter described. Air is admitted into or allowed
to escape from the "bell" vessel through a pipe which rises through
the bottom of the outer or fixed vessel and opens into the bell abovo
the level of the liquid. This air pipe communicates at the upper part
of the liquid container with two other pipes, by one of which air is
admitted to the bell vessel whilst the other leads to the point from
which the signal or alarm is to be given and allows the air contained
in said bell vessel to escape therefrom to sound the “alarm or signal
by the descent of the "bell" vessel which sinks by its own gravity and
actuates the alarm through the medium of the vertical rod, as above
mentioned. A suitable stop-cock is provided at the junction of the
admission and escape pipes by which the apparatus may be set and
controlled.
"
In applying my Invention to a train of passenger carriages I prefer
to employ the apparatus above described in duplicate, one in the guard's
van at the rear of the train and the other on the engine or tender near
the driver's foot plate, so that the alarm may be conveyed both to the
guard and driver. I connect the escape pipes of the two apparatus by

page_text: a tube running along the passenger carriages and connected at the ends
of the carriages by a length of flexible tubing with a suitable coupling
joint, so as to form a continuous length of air-tight tubing extending
throughout the train. Taps or valves are provided on branch pipes
leading from the tubes to the different compartments of the carriages
so as to be readily accessible by the passengers, who by opening any one
of the taps or valves allows the air to escape from the bell vessels of
both apparatus, which thereupon descend and sound their respective
alarius. The opening of the valve is effected by means of a pull handle
placed within the compartment which is connected to a lever by which
the valve is operated, a spring being employed to keep the valve closed.
The opening of the tap or valve by the passengers is made to actuate
an indicator to show the compartment from which the signal has been
made. This indicator consists of a disc or arm placed outside the
carriage and mounted on a pivot. It is operated by a spring by which
when released, as hereafter explained, it is caused to project outwards
at right angles to the carriage. The indicator in its normal position
is held back close alongside the carriage by the pull handle, and when
this is drawn out by the passenger to sound the alarm the indicator is
caused to stand out from the carriage, as before mentioned, in which
position it is locked by a sliding bolt and cannot be returned except by
the guard by the aid of a special key provided for that purpose. By the
use of a three-way cock the alarm may be given by the guard to the
driver, or, vice versa, without sounding his own. The alarm may consist
of a bell, the hammer of which is caused to fall by the descent of the
apparatus, or the latter may release the detent of ordinary clockwork
or other bell-striking mechanism to sound a respective alarm.
In applying my Invention to the protection of property (to a dwelling-
house, for instance) I dispose the alarm apparatus where required, in
a bed room for example. From thence the escape pipe is led to any
window or door from which the alarm is to be sounded. To tho
extremity of the pipe in connection with the door or window a valve is
fitted by which an air-tight closure of the pipe is effected only when
the door or window is shut, so that immediately the said door or
window is opened by any person to obtain entrance the pipe will be
also opened allowing the air to escape from the bell vessel, causing the
latter to fall and sound the alarm, as before described. The escape pipe

page_text: may branch off to several doors or windows by the opening of any one
of which an alarm will be sounded by the one apparatus, as herein-before
described. The apparatus is reset by first closing the escape pipe and
opening the admission pipe, when by raising the bell vessel it refills
itself with air, and the admission pipe being closed and the escape pipe
reopened the apparatus is again ready for action.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an outside front elevation of the casing containing the
floating vessel, which is seen in the "set" position in dotted lines;
Figure 2 is a central vertical section of the same (looking towards the
front), showing the bell or floating vessel, both in the raised position (in
red lines) and down after a signal or alarm has been given; Figure 3 is
a horizontal section on line 1—1, Figure 2; Figure 4 is a detail sectional
view of the three-way cock; Figures 5 and 6 show the method of
coupling the tube between the carriages of a train; and Figures 7, 8,
and 9, are different views of the pull handle and indicator apparatus to
be operated by a passenger desirous of communicating with the con-
ductors of the train.
A is a casing, made of sheet metal (tin plate), secured to a back A',
by which it may be fixed by bolts at A². This casing is filled with
water or other suitable liquid to the level of cock a. B is the bell or
floating vessel, being a cylinder also of metal, closed air-tight at top and
open at the bottom, which is partly immersed in water or other liquid,
as shown; C is a guide rod passing through the top of the bell B, in
which it is fixed. This rod slides through a hole in the top of casing A,
and its lower end may pass through a second guide D fixed to the bottom
of casing A, a knob handle E being mounted on the top of the rod by
which to raise the vessel B; b, Figure 3, is a projecting rib on vessel B
sliding in a vertical guide c fixed to the casing A; F is the air tube
leading through the train, and G is the tube communicating with the
air space in the bell B; this tube runs down to the bottom of casing A,
and its open end rises in the vessel B above the water level; H is the
tube, open to the outer atmosphere; these three tubes are connected to
the socket of a cock I, by which all three tubes may be closed at once,
or any two connected as required; cock I is shown in section on a larger
scale, Figure 4, in which I is the rotating plug, provided with a single

page_text: way or passage I', as shown. The plug I is turned by a combined
handle and index K, which turns on a dial L fixed to the casing A.
This dial carries different indications to show the position of the plug.
Upon rod O is fitted a flange tube & containing a spiral spring, which,
when the vessel B is in the raised position, is compressed in said tube
against a fixed collar e by the upper part of tube & coming into contact
with the top of casing A. This compression of the spring serves to
prevent any slight rising and falling movement which might be im-
parted to the vessel B by the motion of the water or other liquid.
A' is a flange in casing A to prevent disturbance of the liquid. The
tube d also operates the trigger or detent which holds the bell-striking
mechanism, by which an audible signal is given when the vessel B sinks.
The lever is pivoted at f, and forked at one end to embrace the
tube d, the other extremity when in the red line position retains the bell
hanuner g. The latter is operated by any suitable bell-striking mecha-
nism, that shown being commonly in use on railways; is the bell, and
the hammer g which rotates on a spindle g' is operated through a train
of spur wheels from a coiled spring (not shown) wound up by the thumb
wheel, Figure 1, the moving parts being mounted between a pair of
fixed plates Z, and the whole enclosed in a caso; k and k' are two glazed
openings in the front of casing A; and 1, l', are indicators corresponding
thereto (for day and night), to give a visible signal in addition to tho
audible signal when the vessel B falls. The upper opening & is a clear
glass, and a red glass, both transparent; is a metal or other plate
painted red, and is a semi-transparent glass colored white, both /
and being fixed on vessel B and moving therewith. An oil lamp m is
provided on top of vessel B, m' being the oil chamber filled at an
opening m. Thus when the vessel B falls the red plate is visible
at opening k. At night the latter is illuminated, and shows a white
light until the vessel B sinks, and so causes a red light to be shown at k';
y is a tap for drawing off any water which may collect in tube G. The
coupling, Figure 5, consists of a length of india-rubber tube x termi-
nating at each end in a socket 1 (one of which sockets is shown in
section, Figure 6), in which is fitted a metal sleeve piece 12² carrying
a short piece of india-rubber tube or sleeve ³, which is slipped on to
the fixed metal tube attached to the main tube F on the carriage, the
tubot being slightly enlarged, so as to stretch the sleeve 2*, and make
an air-tight joint. A spring catch secures the coupling by taking on

page_text: to the flange of tube . The pull handle M, Figures 7, 8, and 9, is
fitted in any convenient situation in the side of the carriage, over the
window, for instance; F' is a branch pipe leading from the main pipe F,
which runs through the carriage, and forms a continuation, as before
described, of the pipes F of apparatus similar to that shown in Figures
1, 2, and 3, fitted in the guard's van and on the engine. The orifice of
pipe F is closed by a valve formed by a piece of leather or india-rubber
carried on a lever o pivoted at o' in a metal box N let into the side of
the carriage. Lever o is jointed to the stem of pull handle M which
slides in guides, and is provided with a spiral or other spring to keep the
valve closed; O is a disc or other indicator carried on an arm working
on a fixed pivot p'; p is a spring box containing a spring coiled tightly
round the pivot p³, so that by its tendency to uncoil it will throw the
disc O out, as shown Figure 8, and in dotted lines, Figure 9, when
released. The disc is held back in the line position shown in Figure 9
by the end of the pull handle stem engaging in a recess in the cir-
cumference of the spring box p, as shown, until the handle is pulled,
when the spring is released, and the disc thrown out. In this position
it is locked by the nose of a spring bolt 2 engaging in the same recess
in the box p. This bolt is not accessible from the interior of the
carriage, and can only be withdrawn to set back the indicator by means
of a special key to operate the follower q'.
66
:―
The method of operating and action of the apparatus are as follows:-
Tubes G and H are put in connection by turning the index handle to
open." This admits air to the vessel B, which is then raised by means
of the knob E, and the index being turned to "cut off,” the apparatus
may be left for awhile ready for use, or it may be at once turned to
"sct," by which tubes F and G are placed in communication. Supposing
both guard's and driver's signal apparatus to be thus set, the opening of
any of the valves by means of the pull handle M, or the accidental
severance of the train by the breaking of a coupling will allow the air
to escape from the vessel B of each apparatus, which being no longer
buoyed by the confined air thereupon sinks, causing the trigger f to
release the bell-striking mechanism and sounding an alarm, at the same
time that a visible signal is shown at one of the openings k, k¹. By
turning the index K, so as to place pipes H and F in connection, the
guard may signal to the engine driver (or vice versa) the air cscaping

page_text: from the other apparatus at the tube I sounds a whistle fitted thereon,
and so affords a means of testing the apparatus before starting.
In applying my Invention as a burglar detector and alarm I employ
an apparatus precisely similar to that above described in reference to
Figures 1, 2, and 3, the tube F being carried to the different doors and
windows of a house or other building. Figure 10 is a part sectional view
of a portion of a window framȧ. 7 is a lever carrying a valve to close
the orifice of tube F, kept shut by a spring rª². The tail of this lever
projects into the groove in which the sash a slides, at a certain distance
above the latter, so that when the sash is raised more than a few inches 1
the valve will be opened, and the alarm sounded by the escape of the
air and the fall of the vessel B. In the case of the door the force of the
spring »¹ would be applied, as shown in Figure 11, to open the valve.
In this case the latter is closed by the shooting of the bolt u of the lock,
which abuts against a rod connected to the lever 7, and closes the 1
valve. Should the bolt be shot back by means of a key or otherwise,
the spring will open the valve and allow the air to escape, thereby
giving an alarm as before.
Ilaving described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to 2
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The combination with a "bell" vessel B immersed in liquid and
buoyed thereon by the contained air of an air tube communicating with
the air space in said vessel and with the different compartmicuts of
railway carriages by means of taps or valves, which, when opened, allow 2
the vessel to sink and operate an alarm, all substantially as bercin-
before set forth and illustrated in the Drawings.
2ndly. The combination with the case A, vessel B, and its adjuncts, of
threo tubes, F, G, H, governed by a cock, the whole constituting that
portion of the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, operated 3
substantially as herein-before described and shown in the Drawings,
for the purpose specified.
3rdly. The means for effecting an air-tight joint at the coupling, and
vermitting of the ready attachment and disconnection of the same.

page_text: 4thly. The combination with the pull handle of lever o, carrying a
valve to close pipe F, indicator O, and spring bolt q, the whole arranged
and operated substantially as and for the purpose herein-before set forth
and shown in the Drawings.
5thly. The application of the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, as
a "burglar detector," in combination with a tube F, closed by a valve
operated by the opening of a window or door, substantially as herein.
before described and shown in Figures 10 and 11 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Henry Walsh, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-one.
THOS. HY. WALSH. (L.S.)