Improvements in Railway Signalling.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 7th May, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Signalling.
We, GEORGE MILLER, Gardener and GEORGE JAMES MILLER, Junior, Gardener,
both of Gordon Villa, Beddington Corner, Mitcham, Surrey 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 an improved means for signalling from a signal box to
the driver of a moving locomotive, more especially applicable in case of fog.
In carrying out our invention, we use a lever turning on a vertical pivot, at the
outside of the rails, and having the end nearest the rail turned up for a short
distance. A wire or chain is connected to the other end, and passes over a pulley
to the signal box, or is connected on to the mechanism working the ordinary signals.
When the wire is released, the lever is kept so that its turned up end is close to the
rail, by means of a spring or weight, it then being in position for giving the signal.
On pulling the wire the lever is turned, bringing the end away from the line, and
out of reach of the mechanism on the engine.
In order to give the signal on the engine, I use a vertical rod turning in bearings
on the side of the engine and having a curved piece at its lower end projecting
outwardly sufficiently far to reach the end of the lever above mentioned, and he
turned a short distance. The upper part of this rod is bent inwards or has an arm,
which according to one arrangement carries a knob-at its end, serving as a hammer
to strike a bell situated on the engine when the signal is to be given, a spring
bringing it back to its ordinary position when released.
Instead of using a bell, a small steam whistle may be employed with an arm for
opening the cock so arranged that the arm of the rod before mentioned can turn it
on, the whistle remaining open until it is turned off by the engine driver.
A device is arranged at the side of the engine by means of which the rod is kept
in its inoperative position, so that the projecting piece at its end is withdrawn from
any accidental collision with other objects when not required to be used.
In order that the signal may be given in whichever direction the engine is
running, I provide two rods and bells or whistles, one at each side of the engine,
actuated in opposite directions.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a plan of part of my improved apparatus, showing two different arrange-
ments, one at each side of the line, and Fig. 2 is an clevation of one of the same.
Figs. 34 and 5 are elevations and a plan of the apparatus fixed on the engine a
bell being used for giving the signals, and
Figs. 6, 7, views of a modification show the arrangement applied to a whistle.
1 is the wire passing from the signal box, or connected with the ordinary signals,
running over a pulley 2 at the side of the rail to the end of a lever 3, pivotted at 4
and provided with a turned up end or arm 5 close to the rail. To the first mentioned
end of this lever, a second wire 6 is attached, passing over the pulley 7, to the end
of a lever 8 carrying a weight which tends to keep the lever 3 against the stop 9 in
signalling position. Instead of using the cord and weight the lever may be kept in
position by the spring 10 as shown in the alternative arrangement, Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is
an elevation of the first apparatus with weight employed.
Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, 11 is the vertical rod turning in bearings 12 and
provided with the curved extension 13 at its lower end, and the arm 14 with knob 15
at top arranged to strike the bell 16 when actuated.
A second arm 17 and spring 18 are used to bring the arrangement into its
ordinary position, and a bolt 19 serves to hold the device back when required, the
arm 17 abutting against it when it is moved upwards. When the signal is to be

page_text: given the lever 5 is released and the extension 13 strikes against it, causing the rod
to be turned a short distance. When the extension has passed the lever, the spring
causes the hammer to strike the bell and give the signal. Should there be no
danger, the wire 1 is pulled turning the lever 3, and drawing the arm 5 out of reach
of the extension.
Figs. 6 and 7 show a somewhat similar arrangement with a whistle 20 in place of
the bell, the arm 14 turning the arm 21 of the whistle and opening the cock, the
remainder of the mechanism being the same. A similar arrangement is fixed on
the other side of the engine, but movable in the opposite direction.
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.) In a signalling device, the combination of a lever 3 and arm 5, a wire actuated
by the signalman connected to its end, and means such as a weight or spring for
automatically bringing the same into signalling position, with a rod 11 turning in
bearings, an extension 13 and arm at top for giving the signal by means of a bell or
whistle substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(2.) The means for transmitting signals from the signal box to a moving
locomotive substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of March 1892
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.