Improved Means of Electric Bell Signalling to Engines and Trains in Fog or Darkness.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Electric Bell Signalling to Engines and Trains
in Fog or Darkness.
HENRY RAMSAY TAYLOR Architect 50 George Street, Edinburgh, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is to do away with the number of accidents caused by engine
drivers running their trains past a signal set at Danger without noticing it, either
through carelessness or through fog, and to save the expense of the large body of
men at present employed laying detonators during foggy weather.
The method by which I propose to accomplish this, is as follows:-
First. A conducting wire or rod is to be led from each signal box, carried on
insulators, attached to the sleepers, and taken to a point at a sufficient distance
beyond the signal post to allow a train after passing the point to draw up before
reaching the signal.
Second. Each engine to be fitted up with an electric bell placed near the driver
having one of its poles terminating in a wire brush so fixed under the engine that
it would sweep along the conducting line, on coming on to it, and take up the
current (when on) to ring the electric bell.
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Third. The current in the conducting line to be generated by a battery placed
in each signal box, with the terminal screws so arranged that when the signalman
pull his lever to set the signal at Danger he automatically completes the
circuit with the battery, and sends the current into the conducting line placed
alongside the rails, or any other suitable position; which current is taken up by
the wire brush on the engine, and sets the electric bell ringing.
66
Fourth. It follows that when the signal is standing at Danger" there will be
constant current in the conducting line, and whenever the engine with its wire
brush connection comes in contact with it, the electric bell begins to ring, and
continues ringing, as long as the signal is standing at "Danger."
Fifth. When the signalman lowers the "Danger" signal he automatically breaks
the circuit, and there being no current in the conducting line the bell remains
motionless, and the driver knows the line is clear, although he cannot see the signal.
Full speed can thus be kept on till the driver hears his bell ringing when he knows
that the signal post he is approaching is standing at Danger and he must stop
the train.
6
The return current is established by a wire from the battery being attached to
the rail for its earth connection-and one of the poles of the electric bell is to be
joined to some part of the engine in electric communication with the rails, for its
earth connection.
Dated this 16th day of April 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Electric Bell Signalling to Engines and Trains
in Fog or Darkness.
1, HENRY RAMSAY TAYLOR, of 50 George Street, Edinburgh, Architect, 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 :-
The objects of my invention are to prevent the numerous railway accidents
occasioned by engine drivers running their trains past a signal set at "Danger'
"

page_text: without noticing it, either through carelessness, or resulting from fog or darkness,
and further to dispense with the employment of a large number of men during
foggy weather for fog signalling, as at present obtains, thus saving the great
consequent additional cost.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have appended the
accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which
Figure 1 Sheet 1 is an elevation of part of a railway locomotive and tender,
shewing the bell circuit and contact, and Figure 2 upon the same sheet is an end
view thereof. Figure 1 Sheet 2 is a plan of part of a railway track shewing the
electric circuit, and the preferred manner of arranging it. Figures 2, 3, 4,
and 6
are various details drawn to an enlarged scale in hereinafter described in proper
order.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ a conducting rod or line C L,
Figure 1 Sheet 2 which is laid alongside the rails R R or other suitable position,
and is carried upon insulated posts IP and attached to the sleepers, and connected
by a wire T L carried along the existing telegraph line to the signal box S. B. and
joined to a battery B through the switches S under the levers q. of the signals to
be protected, namely, the home signal main HS M and home signal branch H S B.
The opposite pole of the battery may be connected to the rails, to act as an ordinary
"earth." Each locomotive is fitted with an electric bell E B, Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet 1, with one terminal connected to a hanging brush or grooved wheel B so
fixed under the engine as to make contact with the conducting line-the other
terminal being coupled to some part of the engine in contact with the rails for the
return circuit. The switches are closed by means of a weighted lever when the
signals are at Danger, and the current from the battery is led into the conducting
line and is taken up by a contact device B on the engine to the electric bell, and
returns by the rail or earth circuit to the battery in the signal box. The switches,
any number of which may be employed according to the number of signals to be
protected by the conducting line, are placed at the foot of and connected to the
signal levers by any suitable link Figures 2. 3 and 4 Sheet 2 and are made with
the top plate T.P. of one connected to the bottom plate B. P. of the next one and
the top plate of the end one of the series connected by leads L. C. to conducting
line, and the bottom plate of the one at the other end joined by L B to the
battery.
When the signals are at "Danger" the weighted lever W. L. by its own weight
presses the two plates together and closes the circuit with the battery and conducting
line. A pin P. Figure 2 Sheet 2 is placed with a guard over it upon the existing
levers, and when the lever is drawn back as shown by the dotted lines it passes
down the sloping arm S. A. of the weighted lever W. L. and lifts it off the switch
and thus breaks the circuit and if one is thus lifted the circuit is broken.
This arrangement of switches is so that two or more siguals either on the same
or different posts may be protected by the conducting line. As the signalman
knowing which train is coming (otherwise he could not set the points) draws back
the lever to lower the signal for that train and thus break the circuit without
touching any other levers or the like. The switches are placed under the home
signal levers H. S. M. and H. S. B.-Figure 1. Sheet 2. and the conducting line laid
for any desired distance beyond the distant signal and when the home signal is
standing at Danger the current will flow from the battery through the switches,
into the conducting line and be taken up by the brush on engine, signalling the
bell, and returning to the battery by the rail or earth connection.
"
The bell will ring continuously on the approach of the engine to the distant
signal and will serve as a warning to the driver in addition to the visable distant
signal that the home signal is at Dauger." If the driver proceeds past the
distant signal which he may do, although it may be at " Danger the bell would
cease to ring but the driver having been already warned that the home signal is at
Danger when he passes the "Distant" he would naturally be on carefully looking
out for the "Home" and would never "run the signal" as before referred to.

page_text: This apparatus does not in any way interfere with the present signal arrange-
ments but is additional thereto, and any train coming on to the line and not fitted
with the bell would not have the benefit of this additional security but would be
operated in the same manner as heretofore. Figures 5 and 6 Sheet 2 shows
elevation and section of conducting line with its supports and C. L. is said conducting
line securely fixed to insulator I protected from rain and snow by a hood or cover C.
the insulator I being securely fixed to a wooden post fitted by means of angle irons
to the sleepers.
The conducting line dips down to the level of sleeper at either ends to allow
brush or wheel to get on and off it easily.
The sendant wire brush or wheel hereinbefore described is preferably made with
a spring or equivalent device to allow of a slight up and down movement during
passage over the conductor, and it also necessarily must be insulated from the body
of the engine.
I wish to be understood that any form or type of battery hells conductors and
the like may be employed in carrying out my invention and further that the
essential feature thereof is to prevent "running a signal" as an anticipating device,
and not in anyway an indicator after such "running has taken place; and is not
used with or intended to be applied to any sight signals other than those ordinarily
employed and operated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In an electrical signalling device for railway and other lines, the employ-
ment of an electric bell and contacts upon an engine or tender in combination with
an insulated conductor, movable contact, battery and switches connected to the
mechanism of the signals substantially as herein described and shewn by the
appended drawings.
Second. In an electrical signalling device for railway and other lines, the method
of and means for arranging the switches for enabling the signalman to break the
electric circuit for an approaching signal without interfering with the electric
connections to the other signals, by the use of one conductor and by the operation
of the signal levers only, substantially as herein described and shewn by the
appended drawings.
Third. In an electrical signalling device for railway and other lines the method
of and means of supporting and insulating a line or conductor in combination with
a moving bell and switches or contacts, substantially as herein described and for
the purposes set forth with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 15th day of January 1892.
FREDK. WALKER,
11, Furnival Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.