Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 12th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 15th Nov., 1887
I, JAMES COCKBURN of Clarence Villa, St. George's Road, Wimbledon in the County
of Surrey, Signal Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference to, and consists in improvements in working my
apparatus, described in Letters Patent, granted to me on the 9th November 1885 and
numbered 13,584.
In that Specification, I mention that by preference I fix my Apparatus on the
ground, I prefer now however, to fix it upon the Signal post, at any position above
the Balance Lever plate, under altered methods of connecting and working.
With this mode of applying my apparatus, I actuate the Stop Signal by a separate
connection from the Cabin to which it applies, and not as described in my previous
Patent 13584-85 through my apparatus.
The advantages which I now secure are, that in the event of any or all connections,
failing between the Balance Lever plate and the Signal Arms or Spectacles; the
Distant Signal can never be "off" with the Stop Signal "on," a combination which
would be highly dangerous.
It consists of a metal frame, constructed in such a manner, as to admit of the travel
backwards and forwards in it, of two sliding blades or pieces and of a midway piece.
On the inside of each of the sliding blades or pieces, there is cut a bevel shaped
notch, and the sliding blades or pieces are so arranged that in their normal position ;
the bevel shaped notches in the said sliding blades or pieces are facing each other.
Each side of the midway piece is so shaped as to fit the bevel shaped notches in the
sliding blades or pieces, and the midway piece in its normal position is halfway in
the bevel shaped notches of both of the sliding blades or pieces.
1 connect the lower end of one sliding blade or piece to the Cabin to which the
Distant Signal applies, the upper end having no connection, and I connect the upper
end of the other sliding blade or piece to the Stop Signal Arm or Spectacle, the
bottom end having no connection. The Signal which is required to be jointly
controlled (in this case the Distant Signal) is connected to the nearest end of the
aforesaid midway piece.

page_text: 32
"
ог Stop Signal works his lever
The action of my apparatus is as follows:
When the signalman who actuates the "Home
aud lowers the said "Home" or "Stop" Signal to "all clear," he communicates
action to the sliding blade or piece which as before described is connected to the
"Home" or "
Stop Signal arm or Spectacle....
39
By the action of this sliding blade or piece, he forces the beforementioned midway
piece into the bevel shaped notch of the other sliding blade or piece.
Now the signalman in the Cabin to which the Distant Signal applies on pulling
over his Distant Signal lever communicates action to the sliding blade or piece before
described and the action of this sliding blade or piece pushes the midway piece, along
the metal frame with it, and the mid way piece in its turn communicates action to the
Distant Signal which action causes the Distant Signal to deflect to "all clear."
It is obvious that the action of the midway piece may be a push or a pull, according
as my apparatus is fixed above or below the Distant Arm.
If the order of action of the two signalmen is reversed, that is if the Distant Signal
lever in the Cabin to which the Distant Signal applies is pulled over first, no action is
communicated to the Distant Signal, as the midway piece is only forced into the bevel
shaped notch of the sliding blade or piece which works in connection with the
"Home" or "Stop" Signal, arm or Spectacle. It then requires the signalman in
the Cabin from which the said "Home or "Stop" Signal is actuated to pull over his
"Home" or "Stop" Signal lever which action causes the sliding blade or piece
working in connection with it, to push the midway piece along the metal frame with
it, which midway piece in its turn communicates action to the Distant Signal causing
it to deflect to "all clear."
55
Therefore no matter what the conditions may be in the order of action of the two
signalmen my apparatus compels their joint action as herein before described, before
the Distant Signal is given "all clear."
On the other hand however, either one of the signalmen can set the Distant Signal
to Danger independent of the other.
The apparatus as herein described is a single Co-acting apparatus, but I would have
it distinctly understood that I have only described this said single Co-acting apparatus,
as a simple example as applied to one of its uses, for it is obvious that a signal may be
controlled from any number of signal Cabins, and again that any number of signals
may jointly control the action of any one or more other signals, therefore my inven-
tion is applicable to effecting the joint control of any one or more signals from any
two or more signal Cabins, and effecting the joint control of any one or more signals
by any one or more other signals.
The essence of my invention is to provide a simpler and safer form of Co-acting
apparatus than that at present in use, adapted to signals that have the arms, dises
and, lights counterbalanced or otherwise.
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JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
Cambridge Villa, Cambridge Road, New Malden,
Agent for the said Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Co-acting Apparatus for Railway and other Signals.
I JAMES COCKBURN of Clarence Villa, St. George's Road Wimbledon, in the County
of Surrey Signal Engineer 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 :-
My invention has reference to, and consists in improvements in working my
apparatus, described in Letters Patent granted to me of the date of the 9th of
November 1885 and numbered 13584.
In that specification, 1 mention that by preference, I fix my apparatus on the
ground, I prefer now however to fix it upon the signal post, at any convenient position
above the Balance lever plate, under altered methods of connecting and working.
With this mode of applying my apparatus, I actuate the Stop Signal, by a separate
connection from the Signal Cabin to which it applies, and not as described in my
previous Specification of Letters Patent 13584/85 through my apparatus.
The advantages which I now secure are that in the event of any or all of the
connections failing between the Balance lever plate, and the Signal arms or Spectacles,
the Distant Signal can never be "off" with the Stop Signal "on," a combination
which would be highly dangerous.
In order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a plan of my Apparatus with the cover removed to shew the working of
its parts. A is a sliding blade, connected at its end A' to the spectacle or arm (shewn
in Figures 3 and 4 to the spectacle) of the Stop Signal. B is a sliding carriage,
connected at its end B' to the Signal to be jointly controlled, in the example the
Distant Signal.
The other end of the carriage B is formed for receiving the midway piece D, which
upon the movement of either of the Blades A or C is forced into gear with the other,
that is C forces D into A and A similarly into C-A small piece of india rubber F is
fitted into the bottom end of the apparatus to form a yielding stop for the return
motion of the carriage B upon the controlled Signal being replaced to the " Danger'
position.
21
C is a sliding blade, connected at its lower end C to the Balance lever plate M
(Figures 3 and 4) and from thence to the lever in the Cabin to which the controlled
Signal applies.
E, E, E, E are small rollers for facilitating the travel of the said Blades A
and C.
Figure 2 is a side view of my apparatus in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front view of a Signal Post, illustrating the application of my
apparatus, which is shewn fixed at K.

page_text: H is the Stop arm and Spectacle and G the Distant or controlled arm and
Spectacle.
Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3.
To better explain the action of my apparatus, I have taken the most common form
or example of joint control, that of a Stop Signal controlling a Distant Signal. I will
assume the Stop Signal as applying to Cabin say H and the Distant Signal to Cabin
say G.
The action of my apparatus is as follows-
When the Signalman in Cabin H works his lever and lowers the Stop Signal,
through the ordinary method by rod L (Figures 3 and 4) he also communicates
motion to the blade A, by means of the rod connection S, the result of this motion
being to force the midway piece D (bevel A³ acting upon bevel D¹) into gear with C.
The blade A in completing its motion presents a straight surface and prevents D,
being forced back again until A has been replaced.
The movement of A above, as will be seen effects no change in the attitude of the
Distant arm.
Upon the Signalman in Cabin G working over his Distant Signal lever, he
communicates motion to the blade (), by means of the rod connection 0 (Figures 3
& 4) which blade C, forces the middle carriage B upwards (thro' the midway piece D)
causing the Distant Signal to deflect to the safety attitude.
A similar result takes place if the order of action of the two Signalmen is reversed,
that is if the Signalman in Cabin G works over his Distant Signal lever first.
It is obvious then, that no matter what the conditions may be in the order of action
of the two signalmen, my apparatus compels their joint action, before the Distant
Signal can be given "all clear."
On the other hand however either one of the signalmen can set the Distant Signal
to Danger independent of the other.
Although I have described my apparatus as being fixed upon the signal post above
the balance lever plate M, yet it may sometimes be found convenient to fix & arrange
upon the ground preferably adjacent to the controlled Signal.
it
The apparatus as hereinbefore described is what I call a single Co-acting apparatus,
but I would have it distinctly understood, that I have only described this said single
Co-acting apparatus as a simple example as applied to one of its uses, for it is obvious
that a Home, Stop, Starting or any other signal, may be controlled in the manner herein
described with reference to the Distant Signal, and again as previously stated that any
one or more signals may be controlled by any one or more other signals and that any
one or more signals can be controlled from any two or more signal cabins.
I am aware that various methods of slotting, Co-acting and controlling apparatus
have been fixed upon the signal post, forming special balance lever plate.
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
The construction, combination and general arrangement of parts, consisting of
sliding blades, midway piece, or pieces, and rods connecting my apparatus to the
Signals (arms or spectacles) substantially as, and for the purposes herein explained.
Dated this 12th day October 1887.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
New Malden, Surrey,
Agent for the said Applicant.