Improvements in Signal Apparatus for Railway Sidings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signal Apparatus for Railway Sidings.
I, LEICESTER BRADNEY STEVENS of Darlington Works, Southwark Bridge
Road in the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :—
This invention for improvements in point and signal apparatus for railway sidings
has for its object to facilitate and simplify shunting operations on railways, but
more especially at railway stations where there are a number of siding roads
branching from a principal siding, or from the main line.
In carrying out this invention electric contacts arranged on the points leading
from the principal siding or main line to each of the various siding branches or on
the corresponding signal levers, are electrically connected with a signal indicator;
and on the principal siding at a convenient distance from the first branch points and
the signal indicator a number of electric push contacts are arranged at suitable
intervals apart and are connected to an indicator in the signal box, by which means
the shunter in charge of the train communicates by any pre-arranged system of
signals with the signalman to indicate the particular siding it is desired to use.
On the required signal being transmitted from the shunter to the signalman, the
required points are set by the action of the appropriate lever, which action operates
the contacts, to close the electric circuit to the signal indicator which displays to
the shunter a signal indicating the particular points set for a traffic movement and
thus acts as a check to prevent mistakes in the selection of the point levers.
Dated this 15th day of March 1892.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signal Apparatus for Railway Sidings.
I, LEICESTER BRADNEY STEVENS, of Darlington Works, Southwark Bridge
Road, in the County of Surrey, 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 :-
This invention for improvements in signal apparatus for railway sidings has for
its object to facilitate and simplify shunting operations on railways, but more
especially at railway stations where there are a great number of siding roads
branching from a principal siding, or from the main line; and consists in providing
electric contacts at the switch points, at the point locks or the like, at the lever
apparatus, or at any suitable part of the connections, in conjunction with indicating
mechanism, arranged in such manner that when all the said points are properly set
for a given traffic movement, an electric circuit is closed which controls a signal
indicator so as to indicate to the shunter or engine driver in charge of the train
that the points lie right for the desired movement.
In the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings:
Figure 1 is a diagramatic plan of an apparatus constructed according to this
invention and representing an arrangement of points for eight siding roads, the
points being set for a movement from or into No. 8.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of a signal or indicator post, and Figure 3 is a side
elevation of the same.

page_text: Figure 4 is a front elevation of a sliding indicator frame, with indicating device
attached thereto.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the signal or indicating apparatus showing the
method of retaining and selecting the various indicating slides, and Figure 6 is a
plan of the same.
In Figure 1 eight branches are shown, converging into the principal siding a,
No. 8 road being represented as set for a shunt movement. Each pair of points is
connected by a rod & to the electric switch contact lever c which makes contact
with one of the two contact pieces d, e according as the points are required to be
open or closed for the traffic movement. In the setting shown, the road No. 8 is set
for shunting, the points being open to permit of the movement. In this
position the electric circuit is closed, and the current energizes an electromagnet g,
causing it to attract its armature h which allows the corresponding indicating device
to be exhibited in a manner hereinafter explained.
Mounted on a suitable post is the indicating apparatus comprising, a vertical
frame or base carrying a number of guide plates m between which slide the
frames n to which the indicating devices o are secured by crosswires p, the device o
(the Figure 8 for instance) indicating the particular road open for traffic. On the
base is also mounted a series of electro-magnets g whose pivotted armatures ŉ have
each a projecting catch or detent q which normally falls by gravity from the pole
of its magnet and engages in a notch in its corresponding indicating frame.
"
Beneath the frames " is a crosshead s surmounting the vertical sliding rod t which
is connected through the cranked lever and ordinary rod connections to a shunt
lever operated by the signalman in the signal cabin. In the normal position of the
shunt lever, the crossheads is pressed upwards against the slide frames n so as to
relieve the armatures h of the weight of the frames n, as is clearly shown. Each of
the electromagnets g is enclosed in its special circuit, and is energized by the electric
current when all the points are properly set for a shunt movement along the
corresponding road. A lamp is fixed behind an opaque screen 1 of ground glass
or other suitable material and serves to illumine the device by night, the said
screen forming a clear back ground for the device during daylight.
The shunter communicates with the signalman by means of a gong, the operating
electric circuit being closed by means of electric pushes, or by a long cord or the
like arranged alongside of the principle siding, or by any other suitable system of
signals.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
The shunter having intimated to the signalman, by any prearranged system of
signals, the particular road he wishes to use, the signalman sets the points for that
route, and if they are correctly set the electric circuit is completed and the corre
sponding armature is attracted to its magnet, withdrawing the armature h and detent q
from the frame n. The signalman then pulls over the shunt lever which lowers the
crossheads and permits the disengaged frame to fall, and the number or other
indicative signal corresponding to the road set, to be displayed to the shunter and
engine driver.
In order to economize the electric power the different electric conductors are
sometimes run to the shunt lever, so that after the points are all properly set a
contact is operated to finally close the electric circuit by the raising of the catch
handle of the shunt lever preparatory to pulling it over to operate the sliding cross-
head, or an electric switch, push, or other known circuit closing device may be used
to make the final contact to close the circuit.
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 :-
1. An apparatus for indicating when the points are correctly set for a given
traffic movement, comprising an indicating device normally held out of sight by the
armature of an electromagnet, which when the maintenant Sam the min

page_text: movement, and the final contact made, is energized by an electric current from a
circuit, which is closed only when the points are in their correct position, and
attracts the said armature and thereby allows the indicating device to be exhibited,
substantially as described.
2. In an apparatus for indicating when the points are correctly set for a given
traffic movement; returning the indicating device frames to their normal positions,
and maintaining them free of their supporting detents, by means of a crosshead or
its equivalent, connected to and operated by the shunt lever substantially as
described.
3. The combination of parts constituting my improvements in point and signal
apparatus for railway sidings, the whole arranged, constructed and operating,
substantially as described with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this 15th day of December 1892.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.