Improvements in Arrangements or Apparatus for Starting, Working, and Stopping or Controlling Signals by Electricity, also applicable for other purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1892--Accepted, 7th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Arrangements or Apparatus for Starting, Working,
and Stopping or Controlling Signals by Electricity, also applicable
for other purposes.
We, JOHN AUDLEY FREDERICK ASPINALL, of Horwich, in the County of
Lancaster, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway,
and HENRY ALBERT HOY, of the same place Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention, to be as follows:-
Our invention is applicable where, say bell signals have to be started into
operation, by an electric current, which passes from what we will term a line
battery, only for a moment of time namely, such currents as those which are caused
to operate by a locomotive or train passing a given point on the railway which
locomotive or train acts upon a treadle or in consequence of the deflection in the
rails operating through (by preference) suitable arrangements such as an insulated
electric contact piece carried by and secured t.. the lower flange of the rail by
clamps which makes electric contact when a locomotive or train passes over the
rail with another electro contact piece which is adjustable carried on the middle of
the lengthway of a bar of say about seven feet in length, the ends of which bar are
clamped to and carried by the lower flange of the rail deflected by the passing
locomotive or train such arrangement forming the subject of an application for a
Patent by ourselves numbered 8102 of 1891, and by this means making contact and
thus causing a current to pass for a moment, from the line battery, that will excite
an electro magnet which we will term the A. magnet, that operates to complete
the circuit of a local battery which acts through suitable arrangements to cause a
bell to ring.
The current from the line battery which then no longer passes through the
contact arrangement on the line of rails is instantly short circuited through the
instrument by the attraction of one of the armatures through the magnet A.
Interposed in this shunt is another electro magnet hereinafter termed the
B magnet which attracts an armature (that also forms a commutator) which after a
given time will cause the current from the main line battery to make a short circuit
past the electro magnet A and this releases the two armature commutators operated
upon by that magnet A and at the same time breaks contact in the electric circuit
of the "line" and "local" batteries, and thus stops the bell signal.
To more fully explain our invention we may state that a conducting wire passes
from the copper end of the line battery to the treadle or other arrangement operated
by the engine or train and when contact is made the current passes by the earth
and a wire to the coil on the electro magnet A and from thence to the zinc end of
the line battery. There is an armature commutator at each end of the A magnet
(hereinafter termed the A' and A' armatures) and when one armature A², is drawn
to the magnet A the circuit of the local battery is completed and its current
operates to ring a bell or starts clock work used for ringing a bell, and stops it
when the current ceases.
There is a branch or local shunt wire from the copper end of the line battery
that short circuits the current through the instrument.
In this shunt or loop is placed an electro magnet B the armature of which B' is
held from contact with its magnet by a spring and piston fitting, but working freely
in a small cylinder having glycerine or other suitable liquid in it, which allows the
piston to move only at the speed at which the liquid can pass through a small hole
or passage regulated by a screw plug or cock, by this means the time during which
the local battery shall operate controlled.

page_text: When the armature B' is drawn against its magnet B it at the same time (acting
as a commutator) makes contact and the current of the line battery is then short
circuited past the A magnet, which then ceases to be excited sufficiently, and its
two armatures A1 and A2 are liberated and the circuits of both the "line" and
"local" batteries are then broken as before explained.
The arrangement above described is, or modifications of it are, also applicable for
other purposes than that above referred to.
The relay arrangement above described which may be terined single acting, is or
may be made double acting, for producing reciprocating movements (such as
working a sliding bolt) by a duplicate arrangement of the parts which will cause
the automatic "cut out" to operate at both ends of the stroke of the piston or its
equivalent.
This latter arrangement works by the reversal of currents and would necessitate
two batteries on the line and one local battery same as for the first arrangement
described.
Dated this Twelfth day of May 1801
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Arrangements or Apparatus for Starting, Working,
and Stopping or Controlling Signals by Electricity, also applicable
for other purposes.
We, JOHN AUDLEY FREDERICK ASPINALL, of Horwich, in the County of
Lancaster, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway,
and HENRY ALBERT HOY of the same place, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention is applicable where say bell signals have to be started into
operation by an electric current which passes from what we will term a line battery,
only for a moment of time namely, such currents as those which are caused to
operate by a locomotive or train passing a given point on the railway which
locomotive or train acts upon a treadle or in consequence of the deflection in the
rails operating through suitable arrangements such as those by preference described
in the Complete Specification of an application for a Patent made by ourselves
numbered 8102 of 1891, and making contact and thus causing a current to pass for
a moment, from the line battery, that will excite an electro-magnet which we will
term the c, magnet that operates to complete the circuit of a local battery which
acts through suitable arrangements to cause a bell to ring. The current from the
line battery which then no longer passes through the contact arrangement on the
line of rails is instantly short circuited through the instrument by the attraction of
one of the armatures through the magnet c. Interposed in this shunt is another
electro-magnet termed the g, magnet which attracts an armature (that also forins a
means of contact) which after a given time will cause the current from the main
line battery to make a short circuit past the electro-magnet c, and this releases the
two armature contact makers operated upon by that magnet e, and at the same time
breaks contact in the electric circuit of the "line" and "local" batteries, and thus
stops the bell signal.
To more fully explain our invention we may state that a conducting wire passes
from the copper end of the line battery to the coil of the electro-magnet e, thence
by the earth wire to the treadle or other arrangement operated by the engine or
train and back to the zinc end of line battery by the line wire when contact is
made, the current passes from the copper end of the line battery through the coils
of magnet c, through point of contact to zine end of battery. There is an armature

page_text: contact maker at each end of the c, magnet (termed the e, and e', armatures) and
when one armature e¹, is drawn to the magnet, the circuit of the local battery is
completed, and its current operates to ring a bell or starts clock-work used for
ringing a bell, and stops it when the current ceases.
There is a branch or local shunt wire from the copper end of the line battery that
short circuits the current through the instrument.
In this shunt or loop, is placed an electro-magnet g, the armature of which F' is
held from contact with its magnet by a spring and piston fitting but working freely
in a small cylinder having glycerine or other suitable liquid in it, which allows the
piston to move only at the speed at which the liquid can pass through a small hole
or passage regulated by a screw plug or cock, by this means the time during which
the local battery shall operate is controlled.
When the armature F¹ is drawn against its magnet g, it at the same time (acting
as a circuit closer) makes contact and the current of the line battery is then short
circuited past the e magnet, which then ceases to be excited sufficiently, and its two
armatures e, and el are liberated, and the circuits of both the "line" and "local"
batteries are then broken as before explained.
The arrangement above described is, or modifications of it are also applicable
for other purposes than that above referred to. The relay arrangement above
described which may be termed single acting is or may be made double acting for
producing reciprocating movements (such as working a sliding bolt) by a duplicate
arrangement of the parts which will cause the automatic "cut out
"to operate at
both ends of the stroke of the piston or its equivalent.
This latter arrangement works by the reversal of currents and would necessitate
two batteries on the line and one local battery same as for the first arrangement
described.
Fig. 1. is a front elevation of the complete apparatus.
Fig. 2. is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3. is a plan view below the line A-B Fig. 2, part of the wood stand being
in section.
Fig. 4. is a plan or view looking at the underside of the apparatus when turned
upside down, showing a diagram of the electric connecting wires beween the "line"
and local electric batteries.
Fig. 5. is a front elevation on an enlarged scale of the upper part of the
apparatus above the line A-B Fig. 2. which controls the duration of the current
of electricity.
Fig. 6. is a side elevation of the apparatus shown by Fig. 5, the section being
taken in a line through the vertical axis of the cylinder, and
Fig. 7. is a top plan view of the apparatus.
Fig. 8. is a plan view of the relay similar to Fig. 4. except that the connections
are duplicated by the aid of a split line electric battery, the object of which is to
obtain a reciprocating movement by aid of the "local" current, which is made to
traverse it in an opposite direction each time the line current is completed.
We will first describe the construction of the mechanism and afterwards the
manner in which it operates a, is the wood frame or case of the instrument. There
is a plate, of vulcanite or other insulating material secured by screws to the base
of the instrument.
On this plate b, the electro-magnet c, is fixed, and at each end there is a
bracket d, and d', secured to the plate, each of which carries the axis of a needle
armature e, and e', the inner ends of which play between the poles of the electro
magnet c, and the outer ends between adjustable "banking screws e and e³ and
e and e, carried in studs from the plate.
"
Under each armature needle e, and e¹, there is secured a permanent magnet,
the poles, of which are adjustable to the ends of the needle e, and e, and
the action of which permanent magnet is to bring and keep the armature
needles e, and e, in a line with the poles of the permanent magnet and midway
between the points of the adjustable banking screws e² and e³, and e¹ and e', when

page_text: the electro magnet e, is not operating and further to induce polarity in the swinging
needles above referred to.
The screws on the lower side and on the left of Fig. 3 marked C and Z are
respectively for the connecting wires of the copper and zinc end of the line battery,
and those binding screws on the right marked with the same letters are for similar
connecting wires from the "local" battery.
The other screws marked Land E are for connecting up the "line" and "earth'
wires respectively.
39
There are wires marked C', B, E, D on Figs. 1 and 3 which are also represented
in Fig. 4.
These wires C, B, E, D, ascend to the upper part of the instrument as shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, the wires C and D are connected to binding and coupling
screws C, and D', and then ascend, the wire C₁ goes as shown in Fig. 5 to the
bobbin of one core of the electro-magnety, and from it crosses to the bobbin of the
other core and descends it to the wire D.
The wire B. ascends and is connected by a binding screw f1, as shown in
Figs. 6 and 7 with a lever F hinged on the ends of screws f, in a bracket f³,
secured to the upper ends of the electro magnet bobbin frames g'.
This bracket, has insulating material between it and the bobbin frame g',
and between it and the ends of the screws securing the bracket f, to the bobbin
frames.
The wire E is secured to a binding screw j, in a bracket j', attached by a screw
to the yoke between the cores of the two bobbins g, so that there is metallic
connection between the wire E and the metal of the bobbin frames which is
carried on a platform a', of the wood stand. To the platform a', the lower end of
a cylinder G is secured by screws (see Fig. 7).
This cylinder G', is closed at its lower end, and in it a piston G is fitted, the
piston rod G, from which passes up through a gland or guide, and the outer end
of the rod extends above the gland or guide.
Below the piston there is a helical spring G³, the action of which is to lift and
force the piston upwards.
Within the cylinder G, both above and below the piston G glycerine or other
suitable liquid is placed.
When the piston G is forced down, the glycerine can pass from the underside of
the piston, through a passage G4 to the upper side of the piston, but the speed at
which it is allowed to pass is regulated by a cone pointed adjusting screw H which
screws into a hole in the metal in front of the cylinder G', and when this screw H
is adjusted it may be locked by a screw nut H, (see Fig. 6)-H is a screw plug to
close the outer end of the passage.
The free end of the lever F rests upon the upper end of the piston rod G².
To the lever Fan armature is secured by screws which armature is
attracted when a current passes through the electro magnet g, and this forces
down the piston G against the action of the helical spring G³ and the resistance of
the liquid in the cylinder until the lever comes against the point of a screw I when
contact is thus made and the current from the wire B can then pass through the
metal frame g', of the bobbins g, to the wire E.
There is a stand, secured to the bobbin frames g', in which stand there is an
adjusting screws, the end of which screw, is insulated and comes against the
upper side of the lever F when it has lifted to the required extent, this adjusting
screw is secured when adjusted by a lock nut f³.
When the electro magnet g, ceases to be excited the spring G³, slowly moves the
piston upwards, the liquid passing from the upper side of the piston past the
regulator H through the passage G to the cylinder upon the underside of
the piston G.
The apparatus upon the platform a¹, can be enclosed in a box indicated by
dotted line a², and secured to the stand a, by pins a³, passing through holes
in brackets secured to the stand.

page_text: We will now proceed to describe the operation of the apparatus.
The normal condition of the instrument is that in which there are no currents'
flowing through it, that is, when the needles e, and e', are clear of the "banking i
screws e² or e³, and e¹ or e.
""
In connection with the instrument there are two batteries, one termed the line
battery, and the other the local battery indicated respectively on the right and left
of the diagram Fig. 4.
The line battery when in operation places the local battery in circuit.
When the current of the line battery is completed, which is or may be effected
by a contact arrangement similar to that described in the Complete Specification
filed by us in application for a Patent No. 8102, of 1891, or by a treadle or other
commutator arrangement say at A Fig. 4 the current passes from the copper end
of the line battery to the terminal marked C (copper) in Figs. 3 and 4 on the line
side and flows in the direction of the arrow or arrow heads on the dotted lines to B
Figs. 1 and 5 at the base of the instrument, from which it cannot risc any further,
but continues to flow back through the coils of the electro-magnet c, after which
the current passes into the terminal marked E and from thence back to the point at
which contact was made, thus forming a circuit which excites the said electro-
magnet c.
The electro-magnet c, being excited, needles e and e¹, will be attracted in
opposite directions and thrown against banking screws e and e³.
The result of this is that the current having passed through the electro-magnet c,
and arrived at the terminal E passes as denoted by the arrow to the centre of the
needle e, from thence to the screw marked e2, with which it is in contact to the point
marked C, Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5.
The current then traverses the coils of the electro-magnety, on the platform a',
arriving at the point D Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 passing round the base of the instrument
to the terminal Z of the line battery, the current is now permanently closed with
the result that the electro-magnet, is excited, thus attracting its armature F¹ this
depresses the piston G (Fig. 6) upon the spring G³.
The downward movement of the piston G causes the glycerine or other suitable
liquid in the cylinder G¹ to flow past the regulator to the top side of the
piston.
When the action of the electro-magnet g, has overcome the resistance of the
piston G and spring G³, and the lever F has arrived at its lowest position it comes
in contact with the end of the screw I, making a short circuit through the cores of
electro-magnety, to the point E of Figs. 4, 5 and 6 and thence direct to the
terminal from which it cannot pass out of the instrument as the current only
flowed at the point A for a moment, but passes through the needle e, direct to C¹
Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5.
The electro magnet e, which actuates the needle e, will then be "cut out" and
the needle e, will then move to its normal position clear of the "banking" screws e²
and e.
"
The moment this takes place the line battery will be permanently "cut out
the whole instrument then resuming its normal position with no current passing
through.
It will be seen that the duration of the current flowing from the line battery for
a moment through A is regulated by the length of time the piston G Fig. 6 may
take to move down under the influence of the attraction of the magnet until the
arinature descends upon the screw I.
When the electro-magnet c, is excited by the passage of the current round it
from the line battery, both needles e, and e', are deflected making electrical contact
with the "banking" screws e and e³, and it will thus be seen that the local battery
circuit will be by means of the deflection of the needle e', closed, causing a bell to
ring or other electrical effect to be produced by the interposition of any suitable
instrument in the circuit of the local battery, this circuit remaining closed until the
cut out
apparatus above described has operated.

page_text: The duration of the current can be regulated at will, by means of the screw H
(Figs. 2 and 6) as before explained.
The arrangement hereinbefore described by reference to Figs. 1 and 4 inclusive.
may be termed single acting, but as before stated can be made double acting for
producing reciprocating movements such as working a sliding bolt etc., by a
duplicate arrangement of the parts which will cause the armature cut-cuts to
operate at both ends of the stroke of the bolt, or piston, or its equivalent, as shewn
by small diagram attached to relay-Fig. 8, Sheet 2-which diagram is lettered
and described as follows.
, is a common cut-out, insulated from the apparatus.
and, are single cut-outs, also insulated from the apparatus.
t¹and t², are the electro-magnets through which the bolt ¹, passes without
may be termed single acting, but as before stated can be made double acting for
producing reciprocating movements such as working a sliding bolt etc., by a
duplicate arrangement of the parts which will cause the armature cut-cuts to
operate at both ends of the stroke of the bolt, or piston, or its equivalent, as shewn
by small diagram attached to relay-Fig. S, Sheet 2-which diagram is lettered
and described as follows.
, is a common cut-out, insulated from the apparatus.
and, are single cut-outs, also insulated from the apparatus.
and, are the electro-magnets through which the bolt ', passes without
touching.
u, is a T-headed bolt, the head of which 7, is insulated from the bolt w',
although fixed to it.
u, is an armature fixed on bolt u'.
, is a collar fixed on bolt u',
u, and u, are brackets through which the bolt ', freely slides.
, is an elliptical spring fixed to bracket us, and through which the bolt u',
freely slides.
el, is an elliptical spring fixed to bracket u', and through which the bolt u,
freely slides.
The function of the relay-Fig. 8 Sheet 2-is as follows.
When the circuit is completed at A² the current flows from the copper end C of
the split battery X in the direction of the arrows through the point of contact A²
and back to terminal N.
It then takes a course round the cores, of the electro-magnet c, to the terminal P,
thence back to the zinc-end Z of the split battery X.
The circuit being temporarily closed, excites electro-magnet c, and causes
armature needles e and e¹, to deflect upon the banking screws 2 and e, respectively.
Needle e, being now in contact with e, the current instead of passing through the
circuit closer A2, makes a short cut direct to terminal R, thence to banking screw e²,
through the needle e, which is in contact with it, to terminal N, round the cores of
the electro magnet e, as before, to terminal P and thence to zinc end Z of split
battery X.
Although the current flowed only for a moment through the circuit closer A³, it
was of sufficient duration to deflect the needle el, against banking screw e², with the
result that the current from the split battery X is permanently closed through the
relay Fig. 8 Sheet 2-and the armature needles è, and e', remain in contact with
the banking screws e³ and et.
Electro-magnet c, being excited, and armature needle e, being in contact with
banking screw e, causes the current to flow from the copper end c, of the local
battery to terminal M, thence through needle e', to banking screw e, which is
connected to the terminal L-terminal L being connected to the cores of the small
diagram electro-magnet 12, and thence back to the zinc end % of the local
battery Y.
The result will be that the current of the local battery Y is permanently closed,
so long as the electro-magnet c, remains excited. The electro-magnet t², being now
excited, attracts the (small diagram) armature ², secured on the bolt u'. When
this movement has taken place, the insulated head w, of the bolt u', comes in
contact with the (small diagram) cut-outs s' and 3, and the collar ³, (fixed to
bolt ¹) comes in contact with the elliptical spring w¹ (fixed to bracket u³) and
compresses it.
The insulated bolt head u', having come in contact with cut-outs s' and s³, causes
the current to flow through the least resistance which is from the copper end C of
the split battery X to terminal R, thence through the cut-outs and s¹, back
through the terminal P to zinc end % of split battery X.

page_text: This circuit, cuts out electro-magnet c, with the result that the armature needles e
and e, swing back to their central and normal position, breaking contact with
banking screws e and e³, and thus breaking the circuit from the local battery Y to
electro-magnet t².
The elliptical spring (shewn on small diagram) expands again slightly and
pushes the bolt ¹, back by the collar ³, when the local current ceases to flow,
thus breaking contact between the cut-outs s¹ and 3 and bolt head w.
Both batteries are now permanently out-cut, and the apparatus throughout is at
rest.
When the circuit is completed at B32 the current flows from the copper end C
of the split battery X to terminal P, thence round the cores of electro-magnet,
to the terminal N, thence by the earth wire through the circuit closer B2 back to
the zinc end of split battery X completing the circuit and exciting the electro-
magnet c.
The result of this is to deflect armature needles e and e', in contrary directions
on to banking screws e³ and e.
The current of the split battery X after arriving at the terminal N takes a
short route through needle e, and banking screw e, to terminal Q, thence back to
zinc end of split battery X. The current is then locally closed in the instru-
ment electro-magnet c, remains excited, and armature needles e, and a¹, in contact
with banking screws e³ and et.
The armature needle e', being in contact with banking screw e, the current of
the local battery Y flows from the copper end C to the terminal M of relay, thence
through armature needle e¹, and banking screw et, to terminal K-terminal K
being connected to the cores of the (small diagram) electro-magnet and thence
back to the zinc end Z of local battery Y.
The result is that the current of the local battery Y is permanently closed, so
long as the electro-magnet, remains excited. The electro-magnet t¹, being now
excited, attracts the (small diagram) armature u².
When this movement takes place, the insulated head a', of the bolt, comes in
contact with the (small diagram) cut-outs s', and s², and the collar ³, (fixed to
bolt ¹) comes in contact with the elliptical spring, (fixed to bracket ³) and
compresses it. The insulated bolt head u', having come in contact with cut-outs s'
and 2, causes the current to flow through the least resistance which is from the
copper end of split battery X to terminal P thence through cut-outs s¹ and s²,
back through terminal Q to zinc end % of split battery X.
This circuit cuts out electro-magnet c, with the result that the armature needles e,
and e, swing back to their central and normal position, breaking contact with
banking screws and e¹, and thus breaking the circuit from local battery Y to
electro-magnet t¹. The elliptical spring ', shewn on small diagram, expands again
slightly and pushes the bolt u', back by the collar 3, when the local current
ceases to flow, thus breaking contact between cut-outs s¹, and s, and bolt head u'.
Both batteries are now permanently cut-out and the apparatus throughout is at
rest.
Similar reciprocating and oscillating apparatus, operated by electro-magnets,
may be controlled by an instrument similar to that already described and illustrated
by Fig. 8, used for producing reciprocations or oscillations in both directions
electrically from electric currents operating only for a moment, as described.
Instead of glycerine or other suitable liquid being used in the cylinder G' it may
be adapted for air only and instead of a piston G and cylinder G' a diaphragm,
bellows or equivalent arrangement may be employed but we prefer the piston G
and cylinder G¹ with glycerine.
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. The application and use of a piston and cylinder, charged with a liquid

page_text: (glycerine by preference) forming a cataract arrangement, for regulating the time
the local current of a relay shall operate substantially as and for the purpose
described.
2. The combination of a piston and cylinder, and connected arrangements and
mechanism with an electro-magnet for regulating the time the local current of a
relay shall operate, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings.
3. The combination of the piston and cylinder, electro magnet and connected
arrangements and mechanism with the electro-magnet c, needles e, and e¹, and
connected mechanism substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of mechanism substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
5. The arrangement of the apparatus so as to be operated upon by the electric
currents from the line and local batteries substantially as herein before described
and illustrated by Fig. 4 of the drawings.
6. The duplex arrangement of the apparatus so as to be operated upon by the
electric currents from the line and local batteries substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Fig. 8 of the drawings.
Dated this 9th day of February 1892.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.