Improvements in the Method of and Means for Signalling upon Railways.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Signalling upon
Railways.
We, TOM SHIELD, Engineman, of 13, Winn Street, St. James Road, WILLIAM
MARSDEN, Wheelwright, 1 and 3, Booth Bank, Boothtown, and WILLIAM BAIRSTOW,
Tobacconist, of 21, Beech Street, Pellon Lane, all in Halifax, in the County
of York, 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 method of and means for signalling
on railways, which besides being effective in foggy weather, gives the signalman
control over the train at all times, also should there be a block on the up or
down line from an accident or other cause, either inside the station or just outside,
but between the signals, the signalman can be communicated with from the station
platform, and all trains stopped or prevented from entering the station until
such obstacle has been removed.
By these means we dispense with detonators, and other similar unreliable
means for fogsignalling.
Also our improvements may be employed for warning platelayers at work
upon the permanent way, as to the position and approach of the train, and
whether upon the up or down line.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of part of our invention for signalling upon railways,
and which we term the electric circuit maker.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of part of our invention for signalling upon railways,
which we term the electric circuit breaker.
Fig. 3 is another view of Fig. 1, showing the circuit completed.
Fig. 4 is another view of Fig. 2 showing the circuit being broken.
Fig. 5 is a plan of Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a plan of Fig. 2.
Within the metals or permanent way, and close to the side of one of the rails A,
we preferably fix the electric circuit maker shown at Fig. 1, which consists of
a hinged or pivotted heavy ended lever, mounted in a suitable bracket B, this
lever has preferably curved arms C, D, one terminating in a weight E and the
other in a catch F, that arm D of the lever upon which is the catch F, is, when
the lever is in a normal position, about on a level with the top of the rail, a
corresponding but smaller heavy ended lever G is mounted immediately under-
neath, whose catch H engages with the catch F upon the former lever as the
same is depressed, an electric wire J is connected from the first lever to an
electric bell and preferably a pendulum indicator in the signal cabin, an electric.
wire K is also attached to the second or smaller heavy ended lever G and to a
loud toned electric bell upon the signal post.
The electric connections for forming the circuit are as follows: a wire is

page_text: taken from a battery (placed in the cabin or other convenient position) to the
bell on the signal post, and then connected to the wire K, attached to the lever G
of the contact maker; the wire J is connected with the switch in the cabin,
and from the switch to the indicator, then to the bell in the cabin, and from the
bell back to the battery, so completing the circuit.
To the catch H of the lesser lever is attached a wire L or its equivalent; which
is carried forward a suitable distance to the contact or circuit breaker, shown at
Fig. 2, which is fixed in a similar position within the metals as the circuit
maker, and consists of a similar heavy ended lever M, carried by a bracket N,
one arm P of this lever in place of terminating in a catch, is provided with an
eye or hook R to which is attached the wire L before described, this arm is also
semicircular in shape or cranked, and the wire L before being attached to same
passes over a suitable guide pulley S mounted in any convenient position, for
giving the necessary movement to the wire L to disengage the catches upon the
circuit maker, and so break contact or the circuit.
We preferably fix one set of apparatus, that is a contact maker and a contact
breaker, a suitable distance apart, and near the distant signal, and connect the
same with the signal cabin and the electric bell upon the signal post as before.
described, we also fix another set of apparatus, near the home signal, but
the bell upon the home signal post to be of a different tone
the bell upon the distant signal, this bell in foggy weather, informing
the engine driver that he must bring his train to a standstill, the bell on the
distant signal post acting as a caution.
to
Where an extra signal is employed between the distant and home signals
a further apparatus is fixed, the electric bell of which corresponds in tone with
the one upon the home signal, and conveys the same information to the driver
of the train.
As the train passes over the aforesaid apparatus the tyre of one of the first
wheels of the engine depresses arm 1) of the lever of the circuit maker which
engages with, and is held by the catch F upon the lever G so making contact
and completing the circuit; immediately this is effected, the bell upon the
signal post, and the bell in the signal cabin commence ringing, at the same time
the indicator shows the signal-man the position of the train or from which
signal the bell is being rung, the bell upon the signal post informing the driver
he is passing the distant signal, these bells continue ringing until the aforesaid
tyre passes over and depresses the lever G of the contact breaker which by means
of the wire L disengages the catches F and H thus breaking contact, the lever
of the circuit maker falling into its normal position for the next train, as the
train approaches the home signal the same operation is repeated, but, being the
home, signal the driver brings the train to a standstill, when the signalman finds
that by the continued ringing of the bell in the cabin, the train has stopped,
and has not passed over the contact breaker, he switches off both his own bell
and the bell upon the signal post, the driver understanding that he must wait
until the line is clear, this is intimated by the signalman (after dropping the
ordinary signal) switching on the bells which commence ringing as before, the
driver then knows the line is clear and proceeds on his journey, as he passes
over the contact breaker, the bells are stopped ringing as before described, and the
signalman knows the train has gone.
When it is required to use the ordinary signals, this apparatus is simply
switched off by the signalman as before described.
Also. for preventing trains from entering stations in case of accident, block
or other cause, we preferably employ upon each platform, electric switches within
a suitable case, one switch being for the up line and the other for the down
line, and have indicators attached to that effect, these switches are connected
by an additional set of wires or circuit with bells and corresponding indicators
in the signal cabin, and with the bell upon the home signal post, when one.
or both of these switches are turned on, the bell or bells in the cabin and upon

page_text: the signal post commence ringing, the former indicating that there is something
amiss, and a further indicator shows it to be within the station, immediately the
signalman finds that the communication is from the station and it is the home
signal that is ringing, it is his duty to put the signal or signals against all or
any traffic as the case may be, until such block has been removed.
Should the signalman from any cause not immediately attend to the signals,
the bell which is ringing on the home signal post, brings the train to a stand-
still, thus preventing any accidents either on account of the line being blocked
or from error or negligence of the signalman.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In signalling apparatus upon railways, the use and employment of a lever
having arms C, D, the said arm D on being depressed engaging with a lever G
in the manner and for the purposes, substantially as shown and described.
2. In signalling apparatus upon railways, the use and employment of a lever M
having an arm P connected by wire L passing over pulley S, with the lever G,
operated and operating in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set
forth.
3. In signalling apparatus upon railways the combination of a pivotted lever
having arm D, lever G and catch H, with a lever M, having an arm P connected
to catch H by a wire L, operated and operating in the manner and for the purposes
substantially as shown and described.
4. In fog signalling apparatus upon railways, the combination of apparatus
shown at Figs. 1 and 2, with an electric bell and indicator in the signal cabin,
and an electric bell upon the signal post, and operating same in the manner and
for the purposes substantially as shown and described.
Dated this Thirtoonth day of Octahan 1800
JOHN E. WALSH,
Waterhouse Chambers, Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicants.