IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING RAILWAY AND OTHER SIGNALS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Solomon Brear, of Bradford, in the County of York,
Cotton Warp Agent, and Arthur Hudson, of the same Place, Clerk, for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
WORKING RAILWAY AND OTHER SIGNALS."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Solomon Brear and Arthur
Hudson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th November
1881.
SOLOMON BREAR, of Bradford, in the County of York, Cotton Warp Agent,
and ARTHUR HUDSON, of the same Place, Clerk. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING RAILWAY AND OTHER SIGNALS."
The object of this Invention is to reduce the labour of the points or signal men
on railways, and at the same time to enable them to work three or more signals in
a much less time than hitherto.
We accomplish our object in the following manner :-Instead of the well known
levers in the signal box we fix a switch and electrical machine, whereby we are
enabled by a combination of electrical and mechanical connections to work the
signals with the greatest ease and in the shortest possible time.
When a train approaches a signal which is off for the train to pass we have such
an arrangement on the rail or rails by which the weight of the train passing over
pulls the signal up again and thus blocks the next train, which in due course is
lowered from the signal box by our electrical arrangement.
The following is a general description of the means employed for carrying the
Invention into effect:-
An electro magnetic machine is fixed in the signal box, which is connected with
a series of signals; when it is required to lower any signal the wire in connection
therewith is attached by a simple appliance to the machine, which on being turned
a few revolutions the magnet secured near the top of the signal post will draw up
or attract the back part of the signal, allowing the arm to fall.
By the use of levers in connection with the rails the signal can be raised directly
the first wheels have passed. The wheels pass in contact with the levers, which
bring a magnet into operation that is fixed near the bottom of the signal post and
attracts the back part of the signal, raising the arm or front part, and thus blocks
the next train.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Solomon Brear and Arthur Hudson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th May 1882.
SOLOMON BREAR, of Bradford, in the County of York, Cotton Warp Agent,
and ARTHUR HUDSON, of the same Place, Clerk. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING RAILWAY AND OTHER SIGNALS."
The object of this Invention is to reduce the labour of points and signal men on
railways, and at the same time to enable them to work two or more signals in
much less time than hitherto.
We accomplish our object in the following manner :-Instead of the well known
levers in the signal cabin we fix switches, which are connected to one or
more electrical accumulators, which are charged from batteries or an electrical
generator. These switches are in connection with the distant or other signals
to be operated upon from this particular cabin, and the connections are so
arranged that model signals in the cabin truly indicate the position of the
semaphores at the distant or other signals.
Each signal is fitted with a double set of electro magnets, one near the top of
the signal post and the other near the bottom, the latter of which require to be
more powerful, and in order to obtain the necessary_power we prefer to use the
Altandi magnets."
"
When the semaphore is up and a current of electricity sent from the cabin it
acts upon the top set of magnets, which are attracted together, liberating a
catch, which allows the semaphore to drop, and falling upon the connections of a
small battery sends a current back to the cabin and lowers the corresponding model
signal.
The semaphore on lowering makes the necessary connections in the wires
between the bottom set of magnets and the cabin, and when a current is sent from
the latter the magnets are attracted together, raising the semaphore by the
ordinary rod and lever, and which is retained in position when raised by means
of a catch secured to the short end of semaphore, which comes in contact and
hooks hold of a lever to which the upper portion of the top set of magnets is
secured.
In order to save electrical force and the labour of the pointsman in pulling up
the semaphore after the train has passed we secure near the side of the rails a
lever or treadle, which by means of mechanical connections to the bottom magnet
lever the semaphore is raised by the weight of the train passing over the lever or
treadle.
As soon as the semaphore is raised from the small battery connection the circuit
is broken between the small battery and the model signal in the cabin, which will
then be raised and correspond with the distant signal.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents the outline of a signal cabin,
in which is fitted an accumulator, switches, and two model signals; the number of
switches and model signals in every case correspond with the number of distant or
other signals worked from the cabin; Figure 2 is an elevation of a railway signal
fitted with our improvements; Figure 3 is a plan of the upper part of a signal
post and top magnets; Figure 4 is a plan of the lower portion and bottom
magnets; Figure 5 is a plan of the rails and our arrangement for raising the
semaphore by means of the passing train; Figure 6 is a side elevation shewing the
lever or treadle, and Figure 7 is a cross section through line 1, 2.
In the signal cabin the electrical accumulator is indicated by the letter A, and
in connection therewith are a number of switches B, or other well known
connections, corresponding with the number of distant signals worked from the

page_text: cabin, which are connected thereto by wires mounted as ordinary telegraph wires.
The main wires from the switch frame B are indicated by the letter C, and wbich
are shewn by wavy lines, as are also all the other wires in connection with the
apparatus.
When the semaphore is in the position shewn by Figure 2, and a current of
electricity sent from the cabin, it passes through the side bars D, which are secured
to the short or back end of the semaphore E, and which in connection with the
couplings F, the current continues through wires F' to the top magnets G, attracting
them together, and in so doing the arm H on lever G₁ presses the catch J towards
the semaphore, relieving and allowing the latter to fall on the connection of small
battery K, by which means an electric current is sent through wires K' to the cabin,
lowering the corresponding model signal L.
When the semaphore is down the side bars D are in connection with the top
couplings F2; the circuit is then complete between the cabin and the bottom set of
magnets M, and when a current is sent from the cabin the bottom magnets are
attracted together, actuating the rod P and lever P', and by them raising the
semaphore E to the position, as shewn by Figure 2. The top couplings Fand
the bottom magnets M are connected together by wires F³.
In order to raise the semaphore E by ineans of a passing train we mount near
the rails R a lever or trendle S, the end of which is pressed down by the wheels of
the passing train. At the outside of the rails is mounted another lever T, the
horizontal arm of which passes underneath the rail and is kept in contact with the
underside of treadle by spiral spring U. The vertical arm of the lever T is
connected in any convenient manner to the lever V, which is attached to the
bottom magnet lever M. When the wheels of the train pass over and depress
lever S the latter actuates the lever T in the direction of the arrow, pulling the
rods W and lever V, which pulls down the connecting rod P and lever P₁, thereby
raising the semaphore to the position, as shewn by Figure 2.
What we claim as our Invention is,―
The use of electrical magnets placed near the top and bottom of signal posts,
such magnets being connected by wires to the signal cabin, substantially in the
manner described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
The actuation of model signals placed in the signal cabins by means of the
semaphore arm, substantially in the manner described and as illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Solomon Brear and Arthur Hudson, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.