Improvements in the Lighting of Railway Signal and other Lamps.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 20th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Lighting of Railway Signal and other Lamps.
I, SAMUEL TELFORD DUTTON, Junior, of Marl Bank, in the City and County
of Worcester, Signal Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
"
It is customary at the present time to maintain an even pressure of gas or a
Hame of the same brilliancy in railway signal lamps for night signals or, in certain
circumstances, for day signals where lamps are constantly burning, such as
tunnels, &c.
It is obvious that with certain signals (such as ground discs and shunting
signals) there is no necessity to maintain the full light in the danger position of
the signal where such signal has long intervals of time between its working, for
instance the disc signals of a cross-over road at a wayside station where little or no
shunting takes place during the time the gas is alight. It is also desirable even in
big yards, and terminal stations that complication and multiplicity of lights should
be avoided as much as possible for the assistance of the drivers. I am aware that
where the "danger" position of a signal is the essential one it is necessary to
maintain the full flame of the gas, as for instance discs protecting trap points, &c.,
but in the majority of cases a shunting signal is needed to give permission to
perform a shunt (thereby avoiding hand signalling) rather than to be used as a stop
or danger signal.
With my invention I propose that the normal flame of the gas in the lamp of the
signal shall be low and by apparatus fixed in the lamp the action of working
the lever in the signal box, or if the disc is actuated by a pair of points, then the
action of the points, shall raise or turn up the gas to the full flame.
My invention is applicable to all forms of discs and in fact to all signals where
it is considered desirable.
I will describe my apparatus with reference to a revolving disc.
Arranged in the interior of the lamp is a vertical half round plate bolted to the
bottom of the disc lamp which revolves with the disc. In this plate is a spiral slot
into which is fitted one end of an arm the other end of which is attached to the
top of the burner or other apparatus for raising or lowering the light. In the
normal position of the disc this arm rests in the lowest part of the slot, but directly.
the disc is moved the plate travels round and owing to the rise in the path of the
said slot a movement is conveyed to the arm and the light raised. Generally this
part of my invention is applicable to any case where a signal requires a full light
in the "all right" or "caution." position and a small light in the "danger
position.
33
In the
Another modification of my invention would be that I arrange in the gas
connection that a small pipe is fixed giving a constant small jet, at the back of the
ordinary burner. I arrange a small by-pass or tap on the under side of the pipe
leading to the burner and a plate is fixed to the bottom of the lamp with two
upward projections. A projection is arranged on each side of the tap.
normal position of the signal, which is at "danger," the small jet is burning and the
main burner is turned off. When the signal is worked, in the act of revolving
the lamp the upward projections move the tap turning the gas on to the large
burner. The main gas burner is therefore either turned right on or right off,
but there is perpetually burning the small gas jet which is not affected by the
revolution of the lamp.
It is obvious that although I have described my invention with reference to gas

page_text: lighting, yet a similar arrangement may be provided for working with electric light
or any other means of light."
Dated this 15th day of July 1892
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Lighting of Railway Signal and other Lamps.
1, SAMUEL TELFORD DUTTON, Junior, of Marl Bank, in the City and County
of Worcester, 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:-
It is customary at the present time to maintain an even pressure of gas or a flame
of the same brilliancy in railway signal lamps for night signals or, in certain
circumstances, for day signals where lamps are constantly burning, such as
tunnels, &c.
It is obvious that with certain signals (such as ground discs and shunting signals)
there is no necessity to maintain the full light in the "danger" position of the
signal, where such signal has long intervals of time between its working, for
instance, the disc signals of a cross-over road at a wayside station where little or
no shunting takes place during the time the gas is alight. It is also desirable,
even in big yards and terminal stations, that complication and multiplicity of lights
should be avoided as much as possible for the assistance of the drivers.
I am aware that where the "danger" position of a signal is the essential one it is
necessary to maintain the full flame of the gas, as for instance discs protecting trap
points, &c., but in the majority of cases a shunting signal is needed to give per-
mission to perform a shunt (thereby avoiding hand signalling) rather than to be
used as a stop or danger signal.
:
:
'
With my invention I arrange that the normal flame of the gas in the lamp of
the signal shall be low and by apparatus fixed in the lamp the action of working
the lever in the signal box, or if the disc is actuated by a pair of points then the
action of the points, shall raise or turn up the gas to the full flame.
My invention is applicable to all forms of discs and in fact to all signals where
it is desirable.
In order that my invention may be better understood and more readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which, similar letters refer to similar parts or substitutes therefor in the several
figures.
"
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate one modification of my invention, the former with the
small light in operation the signal being in the "danger" position, and the latter
with the larger burner in operation, the signal being in the safety position.
These figures illustrate a revolving ground disc.
::
Figure 3 illustrates a front view of a modification of the interior showing my
invention.
Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a plan of Figure 3.
Figures 6 and 7 are a plan and elevation of the guide or actuating piece which
is fixed to the body of the lamp.
a is the lamp, b is the actuating piece fixed to the body of the lamp, c is the slot
in the said actuating piece in which the handle or tap d operates, e is the large or
main tube through which the gas gives illumination for the signal in the "safety
>>
attitude. is the smaller tube which gives illumination for the signal in the
"danger" attitude.
65

page_text: In Figure 1 it will be seen that the handle d is at the lower end of the slot and
that the burner on the small tube is alight. When the disc is revolved it assumes
the position shown in Figure 2, the handle d is at the upper part of the slot and
the larger burner on the tube e is alight the signal now being in the "safety"
attitude.
In Figures 3 to 7 inclusive the actuating piece is of different shape to that
illustrated in Figure 1; instead of the action upon the handle d being vertical it is
horizontal, the handle d, Figure 3, operating in the slot c Figure 7, and as the disc
revolves, to which is screwed the piece b, Figure 6, the said piece also revolves and
carries the arm d, Figures 3 to 7, with it, reverses the tap g moving the hole / in
the tap gallowing free passage of the gas through the tube e and out at the burnerj
giving the light for the signal in the “all right" or "safety" position. The hole k
in the smaller tube is always open, supplying gas to the smaller tube f so that
the light for the "danger" signal is always on. is a tap of the usual type for
turning the gas completely off during the day time or when it is not required.
m is a bonnet fixed at the top of the smaller tube f for the purpose of protecting
the flame.
My invention is applicable to any case where a signal requires a full light in
the "all right" or "safety" position and a small light in the "danger" position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In railway signalling by illumination, the method described of regulating the
necessary power of illumination in the "all right" and "danger" positions of the
signal, substantially as described, for the purposes specified and as illustrated on
the accompanying drawings.
2. In railway signal lamps lighted by gas, arrangements whereby the full con-
sumption allowed takes place when the signal is in the "safety" attitude and a
smaller or lesser consumption takes place when the signal is in the "danger"
position, substantially as described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 15th day of Anvil 1902
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
70 & 71, Palace Chambers, Bridge Street, Westminster, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.