Improvements in Staff and Ticket Apparatus for Controlling the Traffic on Single Line Railways.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 31st Jan., 1894-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Staff and Ticket Apparatus for Controlling the
Traffic on Single Line Railways.
I ARTHUR MOORE THOMPSON of Crewe Works, Crewe, in the County of
Chester, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
A Patent for Improvements in Staff Apparatus for Controlling the Traffic on
Single Line Railways was granted to Francis William Webb and Arthur Moore
Thompson, dated January 23, 1889, and numbered 1263, and it describes an
apparatus for the issue of staffs electrically and mechanically controlled so that
only one staff can be in use at a time. Another Patent was granted to Arthur
Moore Thompson for Improvements in Staff Apparatus for Controlling the Traffic
on Single Line Railways dated June 12th 1890 and numbered 9084, which describes
an electro magnet for controlling such apparatus, and a third Patent granted to
Francis William Webb and Arthur Moore Thompson for Improvements in
Apparatus for Controlling the Traffic on Single Line Railways, dated July 18th
1892, and numbered 13122, which describes a staff apparatus in combination with a
ticket apparatus. My present invention relates to an improved form of staff and
ticket apparatus controlled by an electro magnet as described in the above
mentioned Patent No. 9084, and it differs from the above mentioned Patents
Nos. 1263 and 13122 inasmuch as I provide in each apparatus only one staff and a
suitable number of metal tickets so arranged and electrically and mechanically
locked that an electric current of a certain polarity must be sent from the far
station before the staff or a ticket can be withdrawn, and when the staff' and a
ticket have been withdrawn from say A apparatus, A can again signal to the far
station say B for permission to withdraw a second ticket, and again a third and
fourth and so on, B being enabled to do this by means of an indicating dial which
shows him the number of tickets he has permitted A. to withdraw, this indicating
dial actuating a suitable commutator which alternately reverses the polarity of the
current sent by B to A. To more clearly explain the working of my improved
apparatus I will now describe the operation, for forwarding say three trains
from A to B. The apparatus at A is precisely similar to that at B and the
magnets in each apparatus are energized say by a positive current A rings to B
for permission to withdraw his staff, B sends a positive current and A withdraws
his staff, the withdrawal of the staff reversing the commutator in A's instrument
so that a negative current must be sent to energize the magnet again. A now
rings again to B for a ticket, B turns his indicating dial to 1 which breaks the
connection between the line wire and his electro magnet and at the same time
reverses his commutator so that he can send a negative current to A which
enables A to withdraw a ticket, the withdrawal of the ticket again reversing the
commutator in A's instrument so that a positive current is now required to energize
the magnet for the withdrawal of a second ticket. A now hands the ticket to the
driver of the first train showing him the staff which he has previously withdrawn
as his authority to accept the ticket, after the first train has gone a suitable time
A rings to B for a second ticket, B moves his indicating dial to 2 reversing his
commutator to send a positive current which enables A to withdraw the second
ticket, A's commutator being again reversed for a negative current, the second
ticket is handed to the driver of the second train the staff again being shown him
as his authority to accept the ticket. Again A rings to B for permission to with-
draw a third ticket, B again turns his indicating dial to 3 and reverses his

page_text: commutator so that he can send a negative current to A. A now withdraws his
third ticket and hands it to the driver of a third train again showing him the
staff as his authority to accept the ticket, the withdrawal of the third ticket
again reversing the commutator in A's instrument to positive. If necessary A
can obtain in the same way a fourth, a fifth, or any convenient number of tickets,
but we will assume the third train is the last to go from A to B. It will be seen
that after the withdrawal of the third ticket from A. apparatus A's commutator was
reversed and left positive whereas B in sending a current to A for the third ticket
left his commutator negative. The first train now reaches B, and the first ticket is
put in B's apparatus the action of putting the ticket in being to turn back the
indicating dial to 2, but the turning back of the dial does not alter the commutator
which remains negative, and here I explain that the dial may be turned by hand
from 1 to 2 and so on but it cannot be turned back by hand a suitable arrangement
of pawls being provided to prevent this and the dial can only be turned back by
the insertion of a ticket. The second train having arrived at B the second ticket
is put in and the dial turned to 1, the third train now arrives the ticket put in and
the dial turned to zero, at the same time connecting the line wire to B's magnet
which was disconnected when he moved it from zero to 1. It has been before
stated that the putting in of the tickets does not alter the commutator and the
commutator of B instrument still remains negative but it will be remembered that
A's commutator was left positive but A has not replaced the staff he withdrew in
the first instance. A now replaces the staff in his instrument and reverses his
commutator to negative, the same as B instrument, each instrument is consequently
in phase again so to speak and either A can obtain his staff and tickets again or B
can signal to A for permission to send train from B to A.
Suitable locking devices are provided so that the withdrawal of the staff locks
the indicating dial in its zero position, and the withdrawal of the staff must precede
the withdrawal of a ticket. It will be obvious that the staff may be withdrawn
not only to show the driver that he may accept a ticket but it may be withdrawn
for shunting purposes as it is locked in position if a train is coming from B to A
and when withdrawn it so alters the commutation that A. cannot then give B
permission to withdraw his staff.
Dated this 16th day of January 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Staff and Ticket Apparatus for Controlling the
Traffic on Single Line Railways.
I ARTHUR MOORE THOMPSON of Crewe Works, Crewe, in the County of
Chester, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
A Patent for Improvements in Staff Apparatus for Controlling the Traffic on Single
Line Railways was granted to Francis William Webb and Arthur Moore Thompson,
dated January 23, 1889, and numbered 1263, and it describes an apparatus for the
issue of staffs electrically and mechanically controlled so that only one staff can be
in use at a time. Another Patent was granted to Arthur Moore Thompson for
Improvements in Staff Apparatus for Controlling the Traffic on Single Line Railways
dated June 12th 1890 and numbered 9084, which describes an electro magnet for
controlling such apparatus, and a third Patent granted to Francis William Webb
and Arthur Moore Thompson for Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the
Traffic on Single Line Railways, dated July 18th 1892, and numbered 13122, which
describes a staff apparatus in combination with a ticket apparatus. My present

page_text: invention relates to an improved form of staff and ticket apparatus controlled by an
electro magnet, as described in the above mentioned Patent No. 9084, and it differs
from the above mentioned Patents Nos. 1263 and 13122 inasmuch as I provide in
each apparatus only one staff and a suitable number of metal tickets so arranged
and electrically and mechanically locked that an electric current of a certain
polarity must ho sent from the far station before the staff or a ticket can be with-
drawn, and when the staff and a ticket have been withdrawn from say A apparatus,
A can again signal to the far station, say B, for permission to withdraw a second
ticket, and again a third and fourth and so on, B being enabled to do this by means
of an indicating dial which shows him the number of tickets he has permitted A to
withdraw, this indicating dial actuating a suitable commutator which alternately
reverses the polarity of the current_sent by B to A. To more clearly explain the
working of my improved apparatus I will now describe the operation for forwarding
say three trains from A to B. The apparatus at A is precisely similar to that at B
and the magnets in each apparatus are energized by say a positive current.
A rings to B for permission to withdraw his staff, B sends a positive current and A
withdraws his staff, the withdrawal of the staff reversing the commutator in A's
instrument so that a negative current must be sent to energize the magnet again.
A now rings again to B for a ticket, B turns his indicating dial to 1, which breaks
the connection between the line wire and his electro magnet and at the same time
reverses his commutator so that he can send a negative current to A, which
enables A to withdraw a ticket, the withdrawal of the ticket again reversing the
commutator in A's instrument, so that a positive current is now required to energize
the magnet for the withdrawal of a second ticket. A now hands the ticket to the
driver of the first train, showing him the staff which he has previously withdrawn
as his authority to accept the ticket, after the first train has gone a suitable time
A rings to B for a second ticket, B moves his indicating dial to 2 reversing his
commutator to send a positive current which enables A to withdraw the second
ticket, A's commutator being again reversed for a negative current, the second
ticket is handed to the driver of the second train, the staff again being shewn him
as his authority to accept the ticket. Again A rings to B for permission to withdraw
a third ticket, B again turns his indicating dial to 3 and reverses his commutator so
that he can send a negative current to A. A now withdraws his third ticket and
hands it to the driver of the third train, again showing him the staff as his authority
to accept the ticket, the withdrawal of the third ticket again reversing the
commutator in A's instrument to positive. If necessary A can obtain in the same
way a fourth, a fifth, or any convenient number of tickets, but we will assume the
third train is the last to go from A to B. It will be seen that after the withdrawal
of the third ticket from A apparatus A's commutator was reversed and left positive,
whereas B in sending a current to A for the third ticket left his commutator
negative. The first train now reaches B, and the first ticket is put in B's apparatus,
the action of putting the ticket in being to turn back the indicating dial to 2, but
the turning back of the dial does not alter the commutator, which remains negative,
and here I explain that the dial may be turned by hand from 1 to 2, and so on, but
it cannot be turned back by hand, a suitable arrangement of pawls being provided
to prevent this and the dial can only be turned back by the insertion of a ticket.
The second train having arrived at B the second ticket is put in and the dial turned
to 1. The third train now arrives, the ticket put in and the dial turned to zero, at
the same time connecting the line wire to B's maguet which was disconnected when
he moved it from zero to 1. It has been before stated that the putting in of the
tickets does not alter the commutator and the commutator of B instrument still
remains negative, but it will be remembered that A's commutator was left positive,
but A has not replaced the staff he withdrew in the first instance. A now replaces
the staff in his instrument and reverses his commutator to negative, the same as
B3 instrument, each instrument is consequently in phase again so to speak and
either A can obtain his staff and tickets again or B can signal to A for permission
to send train from B to A.

page_text: Suitable locking devices are provided so that the withdrawal of the staff locks
the indicating dial in its zero position, and the withdrawal of the staff must precede
the withdrawal of a ticket. It will be obvious that the staff may be withdrawn not
only to show the driver that he may accept a ticket, but it may be withdrawn for
shunting purposes, as it is locked in position if a train is coming from B to A, and
when withdrawn it so alters the commutation that A cannot then give B permission
to withdraws his staff.
In order that my said invention may be well understood I shall now proceed to
more particularly describe the same, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon.
In the first place it may be explained that my apparatus consists of four
practically independent mechanisms more or less independent of each other, viz., an
indicating mechanism which enables the signalman by means of a suitable com-
mutator and switch to reverse the polarity of the current he sends from his
apparatus to the next station and indicate the number of times he has sent the current,
or in other words the number of tickets he has given permission to the next station to
withdraw. A mechanisin to enable the tickets to be inserted in the magazine of the
apparatus so arranged that the insertion of the ticket turns back the indicating
mechanism from say 2 to 1 without however altering the polarity of the current
sent from the apparatus. An electrically locked mechanism for withdrawing a
ticket from the magazine, the withdrawal acting on a suitable commutator and
switch in such manner that the current received from the next station is reversed
in direction, and electrically locked mechanism in connection with the staff which
is so arranged that the insertion or withdrawal of the staff reverses a commutator
and switch to alter the direction of the current received. The electric locking and
the arrangement of the electric circuit is in principle the same as described in the
Patent granted to me and previously referred to dated June 12th 1890 No. 9084,
with the exception that instead of one commutator there are three, this will be more
fully described later.
Figure 1 Sheet 1 shows a front elevation of my apparatus with the front cover
removed.
Figure 2 Sheet 1 shows a side elevation of the same with the side cover
removed.
Figure 3 Sheet 1 shows a front elevation of the same.
Figure 4 Sheet 1 shows a plan view of the same with the top cover removed.
Figure 5 Sheet 1 shows the staff for the apparatus which is constructed in
the form of a key and which may be formed from a thin steel tube the handle
being a metal casting of any suitable form with the name of the station to which it
applies.
Figure 6 Sheet 1 shows one of the tickets which may be conveniently formed of
metal preferably of a disc form and lettered with the name of the two stations to
which it applies.
A Figures 1 and 2 is a metal carrier secured to a spindle a Figures 1, 2, 3, and
turned by a handle a Figures 2, 3. This carrier is formed with two walls a a
Figure 1 shaped as shown by a Figure 2 with sufficient space between to readily
admit of the insertion of a ticket. In its normal position the carrier is so placed
that a ticket inserted through the slot a Figure 3 passes between the two walls
and drops down about half an inch on to the quadrant piece a Figures 1, 2, 4.
This quadrant piece is cut away in the centre as shown more clearly in Figure 4
so that the lower edge of the ticket drops down when inserted as previously
explained and the ticket in place is shown by the circle as in Figure 2. The
ticket having been inserted the handle a is turned in the direction of the arrow
Figure 3 and as the ticket slides along the quadrant it strikes against the tail of
a locking pawl a³ Figures 1, 2, 4, which is centred at a Figures 1, 4, and provided
with a counterweight a" Figure 1. As the tail of this locking pawl is struck by
the ticket it is forced down and unlocks the star wheel B Figures 1, 2, 4, as the
movement of the ticket continues it catches against one of the teeth of the star

page_text: wheel and turns it round a distance equal to the space between two of its teeth,
the movement of the ticket further continues until it reaches the point a¹
Figures 1, 4, at this point it will be seen from Figure 4 that the quadrant piece
ends and as the ticket is no longer supported it drops clear of the carrier A and
falls through the slot a Fig. 1 into the magazine M Figures 3, and 4, a small
quadrant piece a Figure 1 Sheet 1 is provided to prevent the ticket from being
lifted up as it strikes the locking pawl a and the star wheel. The star wheel B is
secured to a spindle b¹ Figures 1, 2, 3, at the front end of which is secured the
handle and pointer 6ª Figures 2, 3, and at the other end a ratchet wheel
Figures 1, 2, turning loose on this spindle 6' is a commutator disc Figure 2 and
attached to the disc and engaging with the ratchet wheel 6 is a pawl 6º Figure 1.
It will now be seen that the ticket in being put in the magazine turns the star
wheel B, the handle and pointer 63 and the ratchet wheel 6 but it does not move
the commutator disc b. If on the other hand the handle and pointer b³ is moved
from 0 to 1, 1 to 2 and so on it also moves the star wheel and ratchet wheel a
tooth of which pressing against the pawl 6' moves the commutator disc 64.
(Figures 1, 2, 4, Sheet 1 is a drum with four radial slots cccc Figure 1 so
constructed as to hold a ticket. This drum turns on a hollow spindle Figure 1
and it is turned with its spindle by a handle & Figures 2, 3, 4, on the back end of
this spindle is secured a commutator wheel Figures 1, 2. This commutator
wheel is locked in position by the locking pawl c Figures 1, 2, this pawl being
lifted by the energising of the electro magnet c Figures 1, 2, this magnet being
of the construction described by my Patent No. 9084 June 12th 1890. To with-
draw a ticket and assuming that the magnet has been energised and the locking
pawl withdrawn, the operator inserts his hand into the magazine M through
suitable openings and lifting one of the tickets he inserts it through a slot cl
Figure 1 formed in the magazine wall and the ticket drops into the slot e¹ in the
drum. The drum is now turned a quarter turn by the handle e' in the direction
of the arrow Figure 3 and as the drum slot c¹ takes the position of c³ the ticket
falls from the drum through the opening Figure 1 clear of the apparatus.
In Figure 2 a ticket cs is shown in position for withdrawal. As the drum is
turned for the withdrawal of a ticket the commutator c' is turned with it and the
direction of the current received by the apparatus changed. Through the hollow
spindle of the drum there is placed a long bolt D Figures 1, 2, 12, Sheets 1, 2,
secured to a bracket Figures 2, 12, this bolt is formed with a groove
Figures 1, 12, in which fits an internal projecting piece in the staff tube
Figures 5, 12, close to the bracket d' and turning loosely on the bolt is a com-
mutator disc Figures 2, 12, and on this disc is a projection d' which engages
with a slot d in the end of the staff tube Figure 12, Sheet 2. Assuming the
staff to be inserted and that the slot dª is engaged with the projection on the
commutator disc d' the staff has now to be turned a quarter turn but the pro-
jection d³ Figure 12 would prevent it unless the slot d is continued partially round
the bolt at right angles to itself as in a bayonet joint, this is done de Figure 12
Sheet 2 and the staff being turned a quarter circle it cannot of course be with-
drawn again until it has been turned back to bring the projection d³ opposite the
slot in the bolt again. The commutator disc d is locked by the same locking
pawl as the commutator disc c' so that to withdraw the staff the magnet c' must
be energised and the locking pawl c withdrawn. As the staff is turned to
withdraw it the commutator reverses the direction of the current received by the
apparatus.
E. F. G. Figure 1 are commutator switches for reversing the direction and
polarity of the current, the switch E is actuated by the lever d¹ Figure 1 tbis
lever being alternately raised and lowered by the turning of the commutator
disc Figure 2. The switch F is actuated by a similar lever el Figure 1 and
the lever is alternately raised and lowered by the turning of the commutator
disc d' Figure 2. The switch G is actuated by a similar lever to e¹ this lever
being fixed directly behind lever e¹ and carried on the same centre e' aud this

page_text: lever is similarly alternately raised and lowered by the turning of the commutator
disc e' Figure 2.
Figure 7 Sheet 2 shows more clearly the action of the commutator in connection
with the indicating dial handle 6 Figure 3. As the dial handle 2 is turned from
say 0 to 1 the disc 6 is turned similarly through the pawl and the lever d¹ is
raised from the notch and rests on the outer edge of the disc as shown by Figure 8
Sheet 2 the switch E being reversed. As the dial handle is turned from eay 1 to 2
the disc is again turned and the lever drops again into the position of Figure 7.
Again the handle is turned from 2 to 3 and the lever again assumes its former
position Figure 8 and so on alternately.
Figure 9 Sheet 2 shows more clearly the action of the commutator, in connection
with the staff, is the commutator disc, e the switch lever, F the switch, the
locking pawl, c the electro magnet. To withdraw the staff the disc must turn a
quarter of a revolution in the direction of the arrow and assuming the locking pawl
is withdrawn the lever e¹ is lifted and the notch assumes the position of to
prevent the levere from falling back into notch e this notch e' is cut only partially
through the disc and the lever e¹ is made sufficiently wide to ride on the portion not
cut away. As the staff is put in again the disc is turned back and the commutator
lever e¹ and switch F resume their former positions. et is a projection on lever e¹
so that as the staff is withdrawn this projection enters a corresponding slot in the
indicator disc b' Figures 1, 2, and the indicating dial cannot therefore be moved
when the staff is out.
Figure 10 Sheet 2 shows the commutator disc e' in connection with the drum C,
its action is the same as Figure 9 but instead of turning a quarter turn forward and
a quarter turn back its turning is always in the direction of the arrow, consequently
the notch is cut through and the lever drops into it, notch f³ is only partially
cut through as explained in e. Figure 9 f is cut through the same as ƒ³ and ƒ
is the same as only partially cut through, as the drum C is turned the lever f¹
is first in a raised position and next in its lowered position and so on alternately.
H Figure 3 Sheet 1 is a mechanical indicator to indicate to the signalman
whether a train is on the line or not. The pointer in its vertical position points to
line clear, when turned to the left it points to up train on line, and when to the
right down train on line. This indicator is provided with a cam so that when the
pointer is turned either to up train on line or down train on line and pressed hard
down it moves the switch marked H Figure 11 Sheet 2, and the movement of this
switch whilst the pointer is held hard down breaks the circuit and so indicates to
the far station that a staff or ticket has been withdrawn and the proper indication
made on the mechanical dial. For instance say station A is sending a train to B,
B sends a current to A, A. withdraws say the ticket and he wants now to indicate
to B that this has been done, and he consequently turns the dial handle H presses
it hard down and severs the circuit, the galvanometer needle in B's instrument the
moment the current is interrupted resumes its upright position and thus an indica-
tion is given to B that A has not only got the ticket but that he has registered on
his indicator that the train is on line.
L Figure 3 Sheet 2 is a tapper key of the ordinary form, for sending a current
from one station to the other, and its use is clearly shown by L Figure 11 Sheet 2.
N is a galvanometer or indicator needle of the usual construction to show the
signalman when a current is being sent. This indicator may be placed as shown in
Figure 3 or in any other convenient position, and its position in the circuit is
indicated by N Figure 11 Sheet 2.
J Figures 1, 2, 3, Sheet 1, is a switch for reversing the current from the bell
circuit to the magnet circuit and at the same time for sending a current from the
local battery through the local magnet coils, this switch also lifts the magnets C
and if they are at the time magnetised the armature end of the locking pawl C³ is
lifted at the same time, a suitable switch K is moved by the turning of the dial J
from bell to staff, this is more clearly explained by the diagram of the circuit
Figure 11 Sheet 2.

page_text: Figure 11 Sheet 2 shows a diagram of the electric circuit. E, F, G, shows the
commutator switches shown in Figure 1 Sheet 1, and K shows the reversing switch
worked by the dial handle J Figure 3 Sheet 1. H is the switch worked by the
dial H Figure 3 Sheet 1. L is the tapper key marked L Figure 3 Sheet 1. N is
the galvanometer marked N Figure 3 Sheet 1. The switches E, F, G, K, turn in
the direction of the arrows and then back again alternately and the course of the
circuit is clearly shown and may be readily followed out on the diagram.
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 [
claim is :-
1st. An electrically and mechanically controlled apparatus for controlling the
traffic on single line railways, from which may be withdrawn a staff or its
equivalent to show to a driver that he may accept a ticket or its equivalent, to be
withdrawn from the same apparatus, as his authority to proceed on his journey.
2nd. An electrically and mechanically controlled apparatus for the issue of a
staff and tickets for controlling the traffic on a single line railway in combination
with an indicator dial and switch whereby the current sent by the apparatus may
be changed in polarity for the purpose as described and illustrated by the
drawings.
3rd. A magazine or receptacle for tickets or their equivalents, in an apparatus
for controlling the traffic on a single line railway, with an opening or openings
through which the band of the operator may be inserted to place the ticket in
position for withdrawal, such openings being large enough for the hand but not
large enough for the ticket to be withdrawn through them, substantially as described
and illustrated by the drawings.
4th. The combination of a staff and ticket apparatus for controlling the traffic
on a single line railway, substantially as described and illustrated by the drawings
Dated this 30th day of January 1894.