IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE PASSENGERS AND GUARD OF A RAILWAY TRAIN, OR BETWEEN THE GUARD AND ENGINE DRIVER, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO WORKING SIGNALS ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
EDWARD COLEGRAVE, of Brighton, in the County of Sussex, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-second day of May, in the twelfth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Francis Edward Colegrave, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Francis Edward Colegrave, my exors, admors, and
assigns, and such others as I, the said Francis Edward Colegrave, my exors,
adñiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and
Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark,
and Man, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF COMMUNICATING
BETWEEN THE PASSENGERS AND GUARD OF A RAILWAY TRAIN, OR BETWEEN THE
GUARD AND ENGINE DRIVER, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO WORKING SIGNALS ON RAILWAYS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained
a proviso obliging me, the said Francis Edward Colegrave, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

page_text: and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in
part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Francis Edward Colegrave, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of Improvements in the Means of Communicating between
the Passengers and Guard of a Railway Train, or between the Guard and
Engine Driver relate,-
First, to the construction and employment of a sounding apparatus or
alarum, whereby the passengers of a railway train may, when required, attract
the attention of the guard, who will then proceed along the train (without,
however, arresting its progress), and ascertain the cause of the alarum being
sounded.
The Invention relates,-.
Secondly, to the construction and employment of a small apparatus, one of
which is to be adapted to each compartment of a carriage, and is to be worked
in such a manner that the guard upon proceeding along the train (when the
alarum has been sounded) may at once perceive in what compartment of any
carriage the passenger who has thus attracted his attention is sitting.
The third part of the Invention relates to a means of communicating
between the guard and engine driver by the employment of an elastic tube,
with a whistle at the end nearest the engine driver, the tube being suitably
arranged for being attached and detached with facility, and so constructed that
it cannot be disarranged by the lengthening or shortening of the train by the
action of the buffers.
The sounding apparatus, which constitutes the first part of the Invention,
may, with suitable modifications, be also employed as a station signal, and will,
if made of proper dimensions, be found exceedingly useful at the principal
stations and termini of railways for making signals in case of fogs, or at night,
so as to warn engine drivers to approach the station with caution.
The several Figures in Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings represent
various views of my improved sounding apparatus or alarum for railway
purposes, and as the apparatus, for whatever purpose it may be employed, will
be constructed upon precisely the same principle, it will not be necessary to

page_text: give a detailed description of more than two arrangements, one being
applicable when constructed upon a small scale for railway carriages for the
purpose of attracting the attention of the guard, and when made upon a much
larger scale the same apparatus is also applicable as a stationary signal for
junctions, termini, and other important stations. The other arrangement I
also intend to use as a stationary signal at the smaller stations in place of the
ordinary hand-bell now employed for signalling the approach of a train, and
giving notice to the engine driver when to proceed after a stoppage.
Fig. 1 in the Drawings represents a side view, and Fig. 2 an end elevation,
of one of my improved sounding apparatus or alarums, either applied to a
railway train or as a large stationary signal. The framing or side standards
for supporting the various working parts is shewn at a, a, and may be made
of either wood or metal; I, however, prefer the latter. The bell or alarum is
shewn at b, b, and is supported upon a bracket c secured by screw bolts or
otherwise, to the top of the framing a, a. The hammer or clapper dis
secured to a crank at the upper end of the vertical shaft e, e, e, which is
mounted in bearings attached to the side standards a, a, and is furnished with
two short cranks f. f. Opposite to, or rather behind, these cranks a wheel or
star g, provided with two or more projecting pins h, h, h, (three are shewn in
the Drawing, but their number is not material,) is mounted on one end of the
horizontal shaft i, which turns in bearings in the side standards, and carries at
its opposite end a small toothed wheel or pinion which gears into and is
driven by a large toothed wheel k on one end of the shaft or spindle l. At the
opposite end of this shaft or spindle a band wheel or pulley m, m, is mounted,
and is driven by a band or cord n, n, which also passes round another wheel or
pulley o below. This wheel turns upon a horizontal pin or stud p situated at
the upper end of an adjustable bar q, the lower end of which is inserted in a
socket r, and is secured therein by a set screw s in such a manner that'in case
the band or cord n should become elongated by use it may be easily made of
the required tension by merely loosening the screw 8, and pressing down the
bar q in its socket r. A winch handle t is adapted to a square part of the
pin or stud p for the purpose of actuating the mechanism.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-Upon communicating motion
by the hand to the winch t, the band or cord n round the wheel or pulley o will
drive the wheel or pulley m above, and by means of the train of wheels / and j
will actuate the shaft i and star or wheel g, and by thus causing the wheel 'g to
rotate and bring the projecting pins h, h, alternately against the upper and
lower crank f, f, of the vertical shaft or spindle e, will cause the said shaft to turn
horizontally in its bearings, and bring the hammer or clapper d with a sharp rap

page_text: against first one side and then the other of the inside of the bell b. It will be
seen that by driving the pinion j by means of the large toothed wheel k, a
very great number of strokes are given by the hammer on the bell for every
revolution of the winch handle. The number of sounds may of course be
increased or diminished at pleasure. by merely altering the relative proportion
of the toothed wheels j and k, or of the band wheels or pulleys m and o.
In adapting this apparatus to a railway carriage for. the purposes above
mentioned, I enclose the upper part of the mechanism in a metal or other
case u, u, made open at the sides, as shewn in Fig. 1, so as to allow the sound
to escape. This case containing the mechanism is secured to the roof of the
carriage, and a hole made therein to allow the cord n, n, to pass down to
the interior, where the pulley o and winch handle. t. are attached to any
convenient part of the carriage in such a manner that the handle can be
turned by the passengers inside. in case they may want. to communicate with
the guard.
In order to apply the apparatus as a stationary signal at the junctions,
important stations, and termini of railways, it will be found convenient to
place the mechanism on a bracket fixed to a wall at a considerable elevation,
as shewn in Fig. 2, the winch handle t and its accessories being placed below
at a suitable height to be worked by hand; or in case there may be no
convenient spot to place 'the apparatus in connection with a wall or the
roof of a building, then it may be mounted on a high pillar or post specially
provided for the purpose, in which case the band or cord n, n, may be made
to pass up the interior of the post; or the mechanism above may be worked
by means of bevel wheels in connection with a long vertical shaft. enclosed
within the post or pillar, as shewn in. Fig. 3.
I would here observe that. at termini and other places where there is a
stationary engine, provision may be made, if thought desirable, for working the
apparatus by power, so, that in case of fogs, and at other times when it may
be requisite to keep up a continued sound or alarum for a length of time, it
would only be necessary to put the driving power in gear with the apparatus,
and a continued alarum may be. kept up without the necessity of having an
attendant to turn the winch handle..
In Fig. 4 I have shewn a modification of the apparatus: as applicable for
small intermediate stations, and to be employed in place of the hand. bells now
used for signalling the approach or departure of a train. The apparatus is
constructed upon precisely the same principle as the one above described,
although the arrangement of parts is somewhat different. In this case the
mechanism is mounted on a short post or standard. so as to bring the handle t

page_text: (whereby the apparatus is actuated) to a convenient height for a man to work.
A, A, is a strong wooden or metal post firmly fixed in the ground, and on the
top thereof the standard a, a, of the apparatus is secured by bolts or otherwise.
The bell is mounted on the end of a strong bent steel wire support c, and
the hammer or clapper d is, as in the former instance, attached to the cranked
end of the vertical rod e, e, which is furnished with two short cranks f. f: The
star or wheel g, with its projecting pins h, h, is attached to the hub of a small
toothed wheel or pinion j, and this latter is driven by the large toothed
wheel k, the spindle or axle of which carries the winch handle t on the other
side of the standard a. It will at once be seen that when it is necessary to
make a signal that a train is approaching or is ready to depart, it will only be
necessary for the attendant to give the handle t two or three turns in place of
running about and looking for his hand bell, as is now the case.
The second part of my improvements relates to the construction and employ-
ment of an apparatus consisting of a small moveable lamp or visible signal,.
which when applied to railway carriages may be made to indicate the particular
compartment of any carriage in which any person requiring to communicate
with the guard is sitting. This apparatus is shewn in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8
of the Drawings. It consists of a small lamp suspended between two hollow
columns by cords or chains which pass up and over pullies at the upper ends
of the columns. Counterbalance weights are attached to the other ends of
the suspension chains of the lamp, and are enclosed in the hollow columns.
At the under part of the lamp is a vertical rod or bar with a projecting notch
formed thereon, which when the lamp is brought down to the lower part of
the apparatus retains it there by being held back by a spring catch or trigger ;
but immediately this notch is relieved from the spring catch the weights by
their descent carry up the lamp to the top of the columns. The construction
and arrangement of the various will however be best understood by reference
to the several Figures, of which Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of the
apparatus, shewing the internal construction of the parts and the mode of
working the same. Fig. 6 is an external elevation of the apparatus complete.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the apparatus, as seen from above, and Fig. 8 repre-
sents the mode of applying it to a railway carriage in conjunction with the
sounding apparatus or alarum shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and already described.
a, a, are the columns or standards. b, b, the moveable lamp or visible signal
which is suspended by cords or chains c, c, from pullies d, d, above, the opposite
ends of these cords or chains being furnished with counterbalance weights e, e,
seen best in Fig. 5). An arm or bar attached to the under side of the lamp b
is furnished with a projecting notch or stud f, which when the lamp is brought

page_text: down into the position shewn in Fig. 5 catches against a spring catch 9 in the
socket h, and is held there, as shewn in the sectional view, Fig. 5. The lamp
case is provided with antifriction rollers which run against vertical guides j, j,
and thus not only keep the lamp in a proper position, but prevent it from
sticking or stopping either in its ascent or descent. The lamp, when down
in the position shewn in Fig. 5, is enclosed in a box * (Fig. 6), which will
prevent the light from being seen. To the upper end of the spring catch g
a short cord i with a small ring, stud, or button at its lower end is attached
for the purpose of drawing back the catch and freeing the notch f on the
projecting rod of the lamp, and allowing the same to ascend when required.
The operation of this apparatus, in conjunction with the alarum or sounding
apparatus, is as follows:-When a passenger wishes to communicate with the
guard, he must give the winch t (Fig. 8) of the sounding apparatus two or
three turns. This, by means of the cord u, u, will put the sounding apparatus
in motion, and produce an audible signal, which will be distinctly heard by
the guard, even when the train is in rapid motion, as he will generally be
behind the alarum, and the sound will be sure to travel to him as the appa-
ratus is placed on the top of the carriage, as seen in Fig. 8. Having thus
attracted the attention of the guard, the passenger must pull down the cord i
of the visible signal apparatus, and by thus relieving the projecting notch of
the bar or rod f from the spring catch g, the lamp b will be immediately drawn
up by the weights e, e, into the position shewn in Fig. 6; and this apparatus
being also on the top of the carriage, the guard will at once see to which com-
partment of any carriage he must direct his attention. In order to replace
the lamp in the position shewn in Fig. 5, it will only be necessary to turn the
small winch handle w, and the lamp will be drawn down by the cord s, one
end of which is attached to the lower extremity of the bar f, and the other to
a small barrel x, as shewn in the Figures. When drawn down the lamp will,
as before stated, be held in that position by the spring catch g, until again
relieved from the same. I would here observe that one of these apparatus is
adapted to a convenient part of the roof of every compartment of every car-
riage; and it must be so arranged that the lamp b, when elevated, can be seen
above any luggage that may be placed on the roof, but that it will not be
necessary to have more than one sounding apparatus for each carriage, as
cords or bands u, u, may be conveyed therefrom to each compartment, and
worked by winches t, t, as shewn in the Drawing. I would further remark,
that, if thought desirable, the two apparatus may be made to work simulta-
neously, so that when any person turns the handle t of the sounding apparatus,
the lamp 6 of the visible signal should be released and allowed to ascend. In

page_text: order to avoid complication in the Drawing, I have not thought it necessary to
shew this combination and simultaneous operation of the two apparatus, but
the means of arranging them, so as to cause them to work simultaneously, will
readily suggest themselves to the mind of any intelligent mechanic, and forms
no part of my Invention.
In Fig. 9, I have shewn a means of applying my improved visible carriage
signal to the purpose of a large visible signal for stations. Instead of the
present tedious and laborious method of raising a signal lamp to a great
elevation, I suspend it by means of cords or chains c from pullies placed at or
near the top of a column, and attach weights to the other ends of the cords or
chains. The means of drawing down the lamp b is upon precisely the same
principle as that just described, viz., by means of a cord or chains attached
at one end to the under side of the lamp, and at the other to a barrel a, round
which the said cord or chain is wound by means of the winch handle w below.
When the lamp is brought down it is retained there as long as may be neces-
sary by means of a pall or click and ratchet wheel y on the axle of the barrel.
A small break wheel is also mounted on the same shaft as the barrel; and
when it is required to allow the lamp to ascend, the ratchet wheel y must be
relieved from its click, and the weights e, e, will, by their descent, cause the
lamp to rise rapidly. The speed, however, may be regulated by means of the
break wheel, whereby the lamp may be prevented from running up too
quickly, and being jerked out of its place by being stopped with a sudden jerk
at top.
The last part of my Invention relates to the means of communicating
between the guard and engine driver, and consists in the employment of an
elastic tube, made of coiled steel wire, covered with vulcanized caoutchouc,
and furnished at the end nearest the engine driver with a whistle, and termi-
nating at the opposite end in a chamber furnished with a blowing machine or
air pump. This flexible communicating pipe is intended to be carried along
the top of the carriages, either inside or out, and should be made in such a
manner as to admit of its being elongated one fourth of its length (when
required), without the risk of breakage or injury; and the ends of each
section belonging to every separate carriage are screwed so as to admit of
their being inserted in a socket, so that when joined together they may form a
continuous pipe from the guard to the engine driver.
Fig. 10 shews the method I employ for carrying out this part of my Inven-
tion. A is the elastic and flexible communicating tube, made, as before
mentioned, of coiled steel wire, covered with vulcanized caoutchouc. B is a

page_text: box or wind chest, with flexible sides, and furnished at bottom with a valve v
opening inwards. This box or chest contains a strong coiled steel spring,
which has a tendency to keep the box or chest always extended. A whistle
of the ordinary construction used on railways, or any other of a suitable kind,
is attached to the other end of the pipe A. It will, therefore, be seen that
whenever the top or lid of the wind chest is depressed, a column of air will be
forced along the pipe A to the whistle, which will thus be made to give out a
shrill sound in the immediate vicinity of the engine driver. When the appa-
ratus is out of use, the lid or top of the chest may be kept down by a lever,
strap, or other convenient means.
Figs. 11 represent a sectional view of the screw joint, whereby the several
lengths of elastic tube are connected together to form one continuous length.
Having now described my various improvements, and the best means with
which I am at present acquainted for carry the same into effect, I would
observe, in conclusion, that although the arrangement and construction of
parts herein shewn and described are such as I prefer, having found them in
-practice to answer the desired purposes, yet I do not intend to confine myself
rigidly thereto, as they may doubtless be varied without departing from the
nature and object of my improvements; nor do I intend to claim the exclusive
right to the use of audible signals or alarums generally for railway purposes,
as I am aware that alarums, consisting of bells and clappers, actuated by
clockwork or springs, have been heretofore employed for various purposes;
nor do I intend to claim the employment of lamps as visible signals, or flexiblo
tubes and whistles, for attracting the attention of the engine driver. But
what I consider, to be new in the herein-described improvements, and thereto-
fore wish to claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, a sounding apparatus or alarum, such as that shewn and described in
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, and actuated by hand labour or steam power in place
of clockwork or springs, or any mere modification thereof, consisting of a bell
and striker or hammer, actuated by pins or studs on the face of a wheel or
star, or arranged round an axle in such a manner as to act against cranks on
the hammer shaft, such mechanism being worked by gearing actuated by hand
labour or steam power, so as to cause the said hammer to strike against the
sides of a bell, and emit sounds in rapid succession for any continuous length
of time that may be desired.
Second, I claim the construction and application to railway purposes of a
visible signal, such as that shewn in Figures 5, 6, 7, S, and 9, or any modifi-

page_text: cation thereof, consisting of a moveable lamp or visible signal, which may be
moved up and down when required by means of cords and weights, as shewn
and described.
I claim also the application of this apparatus, in conjunction with the
sounding apparatus or alarum above mentioned, to railway carriages, for the
purpose of not only attracting the attention of the guard of a railway train,
but also directing him to any carriage, and any particular compartment of the
carriage, where is presence may be required.
Third, I claim the use of an apparatus (for attracting the attention of the
engine driver) consisting of an elastic and flexible tube, made of coiled steel
wire covered with vulcanized caoutchouc, and having at one end a whistle,
and at the other end a blowing apparatus, for forcing air or wind along the
pipe or tube to blow the whistle.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Edward Colegrave, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.