IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING BETWEEN PASSENGERS AND THE OFFICIALS IN CHARGE OF RAILWAY TRAINS
Year: 1885

page_text: $
and the Officials in Charge of Railway Trains.
I, SAMUEL ALFRED VARLEY, of 2 Hamilton Road, Highbury, in the County of
Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
'IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING BETWEEN PASSENGERS AND THE
OFFICIALS IN CHARGE OF RAILWAY TRAINS," to be as follows:-
con-
The apparatus consists of a specially constructed electric bell having a
necting switch by which the bell is connected to a galvanic battery or disconnected
when desired.
I construct the apparatus as follows. I mount on an iron plate termed the base
plate which I prefer to be of malleable cast iron or ordinary wrought iron soft
iron cores which are afterwards wrapped with insulated wire and become electro-
magnets. There are usually four of these cores and they are arranged in a circle
at equal distances from one another and are firmly attached to the iron plate by
screws which pass through the plate and screw into one end of each of the cores,
Soft iron pole pieces are attached to the other ends of each of the iron cores and
project towards the centre.
I
A plate of non-magnetic metal which I term the table-plate is attached to the
pole pieces by screws-This plate binds the whole firmly together and also serves
as a table for the necessary attachments.
A star wheel made of iron and having arms corresponding in number to the
electro-magnets projecting from the centre is mounted on a steel axle and runs in
screw.centres, one of which is fixed to the base plate and the other to a metal
cock or bridge attached to the table plate, this star wheel I term the "armature."
The armature arms work between the pole pieces of the electro-magnets and
move just freely between them without actually touching.
Attached to the "armature" axle there are light levers; a hammer is attached
to one of these called the "striking lever" and a balance weight is attached to
a lever projecting from the axle on the opposite side; two other levers one of
which is called the "contact lever" and the other the "circuit divider" are also
attached to the axle, these four levers move over the surface of the table plate
between it and the cock or bridge mounted on the table plate A small lover

page_text: working on a joint is mounted on the table plate, the end of this lever which for
the sake of distinction is termed the "moveable contact" in one position rests on
a metal contact piece mounted on but electrically insulated from the table plate
and termed the "insulated contact.".
The "moveable contact" is electrically connected to the metal work of the
vehicles, the "insulated contact" is connected with one end of the insulated wire
of the electro magnets, the other end of the insulated wire of the electro magnets
is connected to the connecting switch. This switch has two positions; in one
position it electrically connects the electro magnets to one pole of a galvanic
battery the other pole of which battery is connected to an ordinary bell push
which when depressed comes into contact with the metal work of the electric bell
and completes the circuit through the galvanic battery the connecting switch the
electro magnets and the bell push. When the circuit is thus completed the electro
magnets become active, the " armature" arms are attracted by the pole pieces and
arrange themselves in accordance with the direction of the magnetic force moving
the "armature axle" and the levers attached to it through a portion of a circle
and causing the hammer of the "striking lever" to strike a bell. Just before the
hammer has reached the bell the lever hereinbefore described and referred to as the
"circuit divider" strikes a pin attached to the "moveable contact" and separates
it from the "insulated contact." The electrical circuit is now divided and the
electro magnets cease to be active but the hammer continues to move forward and
strikes the bell by the momentum acquired the hammer now rebounds and the
balance weight on the opposite side of the axle by the action of gravity carries it
back; a little before the hammer has reached its original position the lever herein-
before described and referred to as the contact lever" comes into contact with
the pin projecting from the "moveable contact" and brings it into electrical
connection with the "insulated contact:" the circuit is now again completed the
electro magnets become active and again attract the "armature," A continuous
oscillating backward and forward motion is thus produced and the bell continues
to ring as long as the push is depressed.
"
The working parts of the bell and connecting switch are usually mounted on a
wooden tablet and the working parts are protected from injury by enclosing them
in metal cases.
To prevent waste of electric force either from defective insulation or other
causes, the galvanic battery is connected to the electric bell only during such times
as when the train is marshalled or running and the connection is made by means
of a specially constructed key with which the officials in charge of the train are
supplied. This key when turned by raising a lever or tumbler liberates a cam
forming part of the "connecting switch" which is constructed as follows. A tooth
or catch projecting from a jointed lever termed the "locking lever" rests on the
periphery of a cam, this cam is mounted on an axle and runs in centres.
The "locking lever" and the cam are both of them actuated by springs in a
state of tension which are always pulling them in one direction, a metal arm
.projects from the lower portion of the cam in a horizontal direction and a slotted
metal rod hangs on it and passes through the case of the connecting switch to the
outside and terminates with a bandle termed the "switch handle."
When the "switch handle" is pulled downwards the cam is turned round in the
opposite direction to that which it is being pulled by its spring and when it has
moved through a certain determined space the tooth of the "locking lever" drops
into a notch or seat made by cutting away a portion of the cam and prevents the
cam returning-When the cam is thus locked the galvanic battery is disconnected
altogether from the bell, to connect up the bell so as to be ready to receive or send
signals the key is inserted in the key hole and turned round; the effect of this is
to raise the tooth of the "locking lever" out of the seat or notch and to liberate
the cam which is now pulled over by the spring attached to it and this causes a
contact spring fixed to the cam to come into contact with an insulated metal pillar
electrically connected to one end of the insulated wire of the electro magnets.

page_text: In order that the officials may readily see the position the connecting switch is
in, a flag or screen is attached to the axle of the cam and passes behind an opening
cut in front of the protecting case and indicates its position.
An electric bell and connecting switch is usually placed in each of vans and on
the engine and galvanic batteries to supply the electric force which rings the bells
are placed in the vans and preferably on the engine as well.
Electrical connection is made throughout the train by an insulated wire
electrically connected to the "bell pushes" in the vans and on the engine running
underneath the vehicles and joined to flexible electrical couplings, which electrically
connect the vehicles together. The draw bars and the metal work of the vehicles
are also usually electrically connected and made use of for part of the circuit.
When it is desired that there should be not only communication between the
officials in front and rear of the train but also between the passengers and the
officials a "connecting switch" is placed in each compartment of the carriages.
These "connecting switches" are joined to two insulated branch wires (Ïed into
each compartment) one of which is connected to the insulated wire underneath the
vehicles and the other to the metal work of the vehicles and the contact springs in
these "connecting switches" are so arranged that when the handles of them are
pulled downwards, the two branch wires in the compartment where the handle has
been pulled are electrically connected and the circuit becomes completed through
the insulated wire throughout the length of the train, the metal work of the
vehicles and through the galvanic batteries and bells in the vans and on the
engine, the bells are thus let ringing and continue to ring until the circuit is
divided by the special key in possession of the officials in charge of the train.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling between Passengers
and the Officials in Charge of Railway Trains.
SAMUEL ALFRED VARLEY Electrical Engineer of 2 Hamilton Road London in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The apparatus consists of a specially constructed electric bell having a connecting
switch by which the bell is connected to a galvanic battery or disconnected when
desired.
I construct the apparatus as follows:-
I mount on an iron plate termed the base plate which I prefer to be of malleable
cast iron or ordinary wrought iron soft iron cores which are afterwards wrapped
with insulated wire and become electro-magnets. There are usually four of these
cores and they are arranged in a circle at equal distances from one another and
are firmly attached to the iron plate by screws which pass through the plate and
screw into one end of each of the cores.
Soft iron pole pieces are attached to the other ends of each of the iron cores and 1
project towards the centre.
A plate of non-magnetic metal which I term the table plate is attached to tho
pole pieces by screws. This plate binds the whole firmly together and also serves
as a table for the necessary attachments.
A star wheel made of iron and having arins corresponding in number to the 2
electro-magnets projecting from the centre is mounted on a steel axle and runs in
screw centres one of which is fixed to the base plate and the other to a metal cock
or bridge attached to the table plate, this star wheel I term the "armature."
The armature arms work between the pole pieces of the electro magnets and
move just freely between them without actually touching.
Attached to the "armature" axle there are light levers; a hammer is attachod
to one of these called the "striking lever" and a balance weight is attached to a
lever projecting from the axle on the opposite side, two other levers one of which
is called the "contact lever" and the other the "circuit divider" are also attached
to the axle, these four levers move over the surface of the table plate between it
and the cock or bridge mounted on the table plate. A small lever, working on a
joint, is mounted on the table plate, the end of this lever which for the sake of
distinction is termed the "moveable contact" in one position rests on a metal
contact piece mounted on, but electrically insulated from the table plate, and
termed the insulated contact.
The "moveable contact" is electrically connected to the metal work of the
vehicles the "insulated contact" is connected with one end of the insulated wire
of the electro-magnets, the other end of the insulated wire of the electro-magnets
is connected to the connecting switch. This switch has two positions, in one
position it electrically connects the electro-magnets to one pole of a galvanic battery
the other pole of which battery is connected to an ordinary bell push which when

page_text: depressed comes into contact with the metal work of the electric bell and completes
the circuit through the galvanic battery the connecting switch the electro-magnets
and the bell push. When the circuit is thus completed the electro-magnets become
active, the armature arms are attracted by the pole pieces and arrange themselves
in accordance with the direction of the magnetic force moving the "armature axle "
and the levers attached to it through a portion of a circle and causing the hammer
of the "striking lever" to strike a bell. Just before the hammer has reached the
bell, the lever herein before described and referred to as the "circuit divider,"
strikes a pin attached to the "moveable contact" and separates it from the
"insulated contact." The electrical circuit is now divided, and the electro-magnets
cease, to be active but the hammer continues to move forward and strikes the bell
by the momentum acquired; the hammer now rebounds and the balance weight
on the opposite side of the axle by the action of gravity carries it back. A little
before the hammer has reached its original position the lever hereinbefore described
and referred to as the "contact-lever" comes into contact with the pin projecting
from the "moveable contact" and brings it into electrical connection with the
"insulated contact" The circuit is now again completed, the electro-magnets
become active and again attract the "armature." A continuous oscillating back-
ward and forward motion is thus produced, and the bell continues to ring as long
as the push is depressed.
The working parts of the bell and connecting switch are usually mounted on a
wooden tablet, and the working parts are protected from injury by enclosing them
in metal cases.
To prevent waste of electric force either from defective insulation or other causes,
the galvanic battery is connected to the electric bell only during such times as
when the train is marshalled, or running, and the connection is made by means of
a specially constructed key, with which the officials in charge of the train are
supplied this key when turned by raising a lever or tumbler liberates a cam
forming part of the "connecting switch," which is constructed as follows:-A tooth
or catch and projecting from a jointed lever termed the “locking lever”. rests on
the periphery of a cam, this cam is mounted on an axle and runs in centres.
The "locking lever" and the cam are both of them actuated by springs in a
state of tension which are always pulling them in one direction;-a metal arm
projects from the lower portion of the cam in a horizontal direction and a slotted
inetal rod hangs on it and passes through the case of the connecting switch to the
outside and terminates with a handle termed the "switch handle.*
When the "switch handle" is pulled downwards the cam is turned round in the
opposite direction to that in which it is being pulled by its spring and when it has
moved through a certain determined space, the tooth of the "locking lever" drops
into a notch or seat made by cutting away a portion of the cam, and prevents the
cam returning. When the cam is thus locked the galvanic battery is disconnected
altogether from the bell, to connect up the bell so as to be ready to receive or send
signals the key is inserted in the key hole and turned round, the effect of this is to
raise the tooth of the "locking lever" out of the seat or notch and to liberate the
camn, which is now pulled over by the spring attached to it, and this causes a
contact spring fixed to the cam to come into contact with an insulated metal pillar
electrically connected to one end of the insulated wire of the electro-magnets.
In order that the officials may readily see the position the connecting switch is
in, a flag or screen is attached to the axle of the cam and passes behind an opening
cut in front of the protecting case and indicates its position.
An electric bell and connecting switch is usually placed in each of vans and on
the engine, and galvanic batteries to supply the electric force which rings the bells
are placed in the vans and preferably on the engine as well.
Electrical connection is made throughout the train by an insulated wire
(electrically connected with the bells pushes in the vans and on the engine)
running underneath the vehicles and joined to flexible electricle couplings which
electrically connect the vehicles together. The draw bars and the metal work of

page_text: the vehicles are also usually electrically connected and made use of for part of the
circuit.
When it is desired that there should be not only communication between the
officials in front and rear of the train but also between the passengers and the
officials a connecting switch is placed in each compartment of the carriages.
"
The "connecting switches" in the carriages are joined to two insulated branch
wires (led into each compartment) one of which is connected to the insulated wire
underneath the vehicles and the other to the metal work of the vehicles. The
contact springs in these "connecting switches are so arranged that when the
handles of them are pulled downwards the two branch wires in the compartment
where the handle has been pulled are electrically connected and the circuit becomes
⚫ completed through the insulated wire throughout the length of the train, the metal
work of the vehicles and through the galvanic batteries and bells in the vans and
on the engine. The bells are thus set ringing and continue to ring until the circuit
is divided by the special key in possession of the officials in charge of the train.
+ And in order that my said invention may be readily understood I annex
drawings of the different parts.
Fig. 1 is a general view of the electric bell.
Figs. 2 and 3 are top views with the cover and table plate removed.
Fig. 2 shows the position of the armature when it is not attracted.
Fig. 3 shows the position of the armature when attracted over by the electro-
magnets.
I
Fig. 4 is a top view showing the table plate and "moveable contact."
Fig. 5 is an elevation view of the moveable contact shown separately.
Fig. 6 is an elevation view of the internal parts showing the electro magnets
and the "bell push."
Fig. 7 shows the working parts of the connecting switch.
Fig. 8 shows the protecting cover of the connecting switch.
Fig. 9 shows the key by which the connecting switch is connected to the galvanic
batteries.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The arrangement of apparatus consisting of an Electric Bell having a con-
necting switch by which the Bell is connected to a Galvanic Battery or disconnected
when desired substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
2. The general combination and arrangement of parts together constituting my
improved apparatus for signalling between passengers and the officials in charge of
railway trains substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and
shewn on the drawings.
1 1000