Improvements in Railway Signal Apparatus.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th May, 1369-Accepted, 29th June. 1889
a
TRUVIDIUNAD DOORVATION.
Improvements in Railway Signal Apparatus.
I, THOMAS PORTER CURRY, of Danville, in the County of Boyle, and State of
Kentucky, United States of America, Druggist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
My Invention relates to railway signal apparatus, and is specially adapted for use as
"block signal," as a "crossing signal," or to indicate the approach of trains towards
each other at curves, tunnels, or other points where such notice may be desirable.
My Invention has for its object to provide an automatic signal apparatus which will
appeal to the eye or ear, or both, and which can be arranged either to indicate the
approach of a train towards the signal, or the arrival at any specified point in advance
of a train that has passed the signal station.
To this end, the invention consists generally of a signal box located at one side of
the track having attached thereto a suitable signal (as a semaphore) a lamp and where
required a gong or bell. Within the signal box are means for operating the signal.
Running from the mechanism in the box is a rod to connect with a tripping lever
placed by the side of the rail, and at a distance up or down the track is a device for
opening or closing the electric circuit attached by wire to the signal box and an electric
battery (or dynamo) located at any convenient point.
The signal is operated by a jointed rod which passes through guides in the signal
box and is attached at its upper end to a crank on a shaft which carries the semaphore
and at its lower end is encircled by a ring which is pivoted in the forked end of a
bell crank lever and rests on a pin passing through the rod, a spring being confined
between said ring and another cross-pin on the rod, to afford a yielding connection
between the mechanism in the box and that which is to be depressed by the wheels
of the train. The movement of the rod is limited by a stop.. The rod is held in
its raised position by pivoted catches which are pressed by springs into engagement
with rack teeth on the rod, the catches being withdrawn from engagement with
the rack as hereafter described by a collar movable on the rod. This collar is provided
with ratchet teeth for the engagement of a lever which is pivoted in a slot in the rod
and serves to raise the collar.
Within the signal box there is an electro-magnet having its armature attached to a
pivoted bar so placed as to be held nearly against the rod when the armature is
attracted by the magnet but withdrawn by a spring when the magnet is not energized.
The circuit breaker consists of a box of suitable shape containing a revolving disc
having lugs projecting from opposite sides thereof and carrying an insulated plate
to which is attached one of the wires making the circuit. On the plate there is a
strip to which is attached the wire completing the circuit. The disc is held in its
norinal position by a spring acting on pins seated in the disc. At either side of the
disc there are pivoted bell crank levers so placed as to engage the lugs when said levers
are operated by rods connected by springs with two levers in proximity to the line, and
provided with springs which restore said levers to normal position after they have
performed their work.
The operation of the signal is as follows; The force used to set the signal is gravity,
and it is derived from the weight of the operating rod and its attachments.
The
electro magnet and its connections are for the purpose of sustaining, and at the proper
time releasing, the collar so that it may fall and strike against the catches which
sustain the rod, and withdraw them from the ratchets on the rod. This allows the
weight of the rod to be thrown on to the crank to raise the semaphore. The rod is
restored. to its elevated position by a lever which is acted on by the wheels of the

page_text: passing train, and is connected with the bell crank lever at the lower end of the
rod. This movement compresses the spring and forces up the rod until it is engaged
by the catches.
The collar is normally. held up by the bar attached to the armature of the electro-
magnet. It is caused to drop by breaking the electric circuit and so allowing the bar
to be withdrawn and it is restored to its position by means of the lever as above
mentioned which lever, when the rod falls, engages with the ratchet teeth on the
collar and so when the rod is raised carries the collar up and sustains it until
it is carried to a certain point when said lever is thrown out of engagement
by contact with one of the guides for the rod, and allows the collar to rest on
the bar.
Suppose now the signal is used to give warning of an advancing train, and a closed
circuit is used in operating the magnet in this case indicating "safety" the semaphore
will hang down, the rod being in the elevated position and the collar resting on the bar
attached to the armature. When the train reaches the circuit breaker placed so that
the lever is farthest from the signal the lever is depressed and by partly revolving the
dise is caused to withdraw the plate from contact with the strip which is above it.
This interrupts the electric current, de-energises the magnet, and allows the spring to
withdraw the bar from the support of the collar which drops against the catches,
spreading them apart, and allowing the rod to pull down the crank and raise the
Semaphore to "danger."
The other lever of the circuit breaker is for the following purpose; When it is
depressed after the first lever, as happens with a train going towards the signal, it is
entirely inoperative, the disc having been pulled around out of engagement with it.
When it is depressed before said lever, as happens with a train going away from the
signal, the latter lever is rendered inoperative and the other lever revolves the disc in
its direction thus causing the plate to be shifted in position under the strip, but not
withdrawn from contact. Thus, by reversing the position of the levers, my improved
signal may be used on a single line and warning may be sent in either direction
at will.
:
22
The semaphore is replaced to "safely as the train passes the signal box, by the
means already described. When used as a block signal the crank will be set towards
the track so that when the train passes the signal box the semaphore will be raised to
danger" and so remain until the train roaches the circuit breaker, when it will be
caused to fall to "safety."
Should it be desired to use an open electric circuit, it is only necessary to change
the position of the strip in the circuit breaker so that it is normally disconnected
from the plate but brought into contact by one of the levers when it is desired to
operate the signal.
I have, for the sake of clearness, described my signal in its simplest disposition on
a single line; on a double line some simpler form of circuit breaker would answer.
When my signals are used in combination to form a system, it is intended to use a
single charged wire running the length of the system grounded at both ends, and by
means of a combination of plates and strips and placed on the same disc to
temporarily switch this current to another wire, instead of breaking it as described
above.
Dated this 28th day of August Lese
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Signal Apparatus.
1, THOMAS PORTER CURRY, of Danville, in the County of Boyle, and State of
Kentucky, United States of America, Druggist, do hereby declare the nature of this

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
a
رو
"
My Invention relates to railway signal apparatus and is specially adapted for use as
"block signal
as a crossing signal' or to indicate the approach of trains
towards each other at curves, tunnels, or other points where such notice may be
desirable.
My Invention has for its object to provide an automatic signal apparatus which will
appeal to the eye or car or both and which can be arranged either to indicate the
approach of a train towards the signal or the arrival at any specified point in advanco
of a train that has passed the signal station.
To this end, the invention consists generally of a signal box located at one side of
the track, having attached thereto a suitable signal (as a semaphore) a lamp and where
required a gong or bell. Within the signal box are means for operating the signal.
Running from the mechanism in the box is a rod to connect with a tripping lever
placed by the side of the rail. At a distance up or down the track is a device
for opening or closing the electric circuit attached by wire to the signal box and
an electric battery (or dynamo) located at any convenient point all hereinafter more
fully described.
Reference is to he had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification, in which figure 1 is an elevation, shewing the interior mechanism of the
signal box, and attached thereto a perspective shewing the relative position of the signal
and circuit breaking device Figures 2. 3, and 5, are detail views on enlarged scales;
Figure 4 is a detail view of the circuit manipulator: Similar letters and figures of
reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.
a is the signal box in which are located, at suitable points, the guides b, c, and d,
through which slides the operating rod e. The rod e is jointed above and below the
guides and d respectively and is pivoted at its upper end to the crank 9 which is
rigidly fastened to the shaft f. On the shaft is also fastened the semaphore so that it
may be raised or lowered by means of the crank g. The rode has through it, below
the guido d, the pins and . Resting on the pin h and loosely embracing the
rode is a ring which is pivoted in the forked end of the bell crank lever k.
Encircling the rod e, and confined by the ring below and the pin ¹ above, is also the
spiral spring which affords a yielding connection between the mechanism in the box
and that which is to be depressed by the wheels of a train. The pin acts as a stop
to prevent the raising of the rod e beyond the point desired. Near the lower end of
the middle section of the rod e are cut ratchet teeth e' which engage the dogs on the
levers m and sustain the rod in its elevated position. Two levers m are used for
greater security, one only being needed to sustain the rod. These levers are pressed up
against the rod by springs n and move in a slot in the guide c, being pivoted at their
lower ends to the guide d. Embracing the rod e, and free to move up and down on it
between the guides b and c, is the collar having grooves or ratchet teeth cut on its
inner surface which are engaged by a tooth at the lower end of a lever p¹ (figure 5)
pivoted in a slot p in the rod e. The upper end of the lever p¹ has a rounded or
bevelled projection which, when the rod e is fully raised, strikes against the guide band
forces the said lever pl out of engagement with the collar 9 (see figure 2). Located
within the signal box, between the guides and c, is an electro-magnet having its
armature attached to a bar r pivoted to any convenient support, and so placed as to
be held nearly against the rod when the armature is attracted by the magnet, but
withdrawn by the spring & when the magnet is not energised (see figure 3) The
circuit-breaker (figure 4) consists of a box of suitable shape containing a revolving
disc 11 having lugs 16, 17, projecting from opposite sides thereof and carrying an
insulated plate 13 to which is attached one of the wires making the circuit. Resting
on the plate 13 is a strip 14 to which is attached the wire completing the circuit. The
disc 11 is held in its normal position by the spring 12 acting on pins seated in the disc.
At either side of the disc 11 are pivoted the bell crank levers 9 and 10 so placed as
to engage the lugs 16 and 17 when said levers are operated by the rods 5 and

page_text: connected by the springs 3 and 4 to the levers 1 and 2 respectively. Springs 7 and 8
encircle the rods 5 and 6 between the guide 15 and the levers 9 and 10 and serve to
restore said levers to normal position after they have performed their work.
The operation of the signal is as follows; The force used to set the signal is gravity
and it is derived from the weight of the operating rod e and its attachments. The
electro-magnet and its connections are for the purpose of sustaining and at the proper
timo releasing the collar so that it may fall and strike against the bent arms of the
levers m spreading those levers out and withdrawing the dogs from the ratchets in the
rod e.
This allows the weight of the rod e to be thrown on to the crank g and raise
the semaphore. The rod e is restored to its elevated position through the depression
of the trip lever by the wheels of the passing train. By this means a pull is made
by the rod k¹ on the bell crank lever k which lifts the ring 1, compresses the spring
against the pin ¹, and by it forces up the rod e until it is engaged by the dogs of the
levers ma or until the pin strikes the guide d. The collar q is normally held up by
the bar attached to the armature t of the electro-magnet s. It is caused to drop by
breaking the electric circuit and so allowing the bar r to be withdrawn by the spring s
so that it no longer supports the collar y. This collar is restored to its position by
means of the lever p¹ which, when the rod e falls, takes the position shewn in figure 5
and so when the rode is raised carries up with it the collar
J.
and sustains said collar
until it is carried to a point above the bar when said lever p' is thrown out of engage-
ment by the contact of its rounded portion with the guide and allows the collar to
rest on the bar (see figure 2).
Suppose now the signal is used to give warning of an advancing train and a closed
circuit is used in operating the magnet in this case indicating "safety" the semaphore
will hang down, the crank 7 and rod e be in elevated position and the collar q rest on
the bar r. When the train reaches the circuit breaker, placed so that the lever 1 is
farthest from the signal, the lever 1 is depressed and by partly revolving the disc 11
by means of spring 3, rod 5, and lever 9, is caused to withdraw plate 13 from contact
with strip 14. This interrupts the electric current, de-energises magnets and allows
spring to withdraw bar from the support of collar q. The collar 9 then drops
against levers m spreading them apart and allowing rod e to pull down crank g and
raise the semaphore to "danger."
The lever of the circuit breaker is for the following purpose; When it is depressed
after lever 1, as happens with a train going towards the signal, it is entirely inoperative,
the disc 11 having been pulled around out of engagement with it.
When it is
depressed before lever 1, as happens with a train going away from the signal, lever 1
is rendered inoperative and lever 2 revolves dise 11 in its direction, thus causing
plate 13 to be shifted in position under strip 14 but not withdrawn from contact.
Thus, by reversing the position of levers 1 and 2, my improved signal may be used on,
a single line and warning may be sent in either direction at will.
The semaphore is replaced to "safety," as the train passes the signal box, by the
means already described. When used as a "block signal" the crank g will be set
towards the track so that, when the train passes the signal box, the semaphore will be
raised to "danger" and so remain until the train reaches the circuit breaker when it
will be caused to fall to "safety."
Should it be desired to use an open electric circuit, it is only necessary to change the
position of strip 14 in the circuit-breaker so that it is normally disconnected from
plate 13 but brought into contact by one of the levers when it is desired to operate
the signal.
I have, for the sake of clearness, described my signal in its simplest disposition
on a single line; on a double line some simpler form of circuit breaker would
answer.
I have omitted the electric bell or gong from the drawings, because it is expected
to use the ordinary pattern which may be applied in well known ways.
When my signals are used in combination to form a system, it is intended to use a
single charged wire running the length of the system, grounded at both ends, and

page_text: by means of a combination of plates and strips similar to 13 and 14 and placed on
the same disc, to temporarily switch this current to another wire instead of breaking
it, as described above.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is-
1. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a shaft or rod carrying the signal
with an operating rod engaging therewith and means for starting said rod into
activity through virtue of a blow automatically delivered against the sustaining
support of said rod, substantially as described.
2. In a signal apparatus, the combination of an operating rod having one or more
teeth or ratchets in its sides, with a lever or levers for engaging said rod and
supporting the same and means for withdrawing the levers from support of the rod,
by a blow automatically delivered against them, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
3. In a signal apparatus, the combination of an operating rod having one or more
notches therein, arins engaging said notches, a loose collar surrounding said rod, and
means for raising said collar and for maintaining it in its raised position, substantially
as, and for the purpose, set forth.
4. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a shaft or rod carrying the signal, an
operating rod, and electrical mechanism for releasing a weight so that it may drop
from its support and start said operating rod into activity, substantially as described.
5. In a signal apparatus, the combination of one or more contact strips with a
revolving disc carrying one or more contact plates and levers for shifting
"switching" the same to be operated by the wheels of passing trains, substantially as
described.
or
6. In a signal apparatus, the combination of levers 1 and 2 with suitable attachments
so arranged that a train passing over said levers in one direction will operate the
signal while a train going in the opposite direction will have no effect on the signal,
substantially as described.
D11
لبقية
Dated this 28th day of May 1889.
T. P. CURRY
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.