Improved Means for Stopping Engines and Trains Independently of Drivers on Railways.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1890-Accepted. 14th Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIICATIONN.
Improved Means for Stopping Engines and Trains Independently of
Drivers on Railways.
I, ROBERT SORLEY, of Thornhill, in the County of Perth. North Britain,
Implement Maker, 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:-
This invention which relates to improved means for stopping engines and trains
independently of drivers on railways, has for its object to prevent engines or trains
from coming in contact with each other, thereby tending to prevent railway
collisions.
In carrying out my said invention I employ two rows of double wires bars or
rods, between the lines of rails, so arranged in sections as to form a continuous pair
of wires, bars or rods, which are capable of conducting a current of electricity when
required; the said current being obtained when two engines or trains enter upon
the same section owing to the said engines being provided with suitable electric
motors and storage batteries connected to suitable wire brushes which hang
down and rub on top of said section of wires, in such a manner as that on a
circuit being made the motors on both engines are caused to operate or reverse
the steam and brake handles of the engines, thus stopping and reversing both
engines and trains and so preventing them from coming into contact with each
other.
But in order that the foregoing may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to
the accompanying drawings, throughout which the same reference letters denote
similar parts.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a plan of a double line of rails and a crossing having my
sections of wires,
And Figure 2, Sheet 2, is an elevation of the cab end of an engine shewing one
method of actuating the engine's handles.
Referring to the said drawings I provide a double row of porters or standards A,
within each line of rails B, and which are suitably secured to the ordinary
sleepers a, and are provided on their top sides which are insulated with two
grooves a¹, so as to carry the two wires, bars or rods C, which are capable to
transmitting an electrical current and which are arranged in sections as shewn,
that is each section terminating near the middle of the next, so as to form as
it were a continuous length of wire or rod, the said sections being made of any
convenient length such as half a mile or thereby (but preferably of such a
length as supposing two trains were running to meet on the one line and
entering upon the one section they would both be stopped and drawn up before
meeting) and connected to each other by means of suitable insulated links e,
made of a non-conducting material, and which may also act as means for keeping
the wires or rods taught, thus forming two sets of double wires C, within each line
of rails B, which may extend the full length of the rails, or only at junctions,
crossings or stations in either of which case they would extend for some distance on
either side, but in any case where crossings or such like B', occur I provide an
auxiliary set of two lengths of single wires, bars or rods C', made in sections and
similarly connected by insulated links, and supported by single grooved porters or
standards A', the said wires extending within the rails B', for some distance on
each side of said. crossing, and preferably made wider apart than those of the main
lines, to the outside wires.of which they are connected, as shewn at c², c³, and insulated
of disconnected from the others as shewn at c', or they may be connected to both
.5.
+4

page_text: of the outside wires and at stations or other places where carriages or vans are
likely to stand on the line. I may provide suitable loops of wire for some distance
along the outside of main wires, and of a corresponding width apart as the branch
wires, the said loop wires being connected at their ends to the main wires. The
said main wires C, and branch wires C₁, being passed underneath the rails B, B'
where required and suitably insulated so as not to break the section.
In order to obtain the electric current when required I mount in
any suitable
manner, and in any suitable part of each engine, or it may be on the tender, but
preferably as shewn in Figure 2, that is inside and near the top of the engine's
cab D, any suitable electric motor E, and storage battery or cells F, which are
connected by means of the wires G, to each other, and to the two wire brushes H,
which are preferably supported by means of the stay bracket h, in front of the
engine's bogie, though if desired I may mount them in any part of the engine or
tender, in such a manner that when the engine moves they will rub on the double
rows of wires C. The said motor E, is suitably connected to the engines' steam
regulating and brake or brakes handles, in such a manner that when the circuit is
complete it will actuate the said handles, one mode of carrying the same into
practice being shewn in the drawings, that is by forming the end of the driving
shaft J, of the motor E, as a screw, which works into a corresponding internal
screwed sliding nut K, suitably carried in bearings k, attached to the engine, the
said nut K, being suitably connected to the forked ends 1, of one or more pivoted
levers L, their other ends being connected to the said steain regulating handle M,
and brake handle N, through the medium of the connecting rods or links P, which
are provided on one of their ends with suitable slots p, so as to enable the handles M
and N, being operated on by hand when desired, and the said rods may also be
provided with suitable steadiers p³, if desired.
I also provide each carriage, wagon or truck, and brake van, or every alternate
or any carriage, wagon or truck or only the brake van with a pair of wire brushes
- connected to each other by means of an insulated wire underneath the said vehicle,
the said brushes being constructed wider apart than the engines brushes so as to
only rub on the branch wires at crossings, junctions and such like and loop wires,
and I may if desired provide an extra pair of brushes on each engine to correspond
with and rub on the branch wires when running on same, or if desired I may so
construct the main brushes of each engine as'to be adjustable for either the main or
branch wires.
The whole arrangement being such that supposing a train or engine was passing
over a line prepared as above it would not be affected in any way unless another
train or engine was on same section of wires, as on two trains or engines coming on
to the same section of wires the circuit is made complete and both of the engines'
motors set in motion, and therefore both engines or trains automatically stopped and
reversed and so prevented from colliding with each other; and again supposing a
part of a train or the brake van should be standing on the line at a station with its
brushes on looped wires another engine or train could not enter as immediately its
engine came on to same section of wires it would be automatically stopped and
reversed; or supposing a train or engine to be on or passing over the crossing or
such like a train or engine on the main line could not meet it as the moment it
entered on the section of wires connected with the branch wires both would be
automatically stopped and reversed.
As a modification of the foregoing when used at stations, crossings or junctions
only I may employ two wires between the rails for some distance on each side of
the station etc., which are connected near their centre to a dynamo and motor their
ends being disconnected or left free. I also connect short wires to said main wires
at all points and crossings, the engines, carriages etc., or engine and van only have
an insulated wire underneath connected to two wire brushes which rub on said wires
when train enters. I also provide other two wires outside the rails which extend
to same point as the main wires where they are raised up some distance from the
ground, and carried some distance along, they are also connected to the dynamo in

page_text: such a way that the circuit is complete when the motor is in motion; the said
engines are also provided with suitable motors which are connected to their steam
and brake handles and brushes, so that on the circuit being made complete by the
motors of two engines, they would be automatically stopped and reversed.
In lieu of employing a motor and battery I may employ any suitable kind of
dynamo on engines, the said dynamo being suitably driven by the engine. And in
lieu of the wire brushes I may employ suitable wire brush wheels or iron wheels,
and in some cases I may cause a jet of water to be played, either constantly or at
intervals, on said rubbing brushes or wheels, so as to prevent them from becoming
overheated by friction. And if desired I may mount the battery or storage cells
on any other part of the train than the engine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is,
First. My improved means for stopping engines and trains independently of
drivers on railways, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. In stopping engines and trains independently of drivers, the employment
of sections of wires, bars or rods, so arranged as to form a continuous double length
of wire, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn
in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In combination with my said second claim the employment of electric
motors and batteries, or dynamos, with contact brushes or wheels on engines, all
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In combination with my said second and third claims, the employment
of a pair of single wires at all crossings, and such like, and loop lines at stations
and such like, and the contact brushes and insulated wires for same, provided on all
or any of the carriages, wagons, trucks or vans, all substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The general arrangement and combination of the various parts, whereby
on two engines or trains entering on same section of wires, they are automatically
stopped and reversed, all substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings:
Sixth. The general arrangement of my modification as described for use at
stations, crossings or junctions only, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1800
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.