IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING, SIGNALS FROM ONE PART OF A RAILWAY TRAIN TO ANOTHER."
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Edmund Brae, of Leeds, in the County of
York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING,
SIGNALS FROM ONE PART OF A RAILWAY TRAIN TO ANOTHER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Edmund Brae
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, ou
the 5th June 1856.
I, ANDREW EDMUND BRAE, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING SIGNALS FROM ONE PART OF
A RAILWAY TRAIN TO ANOTHER," to be as follows:-
These improvements are certain alterations and modifications which I find
it expedient to make in my apparatus for "Communicating Signals from One
Part of a Railway Train to another," for which I received a grant of Letters
Patent, under date the 24th of January 1853, and are as follows:-
Firstly, I substitute for the Hooke's universal joint, a simple link joint, or
hook and eye joint, which I find sufficient for the purpose, and cheaper in
production.
Secondly, I apply retractive springs to the plungers, so that when extended
they may be drawn back by self-action.
Thirdly, I alter the situation of the said plungers from the tubes beneath tho

page_text: carriages to the central link, by which the apparatus is connected from carriage
to carriage, so that the said central link forms in itself an expansile and
retractile spring coupling, and simplifies the appar".
Fourthly, I form a direct connexion between my apparatus and the plug of
a steam signal whistle, by a peculiar arrangement of endless chain and pulley
traversing the said plug.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Andrew Edmund Brac in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th December 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANDREW
EDMUND BRAE, of Leeds, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Andrew
Edmund Brae, Her special licence that I, the said Andrew Edmund Brae, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Andrew
Edmund Brae, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
COMMUNICATING SIGNALS FROM ONE PART OF A RAILWAY TRAIN TO ANOTHER," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Andrew Edmund Brae, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Andrew Edmund Brae, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
These improvements consist of certain alterations, substitutions, and additions

page_text: which I find it 'expedient to make in an apparatus for communicating. signals
from one part of a railway train to another, for which I now hold Her Majesty's
Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the 24th of January 1853. In the Speci-
fication thereof, I described my said apparatus as consisting of a torsion.bar.or
chain, wherein, by the interposition of ductile links, I absorb and neutralize the
various irregularities of motion and position to which railway trains are liable.
I stated that I place along the under framework of each carriage a tube,
extending throughout the length of the said carriage, and emerging at its ends;
that into either or both extremities of this tube I introduce a portion of an
arm or plunger, so as to slide freely within the same, but prevented from
revolving or twisting round independently thereof. I stated that to the other
extremity of the said plunger I attach a Iooke's universal joint, and to that
again another arm or bar, formed into a peculiar equi-sided coupling, which
I afterwards more particularly described; finally, I stated that this whole
group of plunger, Hooke's joint, and coupling bar forms the ductile link by
which I connect the apparatus from carriage to carriage.
Now, the further improvements in this apparatus, which form the subject of
my présent Invention, are as follows:-One of these improvements is, that
instead of extending the tube throughout the whole length of the carriage.
frame, I now find it sufficient to extend it only through a portion of the same;
the deficiency being made up by such an elongation of the plunger rods that
the combined length of the whole remains the same as before. By this
improvement I am enabled to construct the apparatus in a lighter and more
compact form.
Another of these improvements is the application of retractile springs to the
plungers, fer the purpose of drawing them back, after having been extended by
the elongation of the train, so as to conform by self-action to the shortening of
the same, and thereby always preserve the torsion chain in a state of tension.
These springs, I place within the tubes, or in any other situation conducive to:
the same effect. By this improvement I not only obtain an easier working of
the plungers, but I am enabled to effect the further improvement of substituting
equi-sided open hooks for the equi-sided catch coupling, described in my
former Specification, without danger of the said hooks ungearing from slack-
ness.
But I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself
to these equi-sided open hooks, nor to the equi-sided catch coupling formerly
described; but I reserve to myself the right to use any other mode of coupling
that may be consistent with the general character of my apparatus.
Another of these improvements consists in the substitution of simple link
joints in lieu of the Hooke's joints mentioned in my aforesaid former Speci

page_text: fication. By this improvement I not only simplify the construction, and reduce
the cost of the universal joints, but I am also enabled to attach the joints to the
plungers in an improved manner, viz. :-I form one of the eyes of the link joint
in the shape of the letter U, and instead of fixing it to the extremity of the
plunger, I attach it, by means of pivots through its two projecting cheeks, to
an intermediate ring or collar, which fits freely upon the neck of the plunger,
and is there retained by the plunger-head. The said pivots project from
opposite points in the outer circumference of the free collar, so that the
U-shaped loop, turning upon these pivots, may either hang down vertically
or be raised to a horizontal position. Now, so long as the free collar offers no
resistance to the revolution of the plunger within it, so long will the loop and
the coupling bar depending from it be unaffected by torsional motion in the
said plunger; but, if by the introduction of a wedge or otherwise, the said
collar is at any time jammed or keyed fast, it will then be carried round with
the plunger in its revolution, and so transmit torsional motion. Now, I effect
this jamming of the collar in such a way that it occurs in the horizontal
position only; to this end I form the plunger-head into a wedge of such a
shape and size that it just enters into and fills up an unoccupied space
between the checks of the U-shaped link, so that when the said link is raised
to the horizontal position (which it must be, in order to couple it with the rest
of the apparatus), the wedge-like head of the plunger enters between its cheeks,
and compels it to revolve with it. Hence, so long as the link continues in the
horizontal position, so long is the free motion of the collar prevented; but
when the coupling is released, and the link suffered to drop to a vertical
position, the checks of the U-shaped link retire from the wedge, and the
collar is again free. This is an important improvement, inasmuch as in those
cases where the apparatus may be in gear at one end of a carriage, while at
the other end it hangs loose, the clog and embarrassment which would arise
from the loose link and junction bar being twisted round at the side not in use
is avoided.
Another of these improvements is a method by which I apply tho torsional
motion of my apparatus (or that of any other torsional apparatus) to the
revolving plug of a steam whistle. For this purpose I continue the apparatus
throughout the entire train, as far as the foot plate of the engine, upon which
the driver stands. Beneath the foot plate I cause the apparatus to terminate
in an endless chain pulley, which may be provided with a ratchet and spring
paul. I affix a similar pulley, but without the ratchet, to the plug of a steam
whistle, fixed upon the boiler in the usual way; the said plug being clongated
for the purpose, and supported by a bracket. I then connect the two pulleys

page_text: together by an endless chain passing through an aperture in the foot. plate,
and by this means I communicate a revolving motion from the apparatus
beneath to the steam whistle plug above, without the intervention of any other
machinery. The object of the ratchet and spring paul is to place the steam
whistle under the controul of the driver, independently of the rest of the
apparatus; it enables him to open or close the plug by pulling on-the. chain..
. Another of these improvements is a variation in the situation.of the ex-
panding and contracting action from the slides and plungers to the intermediate,
coupling link. One mode by which I carry this into execution is by.con-
structing the said coupling link in the mauner represented by Fig. 6, in the:
accompanying Sheet of Drawings. I transfer the sliding motion to three or
more sliding parallel bars, the ends of which I connect by retractile springs,
so as to cause them to contract by self-action; for the purpose: already
explained.
The foregoing improvements I use either collectively or severally as I find
expedient, and the manner in which I carry them into execution, in con-
junction with my aforesaid apparatus, will be clearly understood by reference
to the accompanying Drawings. I do not, however, confine myself to the
exact conformation therein represented or herein described, as, my said im-
provements may be altered and modified in various ways without departing
from the principle of my Invention.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the anterior portion of a railway train, wherein A.
is a side view of the after part of the engine and boiler; A 2, an end view
of the same; B, the tender; and C, one of the leading carriages; a (in A)
is the steam whistle; b, the endless chain; and c, the foot plate of the
engine.
Fig. 2 is a similar elevation of the posterior portion of the same train,
wherein D is a side view of the guard's van; D 2, an end. view of the same;
and E, one of the after carriages; d is the guard's signal winch and endless
chain; e, the tube; f, the plunger; g, the coupling link; and h, the link
uncoupled and drawn home by the retractile spring.
:
Figs. 3 and 4 are plans respectively of the two foregoing side views. In
Fig. 3, at i, i, is shewn the gradual divergence of the apparatus from a central
line to the side of the engine, in order to avoid the fire door.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the tube, plungers, and coupling links, in
which is the tube with its slots and sliding pins; 7, a retractile spring;
m, the plunger rod united by a coupling nut n, the free collar; o, the
plunger head; p, the equi-sided open hook coupling; and q. the link, with
the vertical free position shown by dotted lines.

page_text: Fig. 6 is the expanding coupling link, to which I sometimes transfer the
sliding action. The contractile springs, which may be applied so as to
draw together the ends r, r, are omitted in the Drawing for the sake of
clearness.
Having now fully set forth and explained my said improvements, I claim
as my Invention, -
Firstly, the improved general arrangement of my said apparatus, with the
application thereto of all or any of the improvements I have described.
Secondly, the application of retractile springs to expansible torsion appa-
ratus through railway trains, for the purpose of contracting the same and
keeping it in a state of tension.
Thirdly, the application of a fast and loose collar and wedge, or any
variation of the same contrivance, for the purpose of occasionally interrupting
or restoring torsional effect in parts of such apparatus.
Fourthly, the method of directly applying the revolving motion of a
torsional apparatus to the plug of a steam whistle, as represented and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Edmund Brac, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six.
Signed and sealed in the presence of
JOHN YOUNG,
of Leeds.
AND" EDMD BRAE. (L.S.)