Improvements connected with Electrical Signalling or Communica- tion on Railway Trains.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements connected with Electrical Signalling or Communica-
tion on Railway Trains.
I, ALEXANDER SHIELS, of 190, Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B.Sc., do here-
by declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
At present with the electrical signalling or communicating apparatus on railway
trains trouble and annoyance frequently arises through the alarm bell ringing and
the semaphore signal falling down, so as to call the attention of the guard, merely
by the oscillation and jolting of the train. My invention has for its object to
provide means whereby the alarm bell will be prevented ringing unless an electric
current is passed through the magnet so as to actuate the armature and also means
whereby the semaphore signal will be held locked in place until it is released by
passing a current through its magnet.
The signalling semaphore is or may be of a construction the same as or similar
to that described in the Specification of my and William Elliot's prior Patent
No. 13982 of 1891.
In carrying out my present invention with reference to the alarm bell I arrange
between the poles of the magnet a two armed bar or piece which I term an
"anchor." This bar or piece which has one arm heavier than the other is pivotted
upon a pin secured to a plate attached to the magnet in such a manner that its
ends are just at or within the field of the magnet. The arms are preferably made
at or about an angle of 45° with one another. The anchor normally hangs with
its heavy arm at right angles to the plane of the armature and it is checked or
held in this position by means of a pin or stop on the armature so that should
the armature vibrate through the oscillation of the train it will not be allowed
to strike the gong. Whenever the magnet is excited by the passage of a current
through its coils the anchor is acted upon and drawn out of the way thereby
allowing the armature to sound the gong.
In carrying out the invention with reference to the semaphore signalling
apparatus I simply extend the armature of the magnet and then bent it so as to
form a hook with two projections which embrace between them, at the same time
allowing a certain amount of play, a locking catch which is pivotted to the magnet
or the base plate of the magnet. This locking catch is capable of engaging with
the catch on the semaphore which latter may take the form of a pivotted har with
a disc at its end. With this arrangement the hook on the end of the armature
tends to keep the locking catch in place and prevent it being unshipped by the
oscillation of the train.
Dated this 3rd day of Avonst 1898

page_text: Improvements connected with Electrical Signalling or Communica-
tion on Railway Trains.
I, ALEXANDER SHIELS, of 190, Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B.Sc., do here-
by 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:-
..
2
At present with the electrical signalling or communicating apparatus on rail-
way trains trouble and annoyance frequently arises through the alarm bell ringing
and the semaphore signal falling down, so as to call the attention of the guard,
merely by the oscillation and jolting of the train. My invention has for its object
to provide simple means whereby the alarm bell will be prevented ringing unless
an electric current is passed through the magnet so as to actuate the armature
and also means whereby the semaphore signal will be held locked in place until
it is released by passing an electric current through its magnet.
In order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 shows a magnet for a bell with a spring armature and hammer complete.
Fig. 2 is a section of the "anchor."
"
Fig. 3 is a plan of the "anchor and Fig. 4 is a side view of the "anchor."
Fig. 5 is a view showing the arrangement for locking the semaphore signal.
Fig. 6 is a view of the hook j.
In carrying out my present invention with reference to the alarm bell I arrange
between the poles a, b, of the magnet c a two armed bar or piece d which I term
an anchor." This bar or piece which has one arm heavier than the other d³
is pivotted upon a pin e, secured to a cross bar or plate f attached to the magnet, in
such a manner that the ends of its arms are just at or within the field of the
magnet. The arms are, preferably, arranged at or about an angle of 45° with one
another as shown. The "anchor" normally hangs with its heavy arm at right
angles to the plane of the armature (see dotted lines Fig. 1) and it is 'checked
or held in this position by means of a pin g or stop on the armature / so that
should the armature vibrate through the oscillation of the train it will not be
allowed to strike the gong i. Whenever the magnet is excited by the passage
of a current through its coil the "anchor" is acted upon and drawn out of the
way (see full lines Fig. 1) thereby allowing the hammer of the armature to strike
the gong.
In carrying out the invention with reference to the semaphore signalling
apparatus (see Fig. 5) I simply extend the armature of the magnet c and then
form or provide the extension with a hook having projections ',, which
embrace between them, at the same time allowing a certain amount of play, a
locking catch which is pivotted at to the magnet or the base plate of the
magnet. This locking catch is capable of engaging with the catch 7 on the
semaphore m which latter may take the form of a pivotted bar with a disc or a
semi-circle at its end. With this arrangement the projection of the hook j
tends to keep the locking catch in place and prevents it being unshipped by the
oscillation of the train. When an electric current is passed through the magnet,
the pivotted armature is attracted upwards and the projection strikes against
the catch and moves it out of engagement with the catch of the semaphore
which latter can then fall down, turning upon its pivot n¹, so as to give a signal.

page_text: 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 consider novel and desire to claim is:-
1. The combination with a magnet and its armature of an anchor (d) sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The arrangement for preventing the signalling semaphore moving down
out of place through the oscillation and jolting of the train substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 29th day of June 1899.
H. D. FITZPATRICK
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.