Improved Machinery for Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 23rd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Machinery for Signalling on Railways.
We, CHARLES BROOKE CRAWSHAW, Coal Owner of Dewsbury, and JAMES
BATTYE, Engineer of Batley, both in the County of York do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of certain mechanical arrangements and combinations of
parts, constituting a machine, whereby signalling on railways is much improved and
a great saving in labor and money is obtained.
The following is a description of the construction of the machine-A suitable
bed-plate is fixed outside the rails with an iron-box attached, grooved at the sides
for connecting-rods to work in. Attached to the top of these rods is a press, which
is moved in and out of the iron-box. Attached to the lower-end of the connecting-
rods is a cross-bar with a lever, which is passed underneath one rail, this lever has
a projection or stud which stands up inside the rail, so that when the wheel of an
engine passes over, the flange of the wheel comes in contact with the projection or
stud, which presses the lever down, and by that means forces the press, attached to
the connecting-rods, inside the iron-box in which is placed a fog-signal or detonator,
causing it to explode.
On the top of the iron-box is fixed a pipe or cylinder in which is placed
a number of fog-signals or detonators; underneath this pipe a plate works,
with an orifice in it of the same dimensions as the fog-signal, which slides the
fog-signal under the before-mentioned press, ready for being exploded.
After the fog-signal or detonator has exploded the press goes back to its original
position, and, in coming back, knocks off a catch which liberates a small piston,
raising up the exploded fog-signal or detonator, so that when the plate is brought
forward again with another fog-signal or detonator it pushes off the exploded one,
at the same time putting an unexploded one into position ready for the next train, if
required.
The machine can be attached to the signal-wires or rods, and can be worked by
the signal-man in his box simultaneously with the ordinary signals.
Dated this Fourth day of June 1890.
CHAS. BROOKE CRAWSHAW,
Dewsbury.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Machinery for Signalling on Railways.
We, CHARLES BROOKE CRAWSHAW, Coal Owner, of Dewsbury, and JAMES
BATTYE, Engineer, of Batley, both in the County of York, 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 :-
The following is a description of the construction and working of the above:→
The whole of the working parts are fitted on to the bed-plate N" Figs. I., III.,
IV. & V., to which is cast, or fastened, the box "P" Figs. I., III. & V.; the
stand "MFigs. I., IV. & V. is also fixed to this bed-plate "N" Figs. I., III.,
IV. & V. and the bed-plate is then fastened securely to "R" Figs. I. & V.
which is a block of wood, or other material, of suitable dimensions to carry the
machine, & is put at a distance of about 3' 6" from the outside of the rail.

page_text: Its working is as follows :-
Figs. I. & V.
A number of fog-signals or detonators are put into the pipe "1" Figs. 1., IV.
& V. and the weight 2" Figs. I., IV. & V. fixed to the arm. "11"
slides the plate "3" Figs. I., III., IV. & V. (in which is an orifice the same size as
the detonators) towards the press 7 Figs. I., IV. & V.
6: "
When the orifice in the plate "3" Figs. 1., III, IV. & V. comes directly under
the pipe 1" Figs. L., IV. & V., a detonator falls into it and is carried forward and
placed in position above the piston "4" Figs. I. & III.
The detonator is then ready for being exploded, which is accomplished in the
following manner:-The flange of the wheel of a locomotive travelling over the
rail catches the stud "C" (or "5") Figs. I., II. & IV. and depresses the lever "6"
Figs. I. & IV. which works on the rocking-shaft "13" Figs. 1. & IV. which, in
turn, works in pedestals "14" Figs. I. & IV. (the pedestals are bolted to the
sleepers). The lever being thus depressed immediately brings the press "7"
Figs. L., IV. & V. with great force upon the detonator (on piston 4" Figs. 1. & III.)
exploding it. The weight of the engine being in this way brought to bear on the
press "7" Figs. I, IV. & V. forces the piston "4" Figs. 1. & III. down, and the
locking-bolt *8"
Fig. III. is pushed, by means of a spring into the opening "9"
Fig. III. which holds down the piston "4" Figs. 1. & III.
When the whole of
the train has passed over, the signal-man pulls back the arm "11" Figs. 1. & V. to
which is attached a wire from the signal-box. This brings the slide 3" Figs. 1.,
III., IV. & V. back to its original position, and, in doing so, a stud fitted under it
comes in contact with a catch on the locking-bolt "8" Fig. III. releasing the
piston "4" Figs. 1. & III. which is then lifted up by a spring "12" Fig. III.
taking the exploded detonator with it. The press Figs. I., IV. & V. is also
lifted up again, when the train has gone, by the weight "10" Figs. 1. & IV.
Upon the arrival of the next train the same action is repeated, this time the
plate 3" Figs. I., III., IV. & V. pushing the exploded detonator off the
top of the piston "4" Figs. I. & III. leaves another unexploded one in its
place.
The opening "O" Fig. III. is to allow the force of the exploding detonator to
escape.
The whole of the working of the machine can be put under the control of the
signal-man and worked with the ordinary signals without extra trouble, and all that
is necessary is to see that the stock of detonators is replenished as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is-
A patent for the whole of the above described fog-signalling apparatus, in all
and singular of its parts, the same being entirely our own invention.
Dated this Third day of March 1891.
CHARLES BROOKE CRAWSHAW.
JAMES BATTYE.