Improvements in and relating to Electric Signalling Devices between Oars of Railway Trains.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1896-Accepted, 23rd May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Signalling Devices
between Oars of Railway Trains.
I, EDWARD JAMES DEVINE, of Schreiber, Province of Ontario, Dominion of
Canada, Clergyman, 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 contemplates certain new and useful improvements in electric
signals for railway trains."
The object of the present invention is to simplify the construction and arrange-
ments of parts, lessen the number of wires for signaling between the ends of a
train, and to said ends from intermediate points thereof, and to provide a new and
improved form of coupling between the wires of adjacent cars which will also serve
as short-circuit closers in the event of any break between any two cars of a truin.
These objects I accomplish by providing an electric connection between all of the
cars of a train, said connection being composed of three wires, one of which is a
common return wire, while the remaining two wires can be thrown into circuit
therewith; one by push-buttons, or the like, operated at the ends of the train, and
the other upon any break occurring between the cars. The wires between the cars
are united by couplings having interlocking metallic plates and pivoted arms or
levers which serve to hold the parts united and also close the circuits by contacting
with said plates when a break occurs.
The invention comprises the novel features of construction and also the detail
combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth
aud particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing :-
Figure 1 is a side elovation of the end-portion of two cars provided with my
improvements.
Figures 2 and 3 are side views of the coupling, enlarged, the former showing the
parts united, and the latter disconnected.
Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views on the line-x, and y-y, Figures 2
and 3, respectively.
Figure 6 is a diagrammatical view of the circuit wires.
Referring to the drawing, A, A', designate the frames of two cars of a train. In
each car, preferably along the top thereof, although it may be at any other
convenient point, is arranged a series of electric wires 1, 2, and 3. These wires are
insulated and the ends of wires 1 and 2 in the rearmost series, say in the caboose of
a freight train, are connected to a bell and battery a, while the wires 1 and 3 may
be connected, or thrown into circuit, by a push-button a².
At the other end of the train, say in the cab of the engine, the wires 1 and 3
connect with the bell and battery a', and the wires 1 and 2 with a push-button a³.
Hence signaling from one end of the train to the other may be accomplished by
closing the circuits through the agency of either push-button. When the union
between the wires of any two cars is broken and the circuits closed at those points,
the signal in the caboose will be given through the agency of wires 1 and 2, and
that in the cab of the engine through wires 1 and 3. Hence it will be seen that
wire 1 serves as a common return wire and signaling by either means at both points
can be accomplished by the use of but three wires.

page_text: B designates the improved coupling, which is composed of two corresponding
parts or members b, each of which has a sories of three U-shape metallic plates b
held at one end botween two blocks b, of gutta-percha, or other non-conducting
material, the block 6 having an extended portion & parallel with the edges of the
plates and tapered on its outer side, as at 6, a plate 66, being secured on its end.
These blocks are united by a metallic keeper C, which encloses the same. To the
inner ends of the U-shape plates the ends of wires 1, 2, and 8 are connected.
The two parts or members of the complete coupling are united by the
U-shape plates.
D, D, designate two short-circuit closers, one carried by each of the parts of the
coupling and designed each to contact with the metallic plates of the respective
part and close the circuit in the event of any break in a train.
Each of these circuit closers consists of a lever fulcrumed near one end on a
short poste projecting from the keeper C. The forward, longer arm of this lever
has a curved thickened portion el divided into two members by a central
longitudinal groove of width corresponding to the central one of the U-shape
plates b', so that when this thickened portion is in contact with the plates the two
members thereof will fit snug between the three plates 6. A spring e engaging
the short arm e tends to force the grooved face of the lever into contact with the
U-shape plates. When the two parts of the coupling are forced together, the
thickened faces of the levers contact with the plates 6 and occupy approximately
borizontal positions. Then again these levers aid in holding the two parts together.
Instantly upon any break in the train and the separation of the two parts of the
coupling, the two levers immediately contact with the respective U-shape plates
and effect short-circuiting through each part of the sovered coupling, and hence
the giving of an alarm or sigual at both ends of the traiu.
The entire coupling may be enclosed in a tube or cylinder F which protects it
from snow, ice, etc. This tube or cylinder is composed of two semi-cylindrical
sections fattached, each, at ono eud to the insulated end of one of the parts of the
coupling. One longitudinal edge of each section f has a curved portion f forming
в groove to accommodate and hold the flanged edge f' of the other section.
In this way both sections are united and protect the coupling plates. They will
readily separate in the event of any break between the cars.
The advantages of my present invention are apparent. It will be especially
observed that the circuit closers constitute part of the couplings, and when the
parts or members of the latter are united, the levers aid in part in holding them
together; but as soon as the U-shape plates are drawn apart the thickened ends of
the levers immediately engage therewith. It will also be noted that I provide
complete electric circuits between the ends of the train by the use of but three
wires, oue of which acts as a common return wire, while the other wires serve,
respectively, for signaling from one end of the train to the other and for giving
signals at both ends of the train upon any break occurring therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is:
1. The herein-described improvement in train-signals, consisting of three wires
in each car connected in series, and signals, batteries and circuit closing devices at
each end of the train connected to said wires, and circuit closers intermediate of the
ends of said train whereby signals may be given from one end of the train to the
other and also at both ends of said train from intermediate points, as set forth.
2. The herein-described improvement in train-signals consisting of three wires
in each car connected in series, signals, batteries, and circuit closing devices at each
end of the train connected to said wires, and couplings for said wires between said
cars having short-circuiting devices designed to be operated upon the separation of
any one of said couplings, substantially as set forth.
3. In a train-signal having a series of wires in each car, a coupling for said wires

page_text: between said cars, composed of two parts or members having interlocking plates to
which said wires are connected, and short-circuit closers carried by said parts or
meinbers and designed to engage said plates when said parts or members are
separated, as set forth.
4. In a train-signal having a series of wires in each car, a coupling for said wires
between said cars, composed of two parts or members having intorlocking plates to
which said wires are connected, and arms or levers pivotally mounted on said parts
or members and having contact portions designed to engage the respective plates
of said parts when tho latter are separated, as set forth.
5. In a train-signal having a series of wires in each car, a coupling for said wires
between said cars, composed of two parts or members having each a series of
U-shape plates designed to interlock, said wires being connected to said plates,
non-conducting blocks securing said U-shape plates, and levers mounted on said
parts or members and designed to engage the said blocks of the other part or
member when the latter are coupled and to engage said plates when said parts or
members are separated, substantially as set forth.
6. In a train-signal having a series of wires in each car, a coupling for said wires
between the cars, composed of two parts or members having each a series of
U-shape plates designed to interlock, said wires being connected to said plates,
non-couducting blocks securing said U-shape plates, keepers enclosing said blocks,
levers fulcrumed on said keepers, and springs bearing against said levers, said levers
at their outer ends being designed to engage said U-shape plates when said parts or
members are separated, substantially as set forth.
7. In a train-signal having a series of wires in each car, a coupling formed in
two parts or members having each a series of interlocking plates to which said
wires are connected, non-conducting blocks holding said plates and having projecting
portions, spring-pressed levers mounted on said parts or members and having
contact portions designed to engage said plates when said parts or members are
separated, and which engage said projecting portions of said blocks when said parts
or members are united, substantially as set forth.
8. In a train-signal having couplings for the wires between the cars, enclosing
tubes for said couplings composed of two semi-cylindrical sections having inter-
locking portions, as set forth.
9. In a train-signal having couplings for the wires between the cars, enclosing
tubes for said couplings composed of two semi-cylindrical sections attached each at
one end to said couplings and provided with flanged and grooved edges designed to
interlock, substantially as set forth.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancory Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.