Improvements in and relating to Signalling Apparatus in connection with Railway Trains.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Signalling Apparatus in connection
with Railway Trains.
I, SAMUEL JOHN ROFE, of 1, St. Paul Street, Southport, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
:―
This Invention relates to Signalling apparatus in connection with Railway
Trains and consists firstly in the employment of a steam tube or pipe connected
with a steam pipe from the Engine said steam tube or pipe is carried up the end
of each carriage and along the top or between the partitions of, each compartment
as may be desired, the steam tube or pipe in each case rises through the roof of
the carriage or compartment and is connected with a steam whistle the cock of
which has an arm which is attached to a lever rod carried through a stuffing box
(to keep out the rain etc.) said lever rod passing through to the inside of each com-
partment and fixed in any convenient position so as to be easily reached for
manipulation. To the extremity of the lever rod that passes outside the roof I
attach a short piece of chain which is in connection with the arm to the cock of
the steam whistle a suitable spiral or other spring arrangement is also upon the
lever rod end to govern its action when pulling down. Or as an alternative
method, the extremity of the lever rod outside the roof is shouldered and an
arrangement consisting of two spring arms carried by two uprights from the roof
is fixed close to the said shouldered part so that when the lever rod is pulled down
the shoulder passes centrally through the arms and thus being drawn below them
cannot be pushed back so as to shut off the steam from the whistle.
This can only be done from the outside. On the outside of each carriage and
opposite each compartment are adjustably fixed metal flags provided with spring
arrangement, which in their normal position lie folded against the side of the
carriage and are retained in that position by suitable clips attached to spring
levers running transversely through the side of the carriage and close to or con-
nected with the lever pull rod which has upon its length a shoulder or flange piece.
Thus when the rod is pulled down the steam whistle is opened by the actuation of
the cock and the shoulder or flange upon said lever rod depresses the spring levers
and releases the flags which fly out, said flags are provided with stops to keep them
straight out at right angles with the carriage and may be coated with a luminous
paint and have a glass over each side, or they can be lighted by a small lamp placed
between the glass in case it is desired to call attention at night or in Tunnels.
These signalling flags it will be seen denote the particular compartment from
whence the signal shall have been given.
If desired to have only one whistle upon each carriage the apparatus can be
worked by means of a steel or copper rope or rod or tube of iron brass or other
metal running along the top of each carriage on pulleys fixed over each compart-
ment and kept taut by suitable means.
Dithin 2nd day of March 1807
EDWD. J. PAYNE & SON,
Warwick Chambers, 104, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Signalling Apparatus in connection
with Railway Trains.
I, SAMUEL JOHN ROFE of 1, St. Paul Street, Southport, in the County of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following Statement reference being had to the Drawings
accompanying this Specification and to the several Figures and letters shewn
thereon.
f.
"
Figures 1 and 2 Represent Transverse Sectional Elevations of a Railway Carriage
shewing one form of my improved signalling Apparatus respectively out of action,
and in action. Figure 3 Represents a longitudinal Sectional Elevation. Figure 4
Represents a part Sectional view shewing arrangement for applying the whistle
over each compartment. My Invention relates to Signalling Apparatus in Connec-
tion with Railway Trains and Consists, firstly in the employment of a steam tube
or pipe A, and pipe B connected with a steam pipe B₁ from the Engine, said steam
tube or pipe A is carried up the end of each carriage or between the partitions of
each compartment as may be desired.
The vertical steam tube or pipe A in each case rises up the end of or through
the roof of the carriage and is connected with a steam whistle C, which is pro-
vided on each carriage, or over each compartment, the cock D of the Whistle Chas
an arm E which is attached by a chain or links.F to a lever pull rod G which has
a suitable spring arrangement H, to prevent its hanging on the arm E, said lever
rod G, passes through a stuffing box I, to the inside of each compartment and is
fixed in a position so as to be easily reached. The stem cock D of the Whistle C,
has female screw threaded sockets D in to which is screwed the sections of tube
or rod D2 or steam pipe R, Figure 4 carried along the top of the carriage on small
supports A with bushed bearings, said rod (or may be a steel or copper rope on
pulleys kept taut by suitable means) operating the whistle C.
Situated on the lever rod or rods G, inside the carriage or compartments is a
shoulder J, which when either rod is pulled down catches the spring lever rods K,
running transversely through the compartments and which are suitably supported
on the partitions by plates and screws or other means as shewn.at K' and governed
by springs K. The end of said levers K that pass through the sides of the carriage
have catches L thereon, the act of pulling down either of the lever rods G has
a double result viz:-in operating metal signalling flags L' attached on the outside
of each Compartment by releasing same by means of the catches L'on levers K and
also opening the steam whistle C. The aforesaid lever rod G having been pulled
down cannot be pushed back so as to shut the whistle the shoulder J having passed
the spring levers K being on the under side of same and thus preventing such a
possibility.
When a whistle is used over each compartment, in addition to the aforesaid
appliances a steam pipe R Figure 4 is carried along the roof of the carriage in
connection with each whistle and the Vertical steam pipe A and steam pipes: B,,B',
to the Engine the action is similar to that already, described...
By referring to the Drawings Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 shew enlarged details of an
alternative method of the flag releasing arrangement.
Figure 5 Represents in dotted lines an inside view. Figure 6 an outside view.
Figure 7 Represents a section through the side of carriage: Figure 8 Represents a
sectional plan throught, the side of carriage.
I. will proceed to describe, the action," By pulling down either ofthe lever rods G
as stated the transverse levers K are depressed which action lifts an arm M on a
10 A

page_text: spindle N passing through the side, of the carriage and turns said. spindle round
which lifts a catch or clip, O on the outside of the carriage and thus allows the
flag L¹ to fly out at right angles and is retained in that position by a suitable stop.
The flags in their normal position lie folded or turned back flush against the sides
of the carriage and are kept in that position by the catch or clip 0 until released
in manner shewn. These signalling Hags are for the purpose of denoting the par-
ticular compartment from whence the signal shall have been given, said flags are
coated with luminous paint, so as to be seen at night or in Tunnels and will be pro-
tected from, the weather by having glass, over them..
Referring to Figure which represents a Sectional Elevation of an alternative
method for opening, the cock of. the whistle, it will be seen that the level red
does not raise so high through the carriage roof as in the method previously
described, a longer chain F is Employed. in connection with the arm E which
operates the cock D) of the whistle C. The object of this is that when the lever
rod G is pulled down in any one Compartment the shortening of said rod and
lengthening of chain will allow all the arms E to drop without the rods Gin the
several compartments being pushed down.
In Figure 10 of the Drawings a further Alternative arrangement is shewn for
opening the steam whistle. In this case the extremity of the lever rod & outside
the roof of the carriage is shouldered as at P and an arrangement consisting of two
spring arms Q carried by two uprights Q' from the roof is fixed close to the said
shouldered part P, so that when the lever rod is pulled down the shoulder passes
centrally through the arms Q and thus being drawn below them cannot be pushed
back so as to shut off the steam from the whistle C.
This can only be effected from the outside. In connection with my Invention I
can also arrange for a cock to be fixed on a branch from the steam pipe A. said
branch passing into the Compartment or carriage for heating purposes in order
that the steam may be shut off when required.
I wish it to, be understood that I do not necessarily limit myself to the more
precise details of arrangements herein described or to the method by which the
whistles are blown by steam as I may arrange for the said whistles to be opened
by means of air, I may also arrange for the signalling flags to be manipulated by
steam or air.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the object and nature of my
said Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that
what I claim is,
Firstly. The improvements in Signalling Apparatus in connection with Rail-
way Trains consisting of the employment of the several appliances namely a Steam
Tube or pipe carried up the end of each carriage in connection with a steam pipe or
pipes from the Engine a steam whistle attached to said Vertical steam pipe outside
the roof of the carriage in connection with a longitudinal tube or rod or metal
rope running over the roof of said carriage to operate said whistle, a cock and
lever arm in connection with said whistle, and with a chain or links in connection
with a lever rod passing through a stuffing box in roof of carriage to each com-
partment, said lever rod being governed in its action by a spiral spring or in
connection with spring arms suitably supported all operating in combination and
for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated in the Drawings.
Secondly. In Signalling Apparatus for Railway Trains consisting of the several
appliances and the method of action namely the steam tubes or pipes carried up the
partitions of the Compartments in connection with a steam pipe or pipes from the
Engine, steam whistles attached to the vertical steam pipes outside the carriage.
roof in connection with a longitudinal steam pipe passing over the roof to operate
said whistles by the means described and for the purpose set forth.
Thirdly. In Signalling Apparatus in connection with Railway Trains, the
arrangement of steam pipes, the steam whistles in connection therewith operated
by lever rod or rods as described in combination with the arrangement of transverse

page_text: lever rods for operating metallic signalling flags adjustably supported in spring
bearings and retained in position, by clips and stops all for the purpose or purposes
substantially as described and illustrated.
Fourthly. The improvements for Signalling on Railway Trains consisting of
the several appliances comprising the apparatus in combination with the means
whereby a whistle or whistles can be opened Simultaneously with the operation of
the signalling flags as described.
Fifthly. The application and use of whistles on Railway Carriages as a means
for signalling, said whistles being operated by steam in manner herein described
or by other Equivalent means, such as air, as set forth.
Sixthly. As a means for Signalling on Railway Trains the application and use
of whistles or other similar contrivances arranged on the carriages and the applica-
tion and use of signalling flags, in combination therewith operating as herein
described or by steam, or air, that will bring about the desired result for the
purpose of signalling as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of May 1897
EDWD. J. PAYNE & SON,
Warwick Chambers, 104, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.