Improvements in and connected with Electrical Apparatus for Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug.. 1895-Accepted, 7th Sept., '1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Electrical Apparatus for
Signalling on Railways.
I, WILLAM JOHN RAWSON, of Cropwell Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent, in the
County of Nottingham, Warehouseman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:―
This invention relates to improvements in, and connected with, electrical
apparatus for signalling on railways, and has reference more particularly to that
class of electrical signalling apparatus in which a miniature semaphore signal is
employed and fitted upon the engine, and so arranged as to work in unison with the
ordinary signals, so that if the latter should be obscured and invisible, by reason
of a fog, or otherwise, the driver will nevertheless be able, by a glance at the
miniature semaphore, to see what signal is being given.
Now the object of my invention is to so construct and arrange such apparatus as
to render the same more efficient, and less expensive in working, so that less battery
power shall be required, and any liability to interruption or breakdown shall be
obviated.
In carrying out my invention, I arrange the miniature semaphore in a box or
casing having a glazed and hinged front which carries the said semaphore and the
parts connected therewith.
The semaphore is actuated by means of a needle of soft iron, or steel, preferably
the former, secured on its pivot or axle and situated inside a coil through which
the signal current passes.
A counter balance weight, with adjustable screw, is
provided on the pivot to keep the needle upright and the semaphore inclined when
the circuit is not completed. In close proximity to the coil, I arrange a permanent
horseshoe magnet which acts inductively on the said needle and determines its
magnetization, thereby also ensuring that the ends of the needle shall always be of
the same polarity. This magnet forms a very important adjunct to this class of
instrument as, without it, the polarity of the needle is liable to reverse, thereby
causing the miniature semaphore to act in a contrary sense to that in which it is
desired it shall act, and hence causing risk of accident.
Working in conjunction with the semaphore, I provide, in the body of the box
or casing, an electric bell, or other audible signal, and to prevent the entrance of
dust thereto, without interfering with the emission of the sound, I fit a
perforated grating backed with a layer of silk, in the lower portion of the
hinged front.
In apparatus of this class, as at present constructed and used, there exists,
however, no provision to guard against accidental failure of the battery, and
since the getting out of order of a single cell only might interrupt the current,
and so render the apparatus inoperative, it is evident that the liability to such
accidental failure constitutes a serious danger. I therefore employ two (or more)
batteries the cells of which are arranged in two (or more) sets or series and
coupled up in parallel in the circuit, so that in the event of any accident, say of a
connection being broken, only that set or series in which the accident has occurred
will be thrown out of action, the other set (or sets) meanwhile continuing to supply
a current which will be strong enough to work the semaphore and so enable the
driver to see what signal is intended, although the action of the semaphore will
show at once that the battery is not working properly.

page_text: For the purpose of causing the current to flow in one or other direction in the
circuit, according to the signal "train on line," or "line clear," is to be given, I
provide a current reverser of the ordinary duplex type connected mechanically
with the lever for operating the signals, so as to reverse the current when this lever
is moved from one position to the other.
The current is conveyed to the instrument on the engine, by means of a
conductor arranged parallel with the rails, and against which bears a brush
formed of metal plates secured at the lower end of a screw threaded spindle which
passes through the step of the engine, for instance, but is insulated therefrom by
an insulating thimble or sleeve and held adjustably in position by means of lock
nuts arranged above and below the step.
To enable the signalman to test whether the apparatus is in proper working
order, I may provide a test wire having a suitable switch, whereby the circuit
may be completed in the same manner as if a train were approaching the
signal.
It is obvious that a miniature semaphore signal, such as described, may also be
used with advantage in signal cabins to indicate to the signalman the position of
the arm, or arms, of a signal, or signals, situated out of sight of the cabin.
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100
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in and connected with Electrical Apparatus for
Signalling on Railways.
1, WILLIAM JOHN RAWSON, of Cropwell Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent, in the
County of Nottingham, Warehouseman, 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, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say
This invention relates to improvements in and connected with electrical
apparatus for signalling ou railways, and has reference more particularly to that
class of electrical signalling apparatus in which a miniature semaphore signal is
employed and fitted upon the engine, and so arranged as to work in unison with the
ordinary signals, so that it the latter should be obscured and invisible by reason of
a fog, or otherwise, the driver will nevertheless be able, by a glance at the miniature
semaphore, to see what signal is being given.
Now, the object of my invention is to so construct and arrange such apparatus as
to render the same more efficient and less expensive in working, so that less battery
power shall be required, and any interruption or breakdown shall be obviated. The
invention further relates to certain details which will hereinafter be pointed out
and claimed.
And in order that the said invention may be readily understood, I will describe
the same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance therewith,
the signal being shown in the normal and
Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the box or case of the apparatus open, with the
working parts therein.

page_text: Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views, to a larger scale, showing the axle or pivot of the
miniature semaphore signal with its connected parts.
Figs. 5 and 6 show a contact brush hereinafter mentioned, and a lifting
arrangement for the same.
:
Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing an engine provided with my improved
signalling apparatus, and the electrical circuits from the same to the signal cabin.
a is the miniature semaphore which is arranged in a box or casing 5, having a
glazed and hinged front c which carries the said semaphore and the parts connected
therewith. The semaphore is actuated by means of a needle d of soft iron, or
steel, (preferably the former) secured on its pivot or axle a' and situated inside a
coil e through which the signal current passes, and the movements of this semaphore
are limited by stops a', a. A counter balance weight is arranged adjustably on
a screw secured to the pivot a¹ and serves to keep the needle upright and the
semaphore inclined as long as the circuit is not completed.
y is a permanent horseshoe magnet held against the outer side of the cuil e by a
nut on a pillar g³ passing through the curved portion of the magnet.
This permanent magnet acts inductively on the needle and determines its
magnetization, thereby preventing any risk of accident, since it ensures that the
ends of the needle shall always be of the same polarity, and that the miniature
semaphore shall not act in a contrary sense to that in which it is intended to act.
Furthermore, by its use the needle is rendered more sensitive, and hence less
battery power is required.
is an electric bell (or other audible signal) of ordinary construction arranged
in the box or casing b, and connected with the terminals 6¹ of the apparatus by
wires h', so that when the current flows to the coil e, a portion of it will pass
through the bell and will actuate the same, so calling the attention of the driver to
the fact that the signal has been operated.
To prevent the entrance of dust, without interfering with the emission of the
sound, a perforated grating h³, backed with a layer of silk ³, is fitted in the lower
portion of the hinged front c.
In order to guard against accidental failure of the battery, which might
interrupt the current and so render the apparatus inoperative, thus setting up a
source of serious danger, I employ two (or more) sets or series of cells as indicated
ati (Fig. 7), each constituting, as it were, an independent battery, and arranged
in parallel so that, in the event of any accident, say, of a connection being broken,
only that set in which the accident has occurred will be thrown out of action, the
other set (or sets) meanwhile continuing to supply a current which will be strong
enough to work the semaphore and so enable the driver to see what signal is
intended, although the weaker action will indicate at once that the battery is not
working properly.
To cause the signal to indicate both “train on line" and "line clear," I employ
a current reverserk (of the ordinary duplex type), connected mechanically with
the lever for operating the signals so as to reverse the current when this lever is
moved from one position to the other.
The current is conveyed from the reverser to the instrument on the engine,
through the medium of an insulated conductor m arranged on supports m' parallel
with the rails, and against which bears an insulated brush n secured on the engine
and connected with the instrument by a conductor a*. The arrangement of this
brush is shown more clearly in front view in Fig. 5, and in side view in Fig. 6. It
consists of metal strips or plates secured in a holder n at the lower end of a
screwed spindle n² which passes through an insulating thimble or block n³, and is
adjustably secured therein by nuts. The thimble or block n' is fitted in a hinged
plate n secured to a bent or angle plate n bolted to the step of the engine; this
latter plate n having a stop n to limit the movements of the plate n. By this
arrangement, the brush n can be caused to bear against the conductor m, or to be
turned aside into the position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 5, a handle or draw
rod o (which passes through the foot plate, and has a catch o' to keep it in its

page_text: raised position); being provided to enable the 'driver. to raise or lower the hinged
plate n', and with it the brush.
The connections of the circuit are indicated by the chain lines p in the diagram
Fig. 7, from which it will be seen that the current passes, for example, from the
reverser to the conductor m and 'thence through'the brush to the instrument. From
this latter it passes to the frame-work of 'the engine and flows back through earth
to the reverser and the battery.
To enable the signalman to test at any time whether the circuit is in proper
working order, 1 provide a test wire, leading from the conductor m back to the
signal cabin, and having a suitable switch, by which, the signalman can put it to
earth, 'so completing the circuit in the same manner as a train would do.
It is obvious that a miniature semaphore signal, such as described, may also be
used with advantage in signal cabins to indicate to the signalman the position of
the arm, or arms, of a signal, or signals, situated out of sight of the cabin.
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 I
.claim.is:-
1. In railway signalling apparatus in which a miniature semaphore sigual is
located upon the engine, and is operated from the signal cabin, the combination of
a permanent magnet acting inductively on the needle of such semaphore so as to
ensure the polarity thereof remaining, the same, substantially as described and
'shown.
2. The combination, with a railway signalling apparatus employing a miniature
semaphore signal arranged and operated as herein before described, of two or more
batteries coupled up in parallel so that in case of failure in one battery the other
will continue to supply current sufficiently strong to work the miniature semaphore,
substantially as described.
3. 'The arrangement of adjustable contact brush, and the means for putting the
same into and out of action, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5
and 6 of the drawings.
4. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting my improved
electrical apparatus for signalling on railways, whereby less battery power is
required and interruption or breakdown is obviated, substantially as hereinbefore
described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 31st day of July 1895
ERNEST DE "PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 54 Market Street,' Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.