AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING AND REGISTERING SIGNALS ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert Smith and Samuel Amos Taylor, both of Kibworth
in the County of Leicester, Machinists, for an invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING AND REGISTERING SIGNALS ON
RAILWAYS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Albert Smith and Samuel
Ainos Taylor at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th May
1882.
ALBERT SMITH and SAMUEL AMOS TAYLOR, both of Kibworth in the County of
Leicester Machinists "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING
AND REGISTERING SIGNALS ON RAILWAYS
و"
Our invention relates to an improved method of signalling and registering
signals upon railways and to apparatus therefor.
The semaphore signals heretofore used have been fixed at various places, along
the line, and the engine driver has often been unable especially in foggy weather
to see if the signal was against him or not, until the train arrived within a short
distance of the place where the said signal was fixed; and when a very thick fog
has existed, it has been impossible for the engine-driver to see the signals at all.
To obviate these defects, fog signals have been employed, but their use is attended
with many inconveniences and is by no means satisfactory.
According to our said invention, we overcome the difficulties hitherto experienced
in railway signalling, in the following manner that is to say, instead of placing the
signals at intervals along the line, we attach them to the locomotives and arrange
thein in combination with suitable mechanism, in such a manner that they will
be operated at the proper times by apparatus fixed at intervals along the line
and controlled from a signal-box in the ordinary manner of controlling the signals
heretofore used; or the said apparatus may be actuated in any suitable manner.
We prefer to employ in connection with the mechanism attached to the locomotive
for operating the semaphore or other signals, any suitable apparatus for registering
the signals given to the driver of the said locomotive. We also prefer to arrange
the said mechanism in such a manner that, when a signal is given, the steam
CD

page_text: whistle will be opened simultaneously, and will continue to sound until the signal
has been seen by the driver and the mechanism has been returned by him or by
a suitable spring or springs to its normal position; and if desired the said
mechanism may cause a gong to be sounded at the same time that the signal is
given. The apparatus fixed at intervals along the line for operating the signals
is preferably so arranged that, should the wire or other material connecting it
with the signal-box or other parts be broken the apparatus will immediately
assume the position for giving the danger signal on any locomotive passing over
it; the defect in the apparatus will thus be at once shown without any serious
results having been caused by its improper working.
It is obvious that in carrying our said invention into practice we may employ
apparatus of various kinds, along the line for operating the signals upon the
locomotives as the latter pass the said apparatus and that the mechanism attached
to the locomotive may be constructed and arranged in various ways. According
to one method we employ at intervals along the line a lever pivoted in any suitable
manner at one end and connected at the other end on one side to the mechanism
in a signal box and on the other side to a counterweight. This lever is arranged
between the two rails and is by preference composed of two bars of metal bent in
such a manner that they approach each other at their centres but are some distance
apart at their ends. Upon the locomotive we provide a lever pivoted upon a bolt
or stud fixed in a bracket secured to the frame of the locomotive. The lower end
of this lever is so arranged that, when the locomotive passes over the aforesaid
lever pivoted between the rails the said lower end will come against the inclined
side of one of the bars forming the said lever, and the lever upon the locomotive
is thereby moved in one direction or the other to operate the signal. The upper
end of the last named lever is pivoted to one end of a connected rod, the other
end of which is connected to an arm fixed upon a rod carried in suitable bearings.
To this rod is attached the semaphore or other signal and the said rod has fixed
to it another arm which is connected by a link to a rod carried in bearings and
passing along the locomotive to within reach of the driver. Upon the last named
rod may be fixed an inclined or wedge-shaped piece which acts upon a rod and
lever for the purpose of opening the steam whistle when either of the signals is
given; or other means may be provided for this purpose. The end of the said
rod may also be arranged in any suitable manner to sound a gong. Upon the rod
carrying the lamp or other signal we fix an arm in such a manner that whenever
a signal is given it will actuate suitable apparatus for registering the number and
description of the signals given.
The registering apparatus which we prefer to employ is provided with a dial
having two series of graduations and two hands or pointers one for registering
when the danger signal is given and the other for registering when the signal for
caution is given. The said hands or pointers are made to rotate in opposite
directions, separate mechanism being provided for actuating each hand, and the
said mechanismın being operated by means of suitable ratchet-wheels and levers
which are worked by the movements of the arm on the rod carrying the lamp or
other signal. The hands may be colored red and green respectively if desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Albert Smith and Samuel Amos Taylor in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th November 1882.
ALBERT SMITH and SAMUEL AMOS TAYLOR, both of Kibworth, in the County
of Leicester, Machinists, "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR,
SIGNALLING AND REGISTERING SIGNALS ON RAILWAYS
دو
Our invention relates to an improved method of signalling and registering signals
upon railways, and to apparatus therefor.
According to the ordinary method of signalling on railways semaphore signals
are fixed at intervals along the line, in positions where, under ordinary conditions
of the atmosphere, they can be seen by the engine-driver of an approaching train
in ample time to permit him to observe and act upon the indications or warnings
given thereby. But, under some conditions of the atmosphere, particularly during
the prevalence of fogs, the driver of an engine is unable to ascertain the position
of the signal which he is approaching until he has arrived within a short distance
of the said signal; and frequently fogs are so thick or dense that it is impossible
for the engine-driver to see the signal even when close to the same. Under these
conditions of the atmosphere, the semaphores or fixed signals are practically useless,
and to avoid the danger and inconvenience caused by their being temporarily
obscured, fog-signals are usually employed. But this method of signalling is
attended with great danger to those employed in arranging the signals, and is
otherwise unsatisfactory.
But by our invention we provide for working railway signals by a method or
system which is free from the above named difficulties, and which will afford the
most satisfactory results with regard to the safety of the trains, and the supervision
of the signals, and the operatives under whose care they are placed; according to
our said invention we place signals on the locomotives and provide for their
being controlled or operated from the signal boxes or other places on the line
through the medium of a peculiar and novel apparatus or device arranged at
intervals along the line, and so connected with the usual levers in the signal box
that it can be set either to move or not move the signal on a locomotive when the
same is passing over the said apparatus. We prefer to employ, in connection with
the mechanism attached to the locomotive for operating the signal lamp, disc, or
other device, apparatus for registering the signals given to the driver of the said
locomotive. We also prefer to arrange the said mechanism in such a manner that
when a signal is given the steam whistle will be simultaneously opened, and will
continue to sound until the signal lamp or other device has been seen by the driver
and the mechanism has been returned by him (or automatically by a suitable
spring or springs) to its normal position, and, if desired, the said mechanism may
cause a gong to be sounded simultaneously with the action of the signal. The
apparatus fixed, as aforesaid, at intervals along the line for operating the signals is
preferably so arranged that, should the rod, bar, or chain, or other parts connecting
it with the signal box or lever be broken or disconnected, the said apparatus will
immediately assume the position for giving the danger signal to any locomotive
passing over it; the defect in the apparatus will thus be at once discovered without
any serious result having been caused by its failure.
In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated an advantageous arrangement
of apparatus for carrying our said invention into practice
Figures 1 and 2 are plans shewing the apparatus on the line adjusted in two
positions, vis:for setting the signal to " caution" and " danger."

page_text: Figure 3 is a side elevation shewing a locomotive provided with a signal and
mechanism connected therewith according to our invention and shewing also the
said apparatus.
Figure 4 shows a front elevation of the locomotive and shows the apparatus in
section on the line x x Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a plan drawn to an enlarged scale of portions of a locomotive provided
with our improved apparatus.
Figure 6 is a rear view of a portion of Figure 5.
Figures 7 and 8 shew in plan and side elevation one of our arrangements for
operating the whistle.
Figures 9 and 10 are front and rear elevations of the aforesaid registering
apparatus.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawings
The apparatus on the line consists of a movable frame a constructed with two
curved bars a united at their ends by cross-bars a²; the said frame rests upon
friction-rollers a³ and is provided with tubular transverse guide pieces a¹ which
are fitted upon fixed slide-bars b. The latter are secured upon the sleepers or
other suitable supports and are so formed and arranged as to allow the said tubular
guide pieces of the frame to slide freely thereon to adjust the frame a to set the
signal to " danger," " caution or "line clear," that is to say, to the position shewn
in Figure 1, or that shewn in Figure 2, or midway between these two positions
as shewn in Figure 4, the weight of the said frame being sustained by the
rollers a³.
"
The said frame is connected to the levers e whose fulcrums are mounted on
sleepers, blocks, or other suitable supports at the side of the rail. The said levers
are also connected by the rod or bar d to a lever in the signal box or other place
where the signalman who controls the working of the signals is stationed. This
lever may be arranged in the ordinary manner with a spring bolt which engages
with a quadrant provided with notches, corresponding with the three different
positions to which the sliding frame is to be adjusted.
In the arrangement illustrated in the drawings, the frame a is held in the
position shewn in Figure 1 by the weight e¹ on the lever f which has its fulcrum
at fand is connected to the said frame by the rod or link f2. It will be seen
that this weighted lever tends always to pull the frame into this position so that,
after the said frame has been adjusted into either of its other positions, if the signal
lever is released the said frame will return to the position shewn in Figure 1.
These movable frames a are arranged at intervals along the line at any points or
positions where it is necessary or desirable that means should be provided for
operating the signal apparatus on the locomotives.
The inner surfaces of the curved bars a¹ form the medium whereby the position
of the signal on the locomotive is determined, by, and according to, the position of
the said frame as hereinafter described.
We sometimes modify our invention as follows, that is to say, instead of arranging
the curved bars or surfaces upon the said frame, we arrange them in the form of a
lever pivotted in any suitable manner at one end, and connected at the other end.
on one side to the lever mechanism in the signal-box, and on the other side to a
counter-weight.
The signal may be a lamp, a disc, or other suitable device arranged on any
suitable part of the locomotive. A convenient form of this signal-device is shewn
in Figures 3, 4 and 5. It consists of a lantern or lamp g with preferably a red
face on one side and a green face on another side; between these faces we provide
two shields g', g², so arranged as to conceal the red and green faces except when
the signal is set to danger or caution; that is to say, the space between these
shields is presented to the driver to indicate safety, the green face is presented to
him to indicate caution, and the red face to indicate danger. The shaft or
spindle g³ on which the signal devices are mounted extends through the bearing h
downward below the locomotive frame, and its lower end is supported in a

page_text: bearing secured to the said frame. Near this bearing the said spindle has.
fixed on it a lever i which is connected by the rod j, or by other suitable means,
to the lever k; this lever is pivotted upon a bolt or stud fixed in a bracket
secured to the frame of the locomotive, as clearly shewn in Figure 4, and is so
arranged that, when the locomotive passes over the aforesaid movable frame or
lever a (unless the signal on the locomotive is already in the position corre-
sponding with the position of the said frame), the roller l' on the lower end of
the lever will come in contact with one of the curved or inclined bars a¹ and
the said lever k will thereby be moved in one direction or the other to operate the
signal. The signal rod or spindle gå has fixed on it, at or near its upper end, an
arm or lever m which is connected by a link m¹ to a rod n carried and fitted to
slide in bearings n¹ and extending along the locomotive to within reach of the
driver, who, by means of this rod can, after passing over the movable frame, set
the signal to the intermediate position shewn in Figure 5.
"
When it is desired that provision should be made for the whistle to be blown
at the same time that the signal is operated or adjusted, we arrange devices for
actuating the said whistle as follows, that is to say, we sometimes arrange, in
combination with the rod n, an arm or lever o fulcrummed at o¹, and we provide
the spindle or rod p¹ which controls the plug of the whistle p, with a pin or stud p²
arranged to be operated by an incline o² at one end of the said arm. This incline
is formed or fixed at such an angle that when the signal is set to either caution
or danger it will, by its action on the said pin p², cause the whistle to sound, and
when the signal is set to ".
"safety or "line clear" it will permit the rod p' to be
moved to close the whistle or stop the same from sounding. In some instances
we adopt the arrangement shewn in Figures 7 and 8, that is to say, we extend
the whistle plug spindle through a bearing p' and provide the same with a slotted.
arm p. On the rod n we fix an arm or bar n¹ which engages in the slot of the
arm p. When the signal is moved to either "caution
"the arm n³,
or danger
sliding end wise in its bearings, acts on the arm p³ and moves the same to open
the cock and sound the whistle, but when the said signal is set to "safety," the
whistle may be closed by moving the arm 205 in the opposite direction. For
stopping the whistle after the signal has been moved to either "caution" or
danger" the handle q is provided, to enable the driver to pull the rod n and
thereby, through the action of the devices above described, close the cock of the
whistle, and move the signal back to its normal position.
"
"
"
We may use either of the above, or other suitable, devices for causing the whistle
to sound simultaneously with the moving of the signal. We sometimes provide
the locomotive with an auxiliary whistle which is arranged in connection with the
signal as above described, while the other whistle is entirely under the control of
the driver and designed to be used by him in the ordinary manner without
reference to the action of the signal apparatus.
It is sometimes desirable to use a gong or bell to call the attention of the driver
to the position of the signal, and we have shewn in Figures 5 and 6 a gong?
arranged in front of the fire-box in combination with a spring-hammer which
is arranged to strike the gong when released by the arm ² on the rod n, when the
signal is moved to either "caution." or " danger."
Upon the rod or spindle g³ of the lamp. or other signal we fix an arm g³ for
actuating the aforesaid registering apparatus which registers the number of signals
given during a run or series of runs of the locomotive. For this purpose we have
devised a special form of registering apparatus which we prefer to employ, although
other suitable apparatus may serve; this improved apparatus, which is shewn in
back and front elevation in Figures 9 and 10 is provided with two series of
graduations and two hands or pointers, one for registering the signals for "danger'
and the other for registering the signals for "caution," separate mechanism being
provided for actuating each hand; the said mechanism is operated by means of
suitable ratchet-wheels and levers which are worked by the arm go on the said rod
or spindle. The dials or hands may be colored to correspond with the signal faces,
"

page_text: if desired. It is convenient to construct this apparatus with the box or case s
containing the registering mechanism and provided with one dial at the front and
another dial at the back, each dial being suitably graduated. The said hands or
pointers as are arranged to move over these dials and are actuated by the arm g³
through the medium of the levers 83, 81, which are moved in opposite directions by
the said arm; that is to say, when the signal is set to "danger" the arm g³ moves
the lever and the pointer s¹, whereas when the signal is turned to "caution" the
arm g³ acts on the lever s and moves the pointer 8².
Although in the above description we have only described a signal mounted
on the locomotive, it is obvious that in some cases it may be placed on the tender.
Our improved method of signalling is designed to be employed in combination
with the ordinary semaphore or fixed signals.
Having thus fully described our said invention and the manner of performing
the same, we wish it understood that we Claim :-
First The method of railway signalling, consisting in the employment of a
signal on the locomotive or tender, and adjustable apparatus on the line for
operating the said signal in the manner specified.
Second: In a system or arrangement of railway signalling, the pair of curved
or inclined bars or surfaces mounted upon, or forming part of, a movable frame or
a lever in such a manner that they may be adjusted laterally between the rails for
the purpose specified.
Third A lantern, disc, or other signal-device carried by a locomotive and
connected with mechanism so arranged that when the locomotive passes over the
aforesaid curved bars or surfaces the position of the said signal will be governed
by, or dependent upon, the position of the said bars or surfaces, for the purpose
specified.
Fourth-The signal lamp, disc, or other device mounted upon an oscillating
rod or spindle on the locomotive and connected with a sliding rod or bar which
extends to the rear of the locomotive, and is provided with devices for operating
the whistle or striking a gong or bell, or for performing both of these operations,
substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
Fifth The combination, with the said signal device or apparatus, of the
registering apparatus, substantially as, and for the purpose specified.
Sixth The registering apparatus provided with two dials or faces and pointers
and with two levers, one lever being connected with the mechanism for operating
one pointed and the other lever with the mechanism for operating the other pointer,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
In witness whereof we the said Albert Smith and Samuel Amos Taylor have
hereunto set our hands and seals this Eighth day of November in the year
of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.