Improvements in and connected with Signalling Apparatus for Railways.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Signalling Apparatus for
Railways.
We, THOMAS AINSLEY of Tanfield Lea in the County of Durham Engineer
and MICHAEL WATSON of 5 Ashfield Terrace East in the City and County of
Newcastle-on-Tyne Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Our invention is for improvements in signalling apparatus for railway trains and
the like, and is intended for use either in addition to the ordinary method, or in
substitution thereof, and has for its object the prevention of accidents.
The invention is as follows
At or near the signal stations or whereever desired, there are placed parallel
with the rails, in any suitable position, two contact bars of any desirable length or
shape, and of any material suitable as a good conductor of electricity.
From one of the contact bars a wire is led to the positive pole, and from the
second a wire is led to the negative pole of an electrical battery of one or more
cells, or to an electrical accumulator, or other apparatus for storing, or generating
electricity, placed preferably in or near a signal cabin, and having a switch or
switches or other approved mechanical or electrical contrivance under control of
the signal man, either coupled to his ordinary signalling lever, or worked
independantly, for putting the current on, or off.
When danger is signalled the current would be on, and when all is clear the
current would be off.
On the locomotive engine, or tender, or guards van, or both, or any convenient
part of the train, which is intended to travel on the line, there are suitably placed
two electrical or metallic brushes, so as to be in contact with the contact bars when
the traiu passes them, from each of these brushes a wire is led to an armature
or armatures in connection with a gong, or other agency for giving audible, or
other warning to the driver or guard.
When danger is signalled the current will be on the contact bars, and the brushes
on the train coming into contact with them, completes the circuit, and the necessary
warning is conveyed to the guard or driver.
Between any two sigual stations, there may be any required number of these
contact bars, all connected to the wires from the battery or accumulator.
The position of the contact bars and brushes may be reversed, and attain the
same result, that is, the contact bars being carried on any convenient part of
the train, and a series of fixed brushes placed suitably alongside the rails,
and extending any required distance, at any required intervals, and properly
connected with the wires from battery or accumulator, 80 as to come in
contact with the contact bars when the train is passing, and thus complete the
circuit.
In addition to the apparatus on the engine, or van, already described, there
may be on the train a battery, or accumulator having a seperate electrical circuit
connected with the signals on the train, and fitted with a switch, or key.
In this case the current from the bars and brushes is made to pass through the
turns of an electro magnet, or solenoid, which, by its magnetic attraction will close
the switch or key, complete the engine circuit, and so produce a continuous signal
antil the switch is thrown out by the driver or guard, or the engine circuit may be

page_text: closed by the electric current from the main circuit in any other electric or
mechanical way desired.
The circuit wires may also be used for establishing telephonic communication
between the engine and signal station.
Where preferred the main current as well as the contact bars and brushes may
be entirely dispensed with, and an ordinary mechanical movement substituted,
such as a moveable arm or lever actuated by the signal man, and so placed that
when the train passes, the engine switch will be moved and complete the engine
circuit, and so give a continuous alarm until the circuit is broken by the driver or
guard.
Where a current of sufficient voltage or tension is employed, it may also be
used for shutting off the stean, or putting on the brake, by acting on a small
motor, or other approved electrical or mechanical devise.
The whole of the apparatus may be of any required design, arrangement, shape,
or material, and put in use by the means described, or by any combination of part,
or parts thereof.
Dated this Thirteenth day of April 1895.
THOMAS AINSLEY.
MICHAEL WATSON.
Improvements in and connected with Signalling Apparatus for
Railways.
We THOMAS AINSLEY of Taufield Lea in the County of Durham Engineer
and MICHAEL WATSON of 5 Ashfield Terrace East in the City and County of
Newcastle-on-Tyne Engineer 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 :-
In order that the description following may be clearly understood we annex a
drawing in which Fig. 1 represents a side elevation and Fig. 2 represents an end
elevation of the apparatus.
In this drawing
D and D¹ represent the wires leading from the positive and negative poles
respectively of the battery or accumulator to the contact bars.
A A represent the contact bars.
BB represent the two electrical brushes.
C represents the gong fixed on train.
At or near the signal stations or wherever desired there are placed parallel with
the rails in any suitable position, two contact bars of any desired length or shape,
and of any material suitable as a good conductor of electricity.
From one of the contact bars a wire is lead to the positive pole, and from the
second a wire is led to the negative pole of an electrical battery, of one or more
cells, or to an electrical accumulator or other apparatus for storing or generating
electricity, placed preferably in or near a signal cabin, and having a switch or
switches or other approved mechanical or electrical contrivance under control
of the signal-man, either coupled to his ordinary signalling lever or worked
independently, for putting the current on or off.
To signal danger the current would be turned on, and when all is clear the
current would be off.
On the locomotive engine or tender, or guard's van, or both or any convenient
part of the train which is intended to travel on the line, there are suitably placed two
electrical or metallic brushes, so as to be in contact with the contact bars, when the
train is passing them; from each of these brushes a wire is led to an armature or

page_text: armatures in connection with a gong, or other agency for giving audible or other
warning to the driver or guard.
When danger is signalled the current will be on the contact bars, and the
brushes on the train coming into contact with them complete the circuit, and the
necessary warning is conveyed to the guard or driver.
Between any two signal stations there may be any required number of these
contact bars all connected to the wires from the battery or accumulator.
The position of the contact bars and brushes may be reversed and attain the
same result, that is, the contact bars being carried on any convenient part of
the train, and a series of fixed brushes placed suitably alongside the rails and
extending any required distance at any required intervals and properly connected
with the wires from battery or accumulator so as to come into contact with the
contact bars when the train is passing, and thus complete the circuit.
In addition to the apparatus on the engine or van already described, there may
be on the train a battery, or accumulator, having a separate electrical circuit
connected with the signals on the train and fitted with a switch or key.
In this case the current from the bars and brushes is made to pass through the
turns of an electro-magnet or solenoid which by its magnetic attraction will close
the switch or key, complete the engine circuit and so produce a continuous signal
until the switch is thrown out by the driver or guard, or the engine circuit may be
closed by the electric current from the main circuit in any other electrical or
mechanical way desired.
The circuit wires may also be used for establishing telephonic communication
between the engine and signal station.
Where preferred the main current as well as the contact bars and brushes may
be entirely dispensed with, and an ordinary mechanical movement substituted, such
as a moveable arm or lever acutated by the signalman and so placed that when the
train passes, the engine switch will be moved and complete the engine circuit and
so give a continuous alarm until the circuit is broken by the driver or guard.
Where a current of sufficient voltage or tension is employed it may also be used
for shutting off the steam or putting on the brake by actuating a small motor or
other approved electrical or mechanical devise.
The whole of the apparatus may be of any required design, arrangement, shape,
or material and put in use by the means described or by any combination of part
or parts thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is, or may be used, or carried into effect
we declare that what we claim is
1st. The method of signalling a train by conveying an electric current from a
battery or accumulator to a train by means of parallel bars and brushes or their
equivalant substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein described.
2nd. An auxiliary or separate current on the train to produce a continuous
signalling action or do the mechanical work of shutting off steam or putting on
the brake substantially in the manner herein specified and brought into action by
the main current herein described.
3rd. An auxiliary or separate current on the train to produce a continuous
signalling action or do the work of shutting off steam and putting on the brake,
actuated by mechanical contact set in action from the signalling station substantially
in the manner herein described.
Dated thin 14th 1
El 1900.
THOMAS AINSLEY.
MICHAEL WATSON.