IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALLING AND TELEGRAPHING ON RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Camillo Bondi, of Trieste, in the Empire of Austria, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALLING AND TELEGRAPHING ON
RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
Sealed the 11th July 1876, and dated the 12th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Camillo Bondi at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th January 1876.
CAMILLO BONDI, of Trieste, in the Empire of Austria.
SIGNALLING AND TELEGRAPHING ON RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
IMPROVEMENTS IN
The object of my Invention is to enable electric communication being effected
between carriages of all kinds moving on rails (both during stoppage as well as
when in motion) with other such carriages, and with stations or other points. This
electric communication may be utilized for the required purposes, so that the
officials at the stations and the signalmen can be in telegraphic communication with
the officials of the trains in motion, and vice versa, and passengers also during a
journey are enabled to communicate with any station or point on the line, and vice
versa.
Electric clocks, chain telegraph apparatus, and bell signal apparatus, serve to
indicate the place, the direction of motion, and the speed of trains or single,
carriages, to the officials of the stations and to the signahmen. This electric
communication is effected in the following manner-Each single line will be
divided into intervals or lengths consisting of several rails, which are in metallic
communication. The intervals or lengths are divided from each other by means of
good isolators; instead of dividing the line into isolated intervals or lengths one
axle box may be connected to the other by a suitable wire, but in this case the
telegrapic apparatus in the carriage will then receive only a partial current.
The galvanic batteries or induction apparatus of all block signal stations are
connected with all the intervals or lengths on the line by metallic wires.
The clectric current circulates in the rail intervals only from one block station to
the next one; the 1st, 5th, and 9th intervals, and so on, are in metallic communi-
cation with the + pole of a battery, while the 3rd, 7th, and 11th intervals, and so
on, are in communication with the -pole of the same battery. In a similar manner
[Price 2.1

page_text: the 2nd, 6th, and 10th intervals, and so on, are united with the + pole of a second
battery, and the 4th, 8th, and 12th intervals, and so-on, are united to the
of the said second battery.
―
pole
The current of a single battery in the corresponding intervals may be conducted
by means of relays. The electricity of the rails is imparted to the peripheries of
the wheels, to the axletree, and to the fixed metallic axle box. To the axle box of
a carriage, the wheels of which during the journey happen to rest on an + interval
of the first battery, a metallic wire is fastened and conducted through one or several
carriages to a local battery and telegraphic and signal apparatus; from these
apparatuses the wire passes to the axles of a carriage, the wheels of which rest on
- interval of the first battery, whereby the current will be closed from different
trains running simultaneously on the same line between two neighbouring block
stations, and this train only will receive a line current sufficiently strong, and
therefore the local battery placed on this train remains out of action.
By automatic interruption of the line batteries the local batteries placed on the
other trains will be closed, and the signal apparatus be thereby set in motion.
Shuntings and crossings are placed in such electric contact that if they should be
in a wrong position the line current will be interrupted, and the automatic signals
will be given on all the trains, engines, or carriages which happen to be a certain-
distance from them. Similar automatic alarm signals will be given if a rail over
which the train has to pass should become loose or be removed, or in the event of a
landslip, or if any large body should fall on the junction wires near the rails. As
the train in motion closes in turn the different electric currents, regular interruptions
of each single. current takes place, whereby clectric clocks, hand telegraph
apparatus or bell apparatus are set in motion, giving notice to the officials of the
stations, and to the signalmen of the place, direction of motion, and speed of the
trains, by means of hands on a dial, or by a given number of bell strokes. These
clocks, hands, and bell signal apparatus, set in motion and kept in motion by the
noving train serve to control and complete the telegrapic communication between
the officials of the stations and signalinen, and the officials of the train, and vice
versa.
The interruption of the line current may also be used to effect the electro-
magnetic disconnection of mechanism, causing the fall of a weight so as to open by
means of a cord the steam whistle of the engine. The officials of the stations and
the signalinen are thus enabled to give audible signals by the steam whistle of the
train in motion, as through the right or wrong position of the shuntings an electric
contact will be either established or interrupted, the anchor of an electro-magnet
may be moved, the spirals of which are in electric communication with tho
shunting contacts by junction wires.
The anchor of the electro-magnet is in communication with a hand, which
according as the contact is established or interrupted will show the relative position
of the shuntings.
For every single point or shunting a corresponding electro-magnet is provided,
and for every shunting on the station is provided a small model in the oflico of the
chief pointsman, easily moveable by an electro-magnet.
The electric contacts of the shuntings at the station are in electric communi-
cation with the corresponding shuntings on the model, so that each change is shewn
on the model
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