Year: 1886

page_text: I, GEORGE BELL SHARPLES, of Longcroft, Walmersley near Bury, in the County
of Lancaster, Bleacher do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
It refers to that class of Railway Signals which are intended to dispense with
the use of fog-signals in foggy weather, and to second and confirm the ordinary
signals in fine weather.
It consists of two parts, one of which is attached beneath the locomotive engine
or guards van, or both, at a convenient part, and the other is attached to, or placed
in, the permanent way. The first part consists of a metal curve or double incline
fitted beneath the engine or guards van, or both by means of one L and one
T lever. The T lever is pivoted from the centre, and one arm is pivoted to the
metal curve, the other arm is connected by suitable connecting rods, chains, levers,
anglirons or other suitable means, with the steam whistle of the engine or an electric
bell in the guard's van or both or other signal.
1
The second part consists of two metal bars or plates hinged together at the
summit so as to form a triangular projection which is either provided with an anti- -
friction bowl or left plain. This is pivoted so as be self locking when raised, and
is so balanced that it rises upon any restraining force being removed.
This triangular projection presses against the metal curve or double incline
attached to the engine as it passes over it, and so sounds the whistle, electric bell,
or both, or other signal.
3
The triangular projection is raised or lowered by means of four angleirons
pivoted beneath it, two of which are operated by a shaft, to the other end of which
is affixed a lever carrying two friction, or pulley wheels, over which are hung by
means of chains, wire-ropes, or other suitable connections from the home and
distant signal wires, two weights either dead or lever weights as may be suitable.
The weights are just sufficiently heavy enough to lower the triangular projection
when both weights are suspended on the lever, so that either the distant, or the
home signal can be put off without lowering the projection, but upon both being
put off the combined weight lowers the triangular projection and so throws it out
of work.

page_text: I, GEORGE BELL SHARPLES, of Longcroft, Walmersley near Bury, in the County
of Lancaster, Bleacher 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 :—
It refers to that class of Railway Signals which are intended to dispense with
the use of fog-signals, in foggy weather, and to second and confirm the ordinary
signals in fine weather.
It consists of two parts, one of which is attached beneath the locomotive engine,
or guards van, or both at a convenient central part; and the other is attached to
or placed, in the centre of the permanent way between the rails.
The first part, consists of a metal curve or double incline fitted beneath the
engine or guard's van, or both by means of one L and one T lever. The T lever
is pivoted from the centre, (from a metal frame suitably attached to the engine, or
guard's van or other carriage) and one arm is pivoted to the metal curve, the other
arm is connected by suitable connecting rods, chains, levers, angleirons, or other
suitable means, with the steam whistle of the engine or an electric bell in the
guard's van, or both, or other suitable signal. The L lever is pivoted from the
angle to the frame and pivoted by one arm to the metal curve, the other arm is
pivoted to and connected by a suitable connecting rod to the upper arm of the
T lever, thus insuring the rising of the two ends of the metal curve with a
parallel motion. The second part consists of two metal bars or plates hinged
together at the summit so as to form a triangular projection above the level of the
rail which is either provided with an antifriction bowl or left plain. This is
pivoted so as to be self-locking when raised and is so balanced that it rises upon
any restraining force being removed.
This triangular projection presses against the metal curve or double inclines
attached to the engine, or guards van, or both, as they pass over it, and so sounds
the whistle, electric bell, or both, or other signal.
The triangular projection is raised or lowered by means of four angleiroos
pivoted beneath it, two of which are operated by a shaft, to the other end of
which is affixed a lever carrying two friction or pulley wheels, over which are
hung by means of chains, wire ropes or other suitable connections from the home
and distance signal wires, two weights, either dead or lever weights as may be
suitable. The weights are just sufficiently heavy enough to lower the triangular
projection When both weights are suspended on the lever, so that either the
distant or the home signal can be put off without lowering the projection, but upon
both being put off the combined weight lowers the triangular projection and so
throws it out of work.
In order that the foregoing may be better understood, I send herewith a sheet
of Drawings in which-Fig. 1 is a side view of the first part of the apparatus and
Fig. 2 a cross section of the same. In these Figs. a indicates the metal curve or
double incline fitted to freely rise and fall by means of the projections b b between
the frame c which is shown in this instance attached beneath a locomotive engine,
one end pivoted to the cinderbox by means of the metal bracket and pin d, and
attached by the other end to the framework beneath the footplate by means of the

page_text: stude which is provided with a lock nut and spiral spring so as adjustable in
height and to secure perfect elasticity..
On a short shaft between the frames c c is pivoted the T lever f to one end of
which (g) is pivoted the metal curve a and to the other (h) is attached the rod i
connecting it by rods, levers, or other suitable connections with the steam whistle
of the locomotive or the electric bell of the guards van or other suitable signal.
At the other end of the curve is pivoted in a manner similar to the T lever f, one
end of the L lever k, which is also pivoted by a short shaft at its angle to the
frames c c. The two levers are connected together by the connecting rod / so as to
い
insure an even and parallel motion. Fig. 3 is an elevation with the cover in
section and Fig. 4. is a plan with the cover in section of the second portion of the
apparatus. In these Figa. m, m indicate the two metal bars or plates which are
hinged together at n forming a triangular projection when in position as in Fig. 3.
These are raised and lowered by means of the four angleirons o, o, o, o to which
they are pivoted by the trunnions m³ m³ in such a manner that when the pro-
jection is raised the trunnions or pivots m³ m³ fall more or less within an imaginary
line drawn from the pivots of the angleirons oooo to the summit of the
projection (n) which is either left plain or provided as shown in the Figure with a
friction bowl. They are therefore selflocking and will resist any force pressing
upon them from above the full pressure of which is borne directly by the trunnions
m² m² which when in position as in Fig. 3 rest upon the sides of the metal case
or box containing the apparatus or on any other suitable support which may be pro-
vided. The four angleirons oo o o are actuated by the shaft p. This shaft is controlled
from the distant and home signals by means of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5 in
which is the short lever attached to the shaft p, carrying two pulley or friction
wheels 8 round which pass chains or other suitable connections with the home and
distant signals w, w, supporting the weights t, upon the two weights being raised
from the ground their combined weight lowers the lever r and turns the shaft p,
and by means of the angleirons o lower the bars or plates m m into the position
shown in Fig. 5, and in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The dotted lines in Fig. 5 show an
alternative plan of raising and lowering the bars or plates m m by means of two
or more levers connected by a diagonal rod. In Fig. 6 is shown a method of
working the shaft p by lever weights in cases where it is not expedient to
excavate a place for the dead weights, beneath the level of the sleepers.
this case two weighted levers u u working in stops on the sides of the post z are
connected by the links with the lever (in this case on the shaft on the
opposite side of the apparatus) the two levers u u are connected with the home and
distant signal by means of the wires, chains or other suitable connections ww
which are connected to the levers at xx and pass over the friction pulleys y y on
the post. Upon one of the signals being put off the corresponding lever is raised
as shown (see Fig. 6) and the junction xx become the fulcrum and when the other
lever is lifted by the putting off of the other signal the combined weight of the
two levers, raises the lever and lowers projection n. When both home and
distant signals are pulled off and both weights are suspended, if either wire breaks
or either signal is put to danger, the corresponding weight will fall, (the remaining
weight will be raised by the lever r, it not being sufficiently heavy to counter-
balance the triangular projection n which will therefore rise and become locked at
danger as before described. Fig. 7 is a plan of the second part of the apparatus in
its position in the permanent way. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a side and end
elevation showing the apparatus attached to a locomotive engine.
In
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed;-I declare that what
I claim is:-
1st. A metal curve or double incline fitted so as to rise with a parallel motion,
substantially as described and shown hereinbefore and in the accompanying
Drawing, for the purpose set-forth

page_text: 2nd. A selflocking triangular projection, substantially as described and shown
hereinbefore and in the accompanying Drawing, for the purpose set-forth.
3rd. The method and means of connecting with and controlling the raising and
lowering of a projection from both the home and distant signals, substantially
as described and shown herein before and in the accompanying Drawing, for the
purpose set-forth.
4th. The combined apparatus, substantially as described and shown herein before
and in the accompanying Drawing, for the purpose set-forth.
JOHN HENRY TOPHAM,
Agent to Applicant.