IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Earle, of Penge, in the County of Surrey, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Earle at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1878.
PETER EARLE, of Penge, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS."
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for working railway signals
on the block system, and it has for its object to enable the signals along the line to
be worked mechanically by the wheels of the engine in their passage, thereby
saving labor and expense, ensuring mechanical accuracy, and avoiding the conse-
quences of error or carelessness on the part of the signalmen in working the
signals.
The apparatus of my Invention is adapted for working both semaphore and gong
signals, the latter being intended to replace the ordinary explosive fog signals used
to notify to the driver approaching a station his precise whereabouts in thick
weather when the ordinary signals are not visible.
In carrying out my Invention I provide at the commencement of every section
into which the line is divided by the signals an apparatus consisting of a spring of
considerable length arranged alongside one of the rails, and rising at the middle of
its length sufficiently to be acted on by the flange of the leading wheel of the
engine, by which it is depressed in its passage. The ends of this spring rest on a
suitable plate, and the spring is protected from dirt and injury by being partly
enclosed in a box which leaves only the raised middle portion exposed. This spring
is attached by a rod at the middle of its length to a lever beneath it, said lever
being pivoted at one end and connected at the other by the usual system of rods
and bell-crauk levers or otherwise with the signal to be operated. In connection
with this lever there is a spring bolt which, when the lever is depressed, locks it in
I Driss li11

page_text: that position, so that the signal which, by the depression of the lever, was set to
"line blocked" cannot be altered until this bolt is withdrawn. The lever and bolt
are completely enclosed in a box beneath the spring, and the bolt can only be with-
drawn by the depression by the engine wheels of the spring and lever of the
apparatus at the next section of the line in advance. Thus each of the apparatus
when acted on by the engine wheels sets the nearest signal to "line blocked," and
at the same time releases the apparatus by which the preceding signal had been
set when the train passed it, so that it now indicates "line clear.'
In order to adapt the signals to be worked by the above-described apparatus I
use disc or semaphore signals working on horizontal pivots; and I prefer to employ
these signals in pairs, painted red and white or any other colors, and both operated
simultaneously by the same mechanism, which, by giving a quarter-turn to each,
causes the one to display its surface and turns the other edgewise, one only being
intended to be visible at a time. The mechanism by which these signals are
operated consists of a spring barrel with a gear wheel attached which gears with
two other similar wheels, one on the axis of each signal. To this spring barrel the
chain or other connection from the apparatus, above described as being acted on by
the engine wheels, is attached the spring barrel, serving in lieu of the weights
generally used to return the signals to their normal position when relcased after
being operated as described. The same connection also serves to operate the
colored spectacles of the signal lamps used at night, the spectacle frame being also
mounted on a spring barrel for the same purpose.
My Invention also comprises an improved apparatus for striking a gong or bell
consisting of a spring barrel, to which the apparatus operated by the engine wheels
is connected as before, whereby said barrel is partly rotated. In the periphery of
the barrel is a notch with which engages a spring, pin, or latch on the tail of the
hammer, so that when the spring barrel is rotated the hammer is oscillated until the
pin or latch escapes from the notch, whereupon the hammer strikes the bell, and is
returned to its normal position by a spring on its axis, and the spring, pin, or latch
yields and allows the spring barrel to return to its former position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Peter Earle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th March
1879.
PETER EARLE, of Penge, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS."
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for working railway signals
on the block system, and it has for its object to enable the signals along the line to
be worked mechanically by the wheels of the engine in their passage, thereby
saving labor and expense, ensuring mechanical accuracy, and avoiding the conse-
quence of error or carelessness on the part of the signalman in working the
signals.
The apparatus of my Invention is adapted for working both semaphore and gong
signals, the latter being intended to replace the ordinary explosive fog signals used
to notify to the driver approaching a station his precise whereabouts in thick
weather when the ordinary signals are not visible.
In carrying out my Invention I provide at the commencement of every section
into which the line is divided by the signals an apparatus consisting of a spring
arranged alongside one of the rails, and rising at the middle of its length sufficiently
to be acted on and depressed by the flange of the leading wheel of the engine in is
passage.
The ends of this spring rest on a plate, and the spring is protected from dirt and
injury by being partly enclosed in a box which leaves only the raised middle
portion exposed. This spring is attached by a rod at the middle of its length to a
lever beneath it, said lever being pivoted at one end and connected at the other by
rods and bell-crank levers or otherwise with the signal to be operated. In connec-
tion with this lever there is a spring bolt, which, when the lever is depressed, locks
it in that position, so that the signal which, by the depression of the lever, was set
to "line blocked" cannot be altered until this bolt is withdrawn. The lever and
bolt are completely enclosed in a box beneath the spring, and the bolt can only be
withdrawn by the depression by the engine wheels of the spring and lever of the
apparatus at the commencement of the section of the line next in advance. Thus
each of the apparatus when acted on by the engine wheels sets the signal which the
train is then passing to "line blocked," and at the same time releases the apparatus
by which the preceding signal had been set when the train passed it, so that it now
indicates "line clear."
In order to adapt the signals to be worked by the above-described apparatus I
may use ordinary semaphores or disc signals working on horizontal pivots, and I
prefer to employ these signals in pairs, painted red and white or any other colors,
and both operated simultaneously by the same mechanism, which, by giving a
quarter-turn to each, causes the one to display its surface and turns the other edge-
wise, one only being intended to be visible at a time. The mechanism by which
these signals are operated consists of a spring barrel with a gear wheel attached
which gears with two other similar wheels, one on the axis of each signal. To this
spring barrel the chain or other connection from the apparatus, above described as
being acted on by the engine wheels, is attached, the spring barrel serving in lieu
of the weights generally used to return the signals to their normal position when
released after being operated as described. The same connection also serves to
operate the coloured spectacles of the signal lamps used at night, the spectacle frame
being also mounted on a spring barrel for the same purpose.
My Invention also comprises an improved apparatus for striking a gong or bell
consisting of a spring barrel, to which the apparatus operated by the engine wheels
is connected as before, whereby said barrel is partly rotated. In the periphery of
the barrel is a notch with which engages a spring pin or latch on the tail of the
hammer, so that when the spring barrel is rotated the hammer is oscillated until the

page_text: :
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan of, say, a 1-mile section of a line of railway, one pair of rails
only being shown; and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus for
working the signals by the train in its passage. A, B, are the signals at distances
of, say, 1 mile apart, dividing the line for the purposes of the block system into
mile sections. The apparatus consists of a curved spring C arranged close along
the inner side of one of the rails, and rising in the middle to about the level of the
top of the rail.
The ends of spring C rest on the top of a box D which is buried
in the ballast, and in which the remainder of the apparatus is contained. K is a
shield or cover fixed on top of D and enclosing spring C, leaving only its middle
portion exposed through a slot k in which the flange of the wheel runs; E is a lever
pivoted at one end e to a bracket hanging from the top of box D, and F' is a vertical
rod jointed to the lever E at f, passing through a slot in the top of the box, and
jointed at its upper end to the under side of the spring C. This rod f is provided
with a notch g for a spring bolt G to engage with, as shown in the apparatus
belonging to signal A, when the spring C and rod F are depressed by the passage of
the engine wheel, in order to retain the signal in the position in which it is then
set. The bolt G is mounted to slide in staples fixed to the under side of the top
plate of box D, and is pushed forward into the notch g by a spiral spring F" upon
the stem of the bolt. At the free extremity h of the lever E a chain H is attached
and led over a sheave h' mounted in a slot in the top of box D, and thence round
other sheaves to the signal to be operated. Or, instead of a chain, connecting rods
and bell cranks may be used. At i a pull-off wire or chain 1 is attached to lever E.
Said wire or chain, after passing over a sheave a mounted within box D, is carried
(preferably through a pipe laid in the ballast) back to the apparatus of the signal
next in rear, where it is attached to the tail end of the bolt G, whereby the apparatus
of signal B is disengaged and the signal lowered when the train travelling in the
direction of the arrow arrives at the signal A. All the apparatus being mounted
on the under side of the cover of box D can be removed bodily for examination
and repair by unbolting the cover from the box. Figures 1 and 2 shew ordinary
semaphore signals, in which however the usual counterweight is replaced by a
spring barrel A', B', fixed against the signal box and connected to the pivot of the
semaphore arm in such a way that when the arm is raised the spring will be more
tightly coiled, so as to counterbalance the weight of the arm in its raised position.
Figures 3 and 4 show on a larger scale an improved construction of disc signals
of my Invention; and Figures 5 and 6 show an arrangement of gong with which
the chain H is to be connected (besides working the signal as above described) in
foggy weather to warn the engine driver that he is, approaching a station or other
stopping place.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, which show a face view and section on a, b, of the
signal, L, M, are two differently colored discs fixed to horizontal axes l, m, mounted
in a frame on the signal post l', m³, are pinions keyed on the axes l, m, and
gearing with wheel n fixed on a spring barrel N between them, mounted to turn
on a stud on the frame, and serving to return the discs to their normal position
after they have been operated by the apparatus shown in Figure 2. Upon the
periphery of this spring barrel is a chain N' connected either directly to the
chain H (Figure 2), or to the spectacle frame o to which chain H is connected,
so that the colored glasses will be operated at same time as the discs. o¹, spring
barrel of spectacle frame.
Figures 5 and 6 show elevations at right angles of the gong. mechanism. P is a
spring barrel mounted to turn on a stud p fixed to the signal post, one end of the

page_text: spring being attached to the stud, and the other to the circumference of the barrel;
p' is an arm projecting from the barrel to which the chain H from the apparatus,
Figure 2, is connected when the gong is to be sounded as the train passes; 2 is a
notch in the periphery of the barrel, and r is a pin engaging therewith and sliding
in a socket 8, to which the hammer rod is attached. The socket s is fixed on a pint
mounted to turn in a spring barrel u fixed to the signal post, the inner end of the
spring being attached to said pin. The end of the pin which engages with the
notch q is bevelled, and the pin r is pushed outwards by a spiral spring contained
in the socket 8, which allows the pin to yield and slide within the socket s in order
to return to its normal position and re-engage with the notch q. The dotted lines
show the position to which the socket s is moved by the partial rotation of the
barrel P, after which the pin r escapes from the notch q, and the hammer is caused
to strike the gong when returned to its normal position by the spring barrel u.
Having described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,--
First. The combination of apparatus applied in position to be acted on by the
wheels of a train for actuating a signal, substantially as herein described, and shown
in the Drawings.
Second. The combination of the apparatus one with another by connecting the
lever of each apparatus with the spring bolt or latch of the apparatus next in rear,
substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.
Third: The application and employment of a spring barrel to return the signal or
signals to their normal position when released after being actuated by the aforesaid
apparatus, substantially as shown and described.
Fourth. The combination of two signal discs mounted on horizontal axes and
geared together, and with a spring barrel, substantially as herein shown and
described.
Fifth. The gong-sounding device consisting in a spring barrel mounted on a stud
and having a notch or catch, a spring pin engaging therewith, and sliding in a
socket on the hammer shank pivotted on another spring barrel, the whole combined
and operating substantially as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Earle, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
PETER EARLE. (L.S.)