IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC RAILWAY BLOCK AND OTHER DAY OR NIGHT SIGNALLING INSTRUMENTS OR APPARATUS, AND IN MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING SIGNALS PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Geminiano Zanni, of 376, City Road, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MAGNETO-ELECTRIC RAILWAY BLOCK AND OTHER DAY OR NIGHT SIGNALLING
INSTRUMENTS OR APPARATUS, AND IN MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING SIGNALS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Geminiano Zanni at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd November 1872.
I, GEMINIANO ZANNI, of 376, City Road, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC RAILWAY BLOCK AND OTHER DAY OR NIGHT SIGNALLING
INSTRUMENTS OR APPARATUS, AND IN MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING SIGNALS FROM
ONE PART OF A RAILWAY TRAIN TO ANOTHER," to be as follows:-
The first part of my improvements has for its object the adaptation
and application of apparatus such as or similar to that described in the

page_text: Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, and dated 13th October
1871, No. 2721, my present improvements being adapted for the purpose
of actuating or giving distant signals upon lines of railway in order to
control the movements of trains and engines in accordance with what is
known as the "block system," wherein the signals remain fixed at
danger until a signal is received from the signal station in advance to
indicate that the line is clear or otherwise. For this purpose I employ
a series of lever arms or cranks with buttons or keys for actuating the
armature in connection with buttons or keys for signalling and reversing
the electric current, such apparatus being similar to that described in
the Specification before referred to which is under the control and
actuated by a signal man, by which he can transmit signals by magneto-
electric currents to any desired distance, or from station to station to set
up, lower, or actuate semaphore arms, flags, bells, danger or other
signals; or so as to exhibit different colored lights at night, such lights
being produced by magneto-electric currents from time to time as may
be required.
For some purposes I employ clockwork mechanism or other motive
power to actuate the armature in combination with keys for signalling
and reversing the electric current.
The signalling apparatus is arranged according to my improvements
so as to actuate signals as previously described by means of a single wire
or more, as may be desired.
The second part of my improvements has for its object the transmission
of magneto-electric currents for the purpose of signalling from one part
of a railway train to another by combining magneto-electric apparatus,
such or similar to that described in the Specification before referred to in
the following manner :—
A toothed or driving wheel is employed for actuating the armature of
the apparatus, the axes of the said wheel baving a pulley thereon, which
is actuated when the train is in motion from a pulley upon or actuated
by the axis of one of the travelling wheels of the carriage or locomotive,
in or upon which the signalling apparatus is placed which is in com-
munication with each carriage of a train by means of a covered or
insulated wire or chain, suitably jointed between each carriage inside, all
of which a crank button or key is arranged, so that by a passenger

page_text: moving such crank, button, or key to make metallic contact with the
connecting wire or chain a signal is given to the guard or driver by
ringing a bell and indicating such signal upon a dial. At the same
time an arm or flag is projected from the carriage to indicate where the
signal was given, the magneto-electric current also acting instantaneously
to illuminate a metallic number or device upon the face of the arm, flag,
or signal indicator, by which means it can be ascertained at night from
which carriage the signal was given.
_
According to another part of my improvements, I arrange magneto-
electric apparatus of the character previously described, by means of
which self-acting signals may be given to indicate the distance of a
train from one part of a line of railway to another, or to give other
signals, as may be required, by which a great saving may be effected over.
the ordinary system of signalling, and absolute certainty ensured in the
transmission of the signals. For this purpose I arrange magneto-electric
apparatus such as before described in the guard's carriage of a train, or
at a main station (or upon the train itself), and at suitable intervals
upon the line. I arrange a small tube containing an insulated wire in
combination with a telegraph post, the wire being placed in connection
with a key projecting near to or through the rail; and as the train
passes it depresses the key, and thús forms contact with the wire, by
which means an electric current is transmitted and a signal given to the
next station in advance, either upon a dial or otherwise, showing the
distance the train is from the station.
In order to indicate when a train breaks down, or to enable the driver
or guard to transmit signals to a distant station, according to my
improvements a portable magneto-electric apparatus of the character
described in the Specification before referred to is carried by each train,
and when a break down occurs, or when it is desired to transmit signals
therewith it is placed in contact with a suitable line wire communicating
with a station, by which means the guard or driver can transmit signals
as may be desired, either in connection with a needle or Morse instru-
ment.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Geminiano Zanni in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GEMINIANO
ZANNI, of 376, City Road, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, hearing date the Second day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto I, the said Geminiano Zanni, Her special license that
I, the said Geminiano Zanni, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Geminiano Zanni, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGNETO-
ELECTRIC RAILWAY BLOCK AND OTHER DAY OR NIGHT SIGNALLING INSTRUMENTS OR
APPARATUS, AND IN MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING SIGNALS PROM ONE PART OF A
RAILWAY TRAIN TO ANOTHER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Geminiano Zanni, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Geminiano Zanni, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
The first part of my improvements has for its object the adaptation
and application of apparatus such as or similar to that described in the
Specification of Letters Patent, granted to me and dated 13th October
1871, No. 2721, my present improvements being adapted for the
purpose of actuating or giving distant signals upon lines of railway,

page_text: in order to control the movements of trains and engines in accordance
with what is known as the "block system," wherein the signals remain
fixed at danger until a signal is received from the signal station in
advance to indicate that the line is clear or otherwise. For this
purpose I employ a series of lever arms or cranks with buttons or
keys for actuating the armature in connection with buttons or keys
for signalling and reversing the electric current, such apparatus being
similar to that described in the Specification before referred to, which
is under the control and actuated by a signalman by which he can
transmit signals by magneto-electric currents from station to station
to set up, lower, or actuate semaphore arms, flags, bells, danger or
other signals, or so as to exhibit different colored lights at night, such
lights being produced by magneto-electric currents from time to time
as may be required.
The signalling apparatus is arranged according to my improvements
so as to actuate signals, as previously described, by means of a single
wire or more, as may be desired.
Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, of the Drawings hereunto annexed show
two separate views of magneto-electric apparatus (with the external case
removed) suitably arranged for carrying out the first part of my im-
provements, one of such intruments being situated at each station, up
line and down line.
a, a, is a compound permanent magnet; b, the revolving armature;
c, a contact breaker on the spindle of the armature b; d, d, are springs
resting on the contact breaker c; such parts being similar to the parts
referred to and described in the Specification before referred to; j,j, are
hand levers which give motion (when pulled forward) to a train of
wheels which actuate the armature b and contact breaker c, so as to
cause them to revolve rapidly and thus induce a magnetic current
which passes through the electric coil B. By this or other suitable
mechanical means the arm k carrying the "line clear" signal is moved
into and out of position to cover or expose the permanent or stationary
"train on line" dial, as shown in the Drawing.
According to my improvements the "line clear signal" is locked
in either position to prevent it from being acted upon by shocks,
vibration, or by lightning in the following manner:-The locking is

page_text: effected by means of the bent upper end of the arm which forms
a continuation of the armature m which is attracted by the soft iron
core n upon the transmission of the current through the coil B, which
current also polarizes the other end of the soft iron core, and repulses
the small permanent horse-shoe magnet o fixed or carried by the lever
arm on the axis k upon which the lever arm & carrying the "line
clear" signal is mounted; m¹ is a spring to overcome any residue
magnetism remaining in the soft iron core n after the current is
stopped, the spring m¹ acting to keep the armature m away from the
core n until again attracted thereby.
The magnetic current induced by the revolving armature b is trans-
mitted and reversed in the following manner :—The lower end of each
hand lever j carries an arc j' which on pulling the lever acts on the
friction roller attached to the contact breaker depressing it so as to
make contact with the plate j', thereby reversing the current.
.
By pulling one of the hand levers j the "line clear" signal is
brought into view, and by pulling the other hand lever (the other
hand lever having been replaced) it is moved by the action of the
magnetic current out of view to uncover
the danger or "train on line "
signal. The hand levers ; are returned to their normal position by the
india-rubber or other springs j³, the levers being brought to rest against
the india-rubber rings or other yielding surface. Signals may thus
be communicated from signal box to signal box as is well understood
with the "block system" of signalling.
j*
For some purposes I prefer to employ clockwork mechanism or other
motive power to actuate the armature, in combination with keys for
signalling and reversing the electric current, as described and shown
by me in the Specification of the Letters Patent before referred to in
reference to Figure 8 of the Drawing attached thereto.
The second part of my improvements has for its object the transmission
of magneto-electric currents for the purpose of signalling from one part
of a railway or railway train to another, by combining and employing
magneto-electro apparatus, such as or similar to that described in the
Specification before referred to, and represented by Figures 3 and 4 of
the Drawings hereunto annexed. A toothed or driving wheel g or train
of wheels is employed for actuating the armature 6 of the magneto

page_text: apparatus, the axis or stud h of the said wheel g having a pulley h¹
thereon, which is actuated when the train is in motion from a pulley i,
Figure 5, upon or actuated by the axis of one of the travelling wheels
of the carriage, rear guard's van, or locomotive C, in or upon which
vehicle the signalling apparatus is placed. The communication between
each carriage of a train is made by means of a covered or insulated wire-
or chain suitably jointed between each carriage, inside cach compartment
of which a crank button or key is placed, so that by a passenger moving
such crank button or key and making metallic contact with the con-
necting wire or chain a signal is given to the guard or driver by ringing
a bell and indicating the number of the carriage or compartment from
which the signal was sent upon a dial, or an arm or numbered tablet
is projected from the carriage to indicate from which compartment the
signal was sent, the magneto-electric current also acting instantaneously
to illuminate the numbered tablet at night.
According to, another part of my improvements I arrange magneto-
electric apparatus in such manner so as to give self-acting blocking.
signals upon a line of railway, whereby a great saving and expence is
effected, and absolute accuracy and certainty in the transmission of the
signals is ensured. For this purpose I place in some convenient part
of a train a magneto-electric machine set in motion from a band
connected with the axle of the carriage wheels, the circuit of the current
being completed from the machine by means of an elastic metal arm or
spring making contact with an insulated plate of metal between the line
of rails, from which plate an insulated or covered wire passes up to the
electric signal fixed upon a post at a convenient height, part passing
through the vacuum tube (forming an illuminated disc at dark) and
part through the magnet, down the earth line attached to the rails,
along the rails, up the wheels, axle box, and back to the machine, see
Figure 5, Sheet 2. Immediately a train passes over and makes electric
contact it causes the disc to make one quarter of a revolution, or at "stop"
to the next train, and only releases the signal after the train has passed
a second insulated plate connected with the signal, and sent the current
back to make "line clear," it being again protected by entering a second
signal, and so on down the line. In order to indicate when a train breaks
down, or to enable the driver or guard to transmit signals to a distant
station, according to my improvements a portable magneto-electric

page_text: apparatus of the character described in the Specification before referred
to is carried by each train, and when a break down occurs or when it.is
desired to transmit signals therewith it is placed in contact with a
suitable line wire communicating with a station, by which means the
guard or driver can transmit signals, as may be desired, either in con-
nection with an ordinary needle or Morse instrument.
In witness whereof, I, the said Geminiano Zanni, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
T. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
GEMINIANO ZANNI. (L.S.)
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
W.C.