IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CALLING THE ATTENTION OF ENGINEER, STOKER, AND GUARDS IN CHARGE of a D
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Boulton, Captain and Adjutant, Edinburgh
City Artillery Militia, residing at Number Eight, Inverleith Terrace,
Edinburgh, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
CALLING THE ATTENTION OF ENGINEER, STOKER, AND GUARDS IN CHARGE of a
D"
Sealed the 29th June 1875, and dated the 27th January 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Boulton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th January 1875.
I, JOHN BOULTON, Captain and Adjutant, Edinburgh City Artillery
Militia, residing at No. 8, Inverleith Terrace, Edinburgh, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR CALLING THE ATTENTION OF ENGINEER, STOKER, AND GUARDS IN CHARGE OF A
RAILWAY TRAIN TO DANGER SIGNALS," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to provide a simple yet efficacious
signal to the engineer and stoker of a locomotive engine, and to the

page_text: help to that of sight.
It frequently happens that the engineer, stoker, and guards in charge
of a train, either from the existence of a fog or from carelessness on their
part, do not see that a danger signal is turned on, and the object of my
Invention is to provide a remedy against such neglect or accident.. The
apparatus by which I propose to effect this object consists of a projection
which is made to rise at some convenient place between the rails to such
a height and of such a shape as may be necessary to fit the necessities
of the different lines, locomotives, or carriages used on any particular
railway. This projection may be worked either in connection with any
danger signal or it may be placed on any part of the line either for a
temporary or permanent purpose. When the projection is worked in
connection with a danger signal and the latter is turned on the same
power which does so will also raise the projection. The engine or any
of the carriages which may be desirable will carry the apparatus for
giving the alarm, the bottom or arm of which apparatus will be carried
at a lower level than the top of the projection. This dependent arm of
the apparatus will be so placed in reference to level and position that it
will strike the projection, which being fixed and immoveable so long as.
the danger signal is turned on, and the depending arm being made to
swing upon a pivot, the arm must rise to enable it to pass over the
pro-
jection. This dependent arm is so formed at the top that on being raised
by the projection the shoulder of the arm rises to a higher level than the
top of it while at rest, and in so rising it lifts a rod resting upon the top
of it. This rod being raised presses in a spring and thus withdraws a
small bolt by which a chain or cord is retained. The other end of this
cord or string is attached to the object which is to be operated upon in
order to attract the attention of the man in charge. The object which is
to attract attention may be either a bell, the steam valve of the engine,
a broad coloured plate or other prominent object, either a part of or
attached to the engine or carriage, and which will be so acted upon by a
spring or weight that upon the bolt being withdrawn and the cord
released, as above mentioned, the steam whistle or bell will come under
the action of the spring or weight and remain sounding, or the prominent
object above referred to remain exposed until the attention of the man
in charge is called to it and he again attaches the cord or chain to the
bolt before mentioned ready for use at the next necessary occasion.

page_text: Although for the purpose of warning the man in charge the bell or
prominent object may be quite sufficient yet I prefer to act upon the
steam whistle for the engineer, because it not only will call the attention
of the men in charge of the train to the danger signal being up but will
also warn any person on the line in front of the approaching train that
the train is at hand, although such persons may not be able to see the
approach by reason of the fog or other obstruction. A bell is the best
for the break van or any carriage.
filed by the said John Boulton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BOULTON, Captain and Adjutant, Edinburgh City Artillery Militia,
residing at Number Eight, Inverleith Terrace, Edinburgh, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said John Boulton, Her special licence,
that I, the said John Boulton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Boulton, my executors,
administrators, 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 APPARATUS FOR CALLING THE ATTENTION OF ENGINEER, STOKER, AND GUARDS
IN CHARGE OF A RAILWAY TRAIN TO DANGER SIGNALS," upon the, condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Boulton, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within

page_text: DIA
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Boulton, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereto
appended, and to the figures and letters marked thereon :-
The object of my present Invention is to provide a simple yet
efficacious signal to the engineer and stoker of a locomotive engine, and
to the guards in charge of a train, of danger by appealing to other senses
as a help to that of sight.
It frequently happens that the engineer, stoker, and guards in charge
of a train, either from the existence of a fog or from carelessness on their
part do not see that a danger signal is turned on, and the object of my
Invention is to provide a remedy against such neglect or accident. The
apparatus by which I propose to effect this object consists of a pro-
jection which is made to rise at some convenient place between or out-
side the rails to such a height and of such a shape as may be necessary
to fit the necessities of the different lines, locomotives, or carriages used
on any particular railway. This projection may be worked either in
connection with any danger signal or it may be placed on any part of
the line either for a temporary or permanent purpose. When the danger
signal is turned on the same power which does so will also raise the
projection when in connection with such signal. The engine or any of
the carriages which may be desirable will carry the apparatus for giving
the alarm, the bottom or arm of which will be carried at a lower level
than the top of the said projection. This dependent arm of the apparatus
will be so placed in reference to level and position that it will strike the
projection above referred to, which being fixed and immoveable so long
as the danger signal is turned on, and the dependent arm being made to
swing upon a pivot, the arm must rise to enable it to pass over the pro-
jection. This arm is so formed at the top that on being raised by the
projection one or other of its shoulders comes to a higher level than the
top of it while at rest, and in so rising it lifts a rod or stud. This rod
being raised presses in a spring and thus withdraws a small bolt or raises
and releases a catch by which a chain or cord is retained. The other
end of this cord or chain is attached to the object which is to be operated

page_text: upon in order to attract the attention of the man in charge. The object
which is to attract attention may be either a bell, the steam valve of
the engine, a broad coloured plate or other prominent object, either a
part of or attached to the engine or carriage, and which will be so acted
upon by a spring or weight that upon the bolt being withdrawn and the
cord released, as above mentioned, the steam whistle or bell will come
under the action of the spring or weight and remain sounding, or the
prominent object above referred to remain exposed until the attention of
the man in charge is called to it, and he again attaches the cord or chain
to the bolt or catch before mentioned ready for use at the next necessary
occasion.
Although for the purpose of warning the man in charge the bell or
prominent object may be quite sufficient yet I prefer to act upon the
steam whistle for the engineer, because it not only will call the attention
of the men in charge of the train to the danger signal being up or at
danger" but will also warn any person in front of the approaching
train that the train is at hand, although such persons may not be able to
see the approach by reason of the fog or other obstruction. A bell is
the best for, the break van or any carriage.
66
In further explanation of my Invention, and of the mode of acting
upon the steam whistle or bell, I append a Drawing which I now
describe.
Figure I. is a front view and Figure II. is a side view of the apparatus.
A is the dependent arm before referred to which swings on the
pivot B and the shoulder of which arm, marked C, when raised presses
against the rod or stud D which may be a part of the catch E; this rod
or stud D lifts the catch E, which when down confines or holds the
pin F which is placed upon or attached to the arm G, and which arm
works on the pivot L; H is a ring to which a chain or cord may be
attached for communicating with the spring, weight, or other appliances
which operate upon the steam whistle, bell, or other object to be actuated
upon. Upon the catch E which works upon the pivot M being lifted
by the rod or stud D the pin F is liberated, and the weight attached to
the end of the chain or cord being attached to the steam whistle or bell
opens the valve of the steam whistle or releases the spring of the bell
and allows the same to sound. The plate K is attached to the side of or
under the engine, or to any other convenient part of the train. N is the
guard for keeping the catch E in position.

page_text: So soon as the projection or obstruction on the ground is passed over
the arm A falls into its natural position and is immediately followed by
the rod or stud D and the catch E, all by their own weight.
When the engineer or other person in charge of the train lifts the
weight or again fixes the spring attached to the sounding object the
arm G falls back into its normal position by its own weight and in so
doing the pin F raises the catch E until it passes the point of it, and is
so held until a new obstruction lifts the arm A.
Having thus described my Invention and the mode of its performance
or working I have to state that I do not claim any of the individual
parts of the apparatus as new, but I claim as new the apparatus or
combination as herein-before described for the purpose of communicating
to the engineer, stoker, or guard in charge of a train the existence of
any danger, or any mere modification of the said apparatus or com-
bination.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Boulton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of June, in the year
of our Lord 1875.