Improvements in or relating to Railway Signals.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 22nd June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Railway Signals.
We BENJAMIN SANFORD BARTON of 3 Milton Villas, Dovercourt, in the
County of Essex, Engineer, and ERNEST KINDERLEY STANFORD of Head Street,
Colchester in the County of Essex Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:―
This invention is applicable for ordinary or special purposes and would be
particularly useful in the case of fogs. It is adapted to place detonating signals of
the ordinary or any suitable construction upon the line to be exploded by the
passage of the engine wheel in the usual manner. In carrying out the invention we
place conveniently beside the track any suitable form of enclosed or open framing
adapted to carry the necessary portions of the apparatus. The chief operating
portion of the apparatus is a pivotted arm caused to move through a circular arc to
the extent of about 90° more or less; at one of its extreme positions it is underneath
the hopper or reservoir containing the signals and at the other it approaches the
line so as to place the signal upon the line. This arm may be operated directly or
indirectly in any convenient manner from the signalman's box.
Upon this arm is a sliding bolt so arranged that in its retracted position it
is clear of the signal upon the arm while in its forward position it engages with the
signal or a socket-fitting which contains the signal. The movements of this bolt.
may conveniently be caused or controlled by a suitably arranged cam plate with
which a stud or projection upon the bolt engages or the cam surface may engage
with a recess in the bolt. If desired the bolt may be spring-controlled in one
direction and operated by a cam or equivalent in the other direction.
When the arm is in its backward position it is as already stated underneath the
hopper containing the detonators each of which is provided with or placed in
a socket-fitting or double socket, one portion being a kind of shallow dish to contain
the detonator or signal, and the other being a socket adapted to fit upon the end of
the arm.
The hopper is open at the bottom but has a movable slide preferably
pivotted operated by or in correspondence with the pivotted arm, the pivot being
arranged eccentrically to that of the arm. The result of this arrangement is that
when the arm is in its backward position it moves the slides so as to present a lower
surface beneath the hopper into which falls the socket-fitting (with its detonator)
next in order, and as the arm is turned upon its pivot so as to place the detonator
upon the rail the eccentric movements of the arm and the slide cause the end of the
arm to enter the socket of the socket-fitting and carry it off the slide which
only moves for a short distance and ultimately place it upon the line ready to be
discharged when the next train passes. The hopper slide may with advantage be
provided with a spring portion to close the hopper and carry the signals and
facilitate their slipping over the slide when the latter is moved back upon the arm
being returned. We prefer to operate the hopper slide in both directions by means
of the pivotted arm and this may be conveniently effected by having a projection
preferably provided with an anti-friction roller upon the slide and a cam groove in
the arm; however other means may be employed for operating the slide.
We prefer to entirely case-in the apparatus and to provide at a part contiguous
to the rail a door or flap adapted to open when the arm presents the signal to the
rail, and either upon this door or other suitable position we place one or more
contacts forming part of an electric circuit, conveniently two, so arranged that
when the socket-fitting touches these it completes the circuit and rings a bell in the
signal box, thus informing the signalman that the detonator is upon the line. If
therefore the hopper were empty and the signal arm was moved but did not place a

page_text: detonator upon the rail the bell would not be rung and the signalman would know
that there was something wrong with the signal so that it could be attended to; the
signal may preferably be rung by slightly overdrawing the lever in the signal
box so that when fixed in its proper position the bell ceases ringing, but if desired
the bell may ring the whole time, or be a single action bell or other equivalent
arrangement be adopted. The door or flap may be automatically closed by direct
pull, spring, balance weight or the like: As in the case of a fog or on other
occasions when the driver or guard was unable to see his signal arm it is desirable
to give him positive information when his signal is removed, and any suitable
portion of the apparatus may be caused to strike a bell or gong when the arm is
withdrawn from the rail.
The operation of this apparatus then is as follows; the signalman places his lever
in such a position as would place his semaphore arm at "danger" if this apparatus
be used in conjunction therewith, or in any case so as to set the improved apparatus
at "danger" and in so doing pulls the pivotted arm which carries with it from the
hopper the socket-fitting with its detonator and places this upon the line the arm
socket remaining upon the arm out of reach of the wheels of the vehicles; the bell
is rung in the signal-box showing that the signal is in position. After the train has
passed or before if the line is clear the signalman returns his lever thereby moving
the pivotted arm and withdrawing the signal discharged, or undischarged, and by
means of the sliding bolt throwing it off the lever into any suitable receptacle from
which it can be ultimately recovered and used again if it has not been exploded.
Upon the completion of the movement the pivotted arm has returned to its
backward position and is ready to enter the next socket-fitting upon the next
forward movement. These operations can be repeated as often as may be required
and the hopper may be easily adapted to carry the necessary signals for any
specified length of time as the number of signals which may be required to be given
can be pretty closely estimated.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Railway Signals.
We, BENJAMIN SANFORD BARTON, of 3 Milton Villas, Dovercourt, in the
County of Essex, Engineer, and ERNEST KINDERLEY STANFORD of Head Street,
Colchester in the County of Essex Engineer, 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:-
This invention is applicable for ordinary or special purposes and would be
particularly useful in the case of fogs. It is adapted to place detonating signals of
the ordinary or any suitable construction upon the line to be exploded by the
passage of the engine wheel in the usual manner.
place conveniently beside the track any suitable form of enclosed or open framing
In carrying out the invention we
adapted to carry the necessary portions of the apparatus. The chief operating
portion of the apparatus is a pivotted arm caused to move through a circular are to
the extent of about 90° more or less; at one of its extreme positions it is under-
neath the hopper or reservoir containing the signals and at the other it approaches
the line so as to place the signal upon the line. This arin may be operated directly
or indirectly in any convenient manner from the signalman's box.
Upon this arin is a sliding bolt so arranged that in its retracted position it is clear
of the signal upon the arm while in its forward position it engages with the signal
or a socket-fitting which contains the signal. The movements of this bolt inay
conveniently be caused or controlled by a suitably arranged cam plate with which
a stud or projection upon the bolt engages or the cam surface may engage with a

page_text: recess in the bolt. If desired the bolt may be spring-controlled in one direction
and operated by a cam or equivalent in the other direction.
When the arm is in its backward position it is as already stated underneath the
hopper containing the detonators each of which is provided with or placed in a
socket-fitting or double socket, one portion being a kind of shallow dish to contain
the detonator or signal, and the other being a socket adapted to fit upon the end of
the arm.
The hopper is open at the bottom but has a movable slide preferably
pivotted, operated by or in correspondence with the pivotted arm, the pivot being
arranged eccentrically to that of the arm. The result of this arrangement is that
when the arm is in its backward position it moves the slide so as to present a lower
surface beneath the hopper into which falls the socket-fitting (with its detonator)
next in order, and as the arm is turned upon its pivot so as to place the detonator
upon the rail the eccentric movements of the arm and the slide cause the end of the
arm to enter the socket of the socket-fitting and carry it off the slide which only
moves for a short distance and ultimately place it upon the line ready to be
discharged when the next train passes. The hopper slide may with advantage be
provided with a spring portion to close the hopper and carry the signals and
facilitate their slipping over the slide when the latter is moved back upon the arm
being returned. We prefer to operate the hopper slide in both directions by means
of the pivotted arm and this may be conveniently effected by having a projection
which may be provided with an anti-friction roller upon the slide and a cam groove
in the arm; however other means may be employed for operating the slide.
We prefer to entirely case-in the apparatus and to provide at a part contiguous
to the rail a door or flat adapted to open when the arm presents the signal to the
rail, and either upon this door or other suitable position we place one or more
contacts forming part of an electric circuit, conveniently two, so arranged that
when the socket-fitting touches these it completes the circuit and rings a bell in the
signal box, thus informing the signalman that the detonator is upon the line. If
therefore the hopper were empty and the signal arm was moved but did not place a
detonator upon the rail the bell would not be rung and the signalman would know
that there was something wrong with the signal so that it could be attended to;
the signal may preferably be rung by slightly overdrawing the lever in the signal
box so that when fixed in its proper position the bell ceases ringing, but if desired
the bell may ring the whole time, or be a single action bell or other equivalent
arrangement be adopted. The door or flap may be automatically closed by direct
pull, spring, balance weight or the like. As in the case of a fog or on other
occasions when the driver or guard was unable to see his signal arm it is desirable
to give him positive information when his signal is removed any suitable portion of
the apparatus may be caused to strike a bell or gong when the arm is withdrawn
from the rail.
The operation of this apparatus then is as follows;-The signalman places his
lever in such a position as would place his semaphore arm at "danger" if this
apparatus be used in conjunction therewith, or in any case so as to set the improved
apparatus at "danger" and in so doing pulls the pivotted arm which carries with it
from the hopper the socket-fitting with its detonator and places this upon the line
the arm socket remaining upon the arm out of reach of the wheels of the vehicles;
the bell is rung in the signal-box showing that the signal is in position. After the
train has passed or before if the line is clear the signalman returns his lever thereby
moving the pivotted arm and withdrawing the signal discharged, or undischarged,
and by means of the sliding bolt throwing it off the lever into any suitable
receptacle from which it can be ultimately recovered and used again if it has not
been exploded. Upon the completion of the movement the pivotted arm has
returned to its backward position and is ready to enter the next socket-fitting upon
the next forward movement. These operations can be repeated as often as may be
required and the hopper may be easily adapted to carry the necessary signals for
any specified length of time as the number of signals which may be required to be
given can be pretty closely estimated.

page_text: in the accompanying drawings
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are four plans showing the apparatus constructed according to
my invention at four different stages of its operation; in all these figures the fog
signal reservoir is shown in section and the electrical signalling device in
diagram.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the apparatus showing the means for audibly signalling
that a train may proceed on its journey after having been stopped in accordance
with a previous adjustment of the signalling apparatus.
Fig. 6 is a view in which the case and reservoir are shown in section and the
contents thereof in elevation.
Fig. 7 is an elevation of part of the apparatus in the position corresponding with
that shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 8 is an elevation of the head of the sliding bolt and a transverse section of
the pivotted arm.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is the case or framing which preferably consists of a box or body A' provided
at one side with a door A2 hinged or pivotted so that it will freely open both
outwards and inwards and of a cover A³ secured tightly to the top of A¹ and
through which projects the reservoir A and which cover is also provided with a
door A through which the spent fog signals may be removed from the case.
Inside the case A is rigidly secured a framing B on which are mounted the main
operative parts of the apparatus and which also supports, by means of distance
pieces and bolts B', the cam plate C.
D is the main operating portion or arm pivotted upon the bolt or pin D' mounted
rigidly in the framing B and cam plate C and capable of being turned on its
pivot. D' between and parallel with B and C to an extent of say 90° or thereabouts;
one extreme position of the arm D is shown in Figure 1 and the other approximately
extreme position is shown in Figure 3.
E is the link which connects one end of arm D with the rod F which is moved
in the direction of its length by means of the hand lever (not shown in the
drawings) located at the signalman's box from which the apparatus is controlled,
said rod F being supported in bearings A and passing completely through the
case A and connected with the usual semaphore signal which may be say 100 yards
further along the line than the fog signal apparatus shown in the drawings.
G is the bolt mounted to slide freely in the direction of its length in bearings D² D³
rigidly secured to or forming part of the pivotted arm D and having a head or
pusher G¹ which may be of the shape shown in Fig. 8 that is to say it is provided
with downwardly projecting extensions G2 passing down at the sides, and through
a preferably central slot D', of the arm D. The bolt G moves over, and as before
described, the arm D moves below, the cam plate C which, as shown in Figs. 1
to 4, is formed with an opening C' which admits of the travel of the bearing D2
within said opening. On the upper side of the cam plate Care provided the three
cams C2 C3 C and at the underside of the sliding bolt G is provided the anti-
friction roller G³ upon which these three cams act when the arm D is turned on its
pirot D¹ so as to move the sliding bolt G longitudinally.
H is the movable slide pivotted at H' upon the framing B on a lower level than
the arm D so that the arm D may work over it. On the upper side of H is
provided a stud, projection or equivalent H2 which is adapted to engage with a
cam groove D³ provided at the underside of the arm D the cheeks constituting the
sides of the cam groove being of such length that although the arm D partakes of
a motion of approximately 90° it will move the slide H along with it through a
portion only of its stroke, that is to say while the arm D is moving from the
position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3, it will draw the slide H along
with it during the first part of such movement and will leave it in the position
shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and proceed alone through the remainder of its stroke.
When the slide H is in the position shown in Figs. 2; 3 and 4, its edge H³ (Fig. 1)
bears against the end or vertical flange B² of framing B the flange thus constituting

page_text: a stop for limiting the movement of H in one direction, its movement in the
opposite direction being restricted by a stop or upturned flange I' formed at the
end of the curved rail I which supports the outer end of the slide H and which
may form an integral part of the case A or be rigidly secured within it in any
suitable manner.
The arm D is supported through part of its stroke on a curved
rail B³ which joins the vertical flange B which supports the arm through the
remaining part of its stroke.
The slide H is provided with a recess or pocket H4 the floor or bottom of which
is at such a level relatively to that of the bottom edge of the reservoir A* that
when the slide H is moved from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6 towards that
shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, there just sufficient distance between said floor and
bottom edge to admit of the lateral removal of one fog signal J from the column
contained in the reservoir, the fog-signal so removed being always the lowermost
one of the column. The slide His moreover provided with ribs H which are in
approximately the same plane or slightly below that in which is the bottom edge of
the reservoir A'; the object of these ribs is to support the fog signals in the
reservoir when the pocket H is moved from below it.
Each fog signal adapted for use with the before described apparatus is provided
with a socket J¹ which may be of tin and form an integral part of the fog signal
or it may be formed separately and provided with a pocket for receiving the fog
signal or it may be soldered or otherwise secured to the fog signal.
The reservoir A consists of a body conveniently secured to the case A by means
of a downwardly extending flange A and bolt A passing through it and one of the
walls of the case A as shown in Fig. 6 which same wall at its upper edge is recessed
as at A8 Figs. 1 to 4 to receive the reservoir and support it at the proper height in
relation to that of the slide H as before described. One of the vertical walls A⁹
of the reservoir is removable and at its lower part, like the lower part of the
reservoir itself, extends downwards through the cover A³ and at this lower part is
retained by the cover A³ and its upper part by the cap or cover A10 which fits over
the wall A and reservoir A' as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
To prevent the reservoir A' and the before mentioned door A³ being opened by
unauthorized persons they are locked in their closed positions by means of the
fastening bar K K one end of which fits into a staple A secured to the cover A³
adjacent to A and the other end or hinged part K of which is provided with an
opening for fitting over the staple A12 secured in one of the walls of the reservoir A
and itself perforated to receive the bow of a padlock L (Fig. 7; or the securing
or locking of the reservoir A and door A³ may be effected in any other desired
manner.
M is an electric contact device consisting of two sets of contacts one a contact
point M and spring M² and the other two contact springs M. This device is so
arranged that the bell N situated at the signalman's box from which the before
described apparatus is operated, will be rung when the spring M is pressed against
the contact point M2 as shown in Fig. 3, by the bell-crank lever M³ which is
adapted to be moved by the socket J' of a fog signal (so that if the socket and
consequently the signal be not upon the arm D this signal will not be given), or
when, by the deflection of the arm D the upper of the two contact springs M' is
pressed against the lower, either of these operations causing the circuit to be
completed through the bell N battery N' conductors N2 and contact M. The bell-
crank lever M³ is preferably provided with a block M³ of insulating material
through which it operates the contact spring M¹.
The bell-crank lever M³ is only adapted to be operated by the pressure against
it of the socket J' of a fog signal when being placed in position on the rail O so
that should the arm D be turned into the position shown in Fig. 3 and the bell N
not be rung by such operation the signalman will know that no signal is on the
rail; such a result would indicate that the supply of fog signals in the reservoir A*
was exhausted or that for some other reason the apparatus required attention. To
prevent the continuous ringing of the bell N, when of the ordinary vibrating kind,

page_text: the bell-crank lever M³ may be so located that it will be operated only by the
overdrawing of the signalman's lever so that when said lever after it has been
operated is placed slightly back to allow the lever-locking-bolt to engage with its
notch, the fog-signal socket J will be withdrawn from the bell-crank lever M³
which will thereby be allowed to return to its normal position and allow the
spring M' to move out of contact with the point M² so that the circuit through the
bell N will be broken; such is the arrangement shown in the accompanying
drawings, in Figure 3 of which the dot and dash lines show the position to which
the fog signal and socket J' are moved to close the electrical circuit, said signal
and socket being also shown in this figure in full lines in the position which they
occupy when the signalman's lever is locked in its danger position. Instead of
using a vibrating bell, a single-stroke bell may be used so that no matter how long
the circuit may remain closed the bell will be sounded only once; or, any other
signalling device may be used instead of those described.
When a train passes over the fog-signal it slightly depresses the free end of the
arm D so as to press the upper of the two contact springs M against the lower
one and thereby complete the circuit through the bell N which is thereby rung,
indicating to the signalman that the train has passed the fog-signalling apparatus.
To indicate to those in charge of the train when the line is free for them to
proceed further, an ordinary elastically-supported or other bell P is mounted on or
near the ordinary semaphore signal post, and this is so connected with the rod For
equivalent by which the fog-signalling apparatus or the semaphore is operated that
when said apparatus is moved to its "line clear" position the bell is rung. In
Fig. 5 the means for operating the bell P are shown to consist of a pin or
projection F provided on the rod F which engages with a pivotted arm P
connected by a wire 12 with the bell P the wire in this figure being shown broken
away. The arm P if desired may be formed in two parts joined together by a
knuckle joint which will allow the pin F¹ to move past the arm in one direction
without affecting it as is well understood, or as shown in Fig. 5 it need not have
such a joint as the elasticity of the wire P2 may be sufficient to admit of the free
backward movement of the arm P¹. In the drawings the pin FI and arm P¹are
shown in close proximity to the fog-signalling apparatus but in the practical
application of this invention it would be preferable to arrange these parts close to
the bell P.
It is to be understood although the before explained apparatus is herein described
as connected with the signalman's box and semaphore signal by a rigid rod F that
the necessary connections may be made by other means such as wire or equivalent
so arranged as to positively operate the fog-signalling device in both directions.
In the following description of the operation of the before described apparatus
the apparatus is at the commencement of such operation supposed to be in its
inoperative or normal position as shown in Fig. 1 in which position the lowermost
of the fog signals in the reservoir A' is located in the pocket H* of slide H.
When the signalman, through the appropriate lever at his box or cabin, moves
the rod F in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, the link E connected
with the rod F and arm D cause the said arm to move in the direction indicated by
the arrow d. At the commencement of its stroke the arm D is connected with the
slide H through the cam groove D' and projection H2 so that as it moves it draws
the slide H along with it. As the free end of arm D is of the proper size_for
entering the signal socket J¹ and the socket is properly presented to the arm D it
follows by reason of the convergence of the paths of the pocket D₁ and of the
free end of the arm D that the socket J' is moved on to the end of the arm D in
the manner shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 which represents the apparatus with the
slide H at the end of its operative stroke at which part of the operation its edge H³
abuts against the flange B2 of framing B as before described and its stud or
projection H2 is free of the cam groove D' of arm D. After this stage the arm D
moves along without the slide H and with the fog-signal socket fitted tightly on its
free end, this movement continuing until the bell N in the signalman's box is rung,

page_text: which indicates that the fog-signal is on the line, after which as before described
the signalman may move the operating lever slightly back so as to break the
circuit through the bell N. During this movement of the arm D from the position
shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3 the anti-friction roller G³ of bolt G first
moved away from the back of the cam C and then against the back of the cam C³
which moves the bolt G slightly backwards and then against the front of the cam C2
which moves the bolt slightly forwards but the head G of bolt G not being against
the signal socket J¹ these movements of the bolt G do not affect any other part, its
forward movement serving simply to bring it to the position necessary for ensuring
its proper operation during the backward movement of arm D.
When the train passes over a signal J held on the line by the arm D said arm is
slightly deflected and through the contact springs M the bell N is again rung so
that the signalman is apprised of the engine's passage over the fog signal when the
train is pulled up.
When the line is clear for the further progress of the train the signalman
operates the appropriate hand lever and through the projection Farm P¹ and
wire P2 the bell P is rung so that the engine-driver is made acquainted with the
fact and can take the train further. During the operation of the rod F in the
direction necessary for ringing the bell P the arm D is moved from the position
shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1 and during this movement the anti-friction
roller G of bolt G is moved first away from the front of the cam C2 then against
the front of the cam C³ so that the bolt G is forced outwards and with its head G¹
pushes the signal socket J' off the end of arm D, as shown in Fig. 4, the signal
thus released falling to the bottom of case A.; as the movement proceeds the roller
is pressed against the back of cam C which moves the bolt G backwards into the
position shown in Fig. 1. During the latter part of this last described or backward
stroke of arm D the cam slot D engages the projection H2 of slide H which slide
is thereby moved along with D to the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position
the pocket H is again below the reservoir A' and the lowermost of the fog-signals J
in the reservoir A is received in the said pocket.
The details of the before described apparatus may be modified without departing
from the essential features of the invention for example instead of the cam
groove D' being formed on the arm D and the stud or projection H2 on slide H
the cam groove may be on the slide H and the projection on the arm D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is,-
1. In apparatus such as described the combination with a pivotted arm such as D
of an eccentrically operated slide such as H substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus such as described the combination with a reservoir such as A4
of a pivotted arm such as D and eccentrically pivotted slide such as H having a
pocket such as H4 substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. In apparatus such as described the combination with a pivotted slide such
as H having a stud or equivalent projection such as H2 of an arm such as D having
a cam such as D' substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4. In apparatus such as described the combination with a pivotted arm such as D
of a bolt such as G longitudinally movable thereon substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In apparatus such as described the combination with a pivotted arm such as D
and bolt such as G longitudinally movable thereon of one or more stationary cams
such as C C C substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
6. In apparatus such as described the combination with a pivotted arm such as D

page_text: of a slide adapted to be operated by it during only a part of its forward and
backward strokes substantially as described.
7. In apparatus such as described the combination of an arm such as D bolt
such as GG G3 longitudinally movable thereon slide such as H H* and stationary
cams such as C2 C3 C4 substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
8. In apparatus such as described the combination with the mechanical apparatus
which places the signal upon the line of electrical apparatus for indicating to the
man in the signal box that
(a) The signal is placed upon the line.
(b) The engine or vehicle has passed over the signal.
9. In apparatus such as described the combination with the apparatus which
places the signal upon the line of a signalling device operated during the return or
inward movement of the apparatus to notify to the driver that he may proceed
substantially as described.
10. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
signalling apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 17th day or April 1893.
B. S. BARTON.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.