Improvements in and connected with Electric Signalling and Lighting in Trains, said Improvements being also applicable for Telegraphic and Telephonic Communication.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Electric Signalling and
Lighting in Trains, said Improvements being also applicable for
Telegraphic and Telephonic Communication.
We, ALEXANDER SHIELS of 190 Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B. Sc.,
and WILLIAM ELLIOT of Mark Green, Lanark, Cattle Salesman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in and connected with electric signalling
and lighting in trains the invention being also applicable for conducting telegraphic
and telephonic communication.
In carrying out our invention for signalling we fit on the engine or tender a
battery or other suitable source of electricity and likewise in the guard's van
another battery or source of electricity. The negative and positive wires from the
batteries pass from end to end of the train and are suitably charged with electricity.
Into each compartment of the carriages branch wires are led and a circuit-closer in
the form of, by preference, a push knob is also fitted in each compartment. The
push knob is normally held out of contact with the wires by means of a spring or
its equivalent. The knob is preferably enclosed in a metal or other casing having
a glass or mica or equivalent window which must be broken before the knob can be.
pushed in and the circuit closed.
The wires are joined together at each carriage and to the engine and van by.
means of a clamp arrangement formed in two parts each part being fitted preferably
at the ends of rubber or other tubes enclosing the wires which are fitted at the
ends of each of the carriages. Each part of the clamp has a long and a short
projection the long projection of the one, when the parts are clamped together,
locking into the short projection of the other and vice versa. These projections
carry in them the positive & negative wires which, at the ends, are secured to
spring terminals. The terminals fit into or against one another and the pressure
of the springs always keeps them in contact so that the current of electricity is
never interrupted when the train is in motion.
In clamping the parts together they are preferably inserted into one another at
a slant and when they are both brought to the horizontal line a projection or its
equivalent on each part catches and holds firmly in a recess or groove in the
other. The parts may however be joined together in any other suitable
manner.
The parts of the clamp and the other connections are properly insulated.
A bell or gong is fitted in the van and on the engine or tender.
When it is desired to call the attention of the guard or driver the passenger
must break the glass or mica window and push in the knob so closing the circuit and
ringing the bell at the engine or van or both according to the arrangement.
The clamp may be used to carry four or other number of wires instead of two
and in this case some of the wires could be used for conducting electricity to light
the carriages whilst others could be utilized for telegraphic or telephonic com-
munication between the guard and the driver.
The wires are or may be crossed or branched and there may be double projec-
tions on the clamps so as to prevent one set of wires, in the shifting of the carriages,
being connected to another set carrying a different kind of electricity.
In the case of electric lighting the source of electricity may be a dynamo fitted.
on the engine or tender and driven from one of the wheel axles.

page_text: For telephonic or telegraphic communication the wires are connected to suitable
transmitting and receiving instruments.
Dated this 16th day of June 1891
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Electric Signalling and
Lighting in Trains, said Improvements being also applicable for
Telegraphic and Telephonic Communication.
We, ALEXANDER SHIELS of 190 Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B. Sc.,
and WILLIAM ELLIOT of Mark Green, Lanark, Cattle Salesman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to improvements in and connected with electric signalling
and lighting in trains the invention being also applicable for conducting telegraphic
and telephonic communication.
a
In carrying out our invention for signalling, we fit or may fit on the engine or
tender a battery or other suitable source of electricity and likewise in the guards'
van, another battery or source of electricity. The negative and positive wires
from; the battery pass from end to end of the train and are suitably charged with
electricity. Into each compartment of the carriages branch wires are led and
circuit-closer in the form of, by preference, a push knob, is also fitted in each com-
partment. The push knob is normally held out of contact with the wires by
means of a spring or its equivalent. The knob is, preferably, enclosed. in a metal
or other casing having a glass or mica or equivalent window which must be broken
before the knob can be pushed in and the circuit closed.
The wires are joined together at each carriage and to the engine and van by
means of a clamp arrangement formed in two parts, each part being fitted, pre-
ferably, at the end of rubber or other tubes enclosing the wires which are fitted at
the ends of each of the carriages. Each part of the clamp has a long and a short
projection, the long projection of the one, when the parts are clamped together,
locking into the short projection of the other and mice versa. These projections
carry in them the positive and negative wires which, at the ends, are secured.to
spring terminals. The terminals fit into or against one another and the pressure
of, the springs always keeps them in contact so that the current of electricity, is
never interrupted, when the train is in motion.
In clamping the parts together, they are preferably inserted into one another at
a slant and when they are both brought to the horizontal line, a projection or its
equivalent on each part, catches and holds firmly in a recess or groove in the other.
The parts may; however, be joined together in any, other suitable manner.. The
parts of the clamp and the other connections, are properly insulated..
A.bell or gong is fitted in the van and on the engine or tender.
And in order that our said invention may be properly understood we have
hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings whereon :-
Fig. 1 is a side view of one half or part of the connecting clamp or coupling.
Fig. 1 is a front view of the clamp Fig. 1.
Fig. 2, is, a horizontal section on the line x-x Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the clamp Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of a modified form of the clamp.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of a complete coupling or clamp and showing the pipe.con-
nections.
Fig. 64 is a horizontal section, of two female terminals,; Fig. 6B a side view, and
Fig. 6° a front view of one of the terminals Fiº. 6ª.
4
5

page_text: Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of two of the male terminals or contacts and.
Fig. 7B a side view of one of the male contacts Fig. 7A.
Fig. 8 represents plan and side views of the female terminals or contacts for the
clamp Fig. 4; and
Fig. 9 represents plan and side views of the male terminals or contacts for the
same.
Figs. 10 and 11 are, respectively, sectional and front views of the press knob
arrangement for the interior of the carriages.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate similar or like parts.
The coupling for connecting the electric wires is made in two parts A, B.
(Fig. 5). The parts are precisely similar to one another and one is connected to
each end of every carriage. These parts are clamped together by merely.
holding the parts upright or nearly so in each hand and then bringing them down"
to the horizontal position so as to fit into one another as shown (Fig. 5). The
electric wires C, C₁ which are suitably covered, as shown, are charged with
electricity from any suitable source, such as batteries as already explained, and are
connected to each part of the coupling or clamp. The wires may be passed.
through a plug B The parts of the coupling are secured to the ends of,
preferably, rubber or hose pipes, D, connected to the ends of each carriage and
enclosing the wires C, C', as shown Figs. 1 and 5. The pipes, D, are secured to
the parts of the coupling by winding wire, D¹, round them or in other manner.
The parts A, B, of each coupling are prevented from slipping or falling out of
the pipes D by the heading E or its equivalent.
As shown at Fig. 2 the parts A, B, are hollow and have two projections, one, A',
long and the other, A², short. Into the hollow projection A¹ is fitted a cylindrical
brass or other casing F in which works a piston G, through which the wires c, d
are passed. The piston G, which may be made of vulcanite, ebonite or other
suitable material, is normally pressed outwards by a coil spring H fitted inside and
bearing against the closed inner end of the casing F and also bearing against a
shoulder H formed on the piston by reducing its diameter at the inner end. This:
reduced part, as shown, passes through an opening at the back of the casing F.:
To prevent the piston Ġ being pushed out too far by the spring H, a pin, I,
is fitted across the outer end of the casing F. The end of the piston
is cut at so as to allow the pin to pass through it and also permit
of back and forward motion. The pin I also serves as a guide to the piston
and prevents it turning round. The wires c, d, terminate in or are connected.
to male contacts J. J'. The contacts we prefer to make of the tapered form shown
as they can be easily inserted into the piston G. The male contacts are fully:
shown at Figs. 7 and 7 where it will be seen that they are each made with a
convex-tapered hammer-shaped head which fits into the corresponding concave.
head of the female contacts (Fig. 6B) of the other part of the coupling. By:
tapering the head as shown, Fig. 7, the contacts are, on the principle of the.
wedge, forced to grip or catch into one another. The spring H, allows sufficient
play to enable the contacts to be brought together when the parts are being
coupled.
It will be seen that the end of the projection A¹ is cut out at A³, A' for the
reception of the corresponding parts of the clamp B.
:
The short or female projection A2 has a plug K screwed in it through which
The female contacts.
pass the wires d', c', terminating in the female contacts e, e.
are made as shown at Figs. 6A, 6B, 6-that is, narrow tee-shaped concave strips.
These contacts receive and are borne against by the corresponding contacts J, J',
of the clamp B.
The short projection of each clamp is made with a ledge L upon which, when .
the parts are clamped together, the end of the long projection of the other clamp
or part rests. The ledge prevents the parts uncoupling by falling downwards. . Å ¨.

page_text: removable plate M is fitted on the side of the projection A² to prevent latera
movement when the parts are coupled.
For facilitating the closing of the parts together the projection A' is made o
cylindrical shape as shown at N Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 14.
As shown at Fig. 1 the outer end of the projection A¹ is convexed at O, and the
shorter projection A² concaved at 01 (shown dotted) to enable the parts to be easily
and accurately fitted together, and the plates M may be cut away at the top M₁
for this purpose. P is a cover piece. The top of the projection A2 is cut out
at Pi for the reception of the part P of the clamp B.
As will be seen with this coupling the main electric wires C, C', are branched
into four wires c, c, d, d', a branch from each wire passing, respectively, to each
projection A', A² so that the wires cross, the two inner wires dd, being say,
negative wires whilst the two outer are positive wires or vice versa.
arrangement no matter how the carriages may be shifted about or turned round the
With this
wires of the part A of one carriage will always correspond with those of the
part B of the next carriage.
Instead of using four wires as hereinbefore described three wires only may be
used as shown at Fig. 4. The hollow clamp in this case carries the wires C, C¹, as
before, the wire C¹ alone being branched however. The wire C. passes straight up
the male projection A¹ and is bent so as to connect with a cone shaped contact Q
(see also front view at Fig. 44) fitted into a round vulcanite or other suitable
plug R screwed or otherwise fitted in the side of the projection A: The contact
projects out slightly from the face of the plug as shown. The branch d¹ of the
wire C₁ passes through a plug K as before whilst the branch & passes also through
a plug K. As a spring piston cannot very well be used with this arrangement we
use spring female contacts as shown at Fig. 8 with fixed plugs K: The female
contacts are made with a bent over head e to which is secured a light strip of:
nickel or other suitable metal e. which is bent outwards or upwards, as shown, so as
to be concave and serves as a spring. Against this spring the male convex head J
works and by the. spring action is always kept in touch. As the contacts. Q
project slightly out from the surface they are forced into close contact. when
the parts are coupled together. These contacts may be spring contacts if..
preferred.
The circuit closing device for signalling is shown at Figs. 10 and 11. it consists
of a hollowed wooden or other base S on which rests a cover S¹ having a central 3
hole for the push knob T. U is the enclosing cover with a mica or glass
window V which must be broken before the bell in the guards van or on the
engine can be rung. This is done.by pushing in the knob T and thus bringing the
springs W, W into contact and closing the circuit, through the wires, in the usual
manner. One of the push knob devices is. fitted in each compartment of the 4
carriage so that anybody wishing to raise an alarm may easily do so. By having
the glass or mica window on the push knob a means of detection in cases of
tampering is provided, for, as the window must be broken before the bell can be
rung, it can be easily ascertained in which carriage the bell was tampered with.
The clamp may be used to carry four or other number of wires instead of two 4
and in this case some of the wires could be used for conducting electricity to light,
the carriages whilst others could be utilized for telegraphic or telephonic
communication between the guard and the driver.
In the case of electric lighting the source of electricity may be a dynamo fitted
on the engine or tender and driven from one of the wheel axles.
For telephonic or telegraphic communication the wires are connected to suitable
transmitting and receiving instruments.
Spring pistons or plugs may of course be fitted for both male and female contacts
if so desired or spring contacts may be so used.
50
The wires C, C hereinbefore described as being used for signalling or communi- 55
cating may be used as electric lighting or telephone wires.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A coupling for electric wires consisting of two parts A, B, each part having a
long and a short projection which, when clamped together, fit into one another,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings annexed.
2. A coupling for electric wires consisting of two parts having long and short
projections which carry the wires, the terminals of the wires being kept in close
contact by means of springs or their equivalent, substantially as hereinbefore set
forth.
3. In electric signalling on trains a push-knob circuit closer having a glass or
mica window, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
4. In electric signalling, telephoning, or telegraphing on trains the use of spring
terminals or contacts, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the
drawings annexed.
Dated this 29th day of August 1891.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.