Improvements in and relating to Railway Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1909
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept.. 1899-Accepted. 21st Oct.. 1899
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept.. 1899-Accepted. 21st Oct.. 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Railway Signalling Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT SYKES, Senior, of 15, Vernon Road, Clapham, in the County
of Surrey, Railway Signal and Telegraph Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:
-
My invention relates to improvements in railway signalling apparatus and
the like and consists of a novel form of mercurial contact maker, more especially
for use in what is known as the "Sykes" electrical treadle or rail contact which
is operated by a passing train or vehicle. It can, however, be also adopted to
other forms of treadles, rail contact, or other electrical signalling apparatus which
is actuated by the weight of an engine or vehicle in order to set up an electric
current.
I carry out my invention in the following manner: -
I provide a cylinder containing mercury and communicating preferably at its
lower end, with the lower ends of two other cylinders or cylindrical pockets
arranged at any convenient angle with regard to the first mentioned central
cylinder and at the upper or outer ends of said side cylinders or pockets platinum
or other suitable contact points, insulated from the cylinders and terminating
in nuts or screws for attaching wires or conductors, are provided. In the central
cylinder or chamber containing the mercury is a loosely fitting piston suitably
connected to an arm the movement of which depends upon the depression of the
rail caused by the weight of a train or vehicle passing over the spot where the
treadle or contact maker is fixed; this piston is normally just above the level
of the mercury, the platinum points in the side cylinders as above referred to,
being at a slightly higher level.
It has been found by experience that the disturbance of the permanent way,
owing to atmospheric changes or from other causes, is liable to alter the adjust-
ment of treadles or rail contacts whereby false contacts or signals might be made
and this necessitates constant watchfulness on the part of the railway officials
or those whose duty it is to maintain the apparatus in a state of efficiency. An
important feature of my present invention consists in providing means to obviate
this objectionable feature and I do this by providing a hole or recess (or holes
or recesses as may be desired) in the above mentioned piston working in the
central cylinder, so that, assuming a slow or gradual movement of the piston such
as might take place owing to disturbance of the permanent way as above referred
to, the mercury in said central cylinder instead of entering the side cylinders
or chambers in which the platinum contact points are fitted would tend rather
to flow through the holes or recesses in the piston, and also between the piston
and the cylinder in which it works.
The action of my invention for the purpose of making contact between the
mercury in the central cylinder and the contact points in the side cylinders is
that the wheels of an engine or vehicle when passing over the treadle operates
the piston and forces the mercury into contact with the platinum points in said
side cylinders or pockets thus setting up the current for the desired purpose.

page_text: Although one of my improved contact makers as above described need only
be employed in connection with each treadle yet of course I may use more than
one if necessary.
The details of construction of my improved apparatus may be varied without
departing from my invention.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1898.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
Agent for the said Applicant,
70 and 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, London, S.W.
Improvements in and relating to Railway Signalling Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT SYKES, Senior, of 15, Vernon Road, Clapham, in the County
of Surrey, Railway Signal and Telegraph Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
My invention relates to improvements in railway signalling apparatus and
the like and consists of a novel form of mercurial contact maker, more especially
for use in what is known as the "Sykes" electrical treadle or rail contact which
is operated by a passing train or vehicle. It can, however, be also adapted to
other forms of treadles, rail contact or other electrical signalling apparatus which
is actuated by the weight of an engine or vehicle in order to set up an electric
current.
I carry out my invention in the following manner, reference being made to
the accompanying drawing in which,
Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of my invention, Figures 2 and 3 being
respectively a sectional elevation and plan, of the mercury cup showing a modified
arrangement of the connection to the piston hereinafter referred to.
The same letters refer to the same parts in the different figures.
I provide a cylinder or cup a containing mercury and communicating prefer-
ably at its lower end with the lower ends of two other cylinders or cylindrical
pockets arranged at any convenient angle with regard to the first mentioned
central cylinder a, and at the upper or outer ends of said side cylinders or
pockets bb platinum or other suitable contact points ed insulated from the
cylinders and terminating in nuts or screws dd for attaching wires or conductors,
are provided. In the central cylinder or chamber a containing the mercury is
a loosely fitting piston e suitably connected to an arm f fulcrummed at f¹, move-
ment being communicated to said piston through the arm f by means of a connec-
tion such as f2 to the lever g fulcrummed at g¹ upon the depression of the rail
caused by the weight of a train or vehicle passing over the spot where the
treadle or contact maker is fixed; a stud or projection on the rail bearing on
the end of lever g as shown communicates movement thereto on the passage of
a train or vehicle. The piston e is normally just above the level of the mercury,
the platinum points c c in the side cylinders or pockets .6 6' above referred to
being at a slightly higher level. j is the casing of the treadle which is fixed
alongside the rail k as shown, the stud h on the rail working in a slot h¹ in said
casing.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the connection to the piston' e is mounted on
a shaft and communicates movement to the piston through said shaft. on the

page_text: depression of the rail by a passing train or vehicle. m, Fig. 3, is a stuffing box
and gland for packing in order to prevent the escape of mercury at that end of
shaft, no escape being possible at the other end owing to the fact that the hole
in which the shaft works at this end does not extend through to the outside of
the mercury cup. n is insulating material.
It has been found by experience that the disturbance of the permanent way,
owing to atmospheric changes or from other causes, is liable to alter the adjust-
ment of treadles or rail contacts whereby false contacts or signals might be made
and this necessitates constant watchfulness on the part of the railway officials
or those whose duty it is to maintain the apparatus in a state of efficiency. An
important feature of my present invention consists in providing means to obviate
the above mentioned objectionable feature and I do this by providing a hole
or recess (or holes or recesses as may be desired) in the piston e working in the
central cylinder a so that, assuming a slow or gradual movement of the piston e
such as might take place owing to disturbance of the permanent way as above
referred to, the mercury in said central cylinder a instead of entering the side
cylinders or chambers b b in which the platinum points c c are fitted would tend
rather to flow through or into the holes or recesses in the piston e, and also between
the piston e and the cylinder in which it works.
The action of my invention for the purpose of making contact between the
mercury in the central cylinder a and the contact points c c in the side cylinders
bb is that the wheels of an engine or vehicle when passing over the treadle
operates the piston e as hereinbefore described and forces the mercury into contact
with the platinum points c c¹ in said side cylinders or pockets b b¹, the action of
the piston e in this case being a quick movement, thus setting up the current for
the desired purpose.
Although only one of my improved contact makers as above described is shown
in connection with the treadle illustrated in the accompanying drawing yet of
course I may use more than one if necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1
In an electrical treadle or contact apparatus for railway signalling, a mercury
cup or receptacle, side passages communicating therewith and having contact
points or terminals at their upper ends, a piston working in said mercury cup
said piston having a recess or hole (or recesses or holes) and being operatively
connected to a lever or arm so as to be depressed by the passage of a train or
vehicle, all substantially as herein set forth for the purpose specified.
Dated this 4th day of September 1899.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
Agent for Applicant,
70 and 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.