IMPROVE MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING RAILWAY SIGNALS, AND FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SIGNAL LAMPS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING RAILWAY SIGNALS, AND FOR RAISING
AND LOWERING SIGNAL LAMPS."-A communication from abroad by Jean
Joseph Baranowski. of Turin, Italy.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald Broo-
man at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition,
on the 16th December 1863.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING RAILWAY SIGNALS. AND FOR RAIS-
ING AND LOWERING SIGNAL LAMPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention refers, firstly, to what are known as disc signals. It consists
in connecting the foot of the rod or pillar carrying a disc signal to a circular
horizontal plate, with depending sides similar to the lid of a circular box,and
forming the cover to another box up and down which the cover works; the
inside of the cover carries three or more inclined planes which run upon a
similar number of friction rollers free to revolve on axes and contained in the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: box. The cover or the rod carrying the signal has connected to it an arm, to
which one end of the signal wire or chain is attached, the other end of the
wire is connected to a lever within reach of an attendant. To support the
wire and diminish friction as far as may be, they are carried at intervals
between two grooved rollers held in a metal frame, the frame and the rollers
being secured to a post or other fixed point by means of screws which also act
as the axes of the rollers. The working is as follows:-Supposing the disc to
indicate "danger," the cover will be completely closed and will hide the box
containing the friction rollers, then, to indicate "all clear," the signal man
pulls the wire connected to the arm on the cover or signal rod, and causes the
cover to rotate to a certain extent, the inclined planes running on the rollers,
whereby the disc is not only turned but also raised. Then on the signal wire
being slacked the weight of the disc rod and cover through the inclined
planes and friction rollers causes the disc to return to the position indicat-
ing "danger."
My Invention refers, secondly, to the raising and lowering of signal lamps.
I dispense with ladders and hoisting chains, and connect by a hinge to a rod
or bar carrying the lamp another rod or bar, the lower end of which is within
reach of an attendant. I cause the upper bar or bars to run in a groove or
channel or guide formed in or fixed to the signal post, but the hand bar, or
that within reach of the attendant, is free to move outwards on being released
from a spring or other catch at its lower end. By moving this hand bar
outwards the attendant is enabled to lower down the lamp within reach, and
by the reverse motion to raise it again to its required position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th June 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I,the said Richard
Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others

page_text: •
as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, 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 WORKING RAILWAY SIGNALS
AND FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SIGNAL LAMPS," (communicated to me from
abroad by Jean Joseph Baranowski, of Turin, Italy,) upon the condition"
(amongst others) that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors
or administrators, 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 per-
formed, 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 Richard Archibald Brooman, 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, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
This Invention refers, firstly, to which are known as disc signals and sema-
phore signals. It consists in connecting the foot of the rod or pillar carrying
a disc signal to (or in the case of semaphore signals in supporting the foot of
the rod or pillar in a socket or support on) a circular horizontal plate with
depending sides similar to the lid of a circular box and forming the cover to
another box up and down which the cover works; the inside of the cover
carries three or more inclined planes which run upon a similar number of
friction rollers free to revolve on axes and contained in the box, the cover or
the rod carrying the signal has connected to it an arm to which one end of
the signal wire or chain is attached, the other end of the wire is connected to
a lever within reach of an attendant. To support the wire and diminish
friction as far as may be, it is carried at intervals between two grooved rollers
held in a metal frame, the frame and the rollers being secured to a post or
other fixed point by means of screws, which also act as the axes of the rollers.
The working is as follows:-Supposing the signal to indicate "danger," the
cover will be completely closed and will hide the box containing the friction
rollers; then, to indicate "all clear," the signalman pulls the wire connected
to the arm on the cover or sigual rod, and causes the cover to rotate to a
certain extent, the inclined planes running on the rollers, whereby the disc in

page_text: the case of disc signals is not only turned but also raised; in the case of
semaphore signals, the rod to which the semaphore arm is fitted isonly raised.
Then, on the signal wire being slacked, the weight of the signal rod and
cover through the inclined planes and friction rollers causes the signal to
return to the position indicating "danger."
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a plan of an apparatus for
working disc signals, constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2 is an
elevation of the apparatus in the position indicating "all clear;" and Figure 3
a similar view in the position indicating "danger." Figure 4 is a section on
a larger scale through the line a, b, o Figure 2; and Figure 5, a section
also on a larger scale through the line c, d, of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a side view of an apparatus, by means of which the sigual man
pulls the wire connected to the apparatus which worksthesignal,andshewing
it in the position it occupies when the wire is stretched; Figures 7 and 8 are
respectively a side and an end view, shewing the apparatus; Figure 6, in the
position it occupies when the signal wire is slacked; Figure 9 represents
two grooved rollers held in a metal frame, and between which rollers the
signal wire is carried. Similar letters refer to corresponding partsin Figures
1 to 9. Bis a box forming a socket or support for the rod or pillar F, which
carries the disc signal A. C, C, C, are friction rollers free to revolve on axes,
and contained in the box B; D is a movable cover to which the rod F is
keyed D is a dru:n or circular plate which prevents wet getting into the
apparatus; this drum may, if desired, be formed in a piece with the cover D.
E, E, E, are three inclined planes carried by the inside of the cover I), and
running upon the rollers C, C, C; G is the 'frame of the apparatus by which
the signal man pulls the signall wire; g, g, are the grooved rollers for sup-
porting the signal wire; H is a pulley to which the end of the wire is
attached, and I is a handle for working the same; K is a screwed stop to
prevent the pulley H from turning when the signal wire is sufficiently
stretched; L, L, are holes in the box B, to allow any water which may find its
way therein to run out; M is an arm on the cover D, to which the end of
the signal wire is attached. The working is as follows:-Supposing the disc
be in the position represented in Figure 3, indicating "danger," the drum D¹
hides the box B; then, to indicate "all clear," the signal man pulls the pulley
Hand handle I into the position represented in Figure 6, so that the signal
wire connected to the arm M becomes tightened, and the cover D is caused
to rotate to a certain extent, the inclined planes E running on the rollers C,
whereby the disc A is not only turned but raised into theposition represented
in Figure 2. Then, on the signal wire being slacked, by allowing the pulley

page_text: H and rod I to return into the position represented in Figure 7, the weight
of the disc A, rod F, and cover D, through the inclined planes E and friction
rollers C, causes the disc to return to the position Figure 3, indicating
"danger."
Figure 10 represents in elevation, and Figure 11 in plan, an arrangment
in which the apparatus for working signals, before described, is combined
with other apparatus worked by the passing train; these Figures shew the
parts in the position they occupy to indicate "all clear." Figures 12 and 13
are corresponding views shewing the parts in the position they occupy
when indicating "danger."
Figure 14 is a side view, Figure 15 an end view, and Figure 16 a plan
of an apparatus for pulling and slacking the signal wire; Figure 17 is a
similar view to Figure 14, but shewing the parts of the apparatus as when
the wire is slacked.
A is the apparatus for working the disc signal, constructed as shewn in
Figures 1 to 5.
a is the point to which the chain or wire connecting the
signal with the apparatus worked by the passing train is attached. B is a
horizontal lever, the play of which tightens or slackens the said chain or wire,
and 6 is a guide in which the lever B works. C is a bent notched bar; this
bar is shewn detached in Figures 18 and 19. D is a lever weighted at E,
which supports the bar C when the signal is indicating "all clear," and which,
when the signal wire is slacked, becomes depressed, and allows the signal to
return to the position indicating "danger;" d is an arm on the lever D, and
d a stop to maintain the signal wire well stretched when required; e is a
screwed stop by which the weight E may be secured at any desired part of
the lever D; G is a movable counter rail acted on by the wheels of the
passing train; H is a rod connecting the rail G and lever B; this rod may
be shortened or lengthened as required by means of the apparatus I. K is
an apparatus similar to the apparatus A, which works the disc signal; it is
weighted at L; the weights may be removed or others added according to the
distance of the signal from the apparatus by which the signal wire is pulled
upon or slacked. A chain connects the apparatus K with the rail G; M,
Figures 14 to 17, is an ordinary pulley over which the signal wire or chain
passes; N is a weight for keeping the wire stretched when the signal indicates.
"all clear;" O is another pulley carrying a ratchet wheel or teeth P; and Q is
a paul taking into the ratchet; R is a handle for turning the pulley O and
ratchet P. The working is as follows:-The first wheel of the passing train
strikes against the rail G and moves it from the position scan in Figure 11

page_text: to that seen in Figure 13; the weight L and the cover of the apparatus K
are thereby raised; the lever B moves sideways, and the bent bar C becomes
hooked to the lever D. The chain connecting the bar C and the apparatus
A is thus slacked, and the apparatus A works the signal to indicate
"danger." Then, to indicate "all clear," the signalman slacks the signal
wire by turning the handle R so as to raise the weight N,as seen in Figure 17;
the lever D fails into the position represented by the dotted lines in Figure 12,
and becomes unhooked from the bar C, and the weight Lreturns the other
parts into the positions represented in Figure 11.
In order to indicate "danger" at other times than when a train has passed
the signalman has only to slack the signal wire as just described, the lever D
will then fall and unhook the bar C whereby the chain connecting it with the
apparatus A will be slacked and allow the apparatus A to move the signal.
The parts B, G, H, K, and L remain undisturbed. Figure 18 is a view
through the line a, a, of Figure 11, shewing the respective positions of the
bent bar C and the lever D when the signal is at all clear;" Figure 19 is
a view through the line z, z, of Figure 13 shewing the lever D engaged in
the notch of the bar C when the signal has been moved to "danger" by a
passing train. The dotted lines in Figure 18 show the respective positions
when the signal has been moved to "danger" by the signalıman. The
apparatus represented in Figures 6, 7, and S for working the signal wire
may be employed in conjunction with the arrangement described with
reference to Figures 10 to 13 in lieu of the apparatus Figures 14 to 17;
the apparatus Figures 14 to 17 may in like manner be adopted to actuate the
signal wire where no apparatus acted on by the passing train is employed.
Or any other means of pulling and slacking the signal wire may be used.
Figures 20 and 21 shew the Invention applied to working semaphore
signals. The apparatus A is constructed as before described, but as the
rod F which acts upon the signal moves only up and down it is not fixed
to the cover of the apparatus A, but is only supported in a socket as shewn.
In any of the arrangements before described additional weights may be
placed on the cover of the box containing the inclined planes and friction
rollers if found necessary. Although I have shown and described the cover
of the box containing the friction rollers as being raised to indicate "all clear"
and lowered to indicate "danger," the apparatus may be arranged to act in
the reverse manner if desired.
The second part of this Invention refers to the raising and lowering of
signal lamps. I dispense with ladders and hoisting chains, and connect by

page_text: a hinge to a rod or bar carrying the lamp another rod or bar the lower end
of which is within reach of an attendant. I cause the upper bar or bars to
run in a groove, or channel, or guide, formed in or fixed to the signal post,
but the hand bar or that within reach of the attendant is free to move
outwards on being released from a spring or other catch at its lower end.
By moving this hand bar outwards the attendant is enabled to lower down
the lamp within reach, and by the reverse motion to raise it again to its
required position. This part of the Invention will be understood by reference
to Figures 2 and 3. N is a socket free to slide up and down the pillar F;
O is a bar attached to the socket O by screws P, P, and extending up
to about the level of the centre of the signal disc, where it assumes the
form of a plate or support to which the signal lamp is fixed; or the bar
O may terminate at top in a fork to receive the lamp, the screws P, P.
which connect the bar O to the socket N also take into a groove Q in the
pillar in order to retain the lamp vertical while being raised or lowered; R is
a jointed rod or har hinged to the bar O, and within reach of the attendant;
S is a key or projection, and Ta lock for securing the lamp when raised.
By moving the bar R outwards the attendant is enabled to lower the lamp
within reach, as shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 3, and by the reverse
motion to raise it to its required position.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
mauner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the apparatus for working disc signals constructed and acting
substantially as herein-before described and represented in Figures 1 to 5
of the accompanying Drawings, whether such apparatus be employed alone
or in conjunction with apparatus worked by the passing train, as represented
in Figures 10 to 13.
Second, the apparatus for working semaphore signals constructed and
acting substantially as described with reference to Figures 20 and 21 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Third, the apparatus for acting on signal wires constructed and acting
substantially as herein-before described with reference to Figures 6, 7,
and 8 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the apparatus for acting on signal wires constructed and acting
substantially as herein-before described with reference to Figures 14 to 17
of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth, the employment for supporting signal wires of two grooved rollers
held in a metal frame, between which rollers the signal wire is carried, as herein-
before described and represented in Figure 9 of the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Sixth, the apparatus for raising and lowering signal lamps constructed
and acting substantially as herein-before described and represented in
Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of June, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
R. A. BROOMAN. (L.S.)