IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS, BY IMPROVEMENTS THE SIGNALLING APPARATUS IS RENDERED SELF-REGISTERING OR RECORDING, AND ALSO APPLICABLE FOR MEASURING AND RECORDING THE SPEED OP PASSING TRAINS, AND THE TIME OF THEIR PASSAGE, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS is APPLICABLE. FOR RECORDING THE SPEED OF TRAINS WHERE .SIGNALLING IS NOT REQUIRED
Year: 1861

page_text: WHICH
TTERS PATENT to Charles Cheyne, of 19, Great George St., West-
minster, Civil Engineer, and Thomas Beeby Moseley, of Lewisham,
in the County of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS, BY
IMPROVEMENTS THE SIGNALLING APPARATUS IS RENDERED SELF-REGISTERING OR
RECORDING, AND ALSO APPLICABLE FOR MEASURING AND RECORDING THE SPEED
OP PASSING TRAINS, AND THE TIME OF THEIR PASSAGE, PART OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS is APPLICABLE. FOR RECORDING THE SPEED OF TRAINS WHERE
.SIGNALLING IS NOT REQUIRED."
Sealed the 11th April 1862, and dated 18th October 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by thes aid Charles Cheyneand Thomas
Beeby Moseley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 18th October 1861.
We, CHARLES CHEYNE, of-19, Great George St:, Westminster, Civil Engi-
neer, and THOMAS BEEBY MOSELEY, of Lewisham, in the County of Kent; -
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS, BY WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
THE SIGNALLING APPARATUS IS RENDERED SELF-REGISTERING OR RECORDING, AND
ALSO APPLICABLE FOR MEASURING AND RECORDING THE SPEED OF PASSING TRAINS
AND THE TIME OF THEIR PASSAGE, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE
FOR RECORDING THE SPEED OF TRAINS WHERE SIGNALLING IS NOT REQUIRED," to be.
as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of

page_text: apparatus for signalling on railways, by which improvements the signalling
apparatus is rendered self-registering or recording; and also applicable for mea
suring and recording the speed of passing trains and the time of their
passage,
part of which improvements is applicable for recording the speed of trains
where signalling is not required. For these purposes we place at or near each
of the ordinary semaphore signal posts, an instrument containing a train of
wheels kept in motion by aspring, or it may be other similar contrivance, by
means of which a strip of paper may be propelled continuously and approxi-
mately at a regular speed past a number of marking instruments. Each of
these marking instruments is put in connection with an electro-magnet or
similar electric apparatus, which, when an electric current is passed through a
wire, of which there is one corresponding with each marker, moves its marker
and brings it into contact with the travelling strip, thus producing a mark
thereon. The instrument is also furnished with a galvanic battery, the poles
of which are connected with the several electro-magnets or similar electric
apparatus, but the electric current does not at all times flow through the
magnets or electric apparatus, a gap being left in each of the circuits, and
these gaps are bridged over from time to time to complete the circuits when
it is desired that the current should pass, and that the markers should mark
the paper. The electric circuit is completed through one of the electro-
magnets or similar instruments at regular intervals of time by means of a
clock, thus producing on the travelling strip of paper marks from which, by
simply inspecting the strip, the time at which any portion of it was passing
under the markers may be determined. The circuit in connection with another
of the markers is completed by the semaphore arm each time it is raised to
iudicate danger; that of a third marker is completed by the distance signal
when it is brought to indicate danger; that of a fourth marker is completed
each time a train passes the semaphore signal, the train moving a piece of
metal, and so bridging over the gap previously left in this circuit; the circuit
of a fifth marker is completed similarly by a train passing the distance signal.
Thus it will be seen, first, that the times of putting the semaphore and distance
signalstodangerarerecorded on the travelling strip, marksbeingproducedupon
it, which, taken in conjunction with the timemarks on the same strip, form the
required record. Second, that the length of these marks will determine how
long the semaphore and distance signals were kept at danger. Third, that the
time of the passage of each train past the semaphore and the distance signals
will be recorded similarly by marks on the strips, and that these marks also
give all the data required to determine the speed at which any train passed
either of these points (the length of the train being known), for as the circuit

page_text: is kept completed from the time the train commences to pass until it is com-
pletely clear the length of mark produced will vary inversely with the speed of
the train. When the trains pass both the semaphore and distance signals the
speed is readily ascertained, even if the length of the train is unknown, as the
moment the train arrives at each of these points is registered on the strip, and
the distance between the two signals is known. It will be understood that
each semaphore arm or distance signal, of which it is desired to keep a
register, will have its separate marker and line of marks on the strip, and the
same is the case with each line of rails over which it is desired to record the
passage of trains. Where it is not necessary to employ signals, but it is
desired to ascertain only the time occupied by trains in passing over a given
space of line,a similar arrangement maybe employed,some of the markers and
parts in connection therewith being dispensed with. We would remark that in
place of producing the several records by the passage of electric currents
through circuits, the records may be produced by the cessation of electric
current in circuits through which they otherwise pass continuously. The
marks,in place of being produced by electro-magnets or other similar instru-
ment actuating mechanical markers, may be produced by causing electric
currents to pass through chemically prepared paper, as is well understood.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Cheyne and Thomas Beeby Moseley in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 17th April 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
CHEYNE, of 19, Great George Street, Westminster, Civil Engineer, and
THOMAS BREBY MOSELEY, of Lewisham, in the County of Kent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Charles Cheyne and Thomas Beeby Moseley, Her special licence that
we, the said Charles Cheyne and Thomas Beeby Moseley, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Charles Cheyne
and Thomas Beeby Moseley,our 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,

page_text: use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS, BY WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS THE SIGNALLING APPARATUS IS RENDERED SELF-REGISTERING OR
RECORDING, AND ALSO APPLICABLE FOR MEASURING AND RECORDING THE SPEED OF
PASSING TRAINS AND THE TIME OF THEIR PASSAGE, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
IS APPLICABLE FOR RECORDING THE SPEED OF TRAINS WHERE SIGNALLING IS NOT
REQUIRED," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Charles
Cheyne and Thomas Beeby Moseley, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand
and seal of one of us or them, 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 Thomas Beeby Moseley, on behalf of
myself and the said Charles Cheyne, 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, that is
to say-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of appa-
ratus for signalling on railways, by which improvements the signalling
apparatus is rendered self-registering or recording, and also applicable for
measuring and recording the speed of passing trains and the time of their
passage, part of which improvements is applicable for recording the speed
of trains where signalling is not required. For these purposes at or near
each of the ordinary semaphore signal posts, by preference in a room in the
vicinity thereof, but it may be in any convenient locality, we place an instru-
ment containing a train of wheels kept in motion by a spring or weight,
or it may be other similar contrivance, by means of which a strip of paper
may be propelled continuously and approximately at a regular speed past
a number of marking instruments; each of these marking instruments is
put in connection with an electro-magnet or similar electric apparatus,
which, when an electric current is passed through a wire, of which there
is one corresponding with each marker, moves its marker and brings-it
into contact with the travelling strip, thus producing a mark thereou. The
instrument is also furnished with a galvanic battery, the poles of which
are connected with the several electro-magnets, or similar electric appa-
ratus, but the electric current does not at all times flow through the magnets

page_text: or electric apparatus, a gap being left in each of the circuits, and these
gaps are bridged over from time to time to complete the circuits, when it is
desired that the current should pass and that the markers should mark the
paper.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus arranged in the manner
we prefer, only some of its principal parts are shown; a, a, are two brass
plates or frames carrying between them the axis b, on which is mounted
the chain wheel c, over this is a chain with which a weight is attached.
The axis b, by means of suitable spur wheels and pinions, drives the axis d,
which in turn drives the axis e, and this gives motion to the paper rollerf,
there being a worm wheel on the axis of this roller, and a worm gearing
therewith on the axis e. The paper is led from the drum g under the roller f,
and is pressed against it by the two pressing rollers h, which are kept up to
the surface of the roller f by springs h¹, h¹, so that as the roller f revolves,
it carries the paper onwards with it; the paper passes away to the drum i,
and is wound thereon; this drum is driven by the band j passing to it from the
drum g, as is shown; the size of the pullies round which this band passes
is so adjusted that the drum i shall always be driven at a sufficient speed;
any excess of speed of the band causes it to slip on one of its pullies. The
manner in which the chain is passed over the chain wheel c is shown at
Figure 2, in which is an endless chain; 1, a weight attached to a pulley l¹;
and m, another chain wheel, shown also in Figure 1; the chain passes also
over this wheel, which is turned only for the purpose of winding up the appa-
ratus, at other times it is held stationary by a ratchet and click. The length
of chain and the gear wheels are so arranged that the apparatus shall
run by preference about thirty hours, the paper travelling at a speed of
about one inch per minute; the speed of the paper, however, may be much
varied; it will seldom, however, be convenient to make it less than half an
inch per minute, or more than four inches.
A plan of a portion of the apparatus is shewn at Figure 3; n, n, are
standards or frames carrying the paper rollers; 0, 0, are four marking levers;
they have tubes o¹, o', fixed on them, through which screws or pins pass;
these are fixed into the standards n, and serve as axes for the levers to
turn upon; p,p, are armatures fixed on the levers o, and immediately under
them are the poles of the electro-magnets q, q; 0, 0², are adjusting screws,
which, striking against a pillar or stop, serve to prevent the armatures
coming in contact with the poles of the magnets. Figure 4 shows the ends
of the levers o, with their marking points, which, as will be seen, are ad-
justable, so that they may be set at a proper distance from the paper. The

page_text: roller is of metal, and has a small groove turned in it at each of the
places where the marking points come up to it. The electro-magnets are
such as are commonly used in telegraphing, but if the circuits be short, as
will almost always be the case, the wire should not be very fine, and no
very great length will be requisite. The electric circuit is completed through
one of the electro-magnets at regular intervals of time by means of a clock,
thus producing on the travelling strip of paper marks from which, by simply
inspecting the strip, the time at which any portion of it was passing under
the markers may be determined. The time spaces are marked on the paper
by the circuit being completed once every minute, an extra mark being made
at the end of each half hour, and two extra marks at the end of each
hour, so that it only remains for the station master, or person under whose
control the apparatus is placed, to write the date upon the strip once (at
any fixed time) in the 24 hours, to enable one to ascertain what markers
were called into play at any particular hour or minute of the day. Any
ordinary clock can be made to complete these time circuits in the following
manner: Upon the spindle of the hour wheel is fixed a wheel having 60
teeth cut upon its circumference; on each side of one of the teeth, and
close to it, two small strips of metal are soldered or fixed, so as to form
two more teeth. At the opposite side of the circle, that is, at the thirtieth
tooth from the one near which the two extra teeth are placed, one piece of
metal or extra tooth is fixed. At some convenient place, close by the
circumference of this "make and break" wheel, is a spring which presses
lightly on the edge of the wheel, each tooth in succession passing under it,
and completing the circuit between the battery and electro-magnet. The
spaces between the teeth may be filled in with some non-conducting and
hard material, so as to prevent the spring falling from one tooth to the other.
The circuit in connection with another of the markers is completed by the
semaphore arm each time it is raised to indicate danger. The semaphore
signals complete their circuits in the followingmanner:-Upon some portion of
the rod which works the arm of the signal is fastened a steel or brass spring or
arm, say six inches in length, this is enclosed in a casing or box on the inside
of which is a metal stud in sufficiently close proximity to the spring for the
latter to become in contact with it when the arm is raised to danger, and to
remain in contact as long as the arm is so raised The stud is connected
with the wire attached to the electro-magnet which has to record the signals
indicated by the seinaphore arm; the circuit of a third marker is completed
by the distance signal when it is brought to indicate danger; this may be done
in a manner quite similar to that employed for the semaphore arm. The

page_text: circuit of a fourth marker is completed each time a train passes the semaphore
signal. For this purpose a lever is so placed on the inner side of one of the
metals that the flanges of the engine and other wheels in passing over it
cause it to be depressed. This lever is mounted on an axis, and the axis is
produced to some distance from the line of rails where its motion is com-
municated by an arm to one end of a vertical rod, say about three feet in
length; the other end of this rod is made to enter a wooden or other box in
which is a spring so constructed that the rod in being raised by the depression
of the lever shall press it against a metal stud to which the wire from the
electro-magnet is attached; the rod being in metallic contact with the earth
completes the circuit of the battery and causes the marker to act. If the
weight of the rod be not sufficient to cause the lever to resume its original
position after the train has passed, a spring or counterbalancing weight can
be used to assist it. The circuit of this marker is completed similarly by a
train passing the distance signal, or for this a separate marker may be em-
ployed, but this is hardly necessary. Thus it will be seen, first, that the times
of putting the semaphore and distance signals to danger are recorded on the
travelling strip, marks being produced upon it, which, taken in conjunction
with the time marks on the same strip form the required record.
Second, that the length of these marks will determine how long the senia-
phore and distance signals were kept at danger.
Third, that the time of the passage of each train past the semaphore and
the distance signals will be recorded similarly by marks on the strips, and
that these marks also give all the data required to determine the speed at
which any train passed either of these points (the length of the train being
known), for as the circuit is kept completed from the time the train com-
mences to pass until it is completely clear, the length of mark produced will
vary inversely with the speed of the train. When the trains pass both the
semaphore and distance signals the speed is readily ascertained, even
if the length of the train is unknown, as the moment the traiu arrives at
each of these points is registered on the strip, and the distance between the
wo signals is known. It will be understood that each semaphore arm or
Histance signal of which it is desired to keep a register will have its separate
narker and line of marks on the strips, and the same is the cise with each
ine of rails over which it is desired to record the passage of trains. An
pparatus arranged as above described, but to suit two lines of rails in place
of one, will require seven markers.
.
Where it not necessary to employ signals, but it is desired to ascertain
nly the time occupied by trains in passing over a given space of line, a

page_text: similar arrangement may be employed, some of the markers and parts in
connection therewith being dispensed with; if it is only required to keep a
check on the speed of passing trains, as is sometimes desirable on parts of a
line where high speeds might be dangerous, a time marker and two markers
for each line is all that will be required.
The battery we employ by preference consists of three or four cells (more
or less according to the length of the circuits), containing graphite and zinc
plates of considerable size, say about six inches long and three broad, and in
cells of large size, containing a considerable quantity of weak acid, such a
battery will require but little attention to keep it in working action. We
couple up one end of the coil of each electro-magnet to one pole of the battery
and the other pole of the battery we connect with the earth, the other end
of the coil of each electro-magnet is connected to an insulated wire leading,
as the case may be, either to the clock, to the signal, or to the apparatus
already described to be acted on by the passing trains; here a break is left
in the circuit, which is completed only when the registration is to that place,
and then the insulated wire is brought into electric communication with
the earth by one or other of the means herein-before described. This
method of making the connections may, however, be much varied, and it is
not essential that the earth should form any part of the circuit. We would
remark that in place of producing the several records by the passage of
electric currents though circuits, the records may be produced by the
cessation of electric currents in circuits through which they otherwise pass
continuously; this, however, is not desirable. The marks, in place of being
produced by electro-magnets or other similar instrument actuating mechanical
markers, the marks may be produced by causing electric currents to pass
through chemically prepared paper, as is well understood. The use of
chemically prepared paper will much simplify the apparatus; but will require
constant superintendence to make it work successfully.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Beeby Moseley, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
THOS. B. MOSELEY. (L.S.)