Improvements in or connected with Electric Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 17th Feb, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electric Signalling on Railways.
I, HARRY SIBERY, of 36, North Street, Ashford, in the County of Kent,
Master Mariner and Lieutenant Royal Navy Reserve, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
66
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with electric signalling on
railways, and has for its object to indicate in an audible manner or otherwise to the
driver of an engine the position of the semaphore signal arm or the signal desired
to be given in advance of the train, that is to say, whether it stands at Stop,"
"Caution," or at "All clear," and at the same time to give notice to the signal man
of the passing of certain predetermined points by the train, and the invention is
more especially intended for use in foggy weather in lieu of the ordinary detonating
fog signal.
For this purpose, I arrange at suitable intervals in advance of the signal station
several contact blocks the first of these blocks consisting, for example, of a single
contact plate or it might be a brush, the second consisting of two contact plates,
and the third of three contact plates, and I arrange these contact blocks double or
in pairs, so that each pair is capable of being coupled so as to complete an electric
circuit, as hereinafter described.
Upon the engine, arrange a pair of contact brushes or equivalent contact
making devices corresponding in position with the contact blocks and adapted to
traverse the same in the passage of the train, and I electrically connect these
contact brushes so that upon their passing over the contact plates of the contact
blocks they will complete an electric circuit, and, in the electric circuit upon the
engine, I place a signal bell and if desired a hand indicator to indicate to the
driver his passage over the contact plates. The contact brushes are so mounted on
the engine that, when desired, they may be raised to, and secured in, such a position
that they will pass clear of the contact plates.
At the signal station I provide the lever for actuating the semaphore signal arın
with a contact making device, and in conjunction therewith I employ three contact
making plates, one corresponding with the "All clear" position of the semaphore
signal arm, another corresponding with the "Caution" position and the third
corresponding with the "Stop" position thereof, and I electrically connect each set
of contact plates on the line with the corresponding contact plate of the signal
lever and in a suitable position in the electric circuit I arrange a signal bell or
band indicator similar to those employed upon the engine.
By these means, when the semaphore signal arm is set at "All clear" the first
set of contact plates upon the line will be placed in electrical contact with the
corresponding plate of the signal lever, and upon a train passing over the contact
plates of the line, the circuit will be completed and the signal bell of the engine
will ring once and indicate to the driver that the semaphore signal arm shows "All
clear" whilst an indication will also be conveyed to the signalman at the signal
station showing him the position of the train upon the line.
Upon the train passing over the second set of contact plates upon the line
consisting of, for example, two, the signal bells will be caused to ring twice, whilst
upon the train passing over the third set of contact plates upon the line, the signal
bells will be caused to ring thrice and thus a perfect understanding can be arrived
at by the eagine driver and the signalman.

page_text: In some cases I mount upon the engine in an adjustable manner, and in advance
of the brushes scrapers or other suitable devices for cleaning the surfaces of the
contact plates.
At a suitable position at the signal station or it might be upon the engine or at
both these places, I arrange in the electric circuit a suitable electric battery, as
will be readily understood.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electric Signalling on Railways.
I, HARRY SIBERY, of 36, North Street, Ashford, in the County of Kent'
Master Mariner and Lieutenant Royal Naval Reserve, 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 relates to improvements in or connected with electric signalling
on railways, and has for its object to indicate in an audible manner or otherwise, to
the driver of an engine, the position of the semaphore signal arm or the signal
desired to be given in advance of the train, that is say, whether it stands at
"Stop," "Caution," or at "All clear," and at the same time to give notice to the
signal man of the passing of certain predetermined points by the train, and the
invention is more especially intended for use in foggy weather in lieu of the ordinary
detonating fog signal.
For this purpose, I arrange at suitable intervals in advance of the signal station,
several contact blocks, the first of these blocks consisting, for example, of a single
contact plate, or it might be a brush, the second consisting of two contact plates,
and the third of three contact plates, and I arrange these contact blocks double or
in pairs, so that each pair is capable of being coupled so as to complete an electric
circuit, as hereinafter described.
Upon the engine, I arrange a pair of contact brushes or equivalent contact
making devices corresponding in position with the contact blocks and adapted to
traverse the same in the passage of the train, and I electrically connect these
contact brushes so that upon their passing over the contact plates of the contact
blocks they will complete an electric circuit, and, in the electric circuit upon the
engine, I place a signal bell and if desired a hand indicator to indicate to the
driver his passage over the contact plates. The contact brushes are so mounted on
the engine that, when desired, they may be raised to, and secured in, such a position
that they will pass clear of the contact plates.
At the signal station, I provide the lever for actuating the semaphore signal arm
with a contact making device, and in conjunction therewith I employ three sets of
contact making plates, one corresponding with the "All clear" position of the
semaphore signal arm, another corresponding with the "Caution " position, and the
third corresponding with the "Stop" position thereof, and I electrically connect
each set of contact plates on the line with the corresponding contact plates of the
signal lever and in a suitable position in the electric circuit
arrange a signal bell
or hand indicator similar to those employed upon the engine.
"
By these means, when the semaphore signal arm is set at "All clear the first
set of contact plates upon the line will be placed in electrical contact with the
corresponding plates of the signal lever or box and upon a train passing over the
contact plates of the line, the circuit will be completed and the signal beil of
the engine will ring once and indicate to the driver that the seruaphore sigual arm
shows "All clear" whilst an indication will also be conveyed to the signal man at
the signal station showing him the position of the train upon the line.

page_text: at by the engine
In some cases, I mount upon the engine in an adjustable manner and in advance
of the brushes scrapers, or other suitable devices, for cleaning the surfaces of the
contact plates.
At a suitable position at the signal station or it might be upon the engine or at
both these places, I arrange in the electric circuit a suitable electric battery, as will
be readily understood.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. is a diagram illustrating line of railway and the means employed
by me for carrying my invention into effect.
Figure 2. is a separate view of the locking lever and co-acting parts for
actuating a semaphore signal arm.
Figure 3. is a transverse section of the railway showing the contact making
devices of the engine in end elevation, and,
Figure 4. is a side elevation thereof.
In the several figures, in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference, Figures 2, 3, and 4, are drawn to an increased scale with respect to
Figure 1.
a. represents the railway metals, b. represents an engine running thereon,
c. represents a signal box, and d. represents a station.
At suitable intervals in advance of the signal box c. and station d. are arranged
within the metals a. several contact blocks, the first of these blocks consisting, for
example, of a single contact plate e. (or it might be a brush) the second consisting
of two contact plates f., and the third consisting of three contact plates g., and these
contact plates e. f. g. are arranged in pairs, so that each pair is capable of being
coupled so as to complete an electric circuit, as herein before described.
Upon the engine b. is arranged a pair of contact brushes b¹ or equivalent contact
making devices corresponding in position with the contact blocks or plates e. f. g.,
and therefore adapted to traverse such contact plates in the passage of the train,
and these contact bushes b¹ are electrically connected by means of a conductor 6*
so that upon their passing over the contact plates e. f. g., they will complete an
electric circuit, and in the electric circuit upon the engine is placed a signal bell b²
and if desired a hand indicator, which however I have not thought it necessary to
show, so as to indicate to the driver his passage over the contact plates e. f. g.
The contact brushes 6 are carried by an insulating bar 63 which is carried by
the outer ends of horizontal arms 64 fixed upon a transverse shaft 66 mounted in
bearings be carried by the engine, and the transverse shaft 65 is by a vertical arm
or lever b' and connecting rod 68 connected with a latch lever 6° which by the aid
of a dotted or notched quadrant 610 becomes locked in either of these two positions
so that in one position, namely, that shown by the full lines of the drawing Figure 4,
the contact brush 6' will be lowered so as to engage the contact plates e. f. g.
whilst in the other position of the lever b they will be raised and secured in such
a position that they will pass clear of the contact plates e. f. g.
At the signal box c. the lever h. for actuating the semaphore signal arm is
provided with a contact making device h¹ normally held up to its work by a
spring h³, and in conjunction with this contact making device h¹ are employed three
pairs or contact making plates, one pair e corresponding with the "All clear"
position of the semaphore signal arm, another pair f¹ corresponding with the

page_text: "Caution" position and the third pair g' corresponding with the "Stop" position
thereof.
Each pair of contact plates el fi g₁ is by a pair of conductors e fo 9*
electrically connected with the corresponding contact plates e. f. g. upon the line,
and in a suitable position in the electric circuit both at the signal box c. and station d.
are arranged signal bells and if desired hand indicators ea. f. 92.
By these means when the semaphore signal arm is at "All clear" the first set of
contact plates e. upon the line will by the plates e and contact piece h of the
signal lever be placed in electrical contact, and upon a train passing over the contact
plates e. of the line the circuit will be completed and the signal bell be of the engine
will ring once, and indicate to the driver that the semaphore signal arm shows "All
clear," whilst an indication will also be conveyed to the signalmen at the signal
box c. and station d. by the bells e, showing them the position of the train upon
the line.
Upon the signal lever h. being shifted so that the contact piece h¹ will make
contact with the contact plates fi and the train passing over the second set of
contact plates f. upon the line consisting of two, the signal bells 6ª and f will be
caused to ring twice whilst upon the lever h. being shifted to make contact with the
contact plates 91 and the train passing over the third set of contact plates g. the
signal bells and g will be caused to ring thrice, and thus a perfect understanding
can be arrived at between the engine driver and the signalman or signalmen.
At a suitable position at the signal box c., or it might be if desired upon the
engine b., or both of those places, is arranged in each circuit e* f* g* a suitable
electric battery e³ fs g³, as will be readily understood, and the office of which is
to furnish the necessary current.
In some cases, an adjustable scraper or guard is mounted upon the engine in
advance of each of the contact brushes b₁ in order to clear the surface of the
contact plates e. f. g., and at the same time to protect the brushes b₁ from injury
by contact with foreign substances.
It will be readily understood that the contact making devices at the signal box
may be so arranged that, when the semaphore signal arm is set at danger, the
circuit may be completed through the second set of contact plates between the
metals, in addition to its completion through the third set of contact plates.
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 :-
In electric signalling on railways, the combination of several isolated groups
each consisting of a different number, of pairs of contact plates arranged upon the
line, each group corresponding with a given position of the semaphore signal arm,
a corresponding device carried by the engine or carriage so that in its passage it will
complete the circuit between each pair of contact plates in turn, an electric bell or
indicator located in the circuit on the engine or carriage, several sets of contact
plates at the signal box electrically connected with the corresponding contact plates
of the line, a contact making device carried by the signal lever at the signal station
or box for completing the circuit with each set of plates in turn according to the
position of the semaphore signal arm and an electric bell or indicator arranged in
each circuit at the station or signal box, substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.