IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPENSATING APPARATUS FOR THE CONTRACTION AND EXPANSION OF SIGNAL WIRES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Gaunt, of the City and County of York, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPENSATING APPARATUS FOR THE
CONTRACTION AND EXPANSION OF SIGNAL WIRES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Gaunt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd September 1880.
CHARLES GAUNT, of the City and County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMPENSATING APPARATUS FOR THE CONTRACTION AND EXPANSION OF SIGNAL
WIRES."
The object of my improvements is to supply automatic apparatus or means for
preserving signal wires at one uniform degree of tension at all temperatures of the
atmosphere. On a stud on a bracket fixed in the signalman's or pointsman's cabin
I fit a fork ended lever, between the fork ends of which and working loose on a pin
at the end of the lever there is a brake pulley, sufficient room being allowed in the
fork ends to admit of the free working of a connecting rod which is coupled to the
fore arm of the signal lever in cabin. The bottom end of the signal lever is also
forked, the forked arms working outside the flanges of the brake pulley and between
the forked arms which carry the pulley. The forked arm of the signal lever is
slotted at the part thereof that passes the spindle of the brake pulley, the slot being
of such a length as not to interfere with the working of the brake pulley. At the
bottom of the connecting rod, and between the forked arms of the signal lever, is
fixed a brake block, the sides of which are by preference of a wedge form, and
when brought into operation, wedges itself between the flanges of the brake pulley.
To the bottom of the hereinbefore mentioned bracket is attached a projecting
arm on which is mounted an intermediate pulley. At the end of the signal wire is
attached a piece of chain or its equivalent, which passes over and is bolted to the
rim of the brake pulley, passing under the intermediate pulley to a third pulley,
which is connected to the back tail of the signal lever in cabin. To the end of a
chain is attached a compensating weight, such weight being utilized in pulling off
the signal.
When the signal is at danger, the lever carrying the brake pulley rests on a stop
provided on the hereinbefore mentioned bracket; this stop is so arranged that when
the signal is at danger the brake is entirely clear of the pulley, leaving it free to
be acted upon by the compensating weight.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Gaunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd March
1881.
CHARLES GAUNT, of the City and County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMPENSATING APPARATUS FOR THE CONTRACTION AND EXPANSION OF SIGNAL
WIRES."
The object of my Invention is to supply automatic apparatus or means for
preserving signal wires at one uniform degree of tension at all temperatures of the
atinosphere.
On a stud on a bracket fixed in the signalman's or pointsman's cabin I fit a fork 1
ended lever, between the fork ends of which and working loose on a pin at the end
of the lever there is a brake pulley, sufficient room being allowed in the fork ends
⚫ to admit of the free working of a connecting rod which is coupled to the fore arm
of the signal lever in cabin. The bottom end of the connecting rod is also forked,
the forked arms working outside the flanges of the brake pulley, and between the 1
forked arms which carry the pulley. The forked arms of the connecting rod is
slotted at the part thereof that passes the spindle of the brake pulley, the slot
being of such a length as not to interfere with the working of the brake pulley.
At the bottom of the connecting rod and between the forked arms is fixed a brake
block, the sides of which are of a wedge form, and when brought into operation
wedges itself between the flanges of the brake pulley. To the bottom of the
herein before mentioned bracket is attached a projecting arm on which is mounted
an intermediate pulley. At the end of the signal wire is attached a piece of chain
or its equivalent, which passes over and is bolted to the rim of the brake pulley
passing under the intermediate pulley to a third pulley which is connected to the 2
back tail of the signal lever in cabin. To the end of this chain is attached a
compensating weight, such weight being utilized in pulling off the signal.
When the signal is at danger, the lever carrying the brake pulley rests on a stop
provided on the herein before mentioned bracket. This stop is so arranged that
when the signal is at danger the brake is entirely clear of the pulley, leaving it 3
free to be acted upon by the compensating weight.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood,
reference is given to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and marks
thereon.

page_text: brake block m are tapered, and wedge themselves when brought into gear between
the flanges of the brake pulley e. At the lower end of the bracket a is a projecting
arm o, on the end of which is mounted on a stud or spindle an intermediate loose
pulley p.
At the end of the signal wire is connected the chain q, which passes over and is
bolted to the rim of the brake pulley e at r, passing under the intermediate pulley p
onto a third pulley 8, which is connected to the back tail t of the signal lever j in
the cabin by means of the bracket u; at the end of the chain 9 hangs or hang
compensating weight or weights v, such weight or weights being utilized in pulling
off the signal. When the signal is at danger the lever d which carries the brake
pulley e rests on a stop won the bracket a, this stop wis so arranged that when
the signal is at danger; the break block m is entirely clear of the brake pulley e,
leaving it free to do its work, being assisted in preserving the signal wires at one
uniform degree of tension by means of the weight or weights v.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and described with the
aid of Drawings how the same may be carried into practice, I would have it under-
stood that I do not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of the parts
I have described and shewn, as the same may be varied or modified without departing
from the nature of my said Invention, but what I claim and desire to be secured
to me by Letters Patent is,-
The arrangement, construction, and combination of the various parts (and mere
modifications of the same), forming the compensating apparatus for preserving
signal wires at one uniform degree of tension, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Gaunt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.