Improvements in Station and Stopping Place Indicators for Railway and other Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 20th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Station and Stopping Place Indicators for Railway
and other Vehicles.
JOHN BRYDONE, 1, The Crescent, Stonebridge Park, Willesden, London, N.W.
Member of Civil Service, WILLIAM CHATTAWAY, 101, Leadenhall Street,
London, Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
-
Our invention is intended to replace the present methods of notifying the
names of stations, places of call and time, which are as a rule very defective,
by a ready, decisive and easily applicable system, whereby the inconveniences and
disadvantages of the usually adopted methods will be overcome.
The present plan of calling out the name of a station on the arrival of a train, for
example, is inadequate, and notwithstanding that the name of the station is
invariably to be found at such station, it is generally difficult, and in some cases
almost impossible, for a passenger to ascertain at what station the train is
stopping.
Our invention, where applied, will enable each passenger travelling by train,
tramway or omnibus to know at what place of call, such carriage as they may be
in, will next stop.
We effect this intimation of stopping of trains &c. by means of an indicato..
The indicator may be placed in any suitable position, such as over the door of
carriage. Wherever it is placed it may be controlled from any desired position on.
the train or other vehicle. We prefer, in the case of a train, to work the indicators
from the guard's van.
The indicator is constructed so that the name of the next stopping station, or
other intimation which it is desired to make, will appear at the will of the guard or
conductor. Any number of indicators can be controlled by the same switch or other
movement employed.
We
The indicator consists of a box, the shape of which will vary according to the
particular purpose for which it is used and also according to the position in which
it is placed. The front of the indicator has a space cut out, of suitable size, and
preferably covered with glass as a protection, behind which the name of station, or
other intimation, may appear and be changed from time to time as desired.
effect the changing of names of stations, or other intimation, by means of two
parallel rollers, working in the same direction and to which is attached a suitable
fabric, capable of passing from one roller to the other, and of being retained at any
point as desired. The names of places of call, or other intimation, being on the
fabric they are thus made to appear opposite the space cut in front of indicator.
We effect the same result by means of a series of rising and falling thin metal
plates, each metal plate bearing the name desired, or by means of a revolving
roller, which in transverse section is a polygon, having any desired number of
parallel surfaces, and so arranged that each parallel surface may come in turn and
stop opposite the open space in the indicator box. We prefer however to use the
first mentioned method, involving the use of two parallel rollers.
In any case the movements of the indicator are actuated and controlled by
combining the use of electricity, electro magnetism, magnetism and clockwork.
The indicator may be made of wood, metal, or other suitable material.
As witness our hands this Thirteenth day of May 1891.
JOHN BRYDONE.
WILLIAM CHATTAWAY.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Station and Stopping Place Indicators for Railway
and other Vehicles.
JOHN BRYDONE, 1 The Crescent Stonebridge Park, Willesden, London, N.W.
Member of Civil Service, WILLIAM CHATTAWAY, 58 Halford Road.
Richmond, Surrey, formerly of 101 Leadenhall Street London, Analytical
Chemist, 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 :-
Our invention is intended to replace the present methods of notifying the names
of stations, places.of call, and the like which. are, as a rule, very defective by a
ready, decisive and easily applicable system whereby the inconveniences and
disadvantages of the usually adopted systems will be overcome.
The present plan of calling out, in the local dialect, tlie name of a station, on the
arrival of a train for example, is very inadequate, & notwithstanding that the name
of such station is invariably to be found somewhere it is generally difficult & in
some cases almost impossible for a passenger to ascertain at what station a train is
stopping.
The difficulty referred to is now rendered more prominent than formerly by the
numerous advertisements to be found at every railway station.
Our invention, where applied will enable each passenger travelling by railway or
other vehicle to know at what station or place of call, such carriage, as they may
be in, will next stop.
We effect this intimation of stopping by means of an indicator so constructed
that it may be controlled by the guard, conductor, driver, or other responsible
person from any desired part of the vehicle, such for example as the guard's van,
in the case of a train.
The indicator may be placed in any desired part of the carriage or compartment
where it can be seen, such as over the door of carriage.
Our indicator consists of a box or case made of wood, metal, or other suitable
material A. (Fig. 1) which will vary in shape & size according to the position it
will be placed in & purpose it is used for. This case encloses two parallel rollers B
& C. (Fig. 2) made of wood or hollow metal, capable of revolving on their axes &
supported by two metal bearing plates D. (Fig. 2) at each end which are firmly
secured to the back of case. The rollers are capable of being revolved in either way
and are connected by a broad band of flexible material E. (Fig. 2) such as linen,
canvas, union cotton, compounds of gelatine, thin metal or any other suitable
.material.
Upon the band E the names of stopping places are printed or otherwise displayed
in rotation. The front of the indicator we partially or wholly (depends upon the
position & application of the indicator) construct of glass or enamelled metal and
we prefer to make the front hinged upon the back so that it may be unlocked by
some suitable means, from outside or inside the carriage, in order to insert fresh
bands when it is needed to alter the route of any train or vehicle.
We arrange to have a clear space of suitable size in the front of indicator A¹
(Fig. 1) so that the names printed upon the band may from time to time appear
therein in the manner hereinafter described this space we cover with glass, if the
front does not consist entirely of glass.
"
Above or below the aforesaid space we print the words "Next Stopping Station
or similar intimation as shewn in Fig. 1. Where glass is used we paint the
intimation referred to upon the back and then cover the back, with the exception
of the clear space, with paint or enamel, in order to conceal those parts of the
indicator which are not intended to be seen.
The roller C.(Fig. 2) is governed by a steel spring F (Fig. 2) which is enclosed

page_text: in a fixed drum and similar but much longer than that of an ordinary watch, and
moves after the indicator is wound up, in the direction indicated by the curved
arrow. It follows that as the band is firmly fixed by a spring fastening or catch,
hereinafter described, to cach roller, the rollers must move together in each of one
of two directions. Thus when the indicator is being wound up the roller B receives
the band from roller C.: whilst when the indicator is altering the name of stopping
place, under the control of switch, described hereafter, the reverse movement takes
place & the spring F. (Fig. 2) attached to roller C causes the band to be wound
stage by stage upon roller C.
The exposure of the successive names of stopping places displayed upon band is
controlled by an escapement movement of peculiar construction.
The escapement lever G (Figs. 2 & 4) is actuated by an electro magnet H
(Figs. 2 & 4) and a spring I (Figs. 2 & 4) alternately and enables the escapement.
wheel J. (Figs. 2 & 4) to revolve a definite portion of a circle when an electric
current is passed thro' the wire of the electro magnet and then broken.
The lever G works on the pivot K and is constructed from K to L of soft iron.
At the point L the steel bow M is fixed by suitable means.
The bow M (Fig. 4) has at each end projections or pawls M & M" which in
turn strikes the escapement wheel and holds it in position as desired. The escape-
ment wheel may have any convenient number of teeth.
While at rest the spring I presses the bow against the wheel so that the
projection M is in contact with one of the teeth of J. As soon as the switch
makes contact and a current of electricity is passed through the wire of electro
magnet H the lever G is attracted by electro magnet and held for the moment.
which allows the escapement wheel to move one tooth forward under the influence.
of the spring F: the current is then broken by completion of the switch movement,
the spring forces the bow of lever into its normal position again and the pro-
jection M' meets with another tooth of the escapement wheel.
The movement thus allows a definite portion only of the band to remain behind.
the opening or space in front of case at will, and the movement can be repeated as
often as it is necessary to change the name of stopping place.
We arrange by this means to make use of the battery only for a moment at each
change & hence the life of the battery is practically unlimited. We prefer to use
a six, or more, celled battery of the Leclanche type, the number depending upon .
the number of indicators governed by the switch. Any number of indicators may
be controlled by the one switch it being simply necessary to make an insulated
double wire connection from indicator to indicator.
The band is rolled back, in any required position for the commencement, com-.
pletion, or alteration of any journey as the instrument is wound up. This wen
effect by means of a strong flexible cord (N) made of silk, wire, silk & wire, catgut,
or suitable material.
The cord is normally wound on a plain spring drum O & passes once round a
smaller drum P working on the axis of roller B the smaller drum has a ratchet
wheel Q which enables the drum P to turn in the direction indicated by arrow
without moving the roller B. But when the cord is pulled for the purpose of
winding up, it moves the drum P' in the opposite direction and hence winds up.the
roller B which then receives the band. The projection of bow M¹ now holds the
rollers in position ready for switch movement. The cord is allowed to wind back
on spring drum O until the spring is under no tension, in order to allow the free
movement of the smaller drum P whilst unwinding.
Where several indicators are used in one carriage, as in a railway coach, each.
winding cord is attached to a metal rod or metal rope running the length of
carriage & which when turned or pulled winds up the several indicators simul-
taneously by the same movement. And when our invention is applied to a train
we prefer to arrange the winding apparatus at alternating ends of adjacent carriages:
thus in a train composed of six coaches numbered respectively 1 to 6 from the

page_text: engine we should prefer to wind.at the rear of Nos. 1. 3. and 5 and at the fore part
of the carriages Nos. 2. 4. and 6. In this way one man may wind up two coaches
at once & the labor and time involved would be little more than that of closing
the carriage doors. We reserve the right to arrange the winding, in any other
suitable way in the case of a train and where applicable would wind from guard's
van.
The band is attached to each roller by means of a metal rod of suitable rigidity
& thickness R (Fig. 3) usually about thx inch in section. This falls into a
recess or groove S cut throughout the length of each roller to receive the rod. At
one end the rod fits into a fixed recess T (Figs. 2 & 3) and at the other into a
spring catch U (Figs. 2 & 4) so that it is necessary to release the spring in order
that the rod R. may be removed. The band is held sufficiently tightly by merely
wrapping round rod once or twice but we prefer for convenience in the case of
altering the route of a railway or other vehicle to have the band sewn, in the case
of a fabric, at each end so as to allow of the introduction of the rod R in a similar
manner to the introduction of a lath in an ordinary window blind.
The commutator switch Fig. 5, is made so that by one movement at any desired
time a current of electricity may pass through the wire of H (Figs. 2 & 4) and
then be broken and on repeating the movement the current will be passed in a
reverse direction, in order that any trace of magnetism left in the electro magnet
after one movement may be demagnetised in the next.
The hand of switch V (Fig. 5) is made to move in the same direction as the
hands of a watch. One movement consists in completing half a circle when the
handle is caught in the grooves W & W. The electrical connections are indicated
by the dotted line in Fig. 5 and the necessary parts made in vulcanite or ebonite
for insulation. While contact is effected from the brass springs X. the axle of
handle is made to pass through the switch board and attached to a two toothed
wheel, Y, the teeth of which are exactly opposite cach other. These teeth meet
with the ratchet teeth of a disc or dial Z (Fig. 5) made of metal, vulcanite or
other suitable material capable of moving on a pivot at its centre and upon which
the names of stopping places are printed in a radiating manner and as the handle is
moved the disc moves only for a portion of a revolution, each movement brings a
fresh station in front of the opening or slot.
"
In use the names on indicator will correspond with those of switch dial, & switch
board is so fixed that whenever necessary it is possible to place the dial in any
given position for starting or completing a journey.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. An indicator for notifying the names of stopping places so constructed that
whilst being fixed in any part of a railway or other vehicle it or any desired
number thereof may be so controlled from any other given part by a switch.
2. The use of a flexible band of suitable material and bearing the names of
stopping places thereon so fixed to two parallel rollers that when needed it can
easily be removed, replaced by another band, or refixed in the manner hereinbefore
described.
3. The movements of the said band from one roller to the other & vice versú by
means of the combined use of an escapement wheel and lever governed by springs
and an electro magnet and automatic winding drums actuating the said rollers the
movements after winding being entirely controlled by a switch and by which at will
of cperator, the bands of any number of indicators may be held in any desired
position, allowed to stop or altered.
4. A combined switch & alternating commutator which is attached to batteries
and indicator or indicators and which while at rest allows no current to pass but
which when operated makes and then breaks the circuit. The use on switch board

page_text: of an attached register hereinbefore described which indicates the position of
the band in the indicators, automatically and which can be moved to any position
at will, starting, altering or completing any journey.
As witness our hands this Nineteenth day of February 1892.
JOHN BRYDONE.
WILLIAM CHATTAWAY.