IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE GREATER SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAINS AND PASSENGERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Oswald George Meatyard, Audnam Cottage, Stourbridge,
and Richard Barrell, 73, Thistle Grove, South Kensington, for the Invention of
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE GREATER SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAINS AND
PASSENGERS."
Sealed the 26th May 1877, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 14th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Oswald George Meatyard and
Richard Barrell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th
November 1876.
OSWALD GEORGE MEATYARD, Audnam Cottage, Stourbridge, and RICHARD
BARRELL, 73, Thistle Grove, South Kensington. IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE
"
GREATER SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAINS AND PASSENGERS."
A perpendicular rod placed on the engine, connected with the driving handle,
which rod, on coming in contact with a bar lowered by the same movement that
blocks the line, shall shut off the steam and strike a gong or bell to attract the
attention of the driver.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Oswald George Meatyard and Richard Barrell in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th May 1877.
OSWALD GEORGE MEATYARD, Audnam Cottage, Stourbridge, and RICHARD
BARRELL, 73, Thistle Grove, South Kensington. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE
GREATER SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAINS AND PASSENGERS."
Our said Invention consists in improvements in-apparatus whereby greater safety
is provided for railway trains and passengers than is the case with apparatus at
present in use, and is of such a nature that it is impossible for a train to pass a
danger signal without having the steam shut off and the attention of the driver
attracted by the striking of a gong. Thus by the employment of this Invention
[Price 4:1.]

page_text: the many accidents which frequently arise from the non-observance of danger
signals, either in consequence of fog, snow, or inattention on the part of the driver;
will be averted.
A perpendicular rod moving between parallel guides is placed by preference
on the right-hand side of the steam chest, as being most convenient for connection
with the driving handle, which is effected by means of a chain passing over pulleys
or by rods and cranks, so as to render the action of the perpendicular rod which is
pivoted at the lower end and driving handle simultaneous. When the engine
passes a danger signal the upper part of the last-mentioned rod comes into contact
with a bar or plate suspended over the line and worked conjointly with the danger
signal, and which rod by its consequent depression tightens the chain and actuates
the driving handle, thereby shutting off the steam, at the same time causing a
gong which is connected with the apparatus in any suitable manner, as will be well
understood, to be struck. If however the driver should observe the signal and shut
off steam, by so doing the perpendicular rod would be moved sufficiently to allow of
its passing beneath the bar or plate without coming in contact therewith.
In order to lessen as far as possible the concussion caused by the rod striking the
bar or plate the former is placed slightly out of the perpendicular, and the latter is
by preference coated with india-rubber or other similar inaterial, and is so hinged as
to give way a little when struck, being caused to return to its normal position by a
spring or cushion of india-rubber, or by any other suitable contrivance.
We will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the nature of
our said Invention will be more clearly understood.
Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a view of the apparatus as seen from the driver's stand; Figure 3 is
an enlarged view of the latter Figure.
The same letters of reference refer to similar parts in all the Figures.
A is the perpendicular rod which is pivoted at a; B are the parallel guides;
C, the driving handle; D, the chain which is attached at one end to the driving
handle and at the other end to the arm d projecting from the perpendicular rod,
this arm may also be utilised for actuating the gong and serves as a stop for the
rod; e, e, are pulleys so placed as to permit of the apparatus working in whatever
direction the engine may be travelling.
In the above description we have confined ourselves to the employment of a chain
and also to a driving handle working laterally, but the modifications necessary for
the employment of rods and cranks and for the adaptation to other constructions of
driving handles will be well understood by persons conversant with such mechanism,
and which properly come within the scope of our said Invention.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, we would observe in conclusion that
what we consider novel and original and therefore claim as constituting the Invention
secured to us by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the con-
struction and arrangement of apparatus substantially as and for the purposes
herein-before set forth and described, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Barrell, on behalf of myself and the
said Oswald George Meatyard, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
RICHARD BARRELL. (L.S)