System of and Means or Apparatus for Automatically and Electrically Indicating the Breaking of a Train, or for Actuating Signals on Railways.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left 6th June 1889-Accepted: 13th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A System of and Means or Apparatus for Automatically and
Electrically Indicating the Breaking of a Train, or for Actuating
Signals on Railways.
I, JOHN LEMAN ECKERSLEY DANIEL, of 3 Victoria Street, Westminster, Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention, to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a simple but effective system of, and means or apparatus
for automatically and electrically indicating the breaking of a train, to the driver,
or to the signalman, or to both at the same time, or to any desired point, or for
actuating electric signals on railways, and in carrying out my invention I prefer to
arrange, at suitable distances along the line, a number of what I term overhead or
aerial switches which are in electrical connection with indicators or signals, of any
appropriate construction, also arranged at intervals along the line, or with an
indicator or bell, or other annunciator (phonetic or otherwise) located in the signal.
boxes, or elsewhere. Or the switches are connected electrically with both the
indicating train-breaking signals along the line, and with the annunciator or
indicator, in a signal box, or elsewhere. These switches are so constructed and
arranged as to be operated by the head and tail of a train only, as hereinafter
described, the head breaking the circuit and the tail restoring the same, or vice versa,
in accordance with the circuit employed, that is, whether it is normally closed or
open.
A convenient apparatus or means for carrying out my system may consist of a
system or arrangement of levers forming part of an electrical switch, one of such
levers being arranged to make or break contact, and thus complete or break the
circuit, by passing over or against, or by leaving, a flexible blade, spring, plate,
or bar, or otherwise. To this lever is connected one end of the section of the line
wire proceeding from the coils of an electro-magnet used for holding the indicator
or signal to safety, the other end of this section of the wire being coupled to the
blade, spring, plate, or bar, and then put to carth. The other end of the wire from
the coils of the electro magnet is carried to earth through a battery, thus completing
the circuit through earth. Or, if desired, a return wire can be used. The switches
are secured to shelves or brackets fixed to poles, or to suitable frames extending
over, or in proximity to, the train. Each such switch arrangement is so constructed
and arranged that one of the switch levers projects, and is operated by a bar or
projection fitted on the engine, and the circuit is then completed or broken
(according to whether a normally open or closed circuit be used) thus causing the
indicator or signal to shew "danger." To restore the indicator or signal to "safety
the carriage, truck, or guard's van at the tail of the train is likewise provided with
a bar or projection which, as it comes up to, and strikes against an other arın of
the system of switch levers, resets the switch to its normal position thus completing
or breaking the circuit and causing the electro magnet to withdraw the signal arm
from the "danger" or indicating position, to "safety."
"2
If the driver on his coming up to signal sees the same is at "danger" he knows
that the last carriage has not passed into that section, and therefore that his train
is broken, in which case he must return and pick up the parted carriages, or trucks.
In addition to this, unless the last carriage has passed into the section (if it be so
rranged) it also indicates the same to the signalman in the box, or elsewhere, by
ndicator or bell, or both, and he can then stop the train or communicate, as
lesired.
To automatically actuate electric signals on railways, the same system and
apparatus, as that above described with reference to indicating the breaking of a
rain, is here used for the purpose of making and breaking the circuits employed,

page_text: is
that is to say the train operates the overhead or aerial switches, thus actuating the
electric signals which are used to indicate whether the line is "clear" or
"blocked."
Instead of the switches being placed in the air it is obvious that they can he
put at any suitable or desirable point where they can be operated by the head and
tail of the train only.
ugust 1888.
ERNEST DE PASS, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
68, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A System of and Means or Apparatus for Automatically and
Electrically_Indicating the Breaking of a Train, or for Actuating
Signals on Railways.
I, JOHN LEMAN ECKERSLEY DANIEL, of 3 Victoria Street, Westminster, Electrical
Engineer, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My invention relates to a simple but effective system of, and means or apparatus
for, automatically and electrically indicating the breaking of a train to the driver,
or to the signalinan, or to both at the same time, or to any desired point, or for
actuating electric signals on railways, and in carrying out my invention I prefer to
arrange, at suitable distances along the line, a number of what I term overhead or
aerial switches which are in electrical connection with indicators or signals, of any
appropriate construction, also arranged at intervals along the line, or with an indicator
or bell, or other annunciator (phonetic or otherwise) located in the signal boxes or
elsewhere. Or the switches are connected electrically with both the indicating
train-breaking signals along the line, and with the annunciator, or indicator, in a
signal box, or elsowhere. These switches are so constructed and arranged as to be
operated by the head and tail of a train only, as hereinafter described, the head
breaking the circuit and the tail restoring the same, or vice versa, in accordance
with the circuit employed, i.e. whether it is normally closed or open.
A convenient apparatus or means for carrying out my system may consist of u
system or arrangement of levers forming part of an electrical switch, one of such
levers being arranged to make or break contact, and thus complete or break the
circuit by passing over or against, or by depressing a flexible blade, spring, plate,
or bar, or otherwise. To this lever is connected one end of the section of the line
wire proceeding from the coils of an electro-magnet used for holding the indicator
or signal to "safety," the other end of this section of the wire being coupled to
the blade, spring, plate, or bar, and then put to earth. The other end of the wire
from the coils of the electro-magnet is carried to earth through a battery thus
completing the circuit through earth; or, if desired, a return wire can be used.
The switches are secured to shelves or brackets fixed to poles, or to suitable
frames extending over, or in proximity to, the train. Each such switch arrange-
ment is so constructed and arranged that one of the switch levers projects and is
operated by a bar or projection fitted on the engine, and the circuit is thus
completed or broken (according to whether a normally open or closed circuit is
used) thus causing the indicator or signal to shew "danger." To restore the
indicator or signal to "safety" the carriage, truck, or guard's van at the tail of
the train is likewise provided with a bar or projection which as it comes up to and
strikes against another arm of the system of switch levers, resets the switch to its
normal position thus coupleting or breaking the circuit and causing the electro-
magnet to withdraw the signal arm from the "danger" or indicating position to
safety." If the driver, on his coming up to the sigual, sees the same is at danger
"

page_text: he knows that the last carriage has not passed into that section and therefore that
his train is broken, in which case he must return and pick up the parted carriages
or trucks. In addition to this, unless the last carriage has passed into the section,
if it be so arranged, it also indicates the same to the signalman in the box or
elsewhere, by indicator, or bell, or both, and he can then stop the train, or com-
municate as desired.
To automatically actuate electro-signals on railways, the same system and
apparatus as that above described, with reference to indicating the breaking of a
train, is here used for the purpose of making and breaking the circuits employed,
that is to say, the train operates the overhead or aerial switches, thus actuating
the electric-signals which are used to indicate whether the line is clear, or is
blocked.
Instead of the switches being placed in the air, it is obvious that they can be put
at any suitable or desirable point where they can be operated by the head and tail
of tho train only.
And in order that my invention may be readily understood I proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 illustrates, diagrammatically, one mode of carrying out my system; the
circuits for working the signals being also shown, but I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the particular arrangement of circuits indicated by
the drawing. a, a' are posts carrying the electric switches, hereinafter more fully
described. b, b1, are posts carrying the line signals, and which also carry my
indicators, or signals, which may consist of a semaphore, bell, or such like
appliance. c is a battery one pole of which is connected by the wire d to one of the
lovers of the electric switch; the other pole is connected by the wire f. to the electro-
magnet actuating my indicator. A return wire froin this electro-magnet completes
the circuit through the electric switch, or the wire g may be dispensed with and the
electro magnet and electric switch be cach connected to earth. h is a bell, or other
indicator, forming part of the circuit; it is placed in the signal-box so that due
notice may be given to the signalman should the last carriage not pass the switch.
Or it may be placed in other suitable position on the line to give notice at any
desired point. When a train passes the post a it will, by means of a projection
upon the engine, move one lever of the switch on post a and so cause a current to be
made, or broken, in the circuit g, f, d, and thus place the indicator-at-6¹ to "danger,"
and, as the last carriage of the train passes the post a, a projection upon such carriage
will move the other lever of the saine switch and so restore the circuit to its normal
position, so causing the indicator at 61 to shew "safety"; the indicator h being also in
the same circuit will be actuated simultaneously. Should a break in the train occur,
and the last carriage not pass the switch, the indicator at 61 will remain at "danger,'"
thus informing the engine-driver, when he reaches this indicator, that the train has
parted.
ذر
Fig. 2 shows a front elevation, Fig. 3 a side elevation, and Fig. a plan, of a
convenient form of electric-switch which I may employ in carrying out my
invention.
In these figures a* is a horizontal cross-beam connected to the post a by means of
the beam a. The horizontal cross-beam a* carry levers k and 1. These levers are
connected together by. means of a link m, so that as one is moved in one direction,
the other moves in the opposite direction. n is a slide or contact-maker working in
bearings n', n', and coupled to the axis of the lever k by a connecting rod n². This
slide or contact-maker is connected to one pole of the battery by the wire d.
o is the contact surface (see fig. 5) connected by the wire to the other
pole of the battery, or to earth, upon which a metal spring o¹, carried by the
slide, rests when the circuit is closed. o' is insulating material upon which the
spring of rests when the circuit is open. The drawings represent the levers in the
position they would assumie when the circuit is broken and the signal set to
safety." When the lever is thrown forward, from right to left, by the head of
a passing train, the spring o¹, on the slide, will be withdrawn from the insulated

page_text: portion of of the contact surface and will rest upon o, so closing the circuit leading
to the signal at b' causing it to indicate "danger." But as the tail of the train
comes along it will strike the lever and so restore the lever k to its original
position, thus breaking the circuit and allowing the signal at to indicate "safety."
It will be evident that should the last carriage not pass the switch, the lever / will
not be affected, nor will the lever & be placed to its original position, and therefore
the signal will remain at "danger."
It will also be evident that instead of supporting the switch over the train, as above
described, it might be placed in any other desired position.
Although I have described and illustrated my invention for automatically and
electrically indicating the breaking of a train, it may be applied in like manner för
ctuating signals on railways.
Having now particularly described and ascertained my invention and in what
manner the same may be performed, I claim :-
1. The system or mode of indicating the breaking of a train, consisting in the use
of overhead, or aerial switches placed at intervals along the line, and arranged to he
actuated by the head and tail of a train, substantially as described.
2. The means or apparatus for indicating the breaking of a train (or for actuating
signals on railways) consisting of switches so arranged that when actuated by a
passing train they open or close an electric circuit in which is an electro-magnet
actuating a semaphore or other indicating device, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for indicating the breaking of a train (or for actuating signals on
railways) an electric switch consisting of levers so connected that as one lever is
moved by a bar or projection on the head of a passing train the circuit will be closed
or opened and at the same time the other lever will be brought into position to be
acted upon by a har or projection on the tail of the train, and which lever, upon
being moved, will cause the first lever to return to its original position thereby
restoring the circuit to its normal condition, substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of Jme 1009.
ERNEST DE PASS,
68, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the Applicant.