Improved Means for Electrically Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, Sth Feb., 1890-Accepted. 15th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Electrically Signalling on Railways.
JOHN GARDNER of 14 Lower Bank Road Fulwood, near Preston, in the county of
Lancaster, Science Teacher, THOMAS RIDLEY SOWERBUTTS, of 28 Cristowe Road,
Fulham, in the county of London, workshop instructor, City & Guilds of London
Institute, South Kensington, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to he as
follows:-
"
I. A box, which contains one or more signals, and may contain one or more bells
and appliances for ringing the bells and illuminating the signals by the aid of
electricity or otherwise. This box is to be carried by a locomotive engine and we
call it a "Repeater." The signals contained in a Repeater" are worked by electro-
magnets, and these magnets are magnetised by currents of electricity which flow
through an electrical circuit or circuits parts of which consist of the body and wheels
of a locomotive engine.
II. One or more
"Connectors" of suitable form attached to a locomotive engine.
Each Connector is insulated in such a manner as to enable it to be part of an electrical
circuit, which conveys an electrical current through the coils of an electro-magnet,
contained in a Repeater. The purpose of a Connector is to make electrical connection
with a contact rail.
III. A suitable number of extra lines of metal rails, fixed on a railway and parallel
to the ordinary rails. We call these extra lines "Contact Rails."
IV. One or more electrical switches worked by the wires or other appliances which
work the semaphores or other signals fixed on the signal posts or other supports on a
railway. Each switch is electrically connected with the ordinary rails and contact
rails of a railway so as to enable currents of electricity to be transmitted to or from a
locomotive engine in such a manner as to cause the signals contained in a Repeater,
carried on a locomotive engine, to work in unison with the signals made at fixed
points on a railway and thus to repeat on a locomotive engine the signals made at
a fixed post or other point on a railway.
V. One or more electro-magnets and other necessary appliances fixed at a suitable
point on a railway or elsewhere; and in such a manner as to enable currents of
electricity to be transmitted to or from a locomotive engine from or to a signal box
on a railway or any other suitable point. The purpose of this part of the invention is
to enable persons who have charge of the signals on a railway to receive informa-
tion as to the nature of the signals that have been made by a Repeater on a
locomotive engine; and also to enable them to learn when a train has arrived at
or passed any selected point.
The action of the arrangement set forth above is as follows:-
When a signalman works the signals fixed on a signal post or elsewhere the same
action is made to work an electrical switch which directs a current from a suitable
generator of electricity to the ordinary and contact rails so that when an engine comes
over these rails it may receive a current of electricity by means of a Connector and its
own wheels. This current passes round an electro-magnet contained in a Repeater
and thus works one of the Repeater's signals. At the proper time other electrical
circuits are automatically completed which enable suitable signals to be transmitted
from the engine to the signal box or other desired point.
VI. Protector plates of suitable form whose purpose is to protect the electrical
leads at the points where they are attached to the ordinary and contact rails.

page_text: Where the term engine or locomotive engine is used it is to be understood as
meaning any kind of engine used for moving vehicles or for transit or the vehicles
themselves.
T
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Electrically Signalling on Railways.
We, JOHN GARDNER, of 14 Lower Bank Road, Fulwood, near Preston in the
county of Lancaster, Science Teacher, and THOMAS RIDLEY SOWERBUTTS, of
28 Cristowe Road, Fulham in the county of London, Workshop Instructor, City and
Guilds of London Institute, South Kensington, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to improve the means for electrically signalling on
railways. We do this by causing the signals that are made for the direction of the
driver of a locomotive to be made on the locomotive itself, by a plan that is more
perfect than that claimed by patent 16001, year 1888. The signals that are made by.
the semaphores fixed on the signal posts or elsewhere on a railway are reproduced or
repeated on the locomotive whose driver they are intended to direct. These signals
are repeated on the locomotive when it is standing upon or passing over a selected
section of a railway; and this section may be near to, or remote from, the signal post.
Our plan of signalling may be used either in conjunction with the ordinary plan of
signalling by means of semaphores fixed on posts or other supports, or it may be used
independently of it. In the latter case the signals would not be repeated but trans-
mitted independently to the locomotive. One of the purposes of our plan of signalling
is to make it possible to abolish the present mode of fog signalling by detonators.
Another of its purposes is to prevent drivers mistaking signals when approaching
points on a railway, where a number of signals, referring to different lines, are fixed.
We only repeat on a locomotive or transmit to it those signals which are intended for
the guidance of its own driver. Our plan also enables signals to be made at a greater
distance from the signal box than is at present possible. We also automatically
transmit from the locomotive to the signal box, or station, such signals as will enable
the person in charge of the signalling to know when a locomotive has arrived at, or
is standing upon, a certain section of a railway and also what signals its driver bas
received.
2
Our mode of accomplishing these several purposes will be readily understood on
reference to the accompanying drawings fig. 1 of which represents a box of suitable
dimensions, containing an improved form of signal repeater. For the sake of brevity
we refer to it as a repeater. The repeater consists of two signals A, A', attached to
the ends of the metal levers, and . These levers are pivotted so as to be free to
revolve about the fixed points y and y¹. E is a metal lever pivotted so as to be free
to revolve about the fixed point x. The lever E is connected to the lever z by the
link J and to the lever z¹ by the link J. X is an iron armature which is pendant
from, and rigidly attached to, the lever E. M and M' are two electro-magnets and
the armature X is common to them both. Their purpose is to operate the signals A
and A¹. When the magnet M is magnetised it will attract the armature X and the
movement of ✗ will cause such a movement of the lever E and of the link J¹ and
the lever ¹ that the signal A¹ will be raised and made to protrude through a slot
in the cover of the repeater box, and thus become visible. In a similar manner when
the magnet M is magnetised the signal A will be made to rise and become visible.
When neither of the magnets M nor M¹ is attracting the armature X, or when
both are attracting it equally, then the lever E, owing to the action of gravitation

page_text: and of the spiral springs,
and p will stand horizontally; and when this is the
case neither of the signals will be displayed. The springs and p are attached,
at their lower ends, to the lever E; and above to the levers z and 2¹, at points
under y and y'; as shewn by the spring p; or to fixed points off the levers z
and as shewn by spring p¹. e is one end of the coil of the electro-magnet M';
and g is one end of the coil of the electro-magnet, M. We call these ends the free
ends, and each is joined to a separate connector, one form of which is shewn in fig. 2.
The other ends of the coils of the magnets are joined to the common wire i; and i is
put into electrical connection with the body of the locomotive which carries the
repeater.
When the armature X is attracted by the pole or poles of the magnet M a shunt
electrical circuit is completed, which includes the wire n; the core of the magnet M ;
the armature ✗; part of the lever E; the wire d; the electric bell B; and the
wire d', which is connected with the wire i. The purpose of this shunt circuit is to
cause the bell B to ring whenever a signal is up.
When the armature X is attracted by the pole or poles of the magnet M', a shunt
electrical circuit is completed which includes the wire n¹; the iron core of the
magnet M; the armature X ; part of the lever E; the wire d; the electric bell B ;
and the wire d'.
As the magnet M will only attract the armature X when a current of electricity is
flowing in the wire e; and as the magnet M will only attract the armature X when a
current of electricity is flowing in the wire g, it will be seen that during the whole of
the time either of the signals A or A' is up the bell B will continue to ring, and thus
arrest the attention of the driver. When one of the signals A or A' is up it may
indicate "line blocked," and when the other is up it may indicate "line clear." The
two signals may be distinctively coloured or shaped ; and they may be lettered with
any suitable words as clear,'
," "blocked," or "stop."
«
Fig. 2 is a sectional drawing of one form of connector which is to be attached to
a locomotive. Its purpose is to put the free end of the coil of an electro-magnet,
forming part of a repeater, into electrical contact with a metal rail or plate, which we
call a contact rail, such as for f¹ in fig. 9. Reference to the details of fig. 2 will
indicate the structure and mode of action of the connector. N is a hollow box or
sleeve into which slides the spindle or bar P. The spindle P is acted upon by the
spiral spring V. At the bottom of the spindle P the brush m is fixed. It is so fixed
by the set-screws, shewn in the figure, as to be adjustable. The connector is pivotted
to the plate H in such a manner as to be free to revolve in a plane parallel to the
length of the locomotive. The plate H, and therefore the connector, is electrically
insulated from the locomotive; except through a circuit part of which consists of the
coil of the electro-magnet M or M¹. The spiral springs D and D' control the connector
laterally, in the plane of its motion, and thus keep the brush m in electrical contact
with a contact rail, when the engine carrying it, is standing upon or passing over a
section of a railway furnished with contact rails. The spiral spring V assists the
springs D and D and also secures the return of the spindle P to its proper place after
having been pushed up into the sleeve N, when an engine carrying it is reversed
whilst standing over a contact rail. The brush m is made of strips of steel or other
suitable metal. The pins r and which are fixed to the spindle P, and move in slots
cut in the sleeve N, prevent the spindle from rotating in the sleeve, or falling out
of it.
The contact rails, mentioned above, are rails or plates of metal fixed on the per-
manent way, parallel to the ordinary rails and between them or otherwise. That
contact rail which is concerned in transmitting the signal "line blocked" or its
equivalent is preferably of such a length as will enable the driver of a locomotive to
pull up to a standstill between one end of the said rail and the other after receiving
a signal "line blocked." Contact rails are illustrated.in position at f; f';ƒ³; ƒ³, in
figs. 9; 10; 11; and 12; and at fand f¹ in fig. 3.
Figs. 3 and 4 shew a side and end view respectively of a locomotive furnished
with a repeater and connectors passing over a section of a railway furnished with

page_text: contact rails. In fig. 4 only one connector is shewn engaging a contact rail; the
other connector hangs vertically as it would when not engaging a contact rail.
Fig. 9 shews a general view of the various parts of the invention-other than
those carried by a locomotive-and how they are combined. k; k are ordinary rails
of the permanent way. f; f¹ are contact rails or plates. f3 ; f³ are also contact
rails placed at a point some distance in advance of f; f¹. We call f"; f³ forward
contact rails. Z is an ordinary signal post on which is shewn an electrical switch Q;
and the electro-magnet M' with its armature a², attached to the spring o. The switch
is an ordinary three-way switch, whose purpose is to direct a current of electricity
from the segment C to the segment G, or to the segment R. The position of the
brushes or arms of the switch is controlled by the weighted lever W, and by the wire,
rod, or chain t, which is attached to the lever L and to the wire, rod, or chain v,
which operates the semaphores fixed on the post Z. B' is an electric bell fixed in the
signal box or cabin. S is a source of electricity, and may be placed in any convenient
position; the whole being electrically connected substantially as shewn in the drawing.
When a locomotive is standing on or moving over the contact rails; f¹, or the
forward contact rails f; fit connects these respectively with the ordinary rail k
by a circuit passing through its repeater, by means of its wheels and body and
one or more of its connectors.
Suppose the lever L to be pulled over by the wire t, which is attached to the
wire, which operates the ordinary signals, so as to make the arm of the switch
engage with the segment G; there would then be a continuous clectrical connection
from the source of electricity S, by the leads to the segment C; through the switch Q
to the segment G; and by the lead h to the contact rail f. There would also be a
continuous electrical connection from S by the lead s' and the ordinary rail k. If a
locomotive, furnished with a repeater and connectors, were to pass over or stand
upon that section of a railway whose ordinary and contact rails formed part of such
a combination as that just described and illustrated in fig. 9, it would, by the aid
of its wheels and body, and one of its connectors complete an electrical circuit, which
would include the coil of one of the electro-magnets contained in its repeater, and
a signal would be made by its repeater. In the case supposed the signal would be
"line clear."
is
Next suppose the wire and therefore the wire t to have been released, then the
weighted lever W would revolve the lever I so as to make the upper arm of the
switch engage with the segment R which would direct a current of electricity by
the lead to the contact rail ƒ¹. 'This action of the switch would enable the loco-
motive to complete, by its wheels and body and another of its connectors, an
electrical circuit which would include the coil of another of the electro-magnets
contained in its repeater. The completion of this circuit would cause the signal "line
blocked" to be made by the repeater. The completion of either of the circuits just
described would cause the repeater bell-B fig. 1-to ring. Part of the lead
made to form the coil of the electro-magnęt M2, so that whilst a current of
electricity flows in the lead ', the magnet M2 will be magnetised, and it will then
attract the armature a², and thus complete an electrical circuit which includes the
source of electricity S; the lead 7; the electric bell B'; the lead the
armature a² with its supporting spring o; the core of the magnet M²; the lead b²;
the ordinary rail k, and the lead s. The completing of this circuit would cause the
bell B to ring.
The ringing of this bell would inform the person in charge of the
signals that the signal "line blocked" bad been made by the repeater on the loco-
motive. The bell B' would continue to ring during the whole of the time the
locomotive was standing over the contact rail waiting to receive the signal "line
clear."
The contact rails f"; f" are separated by a suitable distance from the contact
rails ƒ; ƒ¹. ƒ³; ƒ³ are electrically connected as shewn in the drawing; or one rail
or plate may be used which is sufficiently wide to engage with two connectors at
the same time. When a locomotive is passing over f; f³ it completes an electrical
circuit, which includes two of its connectors which are joined to the free ends of

page_text: The signal "line clear" will be made on the locomotive by the rising of the proper
signal out of the repeater box. The repeater bell will ring.
III. When a locomotive is passing over a pair of forward contact rails the bell B',
in the signal box, will ring. This ring will be a short one and will indicate to the
person in charge of the signals that a locomotive is passing the point where the forward
contact rails are laid. He will then know either, that the locomotive has started on
receiving the signal "line clear," after having been stopped on previously receiving
the signal "line blocked;" or that it is passing the forward contact rails after having
received the signal "line clear."
Fig. 10 shews another arrangement by which we can accomplish the same
objects and produce the same signals as by the arrangement shewn in fig. 9. By
using the arrangement illustrated in fig. 10 we can dispense with the electro-
magnet M2 of 6ig. 9. We use a special form of switch Q which we will now
particularly describe by the aid of figures 5 and 6; which shew a side and front
view. The switch has three arms or brushes a; b; c, all in electrical connection with
each other, and revolving about the centre a³. The arms a and c act like an ordinary
three-way switch, and connect the segment C with the segment G, or the segment R.
The arm b engages with the segment F, when the aru a engages with the segment R;
and this makes electrical contact between the segments F and R; but when the arm a
engages with the segment G the arm & disengages with the segment F; and then F
ceases to be in electrical connection with R. The essential and novel feature in this
switch is the addition to an ordinary three-way switch of a third arm or brush b; and
an extra segment F; so placed that when the current is switched on to the segment R
then the extra segment F is electrically connected with R; but when the current is
switched from the segment R then the segment F is not in electrical connection
with R. We do not confine ourselves to such details of construction of the switch,
shewn in figs. and 6, as may be varied without altering its principle. For

page_text: instance figs. 7 and 8 shew a modification in the arrangement of the details, where
the arm a underlies the arm and both are in the same straight line. Another forin
would be obtained by placing the segment F at the same distance from the centre
as the other segments R and G and placing the arms a and accordingly.
Having described the switch to be used in the arrangement, shewn in fig. 10, we
will now shew how it is to be applied. In fig. 10 when the lever I is pulled over by
the wire t the arm a of the switch Q engages with the segment G, with a result
similar to that illustrated in fig. 9 and the repeater on the locomotive will give the
signal line clear." When the wire 'v, and therefore the wire t, is released, then
the weighted lever W would revolve the switch, so as to make the arm a engage
with the segment R, and the arm b with the segment F. If now a locomotive came
on a section, fitted with contact rails f: f, it would receive the signal
« line
blocked;" and the bell B¹ in the signal box would ring; the passage of the current
being by the circuit as follows. From the source of electricity S it would pass to the
segment R of the switch Q1, by two parallel circuits, one being by way of the leads,
and the arms c, and a of the switch; and the other by the lead q; the bell B';
the lead b' and the arms b and a of the switch; the current would then pass by the
lead ¹; the contact rail f; through the repeater on the locomotive; along the
rail k and the lead s¹. When the locomotive comes on the forward contact rails f²;ƒ³
the action is the same as that described and illustrated in fig. 9.
3
When necessary a resistance R¹ is introduced into the lead s, for the purpose
of causing a sufficient quantity of the electrical current to flow through the shunt
circuit which contains the bell B¹.
line
It will be noticed that the signal box bell B¹ has to serve two purposes (1) to ring as
long as a locomotive is standing on account of having received the signal
blocked" and is waiting to receive the signal "line clear." (2) To ring when a
locomotive is passing over the forward contact rails. The ring in the first case would
be a long one and in the second case a short one. But, as it is desirable, in order to
prevent confusion, to avoid having two meanings attached to the same signal, we
arrange, in cases where it may be desired, to ring two bells in the signal box; B to
indicate that the locomotive has received the signal "line blocked;" and B² to
indicate that it is passing the forward contact rails. To do this we connect the
forward contact rails f; f³ directly with the bell B2 as shewn in figs. 11 and 12;
instead of connecting them to the spring of the armature a³, as shewn in fig. 9; or to
the segment of the switch Q as shewn in fig. 10.
Figs. 13; 14; 15; 16 of the accompanying drawings illustrate a protector Y, whose
purpose is to prevent the electrical leads from being damaged, either intentionally or
otherwise, at the points where they join the ordinary or contact rails. Fig. 13 is a
side view. Fig. 14 is an end view. Fig. 15 is an end view in section. K is a
portion of an ordinary rail to which the lead jis attached. In the drawings j is shewn
attached to the plate T by means of a set-screw, the plate being bolted to the rail.
The lead may however be attached to the rail by any suitable means. The protector
itself consists of a metal sheath to be fixed either on a plate bolted to the rail as T;
or it may be fixed directly to the rail itself either by set-screws or bolts, one of which
is shewn at q'. The upper portion of the protector w covers the joint between the
lead and the rail, whilst the lower portion wl is in form of a split tube as shewn in
section in fig. 16. This tube is to protect the lead, and to prevent water passing
down into the pipe, in which the lead may be cased. The tube of the protector passing
over the pipe, as shewn in fig. 15, allows the requisite freedom of motion, when the
rail moves, on account of the passing of a train.
We may find it advisable to connect the separate consecutive lengths of the contact
rails together; and also such of the ordinary rails as form part of an arrangement
such as those illustrated in figs. 9; 10; 11; 12 of the accompanying drawings, by
wires or otherwise, so as to secure good electrical connection.
While we have carefully and minutely described and ascertained the details of con-
struction, and mode of operation of our invention, as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, it should be understood that we do not limit ourselves to such of the said

page_text: details as may be varied without departing from the spirit of our invention.
For
instance we may have any number of pairs of signals in the same repeater; or we may
mount a signal singly. Also we may have any number of connectors attached to the.
same locomotive, and we may attach them to any part of the locomotive. or its
tender. We may have any number of contact rails. Also we may have one source of:
electricity to serve a number of electrical combinations, such as those illustrated in:
figs. 9; 10; 11; 12. Instead of fixing our electrical switch Q or Q' to a signal.
post, as shown in figs. 9; 10; 11; 12, we may fix it in. the signal box or in any;
convenient positon. Its mere position forms no essential part of any of the com-
binations of means for electrically signalling on railways into which we introduce it. :
We wish to state that although we have described certain parts of mechanism for:
electrically signalling on railways, which are claimed in patent 16001, year 1888,
especially the connector or contact maker; and the working of the switch Q by the
wire t, connected to the wire or rod v, which operates the ordinary semaphores ;
that we do not hereby claim anything that is claimed under that patent, or which is
described in the specification thereof.
When the term engine or locomotive is used it is to be understood as meaning
any kind of engine used for moving vehicles, or for transit, or the vehicles.
themselves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-'
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we hereby declare that what we
claim is―
1. In means for electrically signalling on railways, a signal repeater, constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as described and illustrated in fig. 1 of the.
accompanying drawings.
2. In means for electrically signalling on railways, an electrical switch, constructed,
and operating substantially in the manner described and illustrated in figs. 5; 6; 7; 8;
of the accompanying drawings.
3. In means for electrically signalling on railways the combination of the contact:
rails ff and f; f³; the switch Q; the electro-magnet M2 with its armature a²; the,
bell B; the battery or other source of electricity S; the whole being electrically con-
nected and operating substantially as described and illustrated in fig. 9 of the;
accompanying drawings.
4. In means for electrically signalling on railways, the combination of those parts
of the invention other than the parts carried by a locomotive-which are concerned:
in ringing the bell B', when a locomotive, furnished with connectors and a signal
repeater passes over the forward contact rails f2; f³. This combination consists of
the source of electricity S; the electric bell B'; the forward contact rails 2; 3; the
whole being electrically connected and operating substantially as described and..
illustrated in figs. 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
5. In means for electrically signalling on railways, the combination of those parts
of the invention, which are concerned in ringing the bell B', when a locomotive
furnished with connectors and a signal repeater, passes over the forward contact
rails. This combination consists of the source of electricity S; the bell B¹;
the forward contact rails f2; f; together with two of the connectors and the
repeater carried by the locomotive, the whole being electrically connected, and operating
substantially as described and illustrated in figs. 9; 10 and 3; 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
6. In means for electrically signalling on railways, the combination of those parts
of the invention other than the parts carried by a locomotive-which are concerned
in repeating or producing signals on a locomotive, and in ringing the bell B', when
a locomotive, furnished with connectors and a repeater, is over the contact rails f; f¹.
This combination consists of the source of electricity S; the bell B'; the switch Q;
the electro-magnet M³ with its armature a² and the contact rails f; f', the whole being
electrically connected and operating substantially as described and illustrated in fig. 9
of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: '
7. In means for electrically signalling on railways, the combination of those parts
of the invention which are concerned in repeating or producing signals on a locomotive,
and in ringing the bell B'; when a locomotive furnished with connectors and repeater
is over the contact rails f; f¹. This combination consists of the source of electricity S;
the bell B'; the switch Q; the electro-magnet M² with its armature a²; the contact
rails ff; together with the repeater and one of the connectors carried by the
locomotive, the whole being electrically connected together and operating substantially
as described and illustrated in figs. 9; 3; 4 of the accompanying drawings.
8. In means for electrically signalling on railways a combination of the contact
rails ff and f2; 3; the switch Q'; the bell B¹; and the source of electricity S;
the whole being electrically connected and operating substantially as described and
illustrated in fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.
9. In means for electrically signalling on railways, the combination of those parts
of the invention-other than the parts carried by a locomotive-which are concerned
in repeating or producing signals on a locomotive, and in ringing the bell B¹, when a
locomotive, furnished with connectors and repeater, is over the contact rails ƒ; ƒ¹;
This combination consists of the contact rails f; f₁; the switch Q'; the bell B¹ and
the source of electricity S, the whole being electrically connected together and
operating substantially as described and illustrated in fig. 10 of the accompanying
drawings.
10. In means for electrically signalling on railways, a combination of those parts of
the invention, which are concerned in repeating or producing signals on a locomotive,
and in ringing the bell B', when a locomotive, furnished with connectors and a repeater,
is over the contact rails f; f. This combination consists of the contact rails f; f';
the switch Q1; the bell B; the source of electricity S; together with the repeater and
one of the connectors carried by the locomotive; the whole being electrically con-
nected and operating substantially as described and illustrated in figs. 10; 3; 4;
of the accompanying drawings.
11. In means for electrically signalling ou railways, the combination of contact
rails f; f; f; f³; the switch Q; the electro-magnet M2 with its armaturo a²; the
electric bells B and B² and the source of electricity S, the whole being electrically
connected and operating substantially as described and illustrated in fig. 11 of the
accompanying drawings.
j
12. In means for electrically signalling on railways the combination of the contact
rails ƒ ƒ ƒ³ the switch Q¹; the bells B'; B2 and the source of electricity S,
the whole being electrically connected and operating substantially as described and
illustrated in fig. 12 of the accompanying drawings.
13. A protector to be used for the purpose stated, and constructed and fitted
substantially as described and illustrated in figs. 13; 14; 15; 16; of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 8th day of February 1890
JOHN GARDNER.
THOMAS RIDLEY SOWERBUTTS.