An Improved Automatio Station Indicator.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatio Station Indicator.
I, MARTIN VAN LOOK, of 85, Mauritiuswall, Cologne, in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer, 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 invention hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings
bas for its object to automatically indicate the next station or stopping place in
railway carriages.
The apparatuses hitherto employed for this purpose suffer from the drawbacks
that they are either not entirely automatic, but require to be operated by the hand
of a guard or attendant, or that their mechanism is an complicated that the
security of operation is only moderate, and the costs of construction are very
considerable.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 shows a section of the general arrangement of a railway carriage
fitted with the station indicator;
Figure 2 shows a front elevation of the part of the apparatus, in which the
name of the station appears visible, and,
Figure 3 shows the same apparatus in cross section.
A vertical push lever o, provided with a roller b at its lower end, is pivotally
mounted on the carriage axle a. A double spring d, which engages on the free
end of the push lever c, returns the latter into its vertical position, after it has
encountered a curved rail e arranged in front and behind the station between the
rails of the track.
The oscillation of the push lever e is conveyed, by means of two links ff and
a one-armed lever g, to a bar h arranged under the carriage, which bar in turo
operates an elbow lever i and link / leading to the indicators k.
Of particular importance, as against previous forms of construction, is the
arrangement of the above mentioned double liuks ff, provided with slotted bead
piece, which have the effect that the direction of the force exerted on the bar h
always remains the same, immaterially whether the push lever swings to right or
left. It is thus rendered possible that only one lever is necessary for the up and
down journey.
In the indicating apparatus shown in Figures 2 and 3, the greatest possible
simplicity is attained, which solely and alone allows the practical carrying out of
the invention.
A wood box m is provided with a glass disc or plate n on its front side, behind
which the name of the station, which is marked on a band o, is exhibited, and
between the separate statious or station names, there appears either always the
Fame advertisement or announcement or always changing or only arbitrary
changing advertisements or announcements, by means of which latter arrangement
the cost of fixing and maintaining the apparatus will not only be covered, but a
considerable excess of receipts be obtained
The band is wound right and left on rollers p and g, a guide roller being
inserted or provided. Ratchet wheels and t, movable in the same direction, are
mounted or attached to the rollere. A link or drawbar 1, passing through the Hoor
of the carriage, acts on radius rods u and on the pawls to and carried thereby,

page_text: spiral springs v being inserted in order to equalise or counteract too strong a pull,
by which means, according as the upper or under pawl is engaged, the band travels
from below upwards or rice versa.
In the terminal or main stations, the workmen cleaning the carriages need only
reverse the pawl mechanism in order to adjust the apparatus for the return journey.
For the purpose of adjusting the stroke, a projection y is provided on the rod u,
which encounters the adjustable projection 2.
A bell, mounted on the box, indicates each time when the apparatus comes into
action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A station indicator, characterised by the arrangement of a single push
lever (c) on the carriage axle (a), which lever is influenced in such a way hy
means of a curved rail (e) placed between the rails of the track, that, by means of
a lever mechanism, the indicating apparatus, mounted in a frame, is operated,
substantially as bereinbefore set forth.
2. In station indicators of the kind described, the combination of two links (ff¹)
provided with slotted head pieces and arranged to act on one lever (y), with the
object of utilising one and the same push lever in either direction of travelling,
substantially as described.
3. In station indicators of the kind described, the arrangement of a baud (o)
bearing the names of the stations and wound on two rollers operated by pawl
mechanisme, substantially as described.
4. In station indicators of the kind described, the arrangement of a projection (y)
and an adjustable contact (2), for the purpose of exactly regulating the movement
or stroke of the pawl mechanisms (to and 2) substantially as described.
5. In station indicators of tho kind described, two separately reversible pawl
mechanisms, for the object of reversing the direction of the indicating band (o)
for the return journey, substantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of November 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant...