IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNAL
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Cureton of 182 South Lambeth Road in
the County of Surrey for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
SIGNAL"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Cureton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th January 1883.
JOHN HENRY CURETON of 182 South Lambeth Road in the County of Surrey
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALS"
This Invention is for the purpose of notifying engine-drivers, guards, and others
travelling in charge of engines, or trains during foggy weather, when the signal
towards which they are approaching is set at danger, and therefore against the
advance of such engine or train, although the "arm," or "lamp" of the signal post
cannot be seen by them during such weather, and as a substitute for the
detonating fog signal" at present in use by railway companies.
66
"
"
The apparatus employed consists in a triangular block," to be worked sideways
between the rails, in a frame fixed in the centre of an ordinary sleeper; and in a
" tongue
suspended on the under part of frame, or platform of engine, and
guards-van, to which by means of wires is connected a spring hammer and gong.
Also a lower disc, or indicator is provided on the signal post, or near such signal
post, about (5) five feet high from the level of the ground upon which the sleepers
are laid. The "block" and "lower disc or indicator" are to be worked from the
signal-box by the same lever, and at the same time as the signal arms which are
at present in use.
1. The "triangular block," which is rounded at the top point, is worked (by
sliding sideways in a frame fixed to the sleeper upon which the rails are laid) by
means of iron rods attached to, and continued from those already in use, and
worked at the same time, and by the same lever as that which is at present in use
for the purpose of elevating, or lowering the "arms" of the signal post.
2. The "tongue
" is to be suspended, between two bearers fixed on the under
part of the frame, or platform of the engine and guards-van, in such a position as
to bring the tongue in contact with the "block," (when the signal is at danger)
Price 671

page_text: when the engine or guards van passes over it, which will cause the wire attached
to the tongue, to pull the spring hammer back. After the tongue has passed over
the block the hammer will be released, and will then strike a gong, which will be
fixed on the engine in such a position as to be heard by those in charge of engine,
and in the guards van in such a position as to be heard by those in charge of the
guards van. Two wires will be attached to the "tongue," one above, and one
below the pin, or shaft upon which the tongue swings, and the two joined together
in such a position as to allow the gong to be sounded whether the tongue is moved
by the engine or guards-van travelling forwards, or backwards.
3. The lower disc, or indicator; (which is in two divisions, the upper, or clear
division which is painted "white," and the lower, or danger division, which is
painted red,) is to be affixed to the signal post, if the post is fixed in the ground,
or on a wall not higher than (5) five feet from a level of the metals, or rails, or if
this is not practicable, a lower post is to be erected, to which the disc, or indicator
shall be affixed. In front of the said disc are "pointers," one attached to each of
the rods, or chains at present connected with the arms of the signal post, the same
to point in the direction which the engine, or train is going, i.e. the " "up" pointing
to, and the "down" pointing from London.
This disc or indicator will be worked by the same lever, and at the same time
as the arm of signal post, and the block is worked.
The "blocks" would be worked in pairs; that is to say, one opposite the signal-
post, and one at such a distance from the signal post as to enable those in charge
of engine or train, to bring such to a standstill at the signal post if the signal
should still be against their progress.
The above named Invention would dispose of the fog-men as well as the
detonating fog signals at present in use, and would minimise the chances of a
collision.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Cureton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th July 1883.
JOHN HENRY CURETON of 182 South Lambeth Road in the County of Surrey
IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALS.
This Invention is for the purpose of notifying engine drivers guards and others
travelling in charge of engines, or trains during foggy weather when the signal
towards which they are approaching is set at danger, and therefore against the
advance of such engine or train, although the
33
arm or "lamp" of the signal post
cannot be seen by them during such weather, and as a substitute for the
detonating fog signal" at present in use by railway companies.
"
"
The apparatus employed consists in a "triangular block" to be worked sideways
between the rails in a frame fixed in the centre of an ordinary Sleeper, and in a
"tongue" suspended on the under part of frame or platform of engine and guards
van, to which by means of wires is connected a spring hammer and gong.
Also a lower disc or indicator is provided on the signal post or near such signal
post, about five feet high from the level of the ground (or the metals) upon which
the sleepers are laid. The "block" and "lower disc or indicator" are to be
worked from the signal-box by the same lever, and at the same time as the signal
arms which are at present in use.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures
Fig 1 represents ground plan showing the application of my Invention
Fig 2. Isometrical view of "block"
Fig 3 Transverse section of rails and "block"
Fig 4 Side view.
Fig 5. Side view of portion of guards van with "tongue" also "block between
the rails
Fig 6 End view of Fig 5.
Figs 7 and 8 Front and side elevations of signal post with lower signal attached
thereto.
Figs 9 and 10 Front and side elevations of modified form of lower signal post.
The triangular block A which is rounded at the top point as shown is worked
(by sliding sideways in a frame B fixed to the sleeper C upon which the rails D
are laid) by means of iron rods E attached to, and continued from those F already
in use, and worked at the same time, and by the same lever as that which is at
present in use for the purpose of elevating or lowering the "arms" of the signal.
The "tongue" G is to be suspended between two bearers H fixed on the under
part of the frame or platform of the engine and guard's van I in such a position
as to bring the tongue G in contact with the "block" A (when the signal is at
danger) when the engine or guards-van passes over it, which will cause the wire
attached to the tongue G to pull the spring hammer J back. After the tongue G
has passed over the block A the hammer will be released and will then strike a
gong which will be fixed on the engine in such a position as to be heard by those
in charge of engine and in the guards van in such a position as to be heard by
those in charge of the guards van. Two wires W and W will be attached to the
tongue G one above and one below the pin or shaft K (as shewn in Figs 5
and 6) upon which the tongue G swings, and the two wires are joined together
at L in such a position as to allow the gong J to be sounded whether the tongue G
is moved by the engine or guards van travelling forwards or backwards.

page_text: The lower disc or indicator M. Fig 7 (which is in two divisions) the upper, or
clear division which is painted white and the lower or danger division which is
painted red) is to be affixed to the signal post N if the post is fixed in the ground
or on a wall say not higher than five feet from a level of the metals, or rails, or
if this is not practicable, a lower post is to be erected to which the disc or indi-
cator M shall be affixed. In front of the said disc M are pointers O and P one
attached to each of the rods or chains F at present connected with the arms of the
signals the same to point in the direction which the engine, or train is going, i.e.
the "up" pointing to, and the "down" pointing from say London. This disc or
indicator M will be worked by the same lever, and at the same time as the arm of
signal post, and the block is worked.
The "blocks" A would be worked in pairs as seen in Fig 1; that is to say, one
opposite the signal post N and one at such a distance from the signal post as to
enable those in charge of engine or train, to bring such to a standstill at the signal
post if the signal should be against their progress.
In place of having the lower disc or indicator painted as above described I can
use glass red and white before which the pointers are placed and with lamp
reflecting on same as shown in Figs 9 and 10.
The above named Invention would dispose of the fog-men as well as the
detonating fog signals at present in use, and would minimise the chances of a
collision.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I hereby declare that
I claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent
1. The triangular block A secured between the rails and worked in manner
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The tongue G secured to engine and guards van which on striking block A
calls attention by gong to engine driver and guard substantially as and for the
purposes described.
3. The disc or indicator M substantially as and for the purpose described
In Witness whereof I the said John Henry Cureton have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this twenty fourth day of July in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
T TT CURLTON
Witness,
T. MORGAN
21 Cockspur Street
Charing Cross.
J. H. CURETON,