IMPROVEMENTS. IN SAFETY SIGNALS FOR RAILWAYS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Stinson Farmer, of Canterbury Road,
Kilburn, in the County of Middlesex, and Edward Tyer, of No. 4,
Old Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Stinson Farmer
and Edward Tyer at the Office of the Commissioners of* Patents,
with their Petition, on the 10th July 1874.
We, JOHN STINSON FARMER, of Canterbury Road, Kilburn, in the
County of Middlesex, and EDWARD TYER, of No. 4, Old Street, Finsbury,
in the County of Middlesex, both do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS. IN SAFETY SIGNALS FOR RAILWAYS," to
he as follows.

page_text: one place on a railway but also men at other and distant places can work
or control the working of signals in such a manner as to secure the safety
of the traffic. For example, we may suppose that there is a semaphore
signal of the ordinary kind near a signal box, worked in the ordinary
manner by a hand lever connected to it by rods or wires, but that it is
desired that this signal should either be raised to danger or be kept up at
danger by the action of one or more persons at distant places indepen-
dently of the signalman near the signal, and consequently that the said
signal should not be capable of being lowered to the safety attitude
without the consent of all these persons who can operate upon it; the
effect of such an arrangement being that should the line be blocked at
any place by the condition of the traffic or by accident, or for repair, the
said semaphore can by action from any such place be put up to its danger
attitude or be kept up in that attitude so as to stop the traffic at a dis-
tance from the blocked point, whilst also the signalman near the sema-
phore can always raise it to danger, but can lower it to safety only when
none of the other persons require it to stand at danger. Thus on lines
worked according to the block system the attendant at a distance, instead
of merely giving notice that a signal should be raised, shall be enabled.
actually to raise it or to keep it up at danger. For this purpose we arrange
either at the signal post or in the signal box or at any convenient point in
the line of wires or rods connecting the hand lever to the signal, an elec-
trical detent apparatus, consisting of an electro-magnet and à remontoir,
and we connect the coil of the electro-magnet either directly or by relay
to a battery or other source of electrical power by a conducting wire pro-
vided with means of making or breaking contact at the one or more distant
places where it is desired to control the signal, or we connect the coil by
separate wires to such places. When the hand lever is moved the remontoir
is thereby raised or wound up, and is held by a ratchet detent connected
to the armature of the electro-magnet in such männer that whenever
the electro-magnet is rendered active by a current of electricity trans-
mitted through its coil, or it may be when it is rendered inactive by the
cessation of such current, the detent is released and the remontoir moves.
The hand lever, or the wire or rod by which it is connected to the signal
is not attached thereto by a fixed connection; but by a catch, pawl,
or stud, which can be moved by the remontoir so as to break the con-
nection, or moved by the armature of the magnet so that it cannot make
the connection. When any one of the persons at a distance requires the
signal to be moved to or to be kept at danger, he makes or breaks, as

page_text: the case may be, the electrical circuit to the detent magnet of the
remontoir, thereby releasing the detent. The remontoir by its movement
works the catch, pawl, or moveable stud so as to disconnect the signal
pull from the signal lever, whereupon the signal if it happen to be down"
in its safety attitude, being freed from the lever, is raised to the danger
attitude by its counterweight; or if the signal happen to be already up
at danger and disconnected from the hand lever, the armature prevents
the connection being effected, so that the signal remains at danger, the
hand lever being rendered inoperative to change it.
We prefer in all cases to place by the hand lever a repeating index to
shew the signalman whether his lever is in connection with the signal or
whether the connection has been broken by the electrical action from a
distance. Such repeating index may be of any known kind worked by
an electrical connection from the signal when the disconnection of the
hand lever above described is effected at the signal post or at a distance
from the lever, or it may be worked by simple mechanical connection to
the signal pull when the disconnection of the lever is effected beside the
lever itself.
It may be readily understood that a similar arrangement is applicablo
when the signal is worked by means other than a hand lever, such as a
winch, stirrup, or treadle, and also in cases where signals are worked by
slot connections from several places.
may
Another method of effecting the connection; by means of electricity
of the lever or pull which works the signal with the signal itself, or its
disconnection therefrom by electrical action from a distance, is as
follows-At the point of disconnection we employ iron contact surfaces,
one of which forms a polar extension of an electro-magnet, or both of
which form such polar extensions.
While a current of electricity
is transmitted through the electro-maget coils these iron surfaces attract.
each other so as to move together, and thus the movement of the signal
pull is rendered effective on the signal; but when the electric circuit is
broken the attraction of the surfaces ceases, and the signal is then left
free to rise to danger in obedience to its counterweight if it should be
down, or to remain at danger notwithstanding the working of the hand
lever or pull. When this mode of working is adopted the expenditure of
clectrical power may be economised by the following arrangement:-The
conducting wire to the electro-magnet coils is made with a bridge or
'

page_text: contact making and breaking apparatus near the hand lever, so arranged
that when the signalman begins to move his hand lever or when he
moves the spring catch of his lever before beginning to move the lever
itself, he causes contact to be made, whereby the magnetic connection
to the signal is effected, provided contact is also made at the distant
places.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent;
filed by the said John Stinson Farmer and Edward Tyer in the Great
Scal Patent Office on the 9th January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
STINSON FARMER, of Canterbury Road, Kilburn, in the County of
Middlesex, and EDWARD TYER, of No. 4, Old Street, Finsbury, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us; the said John Stinson Farmer and Edward Tyer;
Her special license that we, the said John Stinson Farmer and Edward
Tyer, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said John Stinson Farmer and Edward Tyer, our executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY.
SIGNALS FOR RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said John Stinson Farmer and Edward Tyer, our executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should particu-
larly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters. Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Stinson Farmer, on behalf
of myself and the said Edward Tyer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed;
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
:
: Our Invention relates to the construction and operation of combined
mechanical and electrical apparatus, whereby not only the signalman at
one place on a railway, but also men at other and distant places can
work or control the working of signals in such a manner as to secure
the safety of the traffic. For example, we may suppose that there is a
semaphore signal of the ordinary kind 'near a signal box, worked in the
ordinary manner by a hand lever connected to it by rods or wires, but
that it is desired that this signal should either be raised to danger or be
kept up at danger by the action of one or more persons at distant places,
independently of the signalman near the signál, and consequently that
the said signal should not be capable of being lowered to the safety.
attitude without the consent of all these persons who can operate upon
it, the effect of such an arrangement being that should the line be
blocked at any place by the condition of the traffic, or by accident, or
for repair, the said semaphore can by action from any such place be put
up to its danger attitude or be kept up in that attitude, so as to stop the
traffic at a distance from the blocked point, whilst also the signalman
near the semaphore can always raise it to danger, but can lower it to
safety only when none of the other persons require it to stand at danger.
Thus on lines worked according to the block system the attendant at a
distance instead of merely giving notice that a signal should be raised,
shall be enabled actually to raise it or to keep it up at danger. For this
purpose we arrange either at the signal post or in the signal box, or at
any convenient point in the line of wires or rods connecting the hand
lever to the signal, an electrical detent apparatus consisting of an
clectro-magnet and a remontoir, and we connect the coil of the electro-
magnet either directly or by relay to a battery or other source of electrical
power by a conducting wire provided with means of making or breaking
contact at the one or more distant places where it is desired to control
the signal, or we connect the coil by separate wires to such places.
When the hand lever is moved the remontoir is thereby raised or wound
up, and is held by a detent connected to the armature of the clectros

page_text: magnet in such manner that whenever the electro-magnet is rendered
active by a current of electricity transmitted through its coil, or it may
be when it is rendered inactive by the cessation of such current, the
detent is released, and the remontoir moves. The hand lever, or the
wire or rod by which it is connected to the signal is not attached thereto
by a fixed connection but by a catch, pawl, or stud, which can be moved
by the remontoir so as to break the connection, or moved by the
armature of the magnet so that it cannot make the connection. When
any one of the persons at a distance requires the signal to be moved to
or to be kept at danger he makes or breaks, as the case may be, the
electrical circuit to the detent magnet of the remontoir, thereby relcasing
the detent. The remontoir by its movement works the catch, pawl, or
moveable stud so as to disconnect the signal pull from the signal lever,
whereupon the signal, if it happen to be down in its safety attitude,
being freed from the lever is raised to the danger attitude by its counter-
weight; or if the signal happen to be already up at danger and
disconnected from the hand lever, the armature prevents the connection
being effected; so that the signal remains at danger, the hand lever
being rendered inoperative to change it.
We prefer in all cases to place by the hand lever a repeating index to
shew the signalman whether his lever is in connection with the signal,
or whether the connection has been broken by the electrical action from
a distance. Such repeating index may be of any known kind worked
by an electrical connection from the signal when the disconnection of
the hand lever above described is effected at the signal post or at a
distance from the lever; or it may be worked by simple mechanical
connection to the signal pull when the disconnection of the lever is
effected beside the lever itself.
It may be readily understood that a similar arrangement is applicable
when the signal is worked by means other than a hand lever, such as a
winch, stirrup, or treadle, and also in cases where signals arc worked by
slot connections from several places.
Another method of effecting the connection, by means of electricity;
of the lever or pull which works the signal with the signal itself, or its
disconnection therefrom by electrical action from a distance is as
follows: At the point of disconnection we employ iron contact surfaces,
one of which forms a polar extension of an electro-magnet, or both of

page_text: which may form such polar extensions. While a current of celectricity
is transmitted through the electro-magnet coils these iron surfaces
attract each other so as to move together, and thus the movement of the
signal pull is rendered effective on the signal; but when the electric
circuit is broken the attraction of the surfaces ceases, and the signal is
then left free to rise to dànger in obedience to its counterweight, if it
should be down, or to remain at danger notwithstanding the working of
the hand lever or pull. When this mode of working is adopted, the
expenditure of electrical power may be economised by the following
arrangement:-The conducting wire to the electro-magnet coils is made
with a bridge or contact making and breaking apparatus near the land"
lever, so arranged that when the signalman begins to movo his hand
lever, or when he moves the spring catch of his lever before beginning
to move the lever itself, he causes contact to be made, whereby the
magnetic connection to the signal is effected, provided contact is also
made at the distant places.
Fig. 1 represents diagrammatically two block stations A and B at
some distance apart on a line of railway, with a semaphore signal S near
the one station, which can be lowered to safety by a signalman at A
when the signalman at B permits it, or which can be kept at or raised
to danger by the signalman at either A or B by means of apparatus
according to our Invention, one form of which we will now describe.
Referring to Fig. 2, which shews to an enlarged scale a section through
the signal box A, with the signal lever L therein, and the connections
from the said lever to the semaphore S; and referring also to Fig. 3,
which represents a side view of the electrical detent apparatus in one
condition, and Fig. 4, which shews the said apparatns in another
condition. In these Figures the signal lever L is shown to be connected
directly by a pull wire W¹ with one of two counterweighted levers on
the signal post. Another counterweighted lever on the signal post is
connected by a pull wire W³ to a remontoir lever L' mounted below the
signal lever L. The two levers on the signal post pass through slots
in a vertical rod connected to the crank of the semaphore arm S. When
only one of the two levers on the post is pulled by its wire, the other
remaining in the position shewn in Fig. 2, the semaphore remains, as
shewn, at danger. In order to lower it to safety, both the pulls W

page_text: and Ws must be worked so as to raise both the counterweights on the
post, allowing the semaphore arm to drop.
"
When the apparatus in the signal box is in the condition shewn in]
Fig. 3, it will be seen that the lower lever L is connected to the main
lever L. by a pair of hooks H¹ and H2 engaged together, so that when
the lever L is pulled over, both the pulls.W' and W2 are pulled together,
and the semaphore arm is then allowed to drop. But when the hook H'
is disengaged from H³, as shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, then the
lever L on being pulled over, acting only on the one pull W', fails to
remove the semaphore arm, which remains at danger. Or if, while the
hooks Hand H³ were engaged, the lever L having been pulled over, as
shown in Fig. 4, had lowered the signal S, then the disengagement of
the hooks H, and. H², effected by the tail of the upper hook H¹ bearing
against an inclined stop C leaves the lower lever L' free to descend when
electrically released, as will presently be described, and to cause by.
slacking the pull W² the semaphore arm to rise to danger. The lever L'
is attached to a ratchet wheel 1, in the teeth of which engage spring
pawls mounted on a toothed wheel, which is connected by multi-
plying gear t, t³, t, to a four-armed wheel ..
Under the wheel & is a small lever ², the axis of which is partly cut
away, as will be seen on reference to Figs. 5 and 6, which shew to an
enlarged scale this axis and the mode in which it acts as a detent for the
wheel. In one position of the axis , as in Fig. 5, one of the arms of
tis caught against it, and thus the whole train of wheelwork is held,
and the lever is kept suspended in the position shewn in Fig. 4. But
when the axis 3 is partly turned, as shewn in Fig. 6, then the arms
of are free to turn past it, and the gearing being thus released the
lever L' descends, slacking the pull W2 and causing the semaphore arm S
to rise to danger. The axis 13 is turned by the descent of the lever 12
when an armature a¹ of an electro-magnet a is attracted on the magnet
being rendered active by a current of electricity transmitted through its
coils. A lever mounted by a pin on the framing of the apparatus
is drawn downwards by a spring 1º, but the tail of the lever is held by
a pin on the lever L'.
When the lever L' has descended, as above described, the pin escapes
the tail of ', which thereupon descends. The point of this lever is jointed

page_text: having passed it resumes it straight position below it as shewn in Fig. 3.
On now moving back the lever L to the position shewn in Figure 3 the
hooks H1, H2, become re-engaged, and the lever L being then pulled to
the position shewn in Fig. 4, the lever L' is again lifted, it raises the.
lever, which in its turn lifts 2, restoring the axis 13 to the position
shewn in Fig. 5; and if the electrical current through the coil of a has
ceased, the armature a¹ being drawn back by a spring under the point
of keeps it in the position to which it has been raised, and its axis in
the detent condition shown in Fig. 5. In the same electrical circuit
with the magnet a is another electro-magnet a², having an armature a³
pivotted on the framing with a tail a extending upwards in the planc
of the upper hook H. While the magnet a² is inactive the armature a³
is drawn back by a. spring, so that its tail a is kept clear from the
hook H. But when the magnet a² is rendered active, attracting its
armature, the tail a' being thereby thrust forward keeps the hook H¹
away from H2, so that it cannot engage therewith. The circuit, in.
which are the coils of a and a² is made to pass also through an
indicator I, Fig 2, in the signal box, which shows the signalman-
whether. his lever is in the operative or in the inoperative condition.
A similar indicator I', provided with a contact making and breaking key,
is situated at the distant station in the electrical circuit.
A convenient form of. indicator is shewn in Fig. 8, the contact key
having on it an arm, as shewn in Fig. 9, which in one position presents
through an opening in the case the word "free," and in its other position
presents the word. "locked," or gives indications of like meaning. When.
the key is in the position shewing "free," the electrical circuit is broken,
the magnets a and a² are then inactive, the hook H' is free to engage H³,
and the signalman at A can then lower his semaphore S. But when the
signalman at B turns the key of his indicator to present "locked,"
thereby completing the clectrical circuit, the magnets a, a², are rendered"
active and attract their respective armatures, whereupon the lever L' if it.
had been previously raised descends, causing the semaphore S to rise to
danger; or if the lever L' had been previously down, the hook H¹ being
prevented from engaging with H2, the main lever. L is rendered inopera-
tive on the signal.
Although we have described the transmission of an electrical current.
as being the means of causing the signal to rise and of rendering the:
signal lever inoperative on it, it may be readily understood. that. by.

page_text: modifying the arrangement and action of the armatures a¹ and a³ a like
effect could be produced by the cessation of an electrical current.
Fig. 7 shews a modified construction of the detent apparatus for the
wheel for the purpose of preventing sensible action of earth currents
on the remontoir train. In this case the armature a¹ has a tail extending
upwards and slot jointed to an arm on the detent axis 13. Should an
earth current render the magnet a active for a short time, its armature
acting on the axis 13 might permit a few of the arms 15 to pass; but on
the cessation of the earth current the train would again be stopped, and
thus the remontoir lever L' would be permitted by such interfering
currents to descend only a small part of the way without sensibly
affecting the position of the signal. This arrangement of detent dis-
penses with the lever and parts connected therewith.
Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive shew by side views a modified form of the
apparatus for controlling the signal S by means of electricity. In this
case there is only one pull W extending from the signal box to the
signal post, which pull is attached to a lever L that can be connected
to or disconnected from the main signal lever L in the following manner:
From the hand lever L hangs a slotted rod R, shewn separately in
Fig. 12, with a notch at the upper part of the slot, into which notch
can enter a studs on the lever L³. When the stud is in the notch, as
shown in Fig. 12, then by working the lever L the lower lever L² is also
worked and the signal can be moved; but when the stud s is out of the
notch the levers L and L³ are disconnected, so that the movement of the
former is inoperative on the signal. A bell-crank lever L³ pivotted on
the studs rests by its point on a cut axis m, as shewn in Fig. 10, but
when that axis is partly turned, as shewn in Fig. 11, the point of L³
escapes it, whereupon the lever L³ descends, and a pin m¹ upon it bearing
against the side of the rod R pushes it so as to disengage the studs from
its notch, and thereby to disconnect the lever L from L³. The axis m
is held in the position shewn in Fig. 10 by a pin on its arm m² being
caught by a hook on an armature as when that armature is not attracted
to an electro-magnet aº. But when the said magnet is rendered active
by a current of electricity passed through its coil, then the hooked tail
of the armature lever a being raised the arm m² escapes it, and is drawn
by a spring m³ into the position shewn in Fig. 11, thereby turning the
axis m so far as to permit the lever L³ to escape it and fall. A pin n on
the lever L works in the slot of a rod n¹ suspended from the lever L.

page_text: When this lever is pulled over it by means of the pin n again raises the
lever L³, and a rod 2 connected to the upward arm of the lever L³, and
having a slot in which works a pin on the lever m², at the last part of
the ascent of the lever L³ moves the lever m² so as to bring its axis m
into the position shewn in Fig. 10 (in which position it forms a rest for
the end of the lever L³) and to engage the pin at its lower end within
the hook of the armature a³. The electrical connections for this form of
apparatus are arranged as follows:-The line wire C from a distant
station leads to the coil of the magnet aº, thence a, wire C¹ carries the
circuit through the indicator I, from which a wire C2 leads to an insulated
contact spring C³. Finally a wire C* from any part of the apparatus or
framing in metallic communication with the lever L conducts to earth.
The spring Os is situated somewhat above a projection P on the spring
catch rod of the lever L when the spring catch is down, as shown in
Fig. 10 and in Fig. 13, which represents also the upper part of the
lever L. Thus the electrical circuit is interrupted while the spring catch
of the lever L is down; but when the signalman has to move the lever L
he has first to raise the spring catch out of the notch in the quadrant,
and in doing so he necessarily brings the projection P to bear against
the spring C³, as shewn in Fig. 11, making electrical contact. If in that
case contact also be made at the distant station, then the electrical
circuit being completed, the magnet as is rendered active, attracting its
armature a, releasing the lever m², so that its axis m is partly turned,
the lever L³ descends by its weight and disengages the notch in the rod R
from the stud 8, thus rendering the lever L inoperative upon the signal.
Should the lever L have been moved so as to pull up W, and thereby
lower the signal, then upon the electrical circuit being completed an
action like that described above ensues, disengaging the notch in R from
the studs, whereupon the lever I and pull W descend, and the signal
is by its counterweight raised to danger.
Fig. 14 represents a section of a signal box with a modified form of
the apparatus which is shewn in side elevation to an enlarged scale in
Fig. 15, a part front view being shewn in Fig. 16. In this form of the
apparatus a rod R' extending down from the signal lever L connects it
to a double lever L' pivotted on the framing at p. On the same pivot p
is centred a lever L', to the end of which is attached the signal pull W.
Between the two limbs of the lever L' is mounted a catch D which is
weighted so as to engage under the end of the lever L³, in which case

page_text: :
when the main lever L is moved the lever L is moved with it, and the
pull W can lower the signal S. When, however, the catch D is
disengaged from or prevented from engaging with the lever L³, by
means which will be presently described, then the lever L becomes
inoperative on the signal; or if the signal should have been lowered by
raising the lever L this lever is left free to descend, and the signal is
raised by its counterweight to danger. For the purpose of disengaging
the catch D a lever L' having on it an iron weight a' is mounted on the
framing in such a position that when it descends as indicated by the
dotted lines L' it bears upon the tail of the catch D and throws it into
such a position that its hook is clear of the end of the lever L. The
weight a constitutes the armature of an electro-magnet as. As long as
the magnet a is rendered active by a current of clectricity passing
through its coils, the armature a is attracted and the lever L' remains
in its upright position; but when, by breaking contact at a distant
station the electrical current ceases, then the armature a' is no longer
attracted, and the lever L being adjusted against a stop s', so that the
centre of gravity is a little beyond the vertical line, falls into the position
L' and so disengages the catch D, rendering the lever L inoperative on
the signal pull, or disengaging the signal from it if it should have been
Iowered. Should the lever L have descended to the position L', then
when the main lever L is moved a balanced catch D' mounted on the
lever L acting on a pin d on, the lever L° raises it again, bringing.the
armature a into contact with the magnet as. Should the clectrical
circuit being in that case complete the lever L' will remain in its upright
position, and then on the next movement of the lever L the catch D will
engage with I, and the signal can then be lowered. If, however, the
electrical circuit be interrupted when the lever L is raised there will be
no attraction holding the armature a', and the lever L
its return stroke and still keep the catch D disengaged.
so balanced that when it is moved upwards along with the lever L' on
which it is mounted it escapes the pin d' when the lever L' is in its
upright position, leaving that lever free to descend when the attraction.
of its armature ceases. But when the catch D¹ is again lowered along
with the lever L* its lower extremity coming in contact with an
angle e of the framing causes it to be set in such a position as to be
ready to engage again with the pin d for the purpose of raising the lever
L', the said pin d being fitted in a slot with a spring so as to accom-
modate itself to the relative movement of D: To avoid- waste of
will follow L in
The catch D' is

page_text: electrical power the conducting wire C leads to an insulated spring C³ on
which a projection from the lever Le comes to bear when that lever is
approaching its upright position. Thus the circuit remains broken while
the lever L is down, and is completed only when that lever is raised,
provided it be also at the same time completed at the distant station. ..
Fig. 17 is a side view and Fig. 18 a plan of another form of apparatus
for disengaging the signal from the signal lever by means of electricity;
Fig. 19 shews the apparatus in the condition when the disengagement
is effected. In this case the signal lever L is connected by a rod to T,
one of two levers T and T¹ mounted side by side; the other lever T'
having the signal pull W attached to it. Each of these levers has an
eléctro-magnet U and U¹ arranged at its end, the poles of these magnets
being serrated, as shewn to an enlarged scale in Fig. 20. When the
magnets are rendered active by an electrical current passing through
their coils their poles attract each other and cause the serrations to be
engaged with one another. In that case a movement of the lever L to
raise the lever T will be effective on the signal, the other lever T¹ being
raised along with T. But should the electrical circuit be broken at a
distant station then the poles of U and U¹ will cease to attract each
other, and the two levers T and T¹ will be disengaged from one another.,
In that case the raising of the lever T will fail to lower the signal; or if
the signal should have been lowered the lever T¹ will descend, allowing
the signal to be raised by its counterweight to danger.
"
Fig. 21 is a side view and Fig. 22 a plan of another arrangement,
3. according to which the signal lever L can be disengaged from the signal,
pull W by the cessation of an electrical current: In this case the lever L
and another lever T2 to which the signal pull W is attached are provided.
with electro-magnets V and V¹, having their poles presented towards
each other. While these magnets remain active the two levers, L and T*
work together, the poles of the magnets V. and V₁ being, held together.
by attraction; but on the cessation of the electrical current through the
coils of the magnets they cease to attract, and the lever L then becomes
inoperative on the signal, which in that case is raised to or kept at its
danger attitude.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and in what
manner it is to be performed, we hereby declare that we do not claim
any means of moving a signal by electrical power, nor any means of
S
:

page_text: applying electrical power to start or to stop mechanism whereby a
signal can be moved to its safety as well as to its danger attitude; but
we claim,―
First. The method, substantially as herein described, of controlling
railway signals from a distance by making or breaking by means of
electricity the connection between a signal and the hand lever employed
to move it, so that the said lever can be rendered operative or inoperative
on the signal, and that when it is so rendered inoperative the signal is
moved to or kept at its danger attitude.
Second. The use for the purpose referred to in the preceding claim of
a remontoir lever and train provided with electrical detent apparatus,
the said lever working one signal pull while the hand lever works
another, and the signal being arranged with slotted connections, so that
unless both pulls act together it cannot be lowered to safety, sub-
stantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive on
Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The use for the purpose above referred to of apparatus wherein
a lever held by an electrical detent when released disengages a stud con-
nected to the signal pull from a notch in a rod connected to the signal
lever, thereby freeing the signal from the action of the lever, sub-
stantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive
on Sheet II. of the accompanying Drawings.
}
Fourth. The use for the purpose above referred to of apparatus in
which a weight constituting the armature of an electro-magnet when its
attraction to the magnet ceases descends and releases a catch connecting a
the signal lever to the signal pull, substantially as herein described in
reference to Figs. 14 to 16 inclusive on Sheet III. of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifth. The method, substantially as herein described in reference to
Figs. 17 to 22 inclusive on Sheet IV. of the accompanying Drawings, of a
applying the attraction of electro-magnets to hold together two levers
connected respectively to the signal and to the signal lever in such
manner that when the attraction ceases the said levers become discon-
nected for the purpose of freeing the signal from the action of the hand
lever.
Sixth. The method of economising the electricity employed for the
purpose above referred to by making contact only when the hand lever
{

page_text: is about to be moved, substantially as herein described in reference to
Figs. 10 to 13 on Sheet II.; or when the lever has been moved, sub-
stantially as herein described in reference to Figs. 14 to 16 on Sheet III.
of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Stinson Farmer, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Fifth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.