Year: 1855

page_text: given distances apart, (say, one mile;) as shewn on Fig. 6. In each of these
signal boxes is a rod G, Fig. 2, to which a constant tendency is given to rise
by means of a spring, but which rod G is kept down by a keeper I, Fig. 2, that
is made to fall into one of the notches cut for that purpose in the lower part of
the rod G. A soft iron bar (or bars) K, having a coil of wire W, W, wound
round it is so placed in each of the signal boxes M, that while the electric
current is allowed to flow thro' the coil of wire or helix W, W, the bar K is
kept magnetic, and attracts and draws up the lower end of the keeper I, thus
allowing the uper end of the keeper I to rest in a notch on the rod G. On the
electric current being broken from wire W, W, the keeper I falls from the
bar K; but on the electric current being restored, the bar K again becomes an
electro-magnet, and re-draws up the keeper I, the upper end of which will then
occupy the notch on the bar G next below that notch it had occupied before the
electric current was broken and re-made in the wire W, W; therefore each
time the electric current is broken and re-made, the bar G will have risen one
notch.
i
The general principle of this arrangement is as follows:-A number of wires
a, b, c, d, Figs. 4 and 6, are laid from terminus to terminus, and an electric
current kept flowing through them. At each signal box these wires are cut
through in three separate place, viz, at h, p, and h*, Fig. 4. At the two
extreme points of section h and h*, the wires (a, b, c, or d.) are connected by
a hinge h and h*, leaving the parts! cut' off, and which touch each other at the
centre point of section p, free to move upon the hinge. By raising these
parts they are brought in contact with the coil of wire W, W, around the
soft iron bar, and thus it is magnetized. These parts of the wires a, b, c, or d,
are raised and kept up to the wire W, W, by a drum N (Figs. 2 and 4), which
is made to revovle by the passing of a train over the rod G, with which the
drum N is connected.
The rod G, of the signal box over which the train is passing is depressed to
the utmost by the wheel Q, Fig. 7, thereby forcing. the drum Nround one notch
of the ratchet wheel M. by means of the pall L. The part h, p, of the wire
means of the little bar i, and
then glids off the. cam a, on which it rests by
thereby disconnects the wire a from the coil W, W, and thus the electric
current is broken to all the back signal boxes, but is immediately made again
by the following cam 6 of the drum n lifting up the part h, p, of the wire b to
the wire W, W; but though the rod G of the signal box over which the train
is passing is depressed to the utmost, the rod G of each of the signal boxes
behind the one over which the train is passing is raised one notch by means of

page_text: the electric current being broken and made. As this occurs every time a
train passes over a signal box, it is evident that the rods (G) of the back signal
boxes are raised to a greater height as the train proceeds forward, and thus the
height of the rod (G) on any signal box at all times indicates the distance that
the train is in front of that signal box. The height of these rods is indexed on
and to a second train as it passes over the signal boxes by means of a moveable
rod Z, Fig. 7, which being connected with the wheel Z, is carried by means
of a guide rail F, Fig. 2, over the rod G. The moveable rod Z* works an
index hand, which is thus made to point to the figures marked on a dial,
Fig. 8, placed on the tender or other suitable part of the train, for the infor-
mation of the engine driver, or other person in charge of the train.
Each train works its own signal upon a separate wire, either (a, b, c, or d, &c.),
so that the signals made by a second train, say B°, on Fig. 6, (for the infor-
mation of the third or following train, say C.,) do not destroy the signals in
front of it made by the first or previous trains (say A°). By using two sets
of the signal boxes and two indexing apparatus, Fig. 8, two trains, moving in
opposite directions on the same line (as in a single line of railway) can be
made to index to each other the distance they are apart.
By a modification of the arrangements, the signal boxes can be made to work
a separate index at each station for each train in motion, thereby showing the
station master the distance and rate of speed of such trains; or these signal
boxes can be applied so as to raise a light lamp or signal to such different
height as shall indicate the distance of the train in advance of such light or
side signal.
Another modification of the arrangement may be made, by which the steam
may be shut off altogether or in part without the intervention or control of the
engine driver when the rod of such signal box over which it is passing does
not reach a certain given height, that is, when the train in front is less than a
given distance in front of such second train..
The peculiar feature of our Invention .consists in the application of electro-
magnetism to an improved method of communicating between trains in motion,
and the arrangement whereby the distance of any train in front of a second
train is indexed on such second train, for the information of the engine driver,
or person in charge of the train. We do not confine ourselves to the sizes
shewn on the Drawing accompanying this Specification.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Horace John Kaye and Percy Burrell in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd December 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HORACE
JOHN KAYE, of 71, Denbigh Street, Belgrave Road, London, Civil Engineer,
and PERCY BURRELL, of the Hermitage, Camberwell Grove, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord-One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Horace John Kaye and Percy Burrell, Her special licence that we, the
said Horace John Kaye and Percy Burrell, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Horace John Kaye and Percy
Burrell, our executors, administrators, 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 night make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF COMMUNI-
CATING TO EACH OF TWO TRAINS THAT ARE IN MOTION THE DISTANCE THEY RESPECTIVELY
ARE- FROM EACH OTHER," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Horace John Kaye and Percy Burrell; by an instrument in writing under our
hands and seals, should particularly 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that we; the said Horace John Kaye and Percy Burrell,
do hereby declare the nature of our said 'Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be 'particularly described. and ascertained
in and by the following statement: ...
The said Invention consists in the application of electro-magnetism to the
raising or otherwise moving by means of a train in motion of a succession of
rods placed on and connected with a line of railway' or a railway station to a
height varying with the distance of the train from the rod raised or otherwise
moved, and which height is indexed on the engine, for the information of the
engine driver, or other persons in charge of the train, and may also be indexed
at the various railway stations for the information of the station master.

page_text: The following is a general, description of, the nature of the said Invention,
and of the information that is indexed. We shall afterwards describe par-
ticularly the means employed for the attainment of the results indicated.
Between the lines of each line, of railway is placed a number of index boxes
(m, Fig. 2). Each of the index boxes, contains a rod C (Figs. 5, 7, 9),
capable, of, a vertical movement. The construction, of these boxes, which will
be hereafter explained, and is shown on the annexed Diagrams, is such, that
as a train passes, over any of them all the rods of the boxes behind the one
over which the train is passing are raised through an equal space, (say, one
inch,), and are retained in the position, thus acquired until they are either
raised by a train passing, over a more advanced index. box, or are depressed.
each one by subsequent train passing over it.
Thus, the train A, (Fig. 1) leaving the station S,,passes; over the box (m')
and depresses its rod C. to the utmost; it then passes over (m²), and raises, the
rod of (m²) one inch; passing. over (M³) it raises the rods of (M²) and M²):
each one inch, thus making, the rod of (M) two inches up. On passing over
(M) the rods of: (M', M², M³) are each raised, one inch, making the rods of
(M) 3 inches up, (M²) 2 inches up,- (M³) one inch up, and so on. By means
of the indexing apparatus (Figs. 3 and 4), and which will be hereafter explained,).
attached to the following train, say (B, Fig. 1,) the height of the rod of each.
signal box is marked (as the train passes over it) on the index of the train, and
thus shows the, number of index boxes between it and the preceding train.
Before proceeding to explain the construction of the index boxes and indexing
apparatus, we observe, that by a slight variation in the construction of the index
boxes, a train, passing over an index box is made to depress the rods in each of
the signal in advance of the one over which it is passing, instead of raising the
rods of the boxes behind. This variation is of importance on single lines of
railway, especially (for each train travelling in opposite directions) affecting the
index. boxes in front of it; and being furnished with additional indexing appa-
ratus, their approach to each other is regularly indexed on the respective trains,
showing how many index boxes are between the two approaching trains. We
have stated that the index .boxes are placed between the rails of each line of
railway, as we consider it the most convenient position, but they may be placed
by the side of the railway or elsewhere, as circumstances may require.
We now proceed to describe the machinery by which the .results above
indicated are obtained. The corresponding parts of the machinery are indi-
cated by the same letters in all the Diagrams. Between the rails of each line
of railway (or. by the side of them) we; lay down any required number of

page_text: wires, a, b, c, d, (Fig. 2, Sheet 1,) which we shall hereafter call the main
wires, and through which a current of electricity is kept continually flowing
except when the current is momentarily broken, in manner herein-after ex-
plained. Instead of these main wires any conductors of electricity may be
employed. Upon or by the side of these main wires is placed at any distance
from each other a number of index boxes m. The construction of these
signal boxes is shown by the Diagrams on Sheet 2, and is as follows:-
Figs. 5 and 7 are transverse sections of the index boxes; and Fig. 9 is a
section at right angles to sections Figs. 5 and 7. D, D, is a case, through
which the main wires are conducted by means of earthenware tubes or other-
wise to insure insulation; G is a signal rod, capable of vertical movement, and
to which a constant tendency to rise is given by means of a spring H, or some
equivalent mechanical arrangement. I is the keeper of an escapement, by
which the force of the spring H is counteracted and the bar G kept down, it
being impossible for the rod G to rise when the point i of the keeper rests in
one of the notches (n) of the rod G. K is a soft iron bar; W, W', a wire coiled
round K, and forming a helix. As long as a current of electricity is kept
passing through W, W', K is rendered a magnet, and keeps I in the position
shown in Fig. 9, i. e.. the point (i) rests in one of the notches (2), and prevents
the rod G from rising. When the current through W, W', is broken, K ceases
to be a magnet,' I drops, and the rod G rises. The breaking of the current is
so arranged (as will be explained hereafter), that the rod G can rise only one
notch before the current is made again, so that every time the current is
broken, the rod G rises one notch. M* is a ratchet wheel, concentric with
the drum or cylinder n, to which it is firmly affixed. The ratchet wheel and
cylender are free to move on their centre in the direction shewn by the arrow.
The cylinder n has on it a number sets of cams or projections a¹, a², a³, a³,
1, 62, 63, 6, &c., according to the number of main wires used, (each main wire
having one set of cams communicating with it.) L is a paul attached to the
signal rod G (Figs. 5 and 7); the rod G, being depressed by a passing train
or otherwise, carries down the paul L, which then forces round the racket
wheel M*, and with it the drum n, the movement of the paul being so regu-
lated by means of the stop L* (Figs. 5 and 7), that cach time it is depressed
it forces round the ratchet wheel one notch only, and carries the drum N
through a space equal to the breadth of one can.
Behind every cam is a plate of iron or other conductor (m), which serves
to prevent the current being broken in the front signal boxes, while the part
h, p, of the wires a, b, c, &c. falls from W. The wire W, W, are firmly

page_text: fixed upon non-conducting supports in the case of the boxes M, so as to be
above and at right angles to the main wires within the boxes M; and imme-
diately underneath the wire W, W, viz., at the point (p), Figs. 3. and 6, the
main wires are severed, and each of the severed ends is made to turn upon a
hinge hand h*, Figs. 6 and 8 respectively, at some point on the main wire
near the hinge (h); and between it and the point of severance, there proceeds
a bar (f), of such a length that its ends rests on the circumference of the drum
(n), when the parts h, p, of the main wires are in a horizontal position. S is a
bar of iron or other conducting material, one extremity of which is connected
with the hinge h*, upon which the bar h*, p, turns, and the other extremity
rests upon the front of the plate m of the highest cam for the time being, so
as to allow the electric current to flow when required from the main wire
through the bar S, through the plate M, through the little bar f, (Fig. 8,)
back to the same wire to complete the circuit.
Before explaining the working of the machinery above described, we will
describe the method by which the index rods G are depressed by a passing
train, and by means of which the machinery of the boxes M are set in motion.
The method is shown in Fig. 3. M is an index box; G is an index rod,
which is to be depressed by a passing train; F is a rail, hereafter called the
centre guide rail, one end of which is hinged to a sleeper or block of wood.
The rail F turns upon this hinge, and the end of the rail F rests upon the
rod G. Qis a wheel firmly attached, so as to be incapable of any upward
motion to the end of the tender, or any other suitable part of the train.
Behind the indexing apparatus, herein-before described, the wheel Q is so
placed as just to touch with its circumference the rail F at its hinge.
The following description of the working of the machinery above described
will now be readily understood:-When the machinery is first laid down on a
line, or before any train passes over it, the rods G of all the signal boxes M are
set in the position shown in Fig 5. The wire W, W, is brought in contact
with a main wire, say, the main wire (d), by the point of the bar f, fa, being
raised on cam a'. The first train passes over the boxes M', M², M³, M, &c.
successively, and affects the rods G in cach box M in manner following:-
To save repitition, we will describe the effect in box M, as we shall then be
able in one description to show the movements in the box over which the train
is passing, and which movements are the same in every case; and also the
movements of the rods of the back index boxes, which we could not do if we
took the first box M as our example, there being then no back index rods to
be affected. The wheel Q meets the centre guide rail F at its hinge, and

page_text: thus, forcing down the rod G,, brings it. into the position of Fig 7. The rod
in descending carries down the paul L, which turns the racket wheel M*,
and with it the drum N, through a space equal to the width of the cam d. As
the drum revolves, the bar ff, passes over the cam d² on to the plate m,
and the wire d' thus descends from its position of touching W, W, towards, a
horizontal position, which it attains when, the movement of the drum ceases.
While the wire (d) travels from the wire W, W, the main, wire, (a) is risen, up
by the cam a¹ to the wire W, W, and during this time the current is broken
along the (a) wire, but is made again on the wire (a) reaching the wire W, W.
While the current is thus broken, K-ceases to be a magnet, and the keeper: I
drops (the pressure of the train, however, keeps the rod G from rising in the
box over which the train is passing,) but as soon as the wire a comes in con-
tact with the, wire W, W, `(K) is again magnetised, re-draws up the keeper,
and the wire is now in the position, in which wire d is shown in Fig. 5. In
short, the train coming to the box M finds the bar K magnetized by the
wire d, and leaves it magnetised by the wire, (a), and wholly unaffected by the
wire (d.)
As this is the case, in every index as the train passes over it, it follows, that
in all the index boxes that the train has passed over, the bars K are mag-
netised by the (a) main wire, and in all the index boxes that the train has not
passed over, the bars K are magnetised by the wire (a); consequently the
breaking of the current in the wire a, in which alone it is broken by the
passing train, affects the bars K, and through them the bars G, in the back.
index boxes only.
The train then having passed over M², and left the rod G and wire (a) in
the position shown in Fig. 7, we proceed to examine what has taken place in
the back index box M. After the train has passed over it M', and before it
had arrived at M², the rod G. and wire (a) of the box M' was left in the
position shown on Figd 7; but as the train passed over M², the wire (a) in it
was rising towards W, W, the current in wire (a) was broken, as before
explained, and being broken at one point was broken throughout, its length;
consequently the current is broken in W, W*, of box M², and the bar K
ceases to be a magnet in that box M¹; the keeper I falls, and the force of the
spring H, not being counteracted (as it is when a train is actually passing over
a box), the rod G rises, when the wire a in box M2 is brought in contact
with W, W*, in the same box, the current is restored throughout the main
wire, and consequently through W, W, and the bar K in the same box is
again a magnet, and again draws up. the keeper I, the point i of which then

page_text: fixes itself in the notch (n) next "below the one in which it was before
the current was broken, as before mentioned: The apparatus! we propose
for indexing upon the trains the height of the index rods G is shown
on Figs. 3, 4, and 10. Fig. 3 is a side view or elevation; Fig. 4 is an
enlarged front view of the index dial; Fig. 10, an end view or elevation. The
indexing apparatus is attached to the tender or any convenient part of the
train in front of the wheel Q It consists of the dial P, on which works a
lever pointer moved by the rod Z, to the bottom of which.is fixed the wheel Z*;
the wheel and rod are free to move in a vertical direction. To the axle of
the wheel Z* is attached the spring rod Y, which is so constructed as that its
extremity, which is slightly curved, and is prolonged in front, so as to pass clear
away from the box M before the wheel Z' reaches the top of the rod of the
same box, passes through a groove made for the purpose in the box M, or
comes in contact with the lower edge of the guide rails R, R, herein-after
mentioned; and by these means Y is drawn down and carries with it the
wheel Z*, which is thus brought upon the centre guide rail F, along which
and "over the rod G'it passes, and being perfectly free to move upwards it does
so move, and with it moves also the rod. Z that is attached to it to a greater
or less height, according to the height of the rod G, and thus the height is
registered upon the dial P. R, R, are side guide rails; and T, T, are wheels
attached to the indexing apparatus, and run on the rails 'R, R; but these rails
and wheels are used only to give greater firmness and steadiness to the
machinery, and are not an essential part of it; the height of the rod 'G being
thus indexed, the wheel' Q'passes over and depresses it, in the manner herein-
before explained. "We may here observe, that instead of keeping
an electric
current flowing through the main wires a, b, c, d, &c., and therefore the circuit
complete, and breaking the circuit by means of a train passing over-an index
box M, in order to rise. or move the rods G, the circuit may in general be not
allowed to flow through the main wires a, b, c, &c, and the circuit be in
general broken; the current in that case being" made to "flow or the circuit
made complete by a train passing over an index box, and the rods G raised in
this manner; the only' difference being that in the latter case the bars K will
be made magnets by the train passing over the index box.
レ
Fig. 10 is an end view of a line of railway, showing an index box -M,
attached to which is a lever V; so that on a train passing over that index, and
thereby depressing the rail F, and with it the rod G, it also depresses the lever
V; which 'being attached to the side indexes Pand which side indexes are
lowered and risen by means of the telescopic bar placed at the back of the

page_text: indexes 1, 2, 3, &c., also attached to the said lever V, and thus adjust the said
indexes P*, according to the height of the rod G, which side indexes P* show
the distance of the preceding train. The lever V rises, and is regulated by the
rod G in box M, so that by these means the side index P* denotes at all times
the same distance as the rod G*. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of Fig. 10, show-
ing a lamp for the purpose of lighting up the side indexes P*; Figs. 12 and
13 show other arrangements of carrying out the same object; but there are
so many ways of applying our system to the working of side or other distance
indexes that it is unnecessary further to describe them here.
Fig. 14 is a cross section of a line of railway in which a side index only is
shown. The mode of working it is as follows:-Attached to the train is a rod
and wheel Q*, which on striking the arm F* causes the top of the eccentric
E* to revolve, and thereby depress the rod G*, forcing down the lever V*,
which lever V draws down the rod G in box M. thus affecting and working
all the back index boxes in manner before described; H* is a spring for
bringing the eccentrics Ex and arm Fx back to its former position.
Figs. 15, 16, and 17 are a plan, a front, and a side elevation of a registering
index, by which means the position of a train at all times may be ascertained.
To effect this, there are two cylinders C*, C**, and round which are rolled
sheets of paper or parchment. The cylender C* is made to revolve a certain
number of times in one hour by means of any ordinary clock-work now in use.
The paper or parchment has on it a number of lines, the space between any
two of these lines indicating a given portion of time. Touching the surface of
this paper or parchment are any number of rods and markers P2, P3, P4, &c.,
which rods and markers P', P3, P4, are made to move across the paper or
parchment by the rising of the rods G, with which they communicate, and by
which they are worked, proceed across the paper as the trains by which they
are worked proceed forward, in the same manner and by similar means as the
rods G rise or proceed upwards as before described, so that as the train
proceeds forward, each marker P2, &c. will describe a line on that paper or
parchment registering its position on the line of railway at all times. The
lines marked across the lines of time on the paper are for the purpose of readily
showing the distance of miles or fractions of miles.
By a simple modification of the afore-named system, trains may be made
to actuate indexes in advance of them, and the means by which this is effected
is as follows: A separate set of index boxes are added to those herein-before
described. The rods G in those separate index boxes which are in advance
of the said train are made, cither by a spring or other equivalent mechanical

page_text: arrangement; to lower instead of rise on the train proceeding forward, so that
a train proceeding forward would allow, say, the ninth index box in front of
it to index to a train also advancing towards the former train, that these said
trains were between eight and nine miles apart, so that as the trains neared
each other the rod G would still become lower, and by the means before
explained warn the driver of the other train's approach. The internal arrange-
ment of these index boxes are similar to those herein-before explained (for
indexing to trains behind the box M over which the train is passing); but
these boxes are worked reversely, (that is to say,) the drum N turns in the
opposite direction shown by the arrow on Figs: 7 and 8, and in so doing cuts
off the electric current in the boxes M in advance of the said train instead of
the back boxes, as heretofore explained. The train on passing over these
boxes will therefore draw up the rod G, by passing a wedge or other suitable
contrivance under the button g* of the rod G, and so in doing will cut off the
current to the index boxes in advance of it, and so lower them each one notch.
The train coming in the opposite direction but on the same line will not be
required to draw up the rod G, but merely to index the height of the rod G.
over which it is passing. We must remark that the paul L, Figs. 7 and 8,.
&c. would in this case be reversed, because the rod G is drawn.up instead of
forced down, as in the boxes M herein-before explained for working the indexes,
at the back of the index box over which the train is passing. It is evident
from this, that if we use another or third set of indexing apparatus's, that both
trains could work their indexes in advance of themselves, and that each train
could thereby index to each other its own relative distance.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and what appears to
us the most convenient manner of carrying it out, we wish it to be understood.
that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details and arrangements we.
have described, as many alterations may be made without in the least affecting
the characteristics of our Invention.
The novelty of our Invention consists in, and we claim,―
Firstly, the application of electro-magnetism to the indexing, by means of a
self-acting apparatus upon any train, for the information of the engine driver,
or person in charge of the same train, the distance between each train and the
next preceding train travelling upon the same line and in the same direction;
and upon each of the two trains travelling upon the same line and in opposite
directions, the distance of such trains from each other, for the information.
of the engine drivers, or persons respectively in charge of the same trains; and
upon an index placed in any railway station or other point on the line, the.

page_text: .
distance that any one train is from such station or point on the line; or upon
a map, plan, or diagram rolled round a revolving cylinder or cylinders; the
speed at which any train is going, and the position upon the line from time
to time.
Secondly, and lastly, we claim the use, configuration, and application of the
several apparatus's herein-before described and ascertained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Horace John Kaye, on behalf of myself
and Percy Burrell, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Third day
of December, in the year of our Lord. One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five.
HORACE KAYE. (L.S.).