Improvements in Railway Signals.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
I, WILLIAM BAXTER, of 196, Chapel Road, Hollinwood, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows::
This invention relates to improvements in tailway signals, the object being
to provide signals whereby the signalman can actuate from his box signals
carried by the engine of a train about to enter a station and thus prevent accidents
in foggy weather through the driver not being able to see the signal or other-
wise missing it.
To this end I employ over the track of the train at. the "distant." or "home"
signal or preferably in front thereof two arms adapted to slide jointly laterally
or to be raised and lowered alternately, by the signalman through suitable connec-
tions, such as sliding rods, pulleys and wires.
Upon the engine I employ two differently pitched steam whistles, say one at
or near each side of the chimney.
One of the said whistles indicate "danger" and the other "clear" and each is
provided with a lever adapted to contact with one of the said arms, i.e. that set
in its path by the signalman in the box and thereby turn on steam and cause the
whistle to blow until the steam is turned off again by the engine-driver.
Dated this 6th day of July 1899.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
Improvements in Railway Signals.
I, WILLIAM BAXTER, of 196; Chapel Road, Hollinwood, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, 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:
This invention relates to improvements in railway signals, the object being
to provide means whereby the signalman can actuate from his box signals
carried by the engine of a train about to enter a station and thus prevent accidents
in foggy weather through the driver not being able to see the signal or other-
wise missing it.
'
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood I have caused. to

page_text: be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
Figs. 1 & 2 are respectively a side elevation and a sectional end elevation of
a railway track and engine furnished with my improved signals. Figs. 3, 4, 5 & 6
are detached end views and Fig. 7 a sectional side view of Fig. 6 of modifications
of my invention.
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In carrying out my invention and referring to Figs. 1 & 2, I employ, over the
track of the train at or near the "distant," intermediate or home" signal,
say the "distant" signal a, preferably in front thereof as shown in the drawings,
two arms b, c adapted to be displaced by the signalman in the box and thereby
cause differently pitched sound instruments, say whistles d, e to blow or the like
to sound, one indicating "danger" and the other "clear," which whistles or
the like are carried by the engine, say as in the, present instance fixed in front
of the cab and each operated by a lever and rod & g.
The said arms are so placed and arranged that they are alternately brought into
and out of the path with upper end of the whistles lever situated on the respective
side, by the signalman in the box whilst setting the "distant" signal.
In Figs. 1&2 the said arms are connected to a plate h supported by a beam i
and slid to and fro by a rod k connected by two bell cranks levers 7 & m and
another rod to the rod o by which the "distant" signal a is actuated from the
signal box through the bell crank lever and rod q.
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It is obvious that the rod o need not extend as far as the signal box and that
a portion thereof may be substituted by wires. The bell crank lever p at the
distant" signal is as usually balanced and when applied to the
66 home
signal may be adapted to strike a bell when the signal arm is caused to drop into
position "clear" as shown in full lines Eig. 1.
It will thus be readily understood that when the "distant" signal has been
set at "danger," by the signalman in the box, the arm b has been brought into
the path of the lever f of the whistle which indicates danger" and thus when
the engine arrives in front of the "distant" signal will contact therewith and
cause the said lever to turn on steam and the whistle' will blow until the steam
is turned off again by the driver.
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When the distant signal a has been returned to "clear" by the signalman
in the box, the other arm has been brouglit into the path of the lever of the
whistle indicating "clear" and when contacting therewith, will also turn on
steam and cause the whistle to blow in the same manner as described in respect
of the "danger" whistle.
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It will be obvious that in lieu of two arms b, c, one only may be employed, the
transverse movement of which would however require to be larger so as to be able
of contacting with either of the whistle levers.
In lieu of adapting the said arms b, c to slide transversely, they may be
adapted to be alternately raised or lowered into and out of the path of the said
whistle levers by a three armed lever a, as shown in Fig. 3 or as shown in Fig. 4,
say by means of a toothed wheel s gearing into teeth formed on the said arms b, c,
the said wheel being reciprocated by a lever secured to its axis and connected
to the rod or the said arins may be formed in lever fashion, as shown in Fig. 5
so as to be reciprocated by the rod k on a fulcrum w, or I may employ the said arms
in radial fashion on a shaft suitably oscillated, as shown in Fig. 6.
1
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
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1st. In railway signals, "an arm or arms employed over the track of a train at
or near the "home,' intermediate," or distant" signal in combination with
two different pitched whistles or other sound instruments carried by the engine,
one indicating "danger" and the other "clear" and the said arm or arms being
suitably connected fo the horizontal rod through which the signal man in the

page_text: "
box operates the "home," intermediate" or "distant" signal and thereby
alternately brought in and out of the path of the levers or the like on the engine,
which when contacting therewith, operate the said whistles, all substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. The general construction and combination of parts constituting my im-
provements operating substantially as set forth.
Doted this 5th day of December 1800
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.