IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALLING APPARATUS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Frederick Cooke, of the City of York, in the
County of York, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
SIGNALLING APPARATUS."
Sealed the 16th May 1879, and dated the 22nd November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Frederick Cooke at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1878.
CHARLES FREDERICK COOKE, of the City of York, in the County of York,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALLING APPARATUS."
This Invention refers to improvements in railway signalling apparatus with
special reference to signal wire compensating apparatus, designed to allow auto-
matically for contraction and expansion in the length of the wires arising from
changes in the temperature, and other causes. The improvement being applicable
to the ordinary signal wires and levers now in general use.
My apparatus consists of a standard or standards carrying an axle or spindle
with a slotted arm, in which slot a weight is caused to roll or slide by the
expansion or contraction of the signal wire which is carried around the weight and
attached to the upper portion of the slotted arm, or may be attached to a frame
carrying the weight.
This improved apparatus is intended to be placed in or near the signal cabin, and
is attached to the ordinary lever in the cabin by means of a chain and pulley or
lever fixed on the axle carrying the slotted arm. The apparatus in its normal
position of "danger" stands with the slotted arm carrying the weight fixed at such
an angle, that the weight on the semaphore lever shall be in excess of the weight
in the slotted arm, plus the weight of the semaphore arm itself thus holding the
signal "danger," whilst at the same time the sliding or rolling weight in the
slotted arm maintains the tension on the signal wire.
Upon pulling the lever in the cabin, the weight riding in the slotted arm is
gradually lowered, thus increasing the weight of its pull on the wire, and

page_text: overcoming the weight on the semaphore lever and causing the signal to fall to
"all right."
The compensating arrangement acting in every position of the signal.
My Invention includes an arm fixed on the lever-axle or spindle, and carrying
at the end a swinging lever and pulley weighted to compensate for the expansion
and contraction of the signal wire, which wire is passed over a pulley turning on
the lever-axle or spindle and around the pulley on the weighted lever, and the
end made fast to the arm or elsewhere. The wire may be attached direct to
the lever, or the weight may have a motion parallel to itself. By the alteration of
the position of the arm the weight on the signal wire is increased or decreased,
allowing the semaphore arm to fall to "all right," or raising it to "danger" as
required.
My Invention also includes a lever with double pulley mounted in a swinging
or movable frame, and carried by a standard or standards. The signal wire and
a chain carrying the counterweight are attached to the double pulley in such a
way as to compensate for the expansion and contraction of the wires.
"
The lever when pulled to all right" acts as a brake upon the pulley, preventing
it from revolving, and carrying it and the swinging frame along with it. When
the lever is in its normal position with the semaphore at danger," the double
pulley is free to turn on its axis, allowing the weight to act on the wire as a
compensation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Frederick Cooke in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th May 1879.
CHARLES FREDERICK COOKE, of the City of York, in the County of York,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY SIGNALLING APPARATUS."
This Invention refers to improvements in railway signalling apparatus with
special reference to signal wire compensating apparatus, designed to allow auto-
matically for contraction and expansion in the length of the wires arising from
changes in the temperature and other causes. The improvements being applicable
to the ordinary signal wires, and levers now in general use.
My apparatus is illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, Figures 1 to 10. It
consists of a standard or standards A, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, carrying an axle or
spindle B and a slotted arm C, C, in which slot a weight D, D, is caused to roll or
slide by the expansion or contraction of the signal wire E, which is carried over
pulley G and around the weight D, and attached to the upper portion of the slotted
arm as at F, or may be attached to a frame carrying the weight.
This improved apparatus is intended to be placed in or near the signal cabin, and
it is attached to the ordinary lever in the cabin by means of a chain and pulley or
lever fixed on the axle carrying the slotted arm.
The apparatus in its normal position of "danger," as in Fig. 1, stands with the
slotted arm C carrying the weight D, D, at such an angle, that the weight on the
semaphore lever shall be in excess of the weight in the slotted arm, plus the weight
of the semaphore arm itself, thus holding the signal at "danger," whilst at the same
time the sliding or rolling weight in the slotted arm maintains the tension on the
signal wire.
Upon pulling the lever in the cabin the weight riding in the slotted arm is
gradually lowered, thus increasing the weight of its pull on the wire overcoming
the weight on the semaphore lever, and causing the signal to fall to "all right."
The compensating arrangement acting in every position of the signal.
My
Invention includes an arm A, Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 on the lever axle or spindle B
carrying at the end a swinging lever C and pulley D, weighted to compensate for
the expansion and contraction of the signal wire E, which wire is passed over
pulley D and the end made fast to the arm F direct or through the pulley as
shewn. The wire may be attached direct to the lever C, or the weight may have
a motion parallel to itself. By the alteration of the position of the arm A the
weight on the signal wire is increased or decreased, allowing the semaphore arm
to fall to "all right" or raising it to "danger," as required.
My Invention also includes a lever A, Figs. 8, 9, and 10, with double pulley B
mounted in a swinging or moveable frame C, and carried by a standard or
standards D, D. The signal wire E and a chain F carrying the counterweight G
are attached to the double pulley B in such a way as to compensate for the
expansion and contraction of the wires.
The lever A when pulled to "all right" acts as a brako upon the pulley B,
preventing it from revolving, and carrying it and the swinging frame C along
with it (see Figs. 8 and 9).
When the lever A is in its normal position with the semaphore at "danger," the
double pulley B is free to turn on its axis H, allowing the weight to act on the wire
E as a compensation.
Having now fully described and illustrated my Invention, together with the
manner in which it is proposed to carry the same into practical effect, I wish in
conclusion to say that I claim as my Invention :—
First. The new and special arrangement of moveable slotted arm, rolling or
sliding weight pulley, and counterweight, as in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

page_text: Second. The new and special arrangement of moveable arm, lever pulley, and
weight, as in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Third. The new and special arrangement of brake lever pulley, swinging frame,
and counterweight, as in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, or any modification of such com-
binations.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Frederick Cooke, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
JNO. TEASDALE,
Solv.,
York.
CHARLES FREDERICK COOKE. (L.S.)