IMPROVEMENTS IN THE. MEANS OF INTERCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SEVERAL PARTS OF RAILWAY TRAINS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by James Graham Tatters at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
November 1866.
I, JAMES GRAHAM TATTERS, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE.
MEANS OF INTERCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SEVERAL PARTS OF RAILWAY TRAINS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of certain arrangements of mechanism whereby
great facilities are afforded for communicating and signalling between the
several parts of railway trains, and thus enabling the passengers to obtain
assistance in the event of danger or alarm.
These advantages are obtained in the following manner:-A tube of
iron or any other material adapted for the purpose is attached to the
top. of each carriage by 'means of staples or other suitable contrivances,
such tube being placed parallel to the top of the carriage and extending
the entire length thereof. The tube is constructed of two or more pieces
to admit of the connection of the T pieces herein-after mentioned. In order
to connect the respective carriages of which the train is composed two

page_text: pieces of tube connected together by means of a single moveable joint
are affixed to the ends of the tubes on the tops of the respective carriages,
thus connecting them together. Double moveable joints are provided at the
other ends of the tubes, such joints being so .constructed as to work both ways.
The ends of the jointed pipes are furnished with unions, which are screwed to
the ends of the pipes fixed on the tops of the carriages. The joints by which
the two several parts of the connecting tubes are attached to each other
admit of the approach or recession of the carriages to or from each other
without derangement of the apparatus. A pipe is fixed to the engine, the
same being provided with two taps which are under the controul of the driver,
one of such taps being for the admission of the steam, the other being opened
when it is desired to allow the compressed steam to escape. The said last-
mentioned pipe traverses the side of the tender and terminates at the centre
of the end thereof, where it is connected with the adjacent carriage by means
of one of the before-mentioned coupling tubes, and thus the several carriages
being also connected by similar coupling tubes, a complete communication is
established throughout the train. Over the centre of each compartment of
each carriage, or at any desired part of the train, a T-shaped piece of pipe is
placed, the horizontal portion of the same being connected by means of screws
formed on the ends thereof with and so as to form a portion of the T-shaped
piece of tube (which is reversed in position) is furnished with a steam' whistle
capable of being sounded upon the requisite amount of steam being admitted
to the horizontal tube. The whistle is opened or closed by means of a small
lever, as well understood by persons conversant with mechanical contrivances,
a chain being attached to the end of such lever, which chain passes 'through
a hole in the roof of the carriage into the centre of the compartment over
which it is placed. One of the taps under the controul of the engine driver
having been turned so as to admit the steam to the system of tubes herein-
before described it will be competent to set the steam whistle in action as an
alarm by simply pulling the chain in connection therewith in any of the
compartments, and thereby to attract the notice of the driver and guard.
The apparatus in connection with the guard's carriage may be provided with
one, two, or more whistles of qualities of sound differing from those furnished
to the passengers' carriages, for the purpose of facilitating signalling to the
driver. The lever is so arranged, as will be well understood, as to remain in
the position in which it has been placed by the chain having been pulled and
the whistle consequently opened, and can only be restored to its normal
position from the exterior of the carriage. A tap may be advantageously

page_text: placed at the end of the system of tubes to allow of the escape of water
resulting from the condensation of the steam. The latter evil may be avoided
in cold weather by keeping the tap open and allowing a small quantity of
steam to blow through the tubes, and thus keeping the same warm.