IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAIL- WAY SIGNALS, AND IN IMPROVED MEANS OF SIGNALLING BETWEEN PASSENGERS AND GUARDS OF RAILWAY TRAINS
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Stinson Farmer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
August 1864.
I, JOHN STINSON FARMER, of the Firm of Saxby and Farmer, of Canterbury
Road, Kilburn, W., Railway Signal Manufacturers, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAIL-
WAY SIGNALS, AND IN IMPROVED MEANS OF SIGNALLING BETWEEN PASSENGERS AND
GUARDS OF RAILWAY TRAINS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, first, to improved means of constructing the masts or
signal posts of wrought iron, also in constructing wrought-iron signal posts in
such a manner that the iron ladders form part of the structure of the signal posts,
and so constructing the iron signal posts and apparatus that the night-signal
lanterns shall be placed above or about the height on the posts of the semaphore.
arms, so as to be seen at a greater distance than when placed as heretoforé,
when iron posts have been used, low down on the post below the case or
blinkers in which the semaphore arms are enclosed when down. Thus, in
carrying out the first part of my Invention, the wrought-iron ladders properly
braced together form the lower portion of the signal posts, the upper portion
thereof consisting of the blinkers or case containing the semaphore arms, and
the night-signal lanterns are hoisted up outside and clear of the blinkers to a
height equal to or above the semaphore arms, when the same are extended at
right angles to the signal post. Or I may form the wrought-iron signal posts
(with the ladders forming part thereof) tubular, so to allow of the night-

page_text: signal lanterns being hoisted up within the same, sufficient clearance or
passage way being left in the. blinkers to allow of the ascent of the lantern to
and its descent from the upper extremity of the signal post unimpeded by the
semaphore arms in any of the positions which they are caused to assume.
The second part of my Invention relates to means or apparatus for passenger
carriages of railway trains, whereby any passenger can throw out a signal to
the guard, to draw his attention to a danger in the particular carriage, and
apparatus to indicate the compartment of the carriage from which the danger
signal has been thrown out, without the power of the passenger to remove the
signal till withdrawn by the guard. Thus, at the end of each carriage there
may be a series of discs equal in number to that of the compartments of each
carriage, and with a distinctive mark to denote the compartment to which
each disc refers. These discs may be connected to rods traversing the length
of the carriage with a means of disconnection accessible to the passengers
within each compartment, so that upon this being actuated the disc or other
signal at the end of the carriage, and corresponding to the compartment from
which the actuation has taken place, is released from the spring or other means
by which it is retained, and descends from the top of the carriage between
suitable guides or retaining pieces to the foot of the carriage at the side
thereof, and projecting sufficiently far out therefrom to be seen by the guard.
And to enable these signals or discs to be seen at night they may be
illuminated.