IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STATIONS AND RAILWAY TRAINS IN MOTION, AND BETWEEN PASSENGERS, GUARDS, AND ENGINE DRIVER
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Finch Swears, of Regent Street, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS
OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STATIONS AND RAILWAY TRAINS IN MOTION, AND
BETWEEN PASSENGERS, GUARDS, AND ENGINE DRIVER."
Scaled the 4th June 1867, and dated the 5th December 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Finch Swears
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the
5th December 1866.
I, HENRY FINCH SWFARS, of Regent Street, in the County of. Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STATIONS AND RAILWAY TRAINS IN MOTION, AND
BETWEEN PASSENGERS, GUARDS, AND ENGINE DRIVER," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the means or method
of communicating between railway trains (at rest or in motion) and station
termini or junctions; and also between the passengers, guard, and engine
driver; and also in the arrangement and construction of seats in railway and
other carriages.
In order to carry out the first part of this Invention I propose to place
continuously or otherwise along the railway parallel with the rails a rod, bar,
or wire of metal, as copper or iron, separate or in combination with any other
conducting material; these rods, bars, or wires are placed on or hung from
insulated supports, which supports are fixed in the ground or on the sleepers
Price Sd

page_text: Whenever the supported bar or wire reaches a junction or crossing it is
brought gradually to the ground and under the rails; the rod, bar, or wire in
such places to be covered with some insulating material; the height of the
insulating supports of the rod, bar, or wire can be from a few inches to any
height, so as to suit the convenience of the railway; the supported rod, bar, or
wire can be placed on supports between the rails, or on supports on either side
of the rails, one set on the down line and one on the up, or one set for the
two lines; the sets can consist of one or more wires, and can be supported
over the train (if necessary) to form an electrical communication between this
supported rod, bar, or wire and the train (carriage or break van); there is
fixed at the side or end of the carriage a socket in which an arm is attached,
which arm projects from the carriage over the supported rod; or the arm may
be fixed on or over the grease box of the axletree, or any other suitable place.
This arm can be made adjustable, so as to regulate the distance of its pro-
jection. At the end of the arm over the supported rod is an axle; on this
axle are one or more rollers or wheels insulated on the arm, and a connecting
wire brought from them into the carriage; these rollers or wheels trail along
the rod, either above, under, or at the side, and are guided into their position
on the supported rod by two or more projecting arms in form of a V; these
arms are covered, so as not to injure the supported rod when coming in
contact, but the rollers or wheels can be used without these arms. The
wheels may be constructed of any soft or elastic material, so that when on the
supported rod they assume an oblong form, thus covering a greater length of
the rod, and may be covered with any electrical conducting material round
their periphery, either flat wires or in the form of a circular brush; if the
periphery is covered with a non-conducting material it must be pierced with
wire or any other electrical conducting material woven or otherwise mixed
with it; this material can likewise be fastened on each side and round the
periphery of the wheel or roller, either loosely, rigidly, or in an elastic form.
The periphery of the wheel being removed the material forms the periphery;
these wheels can be simply mounted on the axle at the end of the arm
(insulated), and a conducting wire brought from them into the carriage, and
rendered self-adjustable by means of the arm and axle.
Another plan of mounting the wheels at the end of the arm instead of on
the axle consists of a frame supporting the wheels about five inches lower
than the supported rod. When the wheels are off the rod they hang in
bearings on the frame at the end of the arm, but when the wheels run on to
the supported rod they are lifted off their supports or bearings and are then
drawn along the supported rod by a chain or wire, which acts likewise as a

page_text: conductor. When the wheels leave the rod, which they would do at such
parts or places as junctions, they fall again into their bearings; the wheels
can be kept upright when out of their bearings by guides, springs, or by the
V guide arms acting as balance weights. The wheels can have a rotary
motion given them independent of that caused by trailing along the supported
rod, by coming in contact with the rails, wheels, or axle of the train by means
of a shaft or band, or by a fan or screw acted on by the wind, in which case
the wheels need not come in contact with the supported rod, as the covering of
the wheel comes in contact with it; the wheels can rotate in the direction of
the rod or across it. In all cases either the arms supporting the wheels, or
the wheels themselves are insulated, and a wire to conduct the electricity
is brought into the carriage from the insulated part of the arm or wheel.
Another plan in lieu of arranging an axle and wheels at the end of the arm
consists of a brush, brushes, or broom attached to the end of the arm; the
brushes may be composed of any electrical conducting material and are
insulated, and a conducting wire or chain is brought from them into the
carriages; they can be attached to the arm either rigidly or loosely, cf any
shape or form, and adjustable as to their projection; these brushes are trailed
along the supported rod by the motion of the train.
Or another plan consists in placing at the end of the arm over the supported
rod a box with apertures or sockets in the bottom, from which a ball or balls
project; when this box is brought over the rod the ball or balls are lifted
by the rod and run on the top of it, or on axes if desired; if one ball is
used it will require the V guide arms; if two or more are used no guide
arms are required; a conducting wire or chain is brought from the ball
into the carriage.
By another plan the projecting arm from the carriage is brought over the
supported rod, as before described, and at the end of the arm over the rod is
a spring or loose joint, or both combined, covered with any electrical con-
ducting material or materials, or not; they may be of any width, but if
narrow the V guide arms are required, but not so if wide; they are insulated
and trailed or drawn along the surface of the supported rod, and a connecting
wire is brought from them into the carriage.
Another plan for communicating between the supported rod and the
carriages is to attach to the arm a frame (hanging flat a few inches above
the supported rod) of suitable length and width; attached to this frame,
either at the side, end, or all round is a flexible wirework, or compound of
other fabric and wirework, touching the supported rod (and hanging down
like a loose sacking) composed of any electrical conducting material or com-

page_text: bination of materials from which a conducting wire is brought into the
carriage; metallic shot can be laid in the cloth if necessary.
All these different plans can be used separately cr in combination, and any of
the systems for communicating between the supported rod and the carriages,
as described, can be carried on extra wheels running on the rails and attached
to the carriage instead of to the arms, as before described. Thesupported rod
rests on the top of the supports having insulated heads, and is soldered,
pinned, or made to pass through rings fixed on these heads; or a T-shaped
piece of metal may be fixed on the insulated head, and the supported wire
brought to one of the T arms, through which it passes, continued to the next
Thead; or the wire can be laid in grooves or forks on the top of the support,
in which case the train will lift the wire as it passes. Instead of these
supports having insulated heads the rod can be suspended as well as supported
and enclosed in a tube to open and close.
Another modification of the before-mentioned systems consists in fixing a
telegraph wire on the ordinary or other posts along the railway and bringing
it down beside the rails as many times between a station as may be found
necessary, and laid on supports, as before described, to any length necessary,
the train in passing these lengths, being supplied with the apparatus for com-
municating electrically can communicate to the station to which the wire
extends.
.
Another method is to lay a wire insulated on the ground, or exposed on
an insulated support, between which and the train the electrical contact is
effected by a length of loose wire, cord, or other material carried under or at
the side of the carriage and caused to come in contact with the exposed
wire on the top of the supports, or on the ground as the train passes.
Another method is to lay an insulated wire for the up and one for the
down line a few feet from the ground, and when electrical communication is
required between the train and wire the guard or person in charge has a rod
long enough to reach the wire, the end of which he keeps in contact with
the wire while communicating; the rod can have at the end any of the
arrangements before described, and any of these systems can be used
separately.
The object of the second part of this Invention is to afford a means of
attracting the attention of the guard or engine driver by the passengers.
Under the floor, on the roof, or any other convenient part of the carriage, is a
perforated or other box containing a revolving drum, a flat plate, or a series
of chambers exactly like the revolving chambers of a revolving pistol; if the
drum is used detonating signals are to be fixed round the periphery of the

page_text: drum; if the plate is used the detonating signals are to be placed along it;
if the revolving chambers are used detonating charges are to be placed in the
chambers; these drums, plates, or chambers are worked exactly the same as
the chambers of a revolving pistol, and the charges or detonating signals are
fired by being struck by bolts or hammers; the bolts or hammers are con-
nected by means of bolts or rods, or both, with handle inside the carriage,
one against each window, or elsewhere, as most convenient, so that each
time the handle is pulled a signal explodes, and the drum, plate, or chamber
moves a short space, presenting a fresh signal ready for the next pull of the
handle. An indicator band or weight is attached to the box to shew when
signals are exhausted. In order to indicate from which compartment the
signal has been given a fau is released when the handle is pulled; the cord
from the bolt or trigger is carried into the centre of the handle (which the
passenger pulls), and is wound round a spring or held straight in the handle;
when a passenger pulls the handle the cord is pulled out of it, and by means
of a pall and ratchet cannot go back until properly released by a key; thus
after a handle has been pulled it will hang much lower than before. Instead
of a cord in the handle metal can be used, or the slack of the cord which is
broken when the handle is pulled can be tied up, or the handle can be tied or
fixed with bands, which will be broken when the handle is pulled and can
only be replaced by unlocking the handles. A rod or cord can likewise be
carried from the trigger or bolt under or at the side of the carriage, and
fixed to a lever hanging down when in use, so as to come in contact with a
block or other impediment placed on the permanent way and explode a
signal; these blocks or other impediments can be worked by a wire from
junction stations or any other convenient place. In order that the driver
or guard may know if the signal is fired by the block the lever can be double
acting, or two levers used, so that two signals may be fired; when not in use
the levers are disconnected from the bolts or triggers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Finch Swears in the. Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
FINCH SWEARS, of Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Henry Finch Swears, Her special licence that I, the said Henry
Finch Swears, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Henry Finch Swears, my 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 might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STATIONS
AND RAILWAY TRAINS IN MOTION, AND BETWEEN PASSENGERS, GUARDS, AND ENGINE
DRIVER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Finch
Swears, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 I, the said Henry Finch Swears, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My Invention relates to certain improvements in the means or method of
communicating between railway trains (at rest or in motion) and station.
termini or junctions, and also between the passengers, guard, and engine
driver.
In order to carry out this Invention I propose to place continuously or
otherwise along the railway parallel with the rails a rod, bar, or wire of metal,
as copper or iron, separate or in combination with any other conducting
material; these rods, bars, or wires are placed on or hung from insulated
supports, which supports are fixed in the ground or on the sleepers, whenever
the supported bar or wire reaches a junction or crossing it is brought gradually
to the ground and under the rails, the rod, bar, or wire in such places to be
covered with some insulating material; the height of the insulating supports
of the rod, bar, or wire can be from a few inches to any height so as to suit
the convenience of the railway; the supported rod, bar, or wire can be placed
on supports between the rails or on supports on either side of the rails, one
set on the down line and one on the up, or one set for the two lines; the sets
can consist of one or more wires, and can be supported over the train (if

page_text: necessary) to form an electrical communication between this supported red,
bar, or wire, and the train (carriage or break van); there is fixed at the side
or end of the carriage a socket in which an arm is attached, which arm pro-
jects from the carriage over the supported rod, or the arm may be fixed on
or over the grease box of the axletree or any other suitable place. This
arm can be made adjustable so as to regulate the distance of its projection;
at the end of the arm over the supported rod is an axle, on this axle are
one or more rollers or wheels insulated on the arm and a connecting wire
brought from them into the carriage; these rollers or wheels trail along the
rod either above, under, or at the side, and are guided into their position
on the supported rod by two or more projecting arms in form of a V. These
arms are covered so as not to injure the supported rod when coming in con-
tact, but the rollers or wheels can be used without these arms; the wheels
may be constructed of any soft or elastic material so that when on the sup-
ported rod they assume an oblong form, thus covering a greater length of
the rod, and may be covered with any electrical conducting material round
their periphery either flat wires or in the form of a circular brush; if the peri-
phery is covered with a non-conducting material it must be pierced with wire
or any other electrical conducting material woven or otherwise mixed with it;
this material can likewise be fastened on each side and round the periphery
of the wheel or roller, either loosely, rigidly, or in an elastic form; the periphery
of the wheel being removed the material forms the periphery; or these
wheels can be simply mounted on the axle at the end of the arm (insulated);
and a conducting wire brought from them into the carriage and rendered self-
adjustable by means of the arm and axle.
Another plan of mounting the wheels at the end of the arm instead of on
the axle consists of a frame supporting the wheels about five inches lower
than the supported rod. When the wheels are off the rod they hang in
bearings on the frame at the end of the arm, but when the wheels run on to
the supported rod they are lifted off their supports or bearings, and are then
drawn along the supported rod by a chain or wire which acts likewise as a
conductor; when the wheels leave the rod, which they would do at such parts
or places as junctions, they fall again into their bearings; the wheels can be
kept upright when out of their bearings by guides, springs, or by the V guide
arms acting as balance weights. The wheels can have a rotary motion given
them independent of that caused by trailing along the supported rod by
coming in contact with the rails, wheels, or axle of the train by means of a
shaft or band, or by a fan or screw acted on by the wind, in which case the
wheels need not come in contact with the supported rod, as the covering of

page_text: the wheel comes in contact with it; the wheels can rotate in the Urection
of the rod or across it; in all cases either the arms supporting the wheels or
the wheels themselves are insulated, and a wire to conduct the electricity is
brought into the carriage from the insulated part of the arm or wheel.
Another plan in lieu of arranging an axle and wheels at the end of the
arm consists of a brush, brushes, or broom attached to the end of the arm;
the brushes may be composed of any electrical conducting material, and are
insulated, and a conducting wire or chain is brought from them into the
carriages; they can be attached to the arm either rigidly or loosely of any
shape or form,and adjustable as to their projection; these brushes are trailed
along the supported rod by the motion of the train; or another plan consists
in placing at the end of the arm over the supported rod a box with apertures
or sockets in the bottom from which a ball or balls project, when this box
is brought over the rod the ball or balls are lifted by the rod, and run on the
top of it or on axes if desired, if one ball is used it will require the V guide
arms, if two or more are used no guide arms are required, a conducting wire
or chain is brought from the ball into the carriage.
By another plan the projecting arm from the carriage is brought over the
supported rod as before-described, and at the end of the arm over the rod is
a spring or loose joint, or both combined covered with any electrical conducting
material or materials or not; they may be of any width, but if narrow the V
guide arms are required, but not so if wide, they are insulated and trailed
or drawn along the surface of the supported rod, and a connecting wire is
brought from them into the carriage.
Another plan for communicating between the supported rod and the
carriages is to attach to the arm a frame (hanging flat a few inches above the
supported rod) of suitable length and width; attached to this frame either at
the side, end, or all round is a flexible wirework or compound of other fabric
and wirework touching the supported rod (and hanging down like a loose
sacking) composed of any electrical conducting material or combination of
materials from which a conducting wire is brought into the carriage; metallic
shot can be laid in the cloth if necessary.
All these different plans can be used separately or in combination, and any
of the systems for communicating between the supported rod and the carriages
as described can be carried on extra wheels running on the rails and attached
to the carriage instead of to the arms as before described. The supported rod
rests on the top of the supports, having insulated heads, andis soldered, pinned,
or made to pass through rings fixed on these heads; or a T-shaped piece of
metal may be fixed on the insulated head, and the supported wire brought to

page_text: one of the T arms through which it passes, continued to the next T head;
or the wire can be laid in grooves or forks on the top of the support, in
which case the train will lift the wire as it passes.
Instead of these sup-
ports having insulated heads the rod can be suspended as well as supported,
and enclosed in a tube to open and close.
Another modification of the before-mentioned systems consists in fixing a
telegraph wire on the ordinary or other posts along the railway and bringing
it down beside the rails as many times between a station as may be found
necessary, and laid on supports as before described to any length necessary,
the train in passing these lengths being supplied with the apparatus for
communicating electrically can communicate to the station to which the wire
extends.
Another method is to lay a wire insulated on the ground or exposed on an
insulated support between which and the train the electrical contact is
effected by a length of loose wire, cord, or other material carried under or at
the side of the carriage, and caused to come in contact with the exposed
wire on the top of the supports or on the ground as the train passes.
Another method is to lay an insulated wire for the up and one for the
down line a few feet from the ground, and when electrical communication
is required between the train and wire the guard or person in charge has a
rod long enough to reach the wire, the end of which he keeps in contact
with the wire while communicating; the rod can have at the end any of
the arrangements before described, and any of these systems can be used.
separately.
The object of the second part of this Invention is to afford a means of
attracting the attention of the guard or engine driver by the passengers.
Under the floor, on the roof, or any other convenient part of the carriage is
a perforated or other box containing a revolving drum, a flat plate, or a
series of chambers exactly like the revolving chambers of a revolving pistol;
if the drum is used detonating signals are to be fixed round the periphery of
the drum; if the plate is used the detonating signals are to be placed along
it; if the revolving chambers are used detonating charges are to be placed in
the chambers; these drums, plates, or chainbers are worked exactly the same
as the chambers of a revolving pistol, and the charges or detonating signals
are fired by being struck by bolts or hammers; the bolts or hammers are
connected by means of bolts or rods, or both, with handle inside the carriage,
one against each window or elsewhere, as most convenient, so that each time
the handle is pulled a signal explodes and the drum, plate, or chamber moves
a short space, presenting a fresh signal ready for the next pull of the handle;

page_text: an indicator, hand, or weight is attached to the box to shew when signals are
exhausted.
In order to indicate from which compartment the signal has been given
a fan is released when the handle is pulled, the cord from the bolt or trigger
is carried into the centre of the handle (which the passenger pulls) and is
wound round a spring or held straight in the handle; when a passenger pulls
the handle the cord is pulled out of it, and by means of a pall and ratchet
movement cannot go back until properly released by a key; thus after a
handle has been pulled it will hang much lower than before. Instead of a
cord in the handle metal can be used, or the slack of the cord which is
broken when the handle is pulled can be tied up, or the handle can be tied
or fixed with bands which will be broken when the handle is pulled, and can
only be replaced by unlocking the handles. A rod or cord can likewise be
carried from the trigger or bolt under or at the side of the carriage, and fixed
to a lever hanging down when in use so as to come in contact with a block
or other impediment placed on the permanent way and explode a signal;
these blocks or other impediments can be worked by a wire from junction
stations or any other convenient place. In order that the driver or guard
may know if the signal is fired by the block the lever can be double acting, or
two levers used so that two signals may be fired; when not in use the levers
are disconnected from the bolts or triggers.
By the foregoing description my Invention will be completely understood;
it is not necessary to illustrate the various methods described; but I annex a
Drawing in which Fig. 1 represents a short length of railway with an internal
conducting wire a, a, placed between the rails on the insulated supports h, b,
on the sleepers; the supports may be fixed in the ground; c, c, shews the
conducting wire placed outside the rails with a trailing conducting brush d
resting thereon; e is a trailing roller for the internal wire; either of these
systeins may be adopted.
Figs. 2, 3, and 4 shew specimens of non-conducting or insulated heads for
holding the continuous wire, and Fig. 5 shews the box or case, partly in
section, containing the revolving chamber f and bolt g, which being pulled
from the carriage by the cord h permits of its revolution as described.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I would remark that I do not restrict
myself to the precise details I have described, as the same may obviously be
modified without departing from the general principles on which my Invention
is based; but what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein in
part recited Letters Patent are, the means of communicating by the medium

page_text: of electricity between stations and railway trains in motion, and between
passengers, guard, and driver of railway trains, and the application of the
alarm signals, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Finch Swears, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
ALEX. M. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
HENRY FINCH SWEARS. (L.S.)