IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY AND OTHER SIGNALLING
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Montague Sims, Assistant Paymaster
in the Royal Navy, and Samuel Hansard Yockney, F.G.S., M.I.C.E.,
of Queen Square, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY AND OTHER SIGNALLING"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Montague Sims
and Samuel Hansard Yockney at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 1st April 1871.
We, FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS, Assistant Paymaster in the Royal
Navy, and SAMUEL HANSARD YOCKNEY, F.G.S., M.I.C.E., of Queen
Square, in the City of Westminster, Oivil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY AND
OTHER SIGNALLING," to be as follows:-
The Invention consists partly of a stationary apparatus, herein-after
called 8, and partly of a moving or travelling apparatus herein-after
called T, the apparatus 8 presenting or offering an arm, limb, member,
or part thereof or appliance attached thereto, to be touched, knocked,

page_text: or struck, and moved by an arm, limb, member, or part of T, or
appliance attached thereto, when and while T is in the act of moving
or travelling near, by, or past S, and T presenting or offering the arm,
limb, member, or part thereof, or appliance attached thereto for the
purpose, and the said arms, limbs, members, or parts or appliances of
S and T being so worked by the striking action as to operate directly
or otherwise, on a signal or signals situato upon the engine or carriage,
conveyance, or moving body, to which T is furnished or applied, or
situate upon the stationary object, of whatever description, to which
S is to be applied or situate upon both the moving object and tho
stationary object.
In performing the Invention it is contemplated to construct S with
a moveable arm or limb attached to and fitted to work, open, and
shut by usual appliances, and when required to project from a post,
bridge, platform, or other fixed object or structure on or near a :
railway, tram, or other way, the arm or limb member being capable
of being moved out of the way when desired, and vice versa, by the
existing and ordinary means and appliances, or otherwise for using
and working signals on railways, trams, or other ways, and the word
stationary as above used is not to be understood as opposed to this:
movement.
And it is contemplated to construct T with, in, or upon locomotive
engines, carriages, and conveyances, and with bars, levers, bolts or
springs working on or at the side or other parts of the chimney or
other parts of the said engine or carriages, the lever or appliance
touching, knocking, or striking, and moving 8 when placed in its way,
and operating on a signal or signals of any convenient description to
be noted by the driver, guard, or other parties, such as moving a disc,
or automatically putting on the brakes, or sounding, striking, letting-off
the ordinary or other steam whistle, gongs, bells, detonators, lights,
electrical apparatus, one or either of which is intended to be effected
by the release of a detent, allowing a weight, spring, or other relieving
gear to turn off or on, act upon, or sound the steam or other valves,
the whistles, discs, gongs, bells, detonators, lights, electrical apparatus,
or other signals. The actual part of S which is to be touched, struck,
knocked, and moved by T, or part thereof is intended in some cases to
be constructed with a hinged yielding or clastic block, spring, or detent,
or equivalent arrangement to give casement and clearance, and thus to

page_text: prevent injury to S or T, or parts thereof, from rapid collision. And it
is further intended by simultaneous automatic action of T upon 8, and
vice versa, to indicate and signal the position and danger of T to signal-
men, distance signals, stations in front and behind T, and to following
and preceding engines, trains, drivers, guards, signal road men, plate-
layers, and others, by repeating signals, either of the same kind as this
Invention or otherwise, by attachment to, acting on, and utilizing and
working separately, in conjunction, or otherwise, with existing systems
of signals of all kinds or their appliances, and by substitution of this
Invention for fog or other signals, or by using it as a distant signal or
as auxilliary to, or in addition to the signals now in use for the further
and better protection of persons and property.
In some cases the striking or impinging parts of S and T are to be
situato at, in, or near to the ground of the rail, tram, or other way,
instead of above, as more particularly though not exclusively con-
templated by the preceding statements. Under these circumstances
wheels, cranks, cams, eccentrics, moveable tongues, switches, bolts,
levers, and other gearing may be conveniently employed, partly as the
impinging parts and partly in connection with them. Also in some
cases the impinging parts are intended to act directly, either with or
without springs or equivalents, on a moveable rod, plunger, tube, piston,
valve, or equivalent contrivance, partly solid or otherwise attached to
or fixed in or on the body or parts of boilers or reservoirs, or steam or
air pipes, chambers, or parts and appliances thereof. The movement
of which by the said impingement or action will cause or convert the
said piston, tube, or valve into a whistle, bell, or signal to be used, if
desired, with simultaneous automatic action on existing signals of all
kinds and brakes of engines, carriages, and conveyances, for railways
and other ways, as aforesaid, or otherwise.
30 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
:
filed by the said Francis Montague Sims and Samuel Hansard
Yockney in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th September
1871.

page_text: HANSARD YOCKNEY, F.G.S., M.I.C.E., of Queen Square, in the City of
Westminster, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Francis Montague Sims and Samuel Hansard
Yockney, Her special licence that we, the said Francis Montague Sims
and Samuel Hansard Yockney, our oxccutors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Francis Montague Sims and Samuel
Hansard Yockney, our 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 RAILWAY AND OTHER SIGNALLING," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Francis Montague Sims and Samuel
Hansard Yockney, our exccutors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of tho 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 we, the said Francis Montague Sims and
Samuel Hansard Yockney, do hereby declare the nature of our said:
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-.
The Invention consists partly of a stationary apparatus herein-after
called 8, and partly of a moving or travelling apparatus hercin-after a
called T, the apparatus S presenting or offering an arm, limb, member,
or part thereof or appliance attached thereto to be touched, knocked, or
struck and moved by an arm, limb, member, or part of T or appliance
attached thereto when and while T is in the act of moving or travelling
near, by, or past S, and T presenting or offering the arm, limb, member, 8
or part thereof, or appliance attached thereto for the purpose, and the
said arms, limbs, members, or parts or appliances of S and T being so
worked by the striking action as to operate directly or otherwise on a
"

page_text: signal or signals situate upon the engine or carriage, conveyance, or
moving body to which T is furnished or applied, or situate upon the
stationary object of whatever description to which 8 is to be applied, or
situate upon both the moving object and the stationary object.
In performing the Invention it is contemplated to construct S'with a
moveable arm or limb attached to and fitted to work, open, and shut
by usual appliances, and when required to project from a post, bridge,
platform, or other fixed object or structure on or near a railway, tram, or
other way, the arm or limb member being capable of being moved out of
the way when desired, and vice versa, by the existing and ordinary
means and appliances or otherwise for using and working signals on
railways, trams, or other ways; and the word stationary as above used is
not to be understood as opposed to this movement.
And it is contemplated to construct T within or upon locomotives,
engines, carriages, and conveyances, and with bars, levers, bolts, or
springs working on or at the side or other parts of the chimney or other
parts of the said engine or carriages, the lever or appliance touching,
knocking, or striking and moving S when placed in its way, and operating
on a signal or signals of any convenient. description to be noted by the
driver, guard, or other parties, such as moving a disc or automatically
putting on the brakes, or sounding, striking, letting off the ordinary or
other steam whistle, gongs, bells, detonators, light electrical apparatus,
one or either of which is intended to be effected by the release of a
detent allowing a weight, spring, or other relieving gear to turn off or
on, act upon, or sound the steam or other valves, the whistles, discs,
gongs, bells, detonators, lights, electrical apparatus, or other signals. The
actual part of S which is to be touched, struck, knocked, and moved by
T or part thereof is intended in some cases to be constructed with a
hinged yielding or elastic block, spring, or detent, or equivalent arrange-
ment to give easement and clearance, and thus to prevent injury to S
or T or parts thereof from rapid collision. And it is further intended by
simultaneous automatic action of T upon S, and vice versa, to indicate
and signal the position and danger of T to signalmen, distance signals,
stations in front and behind T, and to following and preceding engines,
trains, drivers, guards, signal road men, platelayers, and others by
repeating signals, either of the same kind as this Invention or otherwise,
by attachment to, acting on, and utilizing and working separately in
conjunction or otherwise with existing systems of signals of all kinds or

page_text: their appliances, and by substitution of this Invention for fog or other
signals, or by using it as a distant signal, or as auxilliary to or in
addition to the signals now in use for the further and better protection
of persons and property.
'
In some cases the striking or impinging parts of S and T are to be i
situate at, in, or near to the ground of the rail, tram, or other way
instead of above, as more particularly though not exclusively con-
templated by the preceding statements. Under these circumstances
wheels, cranks, cams, eccentrics, moveable tongues,, switches,, bolts,
levers, and other gearing may be conveniently employed, partly as the
impinging parts, and partly in connection with them. Also in some
cases the impinging parts are intended to act directly, either with
or without springs or equivalents, on a moveable rod, plunger, tube,
piston, valve, or equivalent contrivance, partly solid or otherwise,
attached to or fixed in or on the body or parts of boilers, or reservoirs,
or steam or air pipés, chambers, or parts and appliances thereof,
the movement of which by the said impingement or action will cause
or convert the said piston, tube, or valve into a whistle, bell, or
signal to be used, if desired, with simultaneous automatic action on
existing signals of all kinds, and brakes of engines, carriages, and
conveyances for railways and other ways, as aforesaid or otherwise.
"
The accompanying Drawings and diagram sketches with the following
description of them and additional remarks (excepting the claims) are
to be read as illustrative only and not as limiting the mode of performing
the Invention.
Figure 1 is a diagram of stationary post and apparatus S, and
travelling locomotive engine and apparatus T, and which I have shewn
in general illustration of their contact or action upon each other.
Figures 2 and 2ª represent our improved signal showing apparatus
to be fixed to weatherboard of engine to be worked by the contact of
T and S, as above described, and intended to exhibit signals in unison
with ordinary or other signals at a distance away on the railway and
possibly out of sight at the same time that the ordinary or another
whistle or audible signal upon the engine is sounded or made also by
the contact of T and 8, so that the driver on passing any place where S
is erected may have his attention immediately arrested by the sound,
and by looking at the signal on his engine may see repeated thereby
the same-
signals whether of "danger" or of "all right," which are

page_text: "
exhibited at a distance. The said apparatus, Figures 2 and 2ª, consists
of a narrow dark box with slit or opening a in one or both sides glazed
with white glass (for "all right") and enclosing one or more red glasses
or signals a*, a³, (for danger) to be raised when operated upon and
moved to cover or shew against the glass a, the box being also furnished
with a lamp a³ to shew a strong light on whichever signal is exhibited.
The rods a' and a³ are to be acted upon by or from the "put on
"and
"take off” pendulum levers herein-after mentioned for putting on the
danger signal, and releasing same to "all right" respectively. The rod a*
may act with the intervention of a ratchet, so that a second action upon
it may raise the second slide and "put on extreme danger or “train
ahead." This is again herein referred to. Both slides are released by the
rod a³. The stationary apparatus 8 for acting on one or the other of
these levers is to be in communication with the ordinary distant or other
signal, so that it may be worked thereby. The signal (Figures 2 and 24)
and the working parts for moving it may be locked up so as not to
admit of being tampered with nor being moved otherwise than auto-
matically, and may have a counter attached for registering the number
of occasions it has been automatically worked. It is intended to be
acted upon by the intervention of a rod (marked 6 in certain of tho
Figures) lying longitudinally along or against the engine, and this rod
may govern any of the actions to be performed as above named, such as
shutting off steam, sounding gongs, &c., and in particular sounding the
whistle. The ordinary whistle is frequently worked by turning a rod
on its axis and which is in line with the whistle valve or cock. This
rod may carry a small pulley wheel c (see Figure 3) with a chain or line
on same and suspended weight (in some cases working in a tube), so
that by releasing a detent the weight will turn the rod and.cause the
ordinary whistle c* to sound and continue sounding till the detent is
replaced by the driver. Similarly a separate whistle may be worked or
a special whistle c³ constructed as at Figure 4 to which the steam is
turned on by sliding the plug of the valve instead of turning it round,
the plug being in line with the rod b.
Figure 5 shews another special whistle (which may be used), placed
sideways or horizontally instead of vertically, and constructed. with
steam tube passing through a valve or port c, upon the boiler, the
tube having a hole in its side to be brought over the port.c when the
whistle is to be sounded.

page_text: Figure 6 is a modification of the last, the stcam tube c³ in this case
passing direct into side of steam dome or some vertical plate or surface
of or attached to the boiler.
Figure 7 shews another (also special), and this I call a flute whistle. In
this figure c³ is a fixed tube forming also valve seat and steam passage; {
co is a sliding plug or valve, supported partly in the tube c³, and partly
in a second or sliding tube c³, which is to be worked by or from the
rod & above mentioned. It is shewn pushed completely home in the
direction of the arrow No. 1, thus keeping the valve open to sound
the whistle. On pulling the tube c' in the opposite direction (arrow 1
No. 2), the valve will follow by the force of the steam, and the sound
will cease.
Certain openings are shewn in the side of the tube c', and
a tuning slidé or tube c³ for covering one or both of them to be worked
by the handle or otherwise, accordingly as it may be desired to vary the
sound. The end of the tube c is formed with a whistle mouth proper 1
for the purpose.
The striking part of the travelling apparatus T is in duplicate, that is
to say, each side of the engine chimney is furnished with a pendulum
lever for actuating a rod 6, and by it the signals or work that 6 has to
do. One pendulum lever is for "putting on" and the other for "taking 2
off," the danger signal accordingly as the stationary apparatus S is
worked to operate on one or other, but not both (together) of the pen-
dulums. The general idea is conveyed by Figure 1, e, e, being the
pendulums in that figure, details on a larger scale aro shewn in Figures 8
and 9, in which e is the weighted or bottom end of pendulum, and e*, 2
its top end, which is hollow and receives the rod or bar e³, a pin e
connecting them together. This fitting is to assist the quiet or easy
reception of the blow from 8; f is the main fulcrum on which the
pendulum lever swings, situate in or on a casing or standard f*, the
upper part of which has two flaps ƒ³, yielding one in either direction to 3
allow of the vibration of e*. The bottom end e whichever way it
swings gives motion by means of the levers g to the signal rod 6 before
mentioned in the direction of the arrow No. 3, and this rod is intended
to be operative in this direction only, its motion in the opposite direction
being rendered inoperative by means of a sliding stop or some mecha- g
nical equivalent interposed between the rod and work it is required to
do. The upper end e* of the pendulum lever carries a small rolling
cam eccentrically pivotted to assist in the more quietly receiving the

page_text: impact or blow from S, or a hinged piece or spring or other suitable
equivalent may be substituted.
A convenient form of the apparatus S is also represented in Figures 1,
8, and 9, where u represents a horizontal arm projecting from a post u*,
5 the arm being two timbers (with casing over them) between which a
rocking lever is placed worked by cranks and rods as shewn, and which
are supposed to be in communication with a distant or other signal, and
carrying two pendents *, one or other of which will be depressed
accordingly, as the distant or other signal stands at "danger" or "all
O right," one or other pendent v* is thus rendered effective, and the other
non-effective. Both are intended to give the audible signal to the
engine driver but one only to show him the visible danger signal
according to the arrangement of the pendulum levers of the apparatus T.
We prefer to make the pendents v* cam shaped, and to rock or swing on
a pin or axis v³ as shewn, in order to effect the more quiet impact with
the before-mentioned rolling cams h, with which object we further
provide them with metal springs saddling over and bearing laterally
upon them.
We wish it to be understood that instead of the pendulum levers e, e*,
other levers may be arranged to work in a horizontal instead of a vertical
plane, and the impact fittings for the apparatus T and 8 modified as may
be necessary.
The Figures 10 to 13 illustrate a variation of the improvements in
accordance with which we place the striking parts of T in some lower
position on the engine, and those of 8 at or near the ground.
.
Figure 10 is a diagram view of a locomotive engine with a pendulum
lever applied, swinging from the axle of the leading wheels, and situate
between them, and of certain cams mounted on a framework situate
between the rails. The same gentleness of impact which has been
described is also provided for here by the lower end of the pendulum m
being itself cam shaped and of a quasi-elastic character, obtained by
being constructed of an iron band partly filled in with wood; and tho
cams n being arranged in a set or system, and jointed together with
rods, so as to roll smoothly against one another in transmitting motion
by the longer rods to other signals of a similar or of the ordinary
character.

page_text: "
It is to bo understood that as before the apparatus is to be in duplicate,
one part to indicate " danger" put on, and the other the reverse,
accordingly therefore as the distant or other signal with which S is in
communication is placed so will one or the other set of cams act upon
its respective pendulum, and as before the engine driver will be informed b
of "danger or "all right," as the case may be. The cams are re-
presented as in the position for giving a signal to an engine about to
pass them. Figure 11 shews the position they occupy when no signal
is to be given and which also they assume after the engine has passed.
pis a counterbalance weight on one of the cams to assist their action. 1
The other cams may also be weighted and springs may be substituted
for weights. p* is a rod by which the cams are worked from the
distant or other signal. By the rocking of the pendulum caused by
the impact of its lower end against the central cam the upper end is
moved, and by the rods or links shewn leading therefrom the engine
signals may be worked or break power may be put on, or electric or
other communication had with the guard and others. And it is to be
understood that if preferred the pendulums may be mounted on one of
the other axles or upon any convenient part of the framing of the
engine or carriage to which the pendulum is attached. It will bo
convenient to make the cams about four inches wide and the striking
portions of the pendulums about nine inches widẹ.
Figures 12 and 13 correspond with the previous two figures and
represent the wheel of the engine acting as the travelling apparatus T,
and actuating the cams, which are in this instanco mounted on or against
the rail and deflect therewith. In mounting them we pack up the
sides of the rail with plates of sufficient thickness to receive the pins
on which the cams turn, the cams being (conveniently) about three
inches or three and a half inches in width. q denotes a rod for auto-
matically acting upon further signals, whether of the same kind or of
any kind ordinary or otherwise. Also the axes of the cams may bo
continued crossways from a set or system on one rail to a set or system
on the other, or to intermediate sets or systems, and such axes and rods q
in communication with any of these may transmit signals. By such an
arrangement if the engine shewn be stopped it may itself be the means
of warning another following it, and if any engine should be unable to
pull up till it has passed two of our automatic signal stations, and if it

page_text: be fitted with the above described apparatus, Figures 2 and 24, the
warning given may be extreme danger or "train ahead."
It is expressly to be noted that we contemplate employing or fitting
up the guard's van or other carriage (of a train) for receiving signals
automatically in accordance with our Invention, not only indirectly
from the engine but with the apparatus T for receiving signals directly
from S.
:
Also that an arrangement of cams similar to those shewn in Figures 10
to 13 may be interposed at the bottom end of the pendulum lever shown
in Figures 1, 8, and 9, and between it and the signal rod b to assist
the intended gentleness of impact.
Also that if desired check springs or counterweights may be adapted
to the said rod. The drawing Z is appended without additional de-
scription still further to exemplify the Invention.
Finally we claim as of our said Invention the apparatus as defined
at the commencement of this Specification and which (so far) is a copy
of our provisional Specification.
And also we claim as of and for the purposes of our Invention, the
general arrangement and the apparatus herein specially described and
represented in the Drawings as illustrative or in exemplification thereof,
including particularly (as well as other apparatus not particularly
mentioned) the employment of pendulum levers and cams for actuating
signals and obtaining gentleness of impact.
In witness whereof, we, the said Francis Montague Sims and Samuel
Hansard Yockney, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-one.