IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING, ON RAILWAY TRAINS
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Edward Gedge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th July 1875.-A communication from abroad by Baptiste Le Bret,
of No. 2, Rue Lécluse, Paris, France.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING, ON
RAILWAY TRAINS," a communication to me from abroad by Baptiste Le
Bret, of No. 2, Rue Lécluse, Paris, France, to be as follows :-
"
This Invention relates to improved safety apparatus for the use of
passengers by railway while the train is in motion.
0
This apparatus is composed, as shown on the accompanying two
Sheets of Drawing, of a horizontal rod F running from end to end of the
carriage on the outside. In the middle of this rod. and above the
carriage is a signal A occupying when not in use a horizontal position in
its box B; at one of the ends of the rod is fixed a catch G which when
the apparatus is at rest keeps the vertical rod C raised, the spiral spring
K pressed against its bearing, and the working rod H away from its
с

page_text: point of contact, the piece or collar with projecting pin O on the axle
acting at the same time as counterweight to the signal A which is
down, the hammer q being at the same time at rest upon the alarm
bell R.
The above mentioned signal is shown in the cross section of railway t
carriage, Sheet I. It is moveable, made preferably of sheet iron, and is
furnished with colored glasses on its two faces, the sides being simply
made of wire gauze or other openwork material. It contains a fusee
or fuse of about 5 inches long by about an inch in diameter; the fuse is
enclosed in a zinc tube to preserve it from damp. It is socketed in the
signal with adjusting screw to hold it at the base, and a spring catch
takes into a friction ring at its top.
In the longitudinal section of the carriage (Sheet II.) the apparatus
is shown in action. It is set in motion by pulling either one or other of
the cords D placed inside the carriage, and of which there are four to
each compartment, the rod F then turns on itself actuated by the
pressure of the lever E, and in rotating releases the catch G', which then
takes the position G"; the signal A rises, opening its box B, which
immediately recloses, the friction cord M tightens and snatches the ring
from the fuse which bursts into flame at the instant that it is caught in
the spring catch L without possibility of being lowered from the inside
of the carriage. The light given by this new fire is so bright that the
train is lit as if by daylight over a surface of about 800 yards, for about
5 or 6 minutes, that is to say, while an express train is running a
distance of 2 or 3 miles. This signal is also very economical as it dispenses:
with the lighting of the lamp, which need only be lit in case of necessity,
this fusee replacing it with great advantage.
The vertical rod C is lowered by the pressure of the spring K, which
seeking to expand pushes the connecting rod H in front of the piece O
of the axle, the pin on which piece at each revolution of the wheel
causes the rod to raise and fall, and the hammer to strike as many
blows as the wheel makes revolutions, that is to say, about 230 a minute
until the complete stoppage of the train.
To restore the apparatus to its original position in repose, it is only
requisite to get on to the top of the carriage, press firmly upon the a
spring catch L, lower the signal A, close the box, and each part of the
apparatus including the pull cord resumes its position at rest; the burnt

page_text: fuse having however been replaced and the catch of the pull cord again
set in the friction ring.
I propose to use a steel alarm bell as giving a sharper sound than
bronze, and one that can be perfectly heard by the occupants of the
carriages.
As will be seen this signal is placed in the middle of the length of the
carriage which permits its being always seen when raised and showing
fire upon its two faces at night..
The guard sees at a glance which of the cords D has been pulled;
there is therefore complete security, absolute, and instantaneous, this
cord being within easy reach of the passengers, and that once raised the
apparatus must work.
On Sheet I. of the Drawings, A indicates signal apparatus in front
view; A¹, side view of same; B, signal box placed above the carriage;
M, friction cord of the fuse; P, P, lid of the box containing the signal;
L, catch spring holding the signal; E, E, levers of the pull cords;
D', pull cord at rest; D", same after having been pulled; F rod running
from end to end.
On Sheet II. of the Drawing, C indicates the vertical rod; G, catch
keeping the rod C raised; G', normal position of catch; G", position
when lowered;.H, working rod with continuous motion; I, J, play of
the rod shown by dotted lines; K, spiral spring actuating the rod C; 0,
piece or collar with pin fixed on the axle; q, q, hammer of steel alarm
bell R, R; S, baggage net.