IMPROVED MEANS FOR THE BETTER PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN RAILWAY TUNNELS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Owen, of 46 & 48, City Road, London,
E.C., in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
MEANS FOR THE BETTER PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN RAILWAY TUNNELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Owen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th September 1872.
I, CHARLES OWEN, of 46 & 48, City Road, London, E.O., in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED MEANS FOR THE BETTER PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN RAILWAY
TUNNELS," to be as follows:-
A line of rails of any given metal is laid down parallel with the line
of rails upon which the train travels, the said secondary rails being
insulated from the earth. At each end of the tunnel is fixed an electric
bell and signal. The said electric bells are connected by means of copper
wire with one of each terminal of the said bells, which copper wire is con-
nected with one pole of a galvanic battery. The two other terminals of
electric bells are connected one with each of the secondary line of rails,
to which is connected the other terminal of galvanic battery, so that

page_text: there is no current of electricity passes until the two lines of rails are
connected, which is effected by means of a strip of copper carrying two
springs fastened at the bottom of the engine, working on the secondary
line of rails, thus completing the circuit of electricity, the bells ring and
signals fall, thus indicating danger.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Owen in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
OWEN; of 46 and 48, City Road, London, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Charles Owen, Her special licence that
I, the said Charles Owen, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Owen, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 "IMPROVED Means for the
BETTER PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN Railway TuNNELS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Charles Owen, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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 Charles Owen, 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.

page_text: At each end of the tunnel is fixed an electric bell, and above each
line of rails a signal. A second line of rails is laid down parallel with
those upon which the train travels, or in lieu thereof the lines of rails
upon which the train travels are for the length of the tunnel disconnected
and insulated from the earth. One terminal of each bell is connected
together by a copper wire with which copper wire is connected one pole
of a voltaic battery. The second terminals of electric bells are connected
with one of the lines of rails, whether second or ordinary, and the second
terminal of battery is connected with the other line of rails whether
second or ordinary, so that no current of electricity passes until metallic
connection is made with the lines of rails, whether second or ordinary,
and this is effected by a metal plate carrying two springs, being attached
to each end of the carriage or engine, and pressing upon the second line
of rails, or if the ordinary lines are used metallic connection is made by
the wheels. By these means the circuit is completed, and the bells ring
and the signals fall, thereby indicating danger.
This Invention is applicable not only for tunnels but for any part
of a line where it is necessary to adopt special precautions to prevent
the risk of one train following too closely another.
CHARLES OWEN. (L.S.)