Improvements in Semaphore Signal Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1891-Accepted, 24th Dec. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by Messrs. SIEMENS & HALSKE, of Berlin, in the
German Empire, Electrical Engineers.]
Improvements in Semaphore Signal Apparatus.
We, SIEMENS BROTHERS & Co., LIMITED, of 12 Queen Anne's Gate,
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
.-
This invention relates to an improved construction of semaphore signal apparatus
whereby the semaphore arm is automatically brought from the "line-clear
"danger position by the passing of a train.
29
to the
We will proceed to describe the construction of the apparatus for this purpose
with reference to the accompanying drawing. Figures 1, 2 and 3 shew the
construction of the apparatus for semaphore signals that work in two positions,
namely the horizontal danger position and a raised angular "line-clear" position.
a is the actuating lever, worked by the pulls to this is pivotted at the
carrier lever c having a slot at one end into which takes a pin e on the semaphore
arm F, while at the other end it is connected by a pin f to a rod g connected at its
lower end to the lever . This lever works about a fixed pin and when in the
position shewn at Fig. 1 has its free end locked by the semicircular rotatable cam k
which has fixed to it the armature of an electromagnet m, so that when the
latter is excited by an electric current it holds the cam in the position shewn.
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When the parts are in the position shewn at Fig. 1, the pivot coincides with
the pivot of the lever a and semaphore arm, so that if the lever a be actuated by
the pulls for bringing the arm F into the "line-clear" position as at Fig. 2, the
movement of the actuating lever carries the lever c with it by the pin b, and the
carrier levere which turns on pivot as on a fulcrum, carries arm F with it
by means of slot d and pin e. In this position the arm F exerts a downward
pressure upon the carrier lever, tending to make it turn on pivot b, but this
motion is resisted by the locked lever . If now a train after passing the
semaphore signal acts, for example, on a contact so as to break the circuit of the
electromagnet m, the armature m', being withdrawn by a spring causes the locking
cam k to turn sufficiently to set the lever free, and the carrier lever e thus losing
its support will allow the semaphore arm to descend into the danger position again,
as at Figure 3, carrying the lever with it and bringing the pin e to the outer end
of the slot. By reversing the position of the actuating lever a by means of the
pulls it will by means of pivot bring the carrier lever e back into the
original position at Fig. 1, and will also cause g, to resume their original positions.
Lever after passing cam k will turn this into the locking position by incans of
the spring arm and the circuit of m being automatically closed again after the
passing of the train, the armature m² will be attracted, and the parts will again be
in the condition described with reference to Fig. 1.
In place of the electrically actuated locking device for the lever h, any
mechanically-actuated device worked by a trigger on the line may be employed.
It will be evident that by suitably arranging a counterweight in connection with
the semaphore arm, the above described apparatus could be made to act with the
rrangement wherein the arm assumes a lowered angular position for the "line
clear" signal, and is made by the action of gravity to rise into the horizontal or
danger" position.
Figs. 4 to 6 shew the above described mechanism applied to the well known
afety lever arrangement with double wire pulls of semaphore signals.

page_text: The actuating lever is in this case made in two parts in the known manner so
that on the rupture of one of the pull wires the semaphore arm cannot remain
in the safety position.
Figs. 7 to 11 shew the application of the above described device to semaphore
signals having three positions.
In this case the total movement of the arm is through an angle of 90° instead of
only 45°, in consequence of which the looped lever is replaced by two hooks d¹
and d² open at v¹ and ², out of which the pins and e² pass at the corresponding
positions of the semaphore arm. The action is otherwise precisely the same as
above described, the actuating lever a being also in this case in two parts as in
Figures 4 to 6.
Dated this 4th day of February 1891
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Semaphore Signal Apparatus.
We, SIEMENS BROTHERS & Co., LIMITED, of 12, Queen Anne's Gate,
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved.construction of semaphore signal apparatus
whereby the semaphore arm is automatically brought from the "line clear" to the
danger" position by the passing of a train.
''
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We will proceed to describe the construction of the apparatus for this purpose
with reference to the drawing accompanying our Provisional Specification.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 shew the construction of the apparatus for semaphore signals that
work in two positions, namely the horizontal danger position and a raised angular
"line clear position. a is the actuating lever worked by the pulls ¹²; to this is
pivotted at the carrier jever c, having a slot at one end into which takes a pin e
on the semaphore arm F, while at the other end it is connected by a pin to a
rod g connected at its lower end to the trigger lever h. This lever works about
a fixed pin and when in the position shewn at Fig. 1 has its free end locked by
the semicircular rotatable cam k which has fixed to it the arinature m¹ of an electro
magnet m, so that when the latter is excited by an electric current it holds the
cam in the position shewn.
.
When the parts are in the position shewn at Fig. 1, the pivot coincides with
the pivot of the lever a and semaphore arm, so that if the lever a be actuated by
the pulls for bringing the arm F into the line clear position as at Fig. 2, the
movement of the actuating lever carries the lever e with it by the pin b and the
carrier lever c which turns on pivot as on a fulcrum, carries arm F with it by
means of slot d and pin e. In this position the arm F exerts a downward pressure
upon the carrier lever e_tending to make it turn on pivot 6 but this motion is
resisted by the locked trigger lever h. If now a train after passing the semaphore
signal acts for example, on a contact so as to break the circuit of the electro
magnet m the armature m', being withdrawn by a spring, causes the locking cam k
to turn sufficiently to set the trigger lever h free, and the carrier lever c thus
losing its support will allow the semaphore arm to descend into the danger position
again, as at Fig. 3, carrying the lever c with it and bringing the pin e to the outer
end of the slot. By reversing the position of the actuating lever a by means of
the pulls it will, by means of pivot b, bring the carrier lever e back into the
original position at Fig. 1, and will also cause g to resume their original
positions. Lever after passing cam will turn this into the locking position by
ineans of the spring arm and the circuit of m being automatically closed again

page_text: after the passing of the train, the armature m' will be attracted, and the parts will
again be in the condition described with reference to Fig. 1.
In place of the electrically actuated locking device for the trigger lever hany
known mechanically actuated device worked by a trigger on the line or by hand
gear may be employed.
It will be evident that by suitably arranging a counterweight in connection with
the semaphore arm, the above described apparatus could be made to act with the
arrangement wherein the arm assumes a lowered angular position for the "line
clear signal, and is made by the action of gravity to rise into the horizontal or
danger" position.
CC
The accompanying drawing Fig. 14 shews such an arrangement, the parts abc &c.
all being precisely the same in construction and action as above described, the
only difference being that the semaphore arm F is formed with a tail F' upon which
the carrier lever c acts, instead of upon the arm itself, and this tail being weighted
by weight, or otherwise, so as to overbalance the arın F, so that when the
trigger lever is released by the cam k on the passing of a train, the weighted
tail F', in dropping, will raise the semaphore arm from the "line clear" position
shewn to the horizontal "danger position" in which it is held either by the rod
or by suitable stops on the post.
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Figs. 4 to 6 shew the above described mechanism applied to the well known
safety lever arrangement with double wire pulls, of semaphore signals.
The actuating lever is in this case made in two parts in the known manner, so
that ou the rupture of one of the pull-wires the semaphore arm cannot
remain in the safety position.
Figs. 7 to 11 shew the application of the above described device to semaphore
signals having three positions.
In this case the total movement of the arm is through an angle of 90° instead of
only 45°, in consequence of which the looped lever is replaced by two hooks d
and de, open at and 2, out of which the pins e¹ and 2 pass at the corresponding
positions of the semaphore arm. The action is otherwise precisely the same as
above described, the actuating lever a being also in this case in two parts as in
Figs. 4 to 6.
It will be evident that in all the above described arrangements the electric or
other locking device that controls the cam k may also be worked by hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
In semaphore signal apparatus, the combination with the semaphore arm or arms
and actuating lever, of a double ended carrier lever pivotted to the actuating lever
and connected by a slot and pin to the semaphore arm, the carrier lever being
controlled by a cam and trigger lever, which in their turn are controlled by an
electric or other locking device that is released by a passing train or by hand, the
arrangement being such that when the cam and trigger lever are in the locked
position, they hold the carrier lever so as to support the semaphore arm in the
line clear position, but when the cam and trigger lever are released by a passing
train the carrier lever, losing its support, allows the semaphore arm to move
automatically into the "danger" position, substantially as described.
:5
Dated this 30th day of October 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.