Improvements in Street and Station Indicators for Railway Vehicles, and in Mechanism for Operating the same.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Street and Station Indicators for Railway Vehicles,
and in Mechanism for Operating the same.
I, HENRY BURPEE BERRYMAN, of Berryman's Station, Berkeley, County of
Alameda State of California, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to devices or apparatus for use in railway cars to display
for the information of the passengers the names of the streets or stations as they are
approached in the travel of the car along the route; such apparatus for mechanically
indicating the streets or stations to the occupants of the car being commonly known
as Station Indicators, although they are mounted and operated in the moving car.
The improvements contained in and constituting the said invention appertain to
station-indicating apparatus which is operated automatically by or from the move-
ment of the car along the track; and the same consist in certain novel construction
of indicator-box and actuating mechanism, as hereinafter fully described and set
forth, and in certain novel operating mechanism which derives its power and motion
from a continuously-running shaft or axle on the car and is alternately thrown into
and out of engagement with the indicator at given intervals by automatic means to
work the indicator, such intervals of action corresponding with the distances between
the streets or stations.
The nature of my said improvements in these station-indicators for railway-cars,
consists of a rotating drum or skeleton-cylinder formed of circular heads or plates
fast on a central shaft or axle, and having a number of name-bearing cards or
rectangular plates attached by pivots in the circular heads at the end of the longer side
of each card in close order all around the cylinder, leaving the said cards free at the
opposite end or longer side to hang down and swing on the pivots. These name-
bearing cards are of peculiar construction in having the opposite ends or sides turned
over like a head to form grooves for separate and detachable sliding name-plates or
separate cards on which the names or matter to be exhibited can be painted, printed
or otherwise marked instead of being put directly upon the surface of the pivoted
plate. These name-bearing slides being removable from the pivoted plates can be
changed as circumstances require without disturbing the plates. Mechanism for
rotating this cylinder with a step by step movement after each interval of rest consists
of a ratchet-wheel fast on the cylinder axle, a bell-crank-lever loose on said axle
and carrying at the end of one arm a pawl to engage the ratchet wheel, and a vertical
slide-bar loosely attached to the other arm of the lever and connected by a crank
or an eccentric with a rotating shaft forming part of an automatic mechanism
underneath the car.
These parts are inclosed by a suitable case having a sight-opening in the front
through which the matter on each card or plate of the indicator-cylinder is displayed to
view as the card is brought around into line therewith from the back of the case by
the rotative movement of the cylinder. The top edge of this opening forms a stop to
hold back the cards and allow only the outermost or leading card to drop and turn
over into position at each move of the cylinder.
The nature of my said improvements in automatic actuating-mechanism for in-
dicators in railway cars, consist of a continuously-driven shaft deriving motion
during the travel of the car either directly from one of the car-axles, or from an
independent wheel and axle running on the track but not forming part of the running-
gear of the car a second shaft having the operating rod of the indicator connected
with it by an eccentric or equivalent connecting means through which the said rod

page_text: receives reciprocating movement from the rotation of said shaft; a clutch-device by
which said shaft can be coupled to and uncoupled from the continuously driven shaft;
and an automatic clutch-shifting means that is actuated by fixed stops or projections
on the surface of the track.
Such stops are located at suitable intervals of distance apart along the track
agreeing with the points at which the indicator is to be operated, and a clutch-
throwing lever depending in the path of these stops is set to throw the clutch
and couple said shafts together as often as it strikes a stop in the progress of the
car.
In connection with the clutch is an automatic throw-off that disengages one
part from the other and stops the indicator-operating shaft after it has made one
complete turn.
The following description explains the manner in which these parts are constructed
and applied for operation, the accompanying drawings being referred to by figures
and letters:―
Figure 1-represents my invention applied to a street-railway car; Figure 2, is a
side elevation of the parts of the complete indicator and the automatic mechanism in
position, portions of the frame-work of the car and also the indicator-box being
shown in section.
Figure 3, is a top-view of the automatic mechanism:
Figure 4, is a front elevation of the indicator and the actuating shaft:
Figure 5, is an end view of the pawl-and-ratchet-gear that moves the indicator-
cylinder.
Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 are details of the clutch mechanism; figure 7 being a
longitudinal section through figure 6, at the line y y, and figure 9, an end view of
figure 8.
Figure 10, is a view of the pivoted name-bearing plate as it appears from behind
after being dropped.
A indicates the box that incloses the parts of the indicator, B the rotary cylinder,
and C, the plates bearing the names of the stations and other matter to be displayed
to view in the car.
D, is the reciprocating-rod extending from the automatic mechanism beneath the
car up to the indicator inside; and E is the rotary shaft by which this rod is
operated.
F is the continuously-driven shaft, and H, I, is the clutch mechanism that
connects and disconnects the two shafts. ✗, indicates the car-truck and running-
gear, and Y, the fixed stops along the track to operate the clutch-mechanism.
The heads B, of the cylinder are fast on the axle B', one at each end, and the
name-bearing plates C, have pivots CC, at the opposite corners of one longer side
fitting into holes b, in the heads around the rims thereof. The plates are suspended
in close order in this manner between the heads, and are brought around to the front
opening by the movement of the cylinder. As many plates C, are provided as there
are stations to be indicated during the round trip of the car, or from the starting point
to the end of the route and back again, and the same are arranged on the cylinder in
the order that they follow one another.
:
Along the longer sides of the plate C, are grooves (³, formed by turning over the
edges of the plate, and the card (3, is a separate piece cut to slide into these grooves
from one end, and having the name of the station or other matter painted or otherwise
marked on one side. These cards can be removed without disturbing the pivoted
plates, and in addition to the names, they can hold additional matter to be displayed
for the information or instruction of the passengers.
On the axle B¹, is fixed a ratchet-wheel having notches corresponding in number to
the pivoted plates, and on the same shaft is a rocking-lever B³, with two arms, one of
which carries a pawl B engaging the ratchet-wheel, and the other attached to the
upright slide-bar B, by the loose knuckle-joint B³. The bar slides on guide-
pins B', against the end of the case, and the bottom end terminates in a lug or
foot B8

page_text: The top end of the upright rod D, setting against this foot acts to throw up the bar
and operate the pawl-carrying lever.
B, is a spring bearing on the ratchet-wheel to prevent backward movement of
the cylinder.
A hand-wheel B10, on the outside of the case on the end of an upright shaft B¹³,
that is geared into the axle by miter-gears; B13, is provided for the purpose of setting
the cylinder to position at any time.
The rod D, extends through the floor of the car and is attached at the lower end
to a rocking-lever E', on the short shaft or stud E2, the other end of the lever
being a slotted plate fitting over an eccentric E³. The shaft E is supported at ex, e*,
and is provided with telescopic or sliding joint G, also with knuckle-joints G* G*, in
order to let the shaft accommodate itself to the movements of the car-body on the
body-springs and running-gear. These joints are necessary when the part E, of
the shaft is attached to the car-hody and the other part Ex, is carried on the
running-gear, as illustrated in figure 2.
E, is a long-bearing on the truck frame for the part Ex of the shaft, and K is
a support for the opposite end of the frame.
H is the female part of a friction-clutch secured on the end of shaft Ex, and H',
is the male part that is loose on the shaft Ex, and its into the other part H.
H2, are friction shoes of segment shape with springs h³, behind them and fitted
around the male clutch-piece and to press against the inner surface of the surrounding
female part. These friction shoes are held in position by the hub 4, with radial
arms, that set between lugs he, but the shoes are set loosely in place.
The worm-wheel L, on the male clutch engages the worm M, on the shaft F, and
thus this part of the clutch is continuously rotated during the travel of the car; the
shaft F, being either one of the car-wheel axles or the axle of an independent wheel
not a part of the running-gear, but carried along and running on the truck.
I is a lever pivoted at I*, in the frame K, and having both a depending arm I2,
that sets down in close relation to the track and in the path of the fixed projections
or stops Y, on the roadway's surface, and standing-arm with a friction stud and
roller I, bearing against the outside of the female clutch.
rib or collar H7, on the periphery of the clutch with a recess H8, takes the
roller I, and according as this roller sets into the recess or is thrown. out of it and
caused to rest against the circular rib, the clutch H, is locked, or is released and
allowed to turn with the other part H¹.
The coil spring P, applied against the standing arm I throws it into the recess and
locks the clutch after one complete revolution.
These parts and their relative positions are clearly shown in figures 2 and 3, of the
drawings and also in the detail views; the form of the fixed stops Y also being
represented.
Their operation is as follows:-
As often as the depending end of the locking-lever I strikes a projection on the
track, it throws the standing arm out of the recess, H, and the clutch being released
thereby the friction between the two parts is sufficient to turn the shaft E. Rotation
of that shaft then takes place, and through the eccentric and connections it moves
right rod D that in its turn operates the mechanism in the indicator-box
The roller on the end of the lever I rides against the rib H', while the
turning but drops into the recess H8, when that point reaches the roller;
E, makes one revolution and is then arrested and locked by the lever,
next projection in the track is reached and the action is repeated.
nis manner the continuous rotation of the shaft or axle F, is applied to
Ice intermittent rotation of the indicator cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1-The combination of a suitable case of the rotating cylinder having pivoted

page_text: name-bearing plates, the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, upright reciprocating-rod, the
rocking-lever, intermittently-rotating shaft a continuously-driven shaft actuated by
or from the movement of the car and means whereby said shafts are coupled together
at times to operate the indicator, as herein described.
2-In a station-indicator, the name-bearing plate having a removable name-card
and pivots to attach it in position, substantially as described and shown.
3 In a station-indicator, the combination with the cylinder having pivoted name-
bearing plates and mounted for rotation as described, of the ratchet-wheel, rocking-
lever, pawl, slide-bar, and operating-rod having connection with automatic mechanism
beneath the car and adapted to actuate said lever by a vertical movement.
4 The combination and arrangement of the indicator-operating mechanism con-
sisting of the rotary-shaft, a continuously-driven shaft deriving its motion from the
travel of the car along the road, the two-part clutch connecting together said principal
shaft and the shaft to be actuated, and a locking device which is operated by fixed
stops on the roadway to hold said clutch out of action and to release the same and
allow it to operate, substantially as described and shown.
5-Automatic indicator-operating mechanism, comprising a continuously-driven
shaft deriving its motion by or from the movements of the car along the track,
a rotary shaft to receive intermittent movement having connection with an indicator
to be operated at intervals, and a clutch device controlled by a locking device
which is itself actuated by contact with fixed stops or projections on the road-way
on which the car travels and by said stops is caused to bring the clutch into action,
and couple the two shafts together, substantially as described and shown.
6-The combination of the continuously-driven clutch-piece H', having ribs H',
and recess H, the clutch-piece H fast on the shaft to be operated, and the locking
lever 1, having one end set to engage the said rib and recess, and the opposite end
arranged to be moved by stops or projections as described, and the spring to hold
the lever against the clutch, for operation as set forth.
Dated this 13th day of December 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.