Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling on Railways.
I, JOHN GILL of Windmill Yard, Wakefield in the County of York, Brass
and Iron Founder, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to construct apparatus for signalling on railways,
and not only may it be used in the place of the ordinary semiphore arrangement
but also for fog signalling, dispensing with the use of explosives which are not only
an expensive item to the railway companies, but also a nuisance to the public
generally.
In the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a front elevation, Fig. 3 a front elevation of
parts of the same and Fig. 4 shews the arrangement of inclines for actuating the
same.
In the drawings I have shewn my signalling apparatus applied to the front of
the fire-box of a locomotive, in which A is the fire-box, in front of which are fitted
in suitable bearings B, the vertical bars or rods C.
On the bars or rods C are provided flat painted plates D. E and F, or with other
distinctive marks thereon, each plate representing the different signals, as for
instance D may represent the distant signal, E an intermediate signal and F stop.
By the raising of one or all of these signal plates D. E. F. the driver will be
able to know exactly his duty these giving him the required cautions.
In order to operate the aforesaid signalling plates I provide the adjustable
inclines which are moved up or down by the signalman through the medium of
cams H.
Each signalling plate is provided with a moveable incline G which may be operated
in the same or similar manner to the ordinary semiphores, and placed between or
outside the rails.
As each bar or rod C is raised to its signalling position it is retained in that
position until relieved, by means of a spring catch K which on each signal being
raised the catch K shoots into the slot L in the continuation of the bars C.
The operations of lifting the bars are effected by means of the adjustable inclines
acting upon the wheels M mounted in bearings N at the lower end of the bars or
rods when the locomotive is in motion.
It will be seen that when such locomotive is in motion that the wheels M engage
with their respective inclines and as they proceed upwards on their inclines lift
the signals D. E and F to their signalling positions, and in order to allow the
plates to drop when a continuation of the signalling is not required I employ the
wheel mounted on the free end of the lever P. This wheel is raised by another
incline R similar to the herein-before mentioned whereby the fork levers S mounted
on the same shaft T as the lever P, moving outwards withdraw the catches from
the slots L relieving the bars or rods C which immediately drop into their zero
positions.
The bracket U supporting the various parts of the apparatus is attached to any
convenient part under the footplate V.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to placing the apparatus in
the positions shewn, as with little modification it may be arranged at right angles
to that shewn in drawing, and operated by inclines placed outside each line
of rails.

page_text: 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 :-
The arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts forming the
apparatus for signalling on railways, substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of Anril 1891
J. W. HARDING,
Agent for the Applicant.