Improvements in Railway Signals.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 16th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Signals.
PHILIP BENNS Builder 16 Kelvin Road Highbury Park, N. in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
:-
A self acting spring communicator consisting of two iron plates two feet six inches
long by four inches wide, by one and half inch thick, the bottom plate with six or
more holes in, the top plate to be groved on one side to receive the flangers of the
train wheels when passing over it, the top plate will have two knobs underneath
side to press the communicators fixed to the bottom one. The plates will be
connected by two bolts with coil springs on, to keep them about four inches apart
when there is no pressure on them, the communicator to be fixed to the sleepers
close to the left rail in the four-foot way near the distant signal, and fog alarm, the
spring communicator to have two electric wires attached viz. one to the alarm and
one to the signal box in front, instantly warning the signalman of an approaching
train, giving him time to alarm the officials on the (station) if necessary. This
invention is perfect in its action and will stop the existing confusion with the
signalmen and give him double power to stop a train coming into the station should
there be a block.
*7201
Dated this day 11th July
PHILIP BENNS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Signals.
I PHILIP BENNS of 16, Kelvin Road, Highbury Park in the County of
Middlesex Builder 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 provide a simple method of and means for
communication between a locomotive engine carriage or truck or train of carriages
or trucks running on an ordinary line of railway and a signalman or like official
stationed in a signal box or the like at a given point say a railway station or signal
box so that on an engine train or the like passing the point at which by means or
apparatus is fixed, electrical communication is established between that point and
the usual signal box, and at the same time an alarm is sounded (such as a gong
being struck or an explosion caused (by the closing of electrical circuits or by
other means for the purpose of warning the driver of the engine or train on its
passing that point that the signals are at "danger" or against him and thus the
labour and expense of fog signalling may be dispensed with.
In carrying out my invention I support two metallic plates one above the other
in a convenient position longitudinally on the line of railway and preferably between
two of the ordinary sleepers carrying the permanent way and so that the flanges
of the wheels of a passing train or vehicle may impinge upon the upper surface of
the topmost plate.
The two plates are kept normally apart by springs hereafter more particularly
described and are so arranged that when the top plate is depressed by the passage
over it of the flange of (say) an engine wheel certain attachments on its under-
side come in contact with spring controlled push devices closing an electrical circuit
(or circuits) which may communicate a signal to the occupant of a signal box at
some distance away and at the same time give an alarm to the driver of the train in
place of the ordinary fog signal.

page_text: For the purpose of more effectually describing my invention I have attached
to this Specification a sheet of drawings to which I shall hereafter refer and on
which
Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of one rail (with its bearings) of an ordinary
railway line shewing my arrangement (in plan) fixed between two ordinary
sleepers.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, the guide or guard plate being removed.
Figure 3 is a section through a-a (Figures 1 and 2) shewing a means for closing
electrical circuits and
Figure 4 is a section through b-b (Figures 1 and 2) shewing means for keeping
top plate in normal position.
In securing my apparatus in position I may fix by bolting or otherwise a plate or
balk of timber A to the underside of the ends of two sleepers B. B and upon this
may place a second block plate or pad C so as to rest upon the plate A and lie
longitudinally thereon between the two sleepers B. B or a balk or block of timber
in one piece may be cut in place of the two separate timbers A. C. Upon this
block C, I secure by bolts, nuts and the like D. D. my lower metallic plate or
casting E through which are holes for bolts D. D and passages for shafts or
rods F. F. at either end thereof. At or near the centre of this lower plate I form
hollow bosses or cavities G. G within which work spring controlled push devices
or contacts H terminating upwardly in buttons or points J. J and making contact
below with electrical leads or wires when depressed as at K Figure 3 or by like
well known means.
The upper or top plate L is supported alongside the rail M of the permanent
way and nearly on a level therewith normally by means of the ends of the shafts
or rods F. F which are screwed or otherwise secured into it at N. N.
These shafts or rods F. F. pass downwardly through their passages cut in the
timbers in which they are free to rise and fall and are controlled as to their upward
course by plates O. Ó.
Spiral springs P P tend to keep these shafts or rods F F and the plate L which
they support at the normal level. The plate L may be grooved or not alongside
the rail on its upper surface where the flanges of the wheels impinge.
At convenient points on the underside of top plate L and between the shafts or
rods F. F. are bosses or projections Q. Q which when the top plate is depressed
by the passage of a wheel over it impinge on contacts J. J. and so complete
electrical circuit or circuits.
.
These circuits may be used as follows-one may communicate in any well known
manner with the signal man in the nearest signal station or box (or in any desired
place) whilst the other may operate mechanism striking a gong alongside or firing
an explosive or actuate some other means of calling the attention of the driver in
the event of a fog so that the labour of a human fog signaller may be dispensed
with.
A guide plate R may be fixed outside my apparatus to aid in keeping it well in
position and serving as a cover for the purpose of excluding dirt and dust or
the like.
My apparatus may be used if desired for the purpose of depressing one arm of a
crank or other lever arranged so as to ring a bell or sound an alarm mechanically
or it may be used for this purpose in conjunction with an electrical contact or push
so as to communicate at the same time with a signal box or station.
The fog or like alarm may be switched off or on by the signalman at the box
or station in communication with my apparatus or this alarm may be constant.
It will be seen that on the wheel of a railway vehicle passing the point at which
my apparatus is fixed the flange passing over the top plate L depresses the same
and brings the electrical or mechanical communications into contact by means of
the spring controlled devices H or by their equivalents thus sounding a bell or
gong and at same time giving a signal in signal or home box at some distance.
The projections Q. Q may be screwed into the top plate L so as to be adjustable

page_text: or may be cast therewith or thereupon and if found more convenient I may dispense
with one of these projections and use also only one contact device in the bottom
plate which will simultaneously complete the electrical circuit for the gong or
equivalent close at hand and for the bell or other device in the signal box or else-
where or the gong may be actuated by a lever or similar mechanism which will
also, mechanically or by completing an electrical circuit give a signal to the
signalmen or other official on duty.
I may cause my apparatus to work an ordinary semaphore or like signal elec-
trically instead of or as well as making communication with the signalmen or
the like.
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 :-
In railway signalling apparatus a device placed alongside one of the rails,
consisting of a top plate or surface kept normally to or near rail level by springs
and depressed by the passage over it of the flange of a vehicle running on the rail
such plate carrying on its underside means for making electrical or other contact
or for actuating a lever for the purpose of sounding a fog or like alarm and at the
same time communicating with a signal or like station at a distance from said
apparatus the said top plate and means for contact being spring supported from a
lower plate or casting carried on a suitable timber bed secured to the sleepers or
ties or sunk in the ground, such lower plate or casting having upon or within it
spring supported points or their equivalents for completing electrical circuits
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 16th day of February 1893.
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.