Improvements connected with Signalling on Railways.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Signalling on Railways.
1, DANIEL GRANT, of 5 Hereford Square, South Kensington, Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for object, to signal the position of an engine or train by
operation of mechanism, or electrically, or both, at or about the distant, or other
signal post, between two signalling boxes or stations. As an example, let
A, B, C, D, be four ordinary signal boxes, with subsidiary or distant signal posts
between them, say a, b, c, thus A, a, B, b, C,.c, D, suppose a train passing from A
stops at a from any cause, such as fog, snow, or the like, or failure of engine, the
signal being against the advance of train, a gong or bell on the engine is mechani-
cally sounded, and simultaneously a warning is sent to advance stations electrically,
the usual block existing between A and B, A cannot operate the station departure
or starting signal without. B first releases it, consequently the section between A.
and B is blocked until assistance by signal, or otherwise is given to the driver of
the train which blocks the road.
Again, supposing the train passes the distant danger, or the home danger signal,
when set against his advance and the driver backs the train to await instructions to
proceed, the gong on the engine would be sounded twice and a second electrical
signal would be conveyed to the signal box in advance, or in the rear, or both.
These operations can be carried out by a camber plate being lifted, within the
travel of the engine, by the pull lever of the signal, and for electrical action the
camber plate can have loose pieces in the face for depression and electrical
connection.
1
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Daniel Grant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Signalling on Railways.
I, DANIEL GRANT, of 5 Hereford Square, South Kensington, Middlesex,
Gentleman, 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 has for object, a system for automatically signalling the position
of an engine or train on a railway by operation of mechanism, and electrically from
or about the distant or other signal post, or near thereto..
As an example, let A, B, C, D, be four ordinary signal boxes, with subsidiary or
distant signal posts between them, say, a, b, c, thus A, a, B, b, C, c, D, now suppose
a train passing from A stops at a from any cause, such as fog, snow, or the like, or
failure of engine. The signal being against the advance of train, a gong or bell on
the engine is mechanically or electrically sounded and simultaneously a warning is
sent to advance stations electrically. A cannot operate the station departure, or
starting signal without B first releases it, as with the existing block system, conse-
quently the section between A and B is blocked until assistance by signal, or other-
wise is given to the driver of the train which blocks the road.
Again, supposing the train passes the distant danger, or the home danger signal,
when set against his advance and the driver backs the train to await instructions to

page_text: proceed, the gong on the engine would be sounded twice, and a second electrical
signal would be.conveyed to the signal box in advance, or in the rear, or both.
These operations are carried out by the shifting of a camber plate to a position
within the travel of the engine by the pull lever of the signal. The camber plate.
has two loose pieces in the face for depression, one to make electrical connection
and one for breaking the connection.
My invention will be understood by referring to the annexed.drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective elevation of a portion of a railway.
Figure 2 a plan of camber with depression and electrical contact plates in the face.
Figure 3 a part sectional elevation of the camber and its appurtenances.
Figure 4 shows a roller and gong appliance to be affixed on an engine.
Referring to Figure IA is a signal box with distant signalling post B and
semaphore arm C. D is a camber plate in connection with the pull rod E of the
hand lever in the signal box A to pull the semaphore C down to "line.clear," or to
"caution" as desired, this also moves the camber plate D away from the rail F
next it.
When the semaphore C rises to "danger" which it does when the handle lever
in the signal box is released, the camber D moves close to the rail within the travel
of a roller II on an engine, which roller rides over the camber, and causes the rod I
to rise in the guide plates J, K, and sound a gong L on the engine, or to open the
whistle to draw the driver's attention that the semaphore C is against him.
The camber plate D is by rods G, G, bell cranks G¹, G', and a link G³ connected
to the pull rod E.
M, N, are two studs in apertures of the camber face, and these are jointed to the
beam P on the pivot Q. The studs M, N, are within sockets R, S, one of which S
can, when the camber is moved, come between the tongues a, b, and complete
electric circnit through an electrical conducting wire T attached, so that the stud
M when depressed' makes contact with the indicator in the distant signal box, and
also in the signal box in advance showing that the engine is passing that part of
the line. The roller H next depresses the stud N, and this through the beam P
raises stud M and breaks contact with wire T.
Instead of the camber being connected with the semaphore rod E, it with its
studs M, N, aud electric conductor may be fixed at any desired part of the line
next the rail.
The gong or whistle appliances on the engine can, if desired, be lowered by the
lever U, which at other times can be kept up by a bolt, pin, or other device.
As before stated, my invention is only necessitated during foggy, hazy, and
Bnowy weather when the signal lights are not clearly visible to the driver or guard
of a passing train.
Should the driver overshoot.the signal and desire to return, the roller H would
again ride on the camber but in the reverse direction, the stud N already down in
its socket would not be affected but the stud M would as the roller H rode over it,
and its depression would re-establish electrical contact with the signal boxes as a
notification to the signalmen that the engine has been run back.
The invention is applicable to main lines, branch lines, loop lines, sidings, and
other parts of railways, and can be fixed and used with existing plant, whether on
the block, or free systems.
On the right hand side of Figure 1, I show a long distance between A and B as
on main lines but the same arrangement of mechanism can be fitted where the
stations are comparatively close together as in town or suburban lines as indicated
on the left hand side of same figure.
If the stud N be heavier than M an automatic release of M can take place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 'I
olaim is :-
1. In railway signalling apparatus, the arrangement of appliances and their

page_text: combination, substantially as shown by the annexed drawings for the purpose or
purposes hereinbefore described:
2. Providing, a moveable camber plate used for engine signalling purposes with
two depressable studs for electrical make and break signalling to distant places on
railways and arranged substantially as shown by the annexed drawings.
TL71001
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166; Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Daniel Grant..