A SIGNALIZING APPARATUS FOR CARRIAGES, AND IMPROVED TELEGRAPH OR SIGNAL APPARATUS APPLIC ABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, of Southamp-
ton, Hants, Esquire, for the Invention of "A SIGNALIZING APPARATUS
FOR CARRIAGES, AND IMPROVED TELEGRAPH OR SIGNAL APPARATUS APPLIC
ABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 7th April 1857, and dated the 10th October 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Richard
Norris Palmer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th October 1856.
I, CHRISTOPHER RICHARD NORRIS PALMER, of Southampton, Hants,
Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A
SIGNALIZING APPARATUS FOR CARRIAGES, AND IMPROVED TELEGRAPH OR SIGNAL
APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
I propose to effect cominunication or signals between passengers and con-
ductors or drivers of omnibuses, cabs, and other carriages (such as "call" or
stop" signals) by the following means-Along the roof or body of an
omnibus, inside or out, 1 fix a sufficient length of metallic or vulcan rubber
tube of th to inch inner diameter. One end will be brought close to the
conductor, and into this end. I firmly fix or hang an air-whistle piece (or
other sounding instrument) made of hard vulcanized india-rubber or metal,
or other durable material. I improve the ordinary air whistle in use, and
16
Pic 8d1

page_text: increase their power and suitableness for the purposes required, by using a
smaller air passage in the whistle, and giving a serrated or saw-like edge,
against which the air is driven, and by fixing the whistle piece in the
centre of a concave or bell-shaped sound reflector, thus increasing and
directing the sound, and also keeping off rain, dust, and dirt from the
whistle. To the further end of the tube inside the omnibus I strongly attach
or hang a small ball or air holder made or moulded wholly of vulcanized
india-rubber (capable of containing about 2 to 4 cubic inches of atmospheric
air) perfectly air-tight, and without vent or bellows valve of any kind. Into
the centre and other convenient parts of this tube, where required, I insert
one or more similar branch tubes of vulcanized india-rubber about one to six
inches in length hanging from roof or sides of the omnibus, and to the end of
each branch tube I firmly attach a similar vulcan,rubber ball or air holder.
Each of these elastic balls will hang within manual reach of the passengers,
and by quick compression of either ball between the thumb&fingers, one, two,
or more distinct whistle or sound signals may be instantly effected by any
passenger, as shewn in the sketch at the foot [one signal may "call" the
conductor, two might indicate "stop."] I effect duplicate or double-action
signals passengers to conductor and driver simultaneously by inserting
whistle pieces and reflectors (or sounding instruments) of opposite tone, if
required, into both ends of the telegraph tube, and increasing, the size of
these air holders according to the additional power or volume of air
required. Passengers may (if safft) signal the conductor and driver or both
simultaneously from one point only by compression of a single ball in con-
nexion with one or two whistle pieces or bells, as required.
I enable conductor to signal driver to "stop
" or " go on," &c. by means
of a tube of from to inch diameter running along the roof or body of
the omnibus, and having my whistle or bell apparatus at one end close to
the driver, and one of the said vulcan balls or air holders (or a mouth
biow-piece connected with the metal tube by a short length of vulcan rubber
tubing) at the other end; or, in lieu of vulcan balls, I propose to use air-
tight vessels without bellows, valve, or vent, and of equal cubic contents.
These vessels will be kept extented by a circular spiral spring, oil pointed,
fixed inside, so that after each signal or compression by hand or mechanical
means the vessel instantly resumes its original shape and dimensions, similar
to the elastic reaction of the vulcan balls, & being a valuable improvement
on the piston and cylinder action. When preferred, I enclose the balls or
elastic vessels in boxes, and fix them to the sides or roof of the.omnibus, and

page_text: obtain compression by the hand, or by rope or bell pull action if fixed to
the roof.
When bell signals required passengers to, conductor, &c., I substitute in
place of air whistles miniature cylinders about 1 & inch diameter, having
dry metal pistons half inch deep working nearly air-tight therein (or a circular
air holder of vulcan rubber or thin air-tight material might work under a
circular piece of sheet metal in lieu of said piston), and I raise and fall these
pistons and work the bell mechanism or alarums attached by the manual or
mechanical compressiom of the vulcan rubber balls or vessels, as described.
Passengers inay by one compression give a bell and a whistle signal simul-
taneously.
By enlarging the vulcan balls or elastic vessels desc", I render applicable
and claim to apply the above improved carriage telegraph apparatus
(generally without using a larger tube than a tinch) to domestic and safety
purposes on steam ships and vessels, also in houses, offices, and buildings,
and using the single or multiform action of my omnibus telegraph, as may be
required. Where the signal sound is not required to be conducted and
delivered at a distant point, I insert the whistle apparatus and reflector
into the vulcan ball itself and dispense with the tube.
My improved bell cylinders for ships, &c. will be constructed of fine-drawn
treblet tube from 1 & to 3 inch diameter,fixed or screwed into a circular piece
of sheet brass or gun metal of 1 inch larger diameter, and into this treblet
tube I turn in true, and almost but not quite air-tight, a light bollow piston
from to inch depth, inade of white or highly polished or electrotyped
metal. Inside or attached to this cylinder I place a cheaper and improved
mechanism made of anti-corrosive metal, and excluded from air & dust, & by
which the bell trigger drops into position after signal by its own weight (also
applicableas animproved mechanical bellsignal apparatus for omnibuses, which
I propose to work by lever or pull action). I purpose working these pistons
and bellmechanisms on board ships, railway trains, factories, & other buildings
by vulcan balls or vessels, before described, also by piston and cylinder (of
treblet tube), having a hot air vent, or air hole drilled thro' the piston rod
to allow escape wheu telegraph not in action, and I work them either on the
condensing or on the exhausting principle as an improved vacuum telegraph.
My connecting joint between railway carriages will be wholly of hard and
soft vulcanized rubber, or anti-corrosive or adhesive material substituted
for the hard rubber.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 9th April 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHRISTOPHER
RICHARD NORRIS PALMER, of Southampton, Hants, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, Her special license that I, the said
Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Mau, an Invention for "A SIGNALIZING APPARATUS FOR CARRIAGES, AND IMPROVED
TELEGRAPH OR SIGNAL APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Christopher Richard Norris
Palmer, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office, within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The improved signalizing apparatus for carriages, and improved tele-
graph or signal apparatus applicable to other purposes," and which forms
the subject of the present Invention, relates; first, to a novel ineans whereby
the passengers of a carriage may act upon an audible signal apparatus for
the purpose of attracting the attention of the conductor or driver; and,
second, to an improved construction of sounding apparatus whereby the
audible signal is produced.

page_text: In carrying out the first part of my Invention, I propose to effect a com-
munication between the passengers in a carriage and the conductor by audible
signal apparatus (placed near the driver or conductor, so as to attract the
attention of the conductors or drivers of omnibuses,cabs, and other carriages),
by placing along the roof or body of the carriage' (say, for example, an
omnibus,) a sufficient length of metallic or vulcanized india-rubber or other
tubing of three-sixteenths to a quarter of an inch inner diameter. One end
will be brought close to the conductor, and into this end I firmly fix or hang
an air-whistle piece made of hard vulcanized india-rubber, or metal, or other
durable material, or in place of this air whistle I make the tube communicate
with a bell sounding apparatus, such as that hereafter described. When
air whistles are to be used for making the audible signals any ordinary air
whistle may be employed, but I prefer to use a whistle such as that here-
after more particularly described, which somewhat resembles the ordinary
air whistles, but it is improved by increasing the power and suitableness for
the purposes required. This is effected by reducing the air passage in the
whistle and making a serrated edge instead of a plain one, against which
the air is driven to make the sound, and I fix the whistle piece in the centre
of a concave or bell-shaped sound reflector, thereby increasing and directing
the sound, and also keeping off rain, dust, and dirt from the whistle. To the
farther end or any convenient part of the tube, which I will call the air tube,
and which I prefer to place along the roof inside or round the body of the
omnibus, I strongly attach or hang a small flexible and elastic ball, or half
ball, or air holder, made or moulded wholly of vulcanized india-rubber
(capable of containing from one and a half to three cubic inches of atmo-
pheric air). This ball or half ball should be air-tight, and without bellows
valve of any kind. Into the centre and other convenient parts of the air
tube, where required, I insert one or more similar branch tubes of metal or
vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable material, of any required length,
hanging from or fixed to the centre or sides of the roof, and to the end of
each branch tube I firmly attach a similar vulcanized rubber ball, half ball,
or air holder. Each of these elastic balls will thus hang or be fixed within
manual reach of the passengers, and by quickly compressing (between the
thumb and fingers or otherwise) either of the air balls, one, two, or more
distinct whistles or sound signals may be instantly effected by any passenger,
as shewn in the accompanying Drawings, (one signal may "call the con-
ductor," two might indicate "stop.")
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of an omnibus with my improved

page_text: means of communication between the passengers and the conductor or driver
adapted thereto.
'
Fig. 2 is a detailed Drawing of one form of the communicating apparatus
upon an enlarged scale. a, a, a, is the long tube, made of metal, gutta percha,
vulcanized india-rubber, or other suitable material, and fixed along the sides
or roof inside the carriage; b, b, b, are short branch pipes, connected with
the pipe a, a, by uiiion joints or otherwise, as shewn in Fig: 2; c,c,c, are the
compressible and elastic balls or half balls, made of vulcanized india-rubber
or other suitable material, adapted to the ends of the tubes b; d is the
audible signal apparatus for attracting the attention of the conductor; and
will be hereafter fully explained. I would observe that either a whistle or
bell signal may be employed to signal or call the conductor, but I believe
that the whistle will be found most convenient, and I prefer to use it for this
purpose. If required, I effect duplicate or. double-action signals, that is,
from the passengers to both conductor and driver simultaneously, by
inserting whistle pieces and magnifiers, or .sounding instruments of opposite
tones, if required, into both ends of the telegraph tube, and.increasing the
size of the air holders or elastic balls or half balls according to the addi-
tional power or volume of air required. Passengers may, therefore, if re-
quired, signal either the conductor or driver, or both simultaneously; from
one point only by compressing a signal ball in connexion with one or two
whistle pieces or bells, as required. The mode of effecting this object will
be understood by reference to Fig. 3, which is a diagram representing the
arrangement of apparatus required for the purpose.
I enable the conductor to signal the driver to "stop or "go on;" &c. by
means of a separate tube, from three-sixteenths to one quarter of an inch in
diameter, running along the roof or body of the omnibus, and having a whistle
or bell apparatus at one end of the tube.close to the driver; and one of the said
vulcanized india-rubber balls, half balls, or air holders at the other end of the
air tube, as shewn at Fig. 4, and also at e, e, in Figures 1; or the signal may
be made by a mouth blow-piece, connected with the metal tube by a short
length of vulcanized rubber tubing; or, in lieu of vulcanized india-rubber balls;
I use one or more small flexible air-tight vessels without bellows; valve, or
vent,and capable of containing the same cubic contents as the balls, viz, one
and a half to three cubic inches of atmospheric air. These vessels will.be
kept extended by a circular spiral spring fixed inside,and oil painted, so that
after each signal or compression by hand or mechanical: means the vessel will
instantly resume.its original shape and dimensions, in a similar manner to the

page_text: elastic reaction of the vulcanized rubber balls. In general I protect the
vulcanized rubber by wholly or partially enclosing these balls, half balls, or
elastic vessels in circular guard plates or cups made of metal or wood; or
in metal boxes. These boxes or cups are fastened by screws to the sides or
roof of the omnibus, and are compressed by the hand, or any mechanical
contrivance, or by means of a lever actuated by a rope, or by a perpendicular
bell-pull action without lever, when one or more of the vulcanized or elastic
vessels be fixed to the roof, inside or out.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 represent: Diagrams of different modes of arranging
the tubes and apparatus, so as to communicate, if required, either with the
conductor or driver alone, or with, both simultaneously. Passengers may, by
one compression of either of the india-rubber balls or air vessels in connection
with the air tube a, Fig. 1, (provided the two signals be adapted thereto,) give
a bell and a whistle signal simultaneously. By enlarging the vulcanized india-
rubber balls or the elastic air vessels above described, I render the above-
described improved carriage telegraph apparatus applicable to domestic and
safety purposes on board steam ships and vessels, or in houses and buildings,
thereby enabling passengers and others to work one and the same distant call
signal (bell or whistle) from one or several parts of a room or cabin. This
application of the Invention may be effected without increasing the size
of the air tube, and all the different parts may be used, as in the omnibus
telegraph, in any of the manners above described.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view upon an enlarged scale of my improved whistle.
e is a short vertical tube, to which the air tube a of Fig. 1 is attached. fis
the whistle, the exit or.air hole of which is serrated, as shewn in the Drawing.
In order to protect the whistle from injury and to increase the sound, l'enclose
it in a bell-shaped reflector g, made of metal, hard rubber, or other suitable
material. This whistle may be placed upwards or downwards, as may be
deemed most convenient, and used with or without any circular screw plate
or flange.
Fig. 11 is an external elevation, and Fig. 12 a transverse vertical section, of
my improved bell-sounding apparatus. h, h, is a cylindrical vessel provided
with a flange, whereby it may be securely fixed in any convenient place; i is a
tubular channel, communicating at one end with the lower part of the vessel/
and at the other end with the air tube a, which passes along the roof round
the sides of the omnibus. A tubular metal piston j (or an air vessel of thin
moulded vulcanized rubber is occasionally substituted) is placed in the
cylindrical vessel h, and whenever a body of air is forced into the vessel h, by

page_text: compressing one of the india-rubber balls or air vessels connected with the air
tube the piston j will be lifted up, or the vulcanized air vessel will be inflated,
and being provided with a pink, the piston or air vessel will be caused to lift
the pendent pin l, which passes through the cover of the vessel h and extends
up into the rectangular chamber m. of the sounding apparatus. This pin is
supported by a bracket m*, and carries a trip lever n mounted loosely on a
pin, so that it may turn easily thereon. When the pin and trip lever'n is
raised by the ascent of the piston j in the vessel h, the upper point of the
lever n comes against the lower end of the bell crank lever o, and by lifting
the same forces back the upper end thereof, as shown by dotted lines in
Fig. 12. To the upper end of the lever o is jointed the horizontal striking
bar p,the end of which passes through the side of the chamber m, and projects
therefrom a considerable distance. It will now be seen that when the trip
lever n in its ascent forces back the bell crank lever o it thereby draws back
the bar p, and by continuing to ascend, the end of the trip lever will pass the
end of the bell-crank lever o, which will thereby be released and allowed to
return to its original position, in which it will be assisted by the spring q
behind it. The horizontal bar p will thereby be projected forward and made
to strike with force against the inner side of the bell r, which is mounted on a
central pin s on the top of the chamber m. When the india-rubber balls or
air vessels connected to the air tube a of Fig. 1 resume their original form,
they will draw the air out of the cylindrical vessel and allow the piston j
Fig. 12, to descend. The pin and trip lever n will then of course descend,
and as the lever n turns on a pin, it will easily pass the end of the crank lever
0. It will be evident that my improved whistle and improved bell-sounding
signals may be employed either in private houses, hotels, public buildings, or
ships with the greatest facility. And in some cases I also work such improved
bell mechanism apparatus and raise and depress the piston working in the
cylinder attached thereto, by using an air condenser or metal cylinder and
piston of requisite size and strength in lieu of the vulcanized air vessels
described. I find it advisable and important to protect the collapsible air
vessels or india-rubber balls from injury, for which purpose I enclose them
either in a cup made of metal or some other hard rigid substance, as shewn in
Figures 2 and 3, or I cover them with a casing provided with a circular guard
plate. The cups or covers and circular guard plates (and also the concave or
bell-shaped sound reflectors) are made, moulded, or stamped by a die in
brass or any other suitable metal, hard vulcanized rubber, gutta percha, glass,
porcelain, china; glazed earthenware, and ornamental woods of all kinds,

page_text: according to the purpose required, and whether they are to be used in ships,
houses, buildings, or for other purposes.
i
Figures 14, 15, 16, and 17, in Sheet II.,represent various forms and
constructions of case for protecting the collapsible air vessels.
"
Fig. 14 represents a collapsible, air vessel, consisting of a half ball of
india-rubber, protected by a casing t, which is screwed down by a flange u.
This casing is provided inside with a circular metal guard. plate v, and also
with side nozzle piece to for screwing into. Tpiece or elbow joint of the long
air tube... f
Fig. 15 is a sectional view of another arrangement, in which the air
vessel is compressed by a plug or piston v. instead of by the circular plate,
shewn in Fig. 14..The.tube communicating with, the signal bell or whistle
enters at one or both sides of the vulcanized rubber air, vessel.
Fig. 16 is another form of-case, constructed upon precisely the same
principle. In this instance, the pipe.communicating with the signal apparatus
enters at the back..:
0
"
1
Fig. 17 represents a collapsible vessel, made of india-rubber, confined in
a guard or box and worked by pressing down the circular plate at the top.
Fig. 18 represents an apparatus where whole vulcanized, rubber s
(generally enamelled) are used, and are partially protected by wood or metal
cups screwed up to roof or sides of omnibuses, or in houses, ships, &c.
The signal tube I prefer. and generally use in omnibuses, houses, and
vessels is made of brass, tin, or composition pipe, of three-sixteenths of an
inch- inner diameter, stained or coloured; and,where the signal balls are
pendent I substitute enamelled vulcanized india-rubber, tubing, of the same
diameter for the metal tubing.
1
:1 L
For enabling the guards of railway, trains to signal drivers, the improved
whistle or bell-sounding apparatus will be fixed on the engine weather board,
and connected with a vulcanized ball, or mouth-piece placed in each guard
van, the communication being effected by one-quarter inch iron tubing fixed
along the floor of the passenger: carriages, the, latter having,double.stout
vulcanized india-rubber tubing between them. The mouth-piece and one foot
of vulcanized-india-rubber tubing, will be so attached to the one-quarter.inch
iron pipe brought up (by,a-branch) into each guard box as to hang down, by
its own weight, thus closing the air passage until raised for use by either.guard.
The joints used for connecting the signal tube between the carriages, as
well as general purposes, of: conducting, liquids, and, fluids, are, shewn in
Figures 19, 20, and 21..
over

page_text: The joint A, shewn in Fig. 19, is constructed of moulded vulcanized india-
rubber, except the projecting centre piece, which is a circular tube.of-hard
vulcanized india rubber, or gutta percha, or other suitable material; 'from
one to two inches long: (according to 'the pressure' or 'resistance required);
one half of this tube is permanently fixed by liquid caoutchouc in the soft
rubber, and the projecting part enters the recess shewn in the 'other half
joint, and unites the parts air-tight. The joint B shewn in Fig. 20, is
similar in all respects, but double, and when united has a double air passage
through the joint. The joint C, Fig. 21, is similar to the joint A, Fig. 19,
but is constructed of ordinary vulcanized india-rubber tubing, not specially
moulded for the purpose required.
Having now described my Invention of "a sigualizing apparatus for
carriages, and improved telegraph'or signal apparatus for other purposes;"
and having explained the means of carrying the same-into effect, I would
observe that I do not mean or intend to claim the exclusive right of sounding
bell signals in omnibuses or carriages except when this object is effected in
'the manner above described; nor do I intend to limit or confine myself to
the use of any particular form or construction of whistle or bell signal' to
be used in carrying out the proposed object of my Invention, although I
'prefer the construction of apparatus shewn and described: In conclusion,
I claim as new in the above described apparatus,
נוי זבל.
First, the use of an air tube in combination with one, two or more
elastic balls, air vessels, or other analogous compressible apparatus, as'above
described, for making audible signals in carriages for the purpose of
arresting the attention of the conductor or driver, or both...
I also claim particularly the use and application for the various purposes
herein-before explained of the collapsible elastic vulcanized rubber balls or
hollow vessels of any other shape..
also claim the use and application (for working audible air signals at a
'distant point from one or more parts or branches of the same air tube)'of
vulcanized india-rubber moulded into balls, half balls, or hollow vessels, in
combination with and confined within an outer guard or covering of 'any
suitable non-elastic material, such as metal, wood, hard vulcanized rubber,
gutta percha, glass, or porcelain, as above described.
Second, I claim the mode shewn and described of constructing 'the' air
whistle.
1
Thirdly; the mode of constructing, arranging, and operating the bell-
sounding apparatus, as above shewn and described, 11

page_text: Lastly, the various contrivances herein shewn and described for connecting
the air tubes together.
In witness whereof, I, the said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Eighth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
CHRIST. R. N. PALMER. (L.S.)