Improvement in Railway Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1394
Complete Specification Left, 6th May, 1895-Accepted, 22nd June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Railway Signalling Apparatus.
RICHARD GASCOIGNE 84 Sandy Lane Worksop Nottinghamshire Miner.
I RICHARD GASCOIGNE do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Divided into three principle sections numbered 1. 2. 3. Section one. Consisting
frame; lever plate or carriage and a lever with weight attached.
The lever plate
secured to frame, a lever resting on a pin, which passes through a raised portion of
the lever plate or carriage A chain or wire attached to the ordinary signal wire,
or a seperate wire from the signal box. The second section, consisting of two
swivels each formning three seperate connections. The two main connections, being
secured to the lever named in section one. The other four connections passing to
section, three beneath the bottom plate. The two swivels moving in contrary
direction to each other.
The third section, being the chief part of the invention is the most complicated.
Consisting of frame, feet, two plates, four guide rods, with attachments secure
rigidity, two catches resting on two uprights an upright cylinder with moveable
cylinder seven springs of two classes, pressure foot and bar, pulleys which are
beueath the bottom plate.
The feet, fast to the frame, the lower plate, secured fast to the feet, in the most
convenient position.
The four guide rods, screwed fast to the bottom plate, in upright position, each
one of the rods, encircled with a spring.
The upper plate, moving up and down, with the springs, at the will of the
signalman, or when the weight of the train passing over, in which case it cannot
rise until released by the signalman.
An upright cylinder, in which is enclosed a spring, covered by another cylinder,
moving up and down, held in position by the upright cylinder.
Resting on the arms of the moveable cylinder is a catch, which will ring a large,
gong, or fire a revolver, which may contain, any number of chambers, that
operation is made by weight of the train, passing over, but at the will of the
signalman, the weight of the train will not take effect.
The two catches resting on two uprights, held in position by chains, and springs,
to hold down the upper plate, when required to.
The pressure foot rests on the upper plate. A pressure bar screwed in the centre
of the pressure foot, extending through the centre of the rail, with round surface
smooth, the pressure tip, appearing above the surface of the rail from to inch,
the pressure bar is of an inch in thickness round.
The motion described above is at the will of the signalman, who can lower the
tip, to the level of the, when the train passing over, will give no sound. But when
at danger, the tip being above rail level, then a train passing over, will fire off a
revolver, or ring a gong, whichever placed for that purpose.
4th of August 1894.
RICHARD GASCOIGNE,
84, Sandy Lane, Worksop, Notts.

page_text: Improvement in Railway Signalling Apparatus.
I, RICHARD GASCOIGNE of 84 Sandy Lane Worksop, in the County of
Nottingham, Miner, 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 relates to railway signalling apparatus, and consists of improve-
ments in the mechanism employed whereby a train passing over the rails above it,
causes a fog signal to explode or sound, and simultaneously rings a bell or gong in
a signal box situate at any convenient distance; and the mechanism is so arranged
and combined that the whole is completely under the control of a person located in
this box.
The apparatus is divided into three principal parts or sections as follows:-
1. The lever section by means of which the signalman operates the devices and
which consists of a lever plate, a carriage, a frame, and a lever with weight
attached.
2. The swivel section, by means of which the chains or wires from the lever are
connected to the frame which carries the pressure bar. This section consists simply
of two swivels.
3. The main section which carries the pressure bar, and which comprises a frame,
feet, two plates, four guide rods, two catches resting on two uprights, two vertical
concentric cylinders, one sliding outside the other, springs of different classes,
pressure foot and bar, and guide pulleys.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a plan, and
Fig. 2 a side elevation (part section) of an apparatus according to my invention.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same.
The third, or most important section of the apparatus is placed at any chosen spot
underneath one of the rails over which the train passes, and this rail is pierced
vertically so that a pressure bar A can slide freely up and down in it. The head
or upper end a of this pressure bar normally projects through and stands about of
an inch above the upper surface of the rail, in such manner that the front wheel of
a train passing over, depresses it to a level with such upper surface. The pressure
bar at its lower end is attached to a pressure foot A' which fits in, and is attached
to a ring b formed on the upper surface of an upper plate or crosshead B.
This
latter is supported by four springs C, each one of which encircles one of the four
guides c, formed in such manner with guide rods e, that they allow the upper
plate B to move freely in a vertical direction, but prevent any horizontal movement
taking place. The guide rods c¹ are attached to the upper plate by nuts and
bolts c. The guides c and the springs C. rest upon the lower plate D, which is
supported by two feet ; and under normal conditions, when the apparatus is in a
suitable position ready for a train to pass, the four springs force the upper plate,
ring, pressure foot, and bar upwards to such an extent, that the upper end a of the
pressure bar projects above the surface of the rail. An upright bar 6¹ is attached
to the upper plate B, and passes loosely down through the lower plate D. Firmly
attached to the upper surface of the lower plate D, is a cylinder E outside which
fits loosely, (so as to slide freely), a second cylinder E', and inside and between
these is inserted a spring e, which normally forces the upper cylinder E' upwards.
To the top of the cylinder E are fixed two cheeks e', and through these is passed a
pin e, which forms a pivot for a lever F.
A vertical bar e is attached to the cylinder E', and passes (inside the helix of
the spring, down through the lower plate D.

page_text: The lever F is pivoted on the pine and has a nearly vertical part, with a
number of holes f', pierced through it; and a point f, of the form shewn in Fig. 2.
Into one or other of these holes, is hooked one end of a rod or wire f, the length
of which can be accurately adjusted by ineans of the sleeve f, which screws over
the other end of the rod, and also over one end of a rod ; and by reason of
these ends being screwed one right and the other left handed the turning of the
sleeve alters the length of the double rod or wire. The other end of the
rod fis hooked or otherwise attached to one of a number of holes g, in a bent
lever G. which is pivoted at g' to the upper end of an upright . The bent arm of
this lever has a weight attached to it in such manner, that it causes the lower
end of the lever to pull the rod ³, f, and the arm of the lever F, as far as
suffices to keep the point 2, of the lever F, normally in contact with the under side
of the upper plate B. The shape of the point 2 is such that the movement of the
lever F first of all takes up any slackness of the parts and then operates the wire
which fires a revolver H. In one of the holes g in the lever G is hooked or other-
wise fastened, one end of a rod or wire h the other end of which is attached either
to the trigger of the revolver H as shewn, or to any device suitable for the purpose
of exploding a detonator, or sounding a loud gong; and the same movement of the
lever G which fires the revolver, by means of a wire or other connection attached
to the lever, rings a bell situate in the signal cabin or other suitable position within
the hearing of the signalman in charge.
Rigidly attached to the lower plate D, are two uprights I, and in the upper part
of each of these is formed a groove in which slides a block the point of which
when pushed forward by a spring forms a catch which engages with the upper
plate B, and retains it in its lowest position, or that which it assumes when the first
wheel of a train passes over it.
The operation of the before-mentioned devices are as follows: The pressure
bar A being in its highest position, and the head a projecting slightly above the
upper surface of the rail, as soon as the first wheel of the train reaches this, it
depresses it, and with it the pressure foot A', and upper plate B, slightly
compressing each of the helical springs C, and thrusting the guide rods into the
guides c.
The upper plate B at the same time presses upon the point of the lever F, and
slightly rocking this upon its pivot e causes the arm to move, and pull the rod
or wire, which moves the lever G upon its pivot g', and slightly raises the
weight g³.
The movement of the lever G pulls the wire h, and the trigger of the revolver H,
far enough to fire a cartridge placed in the latter; and simultaneously pulls the
wire or chain and rings a bell in or near the signal cabin. The depression of the
upper plate B allows of the two points, of the catches being pushed forward by
the springs, and thus the upper plate B, the pressure foot A and the bar A, are
retained in their lowest position.
The apparatus by means of which the signalman is enabled to control and actuate
(from a distance) the whole of the parts is as follows.
I is a stand or frame, to which is pivoted at the point la principal lever L, upon
a bent arm of which, is fixed a weight 1, and the lever has a number of holes l'
formed in it both above and below the pivot . To the lower end of this lever is
attached one end of a wire l, the other end of which runs to the signal box and by
means of which the apparatus is operated, either by the motion of the same lever
which operates the ordinary semaphore signal, or independently thereof. 1 is a
shackle or link attached to the lever L above the pivot; and to which is attached one
end of a chain or wire O, the other end of which is fastened to the swivel M. To the
other end of M are attached two other chains or wires; P, which passing over a
pulley p, pulls down the upper plate B by means of the vertical bar or link b';
and which passing over a pulley g pulls down the cylinder E and lever F, by
means of the vertical bar or link e. The sigualman cau thus at pleasure pull down
the upper plate and pressure bar to a level with the surface of the rail, in which

page_text: case a passing train cannot operate the mechanism; and to avoid the operation of
the lever F and the firing of the revolver by this depression of the upper plate B,
the cylinder E' and lever F is simultaneously, and by the same movement,
depressed, so as to retain the same relative position to the upper plate. The upper
plate when once pulled down is retained in its lowest position by the catches i, as
Lereinbefore descrihed, and the act of the signalman in pulling the lever L, permits
of these catches coming into operation as follows:-
Bolted or otherwise firmly attached to the lever L at a point below the pivot l¹
is a bracket, having a slot 18, in which slides freely a roller and pin 1º, from which
depends a weight; and to a shackle forming part of this pin is attached a chain
or wire, R, which connects it with the swivel N. To the other end of the swivel N,
tvo chains or wires S are attached, which running over pulleys s and s¹, are
fastened to eyes which from part of the blocks or catches i; and the same move-
ment of the lever L which pulls down the upper plate B, slackens the wires R and S,
and allows the springs to force the catches forward and retain the upper plate B
in its lowest position. Conversely when the lever L moves in an opposite direction,
so as to slack the wire O, and allow the upper plate B to rise, the same movement
tightens the wires R and S, and retracts the catches sufficiently to allow the
upper plate B to ascend.
In order that the parts controlled by the movement of the wires O and R,
P, Q, and S, may operate together in the most efficient manner, I so arrange the
lever L, the slotted bracket, and the pin l, that the slot, has, in the two positions
of the lever L, different inclinations; so that the gravitation of the weighted pin 1º,
to either end of the slot 18, moves the swivel N, and the chains or wires R, S, and T,
in such manner as to ensure the efficient working of the apparatus, by means of the
following mechanism:
-
To one of the wires S is attached a branch wire T which is fastened to one end
of a horizontal lever t, the other end of which is connected to a weighted lever t
and rod, and the rod t² is attached to one extremity of a cam V, which is pivoted,
and formed with an inclined surface or surfaces, in such manner that when moved
in one direction by the chains it frees the vertical bar e and allows it to move
upward, but when moved to the other extremity by the action of the weighted
lever, it retains the vertical bar e³ in its lowest position.
The point of the lever F is touched by the upper plate at two places, one being
the extreme point, and the other as near the pivot e² as is possible. By this
arrangement the first movement of the lever takes up any slackness of the wire or
chains, and then operates the revolver and bell in the most efficient manner,
This apparatus may be used independently of fog signalling, for the purpose of
ringing a bell in the signal bex, upon a train passing a given point in a tunnel or
upon a branch line.
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. A railway signalling apparatus, consisting essentially of a pressure bar
arranged so as to be depressed by the wheel of a passing train, an upper plate
rigidly attached to such pressure bar, and which is normally forced upward by
means of four springs interposed between the upper and a lower plate, a lever
moved by the descent of the upper plate, and by means of which a revolver is fired
or a detonator exploded, and means for operating the same from a distance,
substantially as described and shewn.
2. In apparatus for signalling on railways, the combination of a pressure bar or
its equivalent, upper and lower plates with four interposed springs and guides, a
lever, the movement of which produced by the descent of the upper plate fires a
revolver, explodes a detonator, or sounds a gong, the concentric cylinders with
enclosed springs, and vertical bar for pulling down the upper cylinder and the lever
simultaneously with the upper plate, catches for retaining the upper plate in its

page_text: lower position, a cam for retaining the lever and its supports in their lowest
positions, and the lever, chains and guide pulleys for operating the same,
substantially as shewn and described.
3. In apparatus for signalling on railways the combination of the weighted
lever L, the slotted bracket and its dependent weight, the weighted lever G,
the rod, f, the wire h, the wires or chains O, R, P, S, and the swivels M and N
substantially as, and for the purpose hereinbefore described and shewn.
4. In combination with the apparatus claimed in the first claiming clause the
swivels M and N, and the weighted levers G and L, with their attached parts,
substantially as described and shewn.
5. In combination with the apparatus herein before claimed the slotted bracket l',
the shackle, and the weighted pin and roller 1, all arranged and operating
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 6th day of Mar 1895
WILLIAM J. MUNDEN,
106, Priory Park Road, Kilburn, London, N.W.,
Agent for the Applicant.