An Improved Method of Signalling to Trains and Locomotives in Fogs and Snowstorms.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Signalling to Trains and Locomotives in
Fogs and Snowstorms.
ROBERT BURN, 196 Green Lanes, Finsbury Park, London, Gentleman; ALFRED
CHARLES BROWN, 50 Old Broad Street, City of London, Electrician; and LEONARD
GEORGE TATE, 20 Bucklersbury, City of London, Electrical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide an audible system of signalling on
Railways and also a visible system which may be used either together, in
mbination, or separately. They are intended specially for use in Fogs and
Snowstorms, when the ordinary Semaphore Signals are hidden from view.
The first part of the Invention consists in placing at short intervals alongside the
Railway a series of bells, or other pieces of acoustic apparatus, or sounders. These
are connected with an electric battery, or its equivalent, and with contacts operated
by the Signal levers in the Signal cabin, or their connections, by means of an
insulated line wire. These bells or sounders may be caused to give different
sounds or different codes of signals by means of successive groups of beats for up
and down Roads, for Fast and Slow lines and for various roads at junctions. This
is effected by means of a current disintegrating apparatus to be hereafter described.
By these means the engine drivers are always within easy range of hearing one or
more of these electric bells or sounders, and are readily able to distinguish the code
signals which may be similar to those now in use in block signal cabins.
The bells or sounders may be fixed to the Telegraph posts, when convenient, or
to posts specially provided, and may be enclosed in strong boxes to protect them
from the weather, the boxes being preferably open at the bottom, to let out the
sound, or provided with cone or trumpet-shaped openings to project and intensify,
the sound in any required direction. Where trembling-bells are desired we may
make them so that their vibrating armatures act by short circuiting their own
coils, each time they approach their electro-magnets, instead of by breaking the
direct circuit, as usual, by this means a greater number of bells may be rang
together effectually in series. Or one of the bells only may make and break the
circuit and so operate the others through their coils only.
But the bells if made in the ordinary way, may be rung in parallel circuit, an
earth connection will then be required at each bell and it will be desirable to
adjust their resistances according to their respective distances from the battery
in the Signal cabin.
By means of an ordinary telegraph wire we then connect the bells, or sounders,
belonging to a block section," in series (or parallel circuit) with the battery and
with contacts operated by the signal levers controlling the signals on the section of
Line and in unison with which they are to act.
On each Signal lever, or its connections, we preferably arrange two contacts
so as to complete one circuit when the Signal lever is pulled off to give the "Line
or "Go on " Signal; and another when the lever is put on to give the "Line
clear
"

page_text: blocked" or "Stop" Signal. This change of contact is effected by means of a
commutating switch, which, in the first position, connects one pole of the battery
to the current disintegrating apparatus, giving the code for "Line clear," and to
the line wire conveying the current to the series of bells or sounders and then to
the earth; or return to the reverse pole of the battery; and in the second position,
the commutating switch connects a pole of the battery to a different current dis-
integrating apparatus which gives the code for "Line blocked" or "Stop." The
current then runs through the same line wire and series of bells, or sounders, and
back via earth, or return to the reverse pole of the battery, or generator as before.
The bells, or sounders, placed in advance of the Distant Signal, or on any length
of line controlled thereby, would be arranged to give one code of sounds and would
be worked by the Distant-Signal lever, or its connections; whilst the bells, or
sounders, placed between the Distant and the Home-Signal posts, or on any length
of line controlled by the Home-Signal, would give another code of sounds and
would be worked by the Home Signal lever. Or these various Switches and con-
tacts may be arranged to be worked separately by hand, when required, as in the
event of fog or snowstorms or at times of special emergency.'
33
Bells may be used for giving "danger" or "stop" signals and a Telephone
"hooter call," or other alternative sounder, for giving "all right" or "go on
Signals; or vice versa. Single stroke or trembling-bells, or sounders of different
tones, may be used to give various distinctive signals.
The current disintegrating apparatus, mentioned above, may consist of an elec-
trically or mechanically-driven pendulum; or of cams, moved by clockwork or by
an electro-motor, and contact springs acting so as to continually make and break the
direct circuit of the battery, in definite series of intervals; so as to split up the
current into pulses, or beats, of certain distinctive duration and number, in
regularly recurring phases. The object of this provision is to give readily dis-
tinguishable codes of signals to trains on particular lines of rail, where an up and
a down road or where several different roads may run side by side; or when trains
are approaching a junction. It also distinguishes the code signal from any simple;
ringing that might be caused by an accidental contact wih other wires.
A rail contact, or treadle-contact, of any of the ordinary well known forms may
also be included in the electric circuit with the bells in order to prevent unnecessary
ringing, or sounding of the apparatus. By this means it may be arranged that the
circuit shall only be actually completed through those bells which are for the time
being, actually within audible distance of the driver. The same object may be
gained by joining the earth connection from the bells, or certain groups thereof,
to certain insulated portions of the rails, which are bridged across to earth, or
return by the train, in passing.
We do not limit ourselves to the use of electric bells as the sounders nor to a 4
telegraph wire as the means of conveying the controlling force-other sounders may
be used such as whistles, blown by pulses of air sent through tubes from the signal
cabin, or from local reservoirs, through supply pipes controlled by valves operated
electrically, or otherwise fom the signal cabin.
An additional provision for communicating with the engine-driver visually may 4
also be utilised, or may be combined with this acoustic system, when special posts
ane erected near the rails. Electric lamps, colored red and green respectively, and
either open or enclosed in lanterns (which may have reflectors and bulls eyes) may
be fixed at intervals, alongside the line, and may be operated in unison with the
sounders.
5
In places where it may be convenient to use gas-lighted lanterns, instead of
electric lights, we fix two series of these gas lanterns; one with a red bull's eye,
the other with a green bull's eye. Alongside the railway we lay two lengths of
iron gas pipe, one to serve the series of lanterns with red lights, the other to serve
those with green lights. We then connect these pipes to a three-way-gas-cock, 5
capable of being operated by some part of the gear of the signal whose indications
are required to be thus repeated. We connect the cock to the gas main. When

page_text: the signal lever is at the "danger" position, the gas cock is opened to supply the
gas pipe leading to the series of red-lighted lanterns and is closed to the pipe
supplying the green-lighted lanterns. When the signal is pulled off to the "all
right" position the cock is reversed and is now closed to the pipe leading to the
red lighted lanterns and open to the pipe leading to the red lighted lanterns and
open to the pipe leading to the green lighted lanterns. When the main cock is
closed, either to the green or the red lighted lanterns, a bye pass tap allows suffi-
cient gas to pass through to keep the lamps alight, but not sufficient
for them to show a signal. When the weather is clear, and the lanterns are
not required for signalling purposes, another cock in the main pipe is closed but
not so as to close the bye-passes. These keep the lanterns always alight and ready
for use in any sudden emergency; when the additional cock is opened and the
lever or spanner of the gas cock is readily connected, by the signal man, to the
signal gear. The electrical connections with the line wire to the bells, or sounders,
may be arranged to be put into or out of contact by means of the same lever or
spanner that works the gas cock. By this means both the acoustic and visible
signals are put into action or out of action simultaneously. It is obvious that the
acoustic or the audible signals can be used singly as well as in combination.
In some Block Sections it may be possible by properly arranging the electrical
connections between the cabins to use the same set of bells, or sounders, for all
purposes; there being ample time permissible between the code or pulsations of
one set of Signals to enable those for another to be given on the same bells, in the
interval.
ليم
1000
ROBERT BURN.
A. C. BROWN.
LEONARD G. TATE.
"An Improved Method of Signalling to Trains and Locomotives in
Fogs and Snowstorms."
We, ROBERT BURN, of 196 Green Lanes, Finsbury Park, London, Gentleman,
ALFRED CHARLES BROWN of 50 Old Broad Street, City of London, Electrician, and
LEONARD GEORGE TATE, of 20 Bucklersbury, City of London, Electrical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the saine is to
he performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:--
The object of this invention is to provide an acoustic or audible system of
signalling on railways, and also a visual system, which may be used either together
or separately, specially for use in fogs and snowstorms, when the ordinary sema
phore signals are hidden from view.
The first part of the invention consists in placing at short intervals alongside
the railway, say between the home and the distant signals or at some position at a
distance beyond the distant signal or elsewhere as may be required, an extended
series of bells, or other pieces of acoustic apparatus, or sounders, at comparatively
short distances apart. These are connected with an electric battery, or its equiva-
lent, and with contacts operated by the signal levers in the signal cabin, or their
connections, by means of an insulated line wire. These bells or sounders may be
caused to give different sounds or different codes of signals by means of successive
groups of beats for up and down roads, for fast and slow lines and for various roads
at junctions. This is effected by means of a current disintegrating apparatus to be

page_text: hereafter described. The engine drivers are thus always within easy range of
hearing one or more of these electric bells or sounders, and are readily able to
distinguish the code signals which may be similar to those now in use in block
signal cabins.
The bells or sounders may be fixed to the telegraph posts or to the sleepers, when
convenient, or to posts specially provided, and may be enclosed in strong boxes
to protect them from the weather, the boxes being preferably open at the bottom,
to let out the sound, or provided with cone or trumpet-shaped openings to project
and intensify the sound in any required direction. When trembling bells are
desired we may make them so that their vibrating armatures act by short circuit-
ing their own coils, each time they approach their electro-magnets, instead of by
breaking the direct circuit, as usual, by this means a greater number of bells may
be rung together effectually in series; or one of the bells only may make and break
the circuit and so operate the others through their coils only.
But the bells, if made in the ordinary way, may be rung in parallel circuit; an
earth connection will then be required at each bell and it will be desirable to
adjust their resistances according to their respective distances from the battery
in the signal cabin.
By means of an ordinary telegraph wire we then connect the bells, or sounders,
belonging to a block section, in series (or parallel circuit) with the battery and
with the contacts operated by the signal levers controlling the signals on the sec-
tion of line, in unison with which they are to act.
On each signal lever, or its connections, we preferably arrange two contacts so
as to complete one circuit when the signal lever is pulled off to give the "Line
clear" or "Go on" signal; and another when the lever is put on to give the "Line
blocked" or "Stop" signal. This change of contact is effected by means of a
commutating switch, which, in the first position, connects one pole of the battery
to the current disintegrating apparatus, giving the code for "Line clear," and to
the line wire conveying the current to the series of bells, or sounders and then to
earth or return to the reverse pole of the battery: and in the second position, the
commutating switch connects a pole of the battery to a different current disin
tegrating apparatus which gives the code for "Line blocked" or "Stop." The
current then runs through the same line wire and series of bells, or sounders, and
back via earth or returns to the reverse pole of the battery
or generator, as before.
The bells, or sounders, placed in advance of the distant signal, or any length of
line controlled by that signal, would be arranged to give one code of sounds and
would be worked by the distant-signal lever, or its connections; whilst the bells,
or sounders, placed between the distant and the home-signal posts, or any length
of line controlled by the home signal would give another code of sounds and
would be worked by the home-signal lever. Or these various switches and contacts
may be arranged to be worked separately by hand, when required, as in the event
of fog or snowstorms or at times of special emergency.
Bells may be used for giving "danger" or stop" signals and a telephone
"hooter call," or other alternative sounder for giving "all right" or "go on"
signals; or vice versa, and single stroke or trembling bells and sounders of different
tones may be used as distinguishing characteristics to give various distinctions
for the signals. The telephone hooter mentioned above as an alternative sound-
signal conists of a diaphragm having opposed to it an electro-magnet and operating
by its vibration to make and break a contact contained in the circuit of the electro-
magnet. The said electro-magnet being contained in an inverted iron box, fixed
over a cone shaped tube open at the base. The cone may also contain an electric
bell and its movement, and thus combines two separate sound signals in the same
.weather proof instrument. Or instead of the diaphragm itself operating a contact
to open and close the circuit of the electro-magnet, the current through the electro-
magnet may be made and broken, or varied for the purpose of vibrating the
diaphragm by other means; as for instance, by a telephone transmitter either spoken
to directly, or, whose diaphragm is vibrated, or whose variable resistance is

page_text: operated by a phonogram, consisting of undulations, or a set of projections and
recesses cut or otherwise formed in a revolving disc, or other surface caused to
move past a stylus bearing on the said surface, and which stylus is attached to the
diaphragm of the transmitter or otherwise arranged to operate the variable
resistance. A battery or generator current is then passed through this transmitter,
a variable resistance and the telephone hooter (or induced in the latter by the usual
induction coil). The electrical connections are so arranged as to cause the latter
to give an articulate or other well known sound which may be automatically
repeated continuously, until a change of signal is made from the cabin.
The current disintegrating apparatus, mentioned above consists of an electrically
or mechanically driven pendulum; or of cams, moved by clockwork or by an electro-
motor, and contact springs acting so as to continually make and break the direct
circuit of the battery, in definite series of intervals; so as to split up the current
into pulses, or beats, of certain distinctive duration and number, in regularly
recurring phases. The object of this provision is to give readily distinguishable
codes of signals to trains on particular lines of rail, where an up and down road
or where several different roads may run side by side; or when trains are approach-
ing a junction. It also distinguishes the code signal from any simple ringing
that might be caused by an accidental contact with other wires."
A rail contact of any of the ordinary well-known forms may also be included in
the electric circuit with the bells or a lever contact to be operated by the trains, &c.
in order to prevent unnecessary ringing, or sounding, of the apparatus. By this
means it may be arranged that the circuit shall only be actually completed through
those bells which are for the time being, actually within audible distance of the
driver. The same object may be gained by joining the earth connection from the
bells, or certain groups thereof, to certain insulated portions of the rails, which are
bridged across to earth, or return by the train in passing.
We do not limit ourselves to the use of electric bells as the sounders nor to a
telegraph wire as the means of conveying the controlling force-other sounders
may be used such as whistles, blown by pulses of air sent through tubes from the
signal-cabin, or from local reservoirs, through supply pipes controlled by valves
operated electrically, or otherwise from the signal-cabin.
An additional provision for communicating with the engine-driver, visually,
may also be utilised, or may be combined with this acoustic system.
*Electric
lamps, colored red and green respectively, and either open or enclosed in lanterns
(which may have reflectors and bulls eyes) may be fixed at intervals alongside or
over each line and may be operated in unison with the sounders.
The series of electric lights in advance of the distant signal may be differenti-
ated from those between the home and distant signals and those belonging to one
line from those belonging to another by being differently coloured. Or when
electric lamps are used an alternative method of conveying to the driver an
intimation of the road for which the points and signals are set for his train is
by using one lamp for one road, two lamps for another road, and so on; or by having
the number of the roads displayed by a large transparent numeral; or by some
other well marked distinguishing device.
In places where it may be convenient to use gas lighted lanterns, instead of
electric lights, we fix two series of these gas lanterns, one series with red bull's
eyes, the other with green bull's eyes. Alongside the railway we lay two lengths
of gas pipe, one to serve the series of lanterns with red lights, the other to serve
those with green lights. We then connect these pipes to a three way gas cock
capable of being operated by some part of the gear of the signal the indications of
which are required to be thus repeated. We connect the cock to the gas main.
When the signal lever is at the "danger" position the gas cock is opened to supply
the gas pipe leading to the series of red lighted lanterns and is closed to the pipe
supplying the green lighted lanterns. When the signal is pulled off to the "all
right" position the cock is reversed and is now closed to the pipe leading to the
red lighted lanterns, and open to the pipe leading to the green lighted lanterns.

page_text: When the main cock is closed, either to the green or the red lighted lanterns, a
bye pass tap allows sufficient gas to pass through to keep the lamps alight, but not
sufficient for them to show a signal. When the weather is clear and the lanterns
are not required for signalling purposes, another cock is closed; but it does not
close the bye-passes. This keeps the lanterns always alight and ready for use in
any sudden emergency; when the additional cock is opened and the lever or spanner
of the gas cock is readily connected by the signalman to the signal gear.
electrical connections with the line wire to the bells or sounders, may be arranged
to be put into or out of contact by means of the same lever or spanner that works
the gas cock. By this means both the acoustic and visible signals are put into
action or out of action simultaneously. It is obvious that the acoustic or the
visnal signals can be used singly as well as in combination.
The
The drawings annexed shew diagram views of sound signalling apparatus
arranged according to our invention.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a line of railway with sound signal
apparatus extending alongside of it..
Figure 2 shews the electric connections with the contact mechanism and battery
in the signal cabin.
Figure 3 is a transverse section shewing one of the posts carrying the sounding
mechanism.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of sound producing mechanism carried on each
post.
In Figure 1A is the ordinary "home" semaphore signal and B the "distant"
semaphore signal. CC are any desired number of posts carrying sounding
mechanism at distances apart from one another in the space between the "home
and "distant" signals and D D are any desired number of similar posts carrying
sounding mechanism ranged along the line beyond the "distant" signal.
EE are conducting wires leading from the sounding mechanism carried by the
posts C to the signal cabin and F F are similar conducting wires from the sound-
ing mechanism carried by the posts D.
In Figure 2 G is an ordinary signal lever for operating say the "home" signal.
G* is a contact piece carried by this lever and adapted to form a connection between
two wires E, H, when the lever is in the position shewn in the drawing and between
two other wires E, I, when the lever is in its opposite position. The wire E leads
to the telephone "hooters" of the sounding mechanism carried by the posts C
and the wire E to the electric bells of the sounding mechanisms.
The wires H I are connected with a contact arm J kept oscillating betwen two
contacts K by a continuously oscillatng pendulum J* or in other suitable manner.
The contacts K are connected with one pole of a battery L the other pole of which
is connected to one of the rails M. The return connecting wire N from each bell
and "hooter" is connected with the other rail N¹ which is insulated say as far as the
point at which the home signal is situated. So soon as a train enters on this section
of the line the circuit through the coils either of the bell or "hooter" will be com-
pleted and either one or the other thereby put into action according to the position
of the signal lever and the required signal be thereby given at other times the
circuit is not completed and the sounding mechanism is not operated. In place of
the circuits being made and broken by a continuously oscillating pendulum other
make and break mechanism might be used and arranged so as to give say varia-
tions of long and short contacts and produce any desired code signal. The make
and break mechanism for the home signal circuit might also be separate from the
make and break mechanism for the "distant" signal.
In Figure 4 0 is the electro magnet of the "hooter" one end of the coils of this
magnet is connected to the wire E the other to the vibrating diaphragm P.
Normally the diaphragm is as shewn kept in connection with the return wire N but
when current passes through the coils the diaphragm is attracted and the circuit
broken. R is the electric bell mechanism similarly coupled to the return wire N
and to the wire Ex.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The hereinbefore described method of signalling to trains and locomotives
during fogs and snow storms, consisting in the employment of extended series
of sounders or lamps placed along any portion of a railway line where signals are
to be given and means operated from the signal cabins whereby such sounders
or lamps can be caused to give the required signals..
2. The use of an extended series of electric bells or other sounders or of electric
lamps, together or separately, placed along near a railway line, and arranged to
give the same code signal simultaneously on the successive bells or sounders or
lamps contained in the series.
The use of an extended series of sounders bells or lamps in such proximity to
one another alongside a railway line, that the engine drivers are never out of hear-
ing or sight of one or more when passing along any portion of the line, where it is
desired that signals shall be given.
4. The use at or in connection with a railway signal cabin of an automatically
operating contact breaker, arranged to alternately make and break an electric
circuit, comprising a number of bells or sounders for the purpose of producing on
all in the series definite code signals as and for the purposes above described.
5. The use of extended series of electric bells or other sounders placed along near
a railway line, and mechanism at or in connection with a railway signal cabin by
which code signals can be given on such sounders, either by number or duration
of beats or by variations of tone or otherwise so that an engine driver may be
advised for which road out of two or more the points are set for his train, and in
what position the signal is set.
6. The use of extended series of electric bells or other sounders or lamps placed
along near a railway line, so operated or arranged that those in advance of a distant
signal are distinguishable from those placed between the distant and home signal,
either by variations of tone or number or colour of lamps or otherwise.
7. The use of extended series of electric bells or other sounders placed along
near a railway line and mechanism operated from the railway signal cabins by
which different sounds or codes of signals may be given in different series to dis-
tinguish the series belonging to any one line from the series belonging to the
others.
8. The use of extended series of electric bells or other sounders or lamps placed
along near a railway line and mechanism operated by the signal levers in the
signal cabins by which the sounds caused to be produced by such sounders may bo
varied according to the position in which the signal lever is set.
9. The use of extended series of electric bells or other sounders placed along near
a railway line, and means operated from the signal cabins for causing such sounders
to produce distinguishable sounds articulate or otherwise to indicate which of two
or more roads is open for or blocked against the passage of a train.
10. A sound signalling device composed of a diaphragm having opposed to it an
electro magnet and operating by its vibration to make and break a contact contained
in the circuit of the electro magnet, the said electro magnet being contained in an
inverted box fixed over a cone open only at the bottom--the cone also containing an
electric bell so as to combine two separate signals in one case, substantially as
described.
11. The use of an extended series of lamps placed along near a railway line some
colored red, some green, or other distinguishable colors and mechanism operated
from a signal cabin by which either the red lamps or the green lamps of the series
can be caused to be illuminated.
12. The use of extended series of lamps placed along near a railway line in
different groups or combinations for different roads which lamps are operated to
indicate "stop or "go on" by means of a tap or switch (according as gas or
electricity is used) controlled by the same signal lever in the cabins as that which
works the semaphore signal.

page_text: 13. The use of extended series of lamps placed along near a railway line, some
in each series colored red, others green or other distinguishing colors placed at
frequent intervals between the home and distant signals, and beyond the distant
signals and elsewhere in different distinguishable groups or combinations as may
be required, which lamps are operated to indicate "stop" or
or "go on" by means of
a tap or switch (according as gas or electricity is used), controlled by the same
signal lever in the cabins, as that which works the semaphore signal.
Dated the 7th day of Santambor 1897
R. BURN.
By Carpmael & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.
A. C. BROWN.
LEONARD G. TATE.